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Los Angeles Family Friendly Stuff to Do With KidsIs Los Angeles family friendly? Yes! Okay, we don't have that reputation, I know, I know. Truth be told, we have actually only encountered a couple of places that are decidedly not kid friendly here, and have run into much more of that in other cities. So there. Kids in Los Angeles have the weather on their side, which means outdoor activities can be enjoyed pretty much 365 days a year. This is good for us parents too, since there are hundreds of parks and Los Angeles beaches that can be enjoyed here for free. Free! Outside! In the sunshine! What's not kid-friendly about that? When I got pregnant with our first I entered a state of panic about living here. What will we do? How will we raise a child here? I was ready to run to the midwest with my tail between my legs. Just like everything good in this city, the Los Angeles family friendly stuff can be hidden and it takes a bit to navigate. How did I find out about all these awesome places? From other mamas at parks and playdates and trial and error of course.
So are you traveling here and want to know what to do with kids when traveling to Los Angeles? New here? New parents? Don't worry, LA is a great place to have a family or visit if you know where to look.
Los Angeles Family Friendly Things to Do:
 When in doubt, just go to the beach. Every beach has a distinct personality and the all have something to offer to families. Some have great tidepools for catching hermit crabs and others great for rock hunting and others still are great for swimming. Even in winter, it is endless space for little ones to run around in and it is the world's biggest sandbox. Besides, a beach day is free (well, except parking in some cases) so pack a picnic and head to the beach! More...  Looking for an indoor zoo alternative that rescues animals and has great tours for kids? We love the Star Eco Station! They are a wonderful non-profit that rescues exotic and abandoned animals and educates on environmental issues to boot. Great hands-on tours (touch snakes & lizards!) that are suited for kids and little ones in strollers are free. They have big cats, reptiles, fish, birds, a gift shop and a great room to rent out for birthday parties! More...  A park-like oasis is how I describe our zoo, with the shady, tree-lined paths and lots of space. Oh yeah, they have animals too. No really, the zoo is great! If you go during the winter or at least during the week you'll have the whole darn thing nearly to yourself. Besides the animals, the kids will love wandering down the paths and playing on the playground that happens to be tucked away inside the zoo. More...  Have a young dinosaur or lizard enthusiast in your family? This is not your ordinary pet store, it is a huge, well cared for collection of turtles, lizards, snakes and reptiles. Kids can feed fish and turtles, pet snakes and see a variety of animals that you won't even see at the zoo. They also host educational, hands-on "Jurassic" birthday parties here. Hang out with a boa who could swallow your toddler while you eat birthday cake! Fun! No, really. More...  Not only is going to Manhattan Beach a family friendly trip (no doubt all the beaches are fun for kids) but did you know there is a free aquarium at the end of the pier there? Yes, free. Low tanks full of sea creatures your little ones can touch and tons of educational stuff to see makes this a great Los Angeles family destination. It is small but packed full. I'm partial to the eel archway you can walk under, but the shark tank is cool too. More...  Are you a railroad fanatic? Love building model trains? Have kids? Any of these are a good reason not to miss Allied Model Trains in Culver City. This great model train shop has had a store in the area for a long time (it was there when we were kids!) and has everything for the railway enthusiast, including intricate trains set up to watch. Its free to browse so its a fun and easy stop with the kids if you are in the area. More...  Don't feel like making the trek out to the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific but want to explore a little ocean life? This practically hidden little aquarium facility is inexpensive and fun for the kids to explore (and touch!) some sea creatures. They are open for parties and groups too and have some interesting educational programs. More...  Did you know that the entire 3rd floor of the Petersen Automotive Museum is just for families? Not many people even know about this great Los Angeles family friendly play space! Kids can sit and play in race cars, do hands on experiments, read books and more. They even have crafts and stories. Not to mention, the museum itself is a must see. Even if you don't like cars. Honest. Older kids will go nutty over the Hot Wheels exhibit too. More...  Dinosaurs, tornadoes, waves, wind, rockets, music and play? Sounds like a day full of fun for kids of any ages. It is in Santa Ana, 30 miles south of Los Angeles on the 5, but firmly on our "worth the drive" list. Not too large that it is overwhelming and you can certainly see everything in a day. The little ones will enjoy the "under five only" kid section on the second floor where there are some hands on play stations with puzzles and blocks. Ages three and under are free and weekdays are mellow and ideal for taking toddlers. More...  Escape the city and bring the family to the farm for a day! Pick your own fruits and veggies from the field, feed some farm animals, ride a train, petting zoo and even more. Fall is a great time to go for pumpkins! Plus, there is a sand box, play area, things to climb on and daily shows featuring animals to pet and learn about. They also have a full farm stand where you can buy fresh fruits, veggies and cold drinks for your visit. More...
 Newport Beach is a beautiful and fun spot for the whole Los Angeles family. I mean, its a beach but its also a quaint and lovely beach community. Tucked up next to the bay and just a short walk across the peninsula from the great beach is this mini fair. Carousel, Ferris wheel, games, arcades, food and bars, there is a bit of everything for the whole Los Angeles family! More...  Your kids will love driving your car right onto a boat! Yup, this ferry shuttles between Balboa Island and the Balboa peninsula of Newport Beach all day long... And you can drive your car onto it! Besides being an easy and direct route to get across the Newport bay it is fun too. The peninsula end takes off right from the Newport Fun Zone, above. More...  Sure every big city has a Chinatown, but here is our very own version with a unique slice of Chinese culture. Close to downtown and many other attractions, this funky little neighborhood is interesting, cheesy and even a bit ghetto wrapped up into one big egg roll. Whether you go for the history, the shopping or the unique foods (sea cucumber anyone?), its a fun Los Angeles family friendly stop. More...  Oak Glen is a wonderful and beautiful little community of apple orchards tucked into the San Bernardino Mountains not far from Los Angeles. It is definitely one of our favorite Los Angeles family friendly destinations! All the orchards have all sorts of things to do when you visit, shops, tours, fruit picking, petting zoos... and of course apple everything, pies, cider, etc. This is a great family day trip from LA with something fun for the whole family. We make it at least a yearly trip. More...  Candy Cane Lane is a small neighborhood in Woodland Hills that is somehow the official winter holiday decoration station. An amazing display of winter lights and decorations at nearly every house, this is quite fun for the kids to see, and the adults too! Its free to just drive by and check out during the winter. But don't forget to bring your hot chocolate and ear muffs! More...  This is "old, classic LA" at its finest. Time seems to stand still here, or at least go much slower than the rest of the city and many of the shops have been there since the very beginning. Good food, good atmosphere and a piece of historical LA. Always tons of kids here and high chairs are scattered around in the outdoor dining areas. It is loud and outdoors so go ahead and bring your crying baby - nobody will blink an eye. More...  This big aquarium has dozens of exhibits to entertain you and your little ones for a fun day out. And its not just looking! You can actually touch many of the animals, including birds, sharks and sting rays in the outdoor exhibits. Yes, I said you can touch sharks! Definitely a Los Angeles family friendly space, this place is a lot of fun for the whole family. Of note, its not far from the Queen Mary if you want to hit both! More...  The 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica is a pedestrian-only strip of 3rd Street which is chock full of shops, restaurants and movie theaters, kinda like an outdoor mall. However, it can be more fun than all that. The street performers can vary from average to downright fantastic. The crowds can get crazy on the weekends but it is a fun area to hang out and people watch and it is only minutes from other great Los Angeles family friendly attractions like the Santa Monica Pier. More...  McCabe's guitar shop in Santa Monica is a local institution that is much more than just a guitar shop. They specialize in acoustic, stringed instruments and you'll find all kinds of stuff you've never heard of before, dulcimers, baritone ukeleles, dulcimers and more. Whether you are a musician and need supplies or a repair or just a Los Angeles family and want to check out all the cool stuff, its a fun stop. Also, McCabe's hosts great small, intimate music performances by unbelievably good artists of all types. More...  Normans is not your every-day guitar shop. Its neither a big-business chain with oodles of new flashy instruments like Guitar Center or a crappy little guitar shop trying to scrape by. This little hole in the wall is a gem of a guitar shop with a simply awesome layout of rare, classic guitars of all types. Even if you aren't a guitarist it is a fun place to visit. Teach your kids all about guitars and music! Los Angeles family fun can be educational too! More... Annual Fun Family Festivals
 Free watermelon with just a $1 admission donation! This fair is old school and has a friendly, small town vibe. Watermelon, corn dogs, cotton candy, rides, seed spitting contest, petting zoo, face painters and all to raise money for charity. Located in Sunland, they've been celebrating the awesomeness of watermelons for nearly 50 years and nothing much has changed! In a good way. More...  There are dozens of festivals and fairs in Los Angeles, many (most?) of which are completely family friendly and a great idea to kill a free day with the kids. From agricultural fairs like the watermelon or strawberry festivals to cultural festivals like Oktoberfest. Check out our festivals and fairs section for more info on these Los Angeles family friendly events. More...
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