There are so many things to do with your toddler/baby in Los Angeles, I thought I would share my list! I have a group of mommies who have planned to do a playdate one day a week for the rest of the summer. Most of these places I’ve never been to before, even though I’ve known about them for years. Knowing that other moms would meet me at these spots really motivated me to get out there and deal with the traffic and regular Los Angeles chaos. Whenever we make it out, we have the most amazing time! Here are some of the places I’ve already been to, and some of the places I plan to check out:
- Grand Park in Downtown Los Angeles
I usually dread downtown Los Angeles because of their insane parking and roads, but this is truly a gem in LA! It’s not exactly kid friendly, but after you get through the one way streets and pay about $17 for parking (I know, I know) you will find yourself at the most amazing area. The best part about this enormous splash pad area is that there’s a Starbucks about 5 feet away! You can reward yourself with a Venti everything and there are clean bathrooms right next to it. It is worth the trek! (Notes: bring some water toys!)
I love this playground because it tends to be very unknown and not crowded during the weekdays. There are clean bathrooms and a shaded area for sand. There’s an easy parking lot and after playing for awhile, you can walk to watch airplanes land on bleachers. Love this activity because it’s easy and free!
I honestly avoided going to LACMA because the drive there can be very hectic. I recommend going early, at around 10am to get good street parking. I didn’t know there was an entire room dedicated to children! You are greeted by someone who lets you park your stroller and you can find a seat on benches. You are given some materials to draw or paint and they even provide smocks. You can let the artwork dry as you walk around and come back to pick them up. What I love about this experience is that each staff member there does everything for you – meaning it feels like table service at a restaurant. They know you are busy with your kid so if you have to fill out forms or anything, they bring them to you. LACMA even provides free children’s membership, which includes 1 free adult! That means you get to come with your child for FREE until they turn 18. They give you a lanyard that your child can wear, and you just bring that as your museum pass. Amazing! (One tip: bring your lunch! I didn’t pack lunch and ended up spending $30+ at the LACMA cafeteria. And I still cannot get over his $4 milk…)
I have always meant to see this because Baby Pencil likes dinosaurs. I know there are tar pits you can see visibly around LACMA, but there is also a museum. (Fee is $12.) It’s a small museum but there’s an outdoor area where you can look at fish. I would maybe combine the Tar Pits with LACMA for a full day’s activities!
This is a beautiful, huge park! It seems to be in the middle of nowhere, but right when you enter you’ll be able to see a playground. There’s also a big pond with ducks. The parking is free, very easy to find and I heard that there are some stroller friendly hikes.
To be honest I nearly exhausted myself on this trip going alone, but it was worth it! Going out at around 9:30am, I parked at the new Santa Monica outdoor mall and walked over to the pier. It was a hefty walk and I huffed and puffed going up the bridge part, but thank goodness I had my BOB stroller! Baby Pencil was too young for the rides but he still really enjoyed seeing the kids on the roller coasters and playing games. In the early part of the day, there aren’t too many people so I let him walk around.
Baby Pencil loves animals so of course I couldn’t wait to take him to the zoo! The membership fee is only $79 for a year, which includes 2 adults and the child is free. (Under the age of 2.) Since each visit is $20, you would only have to go twice in order to make it worth it! This zoo is HUGE. The parking is free and the park is extremely stroller friendly. I have gone 4 times so far this year, and I still have not been able to see everything! I love that they allow outside food/drinks and that almost every single person you see is part of a family with young kids. I was telling my husband that if I wasn’t a parent, I would feel like such an outsider! (Side note: they have the best kettle popcorn!)
I plan on going to these in the next few months to come:
- Marina del Rey Water Bus
- Santa Monica Books & Cookies
- California Science Center
- Flight Path Learning Center in Westchester
- Annenberg Beach House splash pad
- Santa Monica Pier Aquarium
- Alondra Park Splash Pad
I absolutely love the memories I’ve made at these amazing places! Does anyone else have any recommendations in the LA area?
pea / 11 posts
Kidspace in Pasadena! We love it there and have a membership.
Discovery Cube (OC & North LA)
Long Beach aquarium
Getty Center & Getty Villa
Underwood Family farms (kind of far…but good weekend trip)
blogger / pomegranate / 3300 posts
Balboa park wildlife reserve
Natural history museum (we rotate between there and the Tar pits. Since there aren’t any dinosaurs at the tar pits mine always fight over wether to see the mammals in the tar or the dinosaurs at the Natural history)
California science center-free and fabulous
San Fernando mission
Ronald Reagan library – we breeze past a lot of the museum to go see Air Force one and marine one
AMC theaters in woodland hills (cheap matinees and nice reclining seats where you can pre pick you seats so you don’t have to get there super early
Griffith park observatory -free
I really want to try the water park area in downtown you recommended it looks awesome!
pomegranate / 3401 posts
This is awesome! We are moving back to the LA area and can now do all these things! Thank you so much for sharing!