What to do with children in L.A.?

[ExcitedMamma]

Next month we are going to tag along with DH while he has a conference in L.A. for a week. We are going to be in downtown L.A. and we will have the car while DH walks to his conference. What should I do with little kids that's not too far away? Thank you!

[georgiegirl]

The Science Museum

The Skirball Museum has a super cool Noah's Ark exhibit that is perfect for toddlers through grade school kids

[niccig]

The science center to see the Endeavor + all exhibits + imax = 1 day
The Natural History Museum (right next to science center) has a really good dinosaur exhibit + other exhibits = 1 day
The Zoo and the Autry Museum aren't far out of downtown.

Further to drive:
Santa Monica to do the rides on the pier + go to beach = 1 day
The Noah's Ark exhibit is really great, but it's further away
We like the Long Beach Aquarium.
Kidspace Museum in Pasadena - great place for the kids

All of these will mean driving. Even the Science Center and Natural History Museum aren't walking distance from downtown. It may help to get a car with GPS or bring a Garmon etc with. If you time traffic, getting to Santa Monica or Skirball won't be too bad, but if you're in rush hour, it can take 45-1 hour or more.

[AnnieW625]

The Getty
LACMA
La Brea Tar Pits (next door to LACMA)
Kids Space Museum, Pasadena
movie at El Capitan (you should be able to take the Metro as the stop is right across the street from the theater)
Farmers Market
Beach

[Aishe]

I'll add the Petersen Automotive Museum (near LACMA) and Huntington Gardens in Pasadena. You could take the Metro to some of these places. The Cal Science Center and Natural History Museum would be good choices for this. For my kids riding the train is as fun as the destination!

http://www.metro.net/service/discounts/artsentertainment/endeavor-california-science-center/

On that note the train museum in Griffith Park is always a hit with toddlers.

[Tenasparkl]

On that note the train museum in Griffith Park is always a hit with toddlers.

Yes, little kids love Travel Town. There isn't much to do there, but it would be good to do on a day when you have another activity (maybe something else at Griffith Park like the zoo)

I absolutely agree with the Kidspace & Skirball/Noah's Ark recommendations. You need to reserve a time for Noah's Ark ahead of time.

We love to take the kids to the Huntington too. All of the Botanical gardens in the area are good places for them to explore - Descanso is one of my favorites.

[citymama]

So many things! Science museum, La Brea tar pits, Santa Monica boardwalk, the Grove shopping center if you have an American Girl fan (probably the highlight of DD1's visit to LA, and she is exactly the same age as your DD). And great eating!

[Nooknookmom]

The science center to see the Endeavor + all exhibits + imax = 1 day
The Natural History Museum (right next to science center) has a really good dinosaur exhibit + other exhibits = 1 day
The Zoo and the Autry Museum aren't far out of downtown.

Further to drive:
Santa Monica to do the rides on the pier + go to beach = 1 day
The Noah's Ark exhibit is really great, but it's further away
We like the Long Beach Aquarium.
Kidspace Museum in Pasadena - great place for the kids

All of these will mean driving. Even the Science Center and Natural History Museum aren't walking distance from downtown. It may help to get a car with GPS or bring a Garmon etc with. If you time traffic, getting to Santa Monica or Skirball won't be too bad, but if you're in rush hour, it can take 45-1 hour or more.

This!!!! We just did the endeavor and DD had a blast! Zoo for us was a bust...we r used o Chicago zoos (better!). Kids pace is good, aquarium ok.

[Tondi G]

I also recommend the California Science Center. It's free too! My kids love that museum.

The LA Zoo is nice in Griffith Park. Also in Griffith Park they have Pony rides and a little train (Griffith Park southern railroad) to ride right at the entrance of the park on the east side... Los Feliz Blvd and Riverside Dr.
http://www.laparks.org/dos/parks/griffithPK/attractions.htm

If you want to visit the beach you could go to the Santa Monica Pier. If you go to Costco (there is a location very close to Griffith Park actually ... look for the Los Feliz location) they usually have all you can ride wristbands for the Pacific park up on the pier. fun rides for smaller kids, and then bumper cars, ferris wheel, roller coaster etc. Here check it out http://www.pacpark.com/ after the rides you could take the kids down on the sand and let them get their feet wet, build some sand castles etc.

The Farmers Market/ The Grove could be a fun few hours. have something to eat, if you have girls you could visit the American Girl Store. They have a Pottery Barn Kids. A Barnes & Noble book store. They have a free trolley you can ride and a dancing fountain. On Thursdays they have free KIDS CLUB activities at The Grove from 11am - 1pm. you can check their calendar and see what is happening and if it would be of interest to you and your kids. http://www.thegrovela.com/event_promo.php?id_promo=592

I also agree that the Noah's Ark Exhibit at the Skirball is a lot of fun!

The Kidspace Museum in Pasadena is fun too... kind of the other direction from Downtown.

[ExcitedMamma]

Thanks so much everyone! I am very excited to check these places out. Can't wait to get DS some more books about these topics so he can really enjoy these places.

[AnnieW625]

When I responded I forgot your kids are younger. I think Kids Space is a great bet, just remember to bring some extra clothes if it is hot because they have water features that the kids can play in.

[Tondi G]

When I responded I forgot your kids are younger. I think Kids Space is a great bet, just remember to bring some extra clothes if it is hot because they have water features that the kids can play in.

Yes, but they have to wear shoes so also make sure you bring shoes that can get wet (flip flops or crocs or keens) as well.

[SoCalMommy]

I completely agree with all of the above suggestions. Here are a few others that are super close to or in the downtown area. I don't know your kids interests, but if they are into trains there is the Metro that you can take to various places and Union Station where the "real" trains are. You could have lunch there or just walk around to see the station and trains. Plus there is historic Olvera Street right near the train station. It is a pedestrian area with tons of food and shopping (think outside carts not mall stuff) that celebrates the Mexican heritage of the city. If your kids are super early risers, there is also the flower mart which can be fun to walk through but it starts at the crack of dawn! There also might be local farmers markets on certain days. You can check it out online or ask your hotel. If your kids are like my daughter, who loves seeing big buses, etc. just walking to a grassy area (Pershing Square) or even walking around they will see a lot!

Especially since you will have access to a car, I strongly encourage you to try and explore some of the other suggestions listed above since there really are some fantastic kid friendly things to do. Many are not that far from downtown.

Have fun!