Things to Do in LA with Kids

Bringing the kids to Los Angeles? There are many fun things to do in LA with kids besides Disneyland! Use this handy guide to find activities that will captivate and delight your children.

Recreation

Griffith Park Train Rides
Traverse one mile of track on the Griffith Park Train, which is open 364 days a year! Cross a bridge, brave a forest, then explore a Wild West town - all on one affordable train ride. This attraction is ideal for families with small children.

Sunset Ranch Hollywood
Located near Griffith Park, Sunset Ranch Hollywood is the only horse ranch in the greater Los Angeles area. A horseback ride through picturesque hills is one of the most memorable things to do in LA with kids and something the whole family can enjoy.

Tom Mankiewicz Conservation Carousel
Grander than any carousel you've ever seen, this one features 66 hand-crafted animals and murals that depict wild animals in unusual settings. You and your children will ride to music from the A&M recording artists of the '60s and '70s.

Education

La Brea Tar Pits
Kids of all ages will be captivated - and educated - at the La Brea Tar Pits as they study saber-toothed cats, mastodons and dire wolves - all of which have been frozen in time.

Skirball Cultural Center
Brave a storm on Noah's Ark and study 186 animal species, or learn about cultures from around the world in this non-profit center. Currently, the center's core exhibit is "Visions and Values: Jewish Life from Antiquity to America."

Kidspace Children's Museum
The name says it all: this is a museum designed to educate children in a way that's fun. As one of the most education things to do in in LA with kids, your children will get hands-on with replicas of insects, rocks, plants, and much more.

Just Plain Fun

Universal Studios Hollywood
Run from King Kong, explore the fictional town of Springfield, or do battle with robots from the future - all in the same theme park. At Universal Studios Hollywood, you and your family won't just experience the movies - you'll feel like you're in the movies!

Six Flags Magic Mountain
Are your kids tall enough - and brave enough - to tackle any rollercoaster now? Take them to Six Flags Magic Mountain and give them a day of thrills they'll never forget.

Medieval Times
Do you love eating with your hands and watching knights do battle? Well, you've come to the right place! Medieval Times transports your family to the Middle Ages, a time when eating with your hands and drinking from goblets was the order of business.

Sand and Sun

Santa Monica Beach
Santa Monica Beach is perfect for families. Miles of sand give kids plenty of room to make sand castles and play. Afterward, your children can enjoy rides and concessions at nearby Pacific Park.