A CityCheck guide · Updated 2026-10-22 · Independently verified
Places to Take Kids in Los Angeles
The best places to take kids in Los Angeles include Griffith Observatory (free), California Science Center (free), LA Zoo ($22), Kidspace Children's Museum ($15-17 in Pasadena), Santa Monica Pier (free to walk, rides $10+), and Underwood Family Farms ($12-38 in Moorpark).
Free. Open until 10pm. Free telescope viewing every evening. Best city views in LA.
2800 E Observatory Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90027 · Tue–Fri 12–10pm, Sat–Sun 10am–10pm. Closed Mon. · Ages 0+
Space Shuttle Endeavour is here. Free. Combine with Natural History Museum and Rose Garden next door.
700 Exposition Park Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90037 · Daily 10am–5pm. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day. · Ages 0+
Free for LA County residents weekdays 3-5pm. Dinosaur hall, gem vault, nature gardens.
900 Exposition Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90007 · Daily 9:30am–5pm. Closed first Tue of each month & major holidays. · Ages 0+
Kids wade in a real creek and hunt for bugs. Timed tickets -- book online. No cash.
480 N Arroyo Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91103 · Tue–Sun 10am–5pm. Closed Mon. · Ages 1–10
Above Santa Monica Place. Two blocks from the Pier. Ball pit, art studio, building zone.
395 Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica, CA 90401 · Wed–Sun 10am–5pm. Closed Mon–Tue. · Ages 0–8
Free to walk. $10 Ferris wheel. Sunset Deal wristband: $24.95 after 5pm.
380 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA 90401 · Pier open 24hrs. Rides generally 11am–11pm summer, shorter off-season. Check pacpark.com for daily schedule. · Ages 0+
Animals start going inside at 4pm. Arrive early. Pair with a Griffith Park hike.
5333 Zoo Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027 · Daily 10am–5pm. Last entry 3:45pm. Closed Thanksgiving & Christmas. · Ages 0+
$3 carousel, $5 pony rides. Griffith Park tradition since 1926 and 1948.
4730 Crystal Springs Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027 · Weekends & holidays 11am–5pm. Summer: daily 11am–5pm. · Ages 0+
Free. 3.5-mile loop. Go before 9am or after 4pm. West Trail closed (fire damage).
2000 N Fuller Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046 · Daily 6am–9pm · Ages 5+
3.5-mile hike to a 40-foot waterfall. Free parking. Check fire closures first.
1750 N Altadena Dr, Pasadena, CA 91107 · Park open daily sunrise–sunset. Nature center hours vary. · Ages 5+
15,000 rose bushes. Free. Between the Science Center and Natural History Museum.
701 State Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90037 · Daily 8:30am–dusk. Closed Jan 1–Mar 15. · Ages 0+
Real farm. Pick your own produce. Fall Festival: corn maze, pumpkin patch, tractor rides.
3370 Sunset Valley Rd, Moorpark, CA 93021 · Farm Market daily 9am–6pm. Festival hours vary by season. · Ages 0+
Disney's 1926 movie palace. Live pre-shows and character appearances. Not a regular theater.
6838 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028 · Opens 1hr before first show · Ages 0+
Free admission. Tram ride up. Pack a picnic -- terrace views are the real exhibit.
1200 Getty Center Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90049 · Tue–Fri & Sun 10am–6:30pm, Sat 10am–9pm. Closed Mon. · Ages 0+
Free Tuesdays and Wednesdays 1-4pm. Cowboys, Native art, California history.
4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles, CA 90027 · Tue-Sun 10am-4pm. Closed Mon. · Ages 0+
Free splash pad on the beach. Pool and playground too. Santa Monica waterfront.
415 Pacific Coast Hwy, Santa Monica, CA 90402 · Daily 8:30am-5:30pm (seasonal hours vary) · Ages 0+
Fern-lined creek trail, totally flat, stroller-friendly. Free playground at the end.
5375 Red Oak Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027 · Daily 5am-10:30pm · Ages 0+
Free. At the end of the Manhattan Beach Pier. Touch tanks and local marine life.
309 Manhattan Beach Blvd, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 · Mon-Fri 3pm-sunset, Sat-Sun 10am-sunset · Ages 0+
Always free. Cold War art and artifacts in a converted armory. Mural garden outside.
10808 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA 90230 · Fri-Sun 10am-5pm. Closed Mon-Thu. · Ages 8+
Free. 575 acres near Dodger Stadium. Playgrounds, trails, wide-open fields.
929 Academy Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90012 · Daily 5am-10:30pm · Ages 0+
Interactive exhibits for ages 0-8. Global cultures, creativity, community. $10.
6505 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 100, Los Angeles, CA 90048 · Tue-Sun 10am-5pm. Closed Mon. · Ages 0–8
$3.50 per ride. Miniature train through a mile of Griffith Park. Since 1948.
4400 Crystal Springs Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027 · Mon-Fri 10am-4:30pm, Sat-Sun 10am-5pm · Ages 0+
Free movies on the beach. Bonfire pits. Planes flying overhead from LAX.
12000 Vista Del Mar, Playa del Rey, CA 90293 · Summer Fridays, film at sunset · Ages 0+
Free. 605 acres. The lake from the Andy Griffith Show opening. Easy trails.
2600 Franklin Canyon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 · Daily sunrise-sunset · Ages 0+
Life-size Noah's Ark made from recycled materials. Kids climb, build, and play. Free Thursdays.
2701 N Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90049 · Tue-Fri 12-5pm, Sat-Sun 10am-5pm. Closed Mon. · Ages 0+
Free outdoor train museum. Kids climb on real locomotives. Miniature train ride $3-$4.
5200 Zoo Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027 · Tue–Sun 10am–5pm. Closed Mon, Thanksgiving, Christmas. · Ages 0+
No waves. Playground on the sand. The calmest beach in LA for toddlers.
4101 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey, CA 90292 · Daily, dawn to dusk · Ages 0+
Free aquarium. Touch tanks with baby sharks. Just reopened after $8M renovation.
3720 Stephen M White Dr, San Pedro, CA 90731 · Tue–Fri 12–5pm, Sat–Sun 10am–5pm. Closed Mon. · Ages 0+
Massive indoor playground. Open until 8pm. The rainy-day (or 100-degree day) backup plan.
10815 Burbank Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601 · Daily 10am–8pm. Call ahead for private event closures. · Ages 1–12
Lorikeet forest, shark lagoon, touch pools. The big aquarium LA doesn't have downtown.
100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802 · Daily 9am–6pm. Closed Christmas Day. · Ages 0+
Tide pools, sea caves, and a tunnel under PCH. The best beach adventure for kids in LA.
35000 W Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265 · Daily 8am–10pm · Ages 0+
Free. Street performers, Muscle Beach, world-famous skate park. Only-in-LA energy.
1800 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90291 · Boardwalk open 24hrs. Skate park 8am–sunset. · Ages 0+
202 vintage street lamps. Free. Open 24/7. Best at sunset or after dark.
5905 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036 · 24/7 (outdoor installation) · Ages 0+
Free park, $11 pedal boats. The lotus flowers in July are worth planning around.
751 N Echo Park Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90026 · Daily 5:30am-10:30pm · Ages 0+
Free splash pad downtown. Metro accessible. The only free water play in DTLA.
200 N Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012 · Daily 6am-10pm (splash pad summer only) · Ages 0+
70 sculptures on a lawn, kids run free, Fowler Museum is free. Park on Westwood Blvd.
405 Hilgard Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90095 · Campus open daily, museum Tue-Sun 12-5pm · Ages 0+
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