Kids & Family in Los Angeles, CA

25 places · 13 free · 6 indoor · Updated 2026-10-19

Griffith Park

Griffith Observatory

Free. Open until 10pm. Free telescope viewing every evening. Best city views in LA.

2800 E Observatory Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90027Tue–Fri 12–10pm, Sat–Sun 10am–10pm. Closed Mon.Ages 0+verified 2d ago
Free
Los Angeles Zoo

Animals start going inside at 4pm. Arrive early. Pair with a Griffith Park hike.

5333 Zoo Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027Daily 10am–5pm. Last entry 3:45pm. Closed Thanksgiving & Christmas.outdoorAges 0+verified 2d ago
$22–$27
Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round

$3 carousel, $5 pony rides. Griffith Park tradition since 1926 and 1948.

4730 Crystal Springs Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027Weekends & holidays 11am–5pm. Summer: daily 11am–5pm.outdoorAges 0+verified 2d ago
$3–$5/ride
Autry Museum of the American West

Free Tuesdays and Wednesdays 1-4pm. Cowboys, Native art, California history.

4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles, CA 90027Tue-Sun 10am-4pm. Closed Mon.indoorAges 0+verified 2d ago
$16
Griffith Park & Southern Railroad

$3.50 per ride. Miniature train through a mile of Griffith Park. Since 1948.

4400 Crystal Springs Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027Mon-Fri 10am-4:30pm, Sat-Sun 10am-5pmoutdoorAges 0+verified 2d ago
$3.50

Exposition Park

California Science Center

Space Shuttle Endeavour is here. Free. Combine with Natural History Museum and Rose Garden next door.

700 Exposition Park Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90037Daily 10am–5pm. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day.indoorAges 0+verified 2d ago
Free
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

Free for LA County residents weekdays 3-5pm. Dinosaur hall, gem vault, nature gardens.

900 Exposition Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90007Daily 9:30am–5pm. Closed first Tue of each month & major holidays.Ages 0+verified 2d ago
$7–$18
Exposition Park Rose Garden

15,000 rose bushes. Free. Between the Science Center and Natural History Museum.

701 State Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90037(213) 763-0114Daily 8:30am–dusk. Closed Jan 1–Mar 15.outdoorAges 0+verified 2d ago
Free

Pasadena

Kidspace Children's Museum

Kids wade in a real creek and hunt for bugs. Timed tickets -- book online. No cash.

480 N Arroyo Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91103(626) 449-9144Tue–Sun 10am–5pm. Closed Mon.Ages 1–10verified 2d ago
$15–$17/person
Eaton Canyon Natural Area Park

3.5-mile hike to a 40-foot waterfall. Free parking. Check fire closures first.

1750 N Altadena Dr, Pasadena, CA 91107Park open daily sunrise–sunset. Nature center hours vary.outdoorAges 5+verified 2d ago
Free

Santa Monica

Cayton Children's Museum

Above Santa Monica Place. Two blocks from the Pier. Ball pit, art studio, building zone.

395 Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica, CA 90401(424) 416-8320Wed–Sun 10am–5pm. Closed Mon–Tue.indoorAges 0–8verified 2d ago
$16/person
Pacific Park

Free to walk. $10 Ferris wheel. Sunset Deal wristband: $24.95 after 5pm.

380 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA 90401Pier open 24hrs. Rides generally 11am–11pm summer, shorter off-season. Check pacpark.com for daily schedule.outdoorAges 0+verified 2d ago
Free–$40
Annenberg Community Beach House

Free splash pad on the beach. Pool and playground too. Santa Monica waterfront.

415 Pacific Coast Hwy, Santa Monica, CA 90402Daily 8:30am-5:30pm (seasonal hours vary)outdoorAges 0+verified 2d ago
Free

Hollywood

Runyon Canyon Park

Free. 3.5-mile loop. Go before 9am or after 4pm. West Trail closed (fire damage).

2000 N Fuller Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046Daily 6am–9pmoutdoorAges 5+verified 2d ago
Free
El Capitan Theatre

Disney's 1926 movie palace. Live pre-shows and character appearances. Not a regular theater.

6838 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028(800) 347-6396Opens 1hr before first showindoorAges 0+verified 2d ago
$20–$35

Moorpark

Underwood Family Farms

Real farm. Pick your own produce. Fall Festival: corn maze, pumpkin patch, tractor rides.

3370 Sunset Valley Rd, Moorpark, CA 93021Farm Market daily 9am–6pm. Festival hours vary by season.outdoorAges 0+verified 2d ago
$12–$38

Brentwood

The J. Paul Getty Museum

Free admission. Tram ride up. Pack a picnic -- terrace views are the real exhibit.

1200 Getty Center Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90049Tue–Fri & Sun 10am–6:30pm, Sat 10am–9pm. Closed Mon.Ages 0+verified 2d ago
Free
Skirball Cultural Center

Life-size Noah's Ark made from recycled materials. Kids climb, build, and play. Free Thursdays.

2701 N Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90049Tue-Fri 12-5pm, Sat-Sun 10am-5pm. Closed Mon.Ages 0+verified 2d ago
$10-18

Los Feliz

Griffith Park - Ferndell Nature Trail

Fern-lined creek trail, totally flat, stroller-friendly. Free playground at the end.

5375 Red Oak Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027Daily 5am-10:30pmoutdoorAges 0+verified 2d ago
Free

Manhattan Beach

Roundhouse Aquarium

Free. At the end of the Manhattan Beach Pier. Touch tanks and local marine life.

309 Manhattan Beach Blvd, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266Mon-Fri 3pm-sunset, Sat-Sun 10am-sunsetindoorAges 0+verified 2d ago
Free

Culver City

Wende Museum of the Cold War

Always free. Cold War art and artifacts in a converted armory. Mural garden outside.

10808 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA 90230Fri-Sun 10am-5pm. Closed Mon-Thu.Ages 8+verified 2d ago
Free

Echo Park

City of Los Angeles - Elysian Park

Free. 575 acres near Dodger Stadium. Playgrounds, trails, wide-open fields.

929 Academy Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90012Daily 5am-10:30pmoutdoorAges 0+verified 2d ago
Free

Mid-Wilshire

Zimmer Children's Museum

Interactive exhibits for ages 0-8. Global cultures, creativity, community. $10.

6505 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 100, Los Angeles, CA 90048Tue-Sun 10am-5pm. Closed Mon.indoorAges 0–8verified 2d ago
$10

Playa del Rey

LA County Beaches - Dockweiler Beach

Free movies on the beach. Bonfire pits. Planes flying overhead from LAX.

12000 Vista Del Mar, Playa del Rey, CA 90293Summer Fridays, film at sunsetoutdoorAges 0+verified 2d ago
Free

Beverly Hills

Franklin Canyon Park

Free. 605 acres. The lake from the Andy Griffith Show opening. Easy trails.

2600 Franklin Canyon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210Daily sunrise-sunsetoutdoorAges 0+verified 2d ago
Free

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