7 Things to Do with Kids in Los Angeles
There is no shortage of things to do in Los Angeles, from the beaches to the Magic Kingdom. If you’re looking for new homes in Los Angeles, you may be wondering what sort of enrichment the city offers for your family. In this list, we’ll review some of the best, and even a little obscure, adventures to be had in the City of Angels.
Theatricum Botanicum
This theater space in the shade of California Oaks has performances of family friendly shows, such as Aesop Fables and The Velveteen Rabbit, and also Shakespeare for older audiences. You can grab a bite to eat at The Elephant before your show, but people are encouraged to bring a picnic to have in the garden. The Theatricum Botanicum also offers a wide range of drama classes and workshops for youth and teens, covering acting, playwriting, and even stage combat. Definitely a place to take your budding stars!
Time Travel Mart
This quirky LA spot will entertain older kids. The mart is a “convenience store for time travelers” and sells items that appear to be from ages long past or yet to have happened, such as canned “Mammoth Chunks” or bottled “Robot Milk.” These items are sold by and for time travelers and will be sure to amuse kids. All proceeds for the store support the programs at 826LA, which is a non-profit organization supporting and tutoring kids ages 6-18 for free in creative and expository writing.
Santa Monica Pier Aquarium
Heal the Bay Aquarium is a non-profit that uses science, education, and community action to advocate for healthy coastal waters and watersheds for the Greater Los Angeles Area. Kids will get excited about the interactive exhibits and sea star and shark feedings, and parents will love the daily educational programs.
USS Iowa Museum
This decommissioned battleship was ordered for World War II and has played many vital roles since. Today it is run as a museum, with an award-winning self-guided tour. Visit Franklin D. Roosevelt’s private cabin to see where the President stayed during an important mission across the Atlantic. Tour the Lost at Sea exhibit of Dr. Robert Ballard’s rediscovered ship wrecks, including the HMS Titanic. This museum offers more than history though, with their STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) educational experiences. And you won’t want to miss the Alpha Romeo Tango exhibit with pieces by veteran artists. This historical ship has stories, education, and entertainment for everyone in the family.
Griffith Park
This Los Angeles location is so much more than a park. It has all the features you’d expect from a park, such as hiking trails, picnic tables, sports fields, and playgrounds, but that’s just scratching the surface. The park is 4,511 acres and boasts untouched natural beauty in addition to its other attractions. What are the other attractions? Take a spin on the historical Merry-Go-Round. Rent a horse at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center and ride on of the horseback riding trails the park offers. View the stars in the Griffith Observatory. Visit the Autry Museum of the American West. Meet the animals at the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens. This park is definitely a destination that calls for more than one trip.
California Science Center
The exploration starts as soon as you get out of the car at this Los Angeles museum. The Roy A. Anderson Blackbird Exhibit and Garden encourages you to take a look at the flora and fauna around you, and eventually brings you under the “Blackbird,” an A-12 reconnaissance aircraft. Then be sure to check out the High-Wire Bicycle, which demonstrates the law of “center of gravity” as you pedal across the sky court. The main draw of this science museum is the Air & Space exhibits, which includes several space capsules, an Apollo 16 space suit, and the crown jewel: the space shuttle Endeavor.
La Brea Tar Pits
This museum doesn’t just have millions of fossils on display; it is actually a site that is still being actively excavated. Check out the Observation Pit to try your hand at identifying fossils in the asphalt, tour the historic excavation sites, and even view the current excavation Project 23. Then watch live paleontologists cleaning and examining recent finds at the Fossil Lab. Finally, tour the museum to see reconstructed mammoths, mastodons, large cats and more.
Los Angeles is the city to be in for kids who dream, invent and inspire. If raising your family in the City of Angels sounds like the perfect fit, browse our new homes for sale in Los Angeles.
Contributed to Your Home blog by Elliott Rozwen
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Published 11.27.19