Larry and I both have a problem with indecision when it comes to choosing a restaurant or an activity. To help remedy that situation, we got in the habit of jotting down our favorite restaurants and other favorite spots in hopes that when we had a free Friday or Saturday night we wouldn’t have to think of where to go, we could just consult our list. Eventually, we started adding places that we had heard were great, but hadn’t tried yet. The list included restaurants, day trips, bars, activities or anything else that we wanted to do as a couple. We called it , “Our List of Fun!”
We still have our original List of Fun!, however now that we are parents the list is not referenced as often as it used to be. Now, whenever Larry and I actually have an unscheduled day or are looking for something to do, we consult our “Family List of Fun!” Instead of bars, restaurants and day trips, it is filled with family friendly activities throughout the Los Angeles area. If you’ve made it this far and you don’t have kids I swear that being a parent is fun and we still go to bars, restaurants and take day trips. We are fun, dammit!
Please keep in mind that this list is mostly targeted at activities for toddlers, but many of the places are also great for kids of all ages. The list is in no particular order, except it is divided up into activities that are FREE, under $10 per person, under $15 per person and under $25 per person.
We are always looking for new ideas, so if you know of something that I haven’t listed, please pass on the good word. Thanks!
Free Activities
- The Getty Center
- Closed Mondays
- They have a family room with 5 activity coves or kids
- Picnic in the garden
- The Beach
- Some kid friendly beaches are Dockweiler, Will Rogers State Beach, Hermosa, Redondo, Zuma, and of course, Santa Monica
- *Paradise Cove is another favorite, but it is not free* – eat at the Beach Cafe and then play in the sand = perfect day!
- Leo Carillo and Point Dume Beaches in Malibu have Tide Pools which are fun for kids, as well
- Annenberg Community Beach House in Santa Monica look pretty cool, too.
- Bring a sled and go “sledding” in the sand, bring a bucket and shovels and/or a beach ball
- Don’t forget the sunscreen!
- Some kid friendly beaches are Dockweiler, Will Rogers State Beach, Hermosa, Redondo, Zuma, and of course, Santa Monica
- The Grove and The Farmers Market
- They have a Kids Club on the grass on Thursdays from 11am – 1pm.
- Monday Morning Mommy Movies at the Pacific Theater at 11am
- Pottery Barn has story time on Tuesdays at 11am
- The Americana at Brand
- In Glendale
- Same Kids Club as The Grove, except on Tuesdays from 11am – 1pm
- The Lion’s Fountain in Downtown Culver City
- This wouldn’t occupy them for a long time, but this coupled with lunch in Culver City makes for a great afternoon
- The Conejo Valley Botanical Garden (Kids Adventure Garden)
- In Thousand Oaks
- Sundays, 11am – 3pm
- Parks – I know there are 100s of parks in the LA area. I can just vouch for these…
- Griffith Park
- Will Rogers State Park
- Rancho Tapo Community Park - they have free water play Memorial through Labor Day Weekends
- Eaton Canyon Park and Nature Hike
- Van Nuys Sherman Oaks Park in Sherman Oaks – recently remodeled
- Veterans Park in Culver City
- Lake Balboa Park in Encino (although it tends to be pretty crowded)
- Polliwog Park in Manhattan Beach
- Burton W Chase Park in Marina del Rey
- Clover Park on Ocean Park in Santa Monica
- Roxbury Park in Beverly Hills
- Aidens Place in Westwood
- Warner Park in Woodland Hills – has a summer concert series in the park
- Travel Town
- Railroad History Museum
- M – F: 10am – 4pm, Sat and Sun: 10am – 6pm
- Malibu Country Mart
- Free to visit, but spend the day here and you are sure to spend money
- California Science Center
- Open Daily 10am – 5pm
- Parking is $8
- Best times to visit are weekends or weekdays after 1:30pm (according to the website because its less busy)
- Farmers Markets – If you know of any good Farmers Markets (specifically, kid friendly), please let me know. I am always on the lookout. Thanks!
- Saturday – Sherman Oaks Farmers Market on Sepulveda (8am – 1pm) – this one just started 2 weeks ago. From afar it looked like a lot of fun and that they were targeting families.
- Sunday – Santa Monica Farmers Market on Main St (9:30am – 1pm) – fun music for kids and pony rides
- Storytime with Lindy at BookStar
- In Studio City
- On Saturdays
- Infant and Toddler Story time at your local library
- Here’s info for the Studio City Branch – scroll midway down the page
- Santa Monica Airport
- Observation Decks where you can watch the planes take off and land
- The Children’s Nature Institute
- Family Nature Walks and Tykes on Trails Walks (for ages 2 – 4)
Activities Under $10 (per person)
- The Children’s Zimmer Museum
- Adults $8, Kids $5, Under 2 – free
- Closed Mondays and Saturdays
- The Natural History Museum
- Adults $9, Under 4 – free
- Santa Monica Pier Aquarium – Heal the Bay
- Suggested Donation $5/person, Kids under 12 – free
- Open Tuesday – Sunday
- The Gentle Barn (Animal Sanctuary)
- In Valencia
- Open Sundays, 10am – 2pm
- Suggested Donation Minimum $5
- Animal Acres – Animal Sanctuary
- In Acton – near Palmdale
- Open on Sundays to General Public
- Tours $5/person, Under 3 – free
- Japanese Garden
- M – Thurs: 11am – 4pm, Sun: 10am – 4pm
- Adults $3, Children and Seniors $2
- Descanso Gardens
- Located in La Canada Flintridge
- Adults $8, Under 5 – free
- Mini Train and Tram rides, as well as Gardens and Fountains and a Japanese Tea Room
- Underwood Family Farms
- Adults $5, Under 2 – free (includes tickets for wagon ride)
- Pick your own veggies, animal farm, petting zoo, wagon rides, and more!
- La Brea Tar Pits
- 9:30am – 5 pm daily
- Adults $7, under 5 – free
- Admission free on 1st Tuesday of the month
- Great park next door
- Peterson Automotive Museum
- Adults $10, Under 5 – free
- 10am – 6pm; closed Sundays
- Have a toddler friendly area with activities, but they can’t touch anything in the museum so this may be kinda tough…
- Starlight Bowl
- In Burbank
- Outdoor concerts for children, starting at 6:30pm (tough with bedtime, but sounds fun)
- Parking is $5 per car
- Begins July 4th then every Sunday through August
- The SEA Lab
- In Redondo Beach
- A place to explore SoCal’s marine life for kids of all ages
- Suggested donation of $4/family
- Closed Mondays
- Play
- in Los Angeles
- I can’t quite figure it out – check out the website. I think it looks cool, but I am overwhelmed by it.
- INDOOR PLAY LANDS (most of these locations are $9)
- Play Source in Woodland Hills
- The Play Room in Sherman Oaks
- The Coop in Studio City
- Naya’s Garden in Silverlake
- Playhouse 4 Kids in La Crescenta
- Under the Sea – 6 Locations
- Peekaboo Playland – Eagle Rock (this one is two stories of fun!)
Activities Under $15 (per person)
- The LA Zoo
- 13 and up $14, Kids $9, Under 2 – free
- They have a great petting zoo that Charlie loves
- Open 10am – 5pm
- For kids age 2, try the Toddle Totes program
- Star Eco Station
- Adults $8, Children $6, Infants in strollers – free
- M-F 1pm – 5pm, Sat and Sun 10am – 4pm
- Kidspace Children’s Museum
- In Pasadena
- Adults and Children $10/person
- Monday Morning Mommy Movies
- Saturday Morning Cartoons
- At the Crest Theater in Westwood
- Adults $10, Children $5 – buy tickets in advance because shows sell out
- Runs April through June 4
Activities Under $25 (per person)
- Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach
- Adult $24.95, Children $12.95
- Huntington Children’s Garden
- Weekdays: Adults $15, under 5 – free
- Weekends: Adults $20, under 5 – free
- Closed Tuesdays
- 1st Thursdays of the month are free, but tickets must be reserved in advance
Big Days Out – These obviously need no explanation
I seriously love your organization and information! This is amazing and I am printing it out and keeping it handy. We never know where to go.
Adding Noah’s Ark at the Skirball.
Thanks Carla! I cannot believe I didn’t include Skirball. We haven’t been but I hear the Noah’s Ark exhibit is great.
1) I love you and I love your list! 2) I have no kids; please post/send me your original adult List of Fun!!! xo
Shawna, I will definitely post the old school list of fun. It may be outdated…
Love it!! We also love walking around streets – like Montana, Larchmont, 3rd Street, Beverly, Broadway in Chinatown – it can either be free or expensive depending on your will power.
Great ideas! You obviously have a girl. Charlie will not sit in his stroller for longer than 2 minutes. We have to push him around in the Step2Buggy or hold him. He prefers to walk but has an affinity for heading straight into oncoming traffic.
I got my invite to FDIL’s bridal shower this past weekend. I was not consulted about the date nor the time or anything else about the shower. I was also not asked for a list of people whom to invite. Only myself and my daughter have been invited-not my mother or my mother-in-law, my son’s godmother or his two aunts. I would throw a shower for the bride to be myself, but I have gleaned that there is only to be one shower and this one is it. I have also found out that while I was not consulted about the shower, the bride’s mother was heavily involved every step of the way-every single female relative on the bride’s side will be there. Shouldn’t both mothers have been consulted when planning the shower and shouldn’t all the groom’s female relatives be invited? Am I wrong to feel slighted?