By Sarah Valek
Things to Do With Kids in LA
consists of 1,001 neighborhoods spread out amongst the hills of Southern California. From the
beaches to the suburbs, your children will find something fun to do, whether they like the glitz and stars of Hollywood and Universal Studios or prefer something more laid-back. They may enjoy looking for fossils in a tar pit or riding along for a cruise down the coast.
La Brea Tar Pits/Page Museum
These natural tar pits aren't just sticky pools of goo---they're one of the world's most famous fossils sites. They're home to over 3 million fossils from the last Ice Age. The Page Museum features many of the fossils found here, along with woolly mammoth and saber-tooth tiger replicas. Budding paleontologists will love looking through the window to watch real scientists at work and babies will be enchanted by the small turtle and fish pond.
La Brea Tar Pits/Page Museum
5801 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 934-7243
www.tarpits.org
Aidan's Place
This playground is huge and fully wheelchair accessible. Any child---disabled or not---will love playing at with the specially-designed slides. They'll also enjoy the sand and water areas. A pool and tennis courts are also nearby.
Aidan's Place
Westwood Park
1350 S. Sepulveda Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 473-3610
Travel Town Transportation Museum
Train-obsessed toddlers will revel in glee at Travel Town, where choo-choos reign supreme. Kids can climb aboard into dining cars and freight trains and take a mini train ride with an old-fashioned conductor. Also, take a peak at the huge miniature train set. Younger kids will appreciate this place, but older kids may not.
Travel Town Transportation Museum
5200 Zoo Dr.
Griffith Park
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 662-5874
www.traveltown.org
Universal Studios Hollywood
Dive into pure Hollywood glitz with a visit to world-famous Universal Studios. Every attraction is related to a movie or TV show (your kids will surely pick up every reference), and it's nothing short of over-the-top entertainment. Fiery pyrotechnics, anyone? Kids will love watching their favorite movies in, not 3-D, but 4-D.
Universal Studios Hollywood
100 Universal City Plz.
Universal City, CA 91608
(818) 622-5946
www.universalstudioshollywood.com/
Mann's Chinese Theater
This historic theater with its grand Chinese-inspired entrance is like no other. Built in 1927 with imported Chinese artifacts, the theater was once the place to be for big celebrities. Today it's a popular place to take families since it still shows plenty of family-friendly movies. You can even buy your child her own Oscar to take home.
Mann's Chinese Theater
6925 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 464-6266
www.manntheatres.com/chinese/index.php
About the Author:
Sarah Valek has been a writer since 2006. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in writing and art from Ithaca College. Valek's work has appeared in ModernMom.com, "Mommies Magazine" and "Natural Moms Talk Radio."
Photo Credits:
"irene." (Flickr)
