By Robert Vaux
Los Angeles has activities for visitors of all ages. That goes for kids just as much as adults. With warm weather year-round and a cosmopolitan atmosphere embracing numerous cultures, boredom is the last thing on anyone's list of concerns. The sheer list of options available for children boggles the mind, but the most prominent stand-outs make excellent go-to choices for a weekend or a day trip.
Disneyland
Children's attractions in the L.A. area begin with the "Happiest Place on Earth." The "imagineers" at the Walt Disney Company have designed dozens of unique rides which no other theme park can compete with. California Adventure, next door, contains plenty of attractions as well, and nearby Downtown Disney has shops and restaurants for taking a break between parks. Disneyland is open 365 days a year, featuring daily parades and fireworks displays during peak periods.
Disneyland
1313 S. Harbor Blvd.
Anaheim, CA 92803-3232
Tel: (714) 781-4000
Knott's Berry Farm
If Disneyland is too crowded or you have a few extra days, take a ride down to Knott's Berry Farm in nearby Buena Park. It serves as the perennial "runner up" to Disneyland in the L.A. theme park business, and offers plenty of great attractions on its own. Older children may appreciate its array of roller coasters, which are faster and more intense than Disneyland's. Young kids can enjoy themselves at Camp Snoopy.
Knott's Berry Farm
8039 beach Blvd
Buena Park, CA 90620
Tel: (714) 220-5200
Baseball Stadiums
Kids who like baseball have a pair of Major League teams to choose from in L.A. The Dodgers of the National League have a rich tradition stretching back over 50 years, while the Angels in the American League emerged from decades of obscurity in 2002 to become perennial title contenders. Both teams play in modern stadiums which have undergone extensive renovations. The stadiums also host concerts and similar events in the off-season.
Angel Stadium of Anaheim
2000 E Gene Autry Way
Anaheim, CA 92806
Tel: (714) 940-2000
Dodger Stadium
1000 Elysian Park Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Tel: (323) 363-4377
Santa Monica Pier
Los Angeles has a number of public beaches, but the most famous is in Santa Monica, right next to its historic pier. First built in 1909, the pier now hosts a number of shops and attractions, including roller coasters, arcades and periodic fun events. The nearby 3rd Street Promenade holds a number of cool things to do as well, and the beach itself boasts warm sands and refreshing ocean waves for those in need of a dip in the Pacific.
The Santa Monica Pier
200 Santa Monica Pier, Suite A
Santa Monica, CA 90401
The Tar Pits
The George C. Page Museum contains a one-of-a-kind paleontological exhibit, stemming from the tar pits which littered the area many thousands of years ago. The tar preserved countless animal specimens perfectly in its confines, from sabretooth tigers to mastodons and woolly mammoths. Their bones are on display at the museum, along will film features discussing the history of the tar pits and demonstrations which help you feel what it's like to be stuck in the tar. The museum stands in the middle of a lovely park, with nearby restaurants for dining.
George C. Page Museum
5801 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Tel: (323) 934-7243
About the Author:
Robert Vaux has been a professional writer and editor since 1995. He has traveled throughout Europe and North America as well as parts of North Africa. Since 2000 he has been a professional movie critic at Flipside Movie Emporium, the Sci-Fi Movie Page and Mania.com. Vaux has a Master of Arts in English literature from Syracuse University.
