Los Angeles with Kids
A retired Space Shuttle, a free telescope, and a Ferris wheel over the Pacific, the version of LA that actually works with children in tow.
Los Angeles’s near year-round sunshine and genuine mix of theme parks, hands-on museums and beaches make it one of the best kid-friendly destinations in the country. Here’s how to spend the time on what actually works with kids.
California Science Center
Free entry, home to Endeavour, a real retired Space Shuttle, alongside air and space exhibits including the original 1902 Wright Glider. Kids can conduct experiments in the cell lab, ride a motion simulator, and catch live demonstrations, easily enough to fill most of a day.
Griffith Park and Griffith Observatory
Over 4,000 acres of natural terrain, home to the LA Zoo, Travel Town’s miniature trains, and the observatory itself, free entry with properly hands-on space exhibits. The 12-inch Zeiss telescope is free to look through every clear night the observatory’s open, a proper highlight for curious kids.
Santa Monica Pier and Pacific Park
Carnival rides, arcade games, a small aquarium and a towering Ferris wheel, a proper crowd-pleaser for every age without being a headache to navigate. The beach itself sits right below, worth combining a pier visit with sandcastle time if the weather holds.
Natural History Museum of LA County
One of the largest dinosaur exhibits in the world, including a full T-Rex growth series, one of the best stops for kids who love prehistoric creatures. The spring butterfly pavilion is a proper seasonal highlight worth timing a visit around if your dates allow.
Kidspace Children’s Museum
Over 40 indoor and outdoor exhibits in Pasadena, genuinely built for kids 10 and under, climbing, splashing, and music-making all built into the experience. Consistently ranks among the best things to do with young kids in LA, and even adults tend to enjoy it.
If a theme park day is on the cards
Universal Studios Hollywood offers a genuinely relaxed alternative to bigger parks elsewhere, easy to do in a single day, with the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and a behind-the-scenes studio tour as highlights. Book ahead and check ride height requirements before committing to a full day.
Eating with kids
Shake Shack is a reliably good, quick option across the city, and Grand Central Market downtown offers a genuinely wide range of food stalls under one roof, useful if the group can’t agree on one cuisine. In-N-Out is a local institution worth trying at least once, even if opinions on it vary.
A few practical notes
LA’s near year-round sunshine means outdoor activities work almost any time of year, though spring is genuinely the best season for hiking given the milder temperatures. A car remains the practical way to cover ground between neighbourhoods, the city sprawls considerably further than public transit alone comfortably covers.
That’s everything I’ve got.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government’s latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
