The famed city of Los Angeles, California combines a sprawling metropolitan area with the appeal of a vibrant beach city and the glitzy star power of Hollywood. It has been a coveted vacation hot spot for decades. While Los Angeles offers plenty of entertainment options and nightlife for visitors, the city also offers a host of family-friendly options that kids will love. Book your Los Angeles vacation rental today. Look forward to visiting exciting theme parks, laid-back nature parks, kid-friendly museums, and magical theaters for an unforgettable vacation experience. Check out the most exciting points of attraction in Los Angeles.
1. Have a Blast at Universal Studios Hollywood
A studio theme park resting right in the heart of Los Angeles, Universal Studios Hollywood features rides and exciting stunt shows for the whole family. See famous sets and animatronic Jaws on the Studio Tour, or enjoy spooky thrills on the Revenge of the Mummy Ride. Your littlest ones are sure to love Minion Mayhem, and older kids might beg to go on the Jurassic Park ride and the 3-D Transformers ride again and again. If you’re traveling with teens, be sure to walk through the Walking Dead attraction and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
2. Get Back to Nature at Griffith Park
From its hiking trails on the hills to its large space observatory, this park is the perfect place to take a break from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles. Little ones can hop on a pony ride or play on Shane’s Inspiration playground, and older kids can enjoy a refreshing hike to snap some photos of the sprawling city below.
3. Have Old-Fashioned Fun at Santa Monica Beach and Pier
Of all the beaches in the Los Angeles area, Santa Monica stands out as a favorite among families with kids young and old. Watch your kids play in the sand and surf while you kick back on a beach towel. Once the sun starts setting, walk down Santa Monica Pier to ride the Ferris wheel and other carnival favorites before grabbing some cotton candy and spotting dolphins and sea lions in the wake. Before heading back to your vacation rental, grab a bite at one of the restaurants on the pier.
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4. Spark Learning at the California Science Center
Offering something for the whole family, the California Science Center is a local favorite providing an hour of entertainment with an educational touch. Marvel at the space shuttle Endeavour permanently parked on the grounds, and check out the space exhibit in the main building. You can also walk through recreated ecosystems, experience the Arctic, and travel to the deepest trenches of the ocean through the museum’s many interactive exhibits.
5. Relax at Echo Park Lake
For some respite from your busier L.A. days, prepare a picnic at your vacation rental to enjoy on the shores of Echo Park Lake. Younger kids love to peddle past the spraying fountain on a rented paddle boat while feeding the ducks, and parents can enjoy views of the lotus garden beneath the beautiful Los Angeles skyline.
6. Catch a Movie at El Capitan Theatre
Seeing a family-friendly movie at this old-fashioned theater built in 1926 is a unique experience in itself. Visitors of all ages marvel at the ornate architecture of this glitzy tourist stop, and everyone feels like a star watching a movie on Hollywood Boulevard. Catch a movie during Tiny Tot Tuesdays if you’re traveling with toddlers, and expect plenty of fun extras such as people in costume, confetti, and streamers, and live singing during the screening.
7. Check Out the Kidspace Children’s Museum
Take a short drive from your relaxing Los Angeles vacation rental to let your little ones go wild at this 3.5-acre museum chock-full of interactive exhibits ranging from a hands-on greenhouse area to a giant anthill where kids can crawl through tunnels. On a beautiful Los Angeles day, be sure to spend some time outdoors at the Arroyo Adventure area where kids can build dams and climb into a replica Hawk’s nest. Younger kids get the most out of visiting this family favorite.
8. See a Puppet Show at the Bob Baker Marionette Theatre
Want to see a hand-crafted puppet spectacle in the country’s oldest working puppet theater? Families with younger children can’t go wrong in booking some seats at the Bob Baker Marionette Theatre for one of the nostalgic performances. Check for show times to fit a visit into your Los Angeles vacation itinerary.
9. Greet the Animals at the Los Angeles Zoo
Kids young and old can always get behind a visit to the zoo, and the Los Angeles Zoo is one that provides some bang for your buck with fascinating animals such as gorillas, chimps, elephants, and giraffes. Tiny tots can also burn off some energy at the Neil Papiano Play Park, and twice daily, you have the chance to feed a giraffe from your hand. Be sure to plan your visit for a weekday morning before 10 a.m. or an afternoon after 2 p.m. to beat the crowds.
10. Introduce the Kids to Rollerskating at Northridge Skateland
Roll back in time at this old-fashioned skate rink built in 1958, one of the last of its kind in the L.A. area offering a fun experience with some exercise to boot. Families with kids of all ages have a blast skating to top hits under neon lights, and you can also play some video games at the arcade or explore the laser maze.
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