The west side of the Los Angeles metropolitan area, which includes Beverly Hills, Brentwood, and Santa Monica, has dozens of tourist attractions, many of which are well-suited to families. While movie studio tours and Hollywood sites abound in the area, families might want to focus on activities that are low cost or free, and that offer a cultural, scientific or historical component. Admission prices are current as of February 2011.
The Page Museum and La Brea Tar Pits complex is at Rancho La Brea, where hot tar has been oozing from the earth for more than 40,000 years. Over time, nearly 400 species of animals have been caught in the tar, and today the Page Museum displays their fossilized bones The museum claims to have the world's largest collection of Ice Age plant and animal fossils, which include mastodons, giant vultures, camels and bears. Kids will enjoy watching the ongoing excavations, as well as the cleaning and repairing of bones. Admission is $7 for adults, $4.50 for students 13-17, and $2 for children ages 5-12.
The Getty Center, perched on a hillside in the Santa Monica Mountains, has a variety of programs designed to introduce children to art. The Family Room offers hands-on activities such as decorating a giant illuminated manuscript, building a tube sculpture, and hunting for art treasures through peep-holes in the walls. Art Detective Cards give kids an incentive to explore the galleries and grounds, and a self-guided audio tour for families helps orient children and their parents to the museum's vast collection. Kids will enjoy the museum's outdoor sculpture gallery, which features works by 28 of the 20th century's greatest sculptors. Admission is free.
Petersen Automotive Museum on Wilshire Boulevard near Beverly Hills, features 150 rare and classic cars in an effort to show the auto's effect on U.S. life and culture. The museum has four floors, the first of which houses the center's permanent collection in chronological order. The other floors host changing shows on categories such as race cars, movie vehicles, or celebrity cars. Kids will enjoy the May Family Discovery Center, which offers hands-on explanations of the scientific principles behind the automobile. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for students 13-17, and $3 for kids ages 5-12.
Santa Monica State Beach is home to the Santa Monica Pier, a 1,600-foot concrete structure built in 1909. The pier has several family-friendly features, including a 1922 carousel, a roller coaster, and old-fashioned soda fountain. The pier also has an interactive aquarium and several restaurants. Kids will also love Santa Monica Beach, which stretches 3-1/2 miles from Venice Beach to Malibu. The beach has picnic areas, restrooms, and volleyball and basketball courts. Admission to the beach and pier are free, although charges apply for rides and other activities.
