Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Los Angeles is a huge city with many beaches, parks and other activities for children. Many of these activities are budget friendly and afford children entertainment as well as educational experiences. Activities abound for children of all ages; plan either for a day event or for a short outing together.
The Santa Monica Pier is a great place for kids; it has carnival games, such as knocking down milk bottles, and a variety of rides and attractions. The pier is located on the Santa Monica beach, so you can spend time enjoying the sand and the surf after the amusement attractions. It is free to walk the pier, but the games and rides will cost a few dollars.
Santa Monica Pier
200 Santa Monica Pier
Suite A
Santa Monica, CA 90401
santamonicapier.org
Venice Beach, located close to Santa Monica, is a very artsy beach complete with street performers and small booths that line the boardwalk. The beach has basketball, tennis and handball courts that are open to the public. You can reserve a court or walk down to the beach to see if anybody is open for a family game. It also has playgrounds and a small skate park. Youth basketball games are commonly played at this beach as well.
Venice Beach
1531 Ocean Front Walk
Venice, CA 90291
venicebeach.com
The La Brea Tar Pits is a dinosaur museum where kids can enjoy learning about different dinosaurs that were found in the Los Angeles area. It is located in Hollywood, so many great eateries and activities are nearby. It has a museum with hands-on exhibits where kids can learn about paleontology. Many of the exhibits are designed with kids in mind. Over the summer, La Brea hosts programs for kids that teach them about history and the dinosaurs. As of September 2010, admission is free for children 5 to 12 years old; admission for children 13 to 17 years old is $4.50. Everyone is admitted free on the first Tuesday of each month. The museum is open 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day.
La Brea Tar Pits
5801 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
323-934-7243
tarpits.org
Griffith Park is a huge park located on rolling hills in Los Angeles with acres of land on which kids can run around and play. It also has a merry-go-round that is open every day during the summer. The Griffith Park Observatory, located at the top of these hills, offers a sweeping view of Los Angeles. The observatory has many interactive exhibits including a planetarium where you can watch a short film about the planets. Schools often bring students here to experience the kid-friendly exhibits and learn about space. Admission to the observatory is free.
Griffith Park
4730 Crystal Springs Drive
Hollywood, CA 90028
laparks.org
The Los Angeles Zoo entertains hundreds of children daily. It houses many different animals, including the new gorilla compound. Children can learn about animals and see their favorite wild animals in real life. As of September 2010, the Zoo is open daily and admission for children 2 to 12 years old is $9 and for those over 12 years old, $14.
Los Angeles Zoo
533 Zoo Dr.
Los Angeles, CA 91203
323-644-4200
lazoo.org