Hiking trails at Griffith Park offer stunning views of Los Angeles and the Hollywood sign. Access to the park and observatory is free, and tickets to Centered in the Universe show in the planetarium can be purchased at the observatory. The park is also home to the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, which features approximately 1,100 mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles representing over 250 species. At the zoo, kids can explore a cave, desert trail and watch for prairie dogs at the Winnick Family Children's Zoo.
The Aquarium of the Pacific in downtown Long Beach is one of the largest aquariums in the country. It is home to more than 500 species and visitors can explore habitats and exhibits related to the Pacific Ocean. Age-appropriate programs are provided for children of all ages, including summer camps and sleepovers at the aquarium. Families can combine a visit to the aquarium with the Los Angeles Zoo with discounted joint tickets.
Located at downtown's Rancho La Brea Tar Pits, the Page Museum has a diverse collection of Ice Age plants and animals. Fans of the "Ice Age" film series can learn about the history of the animals that inspired the movies' characters. Outside the museum there are life-sized replicas of extinct animals that once roamed Los Angeles. Visitors can also see bones from saber-toothed cats and mammoths cleaned and repaired, and learn about what the area was like during the last Ice Age.
Tracing its roots to 1932 and linked with Hollywood celebrities of the past and present, visitors of all ages will enjoy the Farmers Market. CBS Television City, a working television studio, is located next to the market. The sprawling site has approximately 100 shops, grocery stores and restaurants. Kids can enjoy a ride on a 1950s-style trolley and savor homemade ice cream treats. Children can also marvel at a nearby animated fountain at The Grove at Farmers Market, a retail and shopping complex with shops, restaurants and a movie theater.
Children interested in sports can chose from several professional sports teams, including baseball's Dodgers or Angels. The NHL's Los Angeles Kings and the NBA's Lakers and Clippers also play in the city. Alternatively, kids can explore their interest in sports by learning a new one. Families can spend a day at one of L.A.'s beaches while children learn to surf. Surf camps and lessons just for kids are available at Los Angeles and Santa Monica beaches during spring and summer months.
