Last Updated on July 24, 2026 by Daniel Globe
Los Angeles can be a fantastic family destination when you plan around your kids’ ages, interests, and the city’s geography. You can mix major theme parks with beaches, science museums, playgrounds, hikes, movie history, and several genuinely free attractions. The key is to group nearby activities together instead of spending half the day crossing Los Angeles in traffic.
Quick Answer
Some of the best things to do in Los Angeles with kids include Griffith Observatory, Universal Studios Hollywood, the California Science Center, Travel Town, Santa Monica Pier, the Getty Center, and family museums along Wilshire Boulevard. Disneyland Resort is another major option, but it is in Anaheim rather than Los Angeles itself.
Key Takeaways
- Group attractions by neighborhood to avoid unnecessary drives across Los Angeles.
- Griffith Observatory, the California Science Center, Travel Town, beaches, and several outdoor attractions can keep costs down.
- Check age and height rules before booking Universal Studios Hollywood or Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood.
- Disneyland Resort is in Anaheim, so families spending multiple days there may benefit from a separate Anaheim hotel stay.
- You do not automatically need a rental car for every day; Metro, rideshare, and walking work well for some attraction clusters.
Exciting Attractions for Kids
Los Angeles and the surrounding region offer everything from movie-themed rides to hands-on science. The best choice depends heavily on your children’s ages.
Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood is a strong choice for families who enjoy movies and rides. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter includes Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and Flight of the Hippogriff, while other areas of the park add attractions based on major film and television franchises.
Before buying tickets, check the park’s current ride-height requirements. For example, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey requires riders to be at least 48 inches tall. Families with smaller children can still enjoy other parts of the park, but knowing the restrictions in advance can prevent disappointment.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood
Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood takes visitors behind the scenes of a working studio and includes recreated sets, props, and costumes connected with the DC Universe and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts. Its Awards Season area adds another look at film and television history.
Note: Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood does not admit children under age 5. Guests ages 5 through 17 must be accompanied by an adult, so this is better for school-age children and teens than for toddlers.
Disneyland Resort
Disneyland Resort includes Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. It is one of Southern California’s biggest family attractions, but remember that the resort is in Anaheim, not the City of Los Angeles. Depending on traffic, treating Disneyland as a separate part of your trip can be much easier than commuting from central LA for several consecutive park days.
Disney no longer calls its paid expedited-access service Genie+. The current system includes Lightning Lane passes, including Lightning Lane Multi Pass. Check Disney’s app and official site shortly before your trip because attraction availability and queue systems can change.
Griffith Observatory and Griffith Park
Griffith Observatory combines science with some of the best city views in Los Angeles. Admission to the Observatory building, grounds, and public telescopes is free. Shows inside the Samuel Oschin Planetarium require separate tickets.
Elsewhere in Griffith Park, kids can explore Travel Town Museum, where historic railroad equipment is displayed and admission is donation-based. A miniature train ride is available for an additional charge. Shane’s Inspiration is a universally accessible playground where children with different abilities can play side by side.
Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica Pier combines ocean views, arcade games, food, and Pacific Park rides. The solar-powered Pacific Wheel measures 85 feet tall, with riders reaching views more than 130 feet above the pier. Check individual ride-height rules when visiting with smaller children.
Outdoor Adventures and Nature Spots
Los Angeles gives families plenty of ways to spend time outside without committing to a full theme-park day.
Griffith Park
Griffith Park covers more than 4,000 acres and offers hiking trails, picnic areas, playgrounds, museums, and views toward Downtown Los Angeles and the Hollywood Sign. Choose trails based on your children’s experience and the weather rather than automatically aiming for the longest route.
Botanical Gardens
The Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden and Descanso Gardens are calmer alternatives to the major theme parks. They work especially well for families who enjoy plants, birds, shaded paths, and slower-paced walks.
Admission rules, special-event schedules, and picnic policies vary, so check each garden before arriving with a full picnic setup.
Malibu Creek State Park
Malibu Creek State Park encompasses more than 8,000 acres in the Santa Monica Mountains. Families can find hiking opportunities, dramatic rock formations, creek scenery, and broad open landscapes.
Choose hikes carefully in warm weather. Southern California heat can make an easy-looking trail much harder for children, especially around midday.
Santa Monica, Venice, and Palos Verdes
Santa Monica Beach is an easy choice for classic sand-and-ocean time. The Marvin Braude coastal bike path also makes cycling possible along sections of the coast.
Venice Beach offers a busier boardwalk atmosphere, while nearby Venice Canals provide a quieter walk. Families with younger children may prefer visiting the Venice area during daylight hours and keeping the visit focused on the beach, canals, and bike path.
The Palos Verdes Peninsula is another option when coastal scenery and walking trails matter more than rides or museums.
Warning: Bring water, sun protection, and appropriate footwear for hikes. Coastal weather can be cool while inland trails become very hot on the same day, so check conditions before leaving.
Best Los Angeles Activities by Age
Toddlers and Preschoolers
For younger children, prioritize places where they can move at their own pace. Travel Town, Shane’s Inspiration Playground, the Los Angeles Zoo, short beach visits, and the California Science Center’s hands-on areas can be easier than a full day built around thrill rides.
Elementary-School Kids
School-age children often get the most variety from Griffith Observatory, the Natural History Museum, California Science Center, Universal Studios Hollywood, Santa Monica Pier, and outdoor fossil activity around La Brea Tar Pits.
Teens
Teens may enjoy Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood, Universal Studios Hollywood, contemporary art at The Broad, filmmaking exhibits at the Academy Museum, Melrose-area street art, coastal biking, and more challenging Griffith Park hikes.
Arts and Culture Experiences
Los Angeles museums range from fine art to filmmaking, dinosaurs, automobiles, and hands-on science, so you do not have to convince kids to spend an entire day looking at paintings.
Getty Center
The Getty Center combines art, gardens, architecture, a hilltop tram ride, and wide city views. Admission is free, but a timed-entry reservation is required and parking is paid.
This makes the Getty especially useful for families who want art without planning a traditional all-day museum visit.
LACMA and Museum Row
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art entered a major new chapter in 2026 with the opening of the David Geffen Galleries. Families can combine LACMA with other attractions along Wilshire Boulevard instead of driving to a second part of the city.
Urban Light remains an easy outdoor photo stop. L.A. County families should also check LACMA’s NexGenLA program, which provides free membership for eligible local children and teens.
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
The Academy Museum is a natural fit for movie-loving families, with exhibits focused on filmmaking, movie history, costumes, props, and the creative process. General museum admission is currently free for visitors age 17 and younger, although tickets are still required.
The Broad and Walt Disney Concert Hall
The Broad focuses on contemporary art and offers free general admission. Timed reservations are recommended because walk-up waits can vary, and some special exhibitions require separate admission.
Walt Disney Concert Hall is just a short walk away, making the two easy to combine with Grand Central Market and other Downtown attractions.
La Brea Tar Pits and Petersen Automotive Museum
La Brea Tar Pits remains fascinating for children interested in fossils, but there is an important 2026 update: the indoor Tar Pits museum is temporarily closed for a two-year renovation. Many outdoor areas of Hancock Park and active excavation sites remain available, so families can still watch paleontology work in progress.
Across Wilshire Boulevard, the Petersen Automotive Museum is a strong alternative for children and teens interested in unusual, historic, racing, and movie-related vehicles.
California Science Center and Natural History Museum
The California Science Center is one of the best-value family attractions in Los Angeles because its core exhibit galleries have free general admission. Paid IMAX films and some special experiences are separate.
Next door in Exposition Park, the Natural History Museum has Dinosaur Hall, a hands-on Discovery Center, animal exhibits, and rotating programs. Placing these two attractions on the same day can save considerable travel time.
Fun and Unique Activities
Families looking beyond conventional museums can build a day around Los Angeles’ movie, street-art, railway, and coastal culture.
The Warner Bros. Studio Tour gives school-age children and teens a closer look at studio production and recognizable movie props and costumes. Universal Studios Hollywood turns film themes into rides and immersive environments, including the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Melrose Avenue has a changing collection of murals and street art that can make a colorful photo stop. Because murals change over time, treat the area as an exploration rather than planning around one specific artwork.
Griffith Park combines urban hiking with Travel Town, playgrounds, the Los Angeles Zoo, and Griffith Observatory. It is one of the easiest areas to adapt when children have different interests.
For coastal fun, combine Santa Monica Pier with the beach rather than trying to squeeze Santa Monica, Venice, Downtown LA, and Hollywood into the same day. Older kids can enjoy the coastal bike path, while the Venice Canals offer a slower-paced walk.
Tips for Visiting Los Angeles With Kids
Plan by Neighborhood, Not by Attraction Ranking
Los Angeles is large, so two excellent attractions can still make a poor combination when they sit on opposite sides of the region.
Pro Tip: Build each day around one area. Pair Griffith Observatory with Griffith Park; combine LACMA, the Academy Museum, La Brea Tar Pits, and Petersen on the same Wilshire-area day; visit the California Science Center with the Natural History Museum; and keep Santa Monica and Venice together.
How Many Days Do You Need?
A five-night trip can work well, but there is no single correct length. Four to six nights gives many first-time families enough room for several LA neighborhoods without scheduling every hour. Add separate Anaheim nights when Disneyland is a major part of the vacation.
Book the Attractions That Require Planning
The Getty requires free timed-entry reservations, while The Broad recommends advance timed admission. Disneyland requires valid admission and applicable park reservations, and popular attractions may benefit from current Lightning Lane options.
At Griffith Observatory, the building and public telescopes are free, but Samuel Oschin Planetarium tickets are separate and regular same-day tickets are generally sold at the Observatory.
Check Height and Age Rules Before Promising a Ride
This matters most at Universal Studios Hollywood and studio tours. Universal publishes minimum heights for individual rides, while Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood has a minimum guest age of 5.
Use Angels Flight as a Short Downtown Experience
Angels Flight Railway connects Hill Street near Grand Central Market with California Plaza. As of July 2026, the fare is $1.50 each way, while riders using stored value on a Metro TAP card pay $0.75 for a one-way trip.
The historic cars have narrow interiors. Wheelchair access can be arranged from the upper station with assistance, so families with mobility needs should review current accessibility information rather than assuming the railway works like a modern transit vehicle.
Budget-Friendly Options
Exploring Los Angeles with kids does not have to mean buying attraction tickets every day.
- Griffith Observatory: Building, grounds, and public telescopes are free; parking and planetarium shows can cost extra.
- California Science Center: Core galleries have free general admission; special experiences and IMAX films may cost extra.
- Travel Town Museum: Admission is donation-based, while the miniature train costs extra.
- The Broad: General admission is free, although some special exhibitions and programs are separately ticketed.
- Santa Monica Beach and Venice Canals: No attraction admission is required, though parking or transportation still costs money.
- Lake Hollywood Park: A free place for a distant view toward the Hollywood Sign.
- Hollywood Walk of Fame: Free to visit and better treated as a short photo stop than a full-day family attraction.
Families should also look for resident, youth, library, military, EBT, and museum-membership discounts where applicable. For example, the Academy Museum currently offers free general museum admission to visitors age 17 and younger.
Angels Flight is another inexpensive Downtown activity, but the current regular one-way fare is $1.50 rather than the former $1 price.
Getting Around LA
A rental car can be useful in Los Angeles, especially when your itinerary includes Malibu, Palos Verdes, several suburban stops, or a large amount of gear. It is not essential for every family or every day.
LA Metro serves major destinations across the county. Rail can be particularly practical for Downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood, Exposition Park, and Santa Monica. The E Line connects Downtown with Santa Monica, while other rail and bus routes cover additional attraction areas.
Rideshare can fill gaps when a direct transit trip is inconvenient, but families with young children still need to plan for appropriate child restraints.
Warning: California requires children under age 8 to be properly secured in an appropriate car seat or booster in the rear seat in most circumstances. Children under 2 must ride rear-facing unless they meet California’s stated height or weight exception. These rules still matter when you rent a vehicle or use a ride service.
If Disneyland is part of the trip, remember that Anaheim is outside Los Angeles. Families planning two or more full Disney days may find it easier to move to an Anaheim hotel rather than repeatedly driving between LA and the resort.
Recommended Places to Stay
The best place to stay depends less on finding one “perfect” hotel and more on matching your hotel to the attractions you plan to visit.
Marina del Rey and the Westside
The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey offers a waterfront setting and convenient access to Marina del Rey, Venice, and the broader Westside. Cast & Plow provides on-site dining, including breakfast options.
Do not rely on the previous claim that the property’s resort fee could reach $200 per night. Mandatory hotel and destination fees change, so compare the full nightly total shown during booking rather than only the advertised room rate.
Anaheim for Disneyland
Howard Johnson by Wyndham Anaheim Hotel & Water Playground is a family-oriented option within walking distance of Disneyland Resort. Its water-play area is especially useful for families who want downtime outside the parks, and some room configurations are designed with families in mind.
Other hotels along Harbor Boulevard are also within walking distance, so compare total rates, parking charges, pool facilities, room layouts, and actual walking distance before booking.
Should You Split Your Stay?
A split stay can make sense when your trip combines several Los Angeles sightseeing days with two or more Disneyland days. For example, you might stay first on the Westside or in another LA neighborhood that fits your sightseeing plan, then move to Anaheim for the Disney portion.
A three-night-plus-three-night split is one possible arrangement, but it should not be treated as a rule. Families spending only one day at Disneyland may prefer to stay in one location and avoid changing hotels.
Conclusion
Los Angeles offers far more for families than theme parks alone. You can watch the sky at Griffith Observatory, explore free science exhibits, see movie history, hike through Griffith Park, spend an afternoon at the beach, visit world-class art museums, or build an entire day around dinosaurs and hands-on learning.
The biggest planning trick is geography: choose attractions that sit near one another, check current reservations and age restrictions, and treat Anaheim as a separate base when Disneyland takes up several days. With that approach, your family can spend far more time enjoying Los Angeles and much less time sitting in traffic.
Sources
- Disneyland Resort — Lightning Lane Passes — current Disneyland queue and Lightning Lane terminology.
- Griffith Observatory — admission, visiting information, telescopes, and planetarium planning.
- Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood — tour experiences, props, costumes, and visitor restrictions.
- California Science Center — free core galleries and current visitor information.
- Los Angeles Metro — public transportation to major Los Angeles attractions and destinations.
- California Highway Patrol — Child Safety Seats — current California child-passenger restraint requirements.
