The Definitive Guide to Visit LA with Kids: 21 Things to Do in Los Angeles with Family

Where can I take my kids in and around LA for fun? 

Are you a parent looking for fun family activities to enjoy with your kids in Los Angeles and its surroundings? Then you’ve come to the right place! Whether you live nearby or are just looking for places to go with kids on holidays, we know how stressful it can be to find fun things to do with family when there are so many options available. 

Plus, getting kids entertained has become a bit harder these days, don’t you think? That’s why, today, we’re here to show you a selection of the best family-friendly activities to help you organize your itinerary without worries. 

Stretching out from downtown LA, Orange County, and even the Inland Empire, get ready to explore the myriad of options this awesome city has to offer!

Best kid activities in Los Angeles and surrounding areas

Popular family-friendly destinations

Raging Waters, Los Angeles

If you and your family are adventure lovers who enjoy a good rush of adrenaline, then you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to visit Raging Waters! Located in San Dimas, this astonishing water park is the largest one in LA and is bound to impress both adults and kids alike. With 50+ attractions, including rides and slides, there’s something for everyone!

Moreover, they offer a variety of promotions and discounts that are perfect for all families, regardless of their size and age. You may opt to buy a Season Pass, Single-Day Admission, Group Tickets, or Any-Day Admission.

During the summer sale, Season Passes include unlimited summer admission, free friend tickets, and discounts on food and merchandise. Plus, special perks are announced throughout the season, such as Early Entry and discounted tickets on "Buddy Days."

Now, if you are interested in having some privacy during your stay, you can rent a private cabana for you and your group. With capacities ranging from 4 to 12 people, you can choose the size that better suits you. Inside them, you can enjoy the comfort of lounge chairs and dining tables. 

Mind you, if you want to rent a cabana, you must book it at least the day before - if not sooner - to ensure your spot, as quantities are limited and available on a first come, first serve basis. Fortunately, you can book your cabana online, which makes it super easy and quick. 

Cabanas are also the perfect way to celebrate a birthday, offering a private and festive setting for your special day. Enjoy a unique celebration with your loved ones, complete with comfort and style.

- Ideal Ages: Families with kids aged 3 to 12; teens and young adults aged 13 to 24. Adults may also enjoy more thrilling rides.

Griffith Observatory

Due to its location—1,134 feet above sea level—on the southern slope of Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park, the Griffith Observatory offers spectacular views of the LA Basin, including the Hollywood sign. The best part? Admission is free! You’ll just have to pay a nominal fee if you’d like to enjoy the planetarium shows—offered 8 times a day on weekdays and 10 times a day during weekends.
- Ideal Ages: there’s a special program for fifth graders (kids aged 11-12.)

Castle Park, Riverside

Moving on to Riverside, we strongly recommend visiting Castle Park. This family entertainment center is great for families, as it offers attractions such as mini golf, go-karts, and bumper boats. Depending on your interests, you may choose to purchase tickets for individual rides or unlimited ride access.

- Ideal Ages: children aged 4 to 12.

Boomers, Palm Springs

If you’re into family fun centers, you’ll definitely enjoy visiting Boomers in Palm Springs, about two hours outside LA. Some attractions include go-karts, a rock wall, batting cages, a game room, and even mini-golf courses! No matter your family’s tastes, there’s surely something for everyone. Plus, this fantastic park offers Play Packages depending on the amount of time you’d like to stay. That sounds great, huh?
- Ideal Ages: children aged 7 to 14.

Outdoor adventures

Victoria Beach Castle, Laguna Beach

Let’s head over to the coast. Located in the beautiful Victoria Beach, the Victoria Beach Castle, also known as La Tour, is a 60-foot tall tower that was built in 1926 as an enclosed staircase to access the beach for Senator William E. Brown and his family. That’s an amazing piece of history right there. If you’d like to spend your day walking down the beach while enjoying mesmerizing views, this is the place to go.
- Ideal Ages: visitors of all ages who enjoy scenic views and beach activities.

Tanaka Farms, Irvine

Next on our list of fun things to do with kids near Los Angeles, we have Tanaka Farms, a thirty-acre farm owned by the Tanaka family in Irvine. On the farm, you and your kids can enjoy farm tours, u-pick activities, and educational events. Prices vary depending on the event or activity you’d like to enjoy, ranging from $2 to $18.
- Ideal Ages: children aged 3 to 12.

Hiking to the Hollywood sign

Who wouldn’t want to visit the most famous sign of all? We’ve seen it in countless movies and series, and now it’s time to see the real thing! Even though you cannot hike directly to the sign, there are various trails offering great views of the sign and its surrounding areas. Plus, as it is located in Griffith Park, this family activity is free.
- Ideal Ages: children older than 10 years old, teenagers, and adults.

Oak Canyon Nature Center, Anaheim

Following the nature-related family activities, we couldn’t leave Oak Canyon Nature Center out of this list. This awesome place is a 58-acre park located in the Anaheim Hills of Southern California. There, you’ll find three adjoining canyons with four miles of hiking trails that follow oak woodland and coastal sage scrub habitats. Although admission is free, some programs and events have fees.
- Ideal Ages: kids aged 4 to 13.

Educational fun

Cabrillo Aquarium

When it’s time to decide where to go with kids in Los Angeles, choosing a place that promotes educational fun will have the power to entertain your children while still teaching them something useful. This marine aquarium is located in San Pedro and offers information about oceanography and marine biology.

-Ideal Ages: kids aged 5 to 14.

Discovery Cube, Santa Ana

If you’d like to visit a museum, your best option is the Discovery Cube, located in Santa Ana. It features more than 100 hands-on science exhibits especially made to spark children’s curiosity. General admission tickets cost $17.95 for adults and $12.95 for kids.  

-Ideal Ages: children aged 5 to 12.

Kidspace Children’s Museum

Are your children really into having fun, and would you like to take them to a place that sparks their creativity? Then you should definitely add this family-friendly place to your itinerary. This non-profit museum is designed to engage children intellectually, emotionally, and physically through joyful kid-friendly activities. 

-Ideal Ages: children aged 1 to 11.

Los Angeles Public Library

Let’s move on to downtown LA. If your kids are avid readers, then they’ll surely enjoy visiting the Los Angeles Public Library. As you might expect, admission is free, although some programs and events have special fees. Holding more than six million volumes, it has the largest metropolitan population of any public library in the US. Wow!

-Ideal Ages: children aged 5 to 14.

March Air Base Museum

Our last outstanding museum is the March Air Field Museum, located in Riverside. Its main focus is to showcase the history of aviation and military service in the United States. Children under 5 can enter for free, while kids ranging from 5 to 11 must pay $5, and the adults’ fee is $10.

-Ideal Ages: kids aged 8 to 15 years old.

Night activities

El Capitan Theatre

Ready to move on to the nightlife Los Angeles and its surroundings have to offer? You won’t be disappointed if you choose to visit El Capitan Theatre. Located on Hollywood Boulevard, this place is known for its ornate decorations and for hosting special events and movie premiers. 

-Ideal Ages: children aged 6 to 13. 

California Theater of The Performing Arts

If your family members are more into art and would like to explore the massive art culture of LA, you should definitely visit the California Theater of Performing Arts, located in the downtown area of San Bernardino. It was built in 1928, and it features a California Churrigueresque architectural style.

-Ideal Ages: children older than 8 years old and adults.

The Geffen Playhouse

Next comes another renowned theatre you shouldn’t miss if you visit LA with your kids. Know for its diverse productions and family-friendly events, this place is bound to entertain your whole family. In addition, the theater offers affordable parking options.

-Ideal Ages: children aged 2 to 12.

Van Buren Drive-In Theatre, Riverside

If you’d like to try a family-friendly activity that features your vehicle as the main protagonist, you should add Van Buren Drive-In Theatre to your itinerary. It first opened in 1964 and is located in Riverside. So, grab your popcorn and fasten your seatbelts to enjoy a fun drive-in movie!

-Ideal Ages: kids aged 8 to 13 years old.

Fun places to eat in Los Angeles with kids

Medieval Times, Buena Park

Yikes! We got a bit hungry, what about you? Well, it’s time to discover fun places to eat with kids near Los Angeles. First off, we have Medieval Times, located in Buena Park. This two-hour live show will transport visitors back to 11th-century Spain, featuring a feast, jousting, sword fights, and horsemanship performed by actors. Sounds incredible!

-Ideal Ages: children aged 4 to 15.

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co

Have your children seen Forrest Gump? If they have, they would love to visit this seafood restaurant, and if they haven’t, they would like it too because, well, who doesn’t like shrimp? This place is known for its fishing boat-themed setting and for serving a variety of seafood and American food.

-Ideal Ages: kids aged 5 to 13.

Lazy Dog

Located near downtown Los Angeles, Lazy Dog is a great dining restaurant to enjoy a nice meal with your kids. Due to its wide variety of American food options, such as burgers, salads, and sandwiches, it’s a fantastic place for children and adults alike.

-Ideal Ages: children older than 3 years old.

Raging Waters Restaurants

Remember Raging Waters? Good news—they offer great places to eat, too! Ranging from lunch to dessert, this water park has dining options for everyone. If you want to enjoy a delicious burger, you can head over to Bayside Burger because they offer high-quality 100% Angus burgers.

However, if you prefer a pizza, you can go to Pipeline Pizza Express, as they sell all kinds of delicious pizza. And, if you fancy a refreshing drink or snack, you can buy a Frozen Banana or an ice cream at SoCal Soft Serve. Head over to our website to see more options!

-Ideal Ages: kids aged 4 to 15.

Family-friendly hotels: where to stay in LA with kids

Next, we’ll cover a big question most parents must be asking themselves right now: Where should you stay in LA if you have kids? We recommend staying near family-friendly areas such as the one surrounding Raging Waters—San Dimas, as there are great hotel+ticket packages. Here are some of the options we liked best: Best Western San Dimas Hotel & Suite, Holiday Inn Express & Suite, and Motel 6 San Dimas. Apart from being super close to the park, they offer good service and will surely make you feel super comfortable during your stay.

However, if you’d like to stay in other areas of LA, we recommend checking out hotels near downtown due to their proximity to fun family-friendly activities. Some of them include the City Center Hotel, Kings Inn Downtown Los Angeles, and Best Western Plus Dragon Gate Inn.

Ready to give your kids an unforgettable trip to the City of Angels?

It’s time to head over to the City of Angels and start enjoying the variety of family-friendly activities LA has to offer. Remember, if you organize your itinerary in advance, grab essential items such as water and good footwear, and rent a car to move around the different areas of this sunny state, you’ll have the best time ever!

And, if you’re really looking to discover the real LA experience and enjoy an extra pop of fun, don’t hesitate to visit the largest waterpark in LA—Raging Waters! We assure you won’t regret it.