Los Angeles is a fun and lively city great for kids and parents or grandparents to explore together. The most famous of all kid attractions in LA is perhaps Disneyland but don’t overlook local institutions such as The Griffith Observatory, The California Science Center and the Dinosaur Hall at the National History Museum will make your child’s imagination soar. The coastal city also has countless outdoor family friendly spots. Here’s an array of different types of adventures to enjoy with the entire family in the region. 
Photo: Shutterstock/Logra
11+ of the Best Family Friendly Activities in Los Angeles
by
Matador Creators
Feb 18, 2017
Editor’s note: These spots are all taken directly from travelstoke®, a new app from Matador that connects you with fellow travelers and locals, and helps you build trip itineraries with spots that integrate seamlessly into Google Maps and Uber. Download the app to add any of the spots below directly to your future trips.
Traveling to Los Angeles? Check out Matador’s Los Angeles accommodations guides:
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- These Are the Best Cannabis-Friendly Airbnbs in Los Angeles
- DTLA Is Home to the City’s Coolest Hotels. Here’s Proof.
- These 9 Neighborhoods Prove You Don’t Need a Car to Enjoy Los Angeles
- 8 Gorgeous LA-Area Hotels With Rooftop Pools, Award-Winning Bars, and Five-Star Service
- Bookend Your Trip to Los Angeles at These Inspiring Hotels Near LAX
Griffith Observatory
Each month, the Griffith Observatory, along with the L. A. Astronomical Society, the L.A. Sidewalk Astronomers, and the Planetary Society, turn dozens of high-powered telescopes to the skies for the observatory’s monthly public star parties. At 2pm (yep, in daylight) on these highly anticipated Saturdays, professional and amateur astronomers, stationed across the lawn and over the observatory’s terraces, begin captaining people to the outer reaches of the Milky Way with stops to see Saturn’s rings, Jupiter’s storm, the sun’s flares, and whatever celestial bodies prominently emerge.
The on-ground star of the party always is the Zeiss refracting telescope, which has served more than 7 million people since it was mounted in its rooftop dome in 1935, making it the most looked-through telescope in all the world.
Fly kites on Avila Beach Pier
Kite flying is a serious business in California. If you need equipment, check out Evett’s Model Shop in Santa Monica or Sunshine Kite Company in Redondo Beach. Or show up and play during one of these L.A. kite festivals:
Kite Flying Festival @ Ascot Hills Park
Festival of the Kite @ Redondo Beach Pier
Otis Kite Festival @ Santa Monica Pier
California Science Center
The museum is located in Exposition Park, next to the Natural History Museum. Enjoy interactive science exhibits and then nip next door and check out the three Tyrannosaurus rex skeletons in the dinosaur hall.
Huntington Dog Beach
Huntington is one of the many dog-friendly parks in the city and a great place to hang out with the family. If you’re feeling adventurous, the best way to explore the beaches of Los Angeles is via the 22-mile Marvin Braude Bike Path. You can ride from Will Rogers State Beach near the Pacific Palisades in the north to Torrance Beach at the foot of Rancho Palos Verdes in the south with Santa Monica, Venice, Marina del Rey, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, and Redondo Beach in between. Bring sunblock and a swimsuit, and if you lack your own wheels rent a bike at one of the 12 Perry’s Cafes that line Santa Monica and Venice Beach.
The Last Bookstore
Check out the events page for an up-to-date listing of performances.
Los Angeles National Forest Park
Explore a nature playground, hit the trails & learn about the surrounding area and wildlife at the park’s education center.
Echo park
Echo Park Lake is a favorite destination for a stroll, fishing, and picnics. But the best part is the pedal boats available for rent. The lake is petite, but what it lacks in volume it makes up for in ducks and geese and adorable baby turtles.
Walt Disney Concert Hall
The concert hall is an architectural landmark and one of the most acoustically sophisticated concert halls in the world. Check out the listing of events and concerts here.
Hollywood Sign Hike
Unless you’re immune to L.A. tourist cliches, you may find yourself wanting to get a little closer to the Hollywood sign. If your little ones won’t manage the hike, the Lake Hollywood Overlook is probably your best Hollywood photo opp by car.
Ernest E. Debs Regional Park
This park has facilities for picnics and fishing, and a suerb nature, conservation center with plenty of activities for kids. A great family destination or a place for a quick hike when you can’t make it out further from the city.