Los Angeles sells itself as a dream destination, but if you’ve ever tried to wrangle kids through bumper-to-bumper traffic to reach an overhyped attraction, you know the reality can feel different. The best los angeles family activities aren’t always the ones plastered on billboards. They’re the ones where your kids are too engaged to ask for your phone.
We built Another Side Tours around the idea that LA has more to offer than the obvious. Our local guides have spent years uncovering spots and experiences that actually deliver, for adults and kids alike. That perspective shaped this list. Every activity here has been chosen because it holds up to the toughest critics: children who are bored, hungry, or both.
Below you’ll find 14 family-friendly picks across the city, from outdoor adventures to interactive museums to experiences you won’t find in a standard guidebook. Whether you’re visiting for a week or just trying to salvage a Saturday, there’s something here worth leaving the hotel for.
1. Another Side Of Los Angeles Tours Family Tour
When you’re searching for los angeles family activities that remove the planning stress from your trip, a guided tour does the heavy lifting. Another Side Of Los Angeles Tours runs family-friendly guided experiences through the city’s most recognizable neighborhoods, led by local experts who know which stops hold a kid’s attention and which ones fall flat. Instead of piecing together a route on your own, you hand that job to someone who does it every day.
What you’ll do
Your family gets picked up and taken through neighborhoods like Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica with a guide who brings real stories to each landmark. Rather than pulling into a parking lot, reading a sign, and moving on, your guide provides the context: why a building matters, who shaped it, what makes this block different from the one before it. Kids respond to storytelling far better than static displays, and that’s the core of what these tours deliver. You can also choose thematic options like the celebrity homes tour or the haunted Hollywood experience if your family wants a more specific angle.
A knowledgeable local guide turns a drive past the Hollywood sign into a story your kids will still be repeating on the plane home.
Best ages and time needed
Tours work well for kids aged 6 and up, though younger children who enjoy vehicle rides and listening to stories often do fine. Tour durations range from 90 minutes to seven hours depending on the package you select, which gives you real flexibility based on your kids’ energy and your overall schedule for the day.
Cost and what’s included
Private tour pricing starts around $75 per person and scales with group size, duration, and transportation type. Your booking covers guide service, transportation, and pickup, so you skip the rental car stress and the nightmare of finding parking in unfamiliar parts of the city. Group pricing is available for parties of three or more, which makes this a practical choice for families traveling together.
Tips to make it easy with kids
Schedule a morning departure if your children tend to lose steam in the afternoon. Bring snacks and water for younger kids, and mention any specific interests when you book. Private tours give you the most flexibility to slow down, ask follow-up questions, or take a short break if someone needs one.
2. Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood is one of those los angeles family activities that genuinely delivers what it promises. It combines a working film studio with a full theme park, so kids get both rides and a look at how movies actually get made. Few other parks in the city offer that combination in one day.
What you’ll do
Your family spends the day across two levels of the park, with attractions built around major film and TV franchises. The Studio Tour tram ride takes you through active production lots and past iconic sets, including a live special effects demonstration. Thrill-seekers head to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Jurassic World ride, while younger kids gravitate toward the DreamWorks Theater and Springfield (the Simpsons area).
The Studio Tour alone is worth the ticket price for any family with even mild interest in how films get made.
Best ages and time needed
This park works best for kids aged 4 and older, with plenty of age-appropriate options across the board. Plan for a full day, roughly seven to nine hours, to cover the main attractions without rushing.
Cost and what’s included
General admission starts around $109 per person, with children under 3 admitted free. Your ticket covers park entry and most rides, though Express Passes and parking cost extra. Booking online in advance typically saves you money and avoids the longest entry lines.
Tips to make it easy with kids
Arrive at opening and head to Harry Potter first, before crowds build. Bring a stroller for children under five since the park involves significant walking between levels.
3. California Science Center and Space Shuttle Endeavour
The California Science Center sits near downtown LA and holds one of the most genuinely impressive los angeles family activities available at no cost. Space Shuttle Endeavour stands upright inside the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, displayed with its external tank and solid rocket boosters attached exactly as it appeared on the launch pad. This is not a replica.
What you’ll do
Your family walks through interactive science exhibits covering ecosystems, the human body, and air and space exploration before reaching Endeavour. The scale of the shuttle stops kids mid-step in a way that photos simply cannot replicate. The IMAX theater on-site runs science and nature films throughout the day, which pairs well with the surrounding exhibits.
Endeavour in full launch configuration is a once-in-a-generation exhibit that no photograph fully prepares you for.
Best ages and time needed
The Science Center works for kids of all ages, with hands-on exhibits designed for younger children and deeper content for older ones. Budget two to three hours to cover the main floors and catch one IMAX film without rushing anyone through.
Cost and what’s included
General museum admission is free, making this one of the strongest value stops in the city. The Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center charges a separate entry fee of roughly $10 to $14 per person for the Endeavour exhibit, and IMAX tickets run around $8 to $12 each.
Tips to make it easy with kids
Book your Endeavour entry tickets in advance online, as timed entry slots sell out quickly on weekends. On-site parking is available for a flat daily fee, which removes one logistical problem when you’re traveling with children.
4. Griffith Observatory and Griffith Park
Griffith Observatory sits on the southern slope of Mount Hollywood and gives your family sweeping views of the LA basin alongside real astronomy exhibits. This combination of outdoor space and educational content makes it one of the most flexible los angeles family activities you can build a half-day around, with no admission fee required to walk the grounds or step inside the main building.
What you’ll do
Your family explores the Art Deco building and its public telescopes, interactive exhibits about space and the cosmos, and the Samuel Oschin Planetarium inside. Outside, Griffith Park itself stretches across 4,310 acres, giving kids room to hike, visit the LA Zoo, or ride the historic merry-go-round. The combination of open space and structured indoor exhibits means the day bends around your family’s energy rather than a fixed schedule.
The view from the Observatory terrace at dusk, with the city lights spreading out below, is something kids remember long after the trip ends.
Best ages and time needed
The Observatory works well for kids aged 5 and up, with planetarium shows designed for elementary-age children and older. Plan two to three hours for the observatory itself and additional time if you intend to explore the wider park.
Cost and what’s included
Observatory admission is free, though planetarium shows cost around $7 for children and $10 for adults. Parking on-site fills quickly, so consider the free DASH Observatory bus from Los Feliz on weekends.
Tips to make it easy with kids
Book planetarium tickets online before you arrive, as weekend shows sell out fast. Bring layers since the hilltop location gets noticeably cooler than the city below.
5. Bike Ride from Santa Monica to Venice Beach
A bike ride along the coast between Santa Monica and Venice Beach ranks among the most enjoyable los angeles family activities for families that want fresh air and light exercise without a packed itinerary. The paved beachfront path runs for about 2.5 miles between the two destinations, staying mostly flat the entire way.
What you’ll do
Your family rents bikes or surreys near the Santa Monica Pier and rides south along the Marvin Braude Bike Trail, a dedicated path that keeps you off the road and close to the water. Venice Beach offers street performers, the famous Muscle Beach outdoor gym, and the boardwalk shops, giving kids multiple reasons to stop and explore before riding back.
The ride itself takes about 20 minutes each way, but most families spend a full morning or afternoon stretching it out with stops.
Best ages and time needed
This works well for kids aged 5 and up who can ride independently or sit in a cargo bike or surrey. Plan two to three hours total to cover the ride and give your family time to walk the boardwalk at Venice.
Cost and what’s included
Bike rentals near the pier typically run $10 to $20 per hour per bike, with surrey carts available for families with younger children. Prices vary by rental shop, and most include helmets and a basic route map with your rental.
Tips to make it easy with kids
Rent early in the morning before crowds make the path congested. Younger children ride most comfortably in a cargo bike or tagalong attachment, which most Santa Monica rental shops stock as a standard option.
6. Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens
The Los Angeles Zoo sits inside Griffith Park and combines over 270 species of animals with botanical gardens that cover the entire property. For families searching for los angeles family activities that hold a child’s attention across multiple hours, this zoo delivers the variety and pacing that keeps even easily distracted kids moving from one exhibit to the next.
What you’ll do
Your family moves through themed habitat areas that group animals by region, from the Campo Gorilla Reserve to the LAIR (Living Amphibians, Invertebrates, and Reptiles) exhibit. Younger children tend to focus on the Elephants of Asia habitat and the chimpanzee area, while older kids spend more time at the reptile house and the bird aviaries.
The LAIR gives kids a close look at species most zoos don’t display, which makes it a genuine highlight for curious children.
Best ages and time needed
The zoo works well for kids of all ages, with stroller-friendly paved paths throughout the property. Plan three to four hours to cover the main exhibit areas at a comfortable pace.
Cost and what’s included
Adult tickets run around $22 and children aged 2 to 12 cost approximately $17, with children under 2 admitted free. Your admission covers all animal exhibits and the botanical garden, though certain seasonal events like the winter lights experience charge a separate fee.
Tips to make it easy with kids
Visit on weekday mornings when crowds are lighter and animals tend to be more active near their enclosure fronts. Bring sunscreen and a hat since most pathways run through open areas with little shade, particularly during summer.
7. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County sits in Exposition Park and packs dinosaur fossils, live insect exhibits, and a gem and mineral hall into one building that genuinely holds a child’s interest. For families comparing los angeles family activities that balance education with hands-on engagement, this museum ranks among the strongest options in the city.
What you’ll do
Your family walks through the Dinosaur Hall, which displays over 300 real fossils including a T. rex growth series showing three specimens at different life stages. The Nature Lab lets kids handle specimens and use microscopes, while the Spider Pavilion (open seasonally) places live spiders in a walkthrough habitat that older children tend to love and younger ones find unforgettable.
The T. rex growth series is one of the few displays in any museum that makes paleontology feel immediate rather than abstract.
Best ages and time needed
This museum works well for kids aged 3 and older, with dedicated play and discovery zones designed for younger children. Plan two to three hours to cover the main halls without rushing anyone past a display they want to study longer.
Cost and what’s included
General admission runs around $15 for adults and $7 for children aged 3 to 12, with children under 3 admitted free. Your ticket covers all permanent exhibits, though the Spider Pavilion charges a small additional fee during its seasonal run.
Tips to make it easy with kids
Visit on a weekday morning to avoid school group crowds that fill the Dinosaur Hall by mid-morning on weekends. The museum offers on-site parking and a café, so you can extend your visit without leaving the property for a meal break.
8. La Brea Tar Pits and Museum
The La Brea Tar Pits sit in the middle of Hancock Park, right along Wilshire Boulevard, and offer one of the strangest and most captivating los angeles family activities you can find in an urban setting. Active excavation still happens on-site, which means your family watches real paleontologists working in the pits while you walk the grounds.
What you’ll do
Your family explores bubbling asphalt pits that have been trapping animals for over 50,000 years, then steps into the museum to see the fossils recovered from those exact pits. The collection includes saber-toothed cat and mammoth remains, and the on-site Excavator lets older kids try their hand at digging techniques used by the research team.
Watching a scientist work in an active dig pit, just a few feet away, makes the whole concept of paleontology click for kids in a way a textbook never does.
Best ages and time needed
This stop works well for kids aged 4 and older, with younger children responding strongly to the visible bubbling tar and large fossil displays. Plan one and a half to two hours to walk the grounds and move through the main museum exhibits comfortably.
Cost and what’s included
General admission runs around $10 for adults and $5 for children aged 3 to 12, with children under 3 admitted free. Your ticket covers all museum galleries and outdoor pit access.
Tips to make it easy with kids
Visit on a weekday afternoon when excavation staff are most likely to be actively working the pits. Strollers move easily along the paved outdoor paths surrounding the tar pits.
9. The Getty Center
The Getty Center sits above the 405 freeway in the Santa Monica Mountains and offers one of the most visually striking los angeles family activities on this list. Free admission, a tram ride up from the parking structure, and sweeping views of the city make it a strong pick even for families who wouldn’t typically call an art museum a priority.
What you’ll do
Your family rides the automated tram from the arrival plaza up to the hilltop campus, which sets a tone that feels genuinely different from a standard museum visit. Once there, you move through galleries holding European paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts, then step outside to the Central Garden, a terraced living installation that kids tend to explore freely while adults take in the surrounding views.
The tram ride and rooftop views alone give this visit an energy that most museums simply cannot replicate.
Best ages and time needed
The Getty works best for kids aged 6 and older, though younger children enjoy the open outdoor spaces and architecture even without engaging with the art directly. Plan two to three hours to cover the main galleries and spend time in the garden without feeling rushed.
Cost and what’s included
Admission is completely free, which makes this one of the most accessible stops in the city. Parking costs around $20 per vehicle, and your ticket covers all galleries and the garden.
Tips to make it easy with kids
Arrive early on weekend mornings before parking fills. The Family Room inside the museum offers hands-on activities designed specifically for younger visitors.
10. Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach
The Aquarium of the Pacific sits on the waterfront in Long Beach and makes a strong case for itself as one of the more engaging los angeles family activities within a short drive of the city. Over 11,000 animals across 50 exhibits give your family enough to explore without backtracking or running out of things to see.
What you’ll do
Your family moves through large ocean habitat tanks that bring sharks, jellyfish, and sea lions into close view. The Shark Lagoon lets kids touch juvenile sharks and rays in open touch pools, which tends to be the moment most children remember long after the day ends. The Southern California and Baja Gallery re-creates the local coastal environment, making it a grounded and relevant starting point before you move into the deeper ocean exhibits.
The touch pools in Shark Lagoon give kids direct contact with marine animals in a way that most aquarium visits simply don’t offer.
Best ages and time needed
This aquarium works well for kids of all ages, with younger children drawn to the touch pools and older kids spending more time at the large deep-sea tanks and the penguin habitat. Plan two to three hours to move through the main galleries at a comfortable pace.
Cost and what’s included
Adult tickets run around $37 and children aged 3 to 11 cost approximately $27, with children under 3 admitted free. Your admission covers all permanent exhibits and touch pool access.
Tips to make it easy with kids
Arrive when the aquarium opens to reach Shark Lagoon before the touch pool lines build. The aquarium sits steps from the waterfront, so you can extend your visit with a short walk along the Long Beach waterfront after you finish inside.
11. Whale and Dolphin Watching Cruise
A whale watching cruise out of Marina del Rey or Long Beach ranks among the most memorable los angeles family activities you can fit into a single morning. Blue whales, gray whales, humpbacks, and common dolphins all pass through the Santa Monica Bay and surrounding waters depending on the season, giving your family a genuine chance at wildlife encounters that no land-based attraction can match.
What you’ll do
Your family boards a dedicated wildlife cruise vessel and heads into open water with a naturalist guide on board who explains what you’re seeing and points out animals as they surface. Gray whale season runs roughly December through April, while blue whales and humpbacks appear during summer months. Dolphins show up year-round and often swim alongside the bow, which kids find immediately captivating.
Watching a blue whale surface less than 100 yards from your boat is the kind of moment that resets a child’s sense of scale in a way nothing else can.
Best ages and time needed
These cruises work best for kids aged 5 and older who can stay attentive during open water travel. Most tours last two and a half to three hours, departing in the morning and returning by midday.
Cost and what’s included
Adult tickets typically run $40 to $55 and children’s tickets fall in the $25 to $35 range, with prices varying by operator and departure point. Your ticket covers the boat ride, naturalist narration, and wildlife sighting time.
Tips to make it easy with kids
Give children motion sickness medication at least an hour before boarding if they have any history of car or boat sickness. Pack snacks and layers since ocean air runs cooler than the shore.
12. Angels Flight Railway and Grand Central Market
Angels Flight Railway and Grand Central Market sit within walking distance of each other in downtown LA and together create one of the most compact and satisfying los angeles family activities you can build around a few hours in the city center. The combination of a historic funicular ride and a sprawling food hall gives your family movement, history, and a meal in one efficient stop.
What you’ll do
Your family boards Angels Flight, a 298-foot funicular railway that has been carrying passengers up Bunker Hill since 1901. The ride lasts about 90 seconds and costs almost nothing, but kids treat it as a genuine attraction worth repeating. Afterward, you walk two blocks to Grand Central Market, an indoor food hall that has operated since 1917, where dozens of vendors serve everything from tacos to fresh juice.
The short train ride up Bunker Hill gives downtown LA a sense of history and scale that most tourist stops never touch.
Best ages and time needed
This combination works well for kids of all ages, including toddlers in strollers. Plan one and a half to two hours to ride Angels Flight, browse the market, and eat without rushing anyone through.
Cost and what’s included
Angels Flight tickets cost $1 per ride per person, making this one of the most affordable stops on this entire list. Grand Central Market charges no admission fee, and individual vendor prices vary by stall.
Tips to make it easy with kids
Visit on a weekday lunch hour to avoid the heaviest weekend crowds inside the market. Most vendors post menus outside their stalls, which helps younger kids pick something quickly without holding up foot traffic behind you.
13. Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach Day
A day split between Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach gives your family two of the South Bay’s most walkable shorelines without the intensity that comes with busier stretches of the coast. These beaches sit close enough together that you can cover both in a single outing, making them a smart pick when you want open sand, calm water, and a relaxed pace rather than a structured schedule.
What you’ll do
Your family spends the day between the Manhattan Beach Pier area and the Hermosa Beach Strand, a flat pedestrian path that runs directly along the waterfront. Kids can play in the surf, rent bikes along the Strand, or explore the Roundhouse Marine Studies Lab and Aquarium at the end of the Manhattan Beach Pier, which is free to enter and lets children see local marine life up close.
The Roundhouse Aquarium at the end of the pier is a genuinely underrated stop that most families visiting LA never find.
Best ages and time needed
This outing works well for kids of all ages, including toddlers who are happy playing in the sand. Plan four to five hours to give your family enough time at both beaches without rushing the transition between them.
Cost and what’s included
Beach access is free, and the Roundhouse Aquarium charges no admission. Bike rentals along the Strand run roughly $15 to $25 per hour depending on the shop and bike type.
Tips to make it easy with kids
These beaches rank among the most manageable los angeles family activities for families with young children because both piers offer nearby restrooms and the terrain stays flat throughout. Pack sunscreen and arrive before 10 a.m. to secure parking within easy walking distance of the sand.
14. Family Events This Weekend with Local Calendars
Finding one-time local events is one of the most underused strategies for los angeles family activities, and most families overlook it entirely. LA runs festivals, outdoor movie nights, farmers markets with kids’ zones, cultural celebrations, and free concert series throughout the year, scattered across neighborhoods from Pasadena to the South Bay.
What you’ll do
You check a few reliable sources before your trip and pull together a short list of events that line up with your dates. The Los Angeles County website and the City of Los Angeles official events portal both publish free and ticketed public events updated weekly. Local neighborhood business improvement districts also post seasonal programming that rarely appears in travel guides but consistently delivers memorable mornings for families.
A single weekend in LA can include a free outdoor concert, a neighborhood street fair, and a cultural festival if you spend 20 minutes checking the right calendars before you leave home.
Best ages and time needed
Most public events welcome all ages, and many are specifically designed for children. Plan two to four hours per event, though outdoor festivals often stretch into full-day experiences if your family settles in.
Cost and what’s included
Many city-run events are free to attend, including concerts in the park, cultural festivals, and farmers markets. Ticketed events vary widely, but the majority of family-focused programming stays under $20 per person.
Tips to make it easy with kids
Check event listings three to five days before your visit rather than months out, since many community events get posted on short notice. Bring cash for vendor stalls and food trucks, which rarely accept cards at smaller neighborhood events.
Plan Your LA Family Day Like a Local
The best los angeles family activities share one quality: they fit around your family’s actual pace rather than forcing you to keep up with a rushed itinerary. Start with one anchor activity per day, whether that’s a museum, a beach, or a guided tour, and build loosely around it. Kids do better with breathing room between stops than with a packed schedule that leaves no margin for a slow lunch or a spontaneous detour.
Local knowledge shortens your learning curve significantly. A guide who knows the city spots the parking trap before you drive into it, knows which exhibit entrance clears faster on a Saturday, and can redirect your day when something closes unexpectedly. That kind of flexibility is hard to replicate on your own. If you want your first day in LA to feel like your fifth, book a private guided tour with Another Side Of Los Angeles Tours and let a local take the lead.
