Where should I take my kids tomorrow for a fun day?

January 31, 2018 9:40 PM

I live in Los Angeles (south of the city), and I have the day with my three girls tomorrow (11, 8, 6) while my wife is out of town. I'd like to do something memorable, low pressure, and off the beaten path a bit.

I think crowds are out, so no Disney or Knotts Berry Farm. We've been to the Natural History Museum. Beaches are obvious, but we've been there quite a bit lately. Griffith Observatory and Getty Museum are a bit too much for the youngest. We've been to a number of arboretums, too. Any ideas of things that might appeal to all the ages, and might not be too typical on a Thursday? I'd like it to be unexpectedly fun (i.e., something my kids might not have thought of beforehand) and allow for some good memories, if it's possible to plan for that. If we could do two things: one as an activity and one for some good eating, that would be great. Not having to fight traffic would be frosting on the cake. Thanks!

posted by SpacemanStix to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (23 answers total)

Best answer: Both of my children (9 and 12) very much enjoy visiting the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. Lots of sea creatures to look at, and also an aviary full of lorikeets that will sometimes land on your shoulders. There's a new exhibit full of jellies that's really cool. Also, maybe a bit easier to get to on a weekday than something on the westside.
posted by curiousgene at 9:51 PM on January 31, 2018 [2 favorites]

Best answer: Kidspace in Pasadena?
Aquarium of the Pacific?
Go to Catalina?
There's a good little kid-friendly tea room in Long Beach, called Elise's.
posted by ApathyGirl at 9:55 PM on January 31, 2018 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Ooh, yeah, Kidspace. I forgot about that. My kids looove that place.
posted by curiousgene at 10:03 PM on January 31, 2018

Best answer: What about Grand Central Market downtown as a thing that combines doing and eating? You could do little tastes or exploring of the options and then everyone gets to choose exactly what they want to eat. It shouldn't be too crowded if you go in the morning (before the work lunch crowds arrive.) And you could do the $1 Angel's Flight, which is a little bit silly, but definitely uniquely LA. Plus there are a few open areas near the top of the Flight (I think the Omni has a paved bit with fountains too?) which are kid-friendly.
posted by BlueBlueElectricBlue at 10:07 PM on January 31, 2018 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Orange Empire Railway Museum.
posted by Scram at 10:15 PM on January 31, 2018

Best answer: Some ideas:

The Queen Mary
The Huntington Gardens
Olvera Street, Philippes for lunch + union station and Chinatown
Venice Canals
posted by pazazygeek at 10:19 PM on January 31, 2018

Best answer: Museum of Ice Cream?
posted by crankyrogalsky at 10:21 PM on January 31, 2018 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Skyslide at the us bank tower downtown.
Rocketship park if south of the city means near Torrance.
posted by red chip blue chip at 10:48 PM on January 31, 2018

Best answer: Candytopia just opened too, similar to the Museum of Ice Cream.
posted by ApathyGirl at 10:58 PM on January 31, 2018

Best answer: Drop by Pink's for a hot dog.
posted by fairmettle at 11:00 PM on January 31, 2018

Best answer: say hello to the mammoths at the Tar Pits and then grab a bite at the American Girl Cafe at the Grove (or skip that for the Farmer's Market instead)
posted by roger ackroyd at 11:04 PM on January 31, 2018 [2 favorites]

Best answer: Oh, and the Hello Kitty Cafe, in Arcadia!
posted by ApathyGirl at 11:11 PM on January 31, 2018

Best answer: Pretend city in Irvine
posted by sleeping bear at 11:47 PM on January 31, 2018

Best answer: Science Center is super kid friendly. I tear up every time when I see the shuttle.
posted by persona au gratin at 12:00 AM on February 1, 2018

Best answer: To add to the Grand Central Market suggestion, there's an observation deck at the top of City Hall that's really neat. MOCA is also nearby and is small enough not to be overwhelming.

I'll also add my initial thought, which was Watts Towers (definitely take the tour!) and lunch at Locol.
posted by kitty teeth at 12:34 AM on February 1, 2018

Best answer: I haven't been, but I hear The Museum of Ice Cream might be your jam. I'm going to nth The Huntington for awesomeness and food, not so much for kid appeal. We do love the Aquarium, but it sounds like that is not unusual enough?

Chuck E Cheese.

I wish I was kidding because we have and do ALL the museum memberships AND the Huntington AND Kidspace.

Wait!

The Labrea Tar Pits Museum is part of the NHM membership, if you have that. And it is on the same grounds as LACMA. LACMA has movies on Thursdays usually great for kids. The park there is great for picnicking, but LACMA has great food. Restaurants are up the street (Johnny's for THE BEST WHITE PIE in NYC or LA!!) The Grove is nearby with a trolley and movies and food. Sorry about traffic, Crenshaw is you best route to Wilshire and Fairfax. For the museums park on the opposite (north) side of 6th for free parking, museum side (south) for 4 hr meters. For The Grove, park in their structure. Done.
posted by jbenben at 1:52 AM on February 1, 2018

Best answer: A second for LACMA- hands down the best art museum for kids I’ve been too. I’ve taken twin 8 year olds and a 5 year old and they had a blast, with the bonus of La Brea next door.
posted by q*ben at 6:20 AM on February 1, 2018

Best answer: ... and when they’re just a touch older the Museum of Jurassic Technology, a singular LA experience and memory waiting to happen.
posted by q*ben at 6:37 AM on February 1, 2018

Best answer: The Hollywood Museum just opened an exhibit on Batman '66!

Julie Newmar was just there.
posted by Capt. Renault at 7:33 AM on February 1, 2018

Best answer: Take the train to Union Station. Go to Angeles Flight. Eat dim sum in Chinatown or go to Grand Central Market. While you’re there go to the MOCA!
posted by teamnap at 8:28 AM on February 1, 2018 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Pacific Park is great for kids and is not crowded during the week.
posted by mogget at 10:12 AM on February 1, 2018 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Seconding the Huntington Gardens and then head to somewhere in nearby San Gabriel/Alhambra/Monterey Park for a bite to eat? There's food at the Huntington as well, if you'd rather just hang in one spot, but the greater San Gabriel Valley has much more to offer: dim sum, bahn mi, Korean BBQ, you name it. Heck, your kids might even get a kick out of just visiting one of the Asian-centric supermarkets or department stores in the SGV.
posted by Diagonalize at 11:59 AM on February 1, 2018

Response by poster: Thanks, everyone, for the great suggestions! We ended up doing a couple of things that were pretty fun. We went out to breakfast at a restaurant in a small, local airport where you can watch planes/helicopters take off and land. Then we went to the Natural History Museum in L.A., which was fantastic (I've never been). It was a pretty fun day. (Then we came home and ordered food and played Mario Kart, which was some icing on the cake for them... and me, who am I kidding.) My oldest girl at bedtime said it was "a really fun day," and that is a good sign indeed. Thanks again for all of the good suggestions!
posted by SpacemanStix at 10:11 AM on February 2, 2018 [1 favorite]