Los Angeles offers something truly special to families: A melting pot of creativity, curiosity and exploration. From world-class kids’ museums to hands-on maker spaces, LA has nearly endless opportunities to marvel, discover and create.
What are the best family activities in Los Angeles?
Whether day or night, indoors or outdoors, these highlights represent LA’s numerous possibilities for family recreation and learning.
#1 Cayton Children’s Museum
Where can families experience science and creativity in Los Angeles?
One of the best options is the Cayton Children’s Museum, which offers 21,000 square feet of kid-friendly play spaces and hands-on exhibits that encourage curiosity and discovery.
From indoor playgrounds like the Courage Climber to teamwork-oriented environments like the imaginary Animal Hospital, Cayton inspires kids to engage with others and build independence according to their interests.
Parents will love Cayton for providing a spacious, supportive venue for early problem-solving and emotional development to flourish.
- Best for – Ages 0 to 8
- Location – Santa Monica
#2 Kfar Saba Urban Farm
Kfar Saba Urban Farm is a unique operation connecting kids and families with animals, gardens and the daily routines of farm life. The Farm is, first and foremost, a rescue sanctuary that provides adopted animals with shelter, safety and care.
In addition to rehabilitating neglected or abandoned animals, they offer educational tours to families, schools and communities to foster a sense of ecological awareness and inter-species stewardship.
Kids are invited to meet and greet rescued animals and learn more about rescue work with an hour-long tour. Just be sure to book your tour ahead of time, as the staff can’t take walk-ins.
- Best for – Ages 3 to 12
- Location – West Valley
#3 Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
What can older kids explore and enjoy in LA?
LA’s Natural History Museum invites children and teens to go back in time and marvel over 35+ million fossils and gemstones, wildlife exhibits and immersive halls dedicated to dinosaurs and mammals. The Museum boasts hands-on discovery spaces for little ones, as well as exhibits that address big topics—like evolution, climate and biodiversity—for older kids.
The Natural History Museum inspires the younger generation to see LA through a different lens, understanding how the city fits into the ecological history of the Western US.
- Best for – Ages 4 to teens
- Location – Exposition Park in South LA
#4 La Brea Tar Pits and Museum
Few places captivate kids’ interest like tar pits churning in the middle of the city. At the La Brea Tar Pits—an off-site extension of the Natural History Museum—families can watch paleontologists unearth Ice Age fossils in active excavation sites.
With watch-and-learn presentations and live shows, this activity is perfect for families of all ages (parents included). It encourages scientific inquiry, critical thinking and a sense of wonder.
- Best for – Ages 6 to teens
- Location – Miracle Mile
#5 Two-Bit Circus
You could see Two-Bit Circus as a cross between an arcade and an art installation. Advertised as a “micro amusement park,” it’s ideal for families looking for an activity to entertain the whole family, combining technology, entertainment and physical play.
From traditional arcade games like pinball to NASA-inspired “space elevator,” Two-Bit Circus combines classic after-hours fun with futuristic, virtual reality-inspired activities.
Because it’s a pop-up, you’ll want to check ahead to ensure it’s open for your next evening out together.
- Best for – Ages 8 to teens
- Location – Santa Monica
#6 LA Makerspace
A subsidiary of Two Bit Circus, LA Makerspace offers school-aged kids space and resources to follow their inspiration and build skills in STEAM disciplines. Organized in libraries throughout LA County, Makerspace workshops offer design-based projects for creatively-inclined kids and teens alike, including (but not limited to):
- Robotics
- Coding
- E-textiles
- Stop-motion animation
- Cooking
Makerspace gives kids the chance to ideate, experiment and iterate, cultivating spatial reasoning skills, concentration, perseverance and confidence in their ability to manifest their ideas.
- Best for – Ages 10 to teens
- Location – Various locations
#7 Griffith Park
If you’re familiar with LA, it’s easy to sleep on world-renowned Griffith Park, one of the biggest municipal parks in the US. However, it’s an ideal choose-your-adventure venue for families, no matter your kids’ stage of development.
Park highlights suitable for family outings include:
- Travel Town museum and train rides – Offering gentle yet entertaining sightseeing excursions for infants, toddlers and preschool kids.
- The carousel – Ideal for amusing younger kids and inspiring nostalgia.
- The LA zoo – For fostering inter-ecological appreciation and empathy.
- The botanical gardens – Excellent for promoting sensory exploration (and idyllic family photos).
- The Bronson Caves – Perfect for family expeditions led by intrepid young explorers.
- Autry Museum of the American West – For cultural and historical learning, putting LA in context through storytelling and artifacts.
- Griffith Observatory and Planetarium – Ideal for older kids or nighttime activities, especially for those interested in astronomy and the natural world.
Whether you embark on one of these activities or an easygoing hike in the outdoors, Griffith Park combines culture and the great outdoors for an enriching experience that will entertain the whole family.
- Best for – All ages
- Location – Central LA
How Shared Activities Expand Their Orbit and Strengthen Your Bond
Shared exploration encourages kids to develop collaboration, risk-taking and resilience. At Camp Galileo in Los Angeles, your children can continue their independent exploration during the summer season.
Our camps include locations spanning Manhattan Beach, Los Feliz, Mar Vista and more, giving K-8 campers across Los Angeles the opportunity to build friendships and confidence through STEAM-based, hands-on enrichment experiences.
Find an LA camp near you and start planning their most unforgettable summer yet.
Sources:
Cayton Children’s Museum. Explore Our Space. https://www.caytonmuseum.org/explore-our-space
The Jewish Sanctuary Kfar Saba Urban Farm. About Us. https://www.kfarsabaurbanfarm.com/about-the-farm
Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County. About Us. https://nhmlac.org/about-us
La Brea Tar Pits & Museum. Experience the Tar Pits. https://tarpits.org/experience-tar-pits
Los Angeles Times. Two Bit Circus is back as a Santa Monica pop-up—with a ‘space elevator’ from the future. https://www.latimes.com/travel/story/2024-12-12/two-bit-circus-pop-up-santa-monica-space-elevator
Two Bit Circus. Homepage. https://twobitcircus.com/
LA MakerSpace. A Family Makerspace for L.A. at the Library. https://lamakerspace.org/program/la-first-library-makerspace/
