100 Things to Do in LA with Kids Before They Grow Up

Jan 16 2012

Roberta's blog

Things to do with kids: 100 Things to Do in LA with Kids Before They Grow Up

Kids. We can't stop them from growing up so fast, but we can try not to miss any of the best, most memorable things to do in their home town. Mommy Poppins LA treats you to our top 100 nifty, thrifty, and most heart-warming family bonding opportunities in the Southland. Being phenomenal Southern California parents, you've certainly already done several of these; but of the 100 not-to-be-missed, family-fun things to do we came up with around Los Angeles (in no particular order), there are likely a few you haven't yet scheduled. Why not start this weekend?

Go to the Rose Parade
Go to the Pasadena Doo Dah Parade
Have brunch and hit the beach at Paradise Cove
Sled the Venice sand berms
Visit Griffith Observatory
Pick your own veggies at Underwood Farms
Tour the STAR Eco Station
See an IMAX movie at the California Science Center
Visit Kidspace Children’s Museum
See a play at the Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga
Finagle a guest pass to kids brunch at the Magic Castle
See a movie at Disney's El Capitan
Ride the Santa Monica Pier ferris wheel at sunset
Ride the Orange County Great Park helium balloon
Go to a Native American event at the Autry National Center
Camp in Malibu Creek State Park
Do an LA Conservancy Family Walking Tour
Go rollerblade along Venice Beach
Head south to swim with the belugas or dolphins at SeaWorld
Go to a Medieval Times dinner tournament
See EquestFest over winter break
Play at Noah’s Ark at the Skirball
Build a campfire and cook dinner at Dockweiller Beach
Do a Sunset Ranch Hollywood sign trail ride
Ride a Fillmore & Western train
Take a whale watching trip
Skydive on Universal Citywalk at iFly Hollywood
Try the Muscle Beach Travelling Rings
Ride the trains at LA Live Steamers in Griffith Park
Go on a Faery Hunt
Go to the Rose Bowl Flea Market
Hike to the Bat Cave at Griffith Park
Visit Olvera Street during a traditional Mexican festival
Register with Central Casting to be extras in a movie
Watch a taping of a live kids’ show
Take a surfing lesson
Rent (or bring) a bike to ride the beach bike path
Ice skate in short sleeves at one of the seasonal outdoor ice rinks
See a show at Bob Baker Marionette Theater
Go for a walk through the Venice Canals
Take a day out of school to go to Disneyland when it's not busy
See the buffalo on Catalina Island
Check out Watts Towers
Visit the Flower Mart downtown
See the swallows return to San Juan Capistrano
Ride Angels Flight
See the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade
Go watch some old TV shows at the Paley Center
Ski or sled at a local ski resort, then have dinner by the beach
Go to a Presidential Library - Reagan or Nixon
Buy a season pass to one of the big parks (Disneyland, Universal, Knotts) so that you can drop in any time, even if only for a couple of rides
Ride the high-wire bicycle at the California Science Center
Watch a horse show at the LA Equestrian Center
Wander The Huntington Gardens
Attend a hand print or a star laying ceremony on Hollywood Blvd.
Go to an open rehearsal at the Hollywood Bowl
Join LACMA Nexgen, and go to a Family Sunday
Attend an event at the Central Library (story hour, author event, etc..)
Do a sleepover at either the Tar Pits or Natural History Museum
Go to the Chinese New Year Parade in Chinatown
Do a beach clean-up
Wander the Camellia Festival at either Decanso or Huntington Gardens
Take part in a Dia de los Muertos Festival at Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Drop in on Los Encinos Living History Day
Explore the Natural History Museum's seasonal Butterfly Pavilion
Explore the Natural History Museum's seasonal Spider Pavilion
Visit the Moorpark Teaching Zoo
Do a Kids Run the Bases day at Dodger Stadium
Go to a Family Festival at the Getty Center
Tour (or stay at) the Queen Mary
Spend a day at the Renaissance Pleasure Faire
Go to the Los Angeles County Fair
Attend the Hollywood Christmas Parade
Go to the LA Times Festival of Books
Ride the Marina del Rey Water Bus to a waterside concert
Bake cookies, bring them to your local fire station, and get a tour of the station and engines
Take a Beverly Hills Trolley Tour
Attend a Saturday Scene family show at the Geffen Playhouse
Go sea kayaking
Have dinner at the Santa Monica Food Trucks, with a table (and grown-up drinks) at The Victorian
Take a Family Fossil Trip to Red Rock Canyon
Celebrate Mardi Gras at the Farmers Market
Get in the Halloween spirit at Knotts Scary Farm
Sign up for a free Apple Camp at the Apple Store
Go on an Audubon Society family bird walk in Malibu Lagoon
Take a trapeze lesson
Volunteer to work on a Rose Parade float and/or view the floats up close after the parade
Check out the Heritage Square Museum
Catch a Sunday shark feeding at the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium
Enjoy a Sunday morning concert at McCabe’s and try out all the guitars afterward
Make a book at Scribble Press
Create a recycled masterpiece at ReDiscover
Take a Warner Brothers Studio Tour
See the Avila Adobe – LA’s oldest house
Go for Gospel Brunch at the House of Blues
Catch some live music at Amoeba Records and show kids what records are
Attend the annual Jet Propulsion Laboratory Open House
Catch the Tall Ships Festival
Rent a family bicycle surrey at Lake Balboa
Go on a Grunion Run