Kids in L.A.
 

I'm thinking of going to L.A. this summer. I'll be traveling with kids and was wondering if there would be much to do there with them besides Disneyland/Universal Studios.

No there's nothing else for kids to do in LA. That's why there are so many gangs in LA, they're tired of Disney and Universal.

There are lots of things to do, depending on the age of your kids. The Santa Monica Pier and 3rd Street Promenade are fun for kids. The beach. Griffith Park and the zoo (I heard the observatory was undergoing a reno so check to see if it's open). Again, depending on their ages, most kids love the LaBrea Tarpits (all about dinos and fossils). Mann's Chineses Theatre and the new Kodak Center area, where the kids can see all the star's hand and footprints in the cement. Kids love to find their favorite screen stars'. Buy a map to star's homes and have kids choose the ones they want you to drive past. The Museum of Television arts is interesting too. Depending on what's shooting, free tickets are available to see shows being taped. All the networks have ticket offices where you can check. Lot's more, but I have to run. Have fun.

Olvera Street downtown (orginal mission of "Our lady of the angels"), studio tours, Peterson Car musuem could be fun as is the Natural History musuem. Biking or roller skating at the beach...lots of possibilities. Oh, yes, the Hollywood Bowl has a special childrens' program (don't know the age of your children..might be too juvenile), but the Bowl itself would be a great evening out. Pack a picnic and hear a concert. There's generally a great deal of variety during the season.Bugs Bunny at the Bowl, famous movie themes, classical, fireworks, etc<BR>They have a website for the schedule.

Also wanted to add that there are the BEACHES! Santa Monica has a pier with a ferris wheel, carnival game booths, etc. A block from the pier is 3rd Street Promenade, a 3-block stretch of restaurants and shops. Plus, there's a big ole stretch of street from Santa Monica up to Malibu that your family can bike on, rollerblade, skateboard, etc. <BR><BR>If you drive south to Palos Verdes there are several tidepools that, as a kid, I absolutey loved going to in the summer. Good beach-side hiking too. Just check the news for when high tide will be to avoid it.<BR><BR>Since LA is all about weather, there's also a ton of festivals during the summer. For ex: In May, the Strawberry Festival in Oxnard--delicious fresh strawberries any way you want them and lots of free rides, food boths, arts & crafts, etc. In June, the Renaissance Fair in OC, where everyone dresses up in medieval costumes. In Sep, there's the LA County Fair, the biggest in the country. Plus, throughout the city will be food/art/jazz festivals in parks. Lots of fun for families.

Just a heads up about The La Brea Tarpits & museum. My boys really liked it. They liked walking around the tarpits & watching some of the diggings going on, better than they liked the museum, But they did like the museum also. We spent a good part of a day there & then driving around the Hollywood/Belaire area. Now the heads up - the tarpits are not about dinosaurs - the tarpits time era was after the dinosours. There are plenty of fossils - mammoths, sabre-tooth tigers/wolves & the like. It is all very interesting, but tell your kids ahead of time (which I did) that there will be no dinosaurs there & they won't be disappointed when they get there & don't see dinosaurs. Although not in LA, another thing the kids really liked was the Aquarium in Long Beach. Also another thing, even though it may be touristy, is walking along Venice Beach with the shops, beach, people, street performers(be forwarned though, if somebody comes along & puts a snake or bird on your shoulder & takes a picture, they will expect some type of payment for that picture). You can also go by Muscle Beach on this walk.

In addition to Santa Monica, we like to visit Manhattan Beach - the beach as well as walking around and eating in the town part - and swimming at Seaside Lagoon in Redondo Beach. The Lagoon is especially great for younger children. It's a manmade, enclosed, admission charging ocean-water beach with playground equipment, picnic areas, and a Ruby's take-out window (or eat at the restaurant by leaving the Lagoon). <BR><BR>And speaking of festivals, on some July weekends and Aug 10-18 there will be either a Obon Festival (carnival, food, folk dancing - July) or the big Nisei Week Festival (Aug) happening in Little Tokyo in downtown LA. Even if it's not a festival weekend, we like going there for an inexpensive ramen noodle soup lunch.

Take them to the Bob Baker Marionette theatre and they will turn out good.