Watch webs weave around you at the NHM Spider Pavilion. Courtesy of the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County
Spider Pavilion, Ocean Institute Maritime Festival, and More Top Things To Do in Los Angeles This Weekend
Spider Pavilion. Photo courtesy of the National History Museum of Los Angeles County.
31 Best Things to Do in Los Angeles September 2024 With Kids
GUIDE
LA Fall Day Trips Guide: Farms, Festivals, and Family Getaways 2024
Pick a peck of pumpkins at the Annual Pumpkin Festival Cal Poly Pomona. Photo courtesy of the Cal Poly Pomona Facebook page
Best Fall Festivals and Fairs in Los Angeles for Fall Family Fun
Groupon's online marketplace offers tons of discounts on activities for kids and families.
Save on Top-Rated LA Outings and Experiences for Kids and Families
Nothing says fall like apple picking, and believe it or not, there's great apple picking near LA!
Apple Picking near Los Angeles: Best Orchards for Apple Picking with Kids
Kidmoto car service addresses the all-too-common challenge of getting families with young kids to the airport safely.
Kidmoto’s Airport Car Service Offers Safety & Comfort with Up To Five Car Seats
Photo by Bill Soistmann
GUIDE
Los Angeles Visitors' Guide for Families
Dino Valley means jurassic fun in LEGOLAND for kids of all ages.
NEW Dino Valley in LEGOLAND is Open for T-Rex-Sized Fun
Pirate Dinner Adventure photo by Aaron Anderer via Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
12 Themed Restaurants and Family-Friendly Dinner Shows in Los Angeles
Catch all three seasons of Bluey–plus the show’s biggest episode ever–right now on Disney+.
  VIDEO
Best Bluey Episodes, Themed Snacks and Games for a Memorable Family Night In
Dive into fun at the Cayton Children's Museum. Photo by Matthew Tucciarone
Best Children's Museums in Los Angeles and Orange County
Right this way to all the free fun in LA, especially at the Griffith Observatory! Photo by Gina Ragland
100 Fun Free Things To Do in Los Angeles with Kids
Everything at the Cayton has been carefully crafted with one goal in mind: to help create a better world through the power of play.
Guide to the Cayton Children’s Museum in Santa Monica–A Parent Review
Imaginative play for preschoolers is music to our ears. Photo courtesy of Pretend City
39 Things To Do with Preschoolers in Los Angeles Before They Turn 5
This 3 day itinerary will make you fall in love with LA. Photo by Roberto Nickson, via Pexels
3 Days in Los Angeles with Kids: Ultimate Itinerary by a Local Mom
Visit LACMA's Levitated Mass. Photo by Joey Zanetti
100 Things To Do in Los Angeles Before Kids Grow Up

25 Reasons LA Is the Best Place to Grow Up or Raise Kids!

4/14/15 - By Roberta B

Whether you moved out here, leaving a trail of envious family and friends who all imagine your life as an endless stream of Brangelina sightings and half-caf chai lattes, or you're one of those rare local novelties, the born-and-bred Angeleno who remembers what this place was like before the rest of us arrived—here you are raising your children in Southern California. Anyone can tell you SoCal is inherently pleasant (and a dry heat), but raising kids in the LA area goes way beyond pleasant. In so many ways, LA is the BEST place to raise (or be) kids! Here are 25 reasons that your children are lucky to be growing up the Angeleno way.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

  1. Random day off = Disneyland
  2. Surfing is our soccer.
  3. We get movies before everyone else.
  4. Sand angels!
  5. Every town in every movie looks familiar (because they’re all really here).
  6. The JPL folks let us check out their new space toys every year.
  7. Snow is a thing we visit.
  8. Not just one but TWO presidential museums
  9. Not just one but TWO baseball teams (and you can always get tickets on game day).
  10. We ice skate in tank tops. 
  11. Top level sports coaches all settle here eventually.
  12. Out of town family loves coming to visit.
  13. Trick-or-treating never involves wearing coats over costumes.
  14. We have muchisimos bilingual school options.
  15. Birthday parties can be held outside in January.
  16. A day of skiing can finish at the beach.
  17. We go years at a time without smelling a cigarette.
  18. Sand sledding!
  19. Seasons, schmeasons: we play whatever sport we want, whenever we want.
  20. At some point you always see someone you know on TV.
  21. Want to be on TV yourself? Nag Mom & Dad to let you audition, and you'll get there.
  22. Outdoor shopping malls
  23. Camping is as close as 20 minutes away, and hiking even closer.
  24. Day camp is at the beach.
  25. Seeing concerts means going to the Hollywood Bowl - which parents totally dig.

Photo by the author