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Tyra Banks' ModelLand Gives Kids a Taste of the Supermodel Life—and Ice Cream
Submitted by Amanda Schutt on
With ModelLand, Tyra Banks has stepped off the runway and brought her fiercest modeling secrets to Santa Monica. When news first broke that ModelLand was coming, we speculated. Rumors suggested this would be anything from a new amusement park to a simple ice cream shop. Well, it opened in September and now we know: It's a little bit of each, giving the Instagram generation lessons on striking a pose, finding your light, and experiencing the supermodel VIP treatment.
ModelLand is a multi-sensory experience where those with tickets (and a cell phone with a camera) are escorted through elaborately staged rooms, all with unique lighting and props. Selfie opportunities abound, and glammed-up staff will teach you how to find your best angels and accentuate your most fabulous self! Is it for kids? How's the ice cream? Read on for the inside scoop on ModelLand.
While you're in Santa Monica, be sure to explore more kid-friendly fun from our list of 30 Awesome Things To Do in Santa Monica with Kids, like visiting the Santa Monica Pier.
Mosquitos in Los Angeles: LA County Vector Can Save You from Bug Bites, For FREE
Submitted by Roberta B on
In case you haven't heard, this is one heck of a mosquito year. You may have thought it was just at your house, but it turns out that the whole of Los Angeles County is suffering from an excess of mosquitos—which means a whole lot of little legs suffering an excess of mosquito bites! And with illnesses like West Nile and Zika virus in the mix, it's more than just an annoyance. The good news is that Los Angeles County has a service that can help solve the problem—and it's totally FREE! We had a visit from the county mosquito vector this week, and I was so excited I had to share.
Along Came a Spider Pavilion: Big Spiders Are Back at the Natural History Museum
Submitted by Roberta B on
The spiders are back! It's time to say buh-bye to the beautiful butterflies of the Butterfly Pavilion to make room for their slightly spookier friends. Every fall, the Spider Pavilion takes over the space on the Natural History Museum’s South Lawn and turns it into the seasonal home to more free-range, eight-legged tenants than anyone in his right mind could want. The Spider Pavilion is an arachnophobe’s worst nightmare and an eight-year-old boy’s version of heaven.
The Spider Pavilion is the perfect fall outing, if you're looking to branch out beyond the typical pumpkin patch or corn maze. For even more spooky, creepy, crawlie fun, visit our Halloween Fun and Activities Guide for Los Angeles Kids.
Disneyland for Halloween: Oogie Boogie Bash, Trick-or-Treating, and More Magic at Halloween Time
Submitted by Roberta B on
It's a tough call which kids love more, Disneyland or Halloween—so giving them Halloween and Disneyland together is the ultimate parenting slam dunk. With anything Disney, of course, getting the most out of the experience takes some planning ahead. What's right for your family? Halloween Time in Disneyland, the super-popular Oogie Boogie Bash at Disney California Adventure, or a combination of the two? Since the Oogie Boogie nighttime extravaganza sells out months in advance, if you're reading this in September your decision is partially made up—though it's never too early to start a plan for next year!
Read on to find out everything that is special about a trip to Disneyland Resort at Halloween time, and all the ways that Halloween makes the happiest place on Earth even happier.
Free in September: Moon Festival, KidFest, and More Free Things To Do in Los Angeles with Kids
Submitted by Brian Steele on
Just because school is in session doesn't mean that there aren't plenty of fun (and free) things to do in Los Angeles with kids this month. Save your money for those Halloween costumes, bags of Halloween candy, and a giant inflatable skeleton for your yard, because we have all sorts of ways to enjoy the city in September without dipping into your rainy day fund. Celebrate the harvest moon at a local festival, watch the Malibu 2XU triathlon, dance around at a free outdoor kids club, check out a museum you've never been to on a free admission day, or catch an outdoor movie or concert before the weather turns cold. With our guide, it's easy to make this a free and easy September to remember.
Plus, we are always adding free events to our Los Angeles event calendar as they pop up, and we keep all our roundups of free outings for families in our Guide to Free Things To Do in Los Angeles with Kids.
Halloween Tickets on Sale Now in Los Angeles: Hurry, Some are Selling Out Already!
Submitted by Meghan Rose on
Honestly, the kids just started school, and I haven't made our plans yet (note to self: do that today) for a quick getaway or day trip for Labor Day weekend. I am not ready for Halloween! But, with pumpkin spice lattes at coffee shops, Pumpkin Spice Oreos in the stores, and my kids already planning Halloween costumes, I think it's time to start planning. Especially since Disneyland has already announced that Oogie Boogie is fully sold out for 2022... So, I took a look at which beloved Los Angeles Halloween events and attractions are already on sale—almost all of them—so we can all snag some tickets before everything sells out.
From fun for the whole family at Haunt O' Ween to the big kid scares at Haunted Hayride, here are the best Halloween events you just might want to get tickets for today. Keep tabs on all the Halloween fun as it is announced in our Los Angeles Halloween Fun and Activities Guide.
Family-Friendly Bowling in Los Angeles for Birthday Parties or a Spare Afternoon
Submitted by KristinB on
Take your kids bowling in Los Angeles—it's fun for kids of all ages, is indoors and blissfully cool, and is even a great option for birthday parties. A recent bowling alley birthday party sparked an obsession with the game in my family, and opened all of our eyes to what a great family sport this is. The ingrained turn-taking structure, team camaraderie, and relaxed competitiveness offer kiddos a dose of sportsmanship at a fun pace. Accommodations like gutter bumpers and starting ramps guarantee success for even the youngest bowlers. Seriously, bowling is the unsung hero of children's athletics.
While bowling alleys are a dime a dozen in the Valleys, it can be a little harder to find family-friendly bowling alleys on the Westside and in the heart of the city. But we've tried out every lane to search out the very best ones for kids from Mar Vista to Glendale, and here they are. Check out our Indoor Fun and Play Spaces Guide for LA Kids for more sporty indoor fun, like trampoline parks and rock climbing gyms.
Best Pregnancy and Parenting Classes in Los Angeles
Submitted by Kylie Williams on
There are a ton of excellent parenting and pregnancy classes in Los Angeles. Take advantage of all the knowledge in our city!
As a pregnant mama of three, I am all too familiar with the anticipations, concerns, and frustrations that can arise during pregnancy and into parenthood. There are so many unknowns and there is so much to learn. I've struggled to form a birthing plan, fretted with a crying baby through the night, and struggled to breastfeed an easily distracted infant. So let me pass on one thing I have learned: seek help when things get hard or uncertainty arises! Not only will you find some of the answers you've been searching for, but you may find deep relationships and camaraderie with others that are on this incredible journey of raising the next generation.
And when your bundle of joy arrives, we've also got loads of great mommy and me classes in LA, where you can keep learning and exploring together. Find all these classes and more in our Guide to the Best Classes for Kids and Parents in Los Angeles.
