Sign up for our free newsletters.
FOLLOW US FOR ACTIVITY PICKS, DEALS, AND GIVEAWAYS
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.
Best Swimming Lessons and Classes for Kids in Los Angeles
Submitted by Kylie Williams on
LA kids are practically born in the water, which is why it is important to enroll kids in swimming lessons in Los Angeles at an early age. With the help of a patient, qualified instructors, kids can learn water confidence, comfortability, and crucial safety skills. Whether your child is just getting familiar with the water or looking to hone their talent and join the school swim team, there are plenty of wonderful schools all over Los Angeles that offer a variety of swimming lessons, including schools in the South Bay, Westside, and the valleys. We've even compiled a list of schools with instructors that will come to your private pool.
If you're looking specifically for baby and toddler swimming lessons, we rounded up the best places that teach babies as young as a few weeks old! And you can find more great classes for kids, and even book a class online, in our directory of classes and listings. Check our Los Angeles Classes for Kids Guide for more kids’ activities and classes for kids of all ages and interests.
All New MB2 Entertainment in Santa Clarita is a Family Fun Center Gem
Submitted by Kylie Williams on
During my childhood, Santa Clarita was home to Mountasia. It was your typical family fun center with a 90s vibe. We’re talking fluorescent lights, multi-colored, ugly carpeting, hokey prizes, and purple walls. I loved it. During COVID, the lack of business put it under, and this Valencia mainstay closed for good.
Thankfully, MB2 swooped in and saved the day. The company acquired the Valencia property and spent months recreating it into something cool and new, while retaining that classic family fun. What has emerged is my favorite new place to bring my kids for a whole day of fun. Spend the day with bumper boats, go karts, bowling, VR, arcade games, laser tag, axe throwing, mini golf, and more. Read on for what to expect and more tips about visiting the new MB2 Entertainment in Santa Clarita.
If you need to keep kids from climbing the walls at home, check out the best rock climbing gyms for kids and top mini golf courses in Los Angeles! Find all this and more in our Los Angeles Guide to Sports Centers, Gyms, and Fun Zones.
School Calendars 2022-2023: Start & End Dates for Los Angeles County Schools
Submitted by Toby B on
It's still hard to predict what the 2022-23 school year is going to look like right now, but all our fingers and toes are crossed for a full year of being face-to-face in the classrooms, with things as normal as possible! And one thing that normal means is that summer vacation comes to an end far too fast, as the majority of SoCal school districts currently opt for an August start date.
School calendars for the largest school districts in Los Angeles County for the 2022-2023 school year are below, and you'll want to bookmark the page now for reference—and to help with planning family vacations and booking summer camps. Follow the links for each district below for details on school holidays and semester breaks, and to stay up to date on any last-minute changes from your local district.
Free in August: Movies, Concerts, Festivals, and More Free Things To Do in Los Angeles with Kids
Submitted by Kylie Williams on
Celebrate the dog days of summer with this giant list of free things to do in Los Angeles with kids this August!
I've been spending too much money lately on back-to-school supplies and Halloween decorations. (Too early, you say? I think not!) If you, like me, are feeling a bit of financial pressure this month, this list is for you. Here are events that let you end the summer with a bang without spending a buck. Whether you want to enjoy a little Shakespeare, dance the night away, or chill out to some live jazz, there's nothing to stop you—short of heatstroke. We've also got free festivals for surfers, Japanese culture enthusiasts, and kids that just love a good carnival ride.
So gather up the fam and squeeze those last drops out of your summer fun. Keep in mind that 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.
Visiting the Original Farmers Market with Kids: 27 Top Things To Eat, See, & Do
Submitted by Amanda Schutt on
Plopped in the middle of the hubbub on 3rd and Fairfax, touching toes with The Grove and its infamous dancing fountain, trendy shops, and celeb sightings, sits the Original Farmers Market with its unassuming mint-colored chairs, multicolored Formica tabletops, and rows and rows of glorious vendor stalls. You can eat your way around the world within the space of these stalls—each one with a story behind it. It’s a perfect spot for people watching and sampling a smorgasbord of enticing treats. It's a trip to the past, a respite from the heat, and an LA icon.
I can't get enough of the Original Farmers Market, and here I'll give you tips and tricks to blending in like a local (not a contestant on The Price is Right, which films nearby), and if you are a local, to finding the coolest hidden spots here you didn't even know about. Read on for the scoop on one of the top attractions in Los Angeles for kids and families.
Los Angeles Day Camps Still Available for Summer 2022
Submitted by Meghan Rose on
Just because summer is already underway doesn't mean you've missed the summer camp bus. The day camps and weekly camps below not only have space available, but you can book them with an easy click right from our Los Angeles Events and Activities Calendar's Camps & Classes section. Find in-person summer camps, drop-in classes, and online summer programs, too. Signing up for camp couldn't be easier!
For more summer camp ideas, including everything from dance summer camps to art summer camps, check out our Los Angeles Summer Camp Guide and Summer Camp Directory.
