“Mom! That must be why they built this dinosaur park! Because they found these bones here!” My six-year-old cried as he unearthed the bones of a T-Rex at the Dino Excavation Zone at Recreation Park in East Long Beach. 

His eyes grew wide with wonder as he dug out a massive skull sunk into the ground. In his mind, he had just made a historical discovery, and who was I to burst his bubble? The Dino Excavation Zone worked its magic and my kids felt like true paleontologists at Long Beach’s newest playground. 

Recreation Park in East Long Beach got a major upgrade with a Jurassic-themed playground perfect for kids of all ages. The new space just opened in June and is the perfect reason to take a trip to Long Beach! Looking for more awesome playgrounds for kids in Los Angeles or even the best splash pads in town? We've got all that and more in our Summer Activities Guide for Los Angeles Kids.

When you say Disney in LA, you're really talking about two parks: Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park. They are right next to each other, and when most people think about Disney, they think about the original Disneyland Park. However, I recently enjoyed a full day at Disney California Adventure Park with my family and I have to say, this sometimes overlooked park is a blast with kids. With Pixar Pier, Grizzly Peak, Avengers Campus, and Cars Land, this may be blasphemy, but I find California Adventure Park easily as much fun as Disneyland!

Read on for tips on what to see and where to eat at Disney California Adventure Park. For more theme park fun for kids of all ages, from the newest of them all for toddlers—Sesame Place San Diego—to the most thrilling—Six Flags Magic Mountain—we've got the scoop on all of SoCal's favorite amusement parks in our SoCal Theme and Water Parks Guide.

Every year, my family takes a two-hour drive east of LA, past the windmills and a couple of giant neon dinosaurs, to spend a blissful weekend tackling all the things to do in Palm Springs with kids. Several bathroom breaks and a date shake or three later, we arrive and there's a whole vibe change. Palm Springs is a land of purple mountains, bougainvillea, succulents, rolling green golf courses, and desert air. It smells like vacation. The water parks at resorts that await us certainly add to that vacation feel, as does the anticipation rolling off my kids. We come back year after year (in the 100-degree summer heat) because this oasis gives us everything we need in a family vacation, without having to hop on an airplane. 

For more SoCal family vacations, check out our list of best family road trips from Los Angeles, California family vacation ideas kids love, and more in our Weekend Getaway and Day Trips from Los Angeles Guide.

There are loads of swimming pools in Los Angeles, from backyards to free public pools to private clubs. With so many to choose from, which are the ones where you can drop in (no memberships or lessons required) and they are so cool that kids want to spend the whole day there? Think Los Angeles swimming pools with water slides, water play features, extended shallow areas for the little ones to splash in, or even just a beautiful, peaceful setting with cocktails and Wi-Fi. From inexpensive public pools to hotels with day passes, here are our favorite destination swimming pools worth packing up the car, sitting on the freeway, and spending a splendid, splash-filled day.

For more wet summer fun, from the Best Water Parks in Los Angeles to the Coolest Splash Pads in Los Angeles, check out our Guide to Pools, Splash Pads, and More for Los Angeles Families.

You probably heard that Super Nintendo World is opening in 2023 at Universal Studios Hollywood. But you might not know exactly what that means. Well, here's a sneak peek: If your kids love Mario Kart, get ready to blow their minds. When Universal Studios opens its Super Nintendo World in early 2023, Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge will be one of the first and hottest rides to open, featuring cutting-edge augmented reality that sets a new standard for interactive theme park rides.

Read on to get the scoop on how and when you can join Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach on an interactive ride in the park's new immersive land.

If you haven't taken the family to Knott’s Berry Farm yet, you are in for an only-in-SoCal treat. Located in Buena Park, this 160-acre theme park has roller coasters for thrill-seeking teens but also little rides for tiny tots. Not only that, Knott’s Berry Farm is also a great place to walk around, play games, eat some truly delicious food, and enjoy a trip to historic or cultural-themed lands. From scream your lungs out drops to palling around with Snoopy, the whole family will love a day at Knott’s Berry Farm. Read on for tips on how to get the most out of your visit.

For more inside tips and tricks to enjoying all the best theme parks in SoCal (including how to get discounted tickets to all the amusement parks!), check out our guides to Disneyland, Universal Studios Hollywood, Legoland California, and more in our SoCal Theme Park and Water Park Guide.