Los Angeles

Town and Country Resort in San Diego: A Family-Friendly Stay Parents Will Love

Submitted by Meghan Rose on

Discover if Town and Country Resort San Diego is worth it for your next family vacation. (TL:DR: it is!) Photo by Meghan Rose

As a parent who has stayed in more San Diego hotels with kids than I can count. It feels like we’re always heading to San Diego for visits to Legoland California, the San Diego Zoo, La Jolla getaways, seeing shows at the Old Globe, and even to watch the Dodgers beat the Padres (sorry locals!).

I travel a lot with my family, and I know the difference between a resort that claims to be family-friendly and one that actually delivers. And I can say that now that I’ve stayed there, Town and Country Resort in San Diego has made it to my list of best San Diego hotels for families. After our recent stay, I can share the insider scoop—including the retro vibe, activities, pool, central location, everyone-approved dining options and more. If you’re planning a San Diego family vacation, here’s my honest parent-tested review of Town and Country Resort.

25 Best Things To Do in Los Angeles with Kids October 2025, According to Mommy Poppins Editors

Submitted by Toby B on

No tricks, just treats at Boo at the LA Zoo. Photo by Jamie Pham courtesy of the Zoo

There are tons of things to do in Los Angeles for ghouls and gals, but Halloween is the name of the game in October. Los Angeles comes alive with pumpkin patches, haunted houses, fall festivals, and, of course, trick-or-treating—so many opportunities to wear Halloween costumes!

Major treats are in store for families looking for things to do in Los Angeles this October. The sky's the limit at the Pacific Airshow as high-flyers, including the US Air Force Thunderbirds, take to the air over Huntington Beach. DTLA's major cultural institutions open their doors with free performances and interactive activities at Grand Ave Arts: All Access, and dearly departed loved ones are remembered and honored at Día de los Muertos on Olvera Street.

Favorite frightful Halloween activities include the chance to Boo at the LA Zoo, find the STEM in the pumpkin at Battleship IOWA Halloween STEMebration, and Pumpkin Palooza at Discovery Cube OC, wander through the Carved jack-o-lanterns in La Canada-Flintridge, watch wheeled gourds speed to the finish line at Manhattan Beach's Pumpkin Race Festival, and so much more.   

These are just a few of our favorite things to do in Los Angeles in October—we're adding more events to the Los Angeles Family Event Calendar daily. Keep reading for the very best things to do in Los Angeles this October, and don't forget to check back weekly for our picks for the best things to do in Los Angeles each weekend. 

Top Free Halloween Events in Los Angeles 2025

Submitted by Kylie Williams on

Park Tales: A Not So Scary Halloween is an awesome free Halloween event in Malibu. Photo courtesy of malibucity.org

Free Halloween events in Los Angeles might sound like a trick, but they are actually a treat. They'll have you saying, "BOO-ya!" 

There's nothing mysterious or scary about free Halloween events. No witchful thinking is necessary—Ghouls can have fun for free—pumpkin spice up your October with these hauntingly free happenings all over the city. Save your cash for other Halloween goodies and enjoy scary good, free Halloween events in Los Angeles during the spooky season without playing any tricks on your wallet. 

Looking for more ghostly fun? Check out our Halloween Fun and Activities Guide for Los Angeles & Orange County families, where you'll find lists of the best pumpkin patches in LA, the best trick-or-treat spots in Los Angeles, and the most creative costumes for kids. 

Best Halloween Events in Los Angeles 2025 for Kids and Families

Submitted by Toby B on

Treat yourself to an adorable Halloween. Photo courtesy of Kidspace Children's Museum

Halloween events are creeping up on us, bringing chills and thrills, bags full of sweets, and loads of Halloween events in Los Angeles—including Boos at Zoos, Halloween haunts, cemetery tours, and trunk-or-treats. Among the Halloween events in Los Angeles we're looking forward to are Carved at Descanso, Oogie Boogie Bash at Disneyland Resort, and Boo at the LA Zoo, plus tons of Halloween shows and movie screenings.

Some kids (and adults) like the spooks and scares while other kids prefer gentler Halloween activities, so in our Halloween Fun and Activities Guide for Los Angeles & Orange County Kids, you'll find our picks for not-so-scary events for preschoolers as well as scary Halloween haunts for big kids—plus free Halloween events in Los Angeles for kids, and much more.

Visiting the Getty Center in Los Angeles with Kids – Tips & Insider Guide

Submitted by Kylie Williams on

Run over to the Getty Center with kids! Photo by Kylie Williams

Learn how to make the most out of visiting The Getty Center with kids in Los Angeles. 

Maybe you and your kids have squeezed every last drop of fun from Travel Town or have soldiered through every stroller-friendly hike in LA within driving distance. You're itching for a dose of culture that doesn't include a kiddie museum, stuffed animals, or squeaky toys (not that there's anything wrong with them); but at the same time a real museum seems daunting. Should you brave LA's iconic Getty Center? Short answer? You definitely should. 

The Getty Center is one of the must-do 100 free things to do in Los Angeles with kids. Don't forget, there's a whole other Getty museum in Los Angeles, and you can check out The Getty Villa with kids, too. For more kid-friendly exploration, check out our Museum Guide for Kids in Los Angeles and Orange County. 

Kids Free October in San Diego: Deals at the Zoo, Hotels, Legoland, and More!

Submitted by Dana Zepeda on

Kids are free in October at the San Diego Zoo. Photo courtesy of the San Diego Zoo

The lazy days of summer may be over, but fall is when there's FREE stuff for kids to do in San Diego. So, pack up and head to SoCal's favorite tourist destination to take advantage of San Diego Tourism Authority's annual Kids Free promotion.

This citywide campaign kicks off October 1, enticing families to visit San Diego's big-ticket attractions like Legoland, San Diego Zoo, San Diego Wildlife Park, and Seaworld. Kids can eat, stay, and play for free at more than 80 participating hotels, restaurants, museums, and parks until October 31.

We've highlighted here the offers that we think are particularly good deals—put two or three together, and you've definitely got savings worth traveling for! Scroll down for a link to all of the amazing free opportunities for kids in October. Plus, check out all our favorite San Diego hotels for families and the top things to do in San Diego with kids.

Best Pumpkin Patches 2025 Near Los Angeles for a Perfect Family Day

Roberta B's picture Submitted by Roberta B on

From local parking lot patches to farms near Los Angeles, here's where to find your perfect pumpkin.

Looking for pumpkin patches near Los Angeles, specifically ones where you can go pumpkin picking? To find perfect pumpkin patches near Los Angeles for your family, you've got some decisions to make because they run the gamut from small to large and from folksy to commercial. 

There are festival-type pumpkin patches with extra activities, farms where kids can do their own pumpkin picking, and smaller pumpkin patches in every neighborhood in town. The good news—all of our top picks are photogenic and will make for timeless fall family memories. So, pick a pumpkin, snap a Halloween photo, and maybe even take a pony ride at one of these pumpkin patches.

Find a corn maze near LA and more things to do in Los Angeles in the fall in our Fall Fun Guide for Los Angeles and OC Kids. And if a pumpkin patch visit is your first foray into Halloween festivities this year, you definitely want to find all the best Los Angeles Halloween activities in our Los Angeles Halloween Guide.

Best Things To Do in Big Bear, CA with Kids: A Family-Friendly Guide for Every Season

Submitted by Matt Matasci on

Raise your hands if you want to have fun in Big Bear. Photo courtesy of bigbearguide.com

Nestled in the pine forests of the San Bernardino National Forest, just a few hours from Los Angeles, Big Bear is the perfect outdoor getaway. When Angelenos want to experience a real fall or take a winter escape to go snow tubing or skiing, Big Bear is the place to go. It's easily doable as a day trip, or you can extend the fun into an overnight trip. 

No matter the time of year, there’s an abundance of family-friendly activities and experiences to explore at Big Bear Lake and the surrounding alpine areas. Check out the best snow tubing near LA, and discover all the many things to do in Lake Arrowhead. Plan your family adventures with our Weekend Getaway Guide and Day Trips for Los Angeles Families. 

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