Water parks provide a wet and wild aquatic adventure on a sweltering Southern California day. Sure, our SoCal beaches are the best, and swimming in a lake is loads of fun, but you won't have to lug any gear across hot sand that stretches forever when going to a water park!

Water parks have wave pools, family raft rides, lazy rivers, mini slides for little ones, and thrilling slides for teens. Some of our favorite water parks near Los Angeles are smaller parks just for kids (like Buccaneer's Cove), and others are popular theme park extensions (like the Legoland Water Park or the water park at Sesame Place San Diego). There are so many ways to soak in all the fun. 

Start your little ones in the water early with baby and toddler swimming lessons, and test out the waters at free splash pads and water playgrounds in Los Angeles. Plus, dive into more adventures on land and in water in our SoCal Theme and Water Parks Guide.  

Nick Itkin, 2-time Olympian medalist, is hosting free fencing classes for kids with the newly launched Nick Itkin Foundation at the Los Angeles International Fencing Center. These classes are open to kids ages 6 & up, with equipment being provided by the club. Classes are held every Sunday and are entirely funded by non-profit donations from the community. I have been fencing for 10 years, and I can attest that there is no better sport for kids' minds and bodies.

And the chance to get (free!) instruction from Olympic fencer (and awesome guy) Nick Itkin? Amazing. He gives kids an introduction to the sport and all the basic forms and rules.

I got to speak with Nick Itkin about why he's offering these classes. He walked me through why this is the best sport on earth (I agree!) and how you can get your kids signed up for these lessons. Read on, and if you're looking for more great free activities for kids, check out the Mommy Poppins Los Angeles Guide to Free Activities for Kids. 

Enjoying three days in Los Angeles with kids on a budget—following an itinerary focusing on low-cost and free things to do—is easier than you might think. A solid to-do list lets you enjoy the best of the city while incorporating the relaxing, low-pressure time kids need. Achieving balance, and limiting your ambition if the situation calls for it, are the keys to having a wonderful time with your family in LA—without spending a bundle. 

And don’t recoil when you hear the word “itinerary.” It doesn’t have to mean running yourself and your family ragged, hitting every hot spot in this sprawling city, driving everyone crazy with an attempt to do it all. Relax. This three-day itinerary—let’s just call it a vacation plan instead—hits its share of iconic stops like the Santa Monica Pier and the La Brea Tar Pits but also builds in quieter destinations, plenty of downtime, and the best local restaurants for kids.

For more things to do in Los Angeles with kids on a budget, discover free museums and free museum days, bookmark this list of 100 free things to do in Los Angeles with kids, and check out our Guide to Free Things To Do in Los Angeles with Kids. 

The Bowl is one of the most iconic places in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, tickets to the Hollywood Bowl, like everything else, have only gotten pricier. If you're planning to see one of the greats, you need to have some money in the bank. But, if you merely want to be at the Bowl, bask in the beauty, and enjoy some lovely classical music from the LA Philharmonic... you don't have to pay anything. Yes, you read that right.

But I'm going to let you in on one of LA's best-kept secrets: you can attend a rehearsal at the Hollywood Bowl for free. And because it's a rehearsal, it's not late at night, making it perfect for kids. Read on to find out how to take advantage of this under-wraps opportunity! 

For more hidden gems in Hollywood, discover things to do in Hollywood with kids, and learn about the best spots to see the Hollywood sign. 

Kids in Los Angeles who love animal encounters can take their fun to the next level with a wild animal sleepover experience at these Southern California sleepover animal encounters. 

Kids love a good slumber party—and who doesn’t love s’mores! Throw in a lion or capybara encounter or two, and you’ve got a recipe for an overnight adventure you and your family will talk about for years. From no-frills bring-your-own-tent options to luxury accommodations in a safari tent imported from Botswana, here are some sleepovers at zoos, wild animal parks, and animal sanctuaries near Los Angeles—plus a few that are a little farther away. 

For more animal encounters, discover insider tips to the LA Zoo, ride camels at the Oasis Camel Dairy, and go wild with more animal experiences in our guide to Zoos and Gardens for Los Angeles Kids.