Los Angeles | MommyPoppins - Things to do in Los Angeles with Kids

Photo courtesy of Christmas in Color

Holiday Light Shows: Drive-thru and Drive-by Christmas Displays around LA for 2020

These Christmas light displays will get the holiday season jump-started from inside your car!

Lighting of the Bay, photo courtesy of Newport Dunes

Thanksgiving Weekend Things To Do in LA: Lighting of the Bay, WonderLAnd, Tree Lightings, Charlie Brown

Thanksgiving has less family this year, but still plenty of ways to enjoy a SoCal holiday weekend.

Photo courtesy of North Pole Meetings

Safe Online Santa Visits: Zoom with Santa Claus and Virtual Santa Photos for Kids

Santa Claus may not be coming to town, but virtual Santa visits can keep the Christmas magic alive.

Photo courtesy of 412 Food Rescue

Volunteering at Holiday Time: How LA Kids Can Help Their Neighbors in Need in 2020

This holiday season may not feel as joyous as some years—all the more reason to help our neighbors.

Sand Sledding: The Sand Berms at Venice Beach Return for Winter Fun

In some parts of the country sledding involves getting cold and wet. How very... un-Californian.

Photo courtesy of Eleanor's Very Merry Christmas Wish: The Musical

Virtual Holiday Events in December: Online Christmas, Nutcrackers, New Year's Events, Virtual Hanukkah, and More

We Zoom this year so that we may meet in person again next year. Here are the virtual hot spots!

Drive-in movies rule in 2020! Photo courtesy of CBF Productions

Drive-in Movie Theaters around LA: Family Movie Nights with Built-in Social Distance

Drive-in movies are high on the pandemic silver lining list.

Ritz Kids study breaks happen in the best locations. Photo courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee

Remote Learning by the Pool? Vacations Where Kids Can Homeschool and Parents Can Work Remotely

Keep up with remote school and work at these fun destinations.

Photo courtesy of Irvine Park Railway

Christmas Trains, Polar Express Rides, and Holiday Railroad Fun around Los Angeles and Orange County

The North Pole Express has fewer seats in 2020, so you'll want to book earlier!

LA Kids Classes, After School Programs, and Activities Guide

Classes. We really do need them; and the more our schools' budgets get cut, the more we need classes

Photo of Los Rios Ranchos by Elizabeth Bean/www.burbs2abroad.com

Apple Picking near LA: Best U-Pick Orchards To Pick Apples with Kids

Because picking your own apples is as American as apple pie.

Homeschool & Online Learning Resources for Families

We'll help you navigate a complex school year with these tools and resources.

California and Los Angeles DoH say playgrounds can reopen, but when?

Playgrounds Re-Opening: Which Los Angeles Parks Are Opening Their Playgrounds and When?

Now that playgrounds are allowed to reopen, which ones will, and when?

Photo courtesy of LA Surf and Swim

Best Private Swimming Classes and Swim Schools for LA Kids

Private or semi-private swim lessons are more accessible than you might think!

I Dissent tells the story of Ruth Bader Ginsburg's life in a stunning picture book.

20+ Ruth Bader Ginsburg Children's Books (+ More Women Leaders)

Let loose that inner rebel with these inspirational children's books.

Terranea Resort: Escape to the Mediterranean without Leaving Los Angeles County

Anyone else need a socially distanced weekend getaway?

Best LA Bike Rides, Trails, and Paths for Biking with Kids

As long as there are kids and bicycles, a family bike ride will always be a hit.

Pick whatever seat (or angle) you choose for online learning.

12 Things About Distance Learning that Don't Suck

Distance learning isn't ideal, but it has its perks.

Photo by the author

Top Summer Activities in LA: 50 Things To Do with Kids around Los Angeles Summer 2020

We can still make wonderful childhood summer memories, even if the photos all have masks.

Photo courtesy of Netflix

Wondering about Halloween? How About a Drive-thru Stranger Things Haunted House?

Out of the ashes of 2020 events rises the Stranger Things haunted drive-into.

Photo courtesy of the Fairmont Miramar

LA's Best Swimming Pools with Play Areas and a Little More for Kids and Parents

These souped-up pools all make a splash with something extra worth driving for.

Union Street, Old Town Pasadena; photo by Michelle Shiers

Best Outdoor Dining in LA this Summer: Closed Streets, Parklets, and Restaurants with Pop-up Patios

Enjoy some distance dining tonight at one of these new pedestrian restaurant zones.

Victoria Beach, photo by Carl Glover/CC BY 2.0

Hidden Gem Beaches: LA's Secret Seaside Spots that Only Locals Know

Escape the crowds at one of these secret SoCal beaches.

Type C motorhome, photo courtesy of GoRVing.com

RV Camping and Campgrounds for Families: A Beginners' Guide to Planning an RV Trip

RV camping is a great way to vacation with social distance, as long as you know the basics.

Photo courtesy of the Mayor's Office 2018

School in California: Los Angeles Distance Learning Mandate Plus LAUSD & 12 More School Districts' Latest Plans for 2020-21 School Year

School districts around Los Angeles and Orange County present their latest back-to-school plans.

Kidz Bop does a daily Dance Break

Free Online Classes For Kids: Science, Art, Fitness, and More Free Enrichment

In a year when summer slide feels like it started in March, free online classes save the day!

Stay-at-Home Guide: 100s of Activities and Resources for Families on Pause

Indoor activities, games, and online classes to keep kids busy during the coronavirus pandemic.

Ryan Campground, Joshua Tree National Park. Photo by Hannah Schwalbe/NPS

Last Minute Campgrounds in Southern California for Escaping Los Angeles Today!

Pitch a tent tomorrow at one of these SoCal campgrounds that accommodate last minute campers.

Fight the restlessness of quarantine, join in for LIVE ONLINE YogiKids classes held every day, twice a day!!! Photo courtesy of Yogi Nation

Find Free and Affordable Online Classes, Parties, and Camps on Poppins@Home

Explore tons of virtual free and low-cost fun with our new platform.

Iconic LA Street Art and Murals for Must-Have Angeleno Kid Photo Ops

Snap some of LA's best photo ops before the kids are too big to pose!

Photo courtesy of Villa del Sol

Pick Your Own Strawberries and Cherries: Family Farms for Berry Picking near Los Angeles

Slather the sun screen, don a wide-brimmed hat, and start filling your basket with berries!

Make bubbles strong enough to catch and bounce in with fun science experiments for kids.

15 Backyard Science Experiments for Messy Summer Fun

Build a worm tower or bake solar oven s'mores in these fun experiments.

Fabric for yoga togs can be used as face masks for kids. Photo courtesy of Onzie

Face Masks for Kids from Disney to DIY

We have your family covered with Disney, Old Navy, and no-sew masks.

A high fever can be a sign of MIS-C. Photo by Gustavo Fring from Pexels

Kids and Coronavirus: Facts and Symptoms of Mysterious Inflammatory Syndrome

This COVID-19 complication in kids is rare, but parents should be aware of symptoms.

Everyone wore masks during the delivery process. Photo courtesy of Emma Reinhardt Smith

Pregnancy and Childbirth in Coronavirus: New Mom, Doctor, Doula Answer FAQs

Having a baby is different now, but no less joyous.

Academic Calendars for Los Angeles 2020-21 School Year

School Calendars 2020-2021: Start & End Dates for Los Angeles County Schools

Wondering when vacation starts or ends, and how much time you'll have for family travel?

Make exercise a family affair! Photo by Mommy Poppins

Best Free Online Workouts: Sports and Fitness Classes for Kids and Families

Family-friendly yoga, dance, soccer, and more.

Plan a Virtual Birthday Party or Playdate with a Mermaid, Pirate, or Princess

Happily Ever Laughter' professional kids party entertainers are now online.

<a href="https://happilyeverlaughter.com/?utm_source=mommypoppins&utm_content=Directory%20Listing&utm_medium=blog">Happily Ever Laughter</a>’s entertainers give parents a break by offering children their full attention during live online playdates and parties.

Best Virtual Party Performers and Kids Birthday Parties to Celebrate Online

Surprise your child with a virtual party starring one of these talented entertainers.

360 VR experience in Venice with Geneeo

Giant List of Virtual Tours, Field Trips, and Museums with Free Educational Programming Online

From Buckingham Palace to Mt. Everest, visit some of the world's most famous landmarks from home!

Super Soccer Stars now has virtual soccer programs available for kids 7 days a week.

Best Kids Enrichment Classes Now Online: STEM, Arts, Sports and More

Many programs are moving ahead with virtual offerings.

Make a Lava Lamp with Kids for a Groovy Boredom Buster

Stuff you probably have at home can become this groovy science experiment.

Charades is a great pick for virtual game night with the friends or family.

Best Games Kids Can Play on Zoom Virtually with Friends

Connect and play with friends and family with these fun games perfect for virtual hangouts.

Pull out a block, place it on top but don't let the tower fall in the fun and challenging Jenga.

Best Board Games for All Ages: Two Dozen Picks for Family Game Night

Pandemic playtime is lots of fun with these all-ages pleasing picks.

Photo by Sara Marentette

Here Comes the Milkman! Dairy Delivery in LA and OC

Guess what? There actually are still milkmen in LA!

These free online classes and educational resources are perfect for homeschooling and remote learning..

30+ (Mostly FREE) Online Learning Resources, Apps, and Games for Kids

Supplement distance learning with these online lessons, apps, and more.

The Pepper and Soap Experiment for Kids: Easy Science Activity To Do at Home

Show kids the importance of washing their hands in an easy science experiment.

100 Things To Do with LA Kids Before They Grow Up

We can't stop them from growing up so fast, but we can try not to miss the bucket list items.

10 Waterfall Hikes Every LA Family Should Know

A hike to one of these Southland waterfalls is the stuff that family memories (and Facebook posts)...

Photo courtesy of the Marine Mammal Care Center

Visit Rescued Seals and Sea Lions for Free at LA's Marine Mammal Care Center

Visit seals and sea lions rescued from local beaches at this San Pedro facility.

Face to face with the giraffes at the Santa Barbara Zoo. Photo courtesy of Visit Santa Barbara

100 Things To Do in California with Kids Before They Leave The Nest

There are at least 100 things in California worthy of any family's bucket list. How many have your...

Who knew there was so much nature to see in the Las Vegas area? Photo courtesy of Springs Preserve

25 Road Trips From Los Angeles for a Weekend Family Getaway

Eager to hit the road and put Los Angeles in your rear view mirror for a while?

Photo courtesy of Action Tours

Zipline Courses and Treetop Adventures for SoCal Kids

If your kids love a good adrenaline rush, it's time for a family outing in the tree tops.

Photo courtesy of Legoland

Why Legoland Is My Favorite SoCal Theme Park

This family park in Carlsbad offers at least as much as the mouse and the wizard.

15 Best Campgrounds for Tent Camping with Kids Near LA

Perhaps the best thing about raising kids in SoCal is so much camping, so close by, so much of the...

Playtime with friends at the DTLA Central Library

10 LA Libraries with Great Play Spaces You Have To Try

When is a library more than just a library? When it has a playspace, for a start...

Photo by Mommy Poppins

The Best Los Angeles Area Hiking Trails for Families

Kids climbing the walls? Sounds like it's time to take a hike.

S'mores by the firepit! Photo courtesy of Terranea

Best Kid-Friendly Hotels for a Los Angeles Family Vacation

These LA hotels offer getaways with perks kids and parents will love.

Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner heads down the coast. Photo courtesy of Amtrak

7 Best Train Ride Day Trips To Take from Los Angeles

Let someone else do the driving on your escape this weekend.

The Last Bookstore Is LA's Reading Playground for Kids Who Love Books

Visit DTLA's Instagrammable playground for book lovers.

Photo by Grand Mudford courtesy of Skirball Cultural Center

Noah’s Ark at the Skirball: Is LA's Best Indoor Playground at a Museum?

This one-of-a-kind art installation is every LA kid's favorite play space.

Photo by Sergey Galyonkin/Flickr

14 Reasons To Visit the Getty Center with a Preschooler

Should you brave LA's iconic Getty Museum with the under-five set? Short answer? You definitely...

10 Stroller-friendly Hiking Trails for LA Parents To Hike with Toddlers

Some of us prefer hiking without someone on our back—and that's OK.

Santa Monica Public Library's main branch, photo by Ian Brown

10 Special Libraries in LA & OC Worth a Drive Beyond Your Branch

Look beyond your local branch to some of these amazing SoCal libraries.

Cap Rock Hike. Photo by Ken Lund/Flickr

Joshua Tree: 12 Things Not To Miss with Kids in this Desert National Park

Easy hikes, fairy tale flora, and stunning vistas await at this national park

Jury Duty: How Can an LA Parent Cope with Jury Duty and Kids?

Because parents of school-age kids are not really the free agents that the system seems to assume...

Dragon's Breath: Liquid Nitrogen Is Cool, But Is It OK To Eat?

Ready to be the coolest parent on the block? You can't get much cooler than liquid nitrogen.

Photo by Birgit Stachelberger courtesy of Earth Angels

Top 10 Kids' Resale and Consignment Stores around Los Angeles

These second-hand boutiques make growth spurts less painful.

Photo courtesy of San Diego Zoo

San Diego with Kids: 50 Best Things To Do Besides the San Diego Zoo

It will take a while to do all the things on this list, but chances are the weather will be great!

Vista Hermosa Park: photo by Corona/Flickr

30 Things To Do with Kids in Downtown Los Angeles

Tourists and natives alike are often unsure whether to tackle Downtown with kids. It's worth it.

Photo by Bill Soistmann

Los Angeles Visitor's Guide for Families

Southern California is so full of things to do with kids—where do you start?

Restaurants Guide for Los Angeles and Orange County Families

Los Angeles area restaurants that are great for kids and families, with play areas, happy hours...

Museum Guide for Kids in Los Angeles and Orange County

Like everything else, LA's museums are some of the best—and most unusual—in the world.

Hiking and Camping Guide for Los Angeles Families

Let other states boast about their cheese; we know they envy our weather. LA's hiking season starts...

Photo courtesy of Tanya Rothman

10 Things Not To Miss in Hermosa Beach with the Kids

Sneaking away to the South Bay: they don't call this place Hermosa for nothing.

Cayton Children's Museum. Photo by Mercie

13 Family Memberships Worth Having As You Raise Your LA Kid

Get members-only benefits and perks with memberships to these key family-friendly spots.

Adventure Playground: Orange County's Park for Free-range Kids

It's the closest thing to playing in a vacant lot until the street lights come on.

A Family Day Out in Chinatown: 10 Things To Do with Kids

Think you know Chinatown? Think again—then pack the kids and head downtown.

Fiaker ride in the city center

Vienna with Kids: 35 Things You Didn't Know You Could Do in Austria's Capital

Vienna packs in museums, palaces, & sweet treats the way Mary Poppins packs surprises in her bag.

Photo courtesy of the Discovery Cube

25 Things To Do in Newport Beach and Costa Mesa with Kids

There is more to this community than just a pretty beach.

Photo courtesy of Smoke Tree Stables

25 Top Palm Springs Resorts, Attractions, & Things To Do for Families

The desert resort with 350 days of sunshine per year is a great starting point for fun.

People bustle along Olvera Street

Olvera Street: a Day Trip to Mexico in the Heart of Downtown LA

DTLA's Calle Olvera is our oldest street, rich in history, shopping, and great eats.

25 Things To Do in Beverly Hills with Kids

There is more to Beverly Hills than swimming pools and movie stars—like these 25 kid-pleasers for a...

Orange County Fun: 30 Things To Do in Irvine with Kids

Right in the heart of Orange County, there's a train, a zoo, a hot air balloon, and a secret room...

Latest Articles

Virtual Holiday Events in December: Online Christmas, Nutcrackers, New Year's Events, Virtual Hanukkah, and More

Toby B , Nov 29 - We Zoom this year so that we may meet in person again next year. Here are the virtual hot spots!READ MORE

Safe Online Santa Visits: Zoom with Santa Claus and Virtual Santa Photos for Kids

Jessica Laird , Nov 27 - Santa Claus may not be coming to town, but virtual Santa visits can keep the Christmas magic alive.READ MORE

Thanksgiving Weekend Things To Do in LA: Lighting of the Bay, WonderLAnd, Tree Lightings, Charlie Brown

Toby B, Nov 24 - Thanksgiving has less family this year, but still plenty of ways to enjoy a SoCal holiday weekend.READ MORE

12 Christmas Towns and Santa's Villages That Absolutely Sparkle

Elaine Paoloni Quilici, Nov 22 - The country's best Christmas towns and Santa's villages are drenched in holiday lights and rich...READ MORE

Snow Sledding or Tubing Spots near Los Angeles for SoCal Kids To Play Winter

Martha Hall, Nov 21 - Sometimes there's nothing quite like good, old-fashioned sledding.READ MORE

30 Funny Elf on the Shelf Ideas Perfect for 2020

Ally Noel, Nov 17 - Simple but hilarious Elf on the Shelf antics to fill the next few weeks with holiday shenanigans.READ MORE

Photo courtesy of Eleanor's Very Merry Christmas Wish: The Musical

Virtual Holiday Events in December: Online Christmas, Nutcrackers, New Year's Events, Virtual Hanukkah, and More

We Zoom this year so that we may meet in person again next year. Here are the virtual hot spots!

Stay-at-Home Guide: 100s of Activities and Resources for Families on Pause

Indoor activities, games, and online classes to keep kids busy during the coronavirus pandemic.

Homeschool & Online Learning Resources for Families

We'll help you navigate a complex school year with these tools and resources.

A backyard swing set becomes an obstacle course with a little creativity. Photo by Rose Gordon Sala

10-Minute Recess Breaks for Remote Learners

Let kids wiggle, giggle, and refocus with these fun recess breaks for remote school days.

Create a water vortex for a simple experiment with exciting results!

This Tornado in a Bottle Experiment Is a Mind Twister for Kids

This simple experiment creates an underwater vortex.

Fight the restlessness of quarantine, join in for LIVE ONLINE YogiKids classes held every day, twice a day!!! Photo courtesy of Yogi Nation

Find Free and Affordable Online Classes, Parties, and Camps on Poppins@Home

Explore tons of virtual free and low-cost fun with our new platform.