Your weekend is booked. Photo courtesy of the Orange County Book Festival
Chinatown Moon Festival, Locale 90254 Oktoberfest, and More Top Things To Do in Los Angeles This Weekend
No tricks, just treats at Boo at the LA Zoo. Photo by Jamie Pham courtesy of the Zoo
35 Best Things to Do in Los Angeles October 2023 with Kids
From local parking lot patches to farms near Los Angeles, here's where to find your perfect pumpkin.
Best Pumpkin Patches Near Los Angeles
Find spooky Halloween fun around Los Angeles with our guide
GUIDE
Halloween Fun and Activities Guide for Los Angeles & Orange County Kids
Treat yourself to an adorable Halloween. Photo courtesy of Kidspace Children's Museum
Best Halloween Events in Los Angeles for Kids and Families
Everything at the Cayton has been carefully crafted with one goal in mind: to help create a better world through the power of play.
Guide to the Cayton Children’s Museum in Santa Monica–A Parent Review
Visit the rescue animals at Kfar Saba Urban Farm. Photo by Limor Ness
Fall Bucket List for Kids: 35 Top Things To Do in Los Angeles This Fall
Pick a peck of pumpkins at the Annual Pumpkin Festival Cal Poly Pomona. Photo courtesy of the Cal Poly Pomona Facebook page
Best Fall Festivals and Fairs in Los Angeles
GUIDE
Fall Fun Guide for Los Angeles and OC Kids
Nothing says fall like apple picking, and believe it or not, there's great apple picking near LA!
Apple Picking near Los Angeles: Best Orchards for Apple Picking with Kids
Photo by Kylie Williams
Get Lost in Bubble World: LA's Newest Immersive Experience for All Ages
We've launched a partnership with Care.com to bring background-checked nannies and sitters to the Mommy Poppins Directory.
Find Trusted Babysitters and Nannies Now on Mommy Poppins–Powered by Care.com
Delicious New Orleans fare awaits at Tiana's Palace in Disneyland. Photo courtesy of Disneyland Resort
NEW Tiana's Palace Opens in Disneyland
Kiddos can climb through the famous Ant Tunnel. Photo courtesy of Kidspace
Kidspace: An Insider's Guide to LA's Beloved Children's Museum
Imaginative play for preschoolers is music to our ears. Photo courtesy of Pretend City
39 Things To Do with Preschoolers in Los Angeles Before They Turn 5
Malibu is swell! Photo courtesy of Malibu Makos Surf Club
Malibu with Kids: 25 Best Things To Do in Malibu, CA
Visit LACMA's Levitated Mass. Photo by Joey Zanetti
100 Things To Do in Los Angeles Before Kids Grow Up
Look for whales and dolphins right from your table at Malibu Farm. Photo by Meghan Rose
Best Outdoor Dining in Los Angeles at Family-Friendly Restaurants
Climbing encouraged at Wild Child. Photo courtesy of Wild Child Gym
30 Best Indoor Playgrounds in Los Angeles: Indoor Play Spaces for Hot (or Rainy?) Days
You'll want s'more glamping adventures! Photo courtesy of Waypoint Ventura
Best Glamping Near Los Angeles for Family Fun
Newport Beach is literally home to the fun zone. Photo courtesy of Visit Newport Beach
35 Things To Do in Newport Beach and Costa Mesa with Kids
Put your young helpers to work and you can all sleep under the stars this weekend.
Camping near Los Angeles: 17 Great Campgrounds for Tent Camping with Kids
Photo by Bill Soistmann
GUIDE
Los Angeles Visitors' Guide for Families
There are endless activities at Ventura Harbor Village. Photo by Kylie Williams
Ventura with Kids: 39 Great Things To Do in Ventura County
Vincent Lugo Park, also called Dinosaur or Monster Park, was nominated to the California Register of Historic Places. Photo courtesy of the City of San Gabriel
The Best Playgrounds in Los Angeles: They’re Even Worth Crossing the 405
This 3 day itinerary will make you fall in love with LA. Photo by Roberto Nickson, via Pexels
3 Days in Los Angeles with Kids: Ultimate Itinerary by a Local Mom

25 Things To Do in Venice Beach with Kids

Open up your costume closet for Venice Mardi Gras
Open up your costume closet for Venice Mardi Gras
2/15/19 - By Roberta B

Venice, California is about as unlike Venice, Italy as two cities could be, but the Bohemian beachside community has nonetheless acquired nearly as much fame as its namesake. Both Venices can boast canals, beach, and some larger-than-life parties, but LA's famous seaside tourist attraction replaces old world charm with funkadelic grunge, opera with karaoke, and gondoliers with bodybuilders.

Sandwiched between Santa Monica and Marina del Rey, Venice may be small but has its own distinct personality. And the 25 kid-pleasing activites below are good for a few days' worth of fun in the sun, Venice style.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

  1. Start with the obvious: sunbathe and bodysurf!
  2. Go for a walk along the canals.
  3. Bike or blade on the beach path, stopping to join any dancing skaters you pass along the way.


    The beach path is world famous. Photo by Caccamo/CC BY 2.0
     
  4. People-watch while munching pizza-by-the-slice on the Boardwalk.
  5. Put lights on your bikes and join the Sunday Electric Light Parade.
  6. Play paddle tennis on the free public courts (racquets and balls available at the Ocean Front Walk Parks & Rec office).
  7. Play a game of basketball on the iconic courts (you've seen them in movies for sure).
  8. Watch the flashy bodybuilders flex their stuff at Muscle Beach Gym.
  9. Participate in a drum circle (there's always one going on).
  10. Go sandsledding!


    Sand sledding is classic Venice. Photo via Bigstock
     
  11. Wander the irresistible shops, cafes, and ice cream parlours of Abbot Kinney Boulevard.
  12. Bring a board to skate the Venice Skate Park.
  13. Rent kayaks or paddleboards—for either the ocean or the canals.
  14. Create your own graffiti on the famous Venice Art Walls.
  15. Enjoy the farmers market with a beach breeze, Friday mornings at the corner of Venice Blvd. & Venice Way.


    Photo courtesy of Moo Moo Musica
     
  16. Snap a photo under the iconic Venice sign.
  17. Let the good times roll at the annual Venice Beach Mardi Gras Parade.
  18. Meet other coffee-drinking parents at the the free morning sing-alongs at the Cow's End.
  19. See a family-friendly show at the Electric Lodge theater.
  20. Boogie in a room full of dancing babies with Moo Moo Musica. 
  21. Have a family night of food trucks and free entertainment at Abbot Kinney's First Fridays.


    First Friday food trucks meet for a monthly party on Abbot Kinney Blvd. Photo by Marissa Vitale
     
  22. Eat piles of pasta and garlic knots while Mom and Dad pour themselves glasses of Chianti on C & O Trattoria's famous honor system.
  23. Frolic at one of the two beach playgrounds on Ocean Front Walk.
  24. Go to a storytime or other family activity at the Venice Abbot Kinney branch library.
  25. Photograph the sunset on the restored Venice Beach Pier.

Top photo by CJ Gronner/Blogtown

i