Westside

10 Best Children's Museums near LA and Orange County

Submitted by Jackie Jones on Mon, 08/26/2019 - 1:58am

A museum in Los Angeles where kids are encouraged to touch all of the exhibits, climb on the furniture, and ask as many questions as they want (not in an inside voice either): Fellow parents, this is the beauty of a children's museum, and in the greater Los Angeles area, we are blessed with several of them. Now don't get me wrong—LA has plenty of local museums to excite and inspire visitors of all ages. But the 10 museums below are specifically designed to entertain and enrich the lucky kiddos of Southern California.

10 Great SoCal Beach Towns for a Classic California Seaside Day

Submitted by Li Starr on Sat, 08/17/2019 - 1:50am

Southern California's balmy beach towns are a treat worth seeking out at any time of year, whether you're an LA family looking for escape, or a visitor wanting to experience the best of our famous California beaches. Right in the heart of LA County we have a few seaside gems; drive an hour or two farther and you'll find towns that feel like they're a world away.

The 10 seaside towns below not only have fabulous sand and surf, there's plenty worth exploring once you head off the beach, too. Find out for yourself why these are our favorite SoCal beach towns.

Dance Classes Where LA Kids Learn Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, or Ballroom

Submitted by Martha Hall on Thu, 08/15/2019 - 8:32pm

Want a dance class for your kid? You live in the right city. Whether you want your kid to learn to be just a little more coordinated, or you dream of the "World of Dance" competition track, Los Angeles has incredible recreational and professional training for your tiny dancer. Get your ballet shoes on and "chasse" through these dance studio options.

Find more great class ideas in our Los Angeles Classes and Enrichment Guide.

Free and Cheap After-school Classes and Programs for LA Kids

Submitted by Roberta B on Fri, 08/09/2019 - 3:25pm

Back-to-school season is also back-to-after-school season, when families look for enriching and fun programs for their children. Options for arts, sports, and other recreational classes for kids in the LA area are numerous and varied—lucky us!—but many are tough to manage on a budget. The good news is there are also several free and cheap ways to engage students’ minds and bodies in the hours after school lets out.

40 Ways To Keep Summer Going in Los Angeles after School Begins

Submitted by Roberta B on Sun, 08/04/2019 - 11:11pm

Whether you're relieved by the quiet or disturbed by the abrupt ending, most LA families are using those three little words (back to school) a whole lot earlier these days. Of course, dropping our kids off at school doesn't change the weather; there might be no child left behind at the beach, but it's still summer until close to Halloween. So if your family is not yet ready for summer to end, pick a few items off our End of Summer Bucket List and go have some fun while the sun still shines!

Free in August: 28 Free Things To Do with Kids in Los Angeles

Submitted by Brian Steele on Sat, 07/27/2019 - 1:00am

End of summer is a time when the pocket book starts feeling light, so it is also a time to feel thankful we have lots of free things to do in Los Angeles. Whether you want to hit the beach, dance the day away, or catch a show, there's nothing to stop you, short of heatstroke. So why not gather up the fam and squeeze those last drops out of your summer fun, because if you do what we tell you to, you won't need to spend a dime.

10 Best Hotel Pools in Los Angeles with Day Passes for Families

Submitted by Li Starr on Mon, 07/22/2019 - 1:59am

Hotel pools have a certain magic for kids; in fact, book a hotel without a pool at your peril. Whether you're vacationing in the City of Angels, or just looking for a staycation that puts your kids' swim lessons to good use (while waiters bring you delicious food and decadent adult beverages), there's always a good reason to take advantage of LA's bounty of hotel pools. Any of the hotels below is worth a weekend for the pool alone. Don't want to spend the night? These hotels are not only great spots to base a vacation or staycation—they all offer day passes for their pools, too. And while not all hotel pools are kid-friendly, this list of family favorites can turn any swim day into a family vacation, whether you're staying or day-playing.

Bowling Alleys with Free and Cheap Bowling for Kids All Over LA

Submitted by KristinB on Fri, 07/19/2019 - 2:22pm

News flash: bowling is a really great sport for kids! My son went to a bowling alley birthday party recently that sparked an obsession with the game and opened all of our eyes to what a great family sport this is. The ingrained turn-taking structure, team camaraderie, and relaxed competitiveness offer kiddos a dose of sportsmanship at a fun pace. Accommodations like gutter bumpers and starting ramps guarantee success for even the youngest bowlers. Seriously, bowling is like the unsung hero of children's athletics. And it must have been this idea that fueled the creation of Kids Bowl Free, a fantastic nationwide program designed to give youth a constructive way to beat the heat. Read on to find out how your kids can bowl free every day this summer.

10 Teen and Tween Activities To Make Them Like You for a Minute

Submitted by Susan Leslie on Fri, 07/12/2019 - 11:30am

Hard to get a smile out of your sullen teenager? When you suggest a fun family activity, are you met with an eye roll followed by the sound of the Netflix app being launched? We have a list of outings that will get your teenager off the couch and maybe even inspire a smile from to ear to ear. We have an entire Mommy Poppins guide just for teens and tweens, but if you're looking for one handy list, here are 10 activity ideas that that will make your tween or teen like you for just a minute. If you mention there might be Instagram photo opportunities, they may even like you for two or three minutes.

12 Kid-friendly Beaches for Families in Los Angeles & Orange County

Submitted by Martha Hall on Thu, 07/04/2019 - 2:58pm

Beach is what SoCal is all about, but with so much sea and sand around it can actually be hard to choose which is the best spot to stake the family beach umbrella. In the years when sand-filled diapers and tired little legs feel challenging, you want to be sure you've chosen a beach that will pay off with those great summer memories. You could head for a beach with a playground (we know some good ones), but for just enjoying the wonderful Pacific Ocean with easy parking, bathrooms, snacks, or other amenities, we love to return to the dozen beaches below. Gather the shovels, sandwiches, and sunscreen, and go west, young families!