There are plenty of things young cowpokes will love at the Autry Museum of the American West, LA's "Cowboy Museum" in Griffith Park. The Autry boasts several hands-on exhibits, a kid-friendly movie studio, a lovely outdoor garden, and scavenger hunt opportunities. On the weekends, families can even try their hands at panning for gold (okay-fool's gold, but you do get to keep a nugget or two as a souvenir!). The Autry holds a free museum day once a month and conveniently has a restaurant on campus with a kids' menu. So giddy up, partner! Here's your guide to visiting the Autry Museum with kids.

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley doesn't seem like your typical destination for the under 10 crowd. After all, there's no bouncy house on campus, no playground, and no ball pit. And some of the material contained within this museum dedicated to our 40th president is pretty serious and likely to go over your little one's head. So why do my 4-year-old and 7-year-old love coming here so much? It turns out, there are plenty of hands-on activities for kids at the Reagan Library, as well as exhibits to pique a child's curiosity. Plus the grounds at the 100-acre museum are expansive and beautiful, and the Reagan Library is a great place to visit when the grandparents are in town. Here are 10 things my family especially enjoys at this SoCal institution.

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.