Kylie Williams

Latest posts by Kylie

Free in April: 35 Things To Do with Kids in Los Angeles

Submitted by Kylie Williams on Sun, 04/02/2023 - 9:00am

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo Family Day. Photo courtesy of LA Plaza de Cultura Y Artes

Free in April sounds refreshing, especially after all those overstuffed Easter baskets. Here's the good news—tons of activities and things to do with kids in Los Angeles are free in April, costing less than a carton of eggs. In addition to the kid-friendly free museums that are always available to explore, there are a bunch of free Easter egg hunts at parks and pools all over town, plus loads more free activities, events, family days, festivals, and Earth Day celebrations. Read on to learn 35 ways you can create family memories this month without spending a cent!

Discover all the free activities and events near you in our Free Things To Do with Kids in Los Angeles Guide, which includes all the Free Museum Days in Los Angeles plus a list of 60+ Birthday Freebies for Kids.

Munchkins Indoor Playground is a Bright Spot for Kids in Los Angeles

Submitted by Kylie Williams on Thu, 03/30/2023 - 1:15pm

Munchkins Indoor Playground is balls of fun!

Munchkins Indoor Playground in North Hollywood is the perfect solution for when you're about to give birth to a baby but also have young kids to entertain—and a special occasion to celebrate. Let me set the tone: It was raining. It was my daughter's second birthday. It was the due date of my fourth baby. Maybe it's crazy to head to a play space when you are worried your water could break, but it was a birthday. And it turned out to be the perfect thing to do.

Read on to find out why Munchkins is a great place to play indoors, no matter why you need a distraction for your kids! And if you're looking for more indoor entertainment, visit the best indoor playgrounds in LA and browse even more ideas in our Indoor Fun and Playspaces Guide for LA Kids.

The Inside Scoop on The Autry Museum of the American West's Family Play Space

Submitted by Kylie Williams on Thu, 03/09/2023 - 5:30am

Playing in the Autry’s Museum's new play space. Photo by the author

The Autry Museum of the American West is known for stunning wild west paintings and artifacts celebrating cowboy culture. It’s also now home to a sweet little indoor spot for kids—the brand-new family play space.

What the new space accomplishes at the Autry Museum is powerful: it normalizes bringing kids to museums. It allows parents to soak in beauty and culture without boring the littles. While most art galleries might not appeal to young kids, this space invites children to enjoy and play. This adds to the already long list of enticing things for kids to do in Griffith Park. The Autry made a museum adventure easy and even relaxing for our family. Read on for everything you need to know about this new family play space!

For more local museums with great kid spaces or attractions—like the Skirball, the Getty, and The Huntington Library and Gardens—read all our local parent museum secrets in our Museum Guide for Kids in LA and OC.

Free in March: 20 Best Things To Do in Los Angeles with Kids

Submitted by Kylie Williams on Fri, 03/03/2023 - 2:45am

Celebrate the return of the swallows. Photo courtesy of the Swallows Day Parade Facebook page

There are so many free in March events that it will be hard to choose just one each weekend. Spring is in the air this month, but you don't have to spring for high-priced admission to have a good time.

There are plenty of free and festive fun happenings throughout LA. Look to the skies to enjoy the Point Mugu Air Show, the 49th annual Festival of the Kite, and the San Juan Capistrano swallows parade. From the sky to the sea, keep an eye on those Pacific Ocean waves as it's whale watching season, and there are free celebrations in Dana Point and Oxnard. Leprechauns are among us at several St. Patrick's Day parades, and Purim brings free carnivals to the city. Save your cash for spring cleaning projects and Easter baskets because March has enough free fun to take you through the month.

Think this is it for events in March? Not so fast. Here are even more things to do in March with kids. Plus, our calendar is frequently updated. If you're looking forward to springing ahead as much as we are, embrace the new season with the beloved butterfly pavilion at NHM, and start planning your springtime outings with our spring fun guide.

Holiday Road’s Immersive Light Show is a Must-Do for Los Angeles Families

Submitted by Kylie Williams on Tue, 12/06/2022 - 8:30pm

This immersive holiday light show is at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas through December 30, 2022.

Catch larger than life holiday installations, thousands of Christmas lights, festive food trucks, seasonal drinks, and fun for all ages at Holiday Road’s immersive LA event.

“This is the best night of my life!” my three year old squealed as he skipped through a tunnel of twinkling lights.

My almost-two year old pointed towards the sparkling trees and illuminated tunnels with wide eyes, murmuring the word “pretty” under her breath.

My six-year-old, ever practical, turned to me and said “When you said we were going to look at lights, I thought you meant lights on houses. This is way more impressive.”

Their glowing reviews all point to one fact: Holiday Road in Calabasas is one of the top things to do for Christmas and the Holidays in Los Angeles! The immersive holiday light show is at King Gillette Ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains in Northwest Los Angeles through December 30, 2022.

A Holiday Hoedown: Gilchrist Farm Brings Christmas Fun and Santa Breakfast to Santa Clarita

Submitted by Kylie Williams on Thu, 12/01/2022 - 11:00am

Over the first three weekends of December, an action-packed Holiday Hoedown is in full swing at Gilchrist Farm.

Gilchrist Farm is well-known for its picturesque pumpkin patch and fun-filled Halloween celebration, but many families don't know that the excitement continues well into the Christmas season! Over the first three weekends of December, an action-packed Holiday Hoedown is in full swing at the Santa Clarita destination with free general admission and free parking, no less.

On Saturdays and Sundays beginning December 3rd, families can meet Santa (he's photo-ready from 10am to 3pm), watch a pony-filled holiday parade featuring a real fire truck, antique tractors and delivering Santa to the event (the hullabaloo starts at 10am), cheer on the Jingle Pigs during regular hog races (catch 'em at noon and 3pm), and so much more. You can even reserve a seat at a private pancake breakfast with Father Christmas himself for an additional fee.

Whether you're hanging with the Big Guy or exploring the farm festivities, Gilchrist has all the nostalgia you're probably craving at this time of year, plus it makes for some darling photos for the memory book, too. Here's the scoop on what to know before you go.

Breakfast with Santa in Los Angeles—Plus Holiday Teas with the Nutcracker and Mrs. Claus!

Submitted by Kylie Williams on Sun, 11/13/2022 - 7:06am

Pick a festive pancake to dine on with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Photo courtesy of SkyPark at Santa's Village via Facebook

Share breakfast with Santa and more tasty treats at these spots where kids can dine with the man of the hour.

Santa has a broad face and a round little belly, that shakes when he laughs like a bowl full of jelly, but to keep it that way, Santa needs breakfast. Thankfully, in December, he often takes his sleigh down to SoCal for a breakfast with Santa for all the kiddos on the nice list. Make your little elves' Christmas season all the more magical and eat a meal with the man in the big red suit. Prefer another meal? We've got some seasonal and festive teas with the Nutcracker or Mrs. Claus, too. Many of these dining experiences fill up quickly and require reservations in advance, so plan and book ahead.

Looking for more opportunities to meet Santa? He can often be found on a Polar Express train and other holiday trains, posing for a Santa picture, and at Christmas tree lighting celebrations. For all the most festive events around town this season, check our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events for Los Angeles Families.

Nashville with Kids: 60 Best Things To Do in Nashville, TN

Submitted by Kylie Williams on Sat, 09/17/2022 - 12:00pm

Is Nashville the cereal capital of the US? You decide at Wanna Spoon. Photo by the author

Nashville, Tennessee—also known as Music City—is a mix of southern charm and modern hipness. Plus, there are so many things to do in Nashville with kids—outdoor adventures, interesting museums, distinct country sounds, and more. I travel to visit my brother and his family in Nashville at least once a year, and I have fallen in love with the magic of the city.

Here are 60 things to do in Nashville, TN with kids, including kid-friendly Nashville restaurants and the best Nashville hotels for families. For more family adventures in Tennessee, check out our city guides to Chattanooga, Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, and Memphis. And, as always, visit our Family Travel Guide for more family vacation inspiration.