Roberta B

Roberta Brown

Editor-in-Chief

Years spent at Nickelodeon prepared Roberta to launch Mommy Poppins' Los Angeles branch in 2011, eventually becoming Mommy Poppins Editor-in-Chief in 2013. Previously she served as LA Editor for GoCityKids, National Editor for ParentsConnect, and Editor for NickMom—all of which works out well for her son, who has grown up serving as Chief Guinea Pig for all things fun in LA and beyond.

Latest posts by Roberta

The Coolest (Mostly) Free Sprinkler Parks and Splash Pads in Los Angeles

Submitted by Roberta B on Fri, 05/20/2022 - 9:16am

One of the coolest spots in town is by the beach, a beach playground, and a pool. Photo courtesy of the Annenberg Community Beach House, Facebook

Free and fabulous splash pads in Los Angeles can be found at many parks and playgrounds across the city— and some of them are open year-round. Entire playgrounds (plus a few swimming pools and wading pools) are dedicated to ways to keep it cool with plenty of fountains, geysers, pumps, and water sprayers. Kids adore these spraygrounds and splash pads, and parents love the fact that they're a great way to beat the heat without a drive to a favorite beach (not to mention, the car won't get all sandy!).

If a pool or a water park sounds like too much work (or too expensive), cool those kids down at one of these (mostly) free splash pads.

The Very Best Mother's Day Brunches in Los Angeles: Treat Mom Right

Submitted by Roberta B on Sun, 04/24/2022 - 9:08am

Dining together is always more fun when you don't have to cook or clean up!

Mother's Day, and the brunching is easy. This is not a day for the Denny's Lumberjack Slam (not that there's anything wrong with that); Mother's Day brunches in Los Angeles are filled with coffee in carafes, ocean views, and maybe a harp plucked with a rose. The key is Mom's Choice—all day! We've rounded up the best mom-pleasing places: those with gorgeous outdoor patios, special menus for Mother's Day, and buffets that will keep the whole family happy. Because moms all love to make everyone happy, even on their own special day.

Read on for some of our favorite restaurants that offer a pretty darn fabulous Mother's Day brunch, any way you want it. We've also got a list of 30+ Things To Do on Mother’s Day in Los Angeles, so you know just what to do with the rest of the day...

The Butterfly Pavilion Ushers in Spring at the Natural History Museum

Submitted by Roberta B on Thu, 03/17/2022 - 1:23pm

I spy with my little eye something that can flutter by!

Everyone's all a-flutter at the Natural History Museum because the butterflies are back in town! The Natural History Museum is opening the Butterfly Pavilion on the museum’s South Lawn, offering delightful flutterby time on the same site where the creepier Spider Pavilion usually sets up in autumn. From chrysalis to butterfly, the Butterfly Pavilion is full of magical moments, which is why it rates as one of our 100 things to do with LA kids before they grow up.

Tickets are available beginning on March 20, with a limited number of guests allowed each day. But don't worry, these lovely Painted Ladies and delicate Lacewings will be on display all summer long, so everyone will have a chance to see them!

Whale Watching near Los Angeles: Whale Watching Cruises and Viewpoints for Landlubbers

Submitted by Roberta B on Mon, 01/24/2022 - 11:10am

Los Angeles is the perfect place to look for whales from December to April.

Winter is prime whale watching season in Southern California, and there are several ways to spy on the giant mammals as they pass through on their 6,000-mile quest for Mexican romance. Each year, between December and April, roughly 20,000 Pacific gray whales migrate past our beaches, and March brings particularly high traffic because that's when the underwater procession starts to turn around.

With reduced capacity and ocean breezes, whale watch cruises are a safe outdoor activity, making these tours book up fast—so be sure to make a reservation. If your landlubbers have touchy tummies and like to stay on shore, with a little luck and clear skies, simply Sand Sledding on the Los Angeles Sand Berms or a Day Trip to One of Our Favorite SoCal Beach Towns can turn into a whale watching outing.

20 Free Indoor Activities in Los Angeles for When You Just Can't Play Outside

Submitted by Roberta B on Thu, 01/20/2022 - 9:26am

Attend a Broad Museum family weekend workshop. Photo courtesy of the museum

There is no limit to what a family can do outdoors in Los Angeles, and our clichéd weather makes enjoying outdoor activities possible most days of the year. But on the occasional day when the mercury drops below 50 degrees or soars above 100 degrees—or when water perplexingly falls from the sky—we need a backup plan. Indoor activities are sprinkled throughout our bucket list of 100 Things To Do with LA Kids Before They Grow Up, but wouldn't it be handy to have one list of totally free things to do with kids indoors? We thought so, too!

Free Admission for Kids at 40+ Family Attractions, Museums, & Theme Parks in Los Angeles

Submitted by Roberta B on Mon, 01/10/2022 - 12:21pm

The Great Park Balloon in Irvine is free for everyone! Photo courtesy of cityofirvine.org

Getting in free at Disneyland: it's one of those precious moments of childhood that if you blink, you miss. But unlike the ones you can't put a price on, this one is worth about $100. In other words, it's really worth keeping track of when those free admission deals for kids run out. If you're working your way down our Bucket List for Los Angeles Kids, you should probably coordinate with the cut-off ages below; some of the museums you can catch on their free admission days (and happily, some are free every day!), but the theme parks, museums, and other attractions listed below really drive home the bittersweet point that you're only young once.

How To Recycle Your Christmas Tree in Los Angeles

Submitted by Roberta B on Mon, 01/03/2022 - 9:04am

Time to kick that tree to the curb. But is that allowed in your city?

On the 12th day of Christmas, my city gave to me—a chance to recycle my Christmas tree!

Whether from a lot at the corner or a cut-your-own farm in LA's outer regions, we lug those lovely-smelling, triangular chunks of evergreen wonder home on top of our cars each December amid singing, warm drinks, and family bonding. Thoughts of what will become of them a few weeks later are pushed to the outer regions of our To Do Lists. Well, the 12th day of Christmas is quickly approaching, and our To Do Lists have come home to roost. Luckily, recycling a Christmas tree does not have to be difficult to arrange; all you need is a little information, which we've assembled here!

New Year's Eve with Kids: Things To Do on New Year's Eve in Los Angeles as a Family

Submitted by Roberta B on Fri, 12/24/2021 - 11:32am

Have an only in La-La Land New Year's Eve with the Echo Park Swan Boats. Photo courtesy of Wheel Fun Rentals

It’s almost New Year’s Eve— and out with the old, in with the new sounds pretty good this year! While many events are going virtual again this year, there are still loads of in-person New Year celebrations and things to do on New Year’s Eve with kids in Los Angeles. Ring in 2022 by taking the kids for a paddle in swan boats, ice skating in the heart of the city, seeing fireworks, or even taking the kids to a Noon Year's party. There are also plenty of innovative ways to party at home, family style, or learn some cool New Year celebrations from around the world.

More events and activities can always be found on our event calendar and our guide to the best activities of the week. That’s a wrap on 2021—we did it, LA!

Happy New Year from all of us at Mommy Poppins.

Roberta B

Roberta Brown

Latest posts by Roberta

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