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

LAX with Kids: Rideshare, Drop off, Pick up, LAXit Shuttles, and Car Seat Options

Submitted by Roberta B on Mon, 11/22/2021 - 10:06am

Rest easy about getting to the airport safely when you book one of these services for holiday travel.

Hooray, we can travel again, this holiday season! That thought quickly becomes: Oh-oh, we can travel again this holiday season. LAX plus kids plus holidays? There's really no cheap and easy way to do it. Calling Uber or Lyft while pulling bags off the belt doesn't work anymore, and even old-school taxis aren't allowed to wait outside every terminal as they do at other airports. With or without a car seat, departures and arrivals at LAX with kids require a plan.

We've made some calls, followed some links, and shaken some people by the lapels to gather the info below, all of which provide safe transport to the airport for your most precious cargo. And if all else fails? The Proud Bird by LAX has just been given a complete overhaul as a cool food hall that comes complete with a playground AND a liquor license...

Pictures with Santa the Los Angeles Way: Surfing Santa, Disneyland Santa, and More

Submitted by Roberta B on Sun, 11/21/2021 - 12:52pm

Only in LA can you paddle with Santa. Photo courtesy of Ventura Harbor Village

Mall Santa pictures have a special place in many of our hearts at Christmas time, as they join Grandma's mantlepiece alongside the annual school photo. But we're raising Southern California babies here, and that calls for an outside-the-box place to take pictures with Santa. For a real Angeleno Christmas photo, get out those selfie sticks and snap a few pictures with Santa at one of these fun, funky, and totally LA Father Christmas experiences, from surfing Santas to diving Santas to the Santa at Disneyland. That said, some of these Santa events are time sensitive and crowded, so if you find yourself in need of a more typical Santa picture opportunity, we've also included the cream of the mall crop!

For more unique (and free) ways to get out and enjoy LA this holiday season, check out our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Activities in Los Angeles.

What's Open on Thanksgiving in Los Angeles? 20+ Places Open for Family Fun

Submitted by Roberta B on Thu, 11/18/2021 - 12:34pm

Run off that second helping of pie! Photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Turkey Trot via Facebook

Racking your brain for family activities at places that are open on Thanksgiving Day? Filling your house with family during Thanksgiving is wonderful, but sometimes you just want everyone to get out of your house. We mean this, of course, in the nicest possible way. Knowing what's open on Thanksgiving for family fun is invaluable—both for clearing the house to prepare the meal and for walking it off afterward.

Our event calendar has all the local Thanksgiving day happenings, and our holiday guide has a few ideas, too; the suggestions below are more than 20 places open on Thanksgiving that you may not have realized welcomed visitors on the holiday. And if you need some suggestions for Thanksgiving crafts and games to keep kids busy at home, we've got loads of those, too. Happy Thanksgiving!

Elf on the Shelf's Magical Holiday Journey: Christmas Lights, Ice Skating, and a Ride to Santa Claus

Submitted by Roberta B on Mon, 11/15/2021 - 3:58pm

Santa Claus greets the trolley at Elf on the Shelf Magical Holiday Journey.

Live holiday events are back in a big way in 2021—so big that even the elves are life-sized! While we totally appreciated the creative holiday drive-thru experiences of last Christmas season, we are definitely excited to be getting out of the car to enjoy holiday lights, decorations, and even outdoor ice skating once again. If all that sounds like a festive evening your family would enjoy, point your car toward Pomona, then jump out of it and enjoy carols, elves, skating, hot chocolate, a trolley ride, and an audience with Santa Claus himself at Elf on the Shelf's Magical Holiday Journey at Fairplex in Pomona.

Trick-or-Treat in Los Angeles: Safe and Spooky Neighborhoods

Submitted by Roberta B on Fri, 10/15/2021 - 12:07pm

Don't forget to mask up this year to brave the trick-or-treating crowds!

We might be a little biased because we think Los Angeles has the best everything, but we’re pretty sure the best trick-or-treating neighborhoods in the country are all in LA. The Halloween decorations on local homes are second to none, and many blocks across the city close off streets to traffic and have trick-or-treating parties. But in a city this big, some neighborhoods go all out on Halloween, and some remain pretty quiet. Where should you go? We’ve compiled a list of the most legendary trick-or-treat neighborhoods in Los Angeles and Orange County. Here’s where to go to find lots of treats—not to mention some prime photo ops.

Home Haunts and Amazing Halloween Decorations in Los Angeles (2021)

Submitted by Roberta B on Sun, 10/10/2021 - 11:07am

This haunted house is worth a drive from any neighborhood! Photo courtesy of Haunted Groundz, via Facebook

If you want to get into the spirit of Halloween without being scared by Halloween theme park prices, there are lots of free ways to get into the spooky spirit. You can seek out a free Halloween event—and trick-or-treating is always free. But for a fun night of exploring the city and getting in the holiday mood, nothing beats checking out the skeletons our neighbors have dragged out of the closets. One of the perks of living in the film capital of the world is that the people who make movies bring that same love of spectacle and entertaining to their front yards. Some homes go all out with spooky, creepy, and cool Halloween decorations that you can drive or walk by, while others create private haunted houses that rival the spectacles at big theme parks.

So after visiting a pumpkin patch and losing yourself in a corn maze, immerse yourself in the season by visiting one of these free house haunts or wandering through one of these neighborhoods full of movie-ready Halloween decorations.

Scary Halloween Haunts and Haunted Houses near Los Angeles for Big Kids

Submitted by Roberta B on Mon, 10/04/2021 - 11:29am

Knott's Scary Farm is for kids 12 and up, while Knott's Spooky Farm is for everyone. Photo courtesy of Knott's Scary Farm

Did someone say Haunted House? What goes on at theme parks in Los Angeles for Halloween is nothing like the wholesome thrill of a Tigger-clad child ringing doorbells for candy. It may seem like Los Angeles celebrates a night that's all about children with an awful lot of entertainment that is clearly not for children, but these frightful haunts keep the Halloween fun going for older kids and teens. But how to know which haunts are best for which ages? We've braved a few of them to share our reviews of just how scary is scary.

Looking for something not quite so scary, and a good deal cheaper? Check out the Best Free Home Haunts in Los Angeles. And for perfectly tame Halloween activities for younger kids, we rounded up 20 Not-So-Scary Halloween Events for Los Angeles Preschoolers.

Sand Sledding: The Sand Berms at Venice Beach Return for Winter Fun

Submitted by Roberta B on Sat, 10/02/2021 - 2:48pm

November is the start of sledding season in Los Angeles—at the beach! So get ready to grab a sled and hit the sand.

Sledding may involve getting cold and wet in other parts of the country, but that is so... un-Californian. Sure, there are places near LA to go sledding on snow if that's your thing, but we're raising California kids, and that means beach sledding. Every winter a few Los Angeles area beaches get their annual sand berms, intended as protection against winter storms and violent surf. Or so they say. The real purpose is clearly to lay the groundwork for the ultimate SoCal winter sport: sand sledding. We've got the lowdown on when those ~~sledding hills~~ storm berms are going up.

Roberta B

Roberta Brown

Latest posts by Roberta

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