Roberta Brown

Editor-in-Chief

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

Latest posts by Roberta

Top Spots for Mother's Day Brunch in Los Angeles with Kids

Submitted by Roberta B on Sun, 04/20/2025 - 8:35am

Treat mom to Mother's Day brunch on the coast. Photo courtesy of Terranea Resort

Mother's Day brunch might be the perfect way to kickoff celebrating Mom on Mother's Day. Newsflash: Mom does not want to make breakfast on Mother's Day. Another newsflash: Mom does not want to clean up breakfast on Mother's Day. It's best to just avoid the kitchen altogether, which means that the best way to feed mom (and the whole family) is to go out—but not just anywhere.

Mother's Day brunches in Los Angeles are full of coffee in carafes, ocean views, and impressive patios. Read more for the best mom-pleasing places, some with special menus for Mother's Day, and buffets that will keep the whole family happy.

After brunch, treat Mom to a day of her favorite activities, whether a gorgeous botanical garden, a serene hike through nature, a kid-friendly museum, or sweeping sandy vistas for a walk along the best beaches in Los Angeles and Orange County.

Best Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks in Los Angeles for Kids and Families

Submitted by Roberta B on Fri, 11/22/2024 - 5:04am

Ice skate and ride the Ferris wheel at Irvine Spectrum Center. Photo by Allen Ling

Outdoor ice skating rinks in sunny Los Angeles? Oh, I happen to know about a few! One thing Angelenos love doing during the winter months is pretending that it’s winter, and the most fun way to do it is by turning parking lots and other open spaces into outdoor ice skating rinks for the holidays.

Whether your family is trying ice skating for the first time or you've got budding figure skaters and hockey players looking for a change of scenery, nothing says Southern California quite like the sight of kids and families in tank tops and mittens figure skating in the sunshine. From Downtown Los Angeles to the beaches of Santa Monica, keep reading below for where to find the best cool-yet-sunny ice skating rinks in Los Angeles and Orange County.

For more holiday fun, from Polar Express train rides to nutcracker performances in LA, check out our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events for Los Angeles Families.

Best Neighborhood Christmas Light Displays and Holiday Lights in Los Angeles

Submitted by Roberta B on Sun, 11/17/2024 - 7:37am

Get in the holiday spirit with a stroll through Candy Cane Lane in El Segundo. Photo by Gina Ragland

When the Christmas lights start going up around Los Angeles, you know the festive holiday season has arrived! Whether you're celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, or Kwanzaa, there is a timeless joy in taking a spin around the neighborhood to look at the local holiday light displays.

Every year, my family makes multiple trips to all the best Christmas lights across Los Angeles. Our kids put on their Christmas jammies, our to-go cups get filled with hot cocoa (or take a quick detour through to Starbucks), and bring along candy canes or Christmas cookies. Pop on a Christmas classics playlist, and you're ready for an evening immersed in (free) holiday lights magic. Including the famous Christmas lights displays like Christmas Tree Lane in Altadena and Candy Cane Lane in El Segundo (we like our Lanes in Los Angeles!), we've rounded up the best holiday lights on houses across the City of Angels that dazzle.

Can't get enough Christmas lights? Check out our picks for LA's best holiday light shows and drive-through Christmas lights events, which you'll find in our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Activities for Los Angeles Families.

The Nutcracker Ballet and Other Holiday Shows for Kids in Los Angeles

Submitted by Roberta B on Sun, 11/10/2024 - 7:52am

Los Angeles Ballet's gorgeous Nutcracker production soars. Photo by Reed Hutchinson

Seeing a Nutcracker Ballet is a Christmas tradition for so many families. In a city like Los Angeles, there are over twenty Nutcracker shows for your pick of performance from Hollywood to Long Beach and so many places in between.

To answer two of the most common questions posed by parents in search of a Nutcracker ballet in Los Angeles: Yes, there is a condensed version specifically for kids offered by the Festival Ballet Theatre down in Costa Mesa. And yes, there are local performances with full orchestra—the Long Beach Terrace Theater is one of the best. There's even a fantastic and very LA production by Bob Baker's Marionettes, which is light on the dancing and heavy on the post-show ice cream, for little kids looking for a fun introduction to the classic Nutcracker Ballet.

When you've had your fill of the Mouse King, let us direct you to some nifty Polar Express and Christmas train rides, neighborhood Christmas lights displays, and more in our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events for Los Angeles Families.

26 Amazing Free Haunted Houses and Halloween Displays in Los Angeles

Submitted by Roberta B on Sun, 10/06/2024 - 9:52am

Stroll by spooky Halloween yard displays to get you in a festive spirit. Photo courtesy of Spooky Hollows, Facebook

To get in the Halloween mood, nothing beats checking out the skeletons our neighbors have dragged out of the closets at these amazing (and free) haunted houses and incredible Halloween yard displays. 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 entertainment to their front yards. Some homes go all out with spooky, creepy, and cool Halloween decorations, while others create private haunted houses that rival the spectacles at big theme parks.

Immerse yourself in the spooky season by visiting one of these free house haunts or wandering through a street full of movie-ready Halloween decorations. For more Halloween fun, from the best Halloween events in Los Angeles to trick-or-treating in Los Angeles, check our Los Angeles Halloween Events and Activities Guide.

Best Pumpkin Patches near Los Angeles for a Perfect Family Day

Submitted by Roberta B on Fri, 09/13/2024 - 1:46am

From local parking lot patches to farms near Los Angeles, here's where to find your perfect pumpkin.

Looking for pumpkin patches near Los Angeles, specifically ones where you can go pumpkin picking? To find perfect pumpkin patches near Los Angeles for your family, you've got some decisions to make because they run the gamut from small to large and from folksy to commercial.

There are festival-type pumpkin patches with extra activities, farms where kids can do their own pumpkin picking, and smaller pumpkin patches in every neighborhood in town. The good news—all of our top picks are photogenic and will make for timeless fall family memories. So, pick a pumpkin, snap a Halloween photo, and maybe even take a pony ride at one of these pumpkin patches.

Find a corn maze near LA and more things to do in Los Angeles in the fall in our Fall Fun Guide for Los Angeles and OC Kids. And if a pumpkin patch visit is your first foray into Halloween festivities this year, you definitely want to find all the best Los Angeles Halloween activities in our Los Angeles Halloween Guide.

Free and Cheap Afterschool Programs in Los Angeles

Submitted by Roberta B on Sun, 09/08/2024 - 2:30am

Afterschool programs provide enriching and fun activities for kids in Los Angeles when school's back in session. It's even better when those afterschool programs are free and affordable. Options for kids' sports activities, arts programs, and other activity classes for kids in Los Angeles are essentially endless, but let's be honest, the price tag can be tricky sometimes.

The good news is there are several inexpensive and free afterschool programs for kids in Los Angeles. You don't have to throw your paycheck at afterschool care with these classes to engage your little one's mind and body at a price you can afford.

For more enriching activities during the school year, browse our Classes Guide for Los Angeles Kids.

77 Free Things To Do in Los Angeles This Summer With Kids

Submitted by Roberta B on Sun, 05/26/2024 - 7:00am

Train-obsessed kids will love this Griffith Park gem. Photo courtesy of Travel Town

Free things to do in Los Angeles can be found just about everywhere. And so, while the water parks are open, camps are starting, and your wallet is draining faster than a contaminated kiddie pool, fear not! There are plenty of amusement parks and attractions that allow kids in for free; you can take advantage of all the city's free museum days, or you can spend the day at a free event like The Lotus Festival in Echo Park. So go ahead and look at the list below and create your bucket list of free fun for kids in LA.

Want some ideas for free summer fun at home? Check out our Ultimate Summer Bucket List Ideas: 100 (Mostly) Free Outdoor Games and Activities for Kids.

Roberta Brown

Latest posts by Roberta

Pages