By Debi Huang
Disneyland and Hollywood aren‘t the only places to take kids when visiting Los Angeles. This sprawling metropolis is full of wonderful outdoor places to play, many of them far less crowded than their more popular counterparts. Here are just a few of my favorite spots to enjoy nature with kids in Los Angeles.
Favorite Nature Park
Within steps of busy Sunset Boulevard in Pacific Palisades, Temescal Gateway Park transports you into the forest under cover of oaks and sycamores with mushrooms, pinecones, leaves and sticks aplenty. The park includes some 140 acres replete with a waterfall, amazing views of the ocean and city, plus access to miles of trails. Take a hike, enjoy a picnic, skip rocks in a stream, play with sticks, count trees or chase butterflies.
Favorite Kid-Friendly Beach
Will Rogers State Beach is far less crowded than nearby Santa Monica and Malibu beaches, making it a great spot to take the kids. Facilities include volleyball courts, playground and gymnastic equipment, as well as a bike path and walkway. The other big perk here is that the water is much closer to the parking lot than most L.A. beaches, meaning you don‘t have to schlep your kid essentials nearly as far.
Favorite Hands-On Museum
The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County tops our list for its up-close views of so many wild animals (albeit stuffed), including kid favorites like gorillas, bears, giraffes and elephants. That and the dinosaurs! My two sons (ages 5 and 2 years) especially enjoy the Discovery Center, which features a live insect zoo right at kids eye level.
Honorary mention goes to a place right next door, the California Science Center. The newest exhibition hall, Ecosystems, offers a ton of hands-on activities designed to teach kids all about the world‘s varied ecosystems. We especially enjoyed seeing a giant sea slug, touching an ice wall and witnessing a flash flood. Plus, it‘s free!
Favorite Place to See Wildlife
You‘ve probably never heard of a little place called STAR Eco Station. But if you‘ve got an hour to spare and want an up-close encounter with animals, than this is the place to go. This is a wildlife rescue center that‘s home to illegal, abandoned and abused exotic wildlife. Your visit involves a volunteer-led, small-group guided tour. Guides usually take out an animal or two for kids to see up close and even touch. You‘ll learn a ton about why the animals are there, why they don‘t make great pets and what you can do to protect them.
Favorite Aquarium
The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach is one of the largest aquariums in the United States with more than 500 different species of sea creatures native to the Pacific Ocean. In addition to classic glass tank enclosures, there are plenty of hands-on activities – from feeding lorikeets to touching sharks, rays and horseshoe crabs. There are also educational talks, presentations and an outdoor play area just for kids.
Favorite Spot to Stroll Through the Gardens
The Arboretum is a 127-acre botanical garden with something for everyone, even kids. Sure, there are plenty of beautiful plants and flowers to see. But there‘s also a waterfall, a lake, a pond, several grassy lawns begging to be run (or rolled) on even an enormous willow sculpture that you can play in. And then there‘s the wildlife, from pe
acoks and ducks to turtles and other migratory waterfowl that call this place home. For maximum enjoyment, head to the pond and waterfall and hang out for a bit. Both of my kids were content to ‘fish“ and enjoyed exploring pond life.
Favorite Place to Pick Your Own
If you‘re willing to head out of the city, Underwood Family Farms is worth the visit. This is a working farm where you and the kids can pick your own fruits and veggies or shop at the farm‘s market. In addition to the pick-your-own fun, the Farm also has an animal center where kids can see chickens, cows, goats, sheep and the like. You can purchase tickets to enjoy a variety of other activities, including electronic mini tractors, cow train, pony rides and feed for the animals.
Favorite Place to People Watch
While many visitors head straight to Venice Beach to view the natives, we prefer the slightly quieter scene just a little north at the Santa Monica Pier. We start our visit at the pint-sized aquarium, home to some 100 species of organisms, including moray eels, octopus, sharks, rays and a variety of fish and invertebrates –all examples of animals found in the Santa Monica Bay. Combine this with a trip to the beach for an afternoon of nearly free entertainment. Just don‘t be surprised if your kids beg to visit the smallish Pacific Park carnival rides and games on the pier instead!
Debi Huang is a Los Angeles-based wife, mom and adventure guide for two young boys. Her blog at Go Explore Nature is all about getting kids and families outdoors and connected to nature in Los Angeles and beyond.
