Family Friendly Fun in Los Angeles

Planning a family vacation to Los Angeles?  Regardless of the number of family members who tag along, there's plenty to see and do in L.A. that will satisfy everyone's taste for adventure, fun and excitement.  So pack your bags now and head to where the sun is warmer, the beaches beckon and surprises abound.

Why you should visit

Los Angeles is well loved among local and international tourists because it is easily a family vacation spot with loads of entertainment value to offer.  Apart from the possibility of seeing a real celebrity, there are some really great activities you can participate in and experience, regardless of your age or gender.

Celebrities and more celebrities

Los Angeles is synonymous to the celebrities who live and work here, and many of the attractions that families come to see are all about these stars.  Grauman's Chinese Theatre, for example, has the famous handprints and footprints of selected celebrities while Hollywood Boulevard has its sidewalk lined with the names of its famous stars.

However, if your family is a true lover of the cinema, nothing beats the thrill of being on a movie set.  Or at least, a replica of the most famous movie sets ever filmed.  Universal Studios in Hollywood has all the excitement packed into its rides and shows.  From the dinosaurs of Jurassic Park to the menacing Mummy to the Terminator to the beloved lime-green ogre Shrek, there's a lot of fun that can be had by the whole family here.

Learn how movies are made by getting behind the scenes or simply take a ride and let the studio take over.  The studio's popular tram ride lasts for one hour and you get to see about 400 acres worth of movie back lots, production offices, dressing rooms of the movie stars and even pass through a town in the Old West.  There are also disasters along the way, but not to worry – they are all staged and designed to keep you happy and entertained.

Many of the rides here are based on famous films and there are plenty of animatronics and special effects for major visual plays but they are family-friendly, assuring you of hours of fun and pleasure with the occasional scare and surprise.

When nature calls

The beaches of Los Angeles are famous for a reason and it's not just about the pretty faces and sun-bronzed surfers you'll find here.  Beaches double as entertainment centers in L.A. and are often the site of numerous concerts with some of the top headliners and performances from local artists.  Anyone with talent can perform here and if once in a while you're lucky enough to spot a real talent, thank your lucky stars you got to see them before they got famous.

Want more beaches?  There's Redondo, Malibu, Cabrillo and Venice, all not that far away.  Malibu is a great beach to watch and meet surfers or learn a few tricks yourself, while Venice is a beach with an entertainment package of its own.  There are performance artists here, along with the ubiquitous mimes and jugglers and the never-ending parade of skateboarders who show off their skills for free.  Check out the rides on the Pacific amusement park.  There's an earth-friendly Ferris wheel here, the only one in the world that runs solely on solar power.

You and your family can learn more about the mysteries of nature at the California Science Center in Exposition Park.  Formerly known as the Museum of Science and Industry, this facility has since undergone a multi-million dollar renovation and is now one of the best reasons to come visit L.A. 

Strange wonders are revealed and explained here and there are plenty of hands-on activities you can try.  Ride a bike on a 43-foot high wire suspension, for example, or experience what it would be like to experience zero gravity.  The thrill is actually simulated, but it's realistic enough to make you appreciate the hold Mother Earth has got on you.  If ever your kid had a science-related question you never had the answer to, there is a good chance you'll find the mystery solved within this building.

Check out Aquarium of the Pacific, where sea otters, sea lions and giant jelly-like octopi vie for your attention.  This humongous aquarium hosts over 12,500 live aquatic animals, enough diversity to keep your curiosity up and increase your sense of wonder.

Being culture vultures

Don’t miss out on the offerings of the J. Paul Getty Museum and find out why its collection of photographs, paintings and sculptures are much celebrated and talked about.  If you have younger members of the family in tow, take them for an activity-filled afternoon at the Art Adventures.  There are also plenty of activities to keep them busy and entertained at the Family Room.

You'll be back

Sure, it's possible to enjoy Los Angeles with a short stay and you can probably cram all the best entertainment and attractions in a two- or three-day vacation, but if you have the opportunity, stay a while.  There are so many things about L.A. that people miss even on their second or third visits and if you're about to come here for the first time, be ready to come back soon.