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 the Los Angeles area 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.

If you’re looking for a theme park, you have plenty to choose from.  Within a short distance, you have Disneyland Resort (which has 2 parks – Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure), Universal Studios Hollywood, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Knotts Berry Farm, and Pacific Park.  If you wanted, you could spend an entire vacation just going to theme parks, and you’d never have to go on a ride twice!

Disneyland Resort

Disneyland Resort has 2 theme parks, hotels, and downtown Disney.  Disneyland has the castle, as well as many, many rides.  There are thrill rides like Space Mountain, Indiana Jones Adventure, Star Tours, and more.  There are also many family and kids rides, such as Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, and man, many more.  There are also many places where you can meet the characters, go shopping, and eat at one of the many restaurants.

If that wasn’t enough, there is also Disney’s California Adventure, which has rides like The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, California Screamin’, Soarin’ over California, It’s Tough to Be a Bug, MuppetVision 3D, and many more.  Again, you will find many restaurants as well as a lot of shopping.

At Downtown Disney, there is also a lot of entertainment.  You can go to the movies, ESPN Zone, House of Blues, and more.  If you’re looking for a good restaurant, you have plenty of choices.  There are also many shops if you are in the mood to go shopping. 

Universal Studios Hollywood

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.

Six Flags Magic Mountain & Hurricane Harbor

If you’re looking for rides, you will find many of them at Six Flags Magic Mountain.  Just to name a few, they have Superman The Escape, Batman The Ride, Colossus, Daffy’s Adventure Tours, Viper, X2, and many more.  There are rides for all ages, and mild rides to huge roller coasters.  There are also many options for restaurants and shopping as well. 

Right next door to Six Flags Magic Mountain is a water park called Hurricane Harbor.  Here you will also find rides for everyone in the family.   You will find water rides that are as exciting as some of the roller coasters next door, and other calmer water rides that are great for those that like nice slow water rides. 

Knotts Berry Farm

Knotts Berry Farm also has rides for all ages.  Here they are set up in different sections, from Wild Water Wilderness to Ghost town to Fiesta Village to Camp Snoopy.  Everyone in the family will be sure to find something they will enjoy!  There are also many shopping areas, as well as restaurants.

Pacific Park

Located on the Santa Monica pier, Pacific Park has everything you would expect at a boardwalk.  There are a bunch of rides, as well as many games, food, and more.  They even have the Pacific Wheel, which is the world’s only solar-powered Ferris wheel. 

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.

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. 

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.