California is a terrific vacation destination for families, and the region has more than enough attractions to keep the children happy.
Theme Parks
If you have kids, you more than likely already know Disneyland, the world’s most famous amusement park, which is located in Anaheim. Established by Walt Disney himself in 1955, the park has continued to increase ever since. With areas such as Fantasyland, Adventureland, Frontierland, and Tomorrowland, and all the rollercoasters you can imagine, Disneyland is a great pick for families traveling with kids. But there are also numerous parks closer to Los Angeles.
Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia is a great choice for bigger kids with some of the nation’s fastest and largest rollercoasters. For the younger ones, taking a trip to Knott’s Berry Farm might be the ultimate place for fun. For kids and adults of all ages, Universal Studios Hollywood isn’t just a film studio, but one of the region’s most popular attractions as well. Here you can go for a ride in Jurassic Park ride, Blues Brothers, Shrek, Simpsons, the Mummy, and many more rides. Located in Universal City, the adjacent Universal CityWalk is a great way to begin or end the adventures at Universal. Don’t forget the tram tour through various film locations, including films and TV series such as Jaws, American Psycho, and Desperate Housewives.
Zoos and Museums
Zoos are usually popular amongst children. L.A. Zoo is located in Griffith Park. It was established in 1966 and is home to over 1,200 animals. There is also a beautiful botanical garden with over 800 species of plants. Often combined with a Santa Barbara or Malibu wine tour, the Santa Barbara Zoo may be smaller than its counterpart to the south, but is known as one of the region’s most beautiful zoos. Celebrate and stargaze in a cruising Los Angeles limousine down Hollywood- or Sunset Boulevards are fun for adults and kids alike.
So is the Hollywood Wax Museum, where you can see the most realistic-looking copies of celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe, Michael Jackson, and even Freddy Kreuger and others. For toddlers and young kids, see the Discovery Cube, Kidspace Children’s Museum in Pasadena, or the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific, which is one of America’s largest aquariums. A great way to introduce children to art is to make a visit to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) on Wilshire. Fun classes here are available for kids as young as 3 years old.
Ocean Fun
Taking the $1 ferry to Balboa Island in Orange County might be the best buck you’ve ever spent. Here you can enjoy the signature Balboa Bar ice cream, check out the quaint townhouses and explore the main street with its stores, cafés, and eateries. Make sure to go by Our Gang’s General Store for some unique toys. The Balboa Fun Zone with its ferries wheel and rides are another must on the nearby Balboa Peninsula.
For birthday parties and larger gatherings, why not look into party bus rentals? A birthday celebrated in a party bus will never be forgotten. How about a birthday party of indoor rollerskating at Skateland? More into water rides than rollercoasters? Hurricane Harbor, Disney California Adventure Park, Knott’s Soak City and the Great Wolf Lodge are just a few of your many options for water parks in Southern California.
While kids wouldn’t like the Malibu wine tour too much, there are tons of kid-friendly activities in Malibu - why not head for brunch followed by some beaching at the Paradise Cove Beach and Café? Another popular LA limo destination in Malibu is the beautiful Malibu Creek Park, where you can come for a day of exploring, hiking, picnicking, or camping. Maybe the best alternative for exploring the great outdoors is the Channel Islands National Park. Here you can see the lighthouse on Anacapa Island, search for the endemic Channel Island Fox on Santa Cruz Island (the largest island in California), or see the gorgeous sandy white beaches and turquoise water on Santa Rosa Island. Golden eagles roam all of the islands. So do great numbers of seals, sea lions, various sea birds, and more. Island Packers offers both tours to the various islands, but also whale-watching cruises in the Santa Barbara Channel.
It isn’t just the studio tours at Universal Studios that are top-notch. Check out the Warner Bros. Studios for tours of where Batman, Friends, and Gilmore Girls were filmed.
Additional Ideas
There are also various exhibits where you can see the costumes of popular figures such as Batman, Superman, and the Harry Potter movies. While the NBC Studios tour brings you to the film location of the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and Saturday Night Live, the Paramount Studio tour shows you the stages for shows like Dr. Phil and Entertainment Tonight. Going for a puppet show at the Bob Baker Marionette Theater can be pretty awesome, while the trampoline land at Sky High Sports in Woodland hills is another LA limo favorite.
Wanna go horseback riding? Tours going to the Hollywood Sign on Mount Lee are an option, but for horseback riding in the Santa Monica Mountains, we would recommend Rocking K Horse Rentals in Newbury Park. Wanna feed an array of animals or learn about farming? We’ve had people ordering Los Angeles limousines for their ride to the Underwood Family Farm. For go-karting, Burbank’s Racer’s Edge or the Santa Monica Pier are two great options that are fun for kids (and adults) of all ages. For the utmost relaxation on a white sandy beach with little waves, check out Orange County’s Thousand Steps Beach.
For the older kids, the California Science Center, Griffith Observatory, and Children’s Book World are great picks. So many first-time tourists visiting the city call LAX sedan service for transfers straight to the Griffith Observatory in Griffith Park. With gorgeous panoramic views of the Los Angeles skyline, the views here are maybe the best after dark. Both the observatory as well as the California Science Center focus on space, and at the science center, you can see the famous Endeavour and many other space shuttles. Seeing and learning about animals at Star Eco Station in Culver City is educational and fun.
For the older kids, the California Science Center, Griffith Observatory, and Children’s Book World are great picks. So many first-time tourists visiting the city call LAX sedan service for transfers straight to the Griffith Observatory in Griffith Park. With gorgeous panoramic views of the Los Angeles skyline, the views here are maybe the best after dark. Both the observatory as well as the California Science Center focus on space, and at the science center, you can see the famous Endeavour and many other space shuttles. Seeing and learning about animals at Star Eco Station in Culver City is educational and fun.
Many calling from the Pinz for limo or party bus rentals are eager to tell about the celebrities they saw while bowling with the kids. If it’s time for the Rose Parade, head to Pasadena for a day of excitement and fun. Hiking in Griffith Park can be a lot of fun, for example, if combined with some soccer, picnicking, and exploring Bat Cave. Safari tours at Malibu Family Wines (zebras, camels, alpacas) or at Catalina Island (buffalos, foxes, golden eagles) are unbeatable.
