Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
176
Kids
Kid-Cool Attractions in L.A.
Much of larger-than-life L.A. is as appealing to kids as it is to adults. Many of the
city's best attrac tions, like Venice Beach's
Ocean Front Walk
(p. 156), Holly-
wood's
Farmers Market
(p. 248), and Do wntown's
Olvera Street
(par t of El
Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument; p. 244) have a kid-friendly, carnival-
like atmosphere. The novelty of sights such as the
Walk of Fame
(p. 154) and
Grauman's Chinese Theatre
(p. 151) appeals to kids as well. Older kids in par-
ticular love to go on
studio tours
(p. 191) and to
TV tapings
(p. 195).
Then there's the k id-centric museums. Kids who are into dinosaurs will dig
La Brea Tar Pits
(p. 160) and the c ool prehistoric creatures on displa y at the
adjoining
Page Museum
(really, you have to drag your kids out of here; p. 160).
The
California S cience C enter
(p . 172) will ent ertain, stimulat e, and ev en
teach (sshhhh) kids about science, technology, biology, and the world around
them. The
Natural History Museum
(p. 174), the Science Center's neighbor in
Exposition Park, has g iant dinosaur skelet ons, an insec t zoo, and a museum
shop packed with t errifically fun model k its and other irr esistible t oys. The
Petersen A utomotive Museum
(p . 170) is packed with c ool-looking cars and
motorcycles, as well as a science-themed Discovery Center designed just for kids.
Thanks to the
Winnick Family Children's Zoo
(p. 191), the Los Angeles Zoo
is an all-day adventure for the kids. This excellent children's zoo has a top-notch
petting zoo, exhibition animal- care center, Adventure Theater, and other k id-
cool attractions. Or ho w about an af ternoon of
horseback riding
(p. 207) on
the trails through the Hollywood hills? Here's one you haven't thought of: the
J. Paul Getty Museum
at the Gett y Center (p. 157). Dec eptively educational
programs for k ids include explorat ory games such as
The Getty Art Detective
and
Perplexing Paintings.
There's also a family r oom filled with pic ture books
and games, storytelling sessions, weekend family workshops, and self-guided
audio tours made specifically for families.
But wait, ther e's mor e. Young t ourists will also like the surr eal
Universal
CityWalk
shopping mall (p . 163), the car ousel and ar cade at
Santa Monica
Pier
(p. 156), and the miniatur e train ride at the
Travel Town Transportation
Museum
in Griffith Park (p. 187). If they're sports fans there's sure to be a f ew
tickets a vailable f or a pr o
baseball, bask etball,
or
soccer
game in t own
(p. 210). And if all this isn 't enough, ther e's always
Universal Studios Holly -
wood
(p. 162),
Disneyland
(p. 216),
Knott's Berry Farm
(p. 229), and
Six Flags
California
(p. 161) amusement parks . Or heck , just get the k ids a t oy bucket
and shovel and spend the day at
Santa Monica State Beach
(p. 202).
7
both eclectic and cutting edge. Because of the layout, visitors can park in the free lot and
spend the day galler y hopping from one central location rather than driv e around town
from one gallery to the next. Most pieces are available for purchase.
2525 M ichigan A ve. (off Clo verfield Blv d.), Santa M onica.
&
310/586-6488.
w ww.smmoa.org. F ree
admission. Tues-Sat 11am-6pm. Free parking.
