Today we proudly present another terrific guest post by Mary from The World is a Book. I am a big fan of Mary’s since she is an exceptional writer and photographer. Her articles are an inspiration to me not only because of the places they travel, but also her great writing style and detailed facts about the locations. Please welcome me in introducing Mary.

Los Angeles conjures up images of celebrities, swaying palm trees and sandy beaches as well as amusement parks. It’s not a cheap city to live or to visit. Luckily, there are these wonderful attractions to visit that are fun and free especially with the kids in tow.

1. J. Paul Getty Museum at Getty Center

Perched on a hill near one of the busiest freeways is a magnificent and award-winning art museum even the kids will enjoy. Even before entering, the kids are treated to a ride up the tram to reach the museum from the parking lot. The Getty is a highly regarded architectural work of unique, modern and sleek style. It houses plenty of European and American art starting from the Middle Ages to current works ranging from paintings, drawings, sculptures and photographs.

One of the best things about this museum is that it is very family friendly and offers a lot to satisfy everyone. There is never a lack of activities, workshops and festivals throughout the year. During the summer, various garden concerts are held for the kids. Indoors is a family room with five activity coves such as camera lenses and wall of mirrors. Plenty of free materials for the kids are provided to draw, paint and sculpt to expand their imagination and use some creativity. There’s even a treasure hunt wall with 70 peepholes to see details on the gallery’s art collection to keep the kids engaged and learning. After all, it’s never too early to expose kids to the wonderful world of art.

The Getty has beautiful, varied gardens to take a break and test the senses. Stroll to the open areas with panoramic views on a clear day of the LA skyline and the Pacific Ocean. No required reservations are needed and free guided tours for the galleries, architecture and gardens are also available.

Address: 1200 Getty Center Dr Los Angeles, CA 90049

Website: http://www.getty.edu/museum/

 

2. Griffith Observatory and grounds

This iconic Los Angeles attraction on a hilltop overlooking the city has been around since the 1930s and is a favorite among visitors and residents. No reservations are required to enter the observatory and the grounds. Many exhibits inside were created to stimulate the visitors’ power of observation, imagination and curiosity. They include a 150-foot timeline of the universe, the Foucault Pendulum (device to demonstrate Earth’s rotation), solar telescopes, and observing telescopes. Kids can learn more about astronomy, interact with exhibits and some hands-on learning.

The Zeiss and solar telescopes are available to the public for free to view the night sky and real-time view of the sun (sunspots and sun flares included). One of the largest planetariums in the world resides here comfortable enough for 285 visitors. The planetarium offers four shows throughout the day ($7 adults, $3 kids 5-12). Most of the shows are not for children 5 years old and under. But, they are admitted to specific planetarium show times (Wed. to Fri at 12:45 PM and Sat./Sun at 10:45 AM).

The observatory grounds are also a great place to see the Hollywood sign and on a clear day – beautiful panoramic views of the city down below. Griffith Park nearby also has some other attractions that aren’t too hard on the wallet. The LA Zoo, carousel rides, numerous trails and one of my kids favorite – horseback riding( $3 for 15 minutes) are around the area.

Address: 2800 East Observatory Rd Los Angeles 90027 Open Wednesday through Sunday only

Web: http://www.griffithobs.org/

3. La Brea Tar Pits/Hancock Park

The La Brea Tar Pits is one of the world’s famous fossil sites of plants and animals who were trapped in asphalt during warmer climate between 11,000 – 50,000 years ago. Over the years this entrapment resulted to many fossils with the asphalt preserving the bones.

Excavations of the fossils in the tar pits began in 1913. Paleontologists have discovered 600 species of of plants and animals in what was once Rancho La Brea. When entering the park, you’ll instantly notice large pre-historic creature statues inside the tar pits. You’ll smell the strong asphalt odor and see it bubbling up too. Walking around, visitors can see the large wooden boxes containing 23 large blocks of asphalt fossil deposits discovered in 2006.

The tar pits are adjacent to Hancock Park and the Page Museum where the fossils are displayed (fee of $11 adults, kids (5-12 yrs) $5) . Hancock Park is well kept and clean with plenty of spaces for the kids to run around and for strolling. The best part for kids and the young at heart is a medium-size hill of soft grass perfect for laying out or rolling down. Don’t forget the outdoor sculptures and art perfect for photo ops and climbing scattered throughout the park.

Address: 5801 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90036

Website: http://www.tarpits.org

4. Hollywood Walk of Fame

The famous sidewalk of the stars that extend for 15 blocks on Hollywood Boulevard has been around for over 50 years. Understandably, older kids will enjoy this walk more than the toddlers. A scavenger hunt of celebrities’ stars is a wonderful way to “walk with the stars” and engage the kids. There are currently over 2,400 stars so you’ll never know whose you’ll see. Kids favorites usually include looking for Disney or other cartoon characters’ stars.

There are plenty of places around this area for the whole family to enjoy too. Graumann’s Chinese Theater is a hard to miss structure. The whole family will enjoy the foot and handprints along with autographs of past and present stars. Hollywood and Highland Center is a large outdoor shopping center with family-friendly dining options too.

There is always a variety of costumed characters to greet visitors around here (fees to pose with them). But, the kids will at least be entertained with the cast of their favorite movie or TV show characters walking around. Yes, it’s very touristy but if you’re in the neighborhood, you might as well join the masses for those photo ops with the stars. Don’t worry, you won’t be alone. A 2003 market research survey found the walk of fame attracted about 10 million visitors a year.

5. California Science Center

Known as the West Coast’s largest hands-on science center, this facility is vast and varied. It’s hard to believe it offers free admission to its permanent exhibit galleries. Located in the Exposition Park area with other museums, it has something for everyone in the family. The exhibits include areas focused on the Ecosystem, Creative World, World of Life, and Air/Space.

Children 7 years old and under can go to Discovery Rooms in these exhibits for unique interactive experiences. Kids can learn about inventions and life processes in various zones. The Family Discovery Room consists of a Little Scientist lab to introduce science to pre-school and kindergarten students while Discovery Lab programs are designed for the pre-schoolers and early elementary ages.

One of my kids’ favorite area here is the rocky shore or tidepool containers outside. They can examine several marine animals with the guidance of docents who happily answer curious questions from the little ones. If that’s not enough, a giant aquarium with a growing kelp forest is sure to be a hit. There’s even a tunnel at the bottom of the tank to walk through making it feel like a walk through the ocean floor.

We were here for a few hours and didn’t even cover some of the rooms and exhibits. Reserve some time and enjoy everything the center has to offer. Don’t miss the rose garden across it for the kids to run around and for grown-ups to relax in this beautiful area.

Address: 700 Exposition Park Drive Los Angeles, CA 90037

Website: http://www.californiasciencecenter.org/

A visit to the City of Angels should also include some time at any of the beaches along the coast – many of them family friendly. But, there’s more to see than the amusement parks, beaches and shopping centers. Los Angeles with kids is such a lively city full of diverse attractions. Some of them famous and iconic, it’s hard to believe they’re actually free to the public. I hope you keep these in mind during your next LA family vacation.

Thank you Mary for the excellent reporting on family friendly activities around the Los Angeles area. To find more of Mary and her family’s adventures, please head over to The World is a Book.