kid and family fun
Have kids? Did you know…
There are TONS of free, all-ages, kid and family fun activities here in Los Angeles that don’t require you “taking one for the team” so your little one(s) can have a good time. As much as another birthday party for a toddler is “a blast”, or schlepping your kids across town for sports or lessons can be a weekly highlight – set aside time to do these activities that the entire family can enjoy.
We put together a list of just a few of our favorite local, Los Angeles activities – in no particular order – that won’t break the bank & are good, clean kid and family fun – take a look-see:
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LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART (LACMA)
LACMA offers free memberships to Los Angeles kids (& an accompanying adult!) through a program called NEXGEN.
NEXGEN offers General Admission for free for kiddos 17 & under, & includes access to the collection galleries & most temporary exhibitions. There’s no catch, just LACMA’s way of showing love for the local community & visitors (NEXGEN is available to folks outside of L.A. too!).
Check out NEXGEN here
Did you know that they also offer free general admission for L.A. County residents after 3 pm on every weekday that LACMA is open!?
Directions & Parking & Hours & Admission
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TAKE METRO LOS ANGELES
Metro is even more exciting & fun when you have your name on your TAP card. Kids can get their own discounted Metro card with their name on it.
Come take a look here
New to Metro? A bit weary that you’ll end up in Tijuana or pull a National Lampoons European Vacation & circle endlessly?
Don’t you worry – we got you covered. Take a look at our blog where we break down the L.A. Metro System, & of course stop by Metro.net to plan your trip in advance.
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VISIT DOWNTOWN L.A.
DTLA is an easy go-to any day with kids. Take Metro & explore on foot some of the best locations in DTLA, or park & explore.
Fun places to take the kids in Downtown Los Angeles:
GRAND PARK
A huge & expansive urban park, near the Civic Center area of Downtown Los Angeles. Chill on the grass, play in the water fountain fun (perfect for hot days with lil’ ones), or get there during one of the various festivals, fairs, & free activities they do often.
grand park & city hall – near Metro Red Line Civic Center stop
CHINATOWN
Chinatown is that perfect mixture of culture, shopping, & food. With Far East Plaza becoming quickly the hottest destination for good grub in Los Angeles, taking a stroll through the many pedestrian-friendly courtyards will have you finding hidden gems that you didn’t know existed. Stop & talk with the local shop-keeps, & just take it all in.
Entrance to Chinatown Los Angeles. Take the Metro Gold Line to Chinatown station to skip on parking.
GRAND CENTRAL MARKET
Reflecting the diversity of food & culture in Los Angeles, Grand Central Market is a great place for eats & sweets, & the perfect mid-point to chill & relax out of the sun if you’re urban hiking through Downtown L.A. Pick a type of food & you’ll find it there – & if you haven’t visited for a while, you’ll notice the focus on local chefs & cuisines. They are continuously evolving & bringing in tasty vendors – so check out their site in advance so you can be extra excited about what to eat.
OLVERA STREET
This is where Los Angeles all began as a small pueblo – & is literally Los Angeles’ “first street”.
It’s tough to visit there on the weekends without coming across cultural dancing, music, or a fun family activity. Steps from Union Station & Chinatown, enjoy regional shopping & food, & a rich history tied to the beginnings of Los Angeles.
Check out the LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes’ Mexican American Museum, or soak up the rich & vibrant architecture in the area.
Walking distance from both Union Station & Metro Gold Line Chinatown station.
SMORGASBURG LOS ANGELES
Every Sunday in the Arts District of Los Angeles, you’ll find pretty much your one-stop-shop for introductions to the best local food vendors & independent restaurants.
Tucked behind tall industrial buildings, it’s literally a “smorgasburg” of eats, treats, & sweets – & check their website for updates as they do a ton of themed events thru the year.
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SUMMER NIGHTS & ODD NIGHTS
KCRW’S Chinatown Summer Nights & Odd Nights at the Autry combine food trucks, Los Angeles products, dancing, live music, DJ’s & family friendly activities into the perfect mix of a family night out. And they’re fun… like “on vacation” fun.
Stay late or show up early, these events are catered to all-ages & both partner with some of the coolest local bands, food vendors & mercantiles.
Both of these events are “Summertime-only” – so plan in advance!
LEARN MORE ABOUT CHINATOWN SUMMER NIGHTS
LEARN MORE ABOUT ODD NIGHTS AT THE AUTRY
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We love sharing our L.A. adventures, so whether we are strolling through the Los Angeles Arboretum, visiting los animales at the Los Angeles Zoo, marveling at the marine biology at The Aquarium of the Pacific, or shopping & hanging at El Mercadito in Boyle Heights – we promise to give you the scoop on kid and family fun in Los Angeles.
we remind Angelenos of what “living locally” has to offer.
barrio.la finds local companies making high quality, eco-friendly goods right here in Southern California.
Los Angeles has so much going on & is alive with eclectic neighborhoods, places to see & things to do – so while we’re at it – we keep you in the know about cool things going on in your own ‘hood & the cool people making it all happen.
feel like wandering with us?
cool… ’cause that’s what we do here.
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