Los Angeles City Guide: Attractions

Disneyland
1313 North Harbor Boulevard, Anaheim, CA
(714) 781-4000
www.disneyland.disney.go.com
Hours: 8am-12am (daily)
Price: $119 per person
Age Range: Baby, Toddler, Preschooler, Elementary, Tween, Teen

Splash Mountain!  Finding Nemo!   Peter Pan’s Flight!  The rides are legendary at Disneyland, the mother of all theme parks.  Entire books have been devoted to planning a visit here and navigating the park, but no worries, with some online research, and a game plan, it’s easy to focus on the fun!

La Brea Tarpits and Page Museum
5801 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA
(323) 934-PAGE
www.tarpits.org
Hours: 9:30am-5pm (daily)
Prices: Children (ages 4 & under): $5, Juniors (ages 5-12): $8, Adults (ages 13-61): $10, Seniors (ages 62+): $8
Age Range: Baby, Toddler, Preschooler, Elementary, Tween, Teen
       
Visit the world of the Ice Age movies as you travel back 40,000 years to explore the world’s most famous fossil excavations.  Take a free tour and let your guide point out sabre-tooth tigers and dinosaurs.  At the Fishbowl Lab, you can watch paleontologists work on real fossils.  The kids will love the life-size replicas of extinct mammals that once roamed downtown Los Angeles. Dig it!

Santa Monica Pier (pictured above)
200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA
(310) 458-8901
www.santamonicapier.org
Hours: Open daily
Price: Free
Age Range: Baby, Toddler, Preschooler, Elementary, Tween, Teen

Santa Monica prides itself as the birthplace of the physical fitness boom; Jack La Lanne and Joe Gold (Gold’s Gym) sculpted their famous bods in the 1930s on Muscle Beach. Get into the spirit with a bike ride or fishing expedition before you let the kids gorge themselves on cotton candy and funnel cake. There’s a carousel, roller coaster and plenty of first-rate people-watching.

Rolling Robots
757 Americana Way, Glendale, CA
(818) 241-2308
www.rollingrobots.com
Hours: By appointment
Price: Prices vary
Age Range: Toddler, Preschooler, Elementary, Tween, Teen

Maybe you’ve got a budding engineer in the family? The folks at Rolling Robots will teach the kids of all levels how to design and build his or her very own radio-controlled robot. Rad!

Universal Studios Hollywood
100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA
(800) 864-8377
www.universalstudioshollywood.com
Hours: 8am-10pm (daily)
Prices: Under 48 inches tall: $72, General Admission: $80
Age Range: Baby, Toddler, Preschooler, Elementary, Tween, Teen

The studio tour at the world’s most famous backlot is not to be missed. Get the scoop on how Jurassic Park was created and why the Transformers seem so real.  Special effects not your thing? Relive the horror of Psycho all over again at the actual set of the Bates Motel.  A visit to Universal Studios is an exciting journey through the history of the movies.  

Sunset Ranch Hollywood Stables
3400 North Beachwood Drive, Los Angeles, CA
(323) 469-5450
www.sunsetranchhollywood.com
Hours: 9am-5pm (daily)
Price: One hour tour: $40 per person, Two hour tour: $60 per person
Age Range: (8 and older) Elementary, Tween, Teen

Located in Griffith Park, Sunset Ranch offers a novel way to experience some of the most breathtaking views of the Hollywood Hills.  First-time equestrians are more than welcome on the one-hour, two-hour or evening rides.  Riding lessons, parties, and an on-site restaurant are also available.  Grab your saddle and go! 

Newport Landing Whale Watching Tours
400 Main Street, Newport Beach, CA
(949) 675-0551
www.newportwhales.com
Hours: Call ahead for tour times
Price: Children (ages 12 & under): $26, Adults (ages 13-59): $32, Seniors (ages 60+): $26
Age Range: Baby, Toddler, Preschooler, Elementary, Tween, Teen

Southern California offers some of the best whale-watching in the country. You won’t believe how many species of dolphins, seals, whales, sharks and herons inhabit this coastline. Guides are seafarers and storytellers, so you can count on an engaging narration. The Los Angeles location also offers a twin-engine plane tour.  

The Hollywood Walk of Fame and Hollywood Sign
7018 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, CA
(323) 469-8311
www.hollywoodchamber.net
Hours: Open daily
Price: Free
Age Range: Baby, Toddler, Preschooler, Elementary, Tween, Teen

The kids will love to find out how many names they recognize on this international tourist attraction.  Because the Walk of Fame is a public sidewalk, the hours of operation are unrestricted and there is no price of admission.  If anyone approaches you to purchase a ticket, take a moment to report it to the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce at info@hollywoodchamber.net.

The Farmer’s Market
333 West 3rd Street, Los Angeles, CA
(323) 933-9211
www.farmersmarketla.com
Hours:
Monday-Friday: 9am-9pm
Saturday: 9am-8pm
Sunday: 10am-7pm
Price: Free
Age Range: Baby, Toddler, Preschooler, Elementary, Tween, Teen

So much more than a spot for fresh produce, the Farmer’s Market is the ultimate  gastronomic emporium. The kids will love the Sticker Place; nobody can top their selection.  Take home a container of Magee’s freshly-ground peanut butter!

California Science Center
700 State Drive, Los Angeles, CA
(213) 744-2019
www.californiasciencecenter.org
Hours: 10am-5pm (daily)

Home to over 100 exhibits, this is the west coast’s largest hands on science museum. Learning is fully interactive and experiential as children learn about physics by riding a bike, and learn about earthquakes by testing whether or not structures will fall on impact.  The exhibits change frequently, so be sure to check the website for the most up-to-date information.

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