Our 5 Fave Los Angeles Weekend Freebies (Jan. 18-20)
Freebies this MLK Day weekend include a polar splash, Lunar New Year fun, and three ways to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
What’s New on Catalina Island
Catalina Island is consistently named one of the favorite nearby island getaways for families— and for good reason. With a rich history and laid-back vibe, Catalina is a great place to relax and enjoy the outdoors. Always evolving to entertain visitors, Catalina is celebrating its 125th anniversary with new and improved restaurants, hotels, trailheads, museums […]
Summer Fun at L.A. Museums
You’ve been to the beach and the zoo, done play dates in the park and ventured to an amusement park or two. With July and August still ahead, what’s left to do? Museums provide a great destination – particularly on unbearably scorching days – with fun activities and cultural enrichment for all. Many offer special […]
A New Career as a Volunteer
Meet our 2016 Amazing Mom, Julie Weinstein To illustrate the icy cold of the Arctic described in “Eve of the Emperor Penguin” from the “Magic Tree House” series, Julie Weinstein taught her second-grade book-club readers to make their own ice cream. The students learned how a liquid can freeze into a solid – and that […]
Family Road Tripping Goes Global
Rebecca Bernard wants your family to go to camp. Together. And bring your passports. Bernard is founder and chief culture officer at FamilyGo, a company offering group travel curated for kids, parents and even grandparents to enjoy together. Bernard calls her program a “camp on the road.” Groups of families visit a destination, and the […]
LA Opera’s Great Opera Choruses Has Families Sing Along
Going to the Opera is an experience many of us don’t get until later in life. Whether it’s the cost, the etiquette required, or having multiple kids, the traditional opera experience is anything but family-friendly for families with young children. Thank goodness the LA Opera is continuing their effort to meet families in the middle. […]
Crayon Collection Hosts Nationwide Crayon Drive
The Crayon Collection is asking teachers, students and parents nationwide to participate in the largest national crayon drive in history on National Crayon Day, March 31. By redistributing discarded crayons to children in underserved schools, participants are also eliminating tons of waste destined for landfills. Proceeds will support the Crayon Collection’s distribution of crayons to […]
L.A. Parent’s Awesome Kids Contest
Deadline to enter is midnight July 17. Chosen winners must be present at L.A. Parent’s Birthday Bash from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. August 2 to receive their award and prize, including a gift card to The Original Farmers Market. Submit your nomination below!
Museum Tips For Special-Needs Families
Museums of all kinds can be great experiences for kids with special needs. A little planning and a few extra steps can make your visit great. by Julee Brooks For families of children with special needs, the thought of visiting a busy public space such as a museum might seem daunting. There are things, however, […]
Step Back From the Bustle In Larchmont Village
Families find quaint shops and good food in this cozy part of town. by Erin Mahoney Harris Larchmont Boulevard, which runs between Melrose Avenue and 3rd Street, has long stood in as “Main Street USA” for the surrounding communities of Hancock Park and Windsor Square. Independently owned shops and restaurants still outnumber major chains, and […]
Shopping, Culture and Fun In Century City and Westwood
Whether you’re in the mood for shopping, culture or good food, this slice of L.A.’s West side has you covered. by Erin Mahoney Harris Tucked among the towering buildings of Century City, the Westfield shopping center was designed with family fun in mind, while the cultural institutions of nearby UCLA provide a high-minded counterbalance to […]
Sea Life, Ships and Shopping in San Pedro
See marine life, taste delicious seafood, shop for hand-crafted goods and see a bit of battleship history. by Erin Mahoney Harris The harbor city of San Pedro is loaded with hidden treasures. An excellent aquarium, whale watching excursions, a permanent craft fair, a historic battleship and more neat discoveries are in store for families willing […]
Historic Fun and Theme Park Thrills In Santa Clarita Valley
Take a family field trip to these popular family communities for history, ranch fun, and a great ride or two. by Erin Mahoney Harris Just a half-hour’s drive north of Los Angeles, Santa Clarita has in recent years become a popular place for young families to settle down, and with good reason. Boasting beautiful natural […]
Head North For Family Fun in Montrose
Quiet Montrose, west of La Cañada-Flintridge, offers family shopping, tasty treats for kids, great bookstores, and places to connect with nature. by Erin Mahoney Harris The quiet community of Montrose is nestled near the intersection of the 210 and 2 freeways, just west of La Cañada-Flintridge. It’s farther north than some Angelenos are used to […]
Exploring Manhattan Beach
Find seaside relaxation, upscale shopping, and plenty of family fun in this South Bay town. by Erin Mahoney Harris The well-heeled South Bay community of Manhattan Beach combines the laid-back vibe of a seaside town with the upscale dining and shopping of Beverly Hills. Every summer, its beautiful sandy beaches host the Manhattan Beach Open […]
Flying, Fishing and Disc Golf in Wrightwood
Who needs snow? This year-round destination offers plenty of family adventures. by Mimi Slawoff Although best known for the skiing and snowboarding at Mountain High (www.mthigh.com), Wrightwood is a year-round destination with a variety of family-friendly adventures. Hiking, biking, fishing, kayaking, ziplining and disc golf are among the fun things to do with kids in […]
Quiet Ojai Offers Laid-Back Fun Kids Will Love
Let’s Go columnist Mimi Slawoff offers a guide to this quaint town that’s just a short-and-pleasant drive away. by Mimi Slawoff Tucked away in a valley 65 miles northwest of Los Angeles, Ojai is easy to miss unless you know about it. With its farms, mom-and-pop boutiques, restaurants and inns – no two alike – […]
Star Gaze and Off Road In Borrego Springs
Enjoy desert excursions, karaoke, comfort food and other family fun just a three-hour drive away. by Mimi Slawoff Borrego Springs, in east San Diego County, is a quiet little town surrounded by the 600,000-acre Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. In place of fast food chains and big resorts, the main drag, Palm Canyon Drive, boasts mom-and-pop […]
Desert – and Hollywood – Fun In Palm Springs
Time travel to celebrity getaways, take a jeep into the desert and meet the local wildlife on this family getaway. by Mimi Slawoff In the desert about 110 miles east of Los Angeles, Palm Springs is the ancestral home to the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, and its serenity was first discovered by Hollywood […]
Escape the City In Big Bear Lake
There’s plenty of off-season family fun to be had at this snow and ski resort. It’s a rejuvenating retreat. by Mimi Slawoff On a drive to Big Bear Lake shortly after your ascent to the resort begins, the landscape changes dramatically from clogged freeways to mountain vistas, with whiff s of pine drifting in through […]
Go Danish or Western in the Santa Ynez Valley
From the quaint town of Solvang to the rustic trails near Alisal Guest Ranch, your family can have a world of fun. by Mimi Slawoff Located in northern Santa Barbara County, the Santa Ynez Valley contains six distinctive, rural communities with a total population of about 20,000. The most unique and picturesque is Solvang (Danish […]
Hidden Beaches, History and Family Fun in Oxnard and Ventura
Plan a day trip or weekend getaway filled with beaches, music, museums and sports the kids will love. Published: 08/05/2013 by Mimi Slawoff Situated between sultry Malibu and posh Santa Barbara, Ventura County is a rather underrated coastal and cultural destination. But sandy beaches, a plethora of recreational activities, year-round festivals and historic districts make […]