VISITING Los Angeles · City of Angels

Visiting Los Angeles with toddlers and little kids: the plan.

Pick a base near the places you care about most, because driving across town eats a toddler’s good hours. Exposition Park has its own Metro E Line stop, and Griffith Park and the Long Beach waterfront are easiest by car.

Top 2 can’t-miss spots

#1Griffith Park, 5333 Zoo Drive
Los Angeles Zoo
Last entry 3:45pm.
Kids $22Adults $27Under 2
See it in the guide
#2Exposition Park, 700 Exposition Park Drive
California Science Center
Free entry; IMAX costs extra.
FreeIndoor
See it in the guide
Nap breaks built in

One day or two in LA

A couple of big stops, a real lunch and a nap in the middle. Tap a stop for the full listing.

If you have one day
MORNINGLos Angeles ZooOpens 10am · Griffith Park, 5333 Zoo Drive · $22 kids, $27 adults
NAPBack to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
AFTER NAPTravel Town MuseumFree, closes at 5 · Griffith Park, 5200 Zoo Drive · Free
If you have two days

Day 1 is the one-day plan above. Day 2:

MORNINGCalifornia Science CenterFree, opens 10am · Exposition Park, 700 Exposition Park Drive · FreeLUNCHNatural History Museum of Los Angeles CountyNext door · Exposition Park, 900 Exposition Blvd.
NAPBack to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
AFTER NAPKidspace Children’s MuseumClosed Mondays · Pasadena, 480 N. Arroyo Blvd. · $17 per person
Where to stay

Kid-friendly areas near the big attractions

Pick the area by the stops you’ll make most, then plan around nap.

GRIFFITH PARKLos Feliz and GlendaleThe zoo and Travel Town are a few minutes apart on Zoo Drive.Near Los Angeles Zoo and Travel Town Museum
EXPOSITION PARKDowntown and USCTwo museums and a Metro stop.Near California Science Center and Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
Eat

Easy restaurants near the big stops

Kids’ menus, quick service and a short drive from the attractions. Prices come from each restaurant’s own menu.

Café · Long BeachCafé Scuba at the Aquarium of the PacificNear Aquarium of the Pacific
Before you go

Practical tips

Parking, strollers, changing tables and the best times to go.

Transit
The Metro E Line stops at Exposition Park.
Game days
USC home games at the Coliseum clog Exposition Park; check the schedule before you go.
Visiting in November or December?

Santa and Christmas lights in LA

If your trip lands in the holiday season, these two pages have the dates, prices and booking links.

Santa in LABreakfast with Santa, Santa photos and Santa trains, with 2026 pricesChristmas lights in LADrive-thru and walk-through displays, start times and 2026 prices
This week

Happening while you’re here

This week’s top events in Los Angeles. The full list, with hours and the forecast, is on the this-week page.

#110am–5pm
Boo at the L.A. Zoo
Trick-or-treat stations around the zoo, pumpkins for the animals, keeper talks and photo spots. Costumes are encouraged. This is the second and last weekend.
Los Angeles Zoo · Los Angeles
Free with zoo admission
Hours, food & parking
#2Thu–Sun, hours vary
Downtown Día de los Muertos at Grand Park
The ofrenda exhibition stays up in the park through Monday. The Sunday closing party has sugar skull decorating, ribbon braiding and face painting, and strollers are allowed. Take the Metro B or D Line to Civic Center/Grand Park.
Gloria Molina Grand Park · Los Angeles
Free
Hours, food & parking
#3Sat 2–5pm
Halloween Walk on Montana Avenue
Shops along Montana Avenue hand out treats to kids in costume. Bring a bag.
Montana Avenue · Santa Monica
Free
Hours, food & parking
#4Thu–Sat, hours vary
Free Harbor Tour for Kids in Costume
Through Halloween, kids under 11 who show up in costume ride a Long Beach harbor tour free with a paying adult. Ask at the ticket counter; the offer is in person only.
Harbor Breeze Cruises · Long Beach
Free for kids under 11 in costume with a full-fare adult
Hours, food & parking
#5Thu–Sun, hours vary
Pumpkin Patch at Irvine Park Railroad
The last four days of the patch. Train and wagon rides are free for babies 12 months and under, and the page says no reservations are needed on Oct 31 or Nov 1. The OC Zoo next door is $2 a person.
Irvine Park Railroad · Orange
Activity tickets $8
Hours, food & parking
See everything this week →
Good questions

Visiting Los Angeles with toddlers: the FAQ

Is Los Angeles kid-friendly?

For a family with kids under 6, yes. Our Los Angeles guide lists 8 places we checked for little kids, plus 2 free places and 6 picks for babies and toddlers. This page adds 1 easy restaurant near the big stops and free storytimes at 1 library system. This week’s list has 25 dated outings for ages 0–6. See free things to do in Los Angeles and this weekend’s list.

Do we need a car?

For Exposition Park, no; the Metro E Line stops at the door. For Griffith Park and Long Beach, a car is easier.

What if it rains?

The Science Center and the Natural History Museum sit side by side in Exposition Park.

Get the list every Thursday.

One short email every Thursday evening with the five things we’d leave the house for in LA.