Once in a Lifetime Things to Do in Los Angeles With Kids: Los Angeles is one of those cities where every single block has a story to tell. The sunshine never quits, the food scene is mind-blowing, and the experiences available for families are unlike anything you’ll find anywhere else in the United States. But here’s the thing — if you’ve got kids in tow, LA isn’t just about theme parks and beach days. This city is packed with once-in-a-lifetime experiences that will have your whole family talking about this trip for the next twenty years. From walking beneath ancient bubbling tar pits to staring into the actual cosmos from a hilltop observatory, these are the moments that make Los Angeles the greatest family destination in America.
This guide is written for American families who want to go beyond the standard tourist playbook and discover the experiences in LA that are truly extraordinary, deeply memorable, and completely impossible to replicate anywhere else on Earth.
1. Touch the Ice Age at La Brea Tar Pits and Museum
There is nowhere else on the planet where you can stand in the middle of a major American city and watch actual Ice Age tar bubbling up from the ground in real time. That alone makes La Brea Tar Pits one of the most jaw-dropping and unique family destinations in the entire country.
- La Brea Tar Pits Museum admission is around $18 for adults, $15 for seniors and students with valid ID, and $8 for children ages 3–12. Kids under 2 get in free. LA County residents get free admission on weekdays from 3–5 PM.
- Marvel at the outdoor Lake Pit oozing with bubbling tar, travel back in time through the prehistoric Pleistocene Garden, and explore active dig sites where scientists make new Ice Age discoveries daily.
- The Excavator Tour is free with admission and takes you through the Fossil Lab, Observation Pit, and Project 23 — one of the newest excavation sites. Allow about 2 hours for the full experience.
- Kids absolutely lose their minds watching real paleontologists clean actual saber-toothed cat bones through a giant glass window inside the Fossil Lab. It’s science class meets blockbuster movie.
📍 Location: 5801 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036 (Miracle Mile/Mid-Wilshire District)
🕐 Hours: Daily, 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM (check tarpits.org for current hours and free admission days)
2. Stargaze at the Griffith Observatory — Free and Absolutely Unforgettable
Perched on the southern slope of Mount Hollywood, the Griffith Observatory is one of the most iconic buildings in all of Southern California — and visiting here with kids is a genuine bucket list experience.
- Visitors can look through telescopes, explore exhibits, see live shows in the Samuel Oschin Planetarium, and enjoy spectacular views of Los Angeles and the Hollywood Sign. General admission to the building and grounds is completely free.
- Planetarium show tickets cost $10 for adults, $6 for children ages 5–12, and kids under 5 attend the first show of the day free. Tickets are sold on-site for same-day shows only — so plan to arrive early.
- The Tesla Coil demonstration is theatrical, loud, and thrilling for kids. The rooftop terraces deliver a 360-degree view of the LA skyline and the Hollywood Sign that you will absolutely never forget.
- A great family visit runs about 90 minutes to 2 hours for exhibits and terraces, plus extra time for a planetarium show or the telescope line. Arrive soon after opening on a weekday to avoid the biggest crowds.
📍 Location: 2800 East Observatory Road, Los Angeles, CA 90027 (Griffith Park, Hollywood Hills)
🕐 Hours: Tue–Fri 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Sat–Sun 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM | Closed Mondays
3. Go Behind the Scenes at a Real Hollywood Studio Tour
Your kids have grown up watching movies and TV shows produced right here in Los Angeles. Taking them on a real working studio tour is one of the most exciting once-in-a-lifetime experiences available in the entire city.
- The Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood takes you through actual sets, props, costumes, and stages where hundreds of iconic films and TV series were created. Kids who love Harry Potter, DC superheroes, or Friends will absolutely freak out.
- The tour covers the actual Batmobile, authentic costumes from major blockbusters, and working production stages where real movies and shows are sometimes being filmed while you walk through.
- The experience is genuinely interactive — kids can sit at the Friends couch, explore prop warehouses, and test out real production equipment.
- Book tickets well in advance, especially for summer or holiday visits.
📍 Location: 3400 Warner Blvd, Burbank, CA 91505 (Burbank, just north of Hollywood)
🕐 Hours: Daily, tours begin at 9:00 AM – last tour varies by season (check wbstudiotour.com)
💰 Admission: Adults ~$75, Children (3–11) ~$65, Kids under 3 free
4. Ride the Ferris Wheel Over the Pacific at Santa Monica Pier
This is one of those experiences that is so specifically, perfectly Los Angeles that it can’t be replicated anywhere else in the world. The Santa Monica Pier’s Pacific Park sits right over the Pacific Ocean, and the views from the Ferris wheel at sunset are genuinely one of the most beautiful sights you will ever see.
- The Santa Monica Pier is an iconic landmark that offers fun for the whole family. Pacific Park features a Ferris wheel, roller coaster, and other thrilling rides alongside traditional carnival games and great food with unobstructed views of the Pacific Ocean.
- Ride the West Coaster — a rollercoaster that hangs over the actual ocean — with your kids screaming beside you and salt air rushing past your face. It is an experience that simply does not exist anywhere else.
- The pier itself is free to walk. Ride tickets are sold individually or as packages. Sunset visits are especially magical.
- Immediately after, walk down to the beach for a California barefoot moment in the sand with the kids.
📍 Location: 200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA 90401
🕐 Hours: Pacific Park open daily, Mon–Thu 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM | Fri–Sun 11:00 AM – Midnight (seasonal variations — check pacpark.com)
5. Ride the Tram to the Getty Center — Free World-Class Art and Views
The Getty Center is one of the crown jewels of Los Angeles — a world-class art museum that’s completely free to visit (you only pay for parking) and comes packaged with one of the most spectacular views of the entire LA Basin.
- The Getty Center features beautiful contemporary architecture, uniquely designed gardens, a world-class art collection, and picturesque views spanning from the city to the ocean on a clear day. Kids love the fun tram ride up the hill and exploring the colorful plants and intriguing maze-like design of the Central Garden.
- The grassy hill at the top of the garden is a perfect place for a family picnic while the kids run around in the California sunshine.
- The Family Room near the East Pavilion has hands-on art and learning activities specifically designed for younger children.
- The ride up on the tram is a big deal for little kids — it feels like an adventure even before you’ve seen a single painting.
📍 Location: 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90049 (Brentwood/West LA)
🕐 Hours: Tue–Fri & Sun 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM | Sat 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM | Closed Mondays
💰 Admission: FREE (Parking ~$25 per vehicle)
6. Board the Battleship — USS Iowa Museum in San Pedro
This is one of the most genuinely thrilling and unexpected family experiences in all of Los Angeles, and most visitors to the city never even know it exists. The USS Iowa is a massive World War II-era battleship permanently docked in San Pedro, and boarding it with your kids is a once-in-a-generation experience.
- The USS Iowa is a massive piece of history permanently open for self-guided family tours. Staff are incredibly friendly, and there’s even a scavenger hunt for kids throughout the ship — complete the hunt and the kids earn a prize.
- The ship is enormous, the guns are real, and walking through the admiral’s quarters, the engine room, and the battle bridge gives kids a tangible connection to American history that no textbook can match.
- Accessible, never terribly crowded, and endlessly fascinating for both kids and adults.
📍 Location: 250 S Harbor Blvd, San Pedro, CA 90731 (Port of Los Angeles)
🕐 Hours: Daily 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (last entry 4:00 PM)
💰 Admission: Adults ~$27, Children (6–17) ~$20, Kids 5 and under free
7. Spend the Day at the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens
Set inside the 4,107-acre wilderness of Griffith Park, the LA Zoo is one of the best in the entire country — and it’s a completely full-day family experience that most visitors rank as one of their top LA memories.
- The zoo is home to over 1,400 animals and more than 270 species, spread across 133 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds.
- With more than 50 exhibits showcasing over 1,100 animals, you simply don’t want to miss this experience. It’s one of the best zoos in the country for families.
- The LAIR (Living Amphibians, Invertebrates, and Reptiles) exhibit is one of the most unique in any American zoo — featuring hundreds of rare reptiles and amphibians in meticulously designed habitats.
- Get there early — weekends fill up fast, especially during spring and summer.
📍 Location: 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027 (Griffith Park, Los Feliz)
🕐 Hours: Daily 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
💰 Admission: Adults ~$26, Children (2–12) ~$21, Under 2 free
8. Experience Venice Beach Boardwalk Like a True Local
There is no other place in America — and arguably no other place on Earth — quite like the Venice Beach Boardwalk. It is wild, colorful, completely alive, and an experience that kids will be describing to their own children someday.
- Venice Beach oozes good vibes with an offbeat, bohemian edge that makes it interesting for the whole family. The boardwalk is packed with street performers, and the Venice Skate Park is one of the most impressive in the world to watch.
- The original Muscle Beach outdoor gym area, the artists selling their work along the boardwalk, and the endless parade of unique characters make this a living, breathing cultural experience unlike anything a kid will find in their hometown.
- Rent bikes near the beach for around $7 an hour and cycle the 3-mile boardwalk path. It’s an active, engaging, genuinely fun way to experience one of the most unique stretches of American coastal culture in existence.
📍 Location: Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90291 (Venice, just south of Santa Monica)
🕐 Hours: The boardwalk is accessible 24/7. Most vendors and performers active daily 10:00 AM – sunset.
💰 Cost: Free to walk and explore | Bike rentals ~$7/hour
9. Watch Real Fossils Being Cleaned at the Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is one of the largest natural history museums in the entire United States — and it’s home to some of the most remarkable kid-friendly exhibits in the country.
- Discover your world past and present with the Dinosaur Hall, which includes the world’s only Tyrannosaurus rex growth series. Get a behind-the-scenes look at how scientists work on recently discovered specimens in the Nature Lab.
- The museum holds approximately 35 million objects — from a 4.5-billion-year-old meteorite to rare living insects in the Nature Lab.
- Kids can interact with real live animals in the hands-on Nature Lab, where they can touch specimens, observe live bugs, and talk to actual scientists working on real research.
- Museum members and some California residents qualify for free or discounted admission on specific days.
📍 Location: 900 Exposition Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90007 (Exposition Park, near Downtown LA)
🕐 Hours: Daily 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
💰 Admission: Adults ~$18, Children (3–12) ~$11, Under 3 free
10. Hike to the Hollywood Sign Overlook With the Family
No trip to Los Angeles with kids is truly complete without seeing the Hollywood Sign up close — and the hike to the best viewing point is an experience that makes it infinitely more special than just seeing it from the street.
- The Lake Hollywood Park trail is one of the most kid-friendly routes to the Hollywood Sign overlook area — it’s manageable, well-marked, and the payoff views are breathtaking.
- Once at the top, you get an amazing view of LA with the Hollywood Sign visible right below you. The views on the way up are equally spectacular, and the whole experience gives your kids a “we’ve been there” connection to every movie and TV show they’ll ever see featuring that iconic sign. Expedia
- Go in the morning to beat the heat and the crowds. Bring sunscreen, water, and snacks.
- The hike itself is about 3 miles round trip and takes 1.5–2 hours at a family pace.
📍 Trailhead Location: Lake Hollywood Park, 3204 Canyon Lake Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90068 (Hollywood Hills)
🕐 Best Time: Early mornings on weekdays for the smallest crowds, year-round
💰 Cost: Free to hike | Parking free at Lake Hollywood Park
📊 Once in a Lifetime Things to Do in Los Angeles With Kids — At a Glance
| # | Experience | Location / Address | Hours | Adult Admission | Kids Admission | Best Age Range | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | La Brea Tar Pits & Museum | 5801 Wilshire Blvd, LA 90036 | Daily 9:30 AM–5:00 PM | ~$18 | ~$8 (ages 3–12) | FREE under 2 | 5+ | Science |
| 2 | Griffith Observatory | 2800 E Observatory Rd, LA 90027 | Tue–Fri 12–10 PM | Sat–Sun 10 AM–10 PM | Closed Mon | FREE | FREE | Planetarium: $6 (ages 5–12) | All Ages | Science / Views |
| 3 | Warner Bros. Studio Tour | 3400 Warner Blvd, Burbank, CA 91505 | Daily from 9:00 AM (seasonal close times) | ~$75 | ~$65 (ages 3–11) | FREE under 3 | 6+ | Hollywood |
| 4 | Santa Monica Pier / Pacific Park | 200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica 90401 | Daily 11 AM–11 PM (Fri–Sun till Midnight) | Rides vary (~$5–$10 each) | Ride packages for kids ~$15–$25 | All Ages | Beach / Thrill |
| 5 | The Getty Center | 1200 Getty Center Dr, LA 90049 | Tue–Sun 10 AM–5:30 PM | Sat till 9 PM | Closed Mon | FREE | FREE | All Ages | Art / Culture |
| 6 | USS Iowa Battleship Museum | 250 S Harbor Blvd, San Pedro, CA 90731 | Daily 10 AM–5 PM (last entry 4 PM) | ~$27 | ~$20 (ages 6–17) | FREE under 5 | 5+ | History |
| 7 | Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens | 5333 Zoo Drive, LA 90027 (Griffith Park) | Daily 10 AM–5 PM | ~$26 | ~$21 (ages 2–12) | FREE under 2 | All Ages | Wildlife |
| 8 | Venice Beach Boardwalk | Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90291 | Open 24/7 | Vendors: Daily 10 AM–Sunset | FREE | FREE | Bike rental ~$7/hr | All Ages | Beach / Culture |
| 9 | Natural History Museum of LA County | 900 Exposition Blvd, LA 90007 (Exposition Park) | Daily 9 AM–5 PM | ~$18 | ~$11 (ages 3–12) | FREE under 3 | 4+ | Science / Nature |
| 10 | Hollywood Sign Hike (Lake Hollywood Park) | 3204 Canyon Lake Dr, LA 90068 (Hollywood Hills) | Daily, Sunrise to Sunset | FREE | FREE | 5+ | Outdoor / Hiking |
* Admission prices are approximate and subject to change. Always verify current prices, hours, and availability directly with each attraction before visiting. Some venues offer discounts for LA County residents.
Final Thoughts
Los Angeles isn’t just a city — it’s a collection of once-in-a-lifetime moments stacked on top of each other for miles in every direction. The ten experiences in this guide are the ones that families genuinely remember for the rest of their lives. They’re not just activities — they’re the stories your kids will tell when they’re adults. From watching a real paleontologist clean a saber-tooth tiger bone through a glass wall to riding a Ferris wheel suspended over the actual Pacific Ocean, these are the moments that Los Angeles was built for. Start planning, book ahead, and get ready to create some of the best memories your family has ever made together.
