A Family’s Guide To Exploring Los Angeles Like Locals
LA has a lot to offer adventurous families. Although it’s known for grown-up sophistication and glamor, Los Angeles is actually a very family-friendly place. The key to getting the most out of Los Angeles as a family is to think like a local. Don’t race around, trying to pack in all the big tourist attractions at a traffic-beating pace. Slow down, learn the rhythms of the city, take it neighborhood by neighborhood, and go with the flow.
LA Travel Logistics
If you aren’t used to getting around larger US cities, visiting a city like LA can seem a bit intimidating. While there are plenty of incredible experiences to check out in the city, the sheer size and sprawl of the city has to be accounted for.
The first step to a smooth, carefree LA family vacation is to plan your transport and accommodation well in advance. We don’t just mean your transport to LA – we mean your transport in and around LA while you’re there. LA is a very car-centric city, so if you can’t bring your own ride with you, it’s a good idea to rent a car at the airport. If driving yourself isn’t an option, you can get around using Uber or local taxis, but be sure to include the fares in your budget.
As for accommodations, bear in mind that getting around the city can take up a lot of time. Be sure to pick somewhere that’s close to the main areas you want to explore. For example, if you’re here for the theme parks, Burbank or Glendale are ideally situated. If you’re more into dining and culture, Downtown LA and Koreatown are good choices.
It’s important not to try to fit too much into a single trip! Prioritize the events and locations that matter most to you and your family, and do your best to plan your trip around them. Schedule plenty of downtime, as well, especially if you have younger kids, and remember to be flexible! Some of the best experiences can be things you never would have planned for.
Not sure where to stay?
Check out he map below to find great stays in Los Angeles!
Embrace the great outdoors
LA is known as a ‘car city’, but Angelinos spend a lot of time walking, running, hiking, and biking. After all, what’s the point of being in California if you’re not taking advantage of the sunshine?
Griffith Park is a must-see for everyone who comes to LA, especially families. For a start, this is where you’ll find the famous Hollywood sign, but there’s a lot more to Griffith than that. The park has miles of beautiful trails to explore, lush picnic areas where you can relax as a family, breathtaking views over LA, a historic carousel that inspired Walt Disney to build Disneyland, and the Griffith Observatory, which is fascinating and fun for the whole family.
For adventures by the ocean, head to Santa Monica Beach for a dip in the Pacific and plenty of people-watching. If Santa Monica is a bit too crowded for your liking, Manhattan Beach is just as beautiful but much quieter. If your family isn’t the type to chill on the sands, rent some bikes and cruise along the Marvin Braude Bike Trail, which runs from Santa Monica to Venice. Once you get to Venice Beach, explore the colorful boardwalk and soak in the unique cultural scene.
One important note: for outdoor days, plan in advance. Pack plenty of high factor sunscreen for fair skin, wear lightweight hats, and bring plenty of water along with you. The LA sunshine is stronger than you think!
Explore LA neighborhood by neighborhood
LA isn’t a unified cultural conglomerate. It’s a collection of very different places within a unitary authority. If you jump from neighborhood to neighborhood throughout each day, you’ll get a disjointed, confusing, and sometimes stressful experience.
Instead, structure your days neighborhood by neighborhood. For example, spend a day around Silver Lake for creative culture, coffee shops, and quirky brunch spots. For museums, street food, shops, and soaring architecture, spend the day Downtown. You’ll find beach vibes and fun fair rides in Santa Monica, while Pasadena offers plenty of family-friendly historical attractions.
Some tourist-popular neighborhoods (Hollywood, for example) offer guided tours. These can be a fun way to learn more about the places you’re visiting, but they are also a big time commitment. Think hard about whether you want the insider info offered by guided tours, or whether you’d rather guide yourselves around.
By planning your day around neighborhoods rather than trying to jump from attraction to attraction you’ll get a much more consistent and authentic experience, as well as saving yourself a lot of logistical stress.
Be on the look-out for free events
LA’s calendar is full of regular free events, like food festivals, markets, concerts, fairs, block parties, and more. The free events ramp up in the summer months and around big holidays. For example, if you visit during the warmer months, you’re likely to find outdoor concerts and festivals in many of the city’s green spaces, and if you’re in LA around Christmas, you’ll be spoiled for choice, with Santa popping up everywhere, incredible displays of Christmas lights, a holiday parade, and lots of cozy Christmas markets.
Plan plenty of playtime
Even the most culturally-inclined kids will get bored of being dragged around museums and landmarks eventually. So, incorporate plenty of kid-focused playtime into your LA visit. LA is fantastic for kids who love to play – there are parks with fully-equipped playgrounds everywhere you turn. Or you could simply plan in downtime in the parks and on the beaches for your kids to let loose and enjoy themselves.
For a less ad-hoc, more focused play experience, you’ll find indoor play areas dotted around the city at regular intervals. The Cayton Children’s Museum in Santa Monica is a wonderland that combines interactive exhibits with toys and play equipment that give your kids a great cultural experience without them even realizing that they’re learning.
Refuel regularly – The Los Angeles Food Scene
Food is a big part of Angelino culture, so take the time to explore the city’s culinary scene. Places like the Downtown Grand Central Market are fantastic for introducing your kids to a range of global cuisines. Grabbing an ice cream at the beach and street food on the go are essential LA cultural experiences – often the best food you’ll find in the city comes from trucks and stalls. Personally, I will always be down for some classic Mexican tacos!
That said, Los Angeles has plenty of up-scale dining experiences, too! You can check out anything from Michelin-rated seafood fine dining to family-friendly K-BBQ experiences without too much trouble! But if you’re looking for a fine dining experience, do bear in mind that some restaurants have age limits. Bear this in mind when booking a meal out with your family, and be sure to pick something that works for everyone!
Explore LA like a local for the best family vacation
LA has a lot to offer every member of your family. Planning your days by neighborhood, appreciating the lovely Cali climate, building in plenty of downtime and playtime, and taking advantage of the delicious food all around you will give everyone in your family memories to treasure for a lifetime.
