Top 10 Things to Do in Los Angeles for Tourists and Families

Los Angeles has incredible scenery, thrilling attractions and a Mediterranean climate. When visiting the City of Angels, consider these top 10 family friendly destinations.

1. Disneyland has been a popular destination since the mid-1950s. Children can see their favorite movie and story time characters come alive. The thrill rides, live shows and high-tech attractions will please the entire family. There are roller coasters, boat rides, animatronic shows and a petting zoo.

2. Knott’s Berry Farm is America’s oldest theme park. There are several roller coasters, water chutes and free-fall thrill rides. Family and children rides include bumper cars, a wave swinger, carousels and flying airplanes. There are several live shows as well as a variety of shopping and dining options.

3. The California Science Center is filled with interactive, hands-on exhibits where children can learn to build earthquake-proof buildings, explore the inner workings of the human body and create their own musical soundtrack. The center has a helicopter flight simulator and is the permanent home of the space shuttle Endeavor.

4. The La Brea Tar Pits enable children to experience primeval times in the middle of a modern city. The sticky goo has revealed numerous fossils, including ground sloths, woolly mammoths and dire wolves. A small museum displays many of the artifacts recovered from the site. Children love tumbling down the large hill that is adjacent to the museum.

5. Griffith Park encompasses over 4,000 acres in the Santa Monica Mountains. The park has a swimming pool, golf courses, hiking trails and campsites. Families can explore the Bronson Canyon, which has served as the setting for movies and televisions shows. Children will enjoy the merry-go-round, the miniature train and pony rides.

6.
Aquarium of the Pacific
reveals the mysteries of the world’s largest sea. The fish tanks and exhibits display the marine life that inhabits the Pacific Ocean. These include harbor seals, sharks, sea otters, tropical fish and multicolored coral. The aquarium also features animal encounters with laughing Kookaburra, lorikeets, rays and sea urchins.

7. Santa Monica Pier is a seaside amusement park with activities for the entire family. Visitors enjoy various rides, including a roller coaster, Ferris wheel, bumper cars and a historic carousel. There are numerous midway-style arcade games as well. Skaters and cyclists can use the boardwalk that stretches for miles.

8. Aidan’s Place is a large, open playground for children of all sizes and abilities. The fully accessible park has swings, a climbing apparatus and multiple slides. There are four different play areas, including sites with sand and water. Children have almost one acre of space to enjoy themselves.

9. The Autry National Center is dedicated to preserving and sharing authentic and fictionalized accounts of cowboys and the American West. There are replicas of a homestead, general store and restaurant as well as art and memorabilia from real life and the movies. The museum documents the story of Native Americans, European settlers and Chinese immigrants who played a role in shaping California.

10. The Los Angeles Zoo houses over 1,000 animals from more than 250 species. Nearly 40 percent of the animals on display are threatened or endangered. The zoological park is home to armadillos, giraffes, gorillas and vipers. Special programs include the elephant training demonstrations and encounters with Indian rhinos and Nigerian dwarf goats.


Go Los Angeles Card- 3 Day Attractions Pass
Go Los Angeles Card- 3 Day Attractions PassFor one low price, you get included admission to over 40 of Los Angeles’ best museums, theme parks, and attractions with additional savings on shopping and dining throughout the city! The Go Card saves up to 35% off regular admission prices. Plus, you have 2 weeks to use the days on your card!

Go Los Angeles Card- 1 Day Attractions Pass
Go Los Angeles Card- 1 Day Attractions PassONE TICKET for ONE LOW PRICE to all the things you want to do in Los Angeles. The Go Los Angeles Card is your ticket to the best LA has to offer. For one price you can enter over 40 attractions. Saves you up to 35% or more compared to buying single tickets at each attraction

Image source: By Oreos (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC-BY-SA-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5-2.0-1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons