Lake Shrine in Pacific Palisades has carved out a beautifully peaceful chunk of space for itself in the Los Angeles area. Open to all cultures and all religions the Lake Shrine is a nice refuge to all in our increasingly divided world.
Antonovich Trail in San Dimas was a fun hike with the kids. A lot of shade, a nice stream, things to look at. Plenty of little spots to explore and teach the kids about.
We’re always on the lookout for unique parks in the greater Los Angeles area. Arlington Garden in Pasadena is one of those places. The three-acre garden feels a lot like a mini arboretum that’s broken up into many different plant communities, with each area having its own distinctive feel and atmosphere. Opened in 2005, Arlington promotes well-being and relaxation.
The Wildlife Learning Center has provided care for displaced, rescued, and zoo-born wild animals for many years. At the time of our visit, the Wildlife Learning Center was only offering private tours so we opted for their Adventure Tour. We initially thought our 4-year-old would enjoy the tour the most, but everyone in the group loved the experience.
The Natural History Museum Los Angeles is a great place to bring the kids. The dinosaur exhibits and animal dioramas are awe-inspiring. While it will cost a family of 4 about $45 to visit, NHM also offers a free admission day once a month, so start planning your visit today!
Walking the La Brea Tar Pits, you can’t help but think of the giant mastodon elephants and saber-tooth tigers that once shared this space. Being there makes it easy to imagine animals getting stuck in the tar some 50,000 years ago. It’s a great family-friendly place to visit with the kids.
Visiting the Aquarium of the Pacific with our 3-year-old was a blast. We initially set aside two hours to see everything but ended up having to plead with our daughter to head out after 5 hours of exploring!
Visiting Catalina Island gives LA and OC residents a unique chance to unwind. Just 27 miles off the coast. Catalina has something for everyone.