Archer goes back to school tomorrow after almost six weeks of vacay
time and I'm feeling pretty versed on kid-approved day-trips in/around
Los Angeles so I thought, I'd put my knowledge to use and present you
all with Archer (and my) Top Ten Places to go in Los Angeles for local
readers and those of you looking to spend some time in Los Angeles with
your family* at any point in your life. (I do realize L.A. isn't the
premiere destination for family fun BUT! There are some amazing places
to go and things to do, here, if say, you happen to pass through.)
In no particular order...
10. The Treehouse Social Club: Beverly Hills
This
is one of our favorite destinations and this last month we went twice a
week, every week. Awesome because they have amazing food and coffee and
tables for moms (or dads) to sit and hang while the kids run amok on
the treehouse, do crafts in the craft room, play dress-up in the
dress-up room or hang in the toddler toy room. There's also a computer
room for older kids and daily story times as well as arts and crafts
lessons (all included in the price of admission: $9 for kids. Or you
can buy a $35 a month membership. $50 if you have two kids over
one-year. (Kids under one are free.) The Treehouse is a great place to
meet friends and stay cool in the summer. Located on trendy Robertson,
beware the paparazzi. (The Ivy
is a block away.) Also, parking can be an issue. Park at the meters on
Robertson or in the residential neighborhood (two hour free parking)
behind the Treehouse. Also, there's a very attractive hairman available for kid's (and mom's haircuts) Thursdays and Fridays. So, yeah. Might want to check that out.
9. The Museum of Natural History: Downtown Los Angeles
The
Museum of Natural History was one of our first favorite places. Not
only is the museum stellar for kids. (Dinosaur bones! And OMG, the
elephants in The African Room are aweeeeesssssoooommmmeeee!) It also
has a great hand's on area downstairs that is great fun for little
people. Watch live snakes, insects and other creatures. There's also a
great fossil dig for kids to play junior archeologist. Parking is super
easy (located in front of the entrance and the museum offers all sorts
of cool programs like Group Overnight Adventures.
8. LACMA West, "Construct" at Boone Gallery: Miracle Mile
First
off, it's free, which is pretty near impossible to find these days.
Second, it's an awesome space full of great recycled materials for kids
to use, play with and create at their leisure. Whether your kid prefers
paints to pastels or building to beading, there is something for
everyone, here, including easy bathroom access for little bladders. The
LACMA gardens lead to the Page Museum and the La Brea Tarpits so make a full day of it! Also fun to explore the various outside sculptures. (See Archer, above.)
7. Los Angeles Zoo: Glendale (ish)
I'm not going to lie. The L.A. Zoo is kinda ghetto BUT it is
super cheap (compared to the much better San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal
Park.) Apparently, you get what you pay for when it comes to zoos BUT!
What difference does it make to a three-year-old? Anyway, if your kid
is anything like mine (s)he'll love watching the monkeys (for HOURS if
you're, uh, lucky.) Not recommended in the summer because it gets
BAKING hot out there and FAST but highly recommended for the Fall,
Winter and Spring when its cooler and not as crowded. Oh! And parking
is free, which, again... see? A cheap afternoon at the Zoo doesn't
suck, now does it?
6. Santa Monica Beach: Santa Monica
Compared to where I grew up,
Los Angeles' beaches are pretty whatevs, but still! We have them, don't
we? Might as well take advantage, right? Archer and my beach of
preference is no other than Santa Monica beach (Located just south of
Pico, off Ocean, next to the park.) Not only is there a playground
right off the parking lot, but there's a snack bar thirty paces away
and great tide conditions for little people. Very family friendly and
relatively uncrowded.
5. Coldwater Canyon Park: Beverly Hills
By
far the best summer park in Los Angeles, mainly because of the man-made
stream that runs through the middle of it, specifically made for
children to play in the water. Bring buckets and your kid is likely to
stay amused for hours. (Every time we go I have to drag Archer kicking
and screaming out of there because he loves it so much.) Warning: All
those pictures you see of celebs and their kids on Famecrawler?
Taken at Coldwater Park, which means parking sucks (The black SUVs of
the paparazzi are there first thing in the morning, stealing all the
spots from normal people) and its kind of a little bit
distracting/depressing when cameras are all over the place. On the plus
side, you can bring a picnic, blankets and hang under the shade with
perfect view of your frolicking-in-the-water kids. Highly recommended
for Mommy groups and or family weekend destinations.
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