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Family outings

Family outings in Los Angeles

With children, Los Angeles is a giant open-air playground, open almost all year: hills, beaches, gardens, and museums, several of them free. The French-speaking community adds classes, camps and shows in French. Here are our addresses, all checked on official websites.

Verified on 30 October 2026

Parks, beaches and gardens

Between Griffith Park, one of the largest urban parks in the country, Pacific beaches and botanical gardens, there is always room to run.

Good to know

  • County beaches are watched by Los Angeles County lifeguards; let children swim in front of a lifeguard tower and beware of rip currents. Source
  • Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area, in Baldwin Hills, is served from the Expo/La Cienega station on the Metro E line: fishing lake, playgrounds and trails with views over the whole city. Source
  • In summer, set off early: heat builds fast in the Valley and Griffith Park, and beach car parks fill up by late morning at weekends.

Addresses

  • Griffith Park

    Park

    4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027

    The big park for Los Feliz and Burbank families: trails, picnics, zoo, observatory and a railway museum.

    Website Source

  • Los Angeles Zoo

    Park

    5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027

    In Griffith Park; from late November to early January, the L.A. Zoo Lights turn it into an evening walk.

    Website Source

  • Travel Town Museum

    Park

    5200 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027

    Locomotives and carriages to climb outdoors, and a miniature train for children, at the north end of Griffith Park.

    Website Source

  • Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area

    Park

    4100 South La Cienega Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90056

    The Westside's big park, ten minutes from the Lycée Français.

    Website Source

  • Plage et jetée de Santa Monica

    Park

    200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA 90401

    Carousel, Ferris wheel, a small aquarium and the beach bike path: the weekend classic.

    Website Source

  • Tongva Park

    Park

    1615 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90401

    A small landscaped park facing the ocean, with water play and a playground, a short walk from the pier.

    Website Source

  • Descanso Gardens

    Park

    1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011

    Botanical gardens and oak woodland above Pasadena, with a little train for children.

    Website Source

Go further

Museums

Several major museums are free, and Exposition Park brings science and dinosaurs together in a single afternoon.

Good to know

  • The Getty Center is free, with a timed-entry reservation; it is closed on Mondays. Source
  • The Natural History Museum is free for Los Angeles County residents Monday to Friday from 3 to 5 pm, on site only. Source
  • At the Skirball, Noah's Ark is a huge climbing structure for children; entry is free for all on Thursdays, and booking ahead is strongly advised. Source

Addresses

  • Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

    Museum

    900 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90007

    Dinosaurs, a nature garden and butterflies, in Exposition Park.

    Website Source

  • California Science Center

    Museum

    700 Exposition Park Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90037

    Free permanent galleries and the Space Shuttle Endeavour, next door to the Natural History Museum.

    Website Source

  • La Brea Tar Pits

    Museum

    5801 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036

    Tar pits where mammoth fossils are still being dug up, in the middle of the city, next to LACMA.

    Website Source

  • Getty Center

    Museum

    1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90049

    You ride up on a tram, then gardens and ocean views; free with reservation.

    Website Source

  • Griffith Observatory

    Museum

    2800 East Observatory Road, Los Angeles, CA 90027

    Planetarium, telescopes and the view of the Hollywood sign; open into the evening.

    Website Source

  • Kidspace Children's Museum

    Museum

    480 North Arroyo Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91103

    Pasadena's children's museum, much of it outdoors, with a dedicated space for babies.

    Website Source

  • Skirball Cultural Center, Noah's Ark

    Museum

    2701 North Sepulveda Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90049

    A giant ark full of hands-on animals, ideal for little ones; free on Thursdays.

    Website Source

  • The Broad

    Museum

    221 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012

    Colourful contemporary art, general admission always free, downtown.

    Website Source

Libraries and French books

Public libraries are free, run story times and even lend museum passes. For French books, head to the Alliance Française.

Good to know

  • With a Los Angeles Public Library card, you can borrow e-books, laptops and wifi hotspots, and get tickets to museums and California State Park passes; LAUSD pupils automatically get a card. Source
  • Outside the City of Los Angeles, the LA County Library serves many other cities in the county; Santa Monica, Pasadena and Burbank have their own systems. Source
  • The Alliance Française de Los Angeles describes itself as the largest private French library in Southern California, and membership includes Culturethèque, the Institut français digital library. Source

Addresses

  • Los Angeles Public Library, Central Library

    Library

    630 West 5th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071

    The great historic downtown library, with a children's area and story readings; the network has dozens of neighbourhood branches.

    Website Source

  • Santa Monica Public Library, Main Library

    Library

    601 Santa Monica Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90401

    Santa Monica's main library, with a children's area.

    Website Source

  • Pasadena Public Library

    Library

    Pasadena

    Pasadena's library network, handy for families at LILA's Pasadena campus.

    Website Source

  • Alliance française de Los Angeles

    Library

    10390 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 300, Los Angeles, CA 90025

    French library for members and access to Culturethèque, in the same building as the consulate.

    Website Source

Activities in French

To keep French alive outside school, the Alliance Française, the Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz and Los Angeles Accueil are the three addresses to know.

Good to know

  • The Alliance Française's Dimanche des Petits welcomes 3 to 7 year-olds every Sunday morning, 9:30 to 13:00, in full immersion: class, games, lunch and story time in French (children must be potty trained). Source
  • In summer, the Alliance Française camp takes 5 to 11 year-olds by the week, in full immersion, with a different adventure theme each week. Source
  • The Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz, founded by the creator of the Lycée Français, programmes theatre, music, film and young audience shows in French. Source

Addresses

  • Alliance française de Los Angeles, cours enfants et ados

    Activity

    10390 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 300, Los Angeles, CA 90025

    Classes from 'Bébés et Moi' up to high school AP French preparation.

    Website Source

  • Le Dimanche des Petits

    Activity

    Alliance française, Century City

    Sunday immersion morning for 3 to 7 year-olds.

    Website Source

  • Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz

    Activity

    10361 West Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90064

    Los Angeles's French-language stage, with a young audience programme.

    Website Source

  • Los Angeles Accueil, Club Bébé et Petit Club

    Activity

    Meet-ups for young French-speaking mums and family outings, listed in the association's agenda.

    Website Source

Through the seasons

No winter in the French sense, but a real calendar: May-June coastal fog, hot summers in the valleys, wildfire season in autumn and rain in winter.

Good to know

  • In autumn, Santa Ana winds raise wildfire risk: sign up for county emergency alerts and prepare a go-bag for the whole family. Source
  • On 1 January, the Rose Parade marches through Pasadena with its flower-covered floats; right after the parade, the floats stay on display to be seen up close. Source
  • On 14 July, the consulate holds a Bastille Day concert in Downtown LA. Source
  • The Hollywood Christmas Parade takes place in late November (Sunday 29 November in 2026), and the zoo lights up from 20 November to 10 January. Source

Addresses

  • Rose Parade

    Activity

    Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena

    The great New Year parade, followed by the Rose Bowl game.

    Website Source

  • Bastille Day Los Angeles

    Activity

    Downtown LA

    The 14 July concert organised by the consulate.

    Website Source

  • L.A. Zoo Lights

    Activity

    5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027

    Evening light displays at the zoo over the holidays.

    Website Source

  • Hollywood Christmas Parade

    Activity

    Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood

    The Christmas parade on Hollywood Boulevard, with marching bands and Santa.

    Website Source

  • LA County Fair

    Activity

    Fairplex, Pomona

    The county's big agricultural fair: farm animals, rides and contests, a typically American outing.

    Website Source

Go further

Trips under two hours away

Theme parks, islands, snowy mountains and seaside towns: everything is within driving distance, as long as you avoid freeway rush hours.

Good to know

  • The Channel Islands can only be reached by the national park's concessionaire boats or planes, or by private boat: a real family adventure. Source
  • Count driving times outside rush hour: on Friday afternoons, one hour's drive can easily become two.

Addresses

  • Disneyland Resort

    Activity

    Anaheim (environ 1 h)

    The original Disneyland and California Adventure, the classic birthday outing.

    Website Source

  • Aquarium of the Pacific

    Museum

    100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802

    The region's big aquarium, on the Long Beach waterfront.

    Website Source

  • Île de Catalina

    Activity

    Avalon, en ferry depuis Long Beach ou San Pedro

    An almost car-free island, with a beach, snorkelling and golf carts.

    Website Source

  • Channel Islands National Park

    Park

    Départs de Ventura (environ 1 h 15)

    Hiking, kayaking and camping on wild islands, often with dolphins during the crossing.

    Website Source

  • Santa Barbara

    Activity

    Environ 1 h 45 par la côte

    A Spanish-style town by the ocean, with a pier, beaches and a child-sized zoo.

    Website Source

  • Big Bear Lake

    Activity

    San Bernardino Mountains (environ 2 h)

    The Angelenos' mountain: sledging and skiing in winter, lake and hiking in summer.

    Website Source

  • Legoland California

    Activity

    Carlsbad (environ 1 h 45)

    The park designed for 2 to 12 year-olds, on the way to San Diego.

    Website Source

Go further

A place has closed, something has changed? Tell us: the mums of Los Angeles will thank you.

Sources for this page

The public pages these landmarks come from. The official website always prevails.

  1. 1 Los Angeles Zoo
  2. 2 Getty Center, informations de visite
  3. 3 Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
  4. 4 Los Angeles Public Library
  5. 5 Alliance française de Los Angeles
  6. 6 LA County Parks, Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area
  7. 7 National Park Service, Channel Islands

Get updates to the Los Angeles guide

Verified addresses, official sources, school-year dates: we write when the Los Angeles guide changes, never more than once a week.

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