Best Summer Play Date Ideas For Kids In LA
With summer in full swing, it's important to get your kids busy this time of year. With the wide range of activities Los Angeles has to offer, it's not difficult to create a summer schedule with great play date ideas for your kids and their friends. We've put together a list of the best LA has to offer with all types of activities to keep your kids busy and entertained over the next couple of months and beyond!
Annenberg Community Beach House
415 Pacific Coast Highway
Santa Monica, CA 90402
310-458-0402
www.beachhouse.smgov.net
Considered one of the best public pool's in the entire Southland, Annenberg Community Beach House is a must for any play date. Nestled right off the beach and the Pacific Ocean on Pacific Coast Highway, Annenberg offers a plethora of beginning to advanced swim classes (including synchronized) to jumpstart your kids' curiosity as well. Reservations are not required to visit the Beach House either but are available for some amenities to make your visit easier. Online parking reservations highly suggested.
Related: Best Public Pools in Los Angeles
Griffith Observatory
2800 E Observatory Rd
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(213) 473-0800
www.griffithobs.org
Offering a multitude of family-friendly activities, The Griffith Observatory is a great experience for kids. As an icon of Los Angeles and one of Southern California's most popular attractions, The Observatory, located in Griffith Park overlooking the city, offers a terrific planetarium where kids can access a state-of-the-art projection system to take them on a journey of cosmetic exploration. The following shows are currently playing in the Samuel Oschin Planetarium; Centered in the Universe, Water is Life, Light of the Valkyries and Time's Up. Free public telescopes are available during evenings when skies are clear. Join various astronomy clubs as they gather together one Saturday a month stargazing during the "Public Star Party."
Griffith Park Pony Rides / Merry-Go-Round
4400 Crystal Springs Dr
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 664-3266
www.laparks.org
Located a few miles away from Observatory lies the Merry-Go-Round in Park Center. Situated between the L.A. Zoo and the Los Feliz park entrance, is this colorful carousel which offers 68 jumping horses. Originally opened in 1926, The Spillman Engineering Company built the carousel and today, this magnificent ride features a Stinson 165 Military Band Organ, which plays more than 1500 types of marches and waltz music. Located near the Los Feliz park entrance, children can safely ride ponies and horses around an oval track as well. The "Pony Sweep", which is designed for ages 1 and up as well as first-timers allows riders a safe and secure way to ride in a carousel-style system. For more experienced and older riders, "Slow Pony" and "Medium Pony" rides are available as well. Want to take a photo of your proud child? There are viewing areas for taking pictures and waving along the way and you can even join in on the fun with a family wagon ride.
GRAMMY Museum
800 W. Olympic Blvd.
Los Angeles, Ca 90015
(213) 765-6800
www.grammymuseum.com
What better way to inspire the next Mozart, Streisand or Quincy than visiting the GRAMMY Museum? Located in Downtown LA at the LA Live complex, this 30,000 square-foot facility celebrates the creative art of music recording in a highly-interactive space. Here, you'll find the Songwriters Hall of Fame Gallery near the entrance as well as special exhibits such as Pride & Joy: The Blues of Stevie Ray Vaughn and Donna Summer: The Four Seasons of Love are quite popular. Because every song is a story, we are fortunate to witness history unfold through GRAMMY's dynamic legacy. The museum also offers educational programs as well which celebrates the enduring legacy of all forms of music including the creative process, the technology of recording and more.
Related: Best Playgrounds in Los Angeles
Aquarium of the Pacific
100 Aquarium Way
Long Beach, CA 90802
(562) 590-3100
www.aquariumofpacific.org
Along with 11,000 animal exhibits at the Aquarium of the Pacific, you and your family have plenty of opportunities to enjoy water life at Long Beach's pier. This world-class aquarium offers three main galleries which highlight major regions of the Pacific Ocean and offers outdoor exhibits like the Shark Lagoon, the Lorikeet Forest aviary and more. Crawl in the June Keyes Penguin Habitat for an up-close and personal view of a dozen South American Magellanic penguins: both above and below the water line or watch penguins dive in water and possibly hatch through a web cam. In Turtle Vision 4D, journey with Sammy the sea turtle, who swims around a coral reef and rides on an octopus.
Ultrazone Laser Tag
14622 Ventura Blvd., Suite 208
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
(818) 789-6620
www.zonehead.com
For kids, Laser Tag is the perfect activity to blow off some steam and have a great time. Instead of watching TV, playing video games or going to the movies, Laser Tag will encourage your kids to be more active by bringing video games to life. At Ultrazone in Sherman Oaks, they are equipped for birthday parties, casual play, groups, teens, adults, youth groups, and more. Let your kids run around in the dark seeking to be the one left standing in the end!
Beach Day at Santa Monica Beach
Santa Monica, CA 90403
(310) 458-8300
www.smgov.net
What better way to spend summer with your friends on a play date than to hit the beach. With the sun shining and the heat reaching high levels, its a great way to cool off and have some fun in the sand. Santa Monica beach is convenient and offers great beaches for kids as well.
Sky Zone
7741 Hayvenhurst Ave
Van Nuys, CA 91406
(800) 933-1247
www.skyzone.com
Sky Zone is the world's first and best indoor trampoline park. Offering a fun fitness enviornment, kids jump around and get a workout at the same time. This massive indoor space features connected wall-to-wall trampolines which are perfect for a play date with your kids and their friends. Whether they like to do flips or just bounce around and play dodge ball, its massively fun for kids and parents.
