Yes, it is possible to experience peace, tranquility, and calm on a family outing
Watch your entire family zen out before your eyes during a visit to the historic Portland Japanese Garden in Washington Park. A must-see for locals and tourists alike, the Japanese Garden is made up of eight unique, smaller gardens and is renowned for being one of the most authentic Japanese Gardens outside of Japan. Plus, it’s only a stone’s throw away from many of Portland’s other family-friendly spots like the Oregon Zoo, International Rose Test Garden, and the World Forestry Center. Make a day of it, pack a picnic, and get ready to learn, explore, and discover all sorts of new things right in your own backyard.
Tyler Quinn
Step Back in Time
Designed in 1963, the grounds now encompasses 12 acres with eight separate garden styles. Leisurely explore each one while taking in a spectacular view of Mt. Hood. From the lush, vivid greens of the Strolling Pond Garden to the stark, empty space (or ma) of the Sand and Stone Garden, each style highlights unique aspects of Japanese garden design. Be sure to check out the Kashintei Tea House in the Tea Garden, which is where you will often find tea demonstrations and gatherings.
Jonathan Ley
Garden Highlights
The Japanese Garden sprawls and sways into five verdant gardens: Flat Garden, Tea Garden, Strolling Pond, Sand & Stone Garden and Natural Garden. Spending time in each will give your crew a real sense of how mighty this place is. Everything has a reason and a there’s a reason for everything. Legions of volunteers work tirelessly to make this spot the pristine venue for all that it is; how incredible is their collective attention to detail.
Your kids will love trekking into the Japanese Garden. It’s an uphill trail of twists and turns, ready to set imaginations soaring. Once you arrive prepare to take in its splendor. Set the young amblers towards temples, a poetry stone, koi ponds, and gorgeous bridges. Keep those eyes peeled for whimsical statues, colorful flags, and symbolic artifacts at every turn.
Water is everywhere. You’ll see waterfalls, ponds, and water features throughout the grounds. Also abundant is stone. Stone pathways and steps, stone statues and monuments, and stone lion dogs are but some of the many interpretations. Nothing is without thought and purpose here.
James Florio
Festivals & Celebrations at the Portland Japanese Garden
Be sure to stop by the immersive Cultural Center where you can learn more about traditional Japanese arts, enjoy seasonal activities, and watch demonstrations and performances. Sit in on a flower arranging demonstration, try your hand at ink painting, or bang your hearts out at a Taiko workshop.
There are also a variety of Japanese celebrations observed at the Japanese Garden—from Hina Matsuri (Doll’s Day) in March to O-Tsukimi, the Moon Viewing Festival at the end of September. Be sure to check the website before booking a ticket to see what’s going on that day.
You can also check out the Zagunis Castle Wall—an authentic, Japanese medieval-style castle wall built using traditional hand tools. Pretty cool, right?
Know Before You Go:
1. It’s a circular journey around the garden, but it is not always stroller friendly. If you’re bringing babies or just-walkers, try a carrier. New walkers may struggle with the stone paths, boardwalks without railings, and uneven steps.
2. There are also plenty of off-limit spots to visitors, and the garden is a tranquil environment, so go when your kiddos are fresh and mellow.
3. No outside food or drink is allowed inside the garden, so snack it up before you arrive.
4. If you’re thinking of turning the garden into your own photo shoot, remember there is a $10 tripod fee.
From playgrounds to museums, discover the best spots for toddlers in NYC
From sensory-filled experiences and interactive museums to sprawling parks, amusement parks and everything in between, New York City has so many engaging options for parents looking to entertain their little ones, making it the perfect destination for families with toddlers who are ready for some adventure!
If your child has just started walking and is between the ages of 12 to 36 months, they are commonly referred to as toddlers. And thankfully, NYC is home to many places where toddlers can have fun, learn, and explore. With their brains rapidly developing, toddlers are making connections and learning every day they need the stimulation so here’s the best of what NYC has to offer toddlers for entertainment and learning, throughout the year.
At the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, you and your children can spend nearly a full day exploring its many exhibits. The museum boasts a Dora and Diego exhibit, where children can play and use their imagination at the Superpowered Metropolis. Additionally, the museum has an area called PlayWorks, which provides a drop-in Art Lab to help children develop skills in math, art, science, and reading in preparation for school. The museum also offers a variety of Early Childhood classes, such as Preschool Prep, specifically designed for children between the ages of two and three. Note: Timed-entry ticket reservations required.
The Brooklyn Children’s Museum is an excellent destination for children of all ages, but its Totally Tots exhibit is specifically designed for its youngest visitors, typically aged 6 and under. It offers plenty of sensory play opportunities, including a giant water play area, sandbox, dress-up, blocks, a story area, mini slides, and music-making. Additionally, the museum has a life-size model of a city bus that children can “drive” and a “World Brooklyn” exhibit that includes a grocery store and pizza shop for exploration.
If your children are fascinated by subway and bus lines, make sure to stop by the New York Transit Museum to help them release their energy. Children can climb aboard various subway cars from different eras and act as a bus driver on a replica city bus while enjoying a fun-filled experience going through turnstiles. Additionally, the museum has different exhibits, and there is a designated seating area where visitors can take a break and enjoy a snack. Note: All visitors are encouraged to book online in advance.
Snugly situated in the charming Snug Harbor, the Staten Island Children’s Museum is definitely worth visiting, boasting plenty of green space surrounding the premises, as well as a plethora of fascinating exhibits and activities to discover within its walls, including a section devoted to enormous board games, a firehouse-themed play area called Ladder 11, a showcase of live bugs, an exhibit called “House About It” that showcases the inner workings of a house, and “Great Explorations,” an immersive exhibit with diverse environments to explore such as a rainforest, an ocean, and a tundra. During the warmer months, make sure not to miss the “Sea of Boats” outdoor area with soft, nautically-themed play structures, and water features. (Please note that the museum is closed during most holiday weekends. Advanced reservations are encouraged.)
We are huge advocates of the Liberty Science Center located in Jersey City, especially since many of its exhibits cater to the youngest children. Let children aged 0-5 explore, balance, experience movement, and cause-and-effect at the Wobbly World. Additionally, there is a section called Dino Dig dedicated to future paleontologist enthusiasts, and a traveling exhibit usually available for preschoolers. Don’t miss the current exhibit: Thomas & Friends: Explore the Rails
222 Jersey City Blvd.
Liberty State Park Online: lsc.org
2. The Best Stroller Tours (AKA Museum Visits with Toddlers)
Occasionally, it’s the parents who crave museum visits. Fortunately, the Guggenheim, and the Brooklyn Museum of Art are examples of shining stroller tours. Please note: this is also an excellent choice for a mother’s group outing. (While many museums allow strollers, it’s best to verify with the museum before visiting.)
We also adore the outdoor stroller hikes in and around NYC. If you’re a Park Slope Parents member, they provide stroller tours of Greenwood Cemetery (especially lovely during springtime) a few times per year.
There is an abundance of theatrical performances available in NYC, with many specifically designed for toddlers.
Numerous show options are available throughout the city, such as the New Victory Theater (“BaoBab” as shown in here), BAM Kids, Carnegie Kids at Carnegie Hall, and Symphony Space’s Just Kidding series, which features performances for children. Alternatively, families can head to Puppetworks in Park Slope, Brooklyn, one of NYC’s oldest puppet theaters, which showcases shows every weekend.
Indulge your child’s imagination at CAMP’s exclusive sensory experience suitable for children of all ages. There is no admission fee for CAMP; you only pay for the projects you undertake. Children can paint in the Splatter Room, create slime, paint pottery, tie-dye, and much more. Besides its Columbus Circle location, you can also visit their stores at Hudson Yards, 5th Avenue, and City Point in Brooklyn—each CAMP provides a distinct experience.
Remember your nearby library! Despite the abundance of storytimes available, NYC libraries organize numerous events for young children, such as music classes, live concerts, yoga, arts and crafts, and much more. (And most are free!) Explore the kids programs at New York Public Library here, Queens activities for children here, and Brooklyn Public Library programming here.
9. A Visit to FAO Schwarz Is Always a Good Idea
The NYC toy store is a great addition at Rockefeller Center, offering something for children of all ages. Get the opportunity to become a Barbie fashion stylist. Upstairs, the iconic piano from “Big” awaits and is worth a visit, along with a wide variety of adorable Steiff stuffies. The store also has a baby doll adoption center, a Build-Your-Own_RC section, an Elmo Monster factor, numerous puzzles, and more. Read about the grand opening in our article.
10. The Best Outdoors Play Spaces for Toddlers in New York
Your whole family can benefit from a visit to one of these museums and historic sites that teach about the Black experience in America
Make every month Black History Month by visiting one of these important spots: from museums of African-American history to historic sites that represent important Black people and events in our nation’s history, you can teach your children about Black history and culture while having a memorable family vacation.
Showcasing the life of free Black Massachusetts residents in the 18th and 19th centuries, the Museum of African American History consists of four original African American buildings built before the founding of the United States. Exhibits include documentation on the first slave ship to dock in Boston Harbor before slavery was outlawed in the state, photographs, papers, and other pieces of culture. A school, meeting houses, and home are all part of the museum, which has locations in both Boston and Nantucket.
National Museum of the Tuskegee Airmen | Detroit, MI
The Tuskegee Airmen were dedicated, determined young men who enlisted to become America’s first Black military airmen at a time when there were many people who thought that Black men lacked intelligence, skill, courage and patriotism. Learn about their significant contributions at the National Museum of the Tuskegee Airmen which is now a part of the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.
Whitney Plantation | Wallace, LA
A former sugar and indigo plantation, Whitney Plantation is dedicated to telling the story of the enslaved residents alongside that of their owners. Through on-site tours and education from employees, visitors will learn the history of the transatlantic slave trade along with slavery in the area. The Whitney also has rotating exhibits on various subjects related to slavery.
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture | Harlem, New York City, NY
Part of the New York City Public Library system, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is a world-renowned research library preserving African American and African descent cultures. Named for an African-Puerto Rican scholar, the library has some of the rarest artifacts of Black history in the United States, including an original book of poetry written by Phillis Wheatley in the 18th century and works by Malcolm X and Booker T. Washington. It is also the final resting place for famed Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes, whose ashes are interred in the floor of the main entryway. While many items are only accessible by researchers, the building is open to the public, as are two rotating exhibits and the presentations held at the center.
National Center for Civil and Human Rights | Atlanta, GA
Dedicated to telling the stories of civil rights struggles worldwide, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights offers exhibits, educational programs, and memorabilia to explore. Home to the Morehouse College Martin Luther King, Jr. Collection, visitors can view Dr. King's papers and photographs in the Voice to the Voiceless Gallery. At the lunch counter sit-in, experience a simulation of sitting with those who non-violently protested being able to eat anywhere they chose. And in the U.S. civil rights exhibit, read of heroes who put their lives on the line to protest Jim Crow segregation laws.
The next time you visit Galveston Island, be sure to find the historical marker that represents "Juneteenth," June 19th, 1865, the day that enslaved people in Texas discovered they had been freed by President Lincoln over two years prior. It wasn't until Union troops, along with Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger landed on the island and announced that enslaved people were now free that Texas reconstruction began. As early as 1866, formerly enslaved people were celebrating "Emancipation Day" in Galveston, which has continued to grow and is now a worldwide celebration of freedom.
Explore Richmond's Legacy | Richmond, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Richmond is steeped in important Black history and here are just a few of the ways you can experience it with your kids.
Visit the home of Maggie Lena Walker, a newspaper editor, bank president, and champion of civil rights for African Americans and women. Join a tour of her home and an exhibit hall, watch a short film about her life and walk in the footsteps of a great activist of the early 20th century. There's also a Maggie L. Walker Memorial Plaza.
The Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia celebrates the rich culture and history of African Americans people in Virginia and has permanent exhibits that explore Jim Crow, Reconstruction, Emancipation, and more.
You can also explore Richmond’s monuments: Virginia Civil Rights Memorial on the Capitol grounds, Slavery Reconciliation Statue, actor and dancer Bill “Bojangles” Robinson monument, and the tennis icon Arthur Ashe monument on Monument Ave. There's also a self-guided Richmond Slave Trail: Walk along and discover seventeen different markers that display the somber truth about slavery in Richmond.
At the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts entrance along historic Arthur Ashe Boulevard, you'll find Rumors of War, a powerful sculpture by Black artist Kehinde Wiley.
The museum depicts the history of Black people in the United States, beginning with slavery, through Jim Crow laws and segregation, to current issues of mass incarceration. The memorial, a quick walk away, honors 4,000 victims of lynching and racial violence. By filling in the gaps in the history that many Americans learn in school, the content presented may help families initiate discussions related to race and inequality in the United States
The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center | Cincinnati, OH
Located just a short walk from the beautiful Ohio River, this museum's mission is to "reveal stories of freedom's heroes, from the era of the Underground Railroad to contemporary times." From permanent exhibits to new and rotating exhibitions, the museum illuminates the concepts of freedom, what it means to be free, and issues of both historic and modern-day slavery. Read the letters home from a Black soldier in WWII, what the pen of an enslaved person really looked like, and the journey from being enslaved by a family to emancipation, in pictures and letters. You'll find an array of online learning resources including exhibits, lesson plans, and videos.
Jackson, Mississippi, is famously known for the renowned Civil Rights Museum, But Jackson is also home to many lesser-known Civil Rights sites you can visit and more than one iconic walking trail, making it a great place to experience Black History any time of the year. You'll find the Mississippi Freedom Trail with ten important sites as well as the Mississippi Blues Trail which highlights the history and significance of the Blues in Jackson.
A visit to Chattanooga, TN is full of opportunities to learn about Black history.
Founded in 1983 as the Chattanooga African American Museum, the Bessie Smith Cultural Center celebrates the African Diaspora and pays tribute to Chattanooga’s African American culture with an emphasis on Bessie Smith, “The Empress of the Blues.”
The Soul of MLK mural project has begun and is beginning work on its third side to help bring revitalization of the MLK District. Across town at the southern entrance of the Walnut Street Pedestrian Bridge, the Ed Johnson Memorial is a permanent public site that strives to promote racial healing and reconciliation by acknowledging the lynching of Ed Johnson, honoring the courageous work of his attorneys, and recognizing the resulting U.S. Supreme Court case that established federal oversight of state-level civil rights issues.
Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center | Niagara Falls, NY
Opened in 2018, the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center tells the stories of freedom seekers who risked their lives to escape slavery and oppression by journeying north to Niagara Falls as one of their final stops and border crossing. Captured in various exhibits, this important history is documented and shared with visitors from around the country. Virtual tours are also available for those who aren't able to visit in person.
Walk in Frederick Douglass' Footsteps | Baltimore, MD
Born into slavery in Maryland in 1818, Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey came to Baltimore as a child where he lived as an enslaved person in the Auld family home on Aliceanna St. (known as Happy Alley). It was here that he learned to read; Hugh Auld's wife Sophia taught Frederick the alphabet (in spite of her husband's disapproval). See the Fell's Point shipyards where Douglass worked and the place where he purchased his first-ever book (28 Thames St.). In 1838, disguised as a sailor, he escaped north to freedom on the train; it is thought he passed through Baltimore's President Street Station, (where you can now find a Civil War Museum). Douglass went on to change the course of history by fighting tirelessly for freedom and equality. (Fun fact: When he married, he took the name Douglass after the hero clan in Sir Walter Scott's famous poem, Lady of the Lake.)
Later in life, Douglass returned to Baltimore to build a row of houses for African-American renters. You can visit the Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park Museum in Fell's Point, on the site of the first African American-owned shipyard in the United States, and see a large sculpture of Douglass at Maritime Park. Sign up for the Frederick Douglass Path to Freedom Walking Tour which will take you on a route that both teaches Douglass' experience in Baltimore as well as the history of the Underground Railroad, immigration, and shipbuilding.
Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site | Atlanta, GA
ampueroleonardo via iStock
Take your kids back to where this leader of the Civil Rights Movement was once a kid. At the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Park, you can visit his birth home, play where MLK played as a child, and learn all about his early years in the movement. Get inspired to fight inequality in your neck of the woods.
Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site | Little Rock, AR
The Little Rock Central High School was the most prominent example of the desegregation of public schools in 1954 when nine African-American students attended school here for the first time in history. You have to arrange a tour to enter the school, now designated a National Historic Site, but it’s relatively easy to do and a great way to help kids understand the significance of this school as well as the history of desegregation in the U.S.
Belle Meade Plantation | Nashville, TN
Amber Guetebier
You’d think the last thing you’d want to do to understand race in America is to visit the grounds of a plantation that once used enslaved people to make its wealth. But after a recent visit to Belle Meade Plantation in the Nashville area, we can report first-hand that this historic property is at the forefront of talking with the public in a truthful way about the horrors of slavery while honoring the African-American history of the property.
The Journey to Jubilee tour follows the story of the African-Americans who were brought to the plantation in 1807, but who stayed on the plantation through the early 1900s. It shows their vital presence on the property and their story of enslavement to freedom, and provides visitors with an understanding of the times from the African-American viewpoint. This tour is not recommended for kids under 12 due to the graphic reality of slavery, however, the general tour of Belle Meade also incorporates the story of the African-Americans who came as slaves but stayed on as hired workers after the abolishment of slavery. The property itself is very kid-friendly and an excellent respite from the bustle of the city.
Learn About the Underground Railroad | Auburn, NY
National Park Service
Auburn is a charming town in the Finger Lakes region of New York State and has an incredibly rich history. Teach your children what it really means to stand up to tyranny by immersing them in the world of Harriet Tubman. The national park that bears her name is the perfect place to learn all about this incredible woman who emancipated herself from slavery at the age of just 27 and went on to help dozens of slaves find freedom. Before you go, the kids can become Underground Railroad Junior Rangers to learn about the system of secret houses and waystations that helped slaves find freedom. Harriet Tubman National Historical Park includes her home, a visitor’s center, the Harriet Tubman Home for the Aged, and the church she raised funds to build. Her burial site is also nearby. The town of Auburn also boasts several other history museums and collections, a memorable public theater, and year-round events and festivals.
Established in 1873, Deep Ellum is one of Dallas’ oldest cultural hubs and has deep ties to the Black community. Starting as a Black farming community, by the 1920s, according to Wikipedia, “the neighborhood had become a hotbed for early jazz and blues musicians, hosting the likes of Blind Lemon Jefferson, Robert Johnson, Huddie "Lead Belly" Ledbetter, and Bessie Smith in Deep Ellum clubs such as The Harlem and The Palace.” Now a popular spot for clubs, you can still sense the history here, especially through the street art, which can be found in murals that depict the rich culture and history of the area.
Smack dab on the corner where Civil Rights activist Rosa Parks boarded a public bus and where she was infamously arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger, this museum focuses on Parks' story and its place in the Civil Rights Movement. The Museum includes a permanent exhibit, “The Cleveland Avenue Time Machine,” a replica city bus that uses fog, lighting, sound, hydraulics, and a robot bus driver to guide visitors on a series of “time jumps” from Jim Crow to “Separate But Equal.”
In Greensboro, NC, your kids can visit the site of the first Civil Rights sit-in and learn about the A&T Four—four young African-American students who sat at a “Whites Only” counter inside the Woolworth restaurant on Feb. 1, 1960, and refused to move. At the International Civil Rights Center & Museum, a guided tour helps your family learn and relearn important facts about America’s history before, during, and after the Civil Rights Movement. The Greensboro Cultural Arts Center houses the African America Atelier where you will find moving exhibits that the whole family will enjoy. And you'll want to visit the Guilford College Underground Railroad trail, which simulates how fugitives seeking freedom navigated in the woods on the Guilford College community with assistance from free and enslaved African-Americans and European-American Allies.
Museum of African Diaspora | San Francisco, CA
Museum of African Diaspora
Celebrating the universal connection of all people through their association with Africa, this must-visit museum showcases exhibitions aimed at representing work that may be under-represented in other U.S. museums. For example, as soon as you walk in, you're greeted by a three-story mural comprised of 2,100 photographs submitted by people of the Diaspora.
National Museum of African-American History and Culture | Washington, D.C.
National Museum of African-American History and Culture
The stunning building, inspired by Yoruba art and filigree ironwork, is filled with presentations and artifacts that give visitors a glimpse at all aspects—the good and the gut-wrenching—of the African American experience. It’s a must-visit for the entire family. See our in-depth guide here.
You'll want to make note of this museum that's dedicated to educating, preserving, and celebrating more than 50 music genres and styles that were created or inspired by African Americans. The 56,000-square-foot museum can be found in the heart of Nashville and includes artifacts, objects, memorabilia, clothing, and state-of-the-art technology to showcase different narratives and genres. Learn more at nmaam.org
National A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum | Chicago, IL
Located in the Historic Pullman District in Chicago, IL, this museum was opened in 1995 to pay homage to Asa Philip Randolph and Pullman Porters, the men who made up the membership of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (BSCP) union. Randolph was the chief organizer and co-founder of the BSCP, the first African-American labor union in the country to win a collective bargaining agreement. Under Randolph’s leadership, the Pullman Porters fought a valiant battle for employment equality with the corporate giant, the Pullman Rail Car Company.
African Americans have served proudly in every great American war. In 1866, through an act of Congress, legislation was adopted to create six all-African-American Army units. These fighting men represented the first Black professional soldiers in a peacetime army. The recruits came from varied backgrounds including formerly enslaved people and Civil War veterans. Once the westward movement had begun, prominent among those blazing treacherous trails of the Wild West were the Buffalo Soldiers of the U.S. Army. Learn about their history at Buffalo Soldiers National Museum.
Established in a one-room office in 1990, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is dedicated to preserving and celebrating the rich history of African-American baseball and its profound impact on the social advancement of America. Now you can visit the museum's 10,000 sq. ft. home to learn how "Jim Crow" laws forced Black baseball players to form their own teams, “barnstorming” around the country to play anyone who would challenge them.
In 1920, an organized league structure was formed under the guidance of Andrew “Rube” Foster—a former player, manager, and owner of the Chicago American Giants. In a meeting held at the Paseo YMCA in Kansas City, Mo., Foster and a few other Midwestern team owners joined to form the Negro National League. Soon, rival leagues formed in Eastern and Southern states, bringing the thrills and innovative play of Black baseball to major urban centers and rural countryside in the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. The Leagues maintained a high level of professional skill and became centerpieces for economic development in many Black communities.
What started as an homage to Black cowboys, the Black American West Museum is now dedicated to collecting, preserving, and disseminating the contributions of Blacks in the Old West including miners, soldiers, homesteaders, ranchers, blacksmiths, schoolteachers, lawmen, and other important professions.
Mary McLeod Bethune Home & Grave Site | Daytona Beach, FL
Educator and civil rights activist Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune was a fixture in Daytona Beach for 50 years. The founder of Bethune-Cookman University, a historical Black college, Bethune was a national advisor to Franklin D. Roosevelt and the only African American woman to be part of the United States delegation that helped form the United Nations charter. Open to the public, her home is on the university's campus and contains artifacts from Dr. Bethune's life. Her gravesite, also on campus, is located nearby.
Additional reporting by Amber Guetebier, Kate Loweth & Ayren Jackson-Cannady
These family-favorite museums are some of the best in the world and lucky for us, they’re all in Los Angeles
Let’s face it, not every museum you love as an adult is going to thrill your kids in the same way. And while some museums may feel like a total snooze-fest to your pint-size counterparts, that’s not the case in LA thanks to curating some of the world’s best that will not only expose your kids to incredible culture, science, art, and unforgettable learning experiences, but also, dare we say, show them a good time? So whether you have dino fans, train-loving kids, acad, car lovers, or pint-sized Warhols at home, we’ve put together a list of the best museums to explore in LA with kids.
Drivers, start your engines and zoom over to the Petersen Automotive Museum for a day of revved up fun! Families will love seeing some of the most famous cars from TV and film, including the 1981 DMC-12 Deloreon from Back to the Future, as well as the Batmobile and other faves. There are other amazing exhibits to check out as well, including Inside Tesla: Supercharging the Electric Revolution, Andy Warhol Cars—Works From the Mercedes Benz Art Collection, and Hypercars 2: The Allure of the Extreme, among others.
Why We Love It: You don't have to be total gearhead to fall in love with the Petersen. The automobiles and innovative design on display are incredibly impressive, no matter what your interests are.
Don't Miss Exhibits: Make sure to bring the kids by the Cars Mechanical Institute (a super cool interactive experience inspired by the Disney/Pixar animated film) that immerses visitors in a variety of fun activities and displays where they can learn about the science and design of cars.
Insider Tip: If you have a die-hard car fan (age 10 and up) in the house, we highly recommend including a trip to the Vault on your itinerary. This area includes some of the museums's most rare pieces and houses more than 250 cars at a time. It requires a separate entrance fee, but gets you a discount at the gift shop and on parking.
When Is the Petersen Museum Free? Unfortunately, the Petersen does not have any special free days, but kids under age 4 and educators are always free.
Kidspace is designed to delight and engage children through joyful kid-driven experiences where they can play, create, and explore the world with curiosity and kindness. Situated on a sprawling 3.5 acre campus, the museum features over 40 hands-on exhibits with many of them outdoors. Whether littles want to check out the massive climbing structures, splash in the interpretive Arroyo Stream, play with mud and clay, perform investigations in science and nature, or express their artistic sides – there's something for everyone.
Why We Love It: Kids tend to stay engaged longer when they can get their hands dirty (so to speak) doing activities. Kidspace is an expert when it comes to interactive discovery and it shows by the excitement and smiles on kids' faces.
Don't Miss Exhibits: Make a beeline for the Physics Forest where kids put science into motion with 12 hands-on, interactive exhibits that explore concepts such as levers and pulleys, trajectory, and momentum. As an added bonus for your pint-sized Issac Newtons and Albert Einsteins—the forest is outdoors so they're getting fresh air!
Insider Tip: Butterfly Season at Kidspace is an annual favorite filled with lots of activities, programs and new exhibits that celebrate the habitat and life cycle of our winged friends.
When Is Kidspace Free? The museum is free on the first Friday of every month. Advance reservations are required and tickets are released around two weeks prior to the date of your visit.
All aboard! Griffith Park's beloved Travel Town Museum is on a mission to preserve and celebrate LA's rich railroad heritage. Train fans will oooh and ahhh over the magnificent selection of locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, cabooses and artifacts on display. Also, during your visit, be sure to ride the rails on the museum's miniature train that circles the complex.
Why We Love It: Who doesn't want to explore choo-choos all afternoon?! Kids can scamper around freely and let their imaginations run wild while they play conductor for the day. Lunch is also a snap with access to on-site picnic tables. And since you're already in the park, be sure to check out the Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round as well if you're there on a weekend.
Don't Miss Exhibits: Currently, the museum is featuring the exhibit, Fred Harvey: Civilizer of the West, which explores how Harvey served railroad travelers by shaping the hospitality industry and tourism throughout the American Southwest.
Insider Tip: On certain Saturdays once a month, visitors are invited to participate in docent-lead tours through the historic Pullman Sleeping Cars. Be sure to check the website for dates.
When Is Travel Town Free? Admission is always free to visitors, but donations are gratefully accepted. Train rides, however, cost $3 for kids age 11 and under and adults are $4.
As the largest museum in the U.S. dedicated to the arts, sciences, and artists of movie making, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures has quickly become a beloved spot for film buffs of all ages. Current exhibitions include Stories of Cinema—three floors of exhibits that explore the diverse, international and complex stories of moviemakers and the stories they create; Regeneration: Black Cinema 1898-1971 that delves into the rich history of Black participation in cinema; and Backdrop: An Invisible Art, among others.
Why We Love It: LA kids grow up with the movie industry right in their backyards, so it's exciting to finally have a museum that celebrates everything we love about film. With such an in-depth look behind the magic of moviemaking, the museum may very well inspire the next generation of Spielbergs, Scorceses and DuVernays.
Don't Miss Exhibits: The Oscars Experience costs extra, but it's super fun—especially if this is your first visit to the museum. The experience invites visitors to step up to the podium and accept an Oscar in front of bright TV lights and a virtual audience while a soaring music score plays. The entire thing is captured on video to share on social media with friends. Also, be sure to stop by the Encounters room where kids can get up close and personal with iconic movie characters like C-3PO, R2-D2, E.T., Edward Scissorhands and Okoye's uniform from Black Panther.
Insider Tip: Every Saturday morning at 11 a.m., the museum features kid-friendly family matinees in their state-of-the-art theater. Films rotate weekly, so be sure to check the website for a schedule of upcoming screenings.
When Is the Academy Museum Free? While adult tickets cost $25, children age 17 and under are always free.
The California Science Center is a favorite of kids because there's always something new and exciting to see! From the Space Shuttle Endeavour and flight simulators to riveting exhibits about air and space, ecosystems and even Covid, this is the place to visit when you want your kids to stay engaged.
Why We Love It: You can spend an entire day here—no problem. And the first level food court is filled with tons of delicious and healthy dining options.
Don't Miss Exhibits:The Fire! Science & Safety interactive exhibition invites kids to play fire danger detective as they seek out burn hazards that one might find at home. Kids can also safely experiment with fire and practice their fire fighting skills with an extinguisher. We also love the Life! Beginnings exhibit that explores how humans and all living creatures reproduce, develop, and pass on their genes to bring new life into the world. Might make that birds and bees talk a little easier down the road—wink-wink.
Insider Tip: Avoid visits on USC game days since they share parking with the Coliseum and traffic is heavy. Or you can spare yourself the headache and take the Metro which stops right across the street—easy peasy!
When Is the California Science Center Free? General admission is always free, including the Space Shuttle Endeavor. The only extra cost might be if you want to check out one of the simulators or catch an IMAX film—that requires reservations.
High above the 405 Fwy is one of the leading cultural institutions in LA, the Skirball Cultural Center. The center is known as a place of meeting guided by the Jewish tradition of welcoming the stranger and inspired by the American democratic ideals of freedom and equality. With their mission of fostering human connections and building a more just society—we believe the Skirball's role is more important than ever. Current exhibitions include Fabric of a Nation: America Quilt Stories, Quilting for Good: Caron Tabb and the Quilting Corner, Chloe Bass: Wayfinding, Noah's Ark, a Discovery Center, and so much more.
Why We Love It: The Skirball brings together people from every community of LA, and this hands-on experience for kids is truly one-of-a-kind.
Don't Miss Exhibits: Award-winning Noah's Ark invites kids to play, climb, build, and make-believe while exploring an 8,000 sq. ft. wooden ark filled with over 400 exotic animals—all handcrafted from recycled materials and everyday objects. Little ones can even conduct their own storms with thunder, wind and lightning! Noah's Ark requires its own ticket and advance reservations are highly recommended. We're also huge fans of the museum's archaeology dig (Saturdays and Sundays only) where kids can sift and sort through sand to find replicas of ancient artifacts.
Insider Tip: Be sure to check out the numerous programs that Skirball offers to families as well—everything from story times and outdoor art making to the center's annual Hanukkah Festival.
When Is the Skirball Free? The Skirball is free to all on Thursdays.
LA’s Natural History Museum is a dino-mite way to spend an afternoon with your kiddos! Dinosaur Hall’s awe-inspiring exhibition filled with fossils and dinosaur skeletons transports visitors back 65 million years in the past. Other museum highlights include the engaging live show, Dinosaur Encounters, featuring life-size dinosaur puppets that will blow your mind. Also, be sure to visit the animal diorama halls from all over the world, the Nature Gardens, the Dino Lab and one of the newest exhibits, L.A. Underwater—an immersive and multi-media rich experience that explores our city’s prehistoric past beneath the Pacific Ocean.
Why We Love It: It’s a stunning space that invites pint-sized paleontologists to romp, roam and witness creatures beyond their wildest imaginations.
Don't Miss Exhibits: Spring and summertime mean spending time at the beautiful Butterfly Pavilion, where you can visit with your favorite butterflies and witness each stage of their lives first hand. Fall delivers eight-legged fun with a rare glimpse into the secret lives of spiders at the museum’s seasonal Spider Pavillion. Insider Tip: The Nature Garden is the perfect place to let kids get some fresh air and run around. You can take a breather with a cup of coffee from NHM Grill and watch them splash in the Urban Waterfall, hunt for earthworms in the compost bins, and play hide-and-seek in a giant willow house.
When Is the Natural History Museum Free? L.A. County residents receive free museum admission Monday through Friday from 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.—tickets are available at any museum ticketing desk.
Just blocks from the Pacific in downtown Santa Monica, Cayton Children's Museum offers 21,000 sq. ft. of discovery based exhibitions and immersive play for kids. The museum consists of five core wings filled with incredible hands-on exhibits. From a real-life helicopter, a play animal hospital and miniature marketplace to art studios, a colorful climbing structure, and a gigantic ball pit, littles will have more than enough to stay entertained.
Why We Love it: This brightly colored space is warm, welcoming and inclusive from the moment you enter, and with so many hands-on activities, kiddos will never get bored.
Don't Miss Exhibits: In the spirit of raising kind and empathetic kids, we love the fire truck and veterinarian office where kids can take on imaginative and caring responder roles. Like Mr. Rogers once said, "Always look for the helpers."
Insider Tip: Reservations are encouraged to guarantee entry, but are not required. However, if you're stopping by on a weekend when it's crowded, we highly recommend reserving ahead of time to make your visit easier. Also, the first Thursday of every month is only open to members all day.
When Is the Cayton Free? The Cayton Children's Museum does not offer free admission days, but children under age 1 are always free.
The Autry Museum explores the art, history, cultures and stories of the American West and its people. This impressive collection of more than 500,000 pieces of art and artifacts includes the Southwest Museum of the American Indian Collection—one of the largest and most significant collections of Native American material in the U.S.
Why We Love It: The Autry tends to be less crowded than other museums in the area, and its convenient location right across from the LA Zoo can't be beat—you can explore both in one day!
Don't Miss Exhibits: Stop by Imagined West Studios, the Autry's kid-friendly movie studio where children can act in and film their own cinematic visions of the American West using creative props on a western-themed set.
Insider Tip: On Saturday, Sunday, and on free Tuesday, visit the Autry's family play space for tons of kid-friendly activities that teach kids about the American West. Also, coming in May 2023, the Autry will feature the exhibition, Imagined Wests, where visitors of all ages can explore the ways we tell stories about the American West through pop culture, clothing, toys, art, archives, and other media.
When Is the Autry Free? Every second Tuesday of the month is free to visitors.
4700 Western Heritage Way Griffith Park Online:theautry.org
Come for the art and stay for the mind-blowing views of LA! High in the hills, the Getty Center features modern architecture, world-class exhibitions, a Central Garden filled with stunning water features and colorful plants that change seasonally, and delicious dining options at the restaurant on site or Garden Terrace Cafe.
Why We Love It: Getting there is part of the thrill! A tram takes you for a steep ride up the hill from the parking lot to the museum.
Don't Miss Exhibitions: Kids will enjoy getting to see some of the artists they're likely learning about in school with works on display from masters like Monet and Van Gogh. But the real draw for little ones is the incredible view and breathtaking gardens outside.
Insider's Tip: Once you pay for parking at The Getty Center, you’ll also score free parking at The Getty Villa in Malibu for the same day—just make reservations at both sites on the same date.
When Is the Getty Free? The Getty Center offers free admission year round, you just need to reserve a time for your visit in advance. However, parking costs $20 per car.
Sepulveda Blvd. & Getty Center Dr. Los Angeles Online:getty.edu
The Broad is filled with an extremely impressive selection of contemporary art from the 1950s—the present. Once you arrive, we highly recommend downloading the museum’s mobile guide on your phone that provides a map to the museum and family recommendations of what to see while you’re there. One of the first highlights of The Broad isn’t the artwork at all—it’s the extremely long escalator that takes visitors to the 3rd floor galleries. On this floor, you can explore artwork by Jeff Koons, including his famous Balloon Dog, as well as works by Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Robert Therrien’s Under the Table.
Why We Love It: Filled with bright color and whimsical wonder, this is the perfect place to get your kids excited about art and the world’s most incredible artists.
Don’t Miss Exhibits: If you're lucky enough to score tickets, we highly recommend a visit to Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirrored Room—The Souls of a Million Light Years Away located on the first floor. This extra special exhibit requires a separate timed-entry ticket. Tickets are released on the last Wednesday of each month at 10 a.m. for admission the following month. Also, a special exhibition, Keith Haring: Art is for Everybody, is coming to The Broad in May 2023.
Insider Tip: The mobile museum guide on your phone has a free kid’s audio tour featuring LeVar Burton of Reading Rainbow.
When Is The Broad Free? Timed-entry tickets for general admission to the museum are always free and are released the last Wednesday of each month at 10 a.m. Some last-minute tickets are also released daily, so be sure to check the website the evening before you’d like to go.
This world-class art museum is a fantastic intro to art – whether you're a novice or connoisseur. From impressionism and Egyptian art to furniture collections and rad contemporary exhibits, the collections run the gambit and will give your littles a taste of everything.
Why We Love It: There’s always something happening here for families: from story times to fun activities at the Boone Family Gallery and more. And it’s always free for kids who live in LA County!
Don't Miss Exhibits: Before you leave for the day, make sure to check out one of the museum's newest exhibits, Language of the Birds—stark, abstract bronze sculptures suspended from the north side of Resnick Pavilion outside. It will remain on display until June 2023.
Insider Tip: If you can't find street parking, it's worth it to pay $20 to park in the underground lot so you don't have to circle the area for hours. Also, after your museum adventure, grab a drink and a bite at Ray's & Stark Bar or C+M Grab & Go, and kick back while your kiddos play hide-and-seek in the Urban Light installation nearby.
When Is LACMA Free? Hit the museum membership desk and sign up for the NexGen program. Kids under age 18 and one accompanying adult (per child) get into LACMA for free with a NexGenLA pass.
Travel back in time during your visit to the La Brea Tar Pits and Page Museum—one of the richest depositories of Ice Age fossils in the world. Inside the museum, explore incredible fossils on display from over 650 different species like ground sloths, dire wolves, and saber-tooth cats. Outside, stroll the beautiful park grounds and witness life-size statues of mammoths and American Mastodon standing in bubbling asphalt, or swing by Project 23 and Pit 91 to watch scientists perform live excavations of fossil deposits on site. For an extra $6 per person, we also recommend the Ice Age Encounters live stage show or the Titans of of the Ice Age 3D movie.
Why We Love It: We totally dig (pun intended) the indoor/outdoor vibe of the experience.
Don't Miss Exhibits: One of our favorite things to do is visit the Fossil Lab where kiddos can observe paleontologists hard at work right in front of their eyes—cleaning and prepping Ice Age fossils for study and exhibition.
Insider Tip: Bring a picnic to eat on the grounds outside and let kids burn off some extra energy by rolling down the steep grassy hills.
When Is the Page Museum Free? The park area is always free, but the Page Museum gives LA County residents free admission from 3 p.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday at any museum ticketing desk or kiosk. Children 2 and under are always free.
The Discovery Cube LA is a children’s museum that brings STEM education to life with a wide range of immersive and interactive science activities. With a mission to inspire and educate young minds, the museum features over 50 hands-on activities, including the LA Kings Hockey exhibit where you can pretend to be a hockey player and train like a pro, a wind exhibit where you can hop inside a wind simulator to see what’s happening to our climate, a grocery store where you can scan items, and a physics area where kids can play with various pulleys.
Why We Love It: This museum is completely interactive which is always more entertaining for kids. And if they’re into science on top of that—it just can’t be beat!
Don’t Miss Exhibits: With the environment top of mind for everyone these days, we love the Recycling Plant exhibit where littles can sort various items correctly to race to zero waste. Also, if you’re at the museum before Jan. 16, check out the Thomas and Friends Explore the Rails exhibit where kids can play with a gigantic wooden train set and partake in tons of fun activities with Thomas and his crew.
Insider Tip: There’s a giant park located right next door if you kids have any gas left on the tank after your day at the museum.
When Is the Discovery Cube Free? Children age 2 and under are always free.
At the top of Griffith Park, you are met with sweeping views of the city, where on a clear day you can see from the San Gabriel Mountains to the beach. See if kids can spot your neighborhood far below. Then head inside and learn all about our planets and universe. What would we weigh on Jupiter? How is a comet made? What can you see through the giant telescopes? Don’t miss a visit to the planetarium for one of their amazing shows. Public Star Parties are held once a month, where you can go look at the sun, moon, and planets and try out a variety of telescopes. Check out our in-depth article on the Griffith Observatory and why it's a favorite place to visit with the kids.
Need to Know: Parking is notoriously difficult, so on a weekend expect a long walk. The good news is the walk will be gorgeous, with the best views in the city of the Hollywood Sign. The bad news is that it’s all uphill so bring strollers or carriers for wee ones.
Good to Know: Avoid the parking dilemma altogether and take the DASH Observatory bus from the Vermont/Sunset Metro Red Line station.
When Is the Griffith Observatory Free? The Griffith Observatory is free but shows in the planetarium do have a small fee. Kids under 5 are only admitted to the first show each day and must sit on an adult's lap.
If you have music lovers at home, we highly recommend a visit to the GRAMMY Museum which aims to educate visitors about the history and cultural significance of American music and inspire the next generation of musicians. The space is made up of four levels and guests start at the top and work their way through various exhibits until they reach the bottom. Exhibitions give visitors a chance to pose On the Red Carpet, explore the Mono Immersive Experience Room that takes you on a visual and audible journey of the evolution of recorded sound, or check out the recording booths, costumes, and other interactive exhibits on display.
Why We Love It: This museum provides a master class in music history. If you have aspiring singers and musicians at home, this is a rare opportunity to see all the hard work that goes into making some of the most memorable music of all time.
Don’t Miss Exhibits: On display through Spring 2023, check out the exhibition, Marley: A Family Legacy that explores why Bob Marley was one of the greatest performers the world has ever known. Guests are also invited to take a seat at the kit for an interactive drum lesson by reggae drumming icon, Santa Davis.
Insider's Tip: The GRAMMY Museum isn't that large and won't take up your whole day, so you'll have plenty of time to grab a bite, see a movie, or go bowling at LA Live too.
When Is the GRAMMY Museum Free? Children age 4 and under are always free.
Already exhausted the ones on our list? Keep scrolling for five more kid-friendly museums we love in LA.
Fowler Museum at UCLA:Located on the sprawling UCLA campus, this museum explores global arts and cultures primarily from Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and the Americas. Check out their Fowler Families programs, which include art workshops, yoga and more. The museum is also a short walk from the Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden, a lush 7.5 acre "natural museum" that kids can explore.
Los Angeles Fire Department Hollywood Museum:On Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., you can visit Fire Station 27, which was established in 1930. The space features equipment dating back to the early 1900s, along with fire-fighting artifacts and equipment from the 1880s through the present day.
Museums near LA Worth the Drive
Now that you've check all the LA museums off your list, here are some more within an hour or two of the city.
Go inside a guitar, create a wind, sun, and human-powered symphony with the Weather Orchestra and more at Santa Barbara's hands-on MOXI Museum.
These all-season road trips are just what Dallas families need to get away from home, but not too far away
Itching to get out of dodge and see what’s outside Dallas this season? We get it. We gathered up a few of our favorite spots that are four hours or less from DFW and have loads of fun things for kids to do like charming downtown squares, junk artwork, and museums. Check out our list and get planning your next family road trip.
We love Austin for the sheer volume of kid-friendly places to visit. From water parks to museums to the state capitol, Austin has it all. If STEM is your game, be sure to put Thinkery on your list as the kids will love all the hands-on exhibits and programs. The Inner Space Cavern is not to be missed, as it is the fourth-largest cavern in Texas. The Austin Zoo will give you all the animal time you've been craving, and the Cathedral of Junk is just the weird Austin experience you are looking for. If shopping or being closer to Lake Travis is what you want, The Domain in North Austin is your best bet. Not only can you wander through the shops of the outdoor mall, but there are play areas for kids, a park and Lone Star Court, a unique hotel with an open space concept, tons of lawn games, fire pits, and year-round live music.
2. Lake Granbury, TX
Lake Granbury is just as fun during the winter months as it is in the summer. Instead of tubing and surfing, grab your pole and go fishing at one of the many public fishing piers, catch a theater performance at the Granbury Opera House, or enjoy one of the many events happening in the square.
If you are fans of Chip and Joanna Gaines like we are, you'll definitely want to add this town to your road trip list. A visit there should include a stop at Magnolia Market where you can shop, dine, and enjoy some family time. Other fun stops in Waco include the Bill and Eva Williams Bear Habitat, Cameron Park Zoo, and the Dr. Pepper Museum.
4. Broken Bow, OK
Hiking, cozying up by a cabin fire, visiting the nature center, and enjoying winter festivities are all on the agenda for your next trip to Broken Bow. Wineries and tasting rooms are plentiful. Kids will love ziplining at Rugaru Adventures and visiting the Beavers Bend Mining Company to try their luck at panning for gold.
Settled along the San Gabriel River in central Texas lies a town with enough funky charm and history to make you forget about that other funky college town that lies a mere 25 miles south (ahem, Austin). Welcome to Georgetown, a city offering its own food scene, refreshing swimming holes, and plenty of family-friendly entertainment. There's a rad women-owned bookstore, plenty of green space for walking, and exploring, and tons of restaurants you'll love.
6. Fort Worth, TX
Yes, this one's more of a staycation than a big trip but sometimes that's just enough to get everyone out of their funk. When it comes to thinking about what DFW means, Fort Worth stands tall, and for good reason. From family-friendly parks and bike paths to walkable city squares and first-rate museums, there’s more to this thriving city than just cattle drives.
Families looking for a getaway from the big city will love visiting Tyler. Located in the piney woods of East Texas, you can explore 14 acres of blooming roses, savor some of the best BBQ in the state, and walk along brick streets as you shop in one-of-a-kind boutiques. Breathe in fresh air and hike and bike in the shade of 100-foot-tall pine trees as you explore 13 miles of picturesque trails at the beautiful Tyler State Park. Museums are plentiful in Tyler and kids will especially love the Discovery Science Place and the Historic Aviation Memorial Museum.
Load up the car and head to Shreveport-Bossier for some quality family time. Kids of all ages will enjoy playing at Shreveport-Bossier’s many family-friendly attractions. Discover creatures of the deep at Shreveport Aquarium. Hold a baby alligator and zip-line over a swamp full of them at Gators and Friends Adventure Park. Explore space, do science experiments, and catch a movie on the only IMAX Dome Theater in Louisiana at Sci-Port Discovery Center.
10. Chickasaw Country, OK
In central Oklahoma, you'll find 7,648 square miles that comprise the Chickasaw Nation. This diverse landscape is the perfect destination for a family looking for an educational and interesting vacation. Visit the Chickasaw Cultural Center to learn and connect with First American history. Watch the story of the Chickasaw people unfold before your eyes through powerful performances, reenactments, demonstrations, collections, and exhibits at one of the largest and most extensive tribal cultural centers in the United States. The quaint town of Tishomingo is a beautiful, historic gem rich in old western character, history, natural beauty, and southern hospitality. The town, named in honor of the heroic Chickasaw Chief, Tishomingo, preserves and cherishes its native roots. Here you can visit the Chickasaw National Capitol and other historic sites.
The Lunar New Year begins Sunday January 22 and kicks off 15 days of colorful celebrations perfect for family fun
Lunar New Year is here! Often called Chinese New Year, it is also celebrated by Vietnamese and South Korean cultures and this year rings in the year of the rabbit. According to an interview in Seventeen Magazine, Dottie Li, cultural expert and the voice of Rosetta Stone Mandarin, says, “The Year of the Rabbit 兔年 symbolizes longevity, positivity, auspiciousness, wittiness, cautiousness, cleverness, deftness and self-protection.” She adds that the new year brings new fortunes, and in 2023, people can expect prosperity, hope, and calm. “Because of the rabbit’s characteristics, we can expect relaxation, fluidity, quietness and contemplation,” Li said in the article. And how fun is this? Six, life-sized rabbits can be found on display around San Francisco—see if your family can find them all!
Lunar New Year Storytime at South San Francisco Main Library
Jan. 12: Join Ms. Maggie and special guest, Oliver Chin, for a Lunar New Year themed storytime! Event details.
Chinese New Year Flower Market Fair
Jan. 14 & 15:The weekend before the new lunar year is celebrated, families traditionally hit up stores for supplies for the big celebration. More than 120 vendors will be on hand at the market fair showcasing plants, fruits, flowers, candy and other delights while performances from magicians, acrobats, drummers and folk dancers entertain shoppers. Event details.
Lunar New Year Performances at the Ferry Building
Jan. 22: Find the Chung Ngai Lion Dancers and Helen Dance Academy outside and throughout the Marketplace from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Also don't miss the calligraphy demonstration and receive a personalized red paper scroll with Lunar New year well wishes. Event details.
Chinese New Year’s Day Parade
Feb. 4: The largest Lunar New year celebration outside of Asia, San Francisco’s Chinese New Year Parade pulls out all the stops in its illuminated parade. Revelers will enjoy colorful floats, dazzling costumes, stilt walkers, lion dancers and the newly crowned Miss Chinatown USA. Another highlight is the famous Golden Dragon, “Gum Lung”, requiring about 180 handlers for its 268-foot length. The parade starts on Market Street and reserved bleacher seats are also available for purchase. Event details.
Lunar New Year Community Street Fair
Feb. 4 & 5: The most exciting time of the year in Chinatown is when Lunar New Year is celebrated! Vendors, giant puppets, family activities and live performances will all be on hand so bring the entire family down. Event details.
Lunar New Year: Year of the Rabbit with the San Francisco Symphony
Feb. 5: Celebrate Lunar New Year with the San Francisco Symphony at this vibrant event that draws upon Asian traditions, past and present with Earl Lee as the conductor of the Orchestra.Event details.
Jan. 21: This free, family-friendly event celebration will include martial art demonstrations, lion dancers, giveaways and a rabbit craft for kids. Event details.
22nd Annual Lunar New Year at OMCA: Year of the Rabbit
Jan. 29: Ring in the lunar new year with family-friendly cultural performances, story time with author Olive Chin, food truck bites, live music, take-home art activities and much more. Event details.
Lunar New Year x Black History Month at OACC
Feb. 4:OACC is collaborating with the Malonga Arts Residence Association (MARA) to create an intentional space for Black History and Future in Oakland Chinatown while continuing to honor AAPI cultural traditions. This event will spotlight performers that celebrate Black and AAPI arts and culture in Oakland. We are delighted to feature harpist and composer Destiny Muhammad, whose genre is cool and eclectic with a feel of jazz and storytelling to round out the sonic experience. Event details.
Chinese New Year Celebrations in the South Bay & Peninsula
Community Day: Lunar New Year at the San Jose Museum of Art
Jan. 21: Join SJMA and welcome the year of the Rabbit, or in Vietnam, the year of the Cat, with artmaking activities, cultural demonstrations, and live performances. This contemporary celebration honors Lunar New Year traditions commemorated around the globe and here in San José. Explore and create with family and friends in this multigenerational event. Event details.
Santana Row Lunar New Year Celebration
Jan. 28: Santana Row welcomes the year of the Rabbit with a Lunar New Year celebration for the entire family in Santana Row Park. Enjoy the exciting drumbeats and crashing cymbals of the Dragon and Lion dances and more live entertainment on our outdoor stage. Event details.
Lunar New Year at Children’s Discovery Museum
Feb. 4: Create your own branch of beautiful flowers to symbolize health, prosperity, and good fortune in the coming year, signifying the end of winter and the beginning of spring. Be thrilled by the magnificent and ever-popular Lion Dance by Yun Yee Tong USA, as we welcome in the new year together. Event details.
12th Annual Lunar New Year Celebration at Courthouse Square in Redwood City
Feb. 4: Lion dancers, martial artists, drummers and other live performers will head up the festivities along with arts and crafts at nearby San Mateo County History museum. Event details.
Chinese New Year Celebrations in Marin
Lunar New Year Festival 2023, Terra Marin School
Jan. 21:Celebrate the beauty of the Vietnamese, Chinese & Korean cultures. From a spectacular Lion Dance to the Korean drum dance from the dance group Urisawe to a lovely Vietnamese fashion show, it will be a culturally rich festival for family members of all ages. The event will also feature multicultural activities and a raffle with prizes. Masks are encouraged but optional. Event details.
Ring in the year of the black water rabbit with these 2023 kid-friendly Chinese New Year events, filled with festivals, firecrackers, and family fun
Every year, the streets of NYC come alive with dancing lions and dragons, firecrackers, and music. The occasion? Lunar New Year! The day is an important part of Chinese and other Asian cultures, marking a new year based on the lunar calendar complete with festivities, celebrations, and gift-giving. This year, the festival falls on Jan. 22, when we bid farewell to the year of the tiger and usher in the year of the rabbit. Traditionally, each year corresponds to an animal in the Chinese Zodiac and an element. This year will be the year of the black water rabbit (the water element is associated with the color black), a combination that means 2023 will be a year of prosperity, rest, reflection, and, most of all, hope. There are many ways to join the celebration around NYC, from festivals and parades to workshops and themed crafts. So gather the family and hop on over to one of these family-friendly NYC Lunar New Year events!
Hit the streets for the biggest Lunar New Year celebration: the annual parade and festival in Chinatown! As with every year, you can expect music, performances, firecrackers, dancing dragons, intricate costumes and more. The parade will make its way from Mott and Canal to Chatham Square, then head to East Broadway, finally ending up on Eldridge and Forsyth Streets next to Sara D. Roosevelt Park. The park is usually decked out in themed decorations reflecting the element and animal of the year, and packed full of revelers. Note that this event gets very loud and crowded!
2023 Chinese New Year Festival at the China Institute
The China Institute rings in the new year with an afternoon of performances and workshops! Visit the Institute to participate in workshops themed around Chinese culture, music, food, and arts. The event kicks off with a Lion Dance and culminates in a Kun Opera performance. Plus, attendees get to take a close look at the makeup and costume used in the Opera before the show begins.
Price: $15
Sun., Jan. 8, 1-4 p.m. 100 Washington St. Financial District Online:chinainstitute.org
Lunar New Year Celebration at P.S. 150
For the first time ever, P.S. 150 (a.k.a. the Tribeca Learning Center) will be holding a Lunar New Year event for the community. The party will be open to everyone and include raffles and giveaways, traditional Chinese performances (including a Lion Dance!), candy art, bilingual Mandarin-English read- and sing-alongs, a tasting menu from local restaurants, calligraphy workshops, arts and crafts, and so much more.
Price: $28.16 per ticket, free for kids under 3
Sun., Jan. 8, 12-3 p.m. P.S. 150 Tribeca Learning Center 28-42 Trinity Place Financial District Online:eventbrite.com
Picturesque Pagodas at the Skyscraper Museum
In this free workshop (recommended for ages 7-12), you'll learn about Poy Gum Lee, the Chinese-American architect who popularized a building style that can still be seen both in China and NYC's Chinatown. Lee's style, called "Chinese Art Deco," can be found in the pagodas you see around Chinatown, which rose to popularity in the 1950s. Kids will get to build and decorate their own pagoda crafts inspired by traditional Chinese architecture.
Price: Free
Sat., Jan. 21, 10:30 a.m. Skyscraper Museum 39 Battery Pl. Financial District Online:skyscraper.org
Lunar New Year Festival: The Year of the Rabbit at The Met
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is uniting culture with art in a Lunar New Year festival. While the full schedule isn't up yet (keep an eye on the website for information in English, Korean, simplified Chinese, and Spanish), you can expect to see performances, interactive activities, and workshops for the whole family, led by artists.
Price: Free with admission
Sat., Jan. 21, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. The Metropolitan Museum of Art 1000 5th Ave. Upper East Side Online:metmuseum.org
The Museum of Chinese in America has an impressive lineup of events scheduled for their Lunar New Year celebration. The day is chock-full of performances and demonstrations, including a Lion Dance performed yb the United East Athletics Association, a noodle pulling and candy making demonstration, and more. The younger kids in your family will enjoy the interactive dance- and music-enhanced storytime with Ya Ya Preschool, which will explore the legend of the Nian monster (in English and Mandarin) and explain why red decorations are traditionally put up for Lunar New Year.
Price: Free
Sat., Jan. 21, 2:30-5:30 p.m. The Museum of Chinese in America 215 Centre St. Little Italy Online:mocanyc.org
Lunar New Year: Year of the Rabbit at the Children's Museum of Manhattan
Celebrate Lunar New Year all week long through CMOM's special events. Kids can get their creativity flowing as they use puppets and elements of design to make crafts themed around the celebration and the water rabbit. Plus, they'll explore what the rabbit symbolizes: peace, calm, and hope!
Price: Free with admission
Sat., Jan. 21-Sun., Jan. 29 CMOM 212 West 83rd St. Upper West Side Online:cmom.org
Christ Chapel Chamber Series: Chinese New Year at Riverside Church
Hear how Eastern cultures influenced Western music through a performance by Singaporean musician and composer Phoon Yu and his chamber ensemble. The concert will feature pieces celebrating the new year as well as the musical intersection of Eastern and Western cultures.
Lunar New Year Plants Tour at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden
Learn about the Asian fruits and plants associated with the Lunar New Year with this free guided tour. The tour will take you through the Steinhardt Conservatory, showcasing citrus plants, bamboo, quince, and more. Plus, the tour will be held in English and Cantonese!
Price: Free with admission
Sat., Jan. 21, 1-2 p.m. Brooklyn Botanical Garden Meet at the Steinhardt Conservatory 1010 Washington Ave. Prospect Park Online:bbg.org
This day-long event will introduce young kids to the culture and celebrations of the Lunar New Year. Learn about new year traditions with live music, stories, and hands-on calligraphy workshops. Head to the museum's rooftop to catch a lion dance parade, performed by the Chinatown Community Young Lions.
Every day in February, Prospect Park Zoo will be teaching visitors about rabbits, the animals of the Chinese Zodiac, and how the WIldlife Conservation Society is working toward saving wildlife around the world (and what you can do to help). The zoo's website will also have a free, self-guided scavenger hunt that anyone can participate in, to learn all about rabbits.
Price: Free with admission
Every day in February 450 Flatbush Ave. Prospect Park Online:prospectparkzoo.com
Little ones will love meeting the bunny ambassadors of Alley Pond at the two rabbit-themed events they're holding in honor of this year's Zodiac animal. In Bouncing Bunnies, toddlers will read a book about a rabbit and make a take-home craft. In Animal Tales, they'll read "It's Not Easy Being a Bunny" by Marilyn Sadler then head outside for a walk and to look for rabbit tacks. Both events will also feature opportunities to see and pet some of Alley Pond's resident rabbits!
If you're a parade fanatic and want to experience two Lunar New Year parades in NYC this year—or if the Manhattan Chinatown parade is just a bit much for you and the fam—the Flushing parade may be just the thing for you. The parade will include music, performances, and dancing as it winds its way down from 37th to Queens Crossing (for full parade route, click through to the Eventbrite listing). Following the outdoor marching, head inside for more festivities at the shopping center and food court, Tangram.
Price: Free
Sat., Jan. 21, parade begins at 11 a.m., Tangram event is 1-3 p.m. Tangram 133-33 39th Ave. Flushing Online:eventbrite.com
The Queens Museum welcomes the New York Chinese Cultural Center for a full afternoon of fun. Be wowed by Kung-Fu demonstrations, watch Lion Dances, learn the basics of calligraphy, and make your own Chinese lanterns. Workshops cater to both kids an adults, making this a great choice for the whole family.
Price: Free with admission
Sun., Jan. 29, 1-4 p.m. Queens Museum New York City Building Flushing Meadows Corona Park Online:queensmuseum.org
Miffy Presents Lunar New Year at Queens Botanical Garden
The adorable Dutch bunny Miffy invites you out to the Queens Botanical Garden to celebrate the year of the rabbit! The garden celebration will include Lion Dances, Zodiac-inspired crafts, storytimes, "lucky plant" sales, demonstrations, and more. While advance registration is recommended, walk-ins are also fine.
Price: $5 suggested donation
Sat., Jan. 28, 12-4 p.m. Queens Botanical Garden 43-50 Main St. Flushing Online:queensbotanical.org
Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company: Year of the Black Water Rabbit at Kupferberg Center and NJPAC
This breathtaking performance is a dance and music tribute to Lunar New Year. The Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company welcomes the new year through colorful costumes, as well as dances and music featuring a fusion of American and Asian styles and cultures. See dragons, peacocks, acrobats, ribbon dances, bamboo instruments, a hip-hop take on traditional Lion Dances, and more.
Price: $27-$35 per ticket
Sat., Jan. 21, Sun., Jan. 22, 2 p.m. Victoria Theater Lizzie & Jonathan Tisch Stage 1 Center Street Newark, NJ Online:njpac.org
Price: $15
Sun., Feb. 5, 3 p.m. Kupferberg Center for the Arts Colden Auditorium 153-49 Reeves Ave. Flushing Online:kupferbergcenter.org
Bronx Events to Celebrate Lunar New Year
Family Art Project: Fan for Lunar New Year at Wave Hill
In this Family Art Project, families will learn about the role and significance of rabbits in the Chinese Zodiac and culture. Then, get hands-on by putting together and decorating a very special fan, inspired by rabbits and other animals on the Zodiac.
Libraries throughout the city's boroughs have a whole collection of free events planned for Lunar New Year, intended to educate and entertain. The lineup includes exciting scavenger hunts, themed crafting sessions, cultural games and read-alongs, origami paper crafts, and more. Check the events page for more events being added every day!
This Chinese New Year is an extra special one, so don’t miss out on the celebrations at one of these family-friendly events in the DMV
Get ready for the bunny puns as we hop into the year of the rabbit! The Chinese Lunar New Year—also known as the Spring Festival—kicks off the first day of the lunisolar year and marks the start of the spring season. It’s 15 straight days of celebrations (from new moon to full moon) and is the most important holiday for many East Asian countries. Get ready for celebratory fanfare as families gather to usher out the old year and welcome a new year of fortune and good luck. For those in the market for extra good fortune, the rabbit is considered to be the luckiest of the 12 zodiac signs. But because you can never be too lucky, we’ve rounded up the best Chinese Lunar New Year events in Washington, DC—from traditional dragon dances to eating lucky meals made of “longevity” noodles—for a very hoppy new year. Bonus: these events are all educational, too!
Chinese Lunar New Year Activities for Kids in Washington, DC
Watch the Chinese Lunar New Year Parade in Chinatown
In celebration of the Zodiac's luckiest animal, the rabbit, this parade will be historically the largest to date. Chinese traditions will be on display including lion dance troupes, traditional costume teams, drum teams and more alongside community groups like the Almas Shriners, the Girl Scouts and even the Washington Wizard's dance team. There is a fireworks finale at 3:45 p.m.
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library is celebrating the year of the rabbit all month long with a Zodiac-themed reading challenge. Can you read your way through the Chinese zodiac? Pick a book based on one of the twelve Zodiac signs (tiger, dog, rat, dragon, ox, rabbit, snake, goat, pig, horse, rooster and monkey). Get through all 12 signs and you'll receive a prize!
DC Chefs Danny Lee and Scott Drewno, co-owners of CHIKO and Anju, will share family traditions while demonstrating how to cook traditional holiday dishes at the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery.
Cost: Free Date: Jan. 21 from 1-2 p.m.
1050 Independence Ave SW National Mall Online:si.edu
Explore Chinese and Korean New Year's Traditions at SAAM
Learn about traditions across Chinese and Korean cultures at this annual event featuring performances, hands-on craft projects, an interactive scavenger hunt regional foods and more. A special Lunar New Year menu will be offered in the Courtyard Cafe.
Cost: Free Date: Jan. 28 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
8th and G St. NW Gallery Place/Chinatown Online:si.edu
Chinese Lunar New Year Activities for Kids in Virginia
Buddhist monks were the first to use glowing lanterns in their Lunar celebrations around 50 AD (around the same time it is believed Buddhism arrived in China). To honor Buddha, others adopted this tradition. Today, lanterns represent the symbolic nature of illuminating the future. Stroll through over 10,000 handmade Chinese lanterns at the Winter Lantern Festival in Tysons Corner. In addition to the stunning, larger-than-life lantern displays, there are parent-powered rides, like a steel roller coaster, Instagrammable photo ops on LED swings and live performances.
Cost: $17.99/children; $29.99/adults Dates:Thurs.-Sun., now-Feb. from 5-1- p.m.
Celebrate the year of the rabbit at the largest Lunar New Year festival in the tai-state area! This annual event at the Dulles Expo Center showcases Vietnamese culture and traditions through exhibits, dance performances, arts and crafts and more.
4320 Chantilly Shopping Center Chantilly, Virginia Online:unation.com
Make Lunar New Year Decorations at Oakton Library
Get crafty with Lunar New Year-themed activities at the Oakton Library. Make traditional red envelopes to gift money in, create a money tree to hang the envelopes on and fashion lanterns out of paper. There will also be a traditional lion dance performed by the Taiwan Fun group.
Head to Thomas S. Wootton High School for an educational day of performances, activities and food. Coordinated in partnership with the town, Rockville's Asian Pacific American Taskforce invites the community to celebrate Asian culture during this free annual event.
If you are looking for a lunar celebration that showcases traditions and customs across many East Asian cultures, check out this all-weekend waterfront festival. The weekend lineup includes Chinese shadow puppets, sugar painting, paper cutting, Chinese watercolor painting, red lantern crafts and more.
Spend the day at The Walter Museum for free, hands-on fun. In honor of Lunar New Year, the museum is hosting lion dances, live performances, art workshops and more.
On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, discover celebrations and local volunteering opportunities for you and your kids around San Diego
When is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day? MLK Day takes place the third Monday in January each year, and this year, MLK Day is on January 17. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a day for all Americans to unite to honor the legacy and tireless work of this champion of civil rights. In addition to celebrating King’s legacy, this holiday has also become a National Day of Service—encouraging Americans to volunteer and do good in their communities. Here are all the ways to celebrate MLK’s life and how your family can give back to your community, right here in San Diego.
Jan. 14 & 16: As part of LA Works MLK Day of Service, this virtual event builds upon the anti-racism movement through an interactive march on Washington in Minecraft and an in-person event at LA Memorial Coliseum. Tour a virtual exhibit of the 1963 March on Washington and interact with civil rights leaders like Rev. Dr. King himself. The event takes place from noon-9 p.m. on Jan. 14 and 10 a.m.-9 p.m. on Jan. 16. Advance registration is required and closes at 5 p.m. on Jan. 11. Once you register, LA Works will email a link to attend the event. Access to Minecraft (Java or Bedrock edition) is required. Event details.
2. 2nd Annual MLK Community Day of Service
Jan. 14: Join District 1 Council Member Consuelo Martinez and the City of Escondido for a day of service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.. Volunteers will work together to remove litter and green waste from Washington Park and 2 miles of our community bike trail. Our park and creek trail are accessed by community members of all ages to enjoy riding bikes, jogging, walking, skateboarding, and giving access to many of the city’s parks and amenities. Event details.
3. 41st Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade
Jan. 15: One of the largest celebrations of its kind in the United States in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The parade is filled with dazzling floats, phenomenal high school bands, drill teams, colleges and universities, fraternities, sororities, churches, peace and youth organizations. Coordinated by the Zeta Sigma Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., the oldest African American fraternity in America, founded in 1906. This event supports scholarship opportunities for the youth of San Diego. Event details.
4. WorldBeat Cultural Center's 33rd Annual MLK Day Celebration
Jan. 16: Join the WorldBeat Cultural Center in its 33rd Annual Martin Luther King Day Celebration celebrating unity in the San Diego community. In honor of Martin Luther King Jr, the free celebration a family-friendly festival with live music, dancing, vegan food, an outdoor cultural arts & craft vendors marketplace, and more. The event also includes multi-cultural performances and special guest speakers. Event details.
Jan. 16: Alliance San Diego is excited to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with the 34th Annual All People's Celebration. The event will be held in person, however, tickets for the in-person event are sold out. You can join virtually through a live, dynamic program. There will be amazing performances and a powerful keynote from disabled rights activist Rebecca Cokley. Event details.
6. MLK Day Critter Camp at the Animal Center
Jan. 16: Kids can learn so much through interacting with animals. Most importantly, they discover that all living beings deserve compassion and understanding—a lesson Martin Luther King Jr. fought every day to teach. This year, in honor of MLK Day, Critter Camp at Helen Woodward Animal Center is focused on creating a more humane world. Campers will interact with a goat, Madagascar hissing cockroach, chicken, snake and guinea pig while learning how to be compassionate to all animals. Event details.
7. 15th Annual Interfaith Day of Service
Jan. 16: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. famously proclaimed, “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do…you have to keep moving forward.” This year, you and your family can partake in an event that brings people of different faiths and cultural backgrounds together for a wonderful morning of hands-on community service, fun and fellowship. Families are encouraged to participate together on this day of community work, suitable for all ages. Event details.
8. Create Your Own Day of Service with AmeriCorps
Looking for a way to volunteer with your kids but haven't found the right fit? Visit AmeriCorps to learn more about how you can create your own event and encourage kids in your community to volunteer and be of service—because serving others has a profound positive benefit on those who volunteer. Need extra encouragement to kick off your day of service? Kids who volunteer are three times more likely to volunteer as adults, and steady volunteering (even one hour a week) reduces negative behaviors in kids. Event details.
Accessible adventures—everywhere to go in LA with grandparents in tow
When grandparents roll into town, it’s always good to have a list of fun outings they might enjoy doing with the whole family. Plus it’s a nifty excuse to play tourist in your very own city. From LA’s best museums (including some quirky museums we’re sure they’ve never seen before) to must-visit botanical gardens and savoring delicious global cuisine and more, there’s no shortage of thrilling things to do in the City of Angels. Check out why these crowd favorites—from the Original Farmer’s Market to the Natural History Museum—are our go-to spots including how accessible they are for those that aren’t as mobile as they used to be.
For a swell sampling of food to suit any taste, The Original Farmers Market is always a good bet when family comes to LA. Some of our fave restaurants include The Gumbo Pot for scrumptious Cajun cuisine, Pampas Grille for Brazilian BBQ, Sushi A Go Go for some of the freshest rolls in town, and Monsieur Marcel Bistro for French food that's très magnifique! No visit to the market would be complete without a double scoop from Bennett’s Ice Cream for dessert. Don't forget to swing by all the specialty shops on site that feature unique finds and fab LA souvenirs.
Accessibility Information for the Original Farmer's Market: The Market restaurant and shops are all located on the ground floor and accessible via wheelchair. Wheelchair service is also available—guests can request a wheelchair by visiting the Farmers Market Office or calling 323-933-9211.
If you find yourself close the ocean, take Nana and Pop Pop to the Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades for ancient Greek and Roman art, peaceful gardens, a stunning reflecting pool and unforgettable views of the Pacific. Or if you’d rather head up into the hills, The Getty Center is another beautiful spot to check out. Located in Brentwood, the Getty Center features European art, modern architecture, breathtaking gardens and eye-popping views of LA. Admission is free at both locations and requires timed-entry reservations.
Accessibility Information for the Getty Villa: Accessible parking spaces are located in both Central and South garages and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Wheelchairs are available for free rental on a first-come, first-served basis in the Entry Pavilion. Free assisted listening devices (ALDs) are available for all tours and for the Orientation Theater and Villa Auditorium. Each ALD has an ear piece and a clip that can be attached to clothing.Free induction neck loops, which work with hearing aids that have a T-coil switch, are available free of charge at the Coat Check inside the Museum entrance.
Accessibility Information for the Getty Center: Accessible parking spaces are located on the entry level of the Main Parking Structure. They are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The computer-operated tram that takes visitors to the top of the hill is accessible for guests using wheelchairs. If using a wheelchair, board in an end car. To reach the tram, take the elevator in the parking structure up to level T1. The tram station is approximately 20 level feet from the elevator doors. Wheelchairs are available for free rental on a first-come, first-served basis at the Lower Tram Station above the parking structure and at the Coat Check Room in the Museum Entrance Hall.
As one of the world’s leading Jewish cultural institutions, the Skirball Cultural Center explores a dynamic array of literary, visual and performing arts from around the world. The permanent collections, as well as exhibitions that rotate throughout the year are always some of the most interesting in town. And the kids’ favorite area is of course Noah’s Ark—an interactive 8,000 sq. ft. wooden ark where little ones can play make believe, climb, build and explore—all while burning off excess energy. This should definitely be a stop on the grandparent tour. Advance reservations are required.
Accessibility Information for the Skirball Cultural Center: ADA accessible parking is located in the South Parking garage. The North and East Parking garages also include a limited number of ADA accessible spaces. The use of motorized wheelchairs and other power-driven mobility aids is permitted. A limited number of wheelchairs are available for check-out on a first-come, first-served basis at the lobby desk in the Main Entrance and at the security kiosk in the North Parking garage. If you are parking in the East Parking garage and require a wheelchair, please call (310) 440-4676 in advance so that a security guard may be ready to assist you upon your arrival. Built-in and portable assisted listening devices are available during public programs. Please inquire with the security guard upon your arrival for additional information.
Located in Griffith Park, The Autry Museum of the American West celebrates the diversity and history of the American West with over 500,000 pieces of art and artifacts from the American frontier. Through its paintings, sculptures, textiles, firearms, film memorabilia and other exquisite exhibitions, the Autry aims to connect our country’s past to the present and inspire our shared future.
Accessibility Information for the Autry Museum: Wheelchairs are now available to borrow.
Skip the bumper-to-bumper traffic and hop on the LA Metro to Exposition Park for a day of fun. There’s so much to see and do in this one area of town, including the California Science Center where Granny and Gramps can check out fabulous exhibitions and the Space Shuttle Endeavor, the Natural History Museum that showcases jaw-dropping dinos and butterflies at the Butterfly Pavilion, and the California African American Museum that celebrates the cultural heritage of African Americans with a focus on California and the Western US. Also, don't forget to stop by the famed Exposition Park Rose Garden during your visit and take some Instagram-worthy photos.
Accessibility Information for NHM: Accessible parking is available in NHM car park. All exhibits are accessible for wheelchairs and strollers, with the exception of strollers inside the Butterfly and Spider Pavilion.
Accessibility Information for CAAM: Wheelchairs are available if needed. To book a wheelchair, or for any other needs, please contact iDesk@caamuseum.org or call 213.744.2084.
Accessibility Information for the California Science Center: The Science Center is about 0.2 miles from the Expo Park/USC Station Metro Line. Accessible parking spaces are available on levels 1, 2 and 3 of the Science Center parking lot, entered from 39th Street and Figueroa. Accessible parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Standard manual wheelchairs are available for free at the Information Desk on a first-come, first-served basis for use inside the California Science Center. All exhibit spaces are wheelchair accessible. All levels are accessible by elevator or stairs.
LA Arboretum and Botanic Garden
The LA Arboretum and Botanic Garden features 127 acres of stunning gardens, breathtaking landscapes, historic structures and brightly colored peacocks roaming free throughout the area. The LA Arboretum opens at 9 a.m. if you and your house guests want to get an early start to the day and bypass the heat.
Accessibility Information for the LA Arboretum and Botanic Garden: Designated parking spots are located near the front entrance. The Arboretum’s roads are accessible and allow access to many of landscape areas. At this time, wheelchairs are not available to rent and the wheelchair lift, located at the Queen Anne Cottage, is currently closed for restoration.
Giddy up to Griffith Park for a day to remember. The pony rides are open to kiddos ages 1-14 and are cheap entertainment at just $5 a pop. Right next to the ponies, is the famous train at Griffith Park and Southern Railroad which takes riders over a picturesque 1-mile track, across a bridge, through a forest, and by an Old Western town. It’s consistently makes for a very entertaining afternoon.
Accessibility for the Griffith Park and Southern Railroad: Accessible parking is located on site. To ride the trains, one must be able to climb in and out of the train car.
Tucked away in the heart of Pasadena, the Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden invites visitors to soak in its beauty over two lush acres. With Japanese style bridges, ponds, a 15 ft. waterfall, a stunning formal teahouse and beautiful trees swaying in the breeze, this is one of the most peaceful places in the Southland for sure. The garden is open on weekends only and advance registration is highly recommended.
Perched atop a hillside overlooking the Pacific, the Terranea Resort on the Palos Verdes Peninsula is a must-see when you have grandparents in town. You don’t need to stay at the resort as a guest to enjoy an unforgettable meal with a view. There are several restaurants on the property that offer mind-blowing scenic views and delicious food, as well as a spa where you can treat your loved ones to a well-deserved facial or massage.
Accessibility Information for Terranea Resort: The hotel complies with ADA Guidelines.
With 207 acres of breathtaking beauty, the Huntington Library is absolutely one of our favorite spots in SoCal. The complex houses a library filled with rare books, a massive art gallery featuring some of the world’s most famous pieces of art, and the most gorgeous gardens you'll ever lay your peepers on. We especially love the Japanese Garden, Shakespeare Garden and Rose Garden that make you feel like you’ve been transported into a fairytale.
Accessibility Information for The Huntington: All buildings and most garden areas at The Huntington are accessible to visitors who require a physical accommodation. Wheelchairs are available for loan on a first-come, first-served basis. Visitors who require a physical accommodation are also welcome to bring their own motorized scooters, wheelchairs, or Segways. A color-coded map of the grounds is available online and in the Visitor's Guide when you arrive, showing steep areas. For visitors who are deaf or hard of hearing, assistive listening devices (ALD), sign language interpretation, and real-time captioning are available for all public events; please email or call 626-405-3549 at least ten days in advance of the event to make arrangements.
For some of the best culture that LA has to offer, look no further than the neighborhood of Miracle Mile. Known as Museum Row, the area on Wilshire Blvd. between Fairfax and La Brea, features some of the city’s most impressive museums. From the Petersen Automotive Museum, LACMA, the Page Museum and La Brea Tar Pits to the Craft Contemporary Museum and the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, you could spend a day or many days toting the grandparents around this one area of town.
Accessibility Information for LACMA: The most convenient location to drop off a guest who may have trouble walking is on Wilshire Blvd. Handicap parking is available in both of LACMA’s parking lots—underground off Sixth St. (one block east of Fairfax Ave.) and above ground at the corner of Spaulding Ave. and Wilshire Blvd. All of the museum’s galleries are accessible by wheelchair. Wheelchairs are available at no additional expense from any the Ticket Offices.
Accessibility Information for La Brea Tar Pits: Accessible parking is available in La Brea Tar Pits car park. Wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-serve basis and can be checked out at the Main Entrance.
Accessibility Information for the Academy of Motion Pictures: The Museum is fully accessible to wheelchair users and other visitors who need to avoid stairs. Visitors with disabilities may use mobility devices, including manual and electric wheelchairs, mobility scooters, and other personal mobility devices (including Segways), provided that they are operated on the lowest speed setting. Manual wheelchairs may be checked out free-of-charge on a first-come, first-served basis at the Bag Check on Lower Level 1.
Accessibility Information for Petersen Automotive Museum: Parking for visitors with disabilities is provided on level P1.
Walt Disney Concert Hall
Designed by famed architect Frank Gehry, the Walt Disney Concert Hall is one of LA’s most iconic sites and one of the most acoustically sophisticated concert halls in the world. The LA Philharmonic calls this beloved landmark home and presents the very best in classical jazz, contemporary music, world music, and jazz. The Music Center offers tours of the concert hall most days, as well as a variety of exhibits. To catch a show, be sure to check out the concert hall calendar.
Insider Tip: Don't miss a chance to walk through the Blue Ribbon Garden—and another hidden gem in LA—the Lillian Disney Memorial Fountain—Frank Gehry's tribute to Lillian Disney. It's comprised of a rose sculpture ensconced in 200 Delft porcelain vases and more than 10,000 tiles that were broken to create a quarter-of-a-million mosaic fragments.
Accessibility Information for Walt Disney Concert Hall: Seating areas for patrons in wheelchairs (and their companions) are available on all levels of Walt Disney Concert Hall. Ushers may not physically assist patrons wishing to transfer into theater seats. Music Center Guest Services representatives will assist patrons with mobility impairments by escorted wheelchair transport to and from the theater. Reservations are necessary. Please call 213 972 0777 at least 24 hours in advance. Wireless headsets are available free of charge at the Coat Check in the lobby. Complimentary large-print programs are available in the lobby at the Coat Check. Upon request, ushers will read program notes to patrons needing assistance.
For grandparents who are die-hard baseball fans, Dodger Stadium should be a top priority on the itinerary. Not only can you catch a game with the boys in blue, but you can also take a behind-the-scenes tour of Dodger Stadium where you get to walk down to the field, get an exclusive look at the 2020 World Series trophy and the rest of the trophy gallery from years past, pay a visit to Vin Scully’s press box and check out many other areas of the venue. Don't miss eating a Dodger Dog—one of the best hot dogs you can find in LA!
Accessibility Information for Dodger Stadium: Disabled parking spaces are located in parking lots B, G, N, & P. All stadium gates are available to accommodate persons using wheelchairs. Wheelchair seats are available in the following sections: Field Box MVP, Field Box, Infield Loge Box, Preferred Loge Box, Club and Top Deck.
A downtown mainstay since 1917, Grand Central Market is a wonderful place to take out of town visitors and picky eaters since they have just about any type of food you can imagine. With a long list of nationally acclaimed eateries to choose from, we have our top picks: Horse Thief for some of the best BBQ in the city, Fat and Flour for out of this world pies, Tacos Tumbras a Tomas for insanely great—you guessed it—tacos, Wexler’s Deli for incredible pastrami, China Café for consistently delish Chinese, Shiku for fab Korean delights, and The Donut Man for donuts that will make you forget all others.
As one of the most iconic observatories in the world, the Griffith Observatory is the perfect place to take visitors. Not only is it the best vantage point in the city for observing the Hollywood sign, but there are also tons of exciting exhibits to explore, telescopes to peer through and riveting live shows at the Samuel Oschin Planetarium.
Accessibility Information for the Griffith Observatory: Designated parking spaces are available in the Observatory’s front lot. Spaces are available on a first come, first served basis.
Known as the “birthplace of Los Angeles,” Olvera Street is a vibrant Mexican Marketplace founded in 1930 that has preserved the city as it once was. This historic block, located in DTLA, is filled with blooming bougainvillea, beautiful trees, a brick-lined pathway, old structures, painted stalls, street vendors, mariachi bands, cafes and restaurants. Many of the vendors selling wares on Olvera Street today are descendants of the marketplace's original vendors. It's always a place of colorful celebration, and historic walking tours are available most days as well.
