ML Interest Tag: exposition-park

Exercise Your Brain at Hands-On Learning Museums

by Judy Park

There are loads of kid-friendly museums in LA. They offer plenty of ways and places for kids to play and explore, but some are so kid friendly that they lose their luster for big people.  That’s why we love these specialized museums that offer loads of interesting exhibits for parents and tots, all of which offer a hands-on experience where budding historians, musicians, artists and adventurers can delve into a specific topic.  And you’ll be learning right alongside them!

photo credit: The Autry Center

Autry National Center of the American West
Cowboys & girls, Native Americans, gunslingers and goldrushers are part of our local history, and the Autry is the only museum in town devoted to Western history and culture. Here you can spend a weekend afternoon panning for gold, just like the 49ers did during the California gold rush. Or experience movie magic as lil’ silent stars saddle up and ride through the West, check out the hands-on sound effects station, pose for photos on a pretend horse and explore the museum through six different themed scavenger hunts. And there’s plenty of family fun activities all summer long like western line dancing or historical parlor games.  As you walk through galleries to hit the nicely dispersed kid-friendly exhibits, you’ll encounter loads of local history you never knew.

Hours: Tues.-Fri. from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sat. & Sun. from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Cost: $10/adults; $4 children; free for kids under 3; free for everyone second Tuesday of the month.

4700 Western Heritage Way
Griffith Park
323-667-2000
Online: theautry.org

photo credit: Ryan P via yelp

USC Pacific Asia Museum
USC Pacific Asia Museum is a beautiful place to take kids to for viewing exhibitions on the arts and culture of Asia and the Pacific Islands. The quiet galleries are best for short walk throughs with younger kids, punctuated with longer play periods in the lovely garden courtyard, where kiddos adore meeting the giant koi. Save your biggest chunk of time for the Silk Road family gallery where travelers can try on a camel handler’s coat (or other costumes), unravel a silkworm cocoon, sit on a lotus blossom or touch real gold and jade. Mini spice merchants can explore and experience what life was like along the Silk Road (the trade route that linked Europe and Asia) and investigate a map, relax in the travelers’ tent, try an ancient dance, or even sit on a camel. Gather in the travelers’ tent for fabulous tales from along the Silk Road and a fun hands-on craft at 10:30 a.m. & 11:30 a.m. held on the second Sunday of each month, which happens to be free admission day. (Score!)

Hours: Wed.-Sun. from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Cost: $10/adults; free for children under 12; free for everyone second Sunday of the month.

46 North Los Robles Ave.
Pasadena
626-449-2742
Online: pacificasiamuseum.org

photo credit: Judy Park

Natural History Museum
Although the Natural History Museum is well-known for their Dinosaur Hall and the animal dioramas from all over the world, it’s also a spectacular place to explore and learn more about LA’s natural environment and wildlife. Wander the Nature Gardens and get grubby in the Dirty Zone. Explore compost bins to see how pillbugs create soil, check out the soil sifter and discover how roots grow. Look for the silver trumpets and listen to nutrients moving through the oak tree’s xylem tubes. Bring an extra change of clothes for your kiddos after they play in the urban water feature, an absolute favorite among toddlers. In the Nature Labs you can meet live animals such as a Southern Pacific rattlesnake, brown rats and tarantulas, explore backyard sounds, find out how certain animal species became so successful in Los Angeles and learn how scientists identify different types of bugs.

Hours: Daily from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Cost: $12/adults; $9/youth (13-17); $5/children (3-12); free for children under 2; free for everyone first Tuesday of the month. (Except in July and August, and they make up for that with extra free Tuesdays in September; check the schedule for details.)

900 Exposition Blvd.
Exposition Park
213-763-3466
Online: nhm.org

photo credit: Judy Park

The GRAMMY Museum
The GRAMMY Museum is perfect for mini musicians who are ready to rock. Explore 160 different genres of music on the interactive Crossroads table with headphones on the fourth floor. Let your future recording artist try out the wide variety of electronic instruments on the third floor as they participate in the music-making process with actual drum sets and electric guitars. Spend time in the eight recording studio pods and experiment with mixing music and creating loops. Check the website for special and temporary exhibits, including current exhibits for Michael Jackson and Taylor Swift fans. If your toddler needs a moment from that last tantrum, a stop at the “Shake It Off” lit-up dance floor will definitely do the trick! (This exhibit is so popular it’s been extended to October 4—try and get here before it goes because even kids who aren’t familiar with Tay-Tay love this area.)

Hours: Mon.-Fri. from11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m., Sat. & Sun. from 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m., check for closures due to private events.
Cost: $12.95/adults; $10.95/youth (6-17); free for kids under 5.

800 West Olympic Blvd.
Downtown
213-765-6800
Online: grammymuseum.org

photo credit: Gloria Plascencia

ESMoA
The El Segundo Museum of Art is an art laboratory, an nontraditional space created by Brian and Eva Sweeney (parents of three) who originally needed a storage unit for their incredible art collection. With each new program labeled as an “Experience,” the once-a-month family day focuses on the current “Experience” on exhibit and allows the mini Matisse to completely immerse into the artist’s work. Your petite Picasso can take part in a special scavenger hunt and make art inspired by the paintings of the current artist on exhibit. Because the Sweeneys really wanted to create a place that can inspire and provide an opportunity for art education outside of the classroom, they have art making materials for all ages and ability levels on the second floor in the art lounge for kids (and parents) to explore their creativity.

Hours: Fri.-Sun. from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Cost: Free

208 Main St.
El Segundo
424-277-1020
Online: esmoa.org

photo credit: Meghan Rose

3 More Museums For Career Explorations
These three spots are not only great hands-on fun for kids who know they want to be police, firefighters or pilots when they grow up, but they also teach kids and parents the history of police and fire departments in Los Angeles and how people learned to fly.

Los Angeles Police Museum—Kids can play in police cars and helicopters and even get their mug shots taken and spending some reflective time in jail.

Los Angeles Fire Department Museum and Memorial—Go back in time as a firefighter and check out memorabilia and vintage equipment. Then try on some firefighter jackets and boots on the second floor and drop by the Hollywood Fire Station next door to meet some modern heroes.

Santa Monica Museum of Flying—Let your little pilots test their flying skills on the K-3 mini flight simulator, interactive T-33 cockpit trainer and a Convair 240 nose. There’s enough buttons to push and levers to pull to delight the most tireless of toddlers.  Then stop by the viewing deck of the Santa Monica Airport for real-life action.

What’s your little adventurer’s favorite spot for hands on fun, where you find yourself learning things, too?

— Judy Park

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9 Exhibits You MUST See This Summer

by LeTania Kirkland Smith

When the summer heat really kicks in, Angelenos flock to water or air conditioning. When you’re not in the mood to wrangle wet suits, a museum visit is just the ticket. Combine that cool air with art, education and hands-on fun! These incredible exhibits will keep you and the kids busy and cool the whole summer long.

photo credit: LeTania Kirkland

Discovery Cube Los Angeles

Animal Grossology
Sure animals can be cute and cuddly on the outside, but what about the inside? In this exhibit, little biologists will learn about the biological processes or “grossology” of the animal world with interactive games and hands-on activities to really make the lesson stick. See the four different colors of blood and compete in a quiz to determine which colors belong to which animals. Take a look inside a cow and watch all four parts of the stomach do their thing. Learn why a papa frog belches his babies to life. For the non-squeamish, step into the penguin’s ice house to examine piles of poo and take a guess which animal left it. This exhibit is full of interesting facts that you may never have guessed (or wanted to know) and is fun for everyone.
Runs through September 7, 2015

photo credit: LeTania Kirkland

Clifford the Big Red Dog
If someone in your family is nuts about Clifford the Big Red (and lovable) dog, this is worth the stop. The exhibit is located in the Cube Jr. Early Learner’s Zone and is geared toward those 5 & under. Enter the exhibit and step into Clifford’s home, Birdwell Island, and the imaginative world of Clifford author and illustrator, Norman Bridwell. This interactive play space is complete with a ferry to usher the kids into the island, Clifford’s dog house and Emily Elizabeth’s backyard theater where kids can dress up like their favorite Clifford characters and dance the day away with a Clifford music video as a backdrop. The exhibit is based on Clifford’s big ideas like sharing, playing fair, and working together, and each station reinforces these themes. Be sure to stop by the Norman Bridwell art retrospective to learn more about the man who created this family classic.
Runs through September 7, 2015
Admission: $10

Discovery Cube Los Angeles
11800 Foothill Blvd.
818-686-2823
Online: discoverycube.org/la

photo credit: LeTania Kirkland

California African American Museum

Flash Tag
One of the beauties of Los Angeles our amazing street art. Flash Tag takes this unique form and brings it into a gallery setting. CAAM commissioned four crews of “graffiti” artists to adorn the walls of an empty gallery. But there was one catch: instead of aerosol paints, artists were asked to take up a brush to bring the walls to life. Step in with the family to take in the vibrant space filled with everything from familiar icons like James Brown to conceptual words and images.
Runs through August 2, 2015
Admission: Free

California African American Museum
600 State Dr., Exposition Park
213-744-7432
Online: caamuseum.org

photo credit: Darryl Moran/The Franklin Institute

California Science Center

Dead Sea Scrolls: The Exhibition
Step back into time and discover one of the most significant archaeological finds of our time. The Dead Sea Scrolls were documents written and hidden in caves over 2,000 years ago and discovered in 1947. This fascinating collection is the largest Dead Sea Scrolls exhibition outside of Israel and includes over 600 artifacts and sections from 10 of the Dead Sea Scrolls. You and the kids can wind your way through this dimly lighted room filled with beautifully lit documents and artifacts. It feels like walking into a hidden vault of treasures. There are also interactive stations where your little explorers can write in Hebrew and and Greek, reconstruct broken pottery and learn all about the techniques of dating and preserving these ancient gems. Get our tips about bringing kids to the exhibit in our detailed guide.

Jerusalem 3D
If the exhibit isn’t enough, you also have the opportunity to experience the beauty of the city of Jerusalem on the big screen. Experience stunning aerial footage, personal interviews, cultural rituals and history that tells a story about this historically significant land.
Runs through September 7, 2015
Admission: Kids 4-12 are $12.75, Adults are $19.75 For exhibition & IMAX combo: Kids 4-12 are $16.25, Adults are $26.

California Science Center
700 Exposition Park Dr.
323-724-3623
Online: californiasciencecenter.org

photo credit: Skirball Cultural Center

Skirball Cultural Center

Bill Graham and the Rock n Roll Revolution
Run, don’t walk, to bring little music lovers to this exhibition! And if your kids have yet to discover the wonders of Rock n’ Roll, this is a great way to introduce them. The retrospective covers the life of legendary music impresario and concert promoter Bill Graham who propelled the careers of noted rockers such as Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin at the Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco. Graham was also the creator of benefit concerts like Live Aid and Human Rights Now! The exhibition includes hundreds of pieces of memorabilia that include psychedelic concert posters, photographs, instruments (see a piece of Jimi Hendrix’s guitar) and costumes. Kids can stop at the music stations, put on the headphones and soak in some great music. Or the whole family can step in the a mini theater complete with classics songs and a light show that is like stepping directly into a lava lamp. This exhibit is not to be missed.
Runs through October 11, 2015

photo credit: LeTania Kirkland

The Singing Posters: Poetry Sound Collage Sculpture Book
This piece is a perfect combo for the family: vibrant colors and images for the kids to absorb and the words of famed beat poet Allen Ginsberg for parents. Allen Ruppersberg created the installation, which is based on Ginsberg’s poem “Howl.” Ginsberg’s words are transcribed phonetically and printed on brightly colored commercial concert posters. Think Sunset Boulevard condensed into one room. This is the perfect companion to Bill Graham.
Runs through August 23, 2015

photo credit: LeTania Kirkland

Rock & Roll Billboards of the Sunset Strip
To bring everything full circle, be sure to step into the Skirball’s community space for this exhibit, which features over 20 photographs of hand-painted billboards that graced the Sunset Strip. The photographs tell a story of a 20 year era when the L.A. rock scene was at its peak. From The Beatles to Marvin Gaye, this is a grand scale lesson in music greatness for the kids.

photo credit: LeTania Kirkland

Bonus:
In keeping with the theme, the Skirball has created a 70’s style “living room” for the kids to romp around in. Step inside and take a seat on the vintage couch (it will make you want to head straight to a flea market, or maybe just flee, depending on your 70’s recollections) while the kid’s explore the wonders that are tinker toys, view finders (complete with Flinstones themed slides) and Connect Four. If that wasn’t enough, there is a basket filled to the brim with 70’s vintage wear and a music corner for the kids to start their own garage band.

And, in keeping with the Bill Graham theme, the Skirball is hosting “A Musical Road Trip Through America” every Saturday and Sunday afternoon featuring music that spans the country from Latin Hip Hop to Honky Tonk. Check the schedule and make it a part of your visit.

Admission: Kids 2-12 are $5, Adults are $10.

Skirball Cultural Center
2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd.
310-440-4500
Online: skirball.org

photo credit: Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Los Angeles County Museum of Art

50 for 50: Gifts on the Occasion of LACMA’s Birthday
Come visit and say “Happy Birthday” to LACMA, which turns 50 this year. And for such a momentous occasion, a variety of donors have gifted the museum with 50 new pieces (that will eventually be housed in a new LACMA building). Bring mini Monets to see work from the likes of Pablo Picasso, Edgar Degas and Andy Warhol. The pieces are mostly drawn from the 1870’s through the 1930’s, which was a time of radical shifts in the art world. Step in and see these new (to LACMA) beauties up close.
Runs through September 13, 2015

 photo credit: Fredrik Nilsen

Noah Purifoy: Junk Dada
If your family hasn’t heard of Noah Purifoy’s work, this is a great introduction. Purifoy was an artist based in LA and Joshua Tree and one of the founding members of the Watts Towers Arts Center. His first sculpture was formed from burned debris from the Watts Rebellion in 1965 and is entitled 66 Signs of Neon. Purifoy would go on to create many pieces of assemblage art that are at once whimsical, mystifying and grounding. The stunning works are sure to send your loves into question mode. Be prepared to answer the inevitable “Whats” and “Whys.”
Runs through September 27, 2015
Admission: Kids 17 and under free, Adults $15 or free with a NextGen Kid

Bonus: Take advantage of LACMA’s NexGen program. Kids 17 and under and one accompanying adult receive free admission to all permanent galleries and select temporary exhibitions.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art
5905 Wilshire Blvd.
323-857-6010
Online: lacma.org

photo credit: Discover Cube

Discovery Cube Orange County

Sherlock Holmes
Got a mini-detective on your hands? This is your stop. First, the kids enter the exhibit to learn the basics about Sherlock Holmes, Sir Conan Doyle and forensic science. Next, find yourselves surrounded by imagery of London and step into the Baker Street Underground Station and into an International Science Exhibition where your gumshoes can learn a bit more about 1890’s innovations and participate in forensic science experiments. The fun continues when your detectives enter Sherlock and Watson’s sitting room and listen to a recording to help solve a real mystery. Kids can move through the “streets of London” and use the skills they’ve learned throughout the exhibit to solve a time sensitive case. And once they’ve completed their London adventure, step back into the present and soak in Sherlock pop culture from comics and magazines to movie and television props and costumes.
Runs through September 7, 2015
Admission: Kids 3-14 are $12.95 plus $5 for Sherlock, Adults are $17.95 plus $5 for Sherlock

Discovery Cube Orange County
2500 N. Main St.
Santa Ana
714-542-2823
Online: discoverycube.org/oc

What’s your favorite museum for cool summer exhibits and activities?  We’d love to hear your tips in the comment section below.

—LeTania Kirkland

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Now Scooping: Ice Cream Tacos at Cream

by Jennifer O'Brien

There’s been an incredible resurgence of ice cream shops in LA as of late, so it takes something really special (read: mind-blowingly delicious) to stand out. One new downtown shop’s doing just that by combining two of your kiddos’ favorite foods into one drool-worthy concoction. Meet the ice cream taco at Cream, a new shop near USC (and Exposition Park, which means one stop ice cream, dinos and spaceships!)

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photo credit: Cream via facebook

Having just opened its first LA location in March, Cream already has fanatic following of ice cream connoisseurs. Their overwhelming popularity is due in large part to thinking beyond the scoop. Uber creative menu items like The Cream Taco (three flavors of ice cream with two toppings nestled inside a fresh baked red velvet or regular waffle cone taco shell) are just one of the many reasons people are willing to wait for a chilly treat.

Twenty-two delicious ice cream flavors like cinnamon chill, strawberry cheesecake, salted caramel and green tea are made from premium ingredients and top-secret recipes that taste a cut above the rest. And the toppings…oh the toppings…from rainbow sprinkles to gummy bears, there’s pretty much anything any kid can imagine.

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photo credit: Cream via facebook

While The Cream Taco is certainly the shop’s current toast of the town, Cream is actually best known for it’s delectable (and totally affordable) ice cream sandwiches. With warm freshly baked cookies from red velvet and chocolate chip to snicker doodle and lemon heaven, your tots are bound to find a mixture they’ll devour. Parents will appreciate having vegan and gluten-free cookie options for tikes who need it, and almost all ice cream flavors are gluten-free with a couple soy choices available as well.

Milkshakes, fruit bars, and the always dependable cone round out the vast menu. Ample seating is available inside—perfect for escaping LA’s soaring spring & summer temps and service couldn’t be more friendly. But definitely come prepared to wait in line because wait, you will. (We swear, it’s worth it!)

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photo credit: Cream via facebook

Nearby and Noteworthy: While some of us (ok, most of us here at Red Tricycle!) wouldn’t think twice about driving across town for fabulous ice cream, some have second thoughts when it comes to words like “traffic” and “long-lines”, especially when kids are in the mix.  But this shop is perfectly positioned for a sweet stop after a long day playing at the Natural History Museum or California Science Center.  So whether you’re here to see the butterflies or check out the new Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit, this ice cream treat should be your last stop on your way home.

Yum-O Specials: Check Cream’s Facebook page for current Taco Tuesday specials which usually include $1 off all tacos.

Hours: Sun.- Wed. from noon-10 p.m. and Thurs. – Sat. from noon-midnight

Cream
3335 S. Figueroa St.
Exposition Park
213-742-9090
Online: creamnation.com

Have you treated your family to Cream? What fab flavors were your faves? We’d love to know!

–Jennifer O’Brien

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Unravel the Past at the Dead Sea Scrolls Exhibit

by Erica Groten

Got a little Indiana Jones at home?  If your budding archaeologist likes to bury toys in the backyard and use a toothbrush to remove the dirt, the California Science Center’s newest exhibit is for you. From now until September 7, 2015 selections from the Qumran dig, including the Dead Sea Scrolls, pottery, and coins, are available for viewing. Step back in history with this trip to Exposition Park.

photo credit: Genevieve via flickr

Strolling To The Scrolls
Currently, this exhibit is the hottest ticket in town, so plan on long wait-times (even with a ticketed entry) to enter the exhibit during weekends and holidays. The long lines also extend to the actual exhibit with people jockeying for position to read the informational screens on the displayed items. Which leads us to Insider Tip #1: Go on a weekday!  If that’s not possible, try and get the first timed tickets of the day, when there’s less chance of a back-up inside the exhibit.

photo credit:  Jim the Photographer via flickr

After a quick and interesting introduction, you’ll be directed to enter the exhibit. Don’t miss the display of these tiny pottery faces, which kids can try making at home with clay!

photo credit: Jim the Photographer via flickr

This Roman bath includes a seat, which is an instant visual hit with the kiddos. Not to mention the parents. Insider Tip #2: Keep an eye on the little ones. Some of the displayed items, like this, are perfect height for wandering hands and bodies.

photo credit: Jim the Photographer via flickr

The Dead Sea Scrolls were found in jars similar to the one displayed.

photo credit: Ken and Nyetta via flickr

Finally: the Dead Sea Scrolls! At last you arrive at a large circular table. The user-friendly display allows for amazing viewing. Some pieces of the scroll are hard to read but don’t despair, each piece is translated, in a section to the right of the actual scroll, and next to the translation is an enlarged picture of the actual scroll being viewed. Insider Tip #3:  Don’t be intimated by the crowds and take your time to read the informational material. Also, bring reading glasses if you need ’em, the room is dimly-lit.

But Wait, There’s More
So you completed your quest, and saw the scrolls.  But you’re not done! Head to the 10 Commandments section, in a corner nook by the Dead Sea Scrolls, and let little darlings push buttons that aren’t yours. This interactive demonstration speaks the commandment of the pushed button, and at the same time displays the piece of scroll where it is written. It’s a great set up for a Charlton Heston movie night, later on.

After you are buttoned out, make your way to the final section: Masada. A replica of the Jerusalem Western Wall appears to the right along with paper and pens. Pretend you are in Israel and leave a written note in a section of the wall. When the show closes, all notes will be collected by the Israel Antiquities Authority and delivered to Jerusalem. This section also hosts a live camera feed of the actual Western Wall.

Outside the exhibit an interactive section greets you. Try your hand at reassembling potsherds or be a scribe and practice Hebrew writing.

Wallets beware! The only way out is through the gift shop.

Post-Scrolls
Inside Tip #4: Don’t miss the IMAX movie, Jerusalem 3D, for a huge dose of eye candy.  For kids that  were bored by the pottery and papyrus, a 3D movie experience proves far more accessible.  And for kids that dug the exhibit, this reinforces all that they learned.

Still want more? Make it a day event and hit Endeavor and the ecosystems exhibits. The aquarium and touch ponds located on the 2nd floor are some of the favorite areas at the museum for kids of all ages.

The Parent 411
Ages: Open to everyone, but geared for kids ages 8 & up. While there are interesting bits for kids of all ages, toddlers and preschoolers will have a tough time keeping little hands to themselves and will be bored quickly, making the exhibit an exercise in herding, rather than learning, for parents.

Parking: Parking costs $10 per car, or choose the Metro Expo Line at the Expo Park/USC station. The Science Center is an easy walk (0.2 miles).

Potties: Potties abound throughout the Science Center and many offer diaper changing station.

Tickets & Cost: Tickets for this exhibit are required and can be purchased through the California Science Center’s website. Prices range from $12.75-$19.75 for the exhibition alone, or $16.25-$26 for the exhibition / IMAX movie combo.  Discounts are available for members.

Hours: Open daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily through September 7, 2015.

Eats: Casual dining is located on the first floor. Choose from grilled items, fresh fruit, and salads. Plenty of seating, inside and outside, to choose from.  Or bring a picnic and dine al fresco in the Rose Garden.

California Science Center
700 Exposition Park Blvd.
Exposition Park
Phone: 323-724-3623
Online: californiasciencecenter.org

Have you been to see the Dead Sea Scrolls? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

—Erica Groten

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Calling All Early Birds For Awesome AM Adventures

by rtmiamcniece

If your little one rises before the sun, you’re probably ready to get out of the house by the time the clock strikes 8 a.m. Yet, outside of the park (been there, done that ad infinitum), Los Angeles doesn’t offer a huge selection of places to go in the wee hours of the morning.  Here are a few suggestions of things to do, so you can turn off Dora and get out there and be an explorer.

photo credit: yelp

The Kettle Restaurant/ Manhattan Beach Roundhouse
Located steps from the ocean in Manhattan Beach this local favorite is open 24 hours a day. The chocolate chip or Mickey Mouse pancakes are always a hit with the kids. As an extra bonus, all little ones get Wikki Stix and crayons as soon as they sit down so they’ll will be entertained while waiting for food. After breakfast you can walk to the end of the Manhattan Beach pier and check out the Roundhouse Marine Aquarium, which opens at 10 a.m. on the weekends and is free of charge (though there is a suggested donation of $2 per kid and $5 per adult). There’s a tidepool touch tank where your tikes can feel fun creatures such as sea stars, sea urchins and anemones.

1138 Highland Ave., Manhattan Beach
Phone: 310-545-851
Hours: The Kettle is open 24 hours a day; The Roundhouse opens at 10 a.m. on the weekends.
Online: thekettle.net and roundhouseaquarium.org

The Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden
This is a hidden living museum located on the campus of UCLA. The best part is it’s free of charge and opens at 8 a.m. Your kids can check out unusual plants, turtles, and explore the many hidden paths the garden offers.  Then you can swing by local student favorite Diddy Riese for a mid-morning (cheap!) cookie break.

777 Tiverton Dr., Westwood
Phone: 310-825-1260
Hours: Mon. – Fri. from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Online: botgard.ucla.edu/

photo credit: Mia McNiece

Exposition Park Rose Garden
Stop and smell the roses at this urban oasis in downtown Los Angeles. The spacious seven acre-gardens allows your kids plenty of space to run around and see more than 200 varieties of roses. It also makes for a great backdrop for photos.  After an early morning frolic among the flowers, you can always head next door to the Natural History Museum, which opens at 9:30a.m. for a entirely new adventure.

701 State Dr., Exposition Park, Los Angeles
Phone: 213-763-0114
Hours: Open daily 9 a.m. – sunset
Online: laparks.org/exporosegarden/rosegarden.htm

Du-par’s and The Grove
You need coffee.  You also need to get the heck out of the house.  But even your local Starbucks isn’t open yet.  Head to Du-par’s for some of best pancakes the city has to offer, plus a cup of no nonsense joe that will keep your peepers peeled.  All 6 Du-par’s locations are open 24/7, but when the kids are up early, we like to head to the Farmers Market location where after breakfast kids can run around the empty streets of the Grove, watching the fountains, playing on the green and waiting to take a tram ride.

6333 W. 3rd St., Mid-City Los Angeles
Phone: 323-933-8446
Hours: 24 hours a day/7 days a week
Online: du-pars.com

photo credit: Books and Cookies

Books and Cookies
What better way to start your day than with some new books and yummy snacks? Shop and play in their new indoor/outdoor Learn and Play area until their first drop-in activity begins at 9:30 a.m. Check out a class schedule to find out when your little ones can enjoy classes like story time, yoga for toddlers, and arts and crafts.  And if you’re up before the doors open at 9 a.m., you can take a stroll by the ocean, which is merely blocks away.  (Or swing into Urth Caffe, a few steps away, which opens at 6 a.m. for some cocoa and coffee to jumpstart your morning.)

2309 Main St., Santa Monica
Phone: 310-452-1301
Hours: Mon.-Sat. from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Online: BooksandCookiesLA.com

Farmers Markets
Your local open-air market is always a great resource for getting the kids up and out the door early. You can stalk up on fruits and flowers while they can partake in several kid-friendly activities. One of our favorites is the Santa Monica Farmers Market on Sundays, which offers pony rides, a petting zoo, face painting, balloon animals and live music.  Most morning market open at 9 a.m., but the farmers drive in and start setting up in the wee hours, so your wee wakers can always head over on the early side.

2640 Main St., Santa Monica
Hours: Sun. from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Online: smgov.net

photo credit: Aquarium of the Pacific

Aquarium of the Pacific
The fish are totally awake early! This is a great morning option because it opens every day at 9 a.m., and if you live in the LA area, you can breakfast, dress, hop on the freeway and still get there the minute the doors open. There are tons of exhibits to check out; from the Penguin Habitat to the Shark Lagoon and Lorikeet Forest your kids will be entertained for hours—or at least until lunch.

100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach
Phone: 562-590-3100
Hours: Mon. – Sun. from 9 a.m.–6 p.m.
Cost: $28.95/adults, $14.95/children
Online: aquariumofpacific.org/

photo credit: Ann Larie Valentine via Creative Commons

Nothing Says Morning Like A Donut
If all else fails, there’s always donuts! East Coast transplants love the nostalgia of taking their kids for a special treat and let them choose a sprinkle, glazed or chocolate delight at the new Santa Monica Dunkin’ Donuts (opens at 5 a.m.). Or drive to one of Los Angeles’ most iconic landmarks, Randy’s Donuts, which features a can’t-be-missed giant donut on its roof. Thankfully, they also serve a great cup of coffee for very sleepy parents.

805 W Manchester Blvd., Inglewood
Phone: 310-645-4707
Hours: 7 days a week from 12 a.m.-11:30 p.m.
Online: randys-donuts.com

— Mia McNiece

So, kids woke up at 5 a.m. and by 8 a.m., you’re all going stir crazy.  Where do you go?  Let us know, in the comments below!

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It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane…It’s the Space Shuttle Endeavour

by writerredtri

Not so long ago, in a galaxy called the Milky Way, a space shuttle was built in a town about an hour outside of Los Angeles (Palmdale).  It flew over 100 million miles and spent almost a year of its lifetime in outer space.  This dynamic little shuttle wanted nothing more than to retire to its sunny hometown, delighting and educating school kids for generations to come…

Image courtesy of Renata Kanclerz.

You might have heard a little something about the space shuttle Endeavour recently!  It was kind of hard to miss all the excitement, as it flew over major landmarks in the city and school kids lined up on school playgrounds, at the airport or at the beach for a view of the historic flight.  Then a few weeks later the shuttle was met with fans and crowds at every turn as it made its way along the streets of the city.  (Check out an amazing time-lapse video of that trek here.)  And then it arrived home at the California Science Center, where it will live at the Sam Oschin Pavilion. What are you waiting for?  Get your tickets today and go see it up close and in person!  But first… let us give you the scoop on getting the most out of your visit.

Image courtesy of Craig Deitrich via Flickr.

Super cool facts about our very own space shuttle
Our space program has had 5 orbiters—Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour—and together they have made a total of 135 missions. Endeavour was the final orbiter to join the shuttle fleet. Endeavour’s final mission took place in May 2011. More fun facts:

  • Is the first (and only) shuttle named by kids.
  • Is the first shuttle to service the Hubble Space Telescope.
  • It carried the first African-American female astronaut into space (Mae Jemison), the first Japanese astronaut in the shuttle program (Mamoru Mohri) and the first married couple to fly on the same space mission (Mark Lee and Jan Davis).
  • And on Endeavour’s first spaceflight, four spacewalks were completed in a single shuttle mission, which had never been done before.

What to do when you visit
Endeavour is currently on display in the Samuel Oschin Space Shuttle Endeavour Display Pavilion. (Until a new addition to the Science Center called the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center is completed).

Image courtesy of Renata Kanclerz.

Endeavour: The California Story is the first stop on every visit – it’s a companion exhibit featuring pictures and artifacts (like Endeavour’s potty, galley and tires) that relate the shuttle program to California, where the orbiters were built

You may have to forewarn your kiddos that this is a “looking not touching” exhibit.   To preserve the spacecraft, they will not be able to actually enter it.  But they will be able to get as close to Endeavour as possible and examine it from many perspectives and elevations.

Don’t forget the IMAX tickets
Two space IMAX movies will be showing to round out your day.  Choose between Hubble 3D, where the audience goes along with space-walking astronauts as they attempt one of the most difficult and important tasks in NASA’s history- repairing the Hubble Space Telescope; and Blue Planet, which features footage taken by crews during five space shuttle missions (including a breathtaking “earthrise”).  Or better yet, don’t choose, see both!

Image courtesy of Renata Kanclerz.

Space shuttles and astronauts and meteors, oh my!
Did this just whet your appetite for more outer space encounters?  You’re in luck:  Los Angeles is a great place to explore the final frontier!  Not only do we have Jet Propulsion Labs in Pasadena (and did you know, you can book a private tour there at any time), there is the Columbia Memorial Space Center in Downey, the recently renovated Griffith Observatory, with wonderful programs for kids, public star parties and an awesome planetarium, and finally, the Mount Wilson Observatory is open to the public from April 1 – November 30.

The 411
Because you’re not the only family who can’t wait to see the shuttle, a visit requires a timed ticket, which you can reserve in advance online.  The tickets are free, but there is a $2 service charge per ticket.  If you’ve got youngsters who aren’t good at waiting, you may wish to make your trip during non-peak times (peak viewing times are weekday mornings and weekend afternoons), as even timed ticket entry may be delayed during those times.

The California Science Center is located at 700 Exposition Park Drive, right in the middle of Exposition Park (adjacent to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and across the street from the University of Southern California).  There is plenty of on-site parking for $10, or leave your car at home and take public transit! Take the Metro Expo Line and exit at the Expo Park/USC Station.

Food Tips
If you don’t want to eat McDonalds, Taco Bell or a cafeteria style option, pack a picnic and eat in the beautiful Rose Garden behind the museum.  Something is usually in bloom and kids delight in running around the giant fountain!

Let us know about your trip to see the Endeavour. Any tips you’d like to share with our readers? 

— Meghan Rose

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