Good children's museums in Los Angeles?
Asked by
sdeutsch (
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October 24th, 2010
My brother and sister-in-law have a 6-month-old, and I want to get them a family membership to a children’s museum (or similar thing) for Christmas. It looks like the Children’s Museum of LA hasn’t opened yet, and the Zimmer Children’s Museum looks like it’s geared towards slightly older kids (from what I can tell from their website).
Somewhere near Santa Monica would be ideal, but I don’t think they’d mind traveling a bit if there was somewhere with really good activities for 1-year-olds… Thoughts?
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10 Answers
Does it have to be open Christmas day? The California Science Center is a perfect place to visit for people of all ages. I have been there a few times, as a kid and as an adult, and have fond memories of looking at the dinosaur exhibits when I was a kid (though I’m not sure that particular exhibit is still featured.) Most of the Discovery Rooms are designed with primary school kids in mind, but I think it’s still worth considering.
Admission is free though. They wouldn’t have to pay, but it would be a fun day out for them.
Those both look like definite possibilities – thanks!
@Megan64 – do you know if the one in La Habra is good for the little ones? It’s hard to tell from their website…
@muppetish – you’re right, the free admission makes the Science Center not so great a Christmas present – looks like membership gets you IMAX tickets, but the little guy wouldn’t be interested in that. I’ll suggest it to them for when we go visit, though – I think it’d be fun!
The Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana. The Los Angeles County Natural History Museum or the Griffith Park Observatory and Planetarium. Even though these might sound a little bit “too old” for the baby, the younger you get them started on this type of thing the more they will learn and enjoy it. My 5 year old nephew has been going to museums since he was a newborn and he loves it.
Legoland! It is around the LA area.
@weeveeship Legoland is in San Diego about 100 miles south of Los Angeles. It’s a great place to take kids, but not sure if it’s too far away for the family.
@sdeutsch Yes – it is good for little ones. I’ve been there and it’s really perfect for any age.
Thanks for the great ideas, everyone! I’ll definitely check all of them out.
@Kardamom I agree about starting them young – I started going to the museum when I was tiny, and now it’s like a second home to me. Hopefully my brother- and sister-in-law will feel the same way – they’re not really “museum people” as much as my husband and I are, so I’m hoping the gift of a membership will encourage them to take their little guy…
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