16 Los Angeles Museums for Kids to Explore

Pretend City Children's Museum is an enclosed indoor facility that has more than a dozen interactive exhibits (bank, beach, cafe, dentist office, gas station, & more) tailor-made for little ones where they can pretend to be just about anything and stretch their imagination! The Trader Joe's market is a popular exhibit; kiddos love pushing around grocery carts and going shopping. Parents can bring their own snack and lunches or dine at the "Real Cafe."

Alexandra F.:  We LOVE the Discovery Cube, and it is for sure one of the best kids museums in Los Angeles and Orang County. Personally, I think it is best suited for elementary-school kids, given the science concepts that are the focus of the exhibits, but my preschooler is obsessed with the OC location, and it has been one of the better memberships we've gotten since we end up going there almost every week. I also think it has gotten better and better over the last couple of years that we've been going. The new touch tank with rays and sharks is a special favorite, as well as the lunar rover remote control cars, the laser maze, and the build-your-own race car tracks. My preschooler also loves to get soaked at their awesome water table (so bring a change of clothes if this is your kiddo).

The Children's Museum at La Habra offers seven educational and entertaining, permanent hands-on exhibits such as the nature walk exhibit, dress up room, science station, farm exhibit, and a featured exhibit which changes twice a year. The hand-carved carousel and1942 railroad caboose are extra special touches.

Kidspace Children's Museum offers an array of indoor and outdoor exhibits. Get creative in the Imagination Workshop, play in the Splash Dance Fountains, navigate the Rope Bridge, get messy in Arroyo Adventures, and more!

There's plenty to see and do at The Autry, plus the surrounding Griffith Park gives families outdoor recreation and educational opportunities. Inside the museum, learn about art and artifacts all through American history. They even provides print-ahead scavenger hunts for kids to enjoy while they check out the exhibits. Be sure to check out the Family Play Space if you're there on a weekend.

Griffith Observatory and its surrounding grounds are open to the public for free, so kids and their grownups can enjoy the museum exhibits and spy the sky through a telescope. Special programs, including public talks and demonstrations, happen often. Break for lunch at the cafe or out on the grounds, then stick around for a planetarium show in the Samuel Oschin Planetarium!

If you're looking for things to do with kids in Los Angeles on a budget, admission to the permanent galleries at the California Science Center is always free, and does not require a reservation. Permanent exhibits include World of Life, Fire! Science & Safety, and Ecosystems. Timed tickets are required for the IMAX Theater and special exhibits.

Though the weather will almost always be perfect for going outdoors, if you are looking for things to do with kids in Los Angeles indoors, check out one of its many excellent museums! The Natural History Museum will appeal to the whole family, with family-friendly exhibits about birds, dinosaurs, insects, and mammals, and caters to kids in particular with its touchable minerals, furs and fossils, authentic scientific exploration tools, and insect zoo. Interactive shows (some feature actors dressed as dinosaurs!) round out the educational entertainment.

The USS Battleship Iowa is the only battleship on the West Coast that the public (kids included) can climb aboard and explore. Kids can learn what life was really like for the sailors who worked and lived on this ship, and the Museum's interactive app helps modernize the historical experience.

Los Angeles Maritime Museum is a two-story museum that showcases the history of LA harbor. With its model ships, boats, and submarines, play area for kiddos including sailor costumes, and interactive armed forces display, it offers education, fun and a front-row seat to ships coming and going.

An active paleontology site, this is one of the more unique kid-friendly activities in Los Angeles. Your admission gives you a glimpse into what scientists are working on in the Fossil Lab, and a chance to talk with scientists and volunteers about recent finds that make the past come to life. Changing programs can include 3D movies and new fossils as they are found.

If your child is an automobile enthusiast, this museum will be right up his or her alley! But it's more than drooling over cars from historical to modern- there are plenty of Fun for Kids activities like a museum-wide scavenger hunt, dress-up areas, and photo op scenes. There's also an ice cream parlor with table space for crafts and treats.

A collection of full-size aircraft, replicas, and artifacts will thrill young (and old!) fans of flight. The display and exhibit area spans 22,000 square feet and includes interpretive exhibits and displays that teach families about the history of flight and the growth of aviation and aerospace in SoCal. Start with the replica of the Wright Flyer and end with a visit to the interactive education center and cockpit trainer!

In addition to its rotating cultural displays, the Skirball Cultural Center doubles as a Museum with galleries including an interactive, kid-friendly Noah's Ark exhibit. Art, music, and play all come together here, and targeted family programs help get kids involved.

You might not think of an art center as an ideal location for kids to explore, but this free museum with two locations is dedicated to making your family's visit enjoyable and educational. Family restrooms, onsite cafe, plus tempting outdoor gardens and maze area will help you and the kids get out and explore. A special Family Room has activity coves with treasure hunts, art and craft materials, and more. Free family tours are also available!