Little ones love to touch and explore. Lucky for us, Los Angeles and Orange Counties have museums that are a perfect place for kids to be kids. Let kids have an adventure at these museums as they explore a wide-range of interactive exhibits, live animals and awesome play spaces.
California Science Center
Located in Exposition Park in Los Angeles, the California Science Center is home to the Space Shuttle Endeavour, an IMAX theater, and three stories of interactive science exhibits. With so many exhibits, live shows and demonstrations, there’s something for kids of every age to enjoy, including three Discovery Rooms perfect for kids ages six and under. Timed tickets are required to see the space shuttle so make to reserve your time slot at the California Science Center website before visiting. This summer also features the Body Worlds: Pulse exhibit - a unique chance to view the human body like never before. The California Science Center offers free admission every day, but does not include the IMAX shows, special exhibits or the Space Shuttle Endeavour.
Hours: Open daily* 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Admission: Free (to permanent exhibits only. IMAX and special exhibits are extra). Parking is $12.
Address: 700 Exposition Park Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90037
The Children’s Museum at La Habra
Located in Portola Park in the City of La Habra, The Children’s Museum at La Habra is a great museum with interactive exhibits and even a hand-carved carousel that the kids can ride. Recommended for kids aged seven and younger, kids can explore the indoor nature walk, play dress-up and perform on stage in the theatre gallery, take a scheduled tour of a 1942 caboose, and more. The preschool play park area is especially designed for kids 5 and under with plenty to explore, climb and learn. Within this room you will find the Tot Spot-- a toddler soft play area for the littlest of visitors. Their new exhibit, Ocean Zone, is full of ocean creature and ocean exploration fun. The Children’s Museum at La Habra offers free admission on certain days; visit their website and look at their Target Free Days.
Hours: Tuesday to Friday 10am - 4pm, Saturday 10am - 5pm, Sunday 1pm - 5pm, Open at 9am on Fridays for CMLH Members, Mondays Closed
Admission: $10 per person. Children under 2 are free, $9 La Habra Residents. Parking is free.
Address: 301 South Euclid Street, La Habra, CA 90631
The Discovery Cube in Orange County offers two stories and an outdoor area of hands-on science fun. Every exhibit is interactive and educational. Kids (and adults) can take a simulated helicopter ride, fly an airplane, feel a hurricane, be part of a space mission, and take part in an interactive dino adventure and much more. This summer younger scientist can play vet at the new Doc McStuffins: The Exhibit. Themed after the famous Doc McStuffins this exhibit is sure to be a hit among the little ones. To learn more about Doc McStuffins: The Exhibit click here. The Discovery Cube OC offers free admission to Bank of America cardholders on the Sunday of the first full weekend of each month and to Santa Ana residents on the first Tuesday of every month.
Hours: Open 10:00 a.m.–5 p.m. daily (see website for holiday exceptions)
Admission: $12.95 for kids 3 to 14 years old, $17.95 for adults, Kids 2 and under are free. Parking is free.
Address: 2500 N. Main Street, Santa Ana, CA 92705
Kidseum
Especially designed for young kids, Kidseum puts the world’s art and culture at your kids’ fingertips. As the only cultural-based children’s center in Orange County, Kidseum's interactive exhibits will encourage creativity and ignite imagination. Your kids are sure to enjoy travelling back in time with the “Green Screen Time Machine,” creating art in the “Glow Cave,” and engaging with the smart tables and boards. A whole new exhibit will be coming to Kidseum starting September 16, 2017 - so stay tuned. Kidseum is free every Sunday of the month for Santa Ana residents.
Hours: June 6-August 2, Tuesday-Sundays 10:00 am-4:00 pm Closed Mondays & July 4
Admission: Ages 2 and Up: $8, Under 2/Members: Free, Parking is free.
Address: 2002 North Main Street, Santa Ana, CA 92706
Kidspace Children’s Museum
This museum has a full range of exhibits and activities, and families can spend all day at the Kidspace Museum learning, climbing, creating, imagining, getting wet and muddy, and experimenting. With about 3.5 acres of indoor and outdoor exhibits, kids of all ages will enjoy the diverse exhibits including the Galvin Physics Forest, the climbing towers, the Ant Hole, the Greenhouse, the Imagination Workshop and more. Bring swimsuits and sandals if you want your kids to splash around the arroyo. The Kidspace Children’s Museum offers free Family Nights on the first Tuesday of every month from 4 pm to 8 pm.
Hours: Tuesday-Friday from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday & Sunday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Admission: $13, kids under 1 are free. Parking is free.
Address: 480 N. Arroyo Blvd. Pasadena, CA 91103
La Brea Tar Pits and Museum
The La Brea Tar Pits and Museum represent the only active urban Ice Age excavation site in the world and houses over 1 million fossils from over 650 species. If your kids loves fossils (which kid doesn’t?) then they will love the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum. The tar pits around the museum are free to visit. Here you can still see tar bubbling up from the earth. To see all the cool fossils that have been found at the tar pits, animal dioramas and the accompanying exhibits visit the museum itself. Make sure to stop by the Fossil Lab and see paleontologist in action as well as 3-D scanning and printing of fossil material. This summer, see more science in action, as the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum allows visitors to see more digging on site. The historic Observation Pit will be open to everyone this summer and will be included with museum admission. Don’t miss your chance to see the all the cool bones that make up this “fossil gumbo.” Outside in the park area, staff and volunteers will be digging up more of Observation Pit 91 Wednesdays through Sunday-- come and check them out-- there is no telling what they will dig up next. The La Brea Tar Pits offers free admission the 1st Tuesday of each month (except in July and August). It is recommended that you reserve tickets in advance on these free days to avoid the line. The museum is also free every Tuesday in September and everyday for EBT cardholders.
Hours: Open 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. daily (see website for holiday exceptions)
Admission: $5 for kids ages 3 -12, $9 for students 13-17 with valid student ID, $12 for adults and kids 2 and under are free. Parking is $12
Address: 5801 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
The Natural History museum is located in Exposition Park and is a great place for kids to explore and learn about dinosaurs, gems and minerals, animals (past and present), and nature. The museum is a great place for adults and kids alike with interactive exhibits, multimedia stations, and various animal dioramas. The kids are sure to love the Discovery Center and the Nature Lab as both have tons of hands-on exhibits for kids. This summer don’t miss your chance to visit the Butterfly Pavilion at the NHMLA - we loved it when we visited earlier. For more information about the Butterfly Pavilion click here. The NHMLA also has Extreme Mammals going on this summer- see unusual animals with odd features. LA County residents can get $2 off Extreme Mammals Monday through Thursday. The Natural History museum offers free admission the 1st Tuesday of each month (except in July and August). It is recommended that you reserve tickets in advance on these free days to avoid the line. The museum is also free every Tuesday in September and everyday for EBT cardholders.
Hours: Open 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. daily (see website for holiday exceptions)
Admission: $5 for kids ages 3 -12, $9 for students 13-17 with valid student ID, $12 for adults and kids 2 and under are free. Parking is $12
Address: 900 W Exposition Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90007
Pretend City Children’s Museum
Pretend City is an interactive kid city where kids of all ages can play grown-up. Kids can work in the library, post office, police station, etc and get paid from an ATM. They can also buy groceries, go to the beach, visit the doctor and the dentist and much more. Kids will love doing everything we adults do in real life at Pretend City - after all, they love to copy us. This summer the Pretend City has a new exhibit: Adventure Under the Sea with themed days (weekdays only) including Mermaid Mondays and Think Tank Thursdays. In addition to the themes, the new exhibit will allow kids to climb through an inflatable whale’s mouth to explore the obstacle course inside, crawl through a jellyfish junction to explore the ocean and more. Pretend City offers 2 for 1 admission on Way to Play Days which are held the second Friday of every month. Click here to print out a 2-for-1 coupon.
Hours: Sunday, 11:00 am-5:00 pm; Monday 10:00 am-1:00 pm, Tuesday-Saturday; 10:00 am-5:00 pm.
Admission: $12.50 for anyone over 12 months. Parking is free.
Address: 29 Hubble, Irvine, CA 92618
Skirball Cultural Center/Noah's Ark
The Noah’s Ark exhibit at the Skirball Cultural Center is a kid favorite, one-of-a-kind, award-winning, permanent exhibit for kids of all ages to enjoy. The ark is huge (floor to ceiling) and is full of animals and more for kids to play, climb, and make believe while exploring every nook and cranny. Family programs are offered throughout the summer and are generally included with admission. The Skirball Cultural Center offers free admission every Thursday and includes admission to Noah’s Ark. To visit Noah’s Ark a timed ticket is required so purchase your timed tickets in advance.
Hours: Tuesday-Friday from noon-5 p.m; Saturday & Sunday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Admission: Kids are $7 and adults are $12. Parking is free.
Address: 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90049
Zimmer Children’s Museum
Located in the Miracle Mile district the Zimmer Children’s Museum offers two floors of fun for kids ages zero to 8 years old, with a small play area dedicated specifically to kids 24 months and younger. Kids will enjoy water play, pretend play inside a plane, ambulance, and restaurant among others, imaginative and dress-up play in The Mann Theatre and green screen, and more. Various programs and activities take place every day so make sure to check the museum’s calendar for all the happenings on the day you attend. A small lot is available for free parking in the west parking structure so I recommend that you pack your lunch and eat in the museum’s snack room to keep your parking space. The Zimmer Children’s Museum offers free admission to EBT cardholders when they present their card and is free for grandparents on Thursdays when accompanied by a grandchild.
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, 12:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.; Closed Saturday and most Jewish and national holidays.
Admission: $7.50; kiddos under 1 are free. Grandparents are free on Thursdays. Parking is free when available (lot is small).
Address: 6505 Wilshire Blvd., #100, Los Angeles, CA 90048
