The Best Things to Do With Kids in LA This Winter

Though winters are pretty mild in Los Angeles, cooler temps are a great excuse to explore the plethora of indoor activities for kids around town. From art and science museums to sports and cooking classes, there’s plenty for families to see, do and make in L.A. this winter.

Most of L.A.’s art museums offer family programs, giving kids a chance to get creative. 

• Visit the Noah’s Ark exhibit at the Skirball Cultural Center.
• At the Getty Center and Getty Villa, kids can earn Art Detective badges by picking up Art Detective cards at the entrance and uncover mysteries about works of art. Both museums also host hands-on workshops and family-friendly programs.
• On the second Sunday of the month, Craft Contemporary hosts CraftLab Workshops such as building terrariums, making piñatas and molding clay pinch pots.
• LACMA hosts Andell Family Sundays with workshops and family-friendly gallery tours of current exhibitions.
• Similarly, The Broad offers Family Weekend Workshops twice a year, engaging kids with projects such as print-making inspired by Andy Warhol’s works. The workshops are free, but tickets must be reserved in advance.

Both the LA Opera and Los Angeles Philharmonic offer Saturday morning programs for children and families during the winter months and beyond.

• Performed at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Saturday Mornings at the Opera features kid-friendly operas along with pre-show workshops and special souvenirs. LA Opera also hosts Family Days, which include meeting the cast, cookie decorating, games and more.
• The LA Phil’s Toyota Symphonies for Youth feature abridged productions such as Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf accompanied by dance and narration. Arrive at 10am for an hour of art, movement and music workshops before the concert.

There’s always something to see at the Natural History Museum, from exhibits dedicated to dinosaurs, African and North American mammals, gems & minerals, to the sprawling outdoor gardens. The NHM also hosts sleepovers a few times a year for kids ages 5-12 to enjoy an overnight museum experience. 

Also located at Exposition Park, the California Science Center is home to the Space Shuttle Endeavour, and also features a body simulator in the World of Life hall and a 188,000-gallon tank with 1,500 fish, kelp and other marine animals.

Fossil-loving kiddos can't miss the La Brea Tar Pits, where fossils dating back to the Ice Age are being actively excavated.

The Griffith Observatory invites visitors of all ages to weigh yourself on different planets; learn all about the moon, eclipses and telescopes; and enjoy a planetarium show. Parking is limited, consider parking and hiking up to the observatory or taking the Parkline Shuttle (weekends only).

Cooler weather is an ideal time to catch some indoor sports around the city. Take in a gymnastics meet or men’s or women’s basketball game at UCLA. Watch the Sparks or Lakers at STAPLES Center, or bundle up for a Kings hockey game.

From classic cars to Lightning McQueen, see a variety of wheels at the Petersen Automotive Museum, located along Museum Row. 

There’s a bit of magic to visiting a brick-and-mortar bookstore these days. In West L.A., the beloved Children’s Book World has been around since 1986, stocking its shelves with all manner of children’s and young adult books as well as regularly hosting story time and music events.

The whole family can enjoy some retro fun at a roller rink or bowling alley in L.A.

• Skateland in Northridge and Moonlight Rollerway in Glendale offer old-fashioned fun, including skating lessons for kids on Saturday mornings.
• A favorite for bowling, Bowlero has several locations in the Los Angeles area, including Mar Vista, Westchester, Woodland Hills, Pasadena and Arcadia. Bowlero hosts birthday parties for kids ages 4-12.
• Restored and reopened by 1933 Group in 2016, Highland Park Bowl is a great option for families with older children and teens.

Younger kids will love Kidspace Children’s Museum in Pasadena, which has both indoor and outdoor spaces. Explore and try climbing structures, physical experiments, an arts & science studio, and a mini arroyo modeled after Pasadena’s own canyon areas.

Get kids in the kitchen at The Gourmandise School at Santa Monica Place, which offers cooking and baking classes for children (6-12) as well as teens (12-17). Typically held on Saturday mornings, the 2.5 hour classes range from making tacos to baking French macarons to rolling sushi. The cost of a one-time class is $175.