Los Angeles has something for everyone. That includes museums that appeal to children of all ages. No matter what your interests are, or how old your children are, there are fun and instructional ways to spend time in the city. Play and learn on your next family trip to Los Angeles at museums with activities and exhibits for visitors of all ages. All of these attractions are located in the L.A. metro area and are accessible by highway from LAX airport. Our car rental place has affordable rates that makes it easy to find your way to the perfect museum destination for your family. Check out our list of the ten most popular children’s museums in the Los Angeles and Pasadena area:
1. California Science Center
The California Science Center is a 400,000-square-foot complex divided into four major areas: the World of Life, Creative World, Ecosystems and the Space Shuttle Endeavor. This museum is open to the public seven days a week, and visitors can check out the permanent exhibitions for free. Refuel at Trimana, a grill market and coffee bar in the museum. Parents and kids of all ages may learn something new during a visit to the Science Center at 700 Exposition Park Drive.
2. Kidspace Children’s Museum
Kidspace Children’s Museum is located on more than 3 acres in Pasadena and supports a variety of age levels and play styles. Try more than 13 hands-on educational exhibits in the Physics Forest, ride bikes around the area or play in the water outside. Indoor climbing structures, a bug room and activities such as arts and crafts and dress-up are also available. Kidspace features an Early Childhood Learning Center for the toddlers and a private nursing area. Food is available on site at the Bean Sprout Cafe. Visit Kidspace at 480 N Arroyo Boulevard in Pasadena.
3. Cayton Children’s Museum
The Cayton Children’s Museum by ShareWell is a new attraction located near the Santa Monica Pier. The collections formerly housed at the Zimmer Children’s Museum have been relocated to this new 21,000-square-foot Santa Monica Place location, which opened in early June 2019. The museum has five major areas, called “neighborhoods,” with more than 30 exhibits. The facility also hosts camps, classes, cultural immersion programs and performances.
4. Natural History Museum
If you are traveling with older children interested in science, you may want to pay a visit to the Natural History Museum. This destination has a collection of 20 dinosaurs on display in the recently built Dinosaur Hall, hundreds of fossils and a total of more than 35 million specimens. After you pick up a vehicle from the car rental place and settle into your lodgings, you can make tracks toward 900 Exposition Boulevard.
5. The George C. Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits
You may know that L.A. is home to the La Brea Tar Pits, an urban Ice Age fossil excavation site. The Page Museum maintains a collection of Late Pleistocene era fossils removed from the pits, restored and displayed. The museum address is 5801 Wilshire Boulevard, near the County Museum of Art.
6. Los Angeles County Museum of Art
LACMA has been a Museum Row mainstay since 1965 and is still the largest art museum in the Western U.S. This world-class museum has a collection of over 150,000 works and hosts concerts and film screenings. Aspiring young artists can create new masterpieces in the kid’s art room.
7. Southern California Children’s Museum
There’s always something new to see and do at the Southern California Children’s Museum, located in Pasadena. This museum and activity space encourages children to dress up, experiment with musical instruments and engage in active play. The Southern California Children’s Museum is located at 459 E Colorado Boulevard.
8. The Children’s Museum at La Habra
Kids and parents can have fun together at this former railroad depot. A carousel, antique rail cars and a caboose are on site, as is a kid-friendly sculpture garden. Other hands-on activities include games and dress-up. Pick up a family vehicle at a convenient car rental place and head for the Children’s Museum on 301 S Euclid St in La Habra.
9. The Broad
You may not think that kids enjoy contemporary art, but their reactions to The Broad might surprise you. General admission is free. You can make online reservations in advance to shorten your wait time, but this is not required. Before you bring young children to The Broad, you should know that the average wait time for the on-site ticketing line is 30 to 45 minutes on weekdays and 60 to 90 minutes on weekends. Find The Broad downtown on 221 S Grand Ave.
10. Walt Disney’s Barn
A barn that contains Walt Disney’s 1/8th scale live-steam model railroad, the Carolwood Pacific, and other locomotives is located at the Live Steamers Railroad Museum on 5202 Zoo Drive. Disney was a founding member of this museum, and his family relocated the barn he called his “happy place” there in 1999. Visitors can also see some of Disney’s personal items, tools and handmade work benches. Walt Disney’s Barn is a perfect stop on the way to the zoo, but you may want to plan ahead. The barn is only open on the third Sunday of every month between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM.
Visiting Los Angeles With Children?
After you land at LAX airport, you can save money by booking from Value Rental Car. Our car rental place near LAX and in Pasadena is convenient to all the museums on our list, and we offer free pick up and drop off service within 7 miles of either location. That makes renting a car even easier for a family on the go!