Los Angeles family guide

Things to Do in Cerritos with Kids

Cerritos punches way above its size for families, and it starts with the astonishing Cerritos Library — a 15,000-gallon saltwater aquarium, a 40-foot T. rex, and a themed children's world inside a public library. Then there's Heritage Park, a colonial-Boston-themed play island ringed by a duck-filled moat, plus splash play at Liberty Park.

Curated by Punita Patel

Reviewed & updated June 2026 · we check listings regularly, but hours and prices change — confirm before you go.

💡 Local tip: Hit the library on a weekday morning before the after-school rush. Heritage Park gets packed on weekend afternoons — mornings are calmer for the moat, bridges and water features.

Things to do in Cerritos

Museums & Learning

Cerritos Library

Not your average library — a full-on kid destination with a 15,000-gallon saltwater aquarium framed in titanium at the entrance and a 'Save the Planet' Children's World. Look for Stan, the 40-foot T. rex replica, plus a lighthouse and space shuttle model. Go on a weekday morning to beat the after-school crowd.

Free

Parks & Hiking

Heritage Park

Themed around Old Boston circa 1776, this park's centerpiece is a play island ringed by a moat full of ducks, geese and turtles. Kids race across the covered bridge, explore the ship and dart through hidden passageways with slides and water features. Expect it to be busy on weekend afternoons; mornings are calmer.

Free

Parks & Hiking

Cerritos Sculpture Garden

Dedicated in 2006 as a 50th-anniversary gift to the community, this free garden holds a rotating collection of dozens of sculptures beside the Civic Center. It's an easy, quiet stroll to pair with a library visit since they share the same Bloomfield Ave block. Free on-site parking makes it a low-effort stop for a picnic and some open-air art.

Free

Parks & Hiking

Liberty Park

A big, well-kept park with two separate playgrounds split for ages 2–5 and 5–12, plus a water-play area that's a summer lifesaver. There are also tennis and sand volleyball courts, a jogging track and picnic shelters with barbecues. The playgrounds use rubber surfacing, so cleanup is easy after a play session.

Free

Theme Parks & Rides

Cerritos Olympic Swim & Fitness Center

A city-run aquatic center on 166th Street with affordable recreational swim sessions — a bargain for a hot SoCal afternoon. Residents pay less than non-residents, so bring ID if you live in Cerritos. Call ahead to confirm the public swim schedule, since lap and class times can eat into open-swim hours.

~$4–5 per recreational swim

Arts & Culture

Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts

This acclaimed Center Court Drive venue books Broadway touring shows, dance, comedy and family-friendly concerts, and parking is always free. Check the season calendar for kid-appropriate titles, since programming ranges from jazz to full musicals. Seats near the front put younger kids right in the action for lively shows.

Varies