Los Angeles family guide
Things to Do in Cerritos with Kids
Curated by Simir Shah
Reviewed & updated August 2026 · we check listings regularly, but hours and prices change — confirm before you go.
Cerritos on the map
📍 Where Cerritos is
Cerritos sits in Los Angeles, Southern California. Nearest major airport: Long Beach (~5 mi / 8 km). It's roughly 16 mi (26 km) from Downtown LA and 95 mi (153 km) from San Diego — SoCal traffic can make a drive take far longer than the distance suggests, so plan around it.
Visiting? See SoCal at a glance, getting around and which airport.
Things to do in Cerritos
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
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
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
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
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
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.
VariesFestivals & annual events in Cerritos
What Cerritos is known for — the events locals plan the year around.
Dog Man The Musical (Cerritos Center)
Two Saturday shows of the stage musical adapted from Dav Pilkey's Dog Man books at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts (18000 Park Plaza Dr). Tip: prices are not posted on the CCPA calendar, so check the box office (562-916-8500) and pick the 11am show for younger kids.
Ticketed; prices at the CCPA box office
Sesame Street Live: Elmo's Got the Moves! (Cerritos Center)
A touring Sesame Street Live show with two Saturday performances at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts. Tip: choose the 2pm show for toddlers and preschoolers, and check the box office (562-916-8500) for ticket prices.
Ticketed; prices at the CCPA box office
Let Freedom Ring Celebration
A city-run Independence Day event at the Cerritos Civic Center with entertainment, food trucks, game booths, carnival rides, a bell-ringing ceremony and fireworks.
The 53rd edition (Jul 4, 2026) has passed; 2027 date not yet posted
Local restaurants in Cerritos
Rice String Noodle Shack
Family-owned Cerritos sister to Phnom Penh with four decades of Cambodian recipes.
Seasonal & outdoors near Cerritos
The closest splash pads, patches, lights and more — distances from Cerritos.
More Los Angeles family guides
Cerritos family FAQ
What are the best things to do in Cerritos with kids?
Family favorites in and around Cerritos include Cerritos Library, Heritage Park, Cerritos Sculpture Garden and Liberty Park, and more. Our guide lists 6 spots, each with a price note and practical tips where we have them.
Are there free things to do in Cerritos?
Yes — free family spots near Cerritos include Cerritos Library, Heritage Park, Cerritos Sculpture Garden and Liberty Park. Our free things to do page lists more across Southern California.
Where can families eat in Cerritos?
Local, family-friendly spots in Cerritos include Rice String Noodle Shack — independent, SoCal-only eateries, never national chains.
What does the YourSoCal Cerritos guide cover?
Our Cerritos family guide includes 6 things to do and 1 local eats — with independent, non-chain eats and shops.
Listings are curated and may change — confirm hours and details before you go.
Where to stay in Cerritos
Hotels & rentals via Stay22 · we may earn a commissionCompare hotels, resorts, and vacation rentals near Cerritos on one map — then book on your favorite site.