Los Angeles family guide
Things to Do in Downey with Kids
Curated by Simir Shah
Reviewed & updated August 2026 · we check listings regularly, but hours and prices change — confirm before you go.
Downey on the map
📍 Where Downey is
Downey sits in Los Angeles, Southern California. Nearest major airport: Long Beach (~9 mi / 14 km). It's roughly 10 mi (16 km) from Downtown LA and 101 mi (163 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.
Family attractions near Downey
The closest kid-friendly attractions in neighboring towns — with driving distance from Downey.
Pío Pico State Historic Park
The last Mexican governor of California's adobe — the grounds are free; the interior is by guided appointment.
Free; adobe tours by appt
Montebello City Park
A well-loved neighborhood park off Whittier Blvd with a rebuilt playground, sports courts, walking paths and a summer swimming pool. A true local-parent spot for an afternoon of play without spending a dime. The new play structure has shade sails but the courts bake in summer, so aim for morning or after 5pm and bring water.
Free (pool/programs may charge)
Montebello Library (LA County)
A friendly LA County branch with a kids' area, story times and free family programming, plus blessed air conditioning on hot valley days. A great free rainy-day or heat-wave backup when the parks are too warm. Check the events calendar before you go — story time fills up fast with local families.
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
Montebello Barnyard Zoo
A beloved old-school petting zoo inside Grant Rea Park with pony rides, a little kiddie train, and a barnyard full of goats, sheep and bunnies to feed. It's ideal for toddlers and preschoolers rather than older kids. Bring small bills for feed cups and pony tickets, go on a cooler morning since there's limited shade, and park free in the Grant Rea lot.
~$11 zoo admission, pony rides ~$12; weekend combo ~$24/child
Grant Rea Park
The big green hub of Montebello — ball fields, picnic tables, a playground and the barnyard zoo all in one spot. Families pair a free morning at the playground with a paid loop through the petting zoo next door. Parking is free, but the lot fills on weekend mornings when sports leagues play, so arrive early and grab a shaded table.
FreeFestivals & annual events in Downey
What Downey is known for — the events locals plan the year around.
Downey Christmas Parade
A long-running holiday parade down Downey Avenue to the Civic Center with floats, vintage cars, marching bands and dance groups. Past its 70th edition.
Free
Local restaurants in Downey
La Casa Garcia
Family-owned Downey restaurant serving generational recipes in a welcoming setting.
Lucky Guys Burgers
Family-owned Downey burger spot with classic American comfort food.
Stox Restaurant & Bakery
Family-owned Downey cornerstone with scratch pancakes, burgers, and an in-house bakery.
Local shops in Downey
Stay Arts Shop
Downtown Downey arts-nonprofit shop selling work by contracted local artists.
Seasonal & outdoors near Downey
The closest splash pads, patches, lights and more — distances from Downey.
More Los Angeles family guides
Downey family FAQ
Where can families eat in Downey?
Local, family-friendly spots in Downey include La Casa Garcia, Lucky Guys Burgers and Stox Restaurant & Bakery — independent, SoCal-only eateries, never national chains.
What does the YourSoCal Downey guide cover?
Our Downey family guide includes 3 local eats and 1 local shops — all hand-curated, locally owned, and sorted by distance from you.
Listings are curated and may change — confirm hours and details before you go.