Los Angeles family guide
Things to Do in Gardena with Kids
Curated by Simir Shah
Reviewed & updated August 2026 · we check listings regularly, but hours and prices change — confirm before you go.
Gardena on the map
📍 Where Gardena is
Gardena sits in Los Angeles, Southern California. Nearest major airport: LAX (Los Angeles Intl) (~7 mi / 11 km). It's roughly 12 mi (19 km) from Downtown LA and 105 mi (169 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 Gardena
Gardena Bowl
A bowling center at 15707 S. Vermont Ave, operating since 1948, with billiards and a coffee shop. It runs an after-school 'Pin Wizards' league for ages 8–16 on Tuesdays at 4pm. Daytime weekday and Saturday-morning games are the cheapest; evenings and weekends jump to $10.
Open bowling per game per person: about $5 weekday daytime, $6 Sat/Sun daytime, $10 evenings and weekend nights
Rowley Memorial Park
One of Gardena's six city parks, at 13220 S. Van Ness Ave, and home of the annual Gardena Jazz Festival. Winter weekday hours start at 3pm, so go on a weekend or call 310-217-9562 first.
Free entryFamily attractions near Gardena
The closest kid-friendly attractions in neighboring towns — with driving distance from Gardena.
Alondra Community Regional Park
LA County's ~53-acre park with a Lawndale address (3850 Manhattan Beach Blvd), technically in unincorporated Alondra Park. It has a splash pad, outdoor pool, playgrounds, a lake with wildlife viewing, tennis courts and picnic shelters. The splash pad closes September 30.
Free park entry; pool and skate park are separate LA County facilitiesHawthorne Memorial Park
A city park at 3943 W. El Segundo Blvd with BBQ grills, a tot lot, lighted futsal and basketball courts and par-course fitness equipment. Call the city at 310-349-1640 before you go to confirm current amenities.
Free
Beach Boys Historic Landmark
California Historical Landmark No. 1041 at 3701 W. 119th St, dedicated in 2005, marking where the Wilson brothers' childhood home stood and where they recorded 'Surfin'' in 1961. The house itself was demolished in the 1980s for the Century Freeway. It's a ten-minute stop for music fans, so pair it with a park visit.
Free
Hawthorne Library (LA County Library)
A 16,949 sq ft branch at 12700 Grevillea Ave with a dedicated children's area, teen space and study rooms, plus early-learning programs and online homework help. It opens at noon on Tue and Wed, so Thu–Sat mornings are the easy window.
Free
Hemingway Park Aquatic Center
This 13-acre park hides a genuine aquatic center with three pools and two tall curving water slides that land in a catch pool — a rare free-spirited splash spot in the South Bay. The 25-yard pool has lanes and a diving board for stronger swimmers, while little ones stick to the shallow end. Slide season is summer, so call to confirm open-swim hours before you load up the towels.
VariesGonzales Park
A 14-acre city park at 1101 W Cressey St with a community center and gym, two junior baseball diamonds, a playground, a picnic area and an aquatic center. It's a few blocks from Compton Creek Natural Park, so the two make one outing.
Free park entry; aquatic center fees not published onlineFestivals & annual events in Gardena
What Gardena is known for — the events locals plan the year around.
Gardena Jazz Festival
The City of Gardena's 23rd annual one-day jazz festival at Rowley Memorial Park, with all-day live performances and food vendors.
Local restaurants in Gardena
Sushi I-Naba
Cash-only family-run sushi shop open since the 1960s, a longtime South Bay institution.
Shin-Sen-Gumi Hakata Ramen
Build-your-own Hakata ramen where you pick broth richness, noodle firmness, and toppings, with yakitori at the original. Customizable bowls are great for picky kids.
Gardena Bowl Coffee Shop
Diner inside the Gardena Bowl bowling center serving Japanese and Hawaiian comfort food, including loco moco, saimin, teriyaki bowls, fried chicken, pancakes and omelets. Open daily from 8am.
Seasonal & outdoors near Gardena
The closest splash pads, patches, lights and more — distances from Gardena.
More Los Angeles family guides
Gardena family FAQ
What are the best things to do in Gardena with kids?
Family favorites in and around Gardena include Gardena Bowl and Rowley Memorial Park. Our guide lists 2 spots, sorted by distance from you with hours, prices and tips.
Are there free things to do in Gardena?
Yes — free family spots near Gardena include Rowley Memorial Park. Use the "free only" filter in the finder above to see them all.
Where can families eat in Gardena?
Local, family-friendly spots in Gardena include Sushi I-Naba, Shin-Sen-Gumi Hakata Ramen and Gardena Bowl Coffee Shop — independent, SoCal-only eateries, never national chains.
What does the YourSoCal Gardena guide cover?
Our Gardena family guide includes 2 things to do and 3 local eats — all hand-curated, locally owned, and sorted by distance from you.
Listings are curated and may change — confirm hours and details before you go.
Where to stay in Gardena
Hotels & rentals via Stay22 · we may earn a commissionCompare hotels, resorts, and vacation rentals near Gardena on one map — then book on your favorite site.