Los Angeles family guide
Things to Do in Glendale with Kids
Curated by Simir Shah
Reviewed & updated August 2026 · we check listings regularly, but hours and prices change — confirm before you go.
Glendale on the map
📍 Where Glendale is
Glendale sits in Los Angeles, Southern California. Nearest major airport: Hollywood Burbank (~7 mi / 11 km). It's roughly 7 mi (11 km) from Downtown LA and 117 mi (189 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 Glendale
Brand Library & Art Center
Hillside park with hiking trails, a Moorish-style library, and shady picnic spots. Built in 1904 as timber baron Leslie Brand's mansion, El Miradero, the building's domes and minarets were inspired by the East Indian Pavilion at Chicago's 1893 World's Fair. Brand left the estate to the city on the condition it become a public library and park, which happened in 1956, and the grounds still include a small Japanese garden, a restored Victorian house-museum, and a hiking loop into the Verdugo foothills.
FreeVerdugo Mountains Family Trails
Accessible foothill trails with shade and views, great for an easy family nature walk. The Catalina Verdugo Trail was purpose-built as a middle option — easier than the steep fire roads that lace the rest of the range, but with more elevation gain than a flat park path — a good next step for families ready to graduate from stroller-friendly trails. Trailheads at the base of the range in both Glendale and Burbank offer several starting points.
FreeFamily attractions near Glendale
The closest kid-friendly attractions in neighboring towns — with driving distance from Glendale.
The Autry Museum of the American West
Family-friendly Western history and Native American art museum founded in 1988 by actor and businessman Gene Autry to tell the full, many-sided story of the American West. It later absorbed the Southwest Museum's Native American collection, one of the largest of its kind in the country, and offers hands-on kids' areas alongside the galleries.
~$14 adult / $6 childLos Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens
130+ acres of animals plus a kids' playground and botanical gardens inside Griffith Park. More than 2,100 animals across 270+ species live here, pairing big-ticket exhibits like Rainforest of the Americas and Campo Gorilla Reserve with a hands-on children's zoo where kids can feed goats.
~$27 adult / $22 childGriffith Park
Massive park with easy hikes and acres of picnic lawns, one of the largest urban parks in the country. The hand-carved 1926 merry-go-round has spun in the park since 1937 — legend has it that watching his daughters ride it in the early 1950s helped inspire Walt Disney to build Disneyland — but the carousel has been closed since 2022 and the pony rides closed for good in December 2022, so check the park's site before planning a ride. The trails, playgrounds and picnic lawns are the reliable draw.
FreeGriffith Observatory
Iconic 1935 Art Deco observatory that's been free to the public since it opened, per the wishes of benefactor Griffith J. Griffith. Look through the same 12-inch Zeiss telescope that's logged more public viewings than any telescope in the world, watch the Foucault pendulum swing to prove the Earth's rotation, and take in sweeping skyline views.
Free (planetarium ~$10)Travel Town Museum
Outdoor railroad museum in Griffith Park with more than 40 historic locomotives and rail cars dating back to the 1880s, where kids climb aboard vintage engines up close. A half-mile miniature train, running since 1978, circles the grounds — and admission to see the full-size collection is free.
Free (mini train ~$5)Eagle Rock Recreation Center
Neighborhood park with playgrounds and sports courts below the namesake Eagle Rock formation. The recreation building itself is worth noticing — a 1953 pavilion by modernist architect Richard Neutra, with walls that hand-crank open like windows to blend indoors and outdoors. It was threatened with demolition in the 1980s but saved and designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument, and today anchors 21.5 acres of park space.
FreeFarmers markets in Glendale
Glendale Gateway Certified Farmers Market
Year-round midday market on N. Brand Blvd with fresh California produce and easy downtown parking.
Festivals & annual events in Glendale
What Glendale is known for — the events locals plan the year around.
Montrose Halloween Spooktacular
Trick-or-treating and costume fun in the Montrose Shopping Park on Halloween evening. Tip: the window is only two hours, so arrive at 5pm.
See site
Glendale Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony
The City of Glendale special events calendar lists the Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony on 12/03/2026 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. The city also lists a Cram-A-Classic Toy Drive on 12/02/2026, 5-8 PM. Tip: the pin is at Glendale City Hall (613 E. Broadway), the usual site. The city's event page could not be opened to confirm the venue, so verify before you go.
Free to attend
Montrose-Glendale Christmas Parade
The 48th annual evening parade, themed 'The Christmas Time Machine', runs from Honolulu and Rosemont east to Verdugo Road. Street closures start at 3pm. Tip: no pop-up tents, and chairs and blankets can't go out until parade day, so arrive early for a curb spot.
Free to watch
Montrose Arts & Crafts Festival
A two-day festival on Honolulu Avenue in the Montrose Shopping Park with roughly 250 artists, crafters, farmers and food vendors plus live entertainment. 2026 marked its 42nd year.
Free admission and parking
Glendale Cruise Night
An evening classic-car show closing Brand Boulevard in downtown Glendale, with pre-1985 classics and modified imports, a main stage, vendor booths and kids' activities.
The 31st annual was Jul 18, 2026; no 2027 date listed
Montrose Oktoberfest
The Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber's street festival fills the 2200-2400 blocks of Honolulu Avenue with German food, live music and dancing, plus carnival rides, games and kids' activities. Tip: go in the afternoon for the kid-friendly part; beer garden crowds build in the evening.
Local restaurants in Glendale
Porto's Bakery & Cafe
Beloved family-owned Cuban bakery with cheap pastries and sandwiches — try the potato balls and cheese rolls.
Mini Kabob
Tiny mom-and-pop Armenian spot with lula kebab, beef and chicken kebabs, and house pickles. With just three tables it feels like eating in grandma's kitchen, so order ahead.
Old Sasoon Bakery
40+ year Armenian bakery with a sunny patio and pastries straight from the oven.
Carousel Restaurant
Legendary Armenian-Lebanese meze spreads, charcoal kebabs, dolma, and raw kibbeh. Big shareable spreads are great for family groups.
Skaf's Lebanese Cuisine
Family-run grill beloved for shawarma, garlicky chicken and warm pita in a casual setting.
Great White Hut
A Glendale original since 1947 slinging chili-cheeseburgers, loaded fries, and tacos from a walk-up window — a cheap, beloved, no-fuss family stop.
Raffi's Place
Charcoal kebabs, grilled whole fish, dolma, and hummus on an open-air patio. A neighborhood staple whose patio is easy with kids.
Hamlet's Kitchen
Strip-mall hidden gem for charcoal-grilled lula kabob, pork ribs, and beef shish, generously salted and juicy. Cash-friendly.
Local shops in Glendale
Once Upon A Time Bookstore
America's oldest children's bookstore (1966) with a red-barn playhouse and PJ story times.
Mickey's of Glendale
Independent Glendale gift shop ranked among the city's best unique gift stores.
Seasonal & outdoors near Glendale
The closest splash pads, patches, lights and more — distances from Glendale.
Glendale is part of the North of LA family guide — see the region's best things to do, local eats and events.
More Los Angeles family guides
Glendale family FAQ
What are the best things to do in Glendale with kids?
Family favorites in and around Glendale include Brand Library & Art Center and Verdugo Mountains Family Trails. Our guide lists 2 spots, each with a price note and practical tips where we have them.
Are there free things to do in Glendale?
Yes — free family spots near Glendale include Brand Library & Art Center and Verdugo Mountains Family Trails. Our free things to do page lists more across Southern California.
Where can families eat in Glendale?
Local, family-friendly spots in Glendale include Porto's Bakery & Cafe, Mini Kabob, Old Sasoon Bakery and Carousel Restaurant, and more — independent, SoCal-only eateries, never national chains.
What does the YourSoCal Glendale guide cover?
Our Glendale family guide includes 2 things to do, 8 local eats, 2 local shops and 1 farmers market — with independent, non-chain eats and shops.
Listings are curated and may change — confirm hours and details before you go.
Where to stay in Glendale
Hotels & rentals via Stay22 · we may earn a commissionCompare hotels, resorts, and vacation rentals near Glendale on one map — then book on your favorite site.