Los Angeles family guide
Things to Do in La Mirada with Kids
Curated by Simir Shah
Reviewed & updated August 2026 · we check listings regularly, but hours and prices change — confirm before you go.
La Mirada on the map
📍 Where La Mirada is
La Mirada sits in Los Angeles, Southern California. Nearest major airport: Long Beach (~10 mi / 16 km). It's roughly 17 mi (27 km) from Downtown LA and 96 mi (154 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.
🏡 New to La Mirada? Start hereRec classes, library cards, school lookup, alerts and getting around.OpenClose
- Rec classes & camps: La Mirada Community Services lists classes in its La Mirada Living guide, takes registration through Rec1, and runs Neff summer day camps.
- Library card: La Mirada Library on La Mirada Boulevard is an LA County Library branch with Spanish and Korean language collections.
- Storytime: La Mirada Library currently hosts Smarty Pants Storytime for ages 2-5 on Thursday mornings.
- Find your school: La Mirada is served by Norwalk-La Mirada Unified; enter your address in the district's School Locator.
- Splash!: The city's Splash! aquatics center pairs a 50-meter pool and year-round swim lessons with the Buccaneer Bay waterpark.
- Alerts: La Mirada urges residents to sign up for Alert LA County and download the Genasys Protect evacuation app.
- City events: Yearly events include an Easter egg hunt, summer concerts at Neff Park, family camp-outs and the Independence Celebration.
- La Mirada Transit: La Mirada Transit is a $1 curb-to-curb shared ride for anyone starting a trip in the city; children under 5 pay 50 cents.
- Local insider: Norwalk Transit Route 5 runs along Rosecrans Avenue between La Mirada and the Metro C Line's Norwalk Station.
Things to do in La Mirada
Parks & Hiking
Anna J. Martin Park
A quiet 2-acre east La Mirada park at 16135 Avenida San Martin with play equipment for smaller children and a picnic area. It's a calm pick for toddlers who get overwhelmed at the big regional park.
FreeCreek Park
A 26-acre passive park along the La Mirada flood-control channel at 12021 Santa Gertrudes Ave, with rolling lawns, big trees, a fire ring, a small amphitheater and a horse arena on the west end. It's good for a jog or a family picnic, and it hosts the July Stroll in the Park concert. A city master plan for renovations and better ADA access is underway.
Free (amphitheater by reservation)Family Camp at Neff Park
An overnight city campout where families pitch tents at Neff Park for a campfire, crafts, outdoor games and an outdoor movie. Bring your own grill and food or buy the meal plan for Friday dinner and Saturday breakfast. Space is limited, so sign up as soon as summer registration opens.
Registration fee; optional meal planFrontier Park
A 6-acre neighborhood park at 13212 Marquardt Ave with play equipment, a basketball court, lawns and picnic areas. The city plans a new community building plus tetherball and handball here.
FreeGardenhill Park
A 6-acre park at 14435 Gardenhill Dr with a playground that has separate tot and older-kid equipment, lighted tennis and basketball courts, a horseshoe pit and picnic areas. Mature trees keep it shady. Its community building hosts the city's Tiny Tots preschool program.
FreeOak Creek Park
A stretch of passive parkland running southwest from Creek Park, south of Imperial Hwy and east of La Mirada Blvd. It's an easy, quiet stroller walk, and you can link it with a Creek Park picnic.
FreeWindermere Park
A 5-acre south La Mirada park at 15261 Cheshire St with tot and big-kid play equipment, a soccer field, picnic areas and a community room used for Tiny Tots and the P.A.R.K. program. It also hosts the city's fall Bark in the Park dog festival.
FreeLa Mirada Community Regional Park
A 100-acre park at 13701 Adelfa Dr with a small fishing lake, tennis and handball courts, ball fields and a children's play area. The city hosts a kids' catfish derby here each fall, and the Splash! aquatics center is a short walk away, so the two make an easy half-day.
Free to enter (Splash! next door charges separately)
Indoor Play
La Mirada Activity Center
A city community center at 13810 La Mirada Blvd, next door to the library and Splash!, with a game room, community room and courtyard used for classes and rec programs. It's an easy rainy-day add-on to a library visit. Call (562) 943-7277 for class schedules.
Free to visit; classes and rentals extraLa Mirada Gymnasium
A 20,000 sq ft city gym at 15105 Alicante Rd with a full high-school basketball court and convertible volleyball and badminton courts. It runs youth basketball, futsal, volleyball and Friday Night Football leagues. Drop-in open gym runs at set times, so check the schedule before bringing teens.
Day pass $5 (13+); youth annual pass $30; family pass $120
Arts & Culture
Concerts Under the Stars at Neff Park
La Mirada's weekly summer concert series moved to Neff Park (14300 San Cristobal Dr) in 2026. A Night Market of 20+ food vendors opens at 5pm and the music starts at 6:30pm. Kids can run on the lawn and the playground while parents eat.
Free (food for purchase)La Mirada Easter Egg Hunt
A morning at La Mirada Regional Park with crafts, games, music and Easter Bunny photos. Egg hunts start at 10:15am for kids 10 and under. The Kiwanis Club serves a low-cost pancake breakfast, so come hungry.
Free (pancake breakfast low-cost)Santa's Holiday Caravan
Santa rides a sleigh through La Mirada's neighborhoods over three nights, including Neff Park, Gardenhill, Creek Park and Windermere Park areas. The city posts route maps and a live Santa tracker so you can step outside as he passes.
FreeStroll in the Park
An annual summer evening concert at Creek Park with several bands and Night Market food vendors from 5pm, and music from 6:30pm. Bring lawn chairs and blankets for the hillside lawn.
Free (food for purchase)La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
A 1,251-seat city theater at 14900 La Mirada Blvd with a Broadway series plus a children's series, Programs for Young Audiences. Filter to the family-marked shows on the ticket page, and call the box office at (714) 994-6310 about age suitability for a specific show.
Ticketed by show (see box office)
Neff Park and Historic Neff Estate
A 10-acre park at 14300 San Cristobal Dr with the 1890s Neff House, George House and Neff Barn, plus a playground and picnic areas. Volunteers run the estate tours, so check the city calendar the week before.
Free (donations welcome for restoration)
Holidays in La Mirada
Lights, parades, Santa and more this season. Confirm details with the organizer before you go.
Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet (La Mirada Theatre)
Sun Dec 20, 2026 · 1:30pm and 6:30pm (about 2 hours plus intermission)
A touring Nutcracker with international dancers, giant puppets and acrobatics, on one day only.
See site
Festivals & annual events in La Mirada
What La Mirada is known for — the events locals plan the year around.
La Mirada Chili Holiday
A holiday evening at Splash! La Mirada Regional Aquatics Center with live entertainment, crafts, coffee, hot chocolate, cookies and chili, a holiday train ride through a winter wonderland, and photos with Santa. Tip: guests are encouraged to bring non-perishable food or a new unwrapped toy to donate.
See city page; bring non-perishable food or a new unwrapped toy
La Mirada Independence Celebration
A city-run Independence Day event at La Mirada Regional Park with live music, food vendors, a patriotic program and fireworks.
The Jul 3, 2026 event has passed; the city posts the next date in early summer
La Mirada Floating Pumpkin Patch
Families swim in the 25-yard pool at Splash! La Mirada Regional Aquatics Center to pick a floating pumpkin, then decorate it at a craft station; the fee covers the pumpkin, crafts, treats and photo ops. Tip: swimsuits are required, and you must pre-register for a session.
La Mirada Halloweenfest
The city's annual Halloween event at the historic Neff Estate, described as great for all ages including pets, with a haunted maze, costume contest, carnival-style games, crafts and a trick-or-treat area. Tip: the haunted maze may be intense for little ones, so head to the games and trick-or-treat area first.
Local restaurants in La Mirada
Clearman's North Woods Inn
Snow-covered log-cabin steakhouse at 14305 Firestone Blvd with steaks, seafood, signature cheese bread and towering shareable cakes, plus a kids menu.
Civitas Coffee Co.
Independent neighborhood coffee shop at 14218 Rosecrans Ave with specialty lattes, yuzu lemonade, avocado toast and chocolate croissants, and online ordering.
Local shops in La Mirada
We Round
Founder-run lifestyle shop with a showroom at 14747 Artesia Blvd Suite 2G, La Mirada, CA 90638. Sells cookware, dinnerware, drinkware, Japanese and Korean ceramics, home accessories, bath products, stationery and pet items. Open Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 10:30am-5pm and Sat 10am-2pm; closed Wed and Sun.
Gacha Planet
Specialty shop at 14828 Beach Blvd, La Mirada, CA 90638, selling Japanese gachapon capsule toys, blind boxes, anime figures, plushies, trading cards and kawaii stationery (Pokemon, Sanrio, Demon Slayer). Open noon-9pm most days and until 10pm Fri-Sat; closed Tuesday.
Good Game Collectibles
Local game and collectibles store at 15264 Rosecrans Ave, La Mirada, CA 90638, selling trading card games (Pokemon, Magic: The Gathering), LEGO sets, video games and sealed products. Hosts Friday Night Magic Casual Commander events at 5pm and has tables for in-store play.
Seasonal & outdoors near La Mirada
The closest splash pads, patches, lights and more — distances from La Mirada.
More Los Angeles family guides
La Mirada family FAQ
What are the best things to do in La Mirada with kids?
Family favorites in and around La Mirada include Bark in the Park, Concerts Under the Stars at Neff Park, La Mirada Easter Egg Hunt and Santa's Holiday Caravan, and more. Our guide lists 19 spots, each with a price note and practical tips where we have them.
Are there free things to do in La Mirada?
Yes — free family spots near La Mirada include Bark in the Park, Concerts Under the Stars at Neff Park, La Mirada Easter Egg Hunt and Santa's Holiday Caravan. Our free things to do page lists more across Southern California.
What can kids do in La Mirada on a rainy day?
Indoor options in and around La Mirada include La Mirada Activity Center, La Mirada Gymnasium, La Mirada Library (LA County Library) and La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts. Each listing in our guide is marked indoor or outdoor, so you can filter for the weather.
How can families spend a day in La Mirada?
One easy plan: start outside at Bark in the Park while kids have the most energy, break for lunch at Ambrose Pizza, then head indoors to La Mirada Activity Center for the afternoon. Our guide has prices and tips for each stop, plus 17 more ideas to swap in.
Where can families eat in La Mirada?
Local, family-friendly spots in La Mirada include Ambrose Pizza, Clearman's North Woods Inn and Civitas Coffee Co. — independent, SoCal-only eateries, never national chains.
What does the YourSoCal La Mirada guide cover?
Our La Mirada family guide includes 19 things to do, 3 local eats and 3 local shops — with independent, non-chain eats and shops.
Listings are curated and may change — confirm hours and details before you go.
Where to stay in La Mirada
Hotels & rentals via Stay22 · we may earn a commissionCompare hotels, resorts, and vacation rentals near La Mirada on one map — then book on your favorite site.