Things to do in Los Angeles
Griffith Observatory
Iconic hilltop observatory with free space exhibits, public telescopes, and sweeping skyline views.
Free (planetarium ~$10)Animals & NatureLos Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens
130+ acres of animals plus a kids' playground and botanical gardens inside Griffith Park.
~$27 adult / $22 childMuseums & LearningTravel Town Museum
Outdoor railroad museum where kids climb vintage locomotives and ride a miniature train.
Free (mini train ~$5)Parks & HikingGriffith Park Pony Rides & Merry-Go-Round
Massive park with easy hikes, a historic carousel, and acres of picnic lawns.
Free (rides extra)Museums & LearningCalifornia Science Center
Hands-on science museum home to the Space Shuttle Endeavour and a kids' Discovery Center.
Free (Endeavour ticket extra)Museums & LearningNatural History Museum of LA County
Dinosaurs, gems, a butterfly pavilion, and outdoor Nature Gardens to explore.
~$18 adult / $7 childMuseums & LearningLa Brea Tar Pits & Museum
Active Ice Age fossil site with mammoths, saber-tooth cats, and bubbling tar pits.
~$18 adult / $7 childArts & CultureThe Getty Center
Hilltop art museum with a fun tram ride, sculpture gardens, and grassy lawns.
Free (parking ~$25)Museums & LearningThe Autry Museum of the American West
Family-friendly Western history and Native American art museum with hands-on kids' areas.
~$14 adult / $6 childMuseums & LearningHeritage Square Museum
Open-air museum of restored Victorian houses with costumed guides and living-history days.
~$12 adult / free under 6Shopping & TreatsThe Grove & Original Farmers Market
Open-air shopping plaza with a trolley, fountain shows, and a classic food market.
Free (trolley rides)Arts & CultureTCL Chinese Theatre & Hollywood Walk of Fame
Famous movie palace and star-studded sidewalk where kids spot celebrity handprints.
Free to walkParks & HikingHollywood Sign Griffith Park Trails
Family hikes with up-close Hollywood Sign views along marked Griffith Park trails.
FreeParks & HikingEagle Rock Recreation Center
Neighborhood park with playgrounds and sports courts below the namesake Eagle Rock formation.
FreeIndoor PlayHighland Park Bowl
LA's oldest bowling alley, beautifully restored, fun for older kids and families.
~$7-9/gameArts & CultureBob Baker Marionette Theater
Historic puppet theater delighting young kids with live marionette shows.
~$18-20/personParks & HikingKenneth Hahn State Recreation Area
Sprawling hilltop park with lakes, picnic areas, easy trails, and panoramic views of the LA basin.
Free (~$6 parking weekends)Farmers markets in Los Angeles
Bank of America Plaza Certified Farmers Market
Downtown Bunker Hill lunchtime market with produce and quick prepared-food options.
Central Avenue Farmers' Market
Downtown DTLA market with California produce and prepared food; accepts EBT/CalFresh.
Larchmont Village Farmers Market
Beloved neighborhood market on Larchmont Blvd with produce, hot food, and a strolling village atmosphere.
Silver Lake Certified Farmers Market
Hip eastside market on Sunset with produce, prepared foods, and flowers (also Tuesday afternoons).
Echo Park Farmers' Market
Friendly evening market at Sunset & Logan with local farmers, fresh flowers, and prepared food; accepts CalFresh EBT.
Brentwood Farmers Market
Westside market in front of Nunn Elementary with seasonal produce, hot food, and free street parking.
Hollywood Farmers' Market
One of LA's biggest Sunday markets with farm-fresh produce, hot food, and live music in the heart of Hollywood.
Mar Vista Farmers Market
A community Sunday market on Grand View with produce, prepared food, and family activities on the Westside.
Atwater Village Farmers' Market
A friendly neighborhood Sunday market with local farms, food trucks, and an easygoing vibe.
Local restaurants in Los Angeles
El Coyote Cafe
Festive, family-run LA Mexican cafe since 1931 — roomy and welcoming for big groups, with a kids menu.
Philippe the Original
Birthplace of the French dip (1908) — communal tables and sawdust floors make it a hit with curious kids.
Casa Bianca Pizza Pie
A 1955 family-owned Eagle Rock pizzeria with red-sauce Italian classics and a warm, kid-welcoming dining room (cash only).
Guelaguetza
James Beard-honored Oaxacan restaurant with colorful moles and live music in a festive, family-welcoming room.
Bludso's Bar & Que
Five-generation Texas-style barbecue with brisket and ribs — roomy and casual, good for big hungry families.
The Apple Pan
A 1947 counter-only burger-and-pie institution where kids love watching the cooks work the griddle from the U-shaped counter.
Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles
LA's chicken-and-waffles legend — casual, generous portions made for sharing.
Pink's Hot Dogs
LA hot-dog landmark since 1939 — a fun, cheap, walk-up bite the kids will remember.
El Tepeyac Cafe
Boyle Heights institution since 1956, famous for the gargantuan Manuel's Special burrito.
Langer's Delicatessen
Family-run Jewish deli by MacArthur Park since 1947, home of the #19 pastrami.
Phoenix Bakery
Chan-family Chinatown bakery since 1938; its strawberry cream cake tops Angeleno birthdays.
Colombo's Italian Steakhouse
Eagle Rock family Italian since 1954 with red-sauce classics and live jazz.
Eagle Rock Italian Bakery & Deli
Old-school Italian bakery-deli for cookies, fresh bread, and giant sandwiches.
Park's BBQ
Koreatown's premier tabletop Korean BBQ since 2003 — families grill premium beef together.
Soot Bull Jeep
Old-school charcoal-grill Korean BBQ — a hands-on, smoky table experience.
Mateo's Ice Cream & Fruit Bars
Mid-City paleteria since 2000 with 30+ Mexican fruit bars and nieves.
The Oinkster
Eagle Rock 'slow fast food' burger and pastrami stand with shakes and ube fries.
Masa of Echo Park
Echo Park bakery-cafe famous for Chicago deep-dish pizza and brunch.
Cindy's Restaurant
Eagle Rock's restored vintage Route 66 diner serving all-day breakfast.
Kim Chuy
Chinatown Chiu Chow noodle house since 1980 serving big bowls of noodle soup.
John O'Groats
Generational Westside breakfast spot known for buttermilk pancakes and house biscuits.
Local shops in Los Angeles
Kip's Toyland
LA's oldest toy store (1945), a third-generation family shop full of classic non-electronic toys.
Skylight Books
Cultural-anchor indie bookstore (1996) built around a ficus tree, with a renowned arts annex.
The Pop-Hop Books & Print
Worker-owned indie bookshop and print studio focused on small press, zines, and kids' books.
Wacko / Soap Plant
Wonderfully weird pop-culture emporium (1971) of books, toys, oddities, and gifts.
Poketo
Design-driven shop from a husband-and-wife team with colorful art, stationery, and home goods.
Hammer and Spear
Curated Arts District showroom blending vintage finds and local artisan goods.
Iguana Vintage Clothing
Cavernous, long-running LA vintage emporium beloved by stylists and costumers.
Galco's Soda Pop Stop
Historic shop stocking 700+ rare and small-batch sodas plus a build-your-own soda station.
Lawson-Fenning
LA-made mid-century-inspired furniture and curated home accessories from a local design duo.
Arroyo Records
Tiny York Blvd record shop strong on punk, jazz, soul, and psych vinyl.
Gimme Gimme Records
All-vinyl new-and-used shop on Figueroa stocking rock, jazz, soul, and hip hop.
Wombleton Records
York Blvd vinyl staple specializing in imported and rare records.
Mount Analog
Figueroa space mixing records, artwork, books, graphic tees, and live events.
Shorthand
York Blvd stationery and gift shop, home of Shorthand Press letterpress cards.
Big Bud Press
Size-inclusive, brightly colored LA-made unisex clothing with its York Blvd flagship.
Sunbeam Vintage
Highland Park favorite for vintage and upcycled furniture, rugs, and decor.
Merci Milo
Curated handmade and artisan kids' toys from local makers and traditional toymakers.
Platform
Part-gallery, part-retail home staging and styling shop on York Blvd.
Native Boutique
Cozy Colorado Blvd women's boutique with fashion-forward and timeless pieces.
Comics VS Toys
Colorado Blvd shop packed with comics, graphic novels, and collectible toys.
The Green Bean
Eagle Rock kids' resale and toy shop for gently-used children's goods and toys.
Yolk
Sunset Blvd design and gift shop with artisan goods, modern home wares, and kids' items.
OK Store
Gallery-like Silver Lake design store of handcrafted jewelry, home goods, and objects.
Dream Collective
Jewelry designer's Sunset Junction shop featuring her line plus local designers.
Secret Headquarters
Victorian-drawing-room comic shop curating comics, books, and self-published zines.
The Reckless Unicorn
Mom-and-pop child's lifestyle store with toys, clothing, and accessories.
Spitfire Girl
Quirky gift shop with trademark thin wooden cards, candles, jewelry, and wood goods.
Treehaus
Boutique spotlighting local makers of LA-made fashion, jewelry, gifts, and toys.
Alias Books East
Long-standing used and rare bookstore strong in academia, arts, and classic literature.
The Social Type
Stationery and gift shop with greeting cards, custom notepads, and pens.
Myrtle
Female-founded boutique of clothing, apothecary, home, and gifts from women designers.
Esqueleto
Sunset Blvd jewelry shop of handcrafted pieces and local artisan goods.
Shout & About
Colorful stationery-and-gift boutique with cards, jewelry, plants, and gifty items.
Alchemy Works
Traction Ave retail and gallery hybrid mixing fashion, home goods, and rotating local makers.
Now Serving
Husband-and-wife cookbook and kitchenware shop in Chinatown's Far East Plaza.
Chunky Things
Chinatown Central Plaza gift shop where everything is designed by an artist duo.
Landis' Labyrinth Toy Shop
Family-run classic toy shop of timeless and modern toys, puzzles, and games.
Chevalier's Books
LA's oldest independent bookstore (1940), a Larchmont hub with a strong kids' section.
Landis Gifts & Stationery
Family-run Larchmont stationer doing custom invitations, calligraphy, and paper goods.
Village Heights
Cozy Larchmont gift shop stocking candles, kitchenware, jewelry, and home trinkets.
Giggles LA
Neighborhood baby-and-toddler boutique with curated clothing, toys, books, and gifts.
Toy Crazy
Independent toy shop at the Brentwood Country Mart curated by a longtime toy-trade owner.
Sugar Paper
LA letterpress studio and stationery boutique making cards and invitations in its own shop.
Pygmy Hippo Shoppe
Quirky W. 3rd Street shop of handmade gifts, letterpress cards, and trinkets by LA artisans.
Wasteland
Landmark Melrose vintage and consignment store with a sharply curated secondhand mix.
TenOverSix
Playful indie boutique stocking LA-based labels plus gifts, books, and home goods.
Mohawk General Store
Husband-and-wife indie boutique mixing international designers with local ceramics.
Melrose Trading Post
Sunday flea market at Fairfax High with ~200 vendors of vintage and handcrafted art.
Jet Rag
La Brea vintage warehouse famed for its chaotic Sunday $1 clothing-bin sale.
Iron Curtain Press
Indie letterpress studio-and-shop hand-printing cards and notebooks with custom work.
CH Boutique
Larchmont Village boutique of imported Italian clothing, jewelry, scarves, and gifts.
Wittmore
Independent men's shop curating well-made clothing from emerging designers.
Blue Rooster Art Supplies
Independent art-supply store championing indie suppliers and creativity workshops.
Squaresville
Long-running indie vintage and consignment shop with affordable retro clothing.
Lost & Found
Pioneering lifestyle boutique of small clothing lines, textiles, and handcrafted home pieces.
Listings are curated and may change — confirm hours and details before you go.