Skip to content

Los Angeles family guide

Things to Do in Montrose with Kids

Montrose is a foothill community in the Crescenta Valley whose walkable core, the Montrose Shopping Park along Honolulu Avenue, keeps an old-fashioned main-street feel with local shops and cafes. Every Sunday the avenue closes to cars for a long-running farmers market that adds produce stands, prepared food, and family activities. Its setting below the San Gabriel Mountains gives easy access to nearby foothill trails.

Curated by Simir Shah

Reviewed & updated August 2026 · we check listings regularly, but hours and prices change — confirm before you go.

Montrose on the map

📍 Where Montrose is

Montrose sits in Los Angeles, Southern California. Nearest major airport: Hollywood Burbank (~8 mi / 12 km). It's roughly 11 mi (17 km) from Downtown LA and 120 mi (193 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.

💡 Local tip: The Sunday market is walkable and often cash-friendly, so bring small bills and arrive earlier for the widest selection of produce.

Family attractions near Montrose

The closest kid-friendly attractions in neighboring towns — with driving distance from Montrose.

Farmers markets in Montrose

Sunday · 8am–1pm

Montrose Harvest Market

Sunday market on Honolulu Ave in the Montrose Shopping Park with certified SoCal produce, flowers, and prepared foods in a walkable village.

See all SoCal farmers markets →

Local restaurants in Montrose

Breakfast & Brunch

The Black Cow Cafe

Montrose's quintessential neighborhood cafe on the Honolulu Ave strip — hearty all-day comfort food and a big weekend breakfast, with sidewalk patio seating.

See all local SoCal restaurants →

Local shops in Montrose

Toys & Games

Tom's Toys

Family toy store on Honolulu Ave with quality brands and classic generational toys.

Books & Stationery

The Paper Rabbit

Charming Honolulu Ave stationery shop with unique paper goods and creative gifts.

Gifts & Home

Sidebloom

Independent Honolulu Ave shop among Montrose's best local gift and home stores.

Books & Stationery

Once Upon A Time Bookstore

America's oldest children's bookstore, founded 1966 on Honolulu Avenue, with books, gifts, and greeting cards for all ages.

Books & Stationery

Once Upon A Time

An enchanting indie children's and general bookstore with a plant-filled entrance, billed as one of California's oldest children's bookstores.

Kids & Baby

It Takes a Village...Kids

Children's clothing from infant to size 14 on the walkable Montrose Shopping Park strip.

See all local SoCal shops →

Seasonal & outdoors near Montrose

The closest splash pads, patches, lights and more — distances from Montrose.

More Los Angeles family guides

Browse all SoCal city guides →

Montrose family FAQ

Where can families eat in Montrose?

Local, family-friendly spots in Montrose include The Black Cow Cafe — independent, SoCal-only eateries, never national chains.

What does the YourSoCal Montrose guide cover?

Our Montrose family guide includes 1 local eats, 6 local shops and 1 farmers market — all hand-curated, locally owned, and sorted by distance from you.

Listings are curated and may change — confirm hours and details before you go.