Los Angeles family guide
Things to Do in Rolling Hills Estates with Kids
Curated by Simir Shah
Reviewed & updated August 2026 · we check listings regularly, but hours and prices change — confirm before you go.
Rolling Hills Estates on the map
📍 Where Rolling Hills Estates is
Rolling Hills Estates sits in Los Angeles, Southern California. Nearest major airport: LAX (Los Angeles Intl) (~11 mi / 18 km). It's roughly 20 mi (32 km) from Downtown LA and 101 mi (162 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 Rolling Hills Estates? Start hereRec classes, library cards, school lookup, alerts and getting around.OpenClose
- Rec classes: RHE lists classes, tennis and youth sports at Ernie Howlett Park in its Rec1 catalog; set up the parent's account first.
- Library card: Peninsula Center Library on Silver Spur Road is a Palos Verdes Library District branch; cards are for California residents and last 10 years.
- Student cards: PVPUSD students automatically get a PVLD Student Success Card for online library resources, with no fines or fees.
- Find your school: RHE is in Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified; the School Locator lists your elementary and intermediate schools.
- Nature storytime: George F Canyon Nature Center offers Nature & Me Storytime and first-Saturday nature walks, with sign-ups through the Land Conservancy.
- Alerts & zones: Text RHEalerts to 888-777 for Alert SouthBay notices, and look up your evacuation zone at PVPReady.gov.
- City events: The city's events include the Palos Verdes Street Fair, Concert in the Park, Movie Nights and Kids to Parks Day.
- Getting around: PV Transit runs weekday-only routes across the Peninsula, with no service on federal holidays.
- Local insider: RHE keeps a network of equestrian trails, and the Peter Weber Equestrian Center offers riding lessons.
Things to do in Rolling Hills Estates
Parks & Hiking
Chandler Park
A 3.5-acre park next to City Hall at Crenshaw Blvd and Palos Verdes Dr N, ringed by towering pepper trees. It has an equestrian ring and more than two acres of open grass for kites, frisbee, catch or a picnic.
Free; park in the City Hall lotChandler Preserve
Twenty-seven acres of open space for hiking and horseback riding, north of the Dapplegray ball fields and west of Rolling Hills Country Club. Expect to share the dirt trails with horses; hikers yield to riders.
FreeFounders Park (natural play)
The city's newest park, at the northeast corner of Palos Verdes Dr E and Palos Verdes Dr N, opened with a ribbon cutting in winter 2024. It has natural play equipment, benches and picnic tables, and is named for the first city council. It's close to George F Canyon for a short hike afterward.
FreeRockbluff Park
A 1.5-acre neighborhood park at the end of the Rockbluff Drive cul-de-sac, with playground equipment, benches and open lawn. It's quiet and tucked away, so it suits toddlers.
FreeThe Hills Are Alive 5K/10K Run/Walk
A community race on the city's bridle trails, starting and finishing at Ernie Howlett Park. Strollers and dogs aren't allowed on the course, so it suits older kids who can walk or run 5K on dirt.
$40 standard ($30 early; $45 race day)Ernie Howlett Park
A 35-acre city park at 25851 Hawthorne Blvd with varied playground equipment, picnic tables, multipurpose fields, a basketball court and a sand volleyball court — a big open-space stop. The park office is at 310-541-4585.
FreeHighridge Park
A 10.5-acre park at 29035 Highridge Rd with playground equipment, picnic tables, barbecue pits, restrooms, soccer fields, a youth ball field and about a mile of running track with par-course stations — a good picnic-plus-run stop.
FreeAnimals & Nature
Earth Day Celebration
A family event at City Hall (4045 Palos Verdes Dr N) with a scavenger hunt, hands-on crafts, giveaways and 4-H club animals to meet. The free drive-thru shredding is for RHE residents and businesses only.
FreeSouth Coast Botanic Garden
An 87-acre garden at 26300 Crenshaw Blvd with free parking and seasonal kids' programs. The county ended Free Tuesdays in 2025, but EBT cardholders get free daytime entry (up to 2 adults and 4 kids per household). The separately ticketed evening Sunset Series adds kids' games on the Lower Meadow.
$18 adult; $14 seniors 62+ and students; $8 ages 3–12; under 3 free; free parkingPeter Weber Equestrian Center (pony rides & petting zoo)
A working equestrian center at 26401 Crenshaw Blvd offering pony rides, a petting zoo, hay rides, birthday parties, field trips and kids' camps. Pony rides and the petting zoo are by appointment only — call the barn at 310-541-9487; payment is cash or check, and a signed liability form is required.
Pony rides $50 per pony per half hour (1 child per pony); petting zoo $50 per half hour (max 3 kids, extra child $10)George F Canyon Nature Preserve & Stein/Hale Nature Trail
A canyon trail at 27305 Palos Verdes Dr E, managed with the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy. The city is building a new nature center, so the canyon and trails stay open but there's no parking inside the construction site — use street parking. The Conservancy leads monthly guided nature walks; check pvplc.org.
Free
Arts & Culture
Concert in the Park at Ernie Howlett Park
The city's free summer concert on the Howlett Park lawn, open to all ages, with shaved ice for sale in 2026. Alcohol is prohibited, and so are canopies and umbrellas (they block views), so bring hats and sunscreen.
FreePalos Verdes Peninsula Holiday Parade of Lights
The city's lighted holiday parade with floats, marching bands, community groups and Santa. It runs along Silver Spur Rd, Roxcove Dr and Deep Valley Dr through the Promenade on the Peninsula to Norris Center Dr. Road closures start at 4pm, so park early at one of the free shopping-center lots.
Free; free parking at Town & Country Center, Peninsula Shopping Center and Promenade PVPalos Verdes Street Fair & Music Festival
The Chamber of Commerce's three-day fair at 501 Deep Valley Dr, with carnival rides, two days of live bands, artisan and food vendors, a kids' art zone, and pony rides and a petting zoo. Friday is a teen-night carnival. Free parking is at the Peninsula High School lot and on Silver Spur Rd and Bart Earle Way.
Free admission and parking; carnival wristbands extra (presale $45 in 2026)Summer Movie Nights at Ernie Howlett Park
Free family movies on the lawn at Ernie Howlett Park, starting at dusk. Bring a blanket or beach chairs and your own snacks.
FreeHolidays in Rolling Hills Estates
Lights, parades, Santa and more this season. Confirm details with the organizer before you go.
Tinker Bell's Neverland: An Illuminated Adventure
Confirmed Nov 13, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027, nightly 5:30 to 8:30pm, closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day
A new Peter Pan themed light trail through the botanic garden, from a glowing London skyline to the Lost Boys' hideout and Crocodile Creek.
$$ ticketed via Fever; parking extra
Local restaurants in Rolling Hills Estates
Giorgio's
Italian spot at 777 Deep Valley Dr with pizzas on house dough and whole-milk mozzarella, plus homemade pastas such as lasagna, gnocchi and ravioli, weekday lunch specials and curbside pickup.
Kim's BBQ
Korean BBQ at 871 Silver Spur Rd with tabletop grilling, hot stone bibimbap, dumplings and stews, open daily, with party bookings and catering for birthdays and family gatherings.
Dragonfly Thai
Thai restaurant at 50 Peninsula Center, Suite A, with curry puffs, milk-tea boba and party trays sized for groups. Closed Sunday.
Seasonal & outdoors near Rolling Hills Estates
The closest splash pads, patches, lights and more — distances from Rolling Hills Estates.
More Los Angeles family guides
Rolling Hills Estates family FAQ
What are the best things to do in Rolling Hills Estates with kids?
Family favorites in and around Rolling Hills Estates include Earth Day Celebration, South Coast Botanic Garden, Concert in the Park at Ernie Howlett Park and Palos Verdes Peninsula Holiday Parade of Lights, and more. Our guide lists 16 spots, each with a price note and practical tips where we have them.
Are there free things to do in Rolling Hills Estates?
Yes — free family spots near Rolling Hills Estates include Earth Day Celebration, Concert in the Park at Ernie Howlett Park, Palos Verdes Peninsula Holiday Parade of Lights and Palos Verdes Street Fair & Music Festival. Our free things to do page lists more across Southern California.
How can families spend a day in Rolling Hills Estates?
One easy plan: start outside at Earth Day Celebration while kids have the most energy, break for lunch at Giorgio's, then head indoors to Peninsula Center Library (Palos Verdes Library District) for the afternoon. Our guide has prices and tips for each stop, plus 14 more ideas to swap in.
Where can families eat in Rolling Hills Estates?
Local, family-friendly spots in Rolling Hills Estates include Giorgio's, Kim's BBQ and Dragonfly Thai — independent, SoCal-only eateries, never national chains.
What does the YourSoCal Rolling Hills Estates guide cover?
Our Rolling Hills Estates family guide includes 16 things to do and 3 local eats — with independent, non-chain eats and shops.
Listings are curated and may change — confirm hours and details before you go.
Where to stay in Rolling Hills Estates
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