Los Angeles family guide
Things to Do in Santa Monica with Kids
Curated by Simir Shah
Reviewed & updated August 2026 · we check listings regularly, but hours and prices change — confirm before you go.
Santa Monica on the map
📍 Where Santa Monica is
Santa Monica sits in Los Angeles, Southern California. Nearest major airport: LAX (Los Angeles Intl) (~7 mi / 12 km). It's roughly 14 mi (23 km) from Downtown LA and 118 mi (190 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 Santa Monica
Annenberg Community Beach House
A restored 1920s Hearst-era beach estate turned public beach house — splash pad, playground, a historic pool, and the Marion Davies Guest House, funded by a $27.5 million Annenberg Foundation grant. Architect Julia Morgan designed the original oceanfront compound for Hearst and actress Marion Davies, whose 1930s-era parties drew guests like Clark Gable and Charlie Chaplin. The site reopened to the public in 2009 after decades as a private beach club.
Free grounds, splash pad & playground; pool has separate paid admission
Santa Monica Pier & Pacific Park
Iconic oceanfront pier with a solar-powered Ferris wheel, roller coaster, midway games, and an aquarium.
Pier free; ride wristbands ~$40
Heal the Bay Aquarium
A small, 4,500-square-foot aquarium tucked beneath the Santa Monica Pier, run since 2003 by the nonprofit Heal the Bay (founded in 1985 to protect LA's coastal waters). Around 100 local species live here, and hands-on touch tanks let kids handle sea stars, urchins, and hermit crabs.
~$5 suggested; kids under 12 free
Cayton Children's Museum
This 21,000-square-foot museum on the third level of Santa Monica Place packs in more than 20 hands-on exhibits for ages 0-8, including a full-size helicopter, a Coast Guard rescue boat, and a vintage fire truck kids can climb through. It opened in 2019 as the successor to the longtime Zimmer Children's Museum, carrying forward 30+ years of values-based, imaginative play.
~$20 per person
Third Street Promenade
Pedestrian shopping street built as the Santa Monica Mall in 1965 and reborn as the Third Street Promenade after a 1989 redesign. Its signature dinosaur-shaped topiary fountains — stainless-steel and copper sculptures up to 15 feet tall, with water spouting from their mouths — light up at night alongside street performers and shops.
Free to strollFarmers markets in Santa Monica
Santa Monica Downtown Farmers Market
A huge year-round market with fresh produce, prepared food, and live music the whole family can graze through.
Santa Monica Main Street Farmers Market
A laid-back Sunday market with a kids' play area, pony rides, and food stalls just off the beach.
Festivals & annual events in Santa Monica
What Santa Monica is known for — the events locals plan the year around.
Dia de los Muertos at Santa Monica Pier
The Santa Monica Pier's events list shows Dia de los Muertos on November 1, 2026, free, with art installations, live performances and community altars. The event's own page still shows the 2025 schedule, and no 2026 hours are posted yet. Tip: the 2025 edition was in the Merry-Go-Round building, but 2026 hours and venue are unconfirmed, so check santamonicapier.org before you go.
Free
Local restaurants in Santa Monica
Gilbert's El Indio
Family-run Pico Blvd Mexican mainstay where all nine Rodriguez kids have worked.
Tacos Por Favor
Beloved family-owned Westside taco counter with Puebla family recipes.
Bay Cities Italian Deli & Bakery
Home of the Godmother sub (mortadella, capicola, salami, provolone) with the works on house bread. A beach-day grab-and-go stop, though expect a line.
Classic Pizza
Longtime Pico Blvd pizzeria, a community staple for casual family pizza nights.
Rae's Restaurant
Time-capsule Pico Blvd diner with vinyl booths, housemade biscuits, and cinnamon rolls.
New York Bagel Deli & Bakery
Independent East Coast-style bagel deli and bakery with bagels, sandwiches, and pastries.
Lunetta
Chef-driven neighborhood all-day diner with local coffee and approachable comfort food.
McConnell's Fine Ice Creams
California ice cream maker since 1949 churning small-batch flavors, a sweet stop after a beach day.
Demitasse
Well-regarded coffee, pastries, and thick hot chocolate. An easy kid treat stop.
Local shops in Santa Monica
The Acorn Store
Specialty shop of natural wooden toys, German playthings, and dress-up — a Waldorf-style haven.
Puzzle Zoo
Iconic Third Street Promenade toy and collectibles store famous for hard-to-find action figures.
Lost & Found
Pair of Main Street shops with independent-designer women's, men's, and kids' apparel.
Angel City Books
Main Street shop for vintage, rare, and collectible books plus vinyl records.
Ten Women Gallery
Artist-run co-op of local women makers with handmade jewelry, ceramics, glass, and prints; you can often meet the maker.
Homage
A tribute to artists and good design, stocking local artist goods, small-studio wares, and artisanal food.
Seasonal & outdoors near Santa Monica
The closest splash pads, patches, lights and more — distances from Santa Monica.
More Los Angeles family guides
Santa Monica family FAQ
What are the best things to do in Santa Monica with kids?
Family favorites in and around Santa Monica include Annenberg Community Beach House, Santa Monica Pier & Pacific Park, Heal the Bay Aquarium and Cayton Children's Museum, and more. Our guide lists 5 spots, each with a price note and practical tips where we have them.
Are there free things to do in Santa Monica?
Yes — free family spots near Santa Monica include Third Street Promenade. Our free things to do page lists more across Southern California.
Where can families eat in Santa Monica?
Local, family-friendly spots in Santa Monica include Gilbert's El Indio, Tacos Por Favor, Bay Cities Italian Deli & Bakery and Classic Pizza, and more — independent, SoCal-only eateries, never national chains.
What does the YourSoCal Santa Monica guide cover?
Our Santa Monica family guide includes 5 things to do, 10 local eats, 6 local shops and 2 farmers markets — with independent, non-chain eats and shops.
Listings are curated and may change — confirm hours and details before you go.
Book Santa Monica tours & tickets
Bookable via Viator · we may earn a commission (no extra cost to you)Bookable experiences, skip-the-line tickets, and tours in Santa Monica — reserved through Viator.
Free cancellationFull-Day Iconic Sights of LA, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Beaches and More
Free cancellationHollywood, Beverly Hills & Celebrity Homes Tour by Open Air Bus
Free cancellationBest of Los Angeles Guided City Tour with 4 Stops and Free Time
Free cancellationLA, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Beach Tour with Hotel Pickup
Free cancellationTour of LA, Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Beach with Hotel Pickup
Free cancellationBest of LA: Hollywood, Griffith, Santa Monica, Venice, and Rodeo
More experiences via GetYourGuide · we may earn a commission (no extra cost to you)
Where to stay in Santa Monica
Hotels & rentals via Stay22 · we may earn a commissionCompare hotels, resorts, and vacation rentals near Santa Monica on one map — then book on your favorite site.