Los Angeles family guide
Things to Do in Studio City with Kids
Curated by Simir Shah
Reviewed & updated August 2026 · we check listings regularly, but hours and prices change — confirm before you go.
Studio City on the map
📍 Where Studio City is
Studio City sits in Los Angeles, Southern California. Nearest major airport: Hollywood Burbank (~4 mi / 7 km). It's roughly 10 mi (17 km) from Downtown LA and 121 mi (195 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 Studio City? Start hereRec classes, library cards, school lookup, alerts and getting around.OpenClose
- Rec classes & camps: Studio City is part of LA City, so classes, day camps and pools are booked through LA Recreation and Parks.
- Rec center: Studio City Recreation Center at 12621 Rye St. has been closed since September 2024, but its park amenities remain open.
- Library card: Studio City is served by the Los Angeles Public Library; LA City residents can get an e-card online instantly.
- Library branch: Studio City Branch Library at 12511 Moorpark St. runs Baby & Toddler Storytime (sign-up required) and drop-in STAR volunteer storytimes.
- Find your school: Studio City's public schools are LAUSD; enter your address in the Resident School Identifier to see assigned schools.
- Year-round pool: The nearest heated year-round city pool is Van Nuys Sherman Oaks Pool at 14201 Huston St.
- Alerts: Sign up for NotifyLA, the City of LA's emergency alert system, by phone, text or email for your address.
- Hillside fire safety: LAFD's Ready, Set, Go guide covers defensible space and evacuation steps for LA's hillside neighborhoods.
- Student bus passes: LAUSD and other participating students ride Metro free with a GoPass picked up at school; 2026-27 passes work through September 2027.
Things to do in Studio City
Parks & Hiking
Fryman Canyon / Wilacre Park
A ~3-mile loop — the Valley's calmer answer to Runyon Canyon, with restrooms, water and a real parking lot.
Free trail; parking ~$7/2hr
Moorpark Park
A small pocket park with a children's play area and picnic tables, about half a mile east of the Studio City library on the same street. It works well for a quick run-around before or after storytime.
Free
North Weddington Recreation Center
A small neighborhood rec center just north of Universal City, with an indoor gym, a children's play area, lighted handball courts and picnic tables. Fall 2026 programs included a beginners' basketball class for ages 5–6 and youth leagues. If you're planning a party, it issues permits for picnics and moon bounces.
Free park; classes and leagues have fees
Studio City Recreation Center
LA City Parks lists one of its Universally Accessible Playgrounds here, and the playground, basketball and tennis courts, and open lawn stay open while the old building is replaced with a new 12,000 sq ft rec center. All indoor programming has been suspended since the September 2024 closure, so don't come for classes until the reopening is announced.
FreeWoodbridge Park
A neighborhood park on Moorpark Street with a children's play area, picnic tables, walking paths and outdoor fitness equipment. It's an easy toddler stop rather than a destination, and there's no rec building on site.
FreeZev Yaroslavsky L.A. River Greenway Trail
A half-mile walking path on the north bank of the LA River between Whitsett and Coldwater Canyon avenues, planted with native habitat and lined with artistic gates and interpretive panels about the river. The main entrance is a handcrafted gate on Whitsett Avenue. It's flat and short enough for little walkers.
FreeMuseums & Learning
Campo de Cahuenga
The 1950 replica adobe marks the site LA City Parks calls the birthplace of California. It's State Historical Landmark No. 151 and LA Cultural-Historic Monument No. 29, with exhibits covering the mission, rancho, stagecoach and Civil War eras. Foundations of the original adobe, uncovered during Metro Red Line construction, are part of the site, and it sits across Lankershim Blvd from Universal City, so a short visit pairs easily with a Universal day.
Free (no admission fee listed)Studio City Branch Library (LAPL)
This Los Angeles Public Library branch runs Baby & Toddler Storytime on Wednesday mornings (recent sessions were 10:30 and 11:30am, with sign-up required). There are also volunteer STAR storytimes, a monthly drop-in kids' craft, and BARK sessions where kids read to a therapy dog. It has a parking lot and lends sensory kits and birdwatching kits.
Free
More for families in Studio City
From our researched guides: the Studio City spots for indoor playgrounds, birthday venues. Hours and prices change, so check the venue's site before you go.
Indoor playgrounds
All SoCal indoor playgrounds →We Rock the Spectrum – Studio City
An inclusive sensory gym with swings, trampoline, zip line and a crafts room — calm, safe open play for toddlers and young kids.
$ per child
Venue website ↗Birthday party venues
All SoCal birthday venues →Color Me Mine
Paint-your-own ceramics; kids decorate a keepsake at a reserved table, glazing and firing included.
$$
Farmers markets in Studio City
Studio City Farmers Market
A popular Valley Sunday market with produce, food stalls, pony rides, and a petting zoo for kids.
Local restaurants in Studio City
Carney's
Hot dogs and chili burgers served from a bright yellow train car, a fun novelty stop for kids.
Highly Likely
Old-school-diner-style all-day cafe with breakfast bowls, burgers and coffee for the whole family.
Vitello's
A Studio City Italian mainstay since 1964, tucked in a cozy village setting — California-inspired pastas and classics in a warm, neighborly room.
Aroma Cafe
European-style patio in Tujunga Village with pastries, hearty breakfasts, and coffee tucked among a bookshop. A leafy, laid-back spot with kids.
Sushi Yume
Intimate chef-driven omakase bar with some of the Valley's freshest fish. Better suited to a grown-up date.
Local shops in Studio City
Classic Toys
25-year Ventura Blvd fixture stocking nostalgic toys like wind-ups, marbles, and games.
Emerald Forest Gifts & Fine Crafts
Ventura Blvd shop of jewelry, bath and body, baby items, and handcrafted gifts.
Greenwood Shop
A curated wall of houseplants alongside ceramics, candles, home decor, and apothecary goods.
Seasonal & outdoors near Studio City
The closest splash pads, patches, lights and more — distances from Studio City.
Studio City is part of the North of LA family guide — see the region's best things to do, local eats and events.
More Los Angeles family guides
Studio City family FAQ
What are the best things to do in Studio City with kids?
Family favorites in and around Studio City include Fryman Canyon / Wilacre Park, Kids Club at The Shops at Sportsmen's Lodge, Campo de Cahuenga and Studio City Branch Library (LAPL), and more. Our guide lists 10 spots, each with a price note and practical tips where we have them.
Are there free things to do in Studio City?
Yes — free family spots near Studio City include Kids Club at The Shops at Sportsmen's Lodge, Campo de Cahuenga, Studio City Branch Library (LAPL) and Moorpark Park. Our free things to do page lists more across Southern California.
Where can families eat in Studio City?
Local, family-friendly spots in Studio City include Carney's, Highly Likely, Vitello's and Aroma Cafe, and more — independent, SoCal-only eateries, never national chains.
What does the YourSoCal Studio City guide cover?
Our Studio City family guide includes 10 things to do, 5 local eats, 3 local shops and 1 farmers market — with independent, non-chain eats and shops.
Listings are curated and may change — confirm hours and details before you go.
Where to stay in Studio City
Hotels & rentals via Stay22 · we may earn a commissionCompare hotels, resorts, and vacation rentals near Studio City on one map — then book on your favorite site.