🏜️ The Valley, Santa Clarita & High Desert
North of LA with kids
Curated by Punita Patel
9 spots within 60 miles of 92692
Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens
Los Angeles (Griffith Park) · Zoo
Hilly and shade-sparse — bring a stroller and water. The LAIR reptile house is a good midday cool-off.
🗓️ Daily; animals head in ~4pm
💵 ~$28 adult / ~$23 child
Get directions →Travel Town Museum
Los Angeles (Griffith Park)
An outdoor railroad museum where toddlers climb on real locomotives — the ride-on train is the kid magnet. Free parking.
🗓️ Closed Mondays; go early on weekends
Get directions →Warner Bros. Studio Tour
Burbank · Studio tour
Best for older kids and TV fans, not toddlers. Central Perk (Friends) and the DC/Superman stops are highlights — reserve ahead.
🗓️ Daily; ~3 hours
💵 ~$76+ adult, timed tickets
Get directions →Wildwood Canyon Park
Burbank
A low-key Burbank foothill park with shaded picnic areas and trails into the Verdugo Mountains.
🗓️ Morning hikes; shaded picnic areas
Get directions →Hesperia Lake Park & Campground
Hesperia · Park, fishing & camping
No state fishing license needed — you just pay and fish, which makes it great for first-time and kid anglers. Fire rings and a nature trail too.
🗓️ Spring/fall ideal; fish early in summer
💵 Park free; pay-to-fish $25/adult
Get directions →Bob's Big Boy (Googie landmark)
Burbank
The historic 1949 Googie landmark and home of the original double-decker burger — kids love the Big Boy statue and the car shows.
🗓️ Open late; classic-car nights
Get directions →Devil's Punchbowl Natural Area
Pearblossom
At ~4,700 ft it's cooler than the valley floor. The 1-mile loop down into the rock formation is the payoff (a real climb back up). Live reptiles and raptors at the nature center.
🗓️ Best fall–spring; closed Mondays
Get directions →Fryman Canyon / Wilacre Park
Studio City · Hiking
A ~3-mile loop — the Valley's calmer answer to Runyon Canyon, with restrooms, water and a real parking lot.
🗓️ Morning before heat & crowds
💵 Free trail; parking ~$7/2hr
Get directions →NoHo Arts District
North Hollywood
A walkable square mile of small theaters, murals and restaurants — and the Metro B Line stops here for a rare car-free Valley outing.
🗓️ Daytime for murals & cafes
Get directions →Where to eat north of LA
Valley institutions and Route 66 classics — from Porto's to a 1940s High-Desert diner.
Porto's Bakery & Cafe
BurbankCuban bakery
Beloved for potato balls, guava-cheese rolls and cheap cakes — inexpensive, fast and kid-pleasing. Also in Glendale.
Bob's Big Boy
BurbankAmerican diner
The historic 1949 Googie diner — the original double-decker burger, open late, classic-car nights, and a Big Boy statue for photos.
Brent's Deli
NorthridgeJewish deli
An iconic SFV deli with huge sandwiches and matzo-ball soup; a second location is in Westlake Village. Family-sized portions.
Maria's Italian Kitchen
Sherman OaksItalian
A family-style Italian mini-chain across the Valley (Encino, Woodland Hills, Northridge) — kid-friendly pasta and pizza.
Emma Jean's Holland Burger Cafe
VictorvilleRoute 66 diner
A tiny, authentic 1940s Route 66 diner (it's in Kill Bill Vol. 2) — breakfast and burgers, Tue–Sun.
Molly Brown's Country Cafe
VictorvilleBreakfast & brunch
Frequently voted best breakfast in the High Desert — big country breakfasts, family casual, multiple locations.
Salt Creek Grille
ValenciaAmerican steakhouse
Upscale-casual mesquite grill at Valencia Town Center — a patio and a kids' menu make it the SCV family-celebration go-to.
Egg Plantation
NewhallBreakfast
A longtime SCV breakfast favorite in Old Town Newhall (daily 6am–2pm) — a big omelet menu, family casual.
Handel's Homemade Ice Cream
Santa ClaritaIce cream
A scoop shop with two SCV locations and a huge rotating flavor list — the post-park reward.
Events worth planning around
Antelope Valley Fair & Alfalfa Festival
Aug–SepLancaster — The region's largest county fair — carnival, livestock, concerts and food at the AV Fair & Event Center.
California Poppy Festival
AprilLancaster — The City of Lancaster's festival (distinct from the reserve) — rides, entertainment and food at the AV Fair grounds.
Antelope Valley Poppy Bloom
Mar–AprLancaster — The annual wildflower bloom at the Poppy Reserve — peak timing shifts yearly with rainfall and is short and weather-dependent. Check the hotline.
Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival
AprilSanta Clarita — A Western-heritage festival at William S. Hart Park — music, living history and family programming.
SCV Concerts in the Park
Jul–Aug (Saturdays)Santa Clarita — A free summer concert series at Central Park — picnic-friendly and very family-oriented.
Streets of Lancaster Grand Prix
SeptemberLancaster — Pro go-kart racing down downtown Lancaster Blvd — free spectating with a festival atmosphere.
Light Up Main Street
NovemberSanta Clarita (Old Town Newhall) — A holiday kickoff with a tree lighting, food trucks and kids' activities.
San Bernardino County Fair
MayVictorville — The High Desert's county fair — carnival, livestock and concerts. The location gets hot and windy; go for an evening session.
Tapia Bros. Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze
OctoberEncino — The SFV's main pumpkin patch since 1984 — corn maze, train ride and petting zoo on weekends.
Underwood Family Farms Fall Festival
Sep–OctMoorpark — A big fall festival just west of the SFV — pumpkin patch, animals and rides; a top draw for Valley families.
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Things to do with kids in each city, sorted by distance from you.
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Frequently asked questions
What's there to do north of LA with kids?
More than you'd think across four areas. In the San Fernando Valley: Travel Town, the LA Zoo, Lake Balboa and Sherman Oaks Castle Park. In Santa Clarita: Six Flags Magic Mountain, Vasquez Rocks, William S. Hart Park (free, with animals) and the Gentle Barn. In the Antelope Valley: the Poppy Reserve, Devil's Punchbowl and the Blackbird Airpark. In the High Desert: the Route 66 Museum, Mojave Narrows and Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch.
When do the Antelope Valley poppies bloom?
Roughly mid-March to early May, peaking late March–April — but it's highly weather-dependent and some years are barely a bloom. Don't drive out on faith: check the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve's Wildflower Hotline or PoppyCam first, and go on a sunny, calm day (the flowers close in wind, cloud or cold).
Is Magic Mountain good for little kids?
It's the coaster capital of the world, so it's best for older kids and teen thrill-seekers. Younger kids have Bugs Bunny World, but the park as a whole skews intense. Go on a weekday or at rope-drop to beat the lines, and bring lots of water — Valencia bakes in summer. Hurricane Harbor next door is the better pick for younger families.
What about the High Desert heat?
Summers in Victorville, Lancaster and Palmdale get very hot. Save outdoor spots (the poppy reserve, Saddleback Butte, Mojave Narrows) for spring and fall, or go early morning. On hot days, lean on the indoor, air-conditioned options like the Route 66 Museum and Lancaster's MOAH.