Photo courtesy of Pretend City

LAUSD schools are closed from December 19, 2022 through January 9, 2023 for the holiday break. If you're taking advantage of this long vacation to travel, be sure to check our other cities for the coolest things to do all over the US. We’ve got whole sites dedicated to the best things to do with kids in most major US cities, complete with calendars filled with events for each and every day. Heck, even if you’re traveling abroad, we’ve got you covered!

If you're staying in town and plan to visit multiple attractions in the Los Angeles area (we’re looking at you, people with visiting relatives you’ll be squiring around town), it’s worth it to look into a Go City - Los Angeles All-Inclusive Pass or Explorer Pass which includes entry to Legoland, Universal, Warner Bros., Knott's Berry Farm, Six Flags Magic Mountain, the Aquarium of the Pacific, the San Diego Zoo, the LA Zoo, and more—all for one ticket price.

1. Pretend City

Yes, this is always a fabulous museum for the under 7 set. But one of the reasons we really recommend visiting during winter break is that the museum is fabulous at holiday programming. Whatever your family celebrates, this little hands-on museum has an event for you: from Christmas countdowns to Kwanzaa celebrations to Noon Year’s Eve and more.

2. Moorpark Teaching Zoo

See the rescued animals perform in animal shows, assisted by students at Moorpark College. If you go before Christmas, you can take part in Wild Nights and Disco Lights.

3. Avatar: The Way of the Water 3D at the El Capitan

You could see the sequel to James Cameron's fan-favorite animated saga—in 3D—at the grandest movie theater in town! Also, this movie is loooong. It'll eat up a good chunk of your day.

RELATED: Holiday Light Shows and Christmas Lights in Los Angeles

 
Row, row, row your boat, gently down the sand? Photo courtesy of Kidspace Children's Museum

4. Kidspace Children's Museum

Pasadena's kid heaven is a must for anyone growing up in LA. This winter vacation, kids can take part in the second annual Winter Frolic, complete with a Sock Skating Rink.

5. International Printing Museum

 History comes to life in this Carson museum showcasing the history of printing. This lesser-known museum is one of our favorite hidden gems.

6. Pacific Marine Mammal Center

Pay a visit to the rescued sea lions at this seaside center. Let me say that again: visit adorable rescue sea lions! What are you waiting for?

7. Enchanted Forest of Light

Wander the woods of Descanso Gardens in the evening, and bring your camera for lots of photo opportunities.

RELATED: Visiting the Aquarium of the Pacific with Kids

 
Explore the Leo Carrillo Tide Pools in Malibu. Photo courtesy of Yes for State Parks

8. Cabrillo Marine Aquarium

Explore the tidepools and marine life at this gem of an aquarium. Did you know tidepooling is best in the winter? True fact.

9. 2023 Rose Parade

Attend events before, after, or during this iconic parade. You could even help decorate a float!

10. Battleship Iowa

Tour the historic ship down on the LA Waterfront. Be sure to check the website in advance because it's occasionally closed for private events.

11. MB2 Entertainment in Santa Clarita

Spend the day with bumper boats, go karts, bowling, VR, arcade games, laser tag, axe throwing, mini golf, and more.

12. Astra Lumina

Visit the South Coast Botanic Gardens at night for an enchanting night walk. Depending on where you live in LA, Palos Verdes at night can be too much of a drive on a regular night. But during the holidays, with no traffic, it's a breeze!

13. CAMP

CAMP opened a new store at the Westfield Century City mall. Step behind the magic door to discover the ever-changing fun. This winter break, the theme is Nike Kids Camp. It's like camp without paying for camp. Perfect.

RELATED: Where To Go Snow Tubing in Los Angeles

 
A gingerbread Hogwarts illustrates the Science of Gingerbread. Photo courtesy of Discovery Cube, Facebook

14. Science of Gingerbread

Build and learn holiday-style at the Discovery Cube. This is perhaps the greatest holiday museum exhibit in town, and this year it's at both the OC and LA locations. If you're willing to drive south, the Orange County location has a new Winter Lights musical spectacular from December 16-January 8.

15. Santa Barbara Zoo

Head north (maybe on the train?) to a great little zoo that feels like an adventure.

16. Over-the-top holiday lights walk-thrus and Christmas light shows

See some really awesome light shows and displays, on a night when you don't have to get up for school the next morning.

17. Over-the-top neighborhood holiday lights and Christmas lights

Take a drive to see amazing neighborhood Christmas lights.

18. Ice skate downtown

Skate at LA Live. It’s not Rockefeller Plaza, but it’s not too shabby! There are more places to ice skate in the LA area, too!    

RELATED: Snow Play Near Los Angeles

 
Visit Little Tokyo for great food, shopping, and culture. Photo by Florent Lamoureux, Flickr

19. Little Tokyo

Spend an afternoon steeped in Japanese culture.

20. Mini golf

Tee off with the whole family in a game of golf. Because, you know, it's not snowing here!

21. The Proud Bird Food Bazaar

Have a bite and a holiday drink, while your kids watch the planes and explore the airplane playground at the place recently named LA’s hottest new food hall by Food Network.

22. Huntington Library

Visit the gardens and exhibits in this gorgeous museum. The Children’s Garden is open again and the newer additions to the Chinese Garden are spectacular. Be sure to check out the special exhibit Inspiring Walt Disney: The Animation of French Decorative Arts, which is on display all winter.

23. Autry National Center

Learn some real cowboy history, and check out the new family play space that just opened up this fall!

RELATED: Best Things To Do with Kids in Lake Arrowhead

 
Check out a great museum that kids and adults alike love. Grammy Museum photo courtesy of Mommy Poppins

24. Grammy Museum

Rock out at this unique music museum.

25. Broad Museum

The kid-favorite exhibit, Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirrored Room—The Souls of Millions of Light Years Away, is open again. After that, the bright colors of the Warhol, Basquiat, and Lichtenstein exhibits delight kids.

26. San Juan Capistrano

See why the swallows are so into this place.

27. La Habra Children's Museum

Take a drive to this hands-on museum.

28. Skypark at Santa's Village

Take a longer drive up into the mountains, for Lake Arrowhead's delightful Santastic theme park.

29. Olvera Street

Enjoy some treats (Mr. Churro!) and shop on DTLA's iconic, oldest street.

30. Noah's Ark

Visit the Skirball's wonderful, endlessly entertaining play space.

RELATED: What's Open on Christmas Day in Los Angeles

The peacocks at the LA Arboretum don't go on vacation. Photo by the author

31. Los Angeles Arboretum

Hang with the peacocks on over 120 acres of natural beauty. Or head over in the evening for Lightscape at the Arboretum.

32. Hansen Dam

The fabulous Discovery Cube LA used to be our whole reason for coming here. But while you’re visiting the Science of Gingerbread exhibit (mentioned above), don’t sleep on Hansen Dam Park’s other wonders, like the wide open spaces, bike paths, and natural beauty around the mini-lake.

33. Go on a sand sledding adventure

Head up the coast to the giant sand hill on PCH in Point Mugu State Park.

34. Ventura Harbor

Take a Boat Sleigh ride to see the holiday lights in the harbor.

35. Whale watching cruise

The season of the Pacific Gray Whale is just beginning, and boats are taking families on cruises.

36. Redondo Pier

When there's traffic on the 405 it sounds far away, but a drive to Redondo is an easy escape at this time of year. Stroll the pier, the beach, and get some takeout.

37. South Coast Botanic Gardens

Get lost amid the greenery and trails that are the garden less traveled for Angelenos who typically visit Descanso or the Arboretum.

38. Christmas Nights at 123 Farm

Take advantage of the non-existent traffic to drive out to these lovely lavender fields that are all lit up for the holidays.

RELATED: The Most Over the Top Desserts in Los Angeles

 
The Cupcake ATM is always open.  Photo by the author

39. Cupcake ATM in Beverly Hills

Hit the ATM any time of the day or night for a classic red velvet confection. There are Cupcake ATMs all over town now (at the Americana in Glendale, Hollywood & Highland, USC, LAX, and more!) but we're still partial to the original one in Beverly Hills.

40. Wander to winter at a local ski slope or tubing park

 Hit the slopes or go sledding or for the day.

41. Camarillo Outlets or The Citadel

Do some outlet store shopping for great deals—especially after Christmas.

RELATED: Winter Activities Guide for LA Kids

Art is everywhere you look. Photo by Jackie Jones

42. Check out the street art scene

Art is everywhere. Take pics with Wild Things and against the second most photographed wall in the world (behind the Great Wall of China!).

43. Balboa Island

Take a walk, smell the salt air, and enjoy some food or snacks at one of the great local restaurants.

44. Festival of Lights

See the famous festival at Riverside's Mission Inn.

45. Local Farmers Market

Go out and get some fresh fruits and flowers and savor living in LA, while the rest of the country is shopping in the frozen food aisle.

46. Santa Monica Pier

Watch the sunset over the ocean, ride the Ferris wheel, and play a little Skeeball.

47. Tanaka Farms

See the twinkling Festival of Lights or take a tractor ride with Santa through the u-pick fields.

48. Underwood Farms

Even after Christmas on the Farm closes, the Animal Center and Pick Your Own Fields remain open.

49. Trapeze school

Your family can book a class together on the Santa Monica Pier. Soon you’ll all be flying through the air, with the greatest of ease!

 
Take a horseback ride in the heart of the city. Photo courtesy of  Sunset Ranch, Hollywood

50. Horseback ride under the Hollywood Sign

Kids ages 8 and up can take a one or two-hour ride in the storied hills.

51. Pedal around Echo Park Lake

Walk around the lake, bring a picnic lunch, feed the ducks, and then definitely take a pedal around the lake on the swan boats!

52. Holidays at Disneyland

The Happiest Place on Earth becomes the merriest place on Earth this holiday season.

RELATED: Best Amusement Parks for Preschoolers in Los Angeles

 
It's a winter wonderland at Hogwarts. Photo courtesy of Universal Studios

53. Holidays at Universal Studios

At night, Hogwarts Castle is illuminated in a dazzling display of festive lights and music. And the Who-tacular festivities are back with The Grinch, Max, and all the Who-ville denizens.

54. Knott’s Merry Farm

Because where else can you see Merry Christmas, Snoopy!, an ice show featuring the Peanuts Gang and a cast of world-class ice skaters?

55. LACMA

LACMA is under construction, but while many galleries are closed (or rather, while many buildings are missing), you can still visit works of art at the Resnick Pavilion and Broad Contemporary Art Museum. This includes Metropolis II, which can entrance kids for hours.

56. The Academy Museum

While you’re Mid-City, check out the newest museum to open in Los Angeles: the incredible Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. 

RELATED: 25 Things To Do in Newport Beach with Kids

 
The Page Museum at the Tar Pits and a perfect little museum for kids. Photo courtesy of Mommy Poppins

57. La Brea Tar Pits

Visitors can watch paleontologists at work at the excavation site in the park, visit one of the best hills in the city for rolling down, and check out the mammoths stuck in the Lake Pit. And that’s all before you even go inside the museum!

58. Go hiking

Take advantage of the cooler weather to take a nice long hike. We’ve got favorite family hikes, hikes for toddlers, hikes for strollers, and even wildlife walks for little animal lovers.

59. Exposition Park Rose Garden

Take the perfect winter photo-op at Exposition Park's iconic Rose Garden.

60. Malibu Legacy Park is a park for the birds

Literally. It’s part outdoor classroom, part living-learning center, and all fun nature walk filled with giant tile animals to climb on. If kids want to see more birds (and surfers) up close, walk to Malibu Lagoon State Beach across the PCH.

RELATED: An Insider's Guide to LA's Best Garden for Kids

 
Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden is a gorgeous getaway in town. Photo courtesy of japanesegardenpasadena.com

61. Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden

This beautiful, off-the-beaten-path spot is located right across the street from Arlington Gardens in Pasadena. While walk-ins are welcome, the garden recommends registering ahead of time. 

62. California Botanic Garden

Take a drive to Claremont and enjoy a garden you may not have visited before.

63. Bike along the beach

If the kids got new bikes for the holidays, now is the time to test them out on over 20 miles of beach bike paths! But if they didn’t, several bike rental shops are open along the strand from Santa Monica to the South Bay.

64. Walk, jog, or bike the Hollywood Reservoir

With sweeping views of the Hollywood Sign and city skyscrapers, this peaceful lake is both a piece of LA history and a great spot to jog, teach kids to ride bicycles (no cars!), and look for wildlife, right in the heart of the city.

65. Head down to Legoland

And stay into the evening for the Holiday Light Show.

66. Tour LA’s newest stadium

Tickets to see the Rams or Chargers can get a little pricey, but if you want to check out the state-of-the-art SoFi Stadium, you can book tickets for a tour that includes a tunnel run onto the field.

67. Visit the boys in blue during the offseason

Sure you can't catch a ballgame in the winter, but you can do the next best thing with a tour of the iconic Dodger Stadium. 

68. See a game 

Speaking of sports, the Lakers, Clippers, Kings, and Ducks all have home games over the holiday break, so take your little leaguer to see some pros at work.

69. Go to the Upside Down with Stranger Things: The Experience

Even teens who think they're too cool for immersive adventures will get a kick out of Stranger Things: The Experience. I was genuinely surprised by how much fun we had at this as a family.

70. California Science Center

The California Science Center currently has a new exhibit called Amazonia, which is all about life on the Amazon River, along with fascinating and educational exhibits like The Rot Room and the LA Zone.

71. Natural History Museum

The NHM features special exhibits like LA Underwater and an Electron Microscope Lab along with permanent exhibitions like the Dinosaur Hall and Age of Mammals.

RELATED: Why Preschoolers Love the California Science Center

 
Don't miss this LA classic! Photo courtesy of the Bob Baker Marionette Theater

72. Bob Baker’s Nutcracker

If you haven’t ever seen this marionette show, you simply must. It’s an LA classic. 

73. All aboard the Griffith Park & Southern Railroad Train

The Holiday Light Festival Train Ride is back, through Jan. 6, and you do not want to miss it!

74. Holiday Road at King Gillette Ranch

This winter wonderland is complete with everything from the North Pole, Elf Village, Gingerbread Lane, light tunnels, and Christmas tree forests.

75. See the LA Zoo after hours   

Zoo Lights shines at the LA Zoo until Jan. 22.

Originally published on December 21, 2012

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