Kylie Williams

Latest posts by Kylie

Guide to the Cayton Children’s Museum in Santa Monica–A Parent Review

Submitted by Kylie Williams on Mon, 08/28/2023 - 4:00pm

Everything at the Cayton has been carefully crafted with one goal in mind: to help create a better world through the power of play.

If you haven’t been to the Cayton Children's Museum in Downtown Santa Monica–or haven’t visited the newly reimagined and rebuilt space since it was the beloved Zimmer–this children’s museum needs to be at the top of your LA Bucket List.

The 21,000-square-foot space dedicated to discovery-based learning, arts and cultural activities, and values-based exploration is both wildly fun and incredibly educational. Plus, everything has been carefully crafted with one lofty and invaluable goal in mind: to help create a better world through the power of play.

My four children–ages 7 months to 7 years–and I recently had the opportunity to visit the beautiful one-of-a-kind nonprofit, and we were wowed by each and every exhibit we explored! Here is our exhaustive guide to everything you need to know about visiting the Cayton Children’s Museum.

Underwood Family Farms in Moorpark: Pick-Your-Own Plus a Whole Lot More

Submitted by Kylie Williams on Sun, 08/27/2023 - 9:05am

You can "moooove" around the farm in a barrel ride! Photo courtesy of Underwood Family Farms

Underwood Family Farms lets kids dig into a homestead life with pick-your-own fruits and veggies, wagon rides, and adorable farm animal encounters. With two Ventura County locations in Moorpark and Somis, Underwood Family Farms is an entertaining rural retreat for a quick day trip from Los Angeles.

Popular seasonal events take place at Underwood Family Farms, like pumpkin patches and Easter egg hunts. The must-have holiday photo ops and the sought-out farm-to-table in-season produce will keep you and your family returning to this beloved farm throughout the year. Read below for insider tips to maximize your visit with kids of all ages when visiting Underwood Family Farms.

Discover more fun on the farm at the best farms in Los Angeles, and see where to go strawberry picking near LA. Explore more agriculture adventures in our guide to the Best Berry Picking and Animal Farms in Los Angeles.

LA's Best Gymnastics Classes and Tumbling Classes for Kids Who Love To Bounce

Submitted by Kylie Williams on Sun, 08/13/2023 - 7:15am

Flip into gymnastics fun! Photo courtesy of Fun & Fit Gymnastic Centers

Gymnastics classes in Los Angeles allow kids to get all that energy out and bounce off the walls and the floor. Some kids want to be the next big Olympic tumbler; others need a padded space to run and maybe figure out a somersault.

My toddlers love a good, colorful gymnastics space. The foam pits, trampolines, giant mats, and balance beams are the perfect way to gain body awareness, learn listening skills, and maintain balance. If you are looking for gymnastics classes that are child-centered, non-competitive, and possibly closer to home, one of these kids' gyms may be just your speed.

Classes keep the kiddos entertained while learning and honing new skills, so in addition to gymnastics classes, sign them up for sports classes in Los Angeles and LA's best dance classes. Find even more class ideas in our Classes Guide for Los Angeles Kids.

Adventure Playground in Huntington Beach Reopens After a Four Year Hiatus

Submitted by Kylie Williams on Thu, 08/10/2023 - 3:45am

Slide into muddy fun at Adventure Playground!

Adventure Playground will have you reminiscing and nostalgic for summer camp. This hidden outdoor recreational experience in the center of a Huntington Beach park is like nothing else. Kids will get to channel Tom Sawyer as they float in tubes and slide into muddy waters. If your kids are anything like mine, they'll have their best day ever at Adventure Playground.

After a long-time closure through the pandemic, Adventure Playground reopened in 2023. It's as wholesome as the Andy Griffith Show, with a mudslide, innertubes, a rope bridge, and tree forts packed with larger-than-life LEGO bricks. Read on for all the details on where to go, how to get there, and what to expect.

For more adventure, discover the best playgrounds in Los Angeles, cool off at LA's best splash pads, and explore more places to climb and slides to conquer in our Favorite Parks and Playgrounds of Los Angeles & Orange County Guide.

Best Baby Classes in Los Angeles: Mommy & Me, Baby Sign Language, and More

Submitted by Kylie Williams on Sun, 08/06/2023 - 9:45am

Little music makers learn and play together and with their grown-ups. Photo courtesy of Ladybug Music

These baby classes in Los Angeles can solve one of the biggest parenting hurdles: getting out of the house to keep your sanity! It can be so helpful to have a weekly outing on the calendar— something to look forward to and a place to socialize with other parents. These Mommy & Me classes (and Daddy & Me classes, too!) focus on activities that babies and parents can do together, from swimming lessons to baby sign language and yoga classes to mama meetups. Find your tribe, bond with your babe, and leave the dishes, loud toys, and piles of laundry behind for an hour or two with these amazing baby classes in Los Angeles.

For new and expectant parents, we've also got a list of the best pregnancy and parenting classes in Los Angeles, or you can dive into our roundup of the top baby and toddler swimming lessons and classes in LA. Plus, find more kids' classes and programs for kids of all ages in our Guide to the Best Kids' Classes and Activities in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles's Best Parks & Playgrounds for Kids' Birthday Parties

Submitted by Kylie Williams on Sun, 07/23/2023 - 4:30am

No one worries about noisemakers when it's a party in the park!

Kids' birthday parties in Los Angeles can be limitless, with an overwhelming amount of places to choose from. Luckily, our near-perfect climate allows kids' birthday parties to take place outdoors any time of year!

From rustic to scenic to unique playgrounds, LA's bounty of incredible parks in LA can be ideal locations for kids' birthday parties. And the best part is that you won't have to scrub sticky residue off your floors and windows after the party ends. Read on for some of our favorite party parks, with all the details you need about popular first-come, first-served spots and where you can make reservations (and even set up a bounce house).

Now all you need is to order one of LA's best birthday cakes for kids and hire an incredible party entertainer, and your work is done... for now. When it's time to start party planning for the next birthday, check out our Birthday Parties Ideas Guide for Los Angeles Kids.

You know what else a birthday needs? Gifts! Get tried-and-tested favorite gift suggestions the Best First Birthday Gifts, and more in our Guide to Top Toys and Gear for Kids.

Get Lost in Bubble World: LA's Newest Immersive Experience for All Ages

Submitted by Kylie Williams on Fri, 07/21/2023 - 4:30am

Bubble World is the newest immersive experience in Los Angeles that is bursting with fun.

"Hop in the car. We're going to Bubble World!" These are words I never thought I'd say. Disneyland, maybe. But Bubble World?

My kids and I are always up for an adventure, so we recently checked out LA's new immersive Fever experience. To sum it up, my boys (ages seven and four) haven't stopped talking about this experience since. They ask every day when we are going back. Bubble World pops with a maze of technicolor rooms filled with dazzling lights and irresistible photo ops. Read more about our experience below.

Looking for other immersive experiences? Check out World of Barbie in Santa Monica, Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience, or one of the CAMP Store immersive exhibits on rotation at Westfield Century City.

LA's Best Ice Cream and Frozen Treats

Submitted by Kylie Williams on Sun, 07/02/2023 - 9:55am

Treat yourself (and your kids) to LA's best ice cream. There are tons of places to choose a scoop! Like Hollywood stars, some ice cream shops are more famous than others, and Angelenos have strong opinions on which boulevards and freeways to cross for that perfect ice cream cone.

Connoisseurs of the creamery have been slinging LA's best ice cream and frozen treats all over the county (and into Orange County, too), from classic scoops to creative flavors to the swirliest, smoothest soft serve and refreshing paletas. With a world-class restaurant scene, and beautiful weather year-round, you don't have to save ice cream for those special occasions like birthdays, road trips, after sports games, or even summer, for that matter. But what's a better ending to a summer evening than an ice cream cone?

If sweet treats are on the mind, don't miss out on the most insane, over-the-top LA desserts, the coolest spots for fro-yo, and even more for sweet tooth cravings in our Restaurants Guide for Los Angeles and Orange County Families.