Kylie Williams

Latest posts by Kylie

The Autry Museum of the American West has a New Family Play Space (and We've Got the Scoop)

Submitted by Kylie Williams on Thu, 03/09/2023 - 5:30am

Playing in the Autry’s Museum's new play space. Photo by the author

The Autry Museum of the American West is known for stunning wild west paintings and artifacts celebrating cowboy culture. It’s also now home to a sweet little indoor spot for kids—the brand-new family play space.

What the new space accomplishes at the Autry Museum is powerful: it normalizes bringing kids to museums. It allows parents to soak in beauty and culture without boring the littles. While most art galleries might not appeal to young kids, this space invites children to enjoy and play. This adds to the already long list of enticing things for kids to do in Griffith Park. The Autry made a museum adventure easy and even relaxing for our family. Read on for everything you need to know about this new family play space!

For more local museums with great kid spaces or attractions—like the Skirball, the Getty, and The Huntington Library and Gardens—read all our local parent museum secrets in our Museum Guide for Kids in LA and OC.

Free in March: 20 Best Things To Do in Los Angeles with Kids

Submitted by Kylie Williams on Fri, 03/03/2023 - 2:45am

Celebrate the return of the swallows. Photo courtesy of the Swallows Day Parade Facebook page

There are so many free in March events that it will be hard to choose just one each weekend. Spring is in the air this month, but you don't have to spring for high-priced admission to have a good time.

There are plenty of free and festive fun happenings throughout LA. Look to the skies to enjoy the Point Mugu Air Show, the 49th annual Festival of the Kite, and the San Juan Capistrano swallows parade. From the sky to the sea, keep an eye on those Pacific Ocean waves as it's whale watching season, and there are free celebrations in Dana Point and Oxnard. Leprechauns are among us at several St. Patrick's Day parades, and Purim brings free carnivals to the city. Save your cash for spring cleaning projects and Easter baskets because March has enough free fun to take you through the month.

Think this is it for events in March? Not so fast. Here are even more things to do in March with kids. Plus, our calendar is frequently updated. If you're looking forward to springing ahead as much as we are, embrace the new season with the beloved butterfly pavilion at NHM, and start planning your springtime outings with our spring fun guide.

Holiday Road’s Immersive Light Show is a Must-Do for Los Angeles Families

Submitted by Kylie Williams on Tue, 12/06/2022 - 8:30pm

This immersive holiday light show is at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas through December 30, 2022.

Catch larger than life holiday installations, thousands of Christmas lights, festive food trucks, seasonal drinks, and fun for all ages at Holiday Road’s immersive LA event.

“This is the best night of my life!” my three year old squealed as he skipped through a tunnel of twinkling lights.

My almost-two year old pointed towards the sparkling trees and illuminated tunnels with wide eyes, murmuring the word “pretty” under her breath.

My six-year-old, ever practical, turned to me and said “When you said we were going to look at lights, I thought you meant lights on houses. This is way more impressive.”

Their glowing reviews all point to one fact: Holiday Road in Calabasas is one of the top things to do for Christmas and the Holidays in Los Angeles! The immersive holiday light show is at King Gillette Ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains in Northwest Los Angeles through December 30, 2022.

A Holiday Hoedown: Gilchrist Farm Brings Christmas Fun and Santa Breakfast to Santa Clarita

Submitted by Kylie Williams on Thu, 12/01/2022 - 11:00am

Over the first three weekends of December, an action-packed Holiday Hoedown is in full swing at Gilchrist Farm.

Gilchrist Farm is well-known for its picturesque pumpkin patch and fun-filled Halloween celebration, but many families don't know that the excitement continues well into the Christmas season! Over the first three weekends of December, an action-packed Holiday Hoedown is in full swing at the Santa Clarita destination with free general admission and free parking, no less.

On Saturdays and Sundays beginning December 3rd, families can meet Santa (he's photo-ready from 10am to 3pm), watch a pony-filled holiday parade featuring a real fire truck, antique tractors and delivering Santa to the event (the hullabaloo starts at 10am), cheer on the Jingle Pigs during regular hog races (catch 'em at noon and 3pm), and so much more. You can even reserve a seat at a private pancake breakfast with Father Christmas himself for an additional fee.

Whether you're hanging with the Big Guy or exploring the farm festivities, Gilchrist has all the nostalgia you're probably craving at this time of year, plus it makes for some darling photos for the memory book, too. Here's the scoop on what to know before you go.

Breakfast with Santa in Los Angeles—Plus Holiday Teas with the Nutcracker and Mrs. Claus!

Submitted by Kylie Williams on Sun, 11/13/2022 - 7:06am

Pick a festive pancake to dine on with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Photo courtesy of SkyPark at Santa's Village via Facebook

Share breakfast with Santa and more tasty treats at these spots where kids can dine with the man of the hour.

Santa has a broad face and a round little belly, that shakes when he laughs like a bowl full of jelly, but to keep it that way, Santa needs breakfast. Thankfully, in December, he often takes his sleigh down to SoCal for a breakfast with Santa for all the kiddos on the nice list. Make your little elves' Christmas season all the more magical and eat a meal with the man in the big red suit. Prefer another meal? We've got some seasonal and festive teas with the Nutcracker or Mrs. Claus, too. Many of these dining experiences fill up quickly and require reservations in advance, so plan and book ahead.

Looking for more opportunities to meet Santa? He can often be found on a Polar Express train and other holiday trains, posing for a Santa picture, and at Christmas tree lighting celebrations. For all the most festive events around town this season, check our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events for Los Angeles Families.

Nashville with Kids: 60 Best Things To Do in Nashville, TN

Submitted by Kylie Williams on Sat, 09/17/2022 - 12:00pm

Is Nashville the cereal capital of the US? You decide at Wanna Spoon. Photo by the author

Nashville, Tennessee—also known as Music City—is a mix of southern charm and modern hipness. Plus, there are so many things to do in Nashville with kids—outdoor adventures, interesting museums, distinct country sounds, and more. I travel to visit my brother and his family in Nashville at least once a year, and I have fallen in love with the magic of the city.

Here are 60 things to do in Nashville, TN with kids, including kid-friendly Nashville restaurants and the best Nashville hotels for families. For more family adventures in Tennessee, check out our city guides to Chattanooga, Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, and Memphis. And, as always, visit our Family Travel Guide for more family vacation inspiration.

Best Pregnancy and Parenting Classes in Los Angeles

Submitted by Kylie Williams on Thu, 08/18/2022 - 12:09pm

All new parents and their babies are welcome at The Family Room. Photo courtesy of The Family Room

There are a ton of excellent parenting and pregnancy classes in Los Angeles. Take advantage of all the knowledge in our city!

As a pregnant mama of three, I am all too familiar with the anticipations, concerns, and frustrations that can arise during pregnancy and into parenthood. There are so many unknowns and there is so much to learn. I've struggled to form a birthing plan, fretted with a crying baby through the night, and struggled to breastfeed an easily distracted infant. So let me pass on one thing I have learned: seek help when things get hard or uncertainty arises! Not only will you find some of the answers you've been searching for, but you may find deep relationships and camaraderie with others that are on this incredible journey of raising the next generation.

And when your bundle of joy arrives, we've also got loads of great mommy and me classes in LA, where you can keep learning and exploring together. Find all these classes and more in our Guide to the Best Classes for Kids and Parents in Los Angeles.

San Diego with Kids: 60 Family-Friendly Things To Do in San Diego, California

Submitted by Kylie Williams on Sat, 08/13/2022 - 11:01am

There are tide pools everywhere you look in San Diego! Photo by Kylie Williams

Whether you live in California and are in town for a weekend getaway or coming from far away for a sunny vacation, we know the perfect things to do in San Diego. San Diego is honestly overflowing with family fun. Some of the destinations are obvious: billboards all over the city remind you that the Safari Park, Legoland, the San Diego Zoo, Sesame Place, and SeaWorld are just a few miles away. However, there are also so many incredible "off the beaten path" places to take your family that before you get halfway through this list it'll be time to go home, and you'll have to plan a return visit.

Looking for a place to stay while exploring San Diego? Here is our list of the best hotels in San Diego for families and favorite places to stay in Carlsbad.