Matt Matasci

Latest posts by Matt Matasci

30 Fun Things To Do in Santa Cruz with Kids

Submitted by Matt Matasci on Sat, 01/08/2022 - 11:42am

See the works of local artists at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History. Photo courtesy of the museum's Facebook page

Maybe it's because it's so far off the beaten path (aka the 101 and 5 freeways), but Santa Cruz always seems like a blind spot for Southern Californians. But our neighbors in the San Francisco Bay Area have known for decades that this funky coastal city is a great year-round destination for families. Growing up, my Bay Area-raised wife would spend long summer weekends enjoying the many miles of beaches around the city. However, there's so much more to Santa Cruz than the beach.

To help you plan your first (or next!) Santa Cruz vacation, here is our list of 30 things to do in Santa Cruz with kids, including Santa Cruz restaurants kids will love and family-friendly Santa Cruz hotels. While you're there, check off a few of the items on our list of 100 things to do in California with kids!

Winter Day Trips from Los Angeles: 20 Great Getaways for Winter Fun

Submitted by Matt Matasci on Fri, 12/17/2021 - 11:59am

Visit Wrightwood and let your SoCal kids play in piles of pristine snow. Photo courtesy of Mommy Poppins

One of the best things about living in Southern California is the endless supply of year-round adventures that are just a short drive from home. While summer is the perfect time for a day trip to one of our favorite beach towns and fall offers the chance for a road trip to see foliage, winter day trips from Los Angeles offer up some unique opportunities. It's actually the best time to explore the area— coastal locales are sleepier in the cooler months, desert towns are more bearable when it’s not in the triple digits, and there are even snowy winter wonderlands. Southern California has it all, and here we’ve collected the 20 best winter day trips from Los Angeles.

Check out other favorite day trips from LA, local weekend getaways, and the best family travel spots in the country (and beyond) in our Family Travel Guide.

The La Brea Tar Pits and Page Museum: Have a Historic Visit with Kids

Submitted by Matt Matasci on Sun, 10/31/2021 - 1:06pm

The La Brea Tar Pits are one of the most famous fossil discovery spots in the world.

Exploring the La Brea Tar Pits is one of the best free things to do in Los Angeles with kids of all ages. But did you know that there's also an incredible museum just a few yards from the famous tar lake? The Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits gives an inside look at the city's prehistoric past and explains why that sticky black tar is seeping up all over the Miracle Mile. With a small footprint compared to the Natural History Museum or California Science Center, the Page Museum is easy to explore in a day—in fact, you'll have plenty of time to check out other sites along LA's "Museum Row," like the brand new Academy Museum.

Here's a detailed look at highlights of the La Brea Tar Pits and Page Museum, plus tips on where to eat, where to park, and what to explore in the area.

25 Top Montessori Preschools in Los Angeles

Submitted by Matt Matasci on Sun, 10/24/2021 - 11:25am

Kids get tactile with lots of hands-on projects at Montessori schools. Photo courtesy of Shir Hashirim Montessori School

Montessori preschools take a different approach to early childhood development, one which is focused on self-directed learning. Parents choose preschools that use the Montessori method for a variety of reasons, including the positive environment, self-directed curriculum, and individual attention each child receives. This laid-back and sunny approach to school is a great fit for the SoCal lifestyle, which must be why there are dozens of fabulous Montessori schools in Los Angeles. From the Valley to the South Bay, here are some of the most popular preschools in Los Angeles for Montessori learning.

For more great preschools in Los Angeles offering unique opportunities, like these dual-language and immersion programs, check out our Los Angeles Preschool Guide.

Insider Tips for Visiting the Natural History Museum with Kids

Submitted by Matt Matasci on Mon, 09/20/2021 - 12:39pm

Selfies with the T-Rex, who can resist? Photo courtesy of the LA Natural History Museum

Located in the expansive Exposition Park just south of DTLA (right between the beloved California Science Center and the soon-to-open Lucas Museum—or the Star Wars Museum, as we call it at my house!), the Los Angeles County's Natural History Museum is one of the best museums in the city, especially for kiddos. From the soaring dinosaur fossil exhibits at the Dino Hall to hands-on activities in the Nature Lab, this museum has plenty to see and explore but is also manageable—families can definitely see the highlights in one day. Here's an exhibit-by-exhibit guide to hitting all the kid-friendly faves, plus the secrets of where to eat, park, and play.

Coding Classes for Kids in Los Angeles: In-Person and Online

Submitted by Matt Matasci on Tue, 08/17/2021 - 8:44am

Coding classes for kids means learning while still enjoying screentime! Photo courtesy of Digital Dragon

If your little one adores technology, peel them away from their Playstation and get them into a coding class! Coding is the wave of the future, and that beloved screen time can lead to a career when kids learn valuable coding skills at a young age. These coding classes for kids near Los Angeles allow beginner through advanced coders to use their creativity and problem-solving skills to build apps, video games, and more. Popular games like Minecraft and Roblox are often integrated into these coding classes.

While we've found a handful of in-person coding classes in Los Angeles, many great online coding classes for kids are available for kids to take at home. You can also check out these free coding programs for kids. And for kids who want to get physical with sports classes or dance classes, check out our guide to all the Best Kids' Classes and Activities in Los Angeles.

Sports Classes for Kids in Los Angeles: Soccer, Baseball, Basketball

Submitted by Matt Matasci on Sun, 08/08/2021 - 9:27am

Future all-stars get their start in sports classes. Photo courtesy LA Galaxy

Los Angeles is a sports-centric city (hello, recent slew of championships!) which is probably why we have so many world-class kids' sports classes. And since the weather is so mild, many sports classes can be enjoyed year-round. From summer sports that are iconically associated with LA like surfing and volleyball to traditional team sports like soccer, baseball, and basketball, there are sports activities for every kid! Whether your child is a toddler or teen, and thrives on the comradery of team sports or is more drawn to activities like karate or gymnastics, you can find great sports classes in Los Angeles to fit everyone's passion.

Check our guide to the Best Kids Classes and Activities in Los Angeles for more kids' activities and programs.

15 Top Playgrounds with Shade in Los Angeles

Submitted by Matt Matasci on Thu, 07/29/2021 - 8:11am

The shaded playstructure at Ferndell is in the middle of the trees. Photo by Amanda Schutt

You can't spend all summer in the pool (though kids often wish you could), and some days the perfect way to burn off some energy is to head to a playground in Los Angeles! Of course, it's hot in LA during the summer (and spring and fall—even sometimes in winter!), and playing on equipment that is too hot to touch is no fun. Not to mention the sunscreen factor—even when kids let you apply it at the beginning of the day, it can prove impossible to reapply. The solution? Be armed with a list (like the one below) of the best parks that offer shaded play throughout the day.

Keep bodies (and tempers) cool at these playgrounds in LA with plenty of shade. And when the temperature dips, check out our favorite playgrounds that are worth the drive and the best toddler playgrounds in every corner of the city.