Matt Matasci

Latest posts by Matt Matasci

20 Things To Do in Echo Park with Kids

Submitted by Matt Matasci on Sun, 04/18/2021 - 9:46am

Kids can sit in the dugout when touring Dodger Stadium. Photo by Meghan Rose

Echo Park is a neighborhood that’s seen substantial change since its establishment as one of LA's first suburbs over 120 years ago. These days it’s not very suburban, boasting an eclectic mix of homes and shops and a reputation as a hotspot for artists and hipsters. But this dense, walkable neighborhood is not just for single young people—it’s also one of the most family-friendly neighborhoods in LA with abundant parks, unique attractions, and plenty of great food and coffee. Whether you want to catch a baseball game, eat some vegan treats, walk hidden stairs, or shop in the future (!), Echo Park is a great neighborhood to explore with kids.

Where Young Imaginations Soar: Pretend City Children's Museum in OC

Submitted by Matt Matasci on Thu, 04/15/2021 - 9:43am

Would you like fries with that? Photo by Matt Matasci

If you’re driving an hour from Los Angeles to Orange County with two kids for an activity, the destination had better be worth the battle with traffic! Pretend City in Irvine is well worth any drive, boasting 17 interactive, interconnected exhibits built as a kid-scaled city. For hours, my kids explored their creativity and imagination, pretending to be cashiers and customers at Trader Joe’s, putting on a performance at the amphitheater, working on a farm, replacing a car’s muffler, and more. Find out what makes Pretend City so special and why it’s one of the must-visit children’s museums in Southern California for any and every family with young kids.

Take a Sweet Trip To a Real Life Candy Land at Sugar Rush

Submitted by Matt Matasci on Thu, 04/08/2021 - 8:33am

This saccharine-sweet walking experience is perfect for kiddos and canines.

There's light at the end of the pandemic tunnel, and that means walk-thru is the new drive-thru. Sugar Rush is a new immersive saccharine-sweet walking experience that’s a great activity for every age, from grown-ups to toddlers. My family had a chance to preview the experience last weekend, and since I knew my kids wouldn't get enough candy at Easter (ha!), we decided to check it out. Our verdict: this a fun, unique experience that gives little kids the chance to get out and run around in a whimsical, silly, and safe setting—but also has enough appeal for older kids who love taking cool selfies.

Read on to discover what larger-than-life sweets you'll encounter, how much actual candy is included, and why this is a treat for anyone with a sweet tooth.

Hollywood's Museum of Illusions: Where Kids Can Defy the Laws of Gravity and Physics

Submitted by Matt Matasci on Mon, 02/15/2021 - 9:17am

Go surfing on the trunk of an elephant at the Museum of Illusions.

Imagine walking into a building and suddenly you’re 500 feet high, clinging to the narrow ledge of a skyscraper. Minutes later you’re defying the laws of gravity and physics, walking on the ceiling or shrunk to the size of a mouse. Hollywood’s Museum of Illusions doesn’t literally give you those supernatural abilities, but the dozens of pictures you’ll have after your visit sure makes it look real. Taking the family for a fun outing in Hollywood to play tourist in our own town is a real pick-me-up.

Check out more of the Top Attractions in Los Angeles for Kids in our Los Angeles Visitors' Guide for Families.

Families Can Paddle with the Swans at Echo Park Lake

Submitted by Matt Matasci on Tue, 02/02/2021 - 8:41am

Take a paddle around the lake on one of the swan boats at Echo Park Lake.

Sure, biking, hiking, and other outdoor adventures are abundant in Southern California. But sometimes what parents of cooped up kids really need is an actual activity. One where you don't have to do a lot of organizing or planning, so you can sit back, relax, and keep the kids entertained. Preferably, this magical outing doesn't require a long drive and isn't wildly expensive. Echo Park Lake’s Swan Pedal Boats offer exactly that—a new and unique activity for the entire family to enjoy together where everyone can turn brains off, decompress, and just have a blast.

If this outing makes your family long for more wet and wild fun, check out all the spots in the city where kids can pedal and paddle on the water—from kayaks to water bikes to SUP boards and more.

Descanso Gardens: An Insider’s Guide to LA’s Best Garden for Kids

Submitted by Matt Matasci on Mon, 01/11/2021 - 2:40pm

La Cañada Flintridge's Descanso Gardens stands out as one of the best botanical gardens in LA, and in a city renowned for natural beauty, that's really saying something. Sure the paved and unpaved trails for little wanderers to explore and 150 acres that bloom continuously in winter, spring, summer, and fall contribute to making it great. But what makes it extra magical are the millions of hidden treasures for kids of all ages to discover, as well as the seasonal events and unique programming throughout the year.

Discover what makes Descanso Gardens such a special place for kids—and get some insider tips to making the most of every visit.