Roberta Brown

Editor-in-Chief

Years spent at Nickelodeon prepared Roberta to launch Mommy Poppins' Los Angeles branch in 2011, eventually becoming Mommy Poppins Editor-in-Chief in 2013. Previously she served as LA Editor for GoCityKids, National Editor for ParentsConnect, and Editor for NickMom—all of which works out well for her son, who has grown up serving as Chief Guinea Pig for all things fun in LA and beyond.

Latest posts by Roberta

34 Easter Egg Hunts in Los Angeles

Submitted by Roberta B on Fri, 03/24/2023 - 4:30am

There are Easter eggs everywhere we hunt! Photo courtesy of Irvine Park Railroad

Los Angeles is bursting with Easter egg hunts, and they look a little different for everyone: Some of us creatively hide eggs early on Easter morning in our own gardens. Others have the inclination to sleep late and find Easter eggs hidden in someone else's garden. Either is a wonderful tradition, and we are happy to guide you to many places around Los Angeles and Orange County where Peter Cottontail already did the work of setting up a fun Easter egg hunt for you.

Most of the Easter egg hunts below take place Easter weekend, though a few get an early start; keep an eye on our Event Calendar for last-minute egg scrambles. Find the Easter Bunny at brunches and trains for more photo ops, get crafty with at-home Easter crafts, and peruse our Spring Fun Guide for more ideas when you're hoppin' around Easter events around Los Angeles and Orange County.

Musical Theater and Performing Arts Summer Camps in Los Angeles and OC

Submitted by Roberta B on Sun, 03/12/2023 - 12:00am

Get into character! Summer Camp photo courtesy of A Noise Within Theatre

Performing arts summer camp or musical theater camp will be perfect for your future star this summer. Most performing arts summer camps around Los Angeles and Orange County offer a specific show each session, so you can pick your week based on the show or theme that most interests your young thespian.

Each of these LA summer camps offers something unique—it might be location, depth of offerings, small camp sizes, or after-hours care. And if your child is not interested in performing, maybe a traditional outdoor day camp or a serious STEM camp is just the ticket. Whatever your camper's interests, you'll find fresh ideas in our Summer Camp Guide.

Best Holiday and Spring Break Camps for Los Angeles Kids

Submitted by Roberta B on Sun, 03/05/2023 - 9:30am

Surfing camp will be one swell of a good time. Photo courtesy of Learn to Surf LA

Finding spring break camps in Los Angeles that work for your family can really be tricky, as school vacation calendars vary by district. Some schools take a vacation in March, and some in April; some have one week, some have two. Add to the mix the complications of Easter, Passover, and parent work schedules, and spring break camp in LA can be a tough knot to untie.

From Hollywood to Long Beach, surfing to science, and more to more, we think you'll find something perfect for your family in the camps below. As an added benefit, most of these places also offer holiday camps on long weekends when schools are closed, as well as summer camps!

And if you're so on the ball that spring is already covered and you've moved on to summer, check out some of our favorite free and affordable camps in the LA area and more camps for kids of all ages and interests (no matter how seemingly-weird, because LA has it all!) in our Los Angeles Summer Camp Guide.

The Butterfly Pavilion Ushers in Spring at the Natural History Museum

Submitted by Roberta B on Thu, 03/02/2023 - 2:15am

I spy with my little eye something that can flutter by!

Everyone's all a-flutter at the Natural History Museum because the butterflies are back in town! The Natural History Museum is opening the Butterfly Pavilion on the museum’s South Lawn, offering delightful flutterby time on the same site where the creepier Spider Pavilion usually sets up in autumn. From chrysalis to butterfly, the Butterfly Pavilion is full of magical moments, which is why it rates as one of our 100 things to do with LA kids before they grow up.

Tickets are available beginning on March 5, and these lovely Painted Ladies and delicate Lacewings will be on display all summer long, so everyone will have a chance to see them!

24 Awesome Indoor Kids' Birthday Party Places in Los Angeles

Submitted by Roberta B on Tue, 02/14/2023 - 11:26am

Throw a party in this pretty play space, where everything is taken care of for you. Photo courtesy of PlayLab

Who needs indoor birthday party places for LA kids? One of the great things about living in Los Angeles is that most of the year you can simply claim a corner of a public park or throw down some blankets on the beach. But sometimes you need an indoor kids’ birthday party place. Maybe it’s winter, and you can’t risk a sudden rainstorm. Or you want something really spectacular, like a kitten birthday party, a flying party, or to party with the dinosaurs. Or maybe, you just want someone else to do the setup and cleanup.

From rock climbing to ice skating and bowling to bounce houses, these are some of our favorite indoor kids' birthday party places for entertaining the masses without stressing about the weather, decor—or anything at all. Now you just need to book the party, order one of the best birthday cakes in Los Angeles, and be a guest at your own party. For cakes and all your birthday party needs, be sure to check out our Birthday Party Ideas Guide for LA Kids.

20 Free Things To Do in Los Angeles On Rainy or Hot Days: Indoor Places To Play

Submitted by Roberta B on Sun, 01/08/2023 - 9:26am

While LACMA rebuilds, kids can still watch Metropolis II for hours (and hours - it's mesmerizing!). Photo courtesy of LACMA

Sometimes, even in Los Angeles, you need some free things to do and places to play indoors. There is no limit to what a family can do outdoors in Los Angeles, and our clichéd weather makes enjoying outdoor activities possible most days of the year. But on the occasional day when the mercury drops below 50 degrees or soars above 100 degrees—or when water perplexingly falls from the sky—we need a backup plan. From free museums to indoor playgrounds and even places to meet adorable animals, we've got your lousy weather play days planned.

Indoor activities are sprinkled throughout our bucket list of 100 Things To Do with LA Kids Before They Grow Up and you'll find dozens more ideas in our LA Guide to Indoor Fun and Play Spaces but wouldn't it be handy to have one list of totally free things to do with kids indoors? We thought so, too!

What's Open on Christmas in Los Angeles: 30 Fun Things To Do With Kids

Submitted by Roberta B on Tue, 12/20/2022 - 11:15am

Take a ride on the historic funicular railcar! Photo courtesy of @60x80 on Instagram

Start a new holiday tradition by visiting an iconic attraction that's open on Christmas in Los Angeles.

The Christmas presents were torn open early in the morning. Dinner is hours away. The kids are already starting to bicker and everyone is crashing from too many candy canes. It's time to get out of the house. But what is open on Christmas Day in Los Angeles?

There are actually loads of places open on Christmas Day. From theaters and theme parks open on Christmas to sledding on the sand or snow, here are 30 fun things to do and places to go on Christmas! Who knows? Maybe you can even create a unique new holiday ritual with a visit to a favorite spot in LA.

You can find even more seasonal activities in our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events in Los Angeles or on our Calendar of Events.

Holiday Break in Los Angeles: 75 Things to Do Between Christmas and New Year's Eve

Submitted by Roberta B on Sun, 12/18/2022 - 10:05am

Winter Frolic features sock skating at Kidspace. Photo courtesy of the Kidspace Children's Museum

Holiday break at schools in Los Angeles seems to last an awfully long time, and that makes for a whole lot of fun things to do you need to start planning. Luckily, you live in Los Angeles, where you can fill the days between Christmas and New Year's Eve with loads of activities, and your kids will never be bored. In fact, this is my favorite time of year in LA...

Here's why: Do you hear that silence? They're gone! Those people standing in their socks at airport security, telling their kids to knock back the juice box, they've all cleared the highways. While all those other Angelenos are away, you can do anything, anywhere, and it probably won’t take you more than 20 minutes to get there.

Try a few of the far-fetched and fun outings below that won't feel nearly so far during Christmas vacation. And if you still need more suggestions, it's a great time to start checking items off our 100 Things To Do in LA Bucket List.