Before children (BC), a day with nothing to do was just that. Or, as we liked to think of it, heaven. But when you have kids you have to have a plan—a series of them, actually. Plans for at-home, plans for being on-the-go. Rainy-day plans, too-hot-to-be-outside plans. Because this is LA, your plans have to be better than everybody else’s plans or your kids will be doomed from the get-go. There are, of course, some bright spots to parenting in LA. Our endless summer means that you very rarely have to worry about lost jackets, mittens, or umbrellas. We also drive almost everywhere, making our choice of stroller far less important than our choice of black SUV, the preferred automobile of hip LA parents.
Essentials
Kids come into the world with nothing, yet by their first birthday their stuff fills up at least half the rooms in your house. Where does all of this accoutrement come from? Well, we can name a few of the culprits. Here are some of our favorite places for both the necessities and the more frivolous (but no less fun) purchases.
The Bestest of the Best
• Most Kid-Friendly Mall: The Grove, 189 The Grove Dr, 888-315-8883 (Map 2). They’ve got a trolley, a musical water fountain, and events for children such as puppet shows, arts, and crafts every Thursday morning. There’s even a huge central lawn where you can catch a live band and eat ice cream. Oh, and there are shops and restaurants for parents, too.
• Coolest Bookstore: Storyopolis, 12348 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, 818-509-5600 (Map 51). Looking for The Da Vinci Code? Look somewhere else. This store sells only the most beautiful and beloved children’s books, along with the artwork found within. Go for the story time, every day at 11 am.
• Best Playground: Shane’s Inspiration, Griffith Park
(Map 5). The playground was designed to allow handicapped children to play alongside their able-bodied peers on equipment that is colorful, innovative, and appealing to all. For a similar playground, check out Aidan’s Place in Westwood Park, on Sepulveda Boulevard just south of Wilshire Boulevard.
• Most Surprising Place for Parents to Network: Petting Zoo, Studio City Farmers Market, Ventura Pl b/w Laurel Canyon & Ventura Blvd; Sundays, 8 am–1 pm (Map 56). Overall, the Studio City Farmers Market is a kids’ paradise on Sunday mornings. It features pony rides, a moon bounce, face painting, and a small train. Stand in the petting zoo long enough and you will encounter every person you have ever met in LA who has a child under the age of five. The animals are docile and the pen is kept as clean as is realistically possible. And the pig loves to have his belly rubbed.
• Best Resource for New Mothers: The Pump Station, 2415 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, 310-998-1981 (Map 18). From breast pumps to nursing bras to high-end baby clothes, the Pump Station carries everything you need to get through the first few months of mommyhood. Even more useful, however, are the new-mother support groups, where lactation consultants/RNs can talk any nervous new mother down from the ledge.
Parks for Playing
What makes for an excellent public park? In our opinion, any combination of the following: ample shade, well-maintained (and appealing or innovative) equipment, and an indefinable, overall good vibe. Most LA neighborhood parks feature at least a strip of grass and a slide or two, but these are some of the parks that are worth venturing out of your own neighborhood to explore:
• Coldwater Canyon Park, Coldwater Canyon Dr & N Beverly Dr, Beverly Hills (Map 1). The signs may say “No wading,” but on any given day, dozens of kids splash through the man-made stream that runs through this park.
• Roxbury Park, Olympic Blvd & Roxbury Dr, Beverly Hills (Map 1). Not one, but two sizeable playgrounds with a wide variety of obstacles to climb on or slide down. Steam emanates from the dinosaur area every ten minutes or so.
• West Hollywood Park, San Vicente Blvd b/w Melrose Ave & Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood (Map 2). Run of the mill equipment, but a shady canopy covers the toddler play area. Great weekday “Tiny Tots” program.
• Shane’s Inspiration, Griffith Park (Map 5). This colorful playground was designed to accommodate handicapped and able-bodied children alike.
• Echo Park, b/w Glendale Blvd & Echo Park Ave, just south of Sunset Blvd (Map 5). Lively crowds and a small lake, with paddleboats available for rent.
• La Cienega Park, La Cienega Blvd & Olympic Blvd (Map 6). Excellent music and dance classes for the smallest kids; colorful playground and chess players almost all day.
• MacArthur Park, 6th St & Alvarado St (Map 8). Small lake with paddleboats, as well as the chance to visit the park that inspired the epic ’60s song.
• Kenneth Hahn State Recreational Area, La Cienega Blvd south of Rodeo Rd (Map 10). Hiking trails and a terrific play area for kids.
• Douglas Park, Wilshire Blvd & 25th St, Santa Monica (Map 19). Lots of grass and a water area that is home to several ducks.
• Westwood Park, Sepulveda Blvd b/w Wilshire Blvd & Santa Monica Blvd (Map 20). Features Aidan’s Place, a playground designed to accommodate both handicapped and able-bodied children.
• Penmar Playground, Rose Ave & Penmar Ave, Venice (Map 21). Brand new playground and piñata pole, great for kids’ birthday parties.
• Culver City Park, Jefferson Blvd & Duquesne Ave (Map 24). Features a 5000-square-foot skateboard park. Helmets required.
• Polliwog Park, N Redondo Ave & Manhattan Beach Blvd (Map 27). Park contains a pond as well as a playground area featuring a large, wooden, sunken galleon.
• Seaside Lagoon, 200 Portofino Wy, Redondo Beach (Map 31). Beach playground with a large, heated, saltwater swimming pool.
• Garfield Park, Stratford Ave & Mission Aly, South Pasadena (Map 34). Lots of shade and rolling green hills.
• Lacey Park, Monterey Rd & Virginia Rd, San Marino (Map 35). Includes a stroller/bicycle loop for fitness-minded moms and traveling tykes.
• Lake Balboa Park, Balboa Blvd & Victory Blvd (Map 46). Ducks to feed, a lake to walk around, and a great playground to boot.
• Johnny Carson Park, 400 S Bob Hope Dr & Riverside Dr (Map 50). Picturesque park home to numerous community events and festivals.
• Encino Park, Ventura Blvd & Genesta Ave (Map 53). Two shady playgrounds, at least one of which keeps the little ones fenced in.
• Studio City Recreation Center (AKA Beeman Park), Beeman Ave & Rye St (Map 56). Lively, well-lit park serves as a community hub with large festivals for Halloween and Easter.
Rainy Day Activities—Indoor Playgrounds
Because wet weather is such an anomaly in Southern California, LA parents tend to lose it a little when forced to seek shelter indoors with the kids for a day or two. The kids, however, are perfectly happy, especially with a trip to some of LA’s indoor playgrounds, where the temperature is always a pleasant 72 degrees and there’s plenty of padding and cushions to break their fall.
• Amy's Indoor Playground, 1115 Mission Street, South Pasadena, 626-799-0304 (Map 34)
• Gymboree Play & Music, Westside Pavilion, 10800 W Pico Blvd, West LA, 310-470-7780 (Map 23)
• Gymboree Play & Music, 14801 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, 818-905-6225 (Map 49)
• Gymboree Play & Music, 443 E Irving Dr, Suite F, Burbank, 818-955-8964 (Map 50)
• Gymboree Play & Music, 435 S Fair Oaks Ave, South Pasadena, 626-445-1122 (Map 34)
• Under the Sea, 2424 W Victory Blvd, Burbank, 818-567-9945 (Map 45)
Classes
Most of the play facilities listed above emphasize open play, allowing for parental spontaneity and the fickle nature of young children. However, with a little planning and structure (as counterintuitive as that might be), LA kids have a variety of classes available to them rivaling those of most Ivy League universities.
• My Gym, numerous locations around the LA area, visit www.my-gym.com for addresses. Gymnastics, circle time, and other traditionally kid-like activities.
• Creative Kids, 11301 W Olympic Blvd, West LA, 310-473-6090 (Map 19). Their diverse schedule includes art classes for toddlers, dance and cooking for slightly older kids, and children’s theater for ages 3–18.
• Dance & Jingle, 1900 W Mountain St, Glendale 818-845-3925 (Map 46). Highly sought-after music and movement class.
• LA Zoo, Zoo Dr, Griffith Park, 323-644-4200 (Map 51). The zoo’s classes range from Toddler Totes, which involves singing, an animal guest, and a backpack filled with educational goodies, to Wild Planet, a more sophisticated program for adolescent zookeepers-in-training.
• Music Together, numerous locations around LA. Visit www.musictogether.com for more information. Teaches young children the fundamentals of rhythm and music through the modeling of parents and caregivers while exposing them to a wide array of music from diverse cultures and time periods.
• Family Gallery Kits, Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N Sepulveda Blvd, 310-440-4500 (Map 49). Along with the center’s ongoing arts and cultural exhibition, the organization provides an interactive kit packed with games, puzzles, and activities for 4–8 year olds.
Where to Go for More Information
Where to go for additional information:
• www.gocitykids.com
• www.at-la.com/@la-kid.htm
• Fun and Educational Places to Go With Kids and Adults in Southern California by Susan Peterson, Sunbelt Publications, 2001.