United States

Los Angeles

LA is sprawling and often misunderstood as purely a car city, but neighborhoods like Santa Monica give families a genuinely walkable base with beaches, the pier, and good food within easy reach. Griffith Observatory above the city is free, genuinely fascinating, and one of the few places in LA that feels like it belongs to everyone equally. For tacos that go beyond the standard, Guerrilla Tacos earned a James Beard nomination for seasonal, inventive combinations that work for adventurous eaters at any age. The Metro app handles real-time transit routing and can meaningfully cut down on driving if you're based in the right neighborhood. FamiVentura's Los Angeles guide includes 15 picks across activities, food, hidden gems, and excursions, plus 2-day and 5-day itineraries, a neighbourhood guide, and a survival guide for a city that rewards having a plan.

15 activities5 free 25 food spots5 free 15 excursions5 free 15 hidden gems5 free 8 neighbourhoods3 free 10 survival tips3 free 2 itineraries0 free

Itineraries

Day-by-day plans that actually work with kids

These itineraries are designed to give your family a feel for what the city has to offer when you don't have fixed plans. Think of them as a starting point: swap in your favorite picks from our guides, add that restaurant a friend recommended, or skip a stop to linger somewhere you love.

Day 1

Santa Monica Beach and La Brea Tar Pits

Santa Monica Beach in the morning (best before the crowds build after 11:00) then a drive east for the La Brea Tar Pits after the hotel nap. The tar pits are toddler-appropriate in a way most LA museums are not, big visible animals in sticky pools, observable science at an accessible scale.

09:00

Breakfast at Gjusta

food

30 min

Gjusta in Venice is the best bakery within walking distance of the beach, wide-aisled, casual, with room for a pushchair. The pastries (morning bun, pain au chocolat, kouign-amann) are excellent and the avocado toast is one of the better breakfasts in the city. Get there at 09:00 before the queue builds. For toddlers: the plain croissant and the fresh orange juice are the safe options. The Venice streets at 09:00 have a pleasant neighbourhood energy before the beach and boardwalk tourists arrive.

09:45

Santa Monica Beach

activity

120 min

Drive 5 minutes from Gjusta

The Santa Monica beach section north of the pier is the most family-friendly stretch of LA beach, wide, sandy, lifeguarded in summer, with a flat paved path (the Marvin Braude Bike Trail) running parallel to the sand that is excellent for pushchairs and toddler scooters. The Pacific water in summer is 16-18°C, cold for adults, manageable for toddlers who wade in and out rather than committing to immersion. The foreground of the Santa Monica beach at 10:00 in the morning (before the full midday crowd arrives) is mostly local families and joggers. Bring buckets and spades: the sand is fine and packs well for digging. The Santa Monica Pier (with its Ferris wheel visible above) makes a good visual anchor at the south end of the walk.

12:00

Quick Lunch at Bay Cities

food

30 min

Drive 10 minutes from beach

Bay Cities Italian Deli on Lincoln Boulevard does takeaway sandwiches that travel well. Order the simpler options for toddlers: the turkey and cheese, the plain Italian sub without pepperoncini. Eat in the car or at the outdoor benches. The goal is eating by 12:30 and getting to the hotel for the nap start at 13:15. Don't attempt to eat inside at lunch on a busy day, the queue and the noise level don't suit tired pre-nap toddlers.

Day-by-day itineraries (2-day and 5-day)

The full Los Angeles guide includes 78+ picks, 2-day & 5-day itineraries, and personalized PDFs to share with family and friends.

One-time purchase. Yours forever.

13:15

Hotel Nap (13:15–15:15)

rest

120 min

Drive to hotel, 15 minutes

Hotel nap. LA midday temperatures in summer (June-August) reach 25-30°C and the beach morning generates genuine tiredness. Most LA hotels have good AC; confirm the cooling before settling in. A 15:30 departure for La Brea allows 90 minutes at the tar pits and a 19:00 dinner without rushing. Prepare the tar pits bag (sunscreen, water, snacks) before the nap.