LibraryLover Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 (edited) We're in S CA, and it's been awhile since our last trip. Looking for ideas. Edited October 19, 2013 by LibraryLover Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFSinIL Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 Getty Museums!!!! The one in Malibu you have to make a reservation...for the parking!!!! But it is GREAT!!!! There is a big art museum next to the Tar Pits, too. Strolling the sidewalks near Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood also a hoot - take lots of singles to pay the costumed folks who pose with tourists! I'd stick a photo in here from our trip last June but I am technologically an idiot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sara R Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 Last summer, I took my kids to Griffith Observatory and a mission. San Diego Zoo is cool if you can drive that far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samba Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassenach Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 The last time we went to the tar pits, we happened upon LACMA. On Sundays they set up free art projects for kids and free admission into the museum as well. It was a lot of fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferdie Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 There is a science museum in the same complex as the Natural History Museum. Also the LA Zoo is nearby. If you have access to a car then you can check out the Long Beach Aquarium. The Cabrillo Museum is near Long Beach in San Pedro and they have tide pools near the museum. If you have elementary age children then Kids Space Children's Museum in Pasadena is so fun. They have a nature exchange program where you children can bring a nature object and exchange it for something at the museum. The Descanso Gardens is close to Pasadena and is so beautiful. They have several hiking trails and you can bring your own lunch. Also, don't forget to schedule some beach time. So relaxing! Have fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 Getty Museums!!!! The one in Malibu you have to make a reservation...for the parking!!!! But it is GREAT!!!! There is a big art museum next to the Tar Pits, too. The Los Angeles County Museum of Art is the one next to the tar-pits. The Getty Malibu, especially if you are doing Classical Education (as in Greeks and Romans) is really inspiring for young classicists. As JFS said, you do need a parking reservation. And it's by the beach, so you can have a two-fer excursion. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalanamak Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 We had a good time in LA and I'm posting a little review of the places we went. La Brea was nice and quiet on a Sunday. Pick a dry day so you can go around the grounds and see "the earth pass gas". The gift shop is not very educational. Hubby's favourite stop of the week. We did it in 2 leisurely hours. The "old" (Malibu) Getty. My favourite, hubby's second favourite. They have added a family room with some very clever hands-on things for littles. One room has a terrific map that lights up as you push on the button for a culture, and a huge time line of Greek, Roman and Etruscan events. This was a perfect museum for a 1st or 5th grader doing the ancients. I have to brag a little and say that I beamed when visitors and staff alike smiled so widely hearing kiddo say things like "That's Polyphemus getting his eye poked out!" or naming the 12 Labours or squealing at the map "There is Thera! It blew up and sank and that was the end of the Minoans." It had the best gift shop we saw all week (as far as educationally interesting things) AND good food. Best croissant I've ever eaten and the cocoa was not too sweet. It also had kid guides with "art detective" activites that actually were interesting. We spent 3 hours there. The L.A. Zoo. You can cover the whole thing, unlike S.D. The school busses are gone by 1 p.m. Bring drinks, it is a hike up and down and they are pricey there. We didn't even look at the gift shop. They have an okapi! I'd never seen one. 3 hours did it all. The Science Center. I stayed in the car reading. My ankle hurt and we had another place to go. Kiddo and hubby liked the earthquake and the rocket best. There were lots of videos to see, and it was "stunning" according to hubby, but less hands on than the other science centers he's been to. I can't comment on the gift shop or food. The boys spent 3 hours in there (I know this sounds like a broken record, but I reviewed the days and we spent about 3 hours at each place). Next we drove over to the new Getty, via a Dick Blick store. Wow. I really loved touching all the things and trying all the pencils at Mr. Blick's store. The new Getty has places to roam, a nifty cable trolley up and down, a so-so gift shop for kids, lots of different art, a kids room full of interesting ideas, more art detective cards, good food--not cheap. The sun going down was nice and we also heard all kinds of European languages being spoken by the visitors. Kiddo managed 3 hours here, too. Instead of looking at each painting, we'd sit in the middle and I'd ask him which one he liked best. His absolute favourite, which I had NOT talked up, was van Gogh's Irises. Gosh, this was beautiful. The blue, hue, intensity and amount, was perfect. One more blossom or one bit brighter and it would have been "over the top". But it was perfect. The Aquarium. Most expensive place we visited, very nicely done, a lot of hands on stuff for kids, knowledgable staff who actually talked to kids, interesting. Gift shop was not very educational...mostly toys, etc. The exit is NOT marked from 405 (take the Long Beach fwy), when every little junior college is marked. Didn't try the food. Spent 3 hours. We were too pooped to move onto the Queen Mary, which I'd like to see, but next time, I guess. We heard her sound. Wow. LA Natural History Museum. There is historical interest here. The exhibits are mostly *very* old and look it, but the building is lovely, with nice marble and old bathrooms, etc. The big dino bones are closed until 2011. There is one fight scene in the rotunda (T Rex and a stegasaur). The California history part is very interesting and I loved seeing the very very old vacuum cleaner. Many buttons for the interactive stuff in the bird wing were broken. The food was bad (hot dogs were probably okay), gift shop small and superficial BUT it had the best hands on room I've seen, ever. Insect zoo, get to pet a tarantula, pelts, rocks, dig in plastic dirt (yes) for fossils, etc. We spent 90 minutes in there, for a total of, yes, 3 hours in the joint. Food hints for families: Dave and Kay's cantinas are no lard, kid friendly. Large portions so kids can split. Soup Plantation...an all you can eat salad, soup, pasta, ice cream place. It might be a chain. We found it in Brentwood just south of the new Getty. The mac and cheese was not too salty, the frozen yougurt not too sweet. Free parking underneath. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 The "old" (Malibu) Getty.....I have to brag a little and say that I beamed when visitors and staff alike smiled so widely hearing kiddo say things like "That's Polyphemus getting his eye poked out!" or naming the 12 Labours or squealing at the map "There is Thera! It blew up and sank and that was the end of the Minoans." Ha! I have to say seeing little WTMer type Classical Kids at the Getty Malibu working out their Latin or identifying Gods and Goddesses always brings a huge smile to my face too. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted March 19, 2009 Author Share Posted March 19, 2009 Thanks! We had a fantastic time, and did spend several hours at the Paige Museum, which the kids really loved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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