my husband and I live in Mission Viejo. Our eldest son, his wife and two children (aged 5 and almost 4) live in Newhall. We love spending time together, but it's a big walk down the 5 freeway. Last year, We went to the Long Beach Aquarium, which was a lot of fun. another day, We enjoyed a day of hiking and a picnic in Placerita Canyon. Nature Center near my son's house. We'd love suggestions for other places to visit that would perhaps be a little more centrally located and would be fun for the whole family. Thank you
—Cathy McCoy
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Cathy, I understand your pain. Driving 80 miles can seem like an ordeal, especially in Southern California. Luckily, there are plenty of fun places your family can gather in (or near) the middle. I've put together some solid options. By the way, the driving times mentioned here are a rough estimate for a traffic-free weekend day, but as you probably know, actual times may vary.
Since everyone enjoyed the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, how about we change it up and spend the day with a different group of animals at the Montebello Barnyard Zoo for their next outing? That would be a 40 to 50 minute drive for both of us. Open since 1968, the zoo is home to horses, goats, sheep, and donkeys that you can pet (and feed for an additional $3). If you're feeling adventurous, you can ride a pony or take a leisurely ride on a John Deere tractor train. “It's a great place for young people to learn that animals outside the home need and deserve the same kind of care we give our pets,” Etan Rosenbloom writes in a Times guide to things to do with kids in Los Angeles. General admission is $11 and you can sometimes find deals on Groupon as well. Next, head to Blvd Mrkt, a food hall in downtown Montebello that sells a variety of foods so everyone can get whatever they want.
Another great option is the South Coast Botanical Gardens on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, which can be about an hour's drive for both. I learned about this place from my dear late colleague, Jeanette Marantos, who was a gardening expert in her own right. The garden, which features more than 2,500 species of plants and five miles of trails, also features a children's area, which features “a nursery rhyme theme with a large dollhouse, a charming bridge, and plants that match the stories,” Marantos writes. My editor Michelle Woo also loves this garden. “You can take a leisurely stroll along the accessible loop trail or really delve into the corners of the site, discovering trees with giant roots that kids love to climb and koi fish swimming in a shady pond,” she says, adding that she's excited for the Thomas Dambo troll exhibit that opens in March. If you're hungry, you can stop by Dottie's at Koi Pond, which sells food, beer, wine, and specialty cocktails on Saturdays and Sundays. Bringing food is allowed if it is previously prepared.
If you are interested in space travel, you should definitely visit the Columbia Memorial Space Center, which is the best cosmic park. Located in Downey (known as “the home of Apollo”), about a 40-minute drive for you and a 50-minute drive for your child's family, the newly renovated museum features a play area, robotics lab, and interactive exhibits on space exploration, including a shuttle landing simulator. Admission is $5 for adults and children, $3 for ages 65 and older, and free for children 3 and under.
Speaking of aviation, another place worth visiting is the Proud Bird in El Segundo, about a 45 to 50 minute drive for both of us. Here you can enjoy delicious bites while watching planes take off from Los Angeles International Airport, which is just a couple of miles away. Woo calls it “the perfect place for a multi-generational gathering.” “Our family once celebrated Christmas there when everyone was too tired to cook,” he adds. “You can order solid barbecue at Bludso's, have a drink by a bonfire, and let the kids play on the playground while the planes fly by.” It also suggests the Point in El Segundo. It is an outdoor shopping and dining center that has a large garden where children can play and adults can have a drink at Lil' Simmzy's.
I hope these recommendations are helpful when planning your next family outing (and that they also save you some money on gas). Whatever you end up doing together, I'm sure your family, especially the little ones, will be grateful to spend quality time with you. Enjoy!
