Los Angeles, California has so many fun toddler activities that we review only our very favorite attractions and play areas.

When it comes to those who think young, there's no place more fun than Los Angeles, California, where city style meets beach fun and outdoor recreation. Your family can spend weeks soaking up the rays, enjoying the beach, and exploring the beautiful West coast as far south as Anaheim, home of Disneyland. Alternatively, bring little ones on a tour of Hollywood highlights, let them play at the Farmer's Market, or enroll them in learning programs at the city's many museums. You can't go wrong in LA -- unless you forget to rent a car!

Bike Along the Beach
Santa Monica, CA 90401 or
Venice, CA 90291
Spend the afternoon strolling, skating, rollerblading or biking along the beach's 27-mile concrete pathway. You'll love the sunshine and the safe, protected, car-free zone. Ask your hotel concierge where to rent bikes -- or skates if you prefer. There are several vendors near the Santa Monica Pier and up and down the boardwalk, offering all size bikes, baby trailers and helmets for all. When you're ready for a break, drop by the Annenberg Community Beach House, a public community recreation center just north of Santa Monica. You'll find benches, sweeping ocean views, gardens, public art, volleyball, beach tennis, a large pool (open summers) and a playground.

California Science Center
700 Exposition Park Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90037
323/724-3623
Los Angeles' premier science museum caters to young children with hands-on presentations. The Center features a number of special exhibits that come and go, and an IMAX theater that runs a selection of films, for a fee, daily. This fun space is a pleasure to hang out in and admission is totally free.

Getty Museum at the Getty Center
1200 Getty Center Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90049
310/440-7300
Your family will ride in a tram almost a mile up Getty Center Drive to the arrival plaza, catching glimpses of Century City, downtown Los Angeles, Westwood, UCLA, and Mount St. Mary's College en route. Although the Getty collection has its detractors, the museum architecture itself is worth a visit: five two-story pavilions, designed around an open central courtyard and a waterfall cascading along the left side of the grand stairway, are stunning. Home to an enormous variety of European paintings, drawings, sculpture, illuminated manuscripts, decorative arts, and European and American photographs, there are regularly scheduled lectures and events for all ages. If traveling with preschoolers, don't miss their art classes for kids, their kid-focussed GettyGuide audio tour, family-only events, weekly concerts and special Famly Room Gallery for hands-on arts appreciation.

Autry Museum of Western Heritage
4700 Western Heritage Way
Los Angeles, CA 90027
323/667-2000
Explore both real history and Hollywood, by seeing the west's most famous artifacts like Billy the Kid's gun and Wyatt Earp's badge, as well as costumes and props used by John Wayne and Clint Eastwood. Check out the Family Discovery Gallery.

Los Angeles Zoo
5333 Zoo Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90027
323/644-4200
Home to over 1,200 animals and 350 different species, this "cageless" zoo, located in the beautiful Griffith Park, is featuring a new Asian Elephant exhibit. Plan to spend the day, then stroll around the park when you're done.

Natural History Museum of LA County
900 Exposition Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90007
213/763-DINO
This museum is jam packed with activities and exhibitions for everybody. A good place to start with little kids is the Parsons Discovery Center, where they can investigate giant stuffed polar bear teeth and snake x-rays. There is enough to see for a week's worth of museum trips, so pick and choose what you want to view. (Also, a variety of day-long field trips are scheduled regularly.) Tree-hugging kids will enjoy their Sustainable Sundays program; also every month, the museum features Family Fun Days. New, huge Dinosaur Hall opening July 2011.

Petersen Automotive Museum
6060 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90036
323/930-CARS
A great museum devoted to all sorts of rare, antique, flashy and otherwise famous cars. Check out The Beverly Hillbillies' Old Jalopy, the flying DeLoreon from Back To The Future, and lots of beautifully restored classics. An extensive schedule of kids programs are all complimentary with admission - check on exactly what's happening and when before you go.

Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica, CA 90405
310/319-6263
There are a number of bustling beaches that stretch for miles along the beautiful Pacific. Santa Monica Beach, with the famous pier that stretches out into the sea, is a great place for lounging in the sun and taking in the Southern California scene. The pier has a carousel and amusement park rides, there's fishing and dining and lots to see. The area is flooded with trendy boutiques for those who are looking for some shopping time. Throughout the year, concerts and special events take place on the pier - check for details.

Skirball Cultural Center Museum
2701 North Sepulveda Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90049-6833
310/440-4515
Thanks to grandma Carol Martinez for turning us onto Noah's Ark, a remarkably innovative playspace at this Jewish cultural center in western LA. Noah's Ark is a large wooden structure filled with animals and diverse creatures made of recylced materials, where kids are asked to work, climb and play together. Kids must be accompanied by an adult, and adults can only bring in four kids each, as close supervision is requested. This place is so popular that there are timed-entry tickets; the general fee is $10/adult and $5 for kids 2-12 years (free to all visitors on Thursdays), but museum members can use it free. Visit mid-week after lunch if you want to see where every parent  in LA spends their free time! It's quite a remarkable space and, as for lunch, it's said to be a super Kosher restaurant.

Universal Studios Hollywood
100 Universal City Plaza
Universal City, CA 91608
800/UNIVERSAL
A great movie-themed amusement park and working motion picture studio in one! Get a behind-the-scenes look at movie making, hop on thrilling wet and dry rides, and stroll down famous "Hollywood" street scenes. With school-age and older kids or lots of stamina, you can make it a day and night outing at CityWalk, Universal's hopping evening mall of outdoor cafes, shops and music clubs.

The Farmers Market & The Grove
189 The Grove Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90036
323/900-8080
These fun lifestyle malls -- the old-fashioned Farmers Market where you can get ice cream or bracelets made with your name spelled out in beads, and right next door a sophisticated shopping mecca called The Grove -- are open daily for shopping, outdoor cafes, and playground time. The Farmers Market sells produce, souvenirs and is fun to walk around, and The Grove offers special-for-kids, free programming on Tuesday and Thursday. Evenings, there are free outdoor films appropriate for all ages, and Mondays, The Grove's local multiplex has Mommy screenings in the morning so parents can check out adult fare while everyone's kids giggle and cry in the audience. The car-free outdoor promenade, with its many fountains, is a popular kids playspace. Check the website for current schedules.

Kidspace Children's Museum
480 N. Arroyo Boulevard
Pasadena, CA 91103
626/449-9144
A great children's museum with much to offer culturally and educationally. Almost all exhibits are hands on, and thrilling for those who can't wait to touch everything. Older kids can be a D.J. or create their own TV show. Pasadena is about 30 minutes drive from downtown LA, so allow plenty of time for this excursion. Performances and special events are frequent; call ahead for schedules.

Children's Museum of Los Angeles
11800 Foothill Boulevard
Lake View Terrace, CA 91342
818/686-9280
This long-time favorite museum is constructing a new 57,000-square-foot facility in the Hansen Dam Recreation Area. Opening dates have not been announced.

Favorite Toddler Daytrips from Los Angeles

Disneyland
1313 South Harbor Boulevard
Anaheim, CA 92803
714/781-4565
Able to speak for itself, the original Disney theme park is still one of the most popular family vacation destinations in the United States. Coloful Disneyland and the more ride-oriented California Adventure park are located about 90 minutes from downtown L.A. Read more about Disneyland Attractions for Families and plan to stay two days if you can.

Dog Beach in Del Mar
Camino del Mar & 29th St
Del Mar, CA 92014
This is one of our favorite daytrips from LA, about 100 miles south of the city. Pet lovers will adore Dog Beach, southern California's best known beach for romping with pooch. Each September, the neighborhood hosts the annual Surf Dog A Thon, a beachfront shindig for hang ten pooches that benefits local animal charities. In 2010, 120 dogs and 4,000 spectators of every age laughed, surfed, judged sexiest dog bikinis -- picture it.

For general information on the Los Angeles Area, contact the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau at 800/228-2452.