Fun Things To Do In Los Angeles With Kids For Spring Break

Updated for 2025

Spring break is around the corner and it can be hard to figure out what to do with your family, especially if you want to keep things budget friendly. Plus, because several school districts are on Spring Break at different times, it can be difficult to plan a family trip when not all family members have the same time off. 
But, we’re in Los Angeles, which means there are many things to do, all within driving distance of home. Here are some fun and creative ways for families to spend Spring Break!

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25 Ideas for Family Fun this Spring Break in Los Angeles

Pool Party and Water Fun:

• Pool time fun is awesome for kids whether you are at a 5-star hotel, in your own backyard, or at a friend’s house. 
• Buy some new pool toys, games, and accessories to take pool time up a notch. (A few ideas include – noodles, inflatables, beach balls, nets for volleyball, inflatable loungers) 
• Plan Theme Days so pool days don’t all look the same. Kiddos can invite friends over for a Hawaiian Luau afternoon, Underwater Exploration (for advanced swimmers), 80s Neon Day, Pool Olympics, and Magical Mermaids, to name just a few ideas. 
• If you don’t have your own pool or know anyone with a pool, check out Great Wolf Lodge in Anaheim. It’s a huge indoor waterpark, and offers something for everyone, from your youngest family member to your oldest. If you can make it work with your schedule, consider an overnight stay. If that doesn’t work, Day Passes are available for families looking to enjoy the water park but are not overnight guests of the lodge. Check out this post and this post to give you an idea of what to expect at Great Wolf Lodge. 
• Visit a Water Park. Give yourself a break and have a fun water time somewhere that isn’t your house. Less for you to organize and clean up means more time and energy for water fun with your family! Start planning by checking out our post 14 Water Parks in Los Angeles for Family Fun.

Camping Trip:

• Spend some time in the great outdoors. You don’t have to go far. Just spending time outside, away from screens, is a big change in routine. Out in nature, families will use their senses and experience the world in such a different way than we do at home. 
• Get the kids involved with the planning, the set-up, and the cooking. Check out our post, 33 Easy Camping Recipes Your Family Will Love, for meal ideas. 
• Of course, you’ll be taking pictures during your camping trip. But, you can also keep a record of your trip with our free, downloadable Camping Journal.
• Make sure everyone in the family has a chance to suggest an activity. Hiking? Bird watching? S’mores-making? Be sure to print out our free Hiking Scavenger Hunt before you leave home.
• Remember, you don’t have to go far to have an adventure. Start your planning by reading through our post, 28 Family-Friendly Campgrounds in Southern California. Do you want to be near the ocean? In the mountains? Desert? We’re so lucky here in L.A. because all those destinations are reachable with a fairly easy drive. Keep in mind – some campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis while others require advance reservations.

Pick a Neighborhood and Play Tourist:

• Los Angeles is one of the most incredible cities in the world with SO MUCH to do and so many fun pockets of culture and charm. However, often we get so busy with our daily responsibilities, we don’t take the time to explore and enjoy areas that really aren’t that far from home, but still feel like you’ve enjoyed a getaway. Spend the night for a real away-from-home feeling or enjoy a full day of sightseeing and return home ready to sink into your own bed that evening! Rediscovering your city will be a fun and  budget friendly way to spend spring break with your kids.
• Again, make sure you talk it out with the family so everyone is on board with your plans. Do you want to explore by foot? Bicycle? Double-decker bus? Do you want to return somewhere you just haven’t been in a while? Or are you looking to spend time somewhere that is brand new to your family? Or both?
• Start with the classics. Hollywood and Vine. The Hollywood Walk of Fame. You can explore museums, see a movie (or two), shop, and dine. You can put your hands on top of the celebrity handprints outside the TCL Chinese Theatre. You can be astonished at Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Odditorium. You can even take a tour of the Dolby Theatre – home of the Oscars. Our post, 15 Kid-Approved Things To Do in Hollywood, has lots of fun suggestions!
• You can find guides to many other neighborhoods and cities in southern California including 20 Super Fun Things To Do in Santa Monica With Kids, 9 Things To Do With Kids in Downtown Los Angeles, 15 Things To Do In Redondo Beach With Kids, and 23+ Fun-Filled Things To Do in Big Bear with Kids. 

Spend Time Outdoors:

• Spring Break means pleasant spring weather. The perfect opportunity to spend time outdoors. 

• Spring means flowers. Spend time enjoying and exploring one of the many Botanical Gardens in Los Angeles. Our post, All the Best Botanical Gardens In and Around Los Angeles, is a great resource to use to start your planning.

• Get out the bikes – and the helmets, knee pads, and elbow pads. Have some fun pedaling with your kids. Take your time and pay attention to the things you notice when you’re on a bicycle as opposed to sitting in the family car. Our post, 10 Tempting Bike Trails for LA Families, has some fun ideas on where to bike.
• Spring Break is a wonderful time for a family picnic. Get creative. Picnics don’t have to just be about sandwiches. What about a breakfast picnic? If you’re wondering where to have your picnic, take a look at The Best Parks For a Picnic in Los Angeles, for some suggestions.

Visit Museums:

• There are so many museums in Los Angeles and Southern California. Try visiting a new-to-your-family museum, or while you’re exploring a neighborhood (see the suggestions above) make sure to visit at least one of the museums in that area. 

• Generally, museums offer a lot of perks for families including clean restrooms, air conditioning, and a cafe. 
• Some museums are very child-friendly and offer outdoor areas to run around (or slopes to roll down on like the one outside the La Brea Tar Pits & Museum) as well as highly interactive exhibitions inside.
• Museum Row is the stretch of Wilshire Boulevard that extends between Fairfax Avenue and La Brea Avenue and is home to multiple museums including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), Petersen Automotive Museum, the La Brea Tar Pits & Museum, and Craft Contemporary. (Note – there is on-going construction in the area including an expansion and remodel of LACMA as well as the expansion of the Metro Subway line.)
• Exposition Park is home to the California Science Center, California African American Museum, and the Natural History Museum. Plus, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is expected to open in 2026. 
• Our post, 37 Sensational Kid-Friendly Museums in Los Angeles, is full of ideas!

Catch Up on Your Movies:

• Make seeing a movie an event. Experience one of SoCal’s drive-in movie theaters. (Yes, they still exist.) Check out our post 12 Legendary Drive-in Movie Theaters in Los Angeles. And, it’s Spring Break. You can go ahead and make it a double-feature!
• Skip your usual movie theater, and venture out to a new-to-your-family movie theater. Looking to enjoy a meal in your seat? Experience the most comfortable reclining seat? Want a bit of history to go along with your movie? Take a look at our post 15 Terrific Movie Theaters in Los Angeles for Cinema Lovers.

Theme Parks:

• There is definitely no shortage of theme parks in Southern California to visit. Be sure to take into account the ages and heights of the younger members of your family to find the theme park that offers the best experience for your family. 
• Things to consider:
• – rides (are you looking for scary roller coasters or gentle carousels?)
• – distance from home
• – extra activities (think parades, night shows, fireworks) 
• – characters (Mickey Mouse and friends? Elmo and Sesame Street friends?)
• – water park (an attached water park can mean an additional day at a theme park)
•  And remember, there’s no rule that says you have to experience the whole park in one day. Stay at a local hotel, and plan to explore the amusement park over the course of a couple of days. (Some hotels offer package plans that include the hotel and admission to the theme park.)
• Theme Parks within driving distance include:

Universal Studios Hollywood
100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608

Disneyland Resort & Disney California Adventure Park
1313 Disneyland Dr., Anaheim, CA 92802

Knott’s Berry Farm & Knott’s Soak City Waterpark
8039 Beach Blvd., Buena Park, CA 90620

LEGOLAND California Resort & LEGOLAND California Water Park
One LEGOLAND Dr., Carlsbad, CA 92008

Six Flags Magic Mountain & Hurricane Harbor Los Angeles
26101 Magic Mountain Parkway, Valencia, CA 91355

Sesame Place San Diego
2052 Entertainment Circle, Chula Vista, CA 91911

SeaWorld San Diego
500 Sea World Dr., San Diego, CA 92109

Spring break is just around the corner! Happy Planning for you and your family.

Wendy Kennar is a mother, writer, and former teacher who has lived her entire life in the same Los Angeles zip code. You can read more from Wendy at her website WendyKennar.com where she writes about books, boys, and bodies (living with an invisible disability).

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