It’s not always easy to travel with kids, and spending time inside a busy airport can certainly complicate matters. So if your summer travel plans are taking you through Los Angeles International Airport, here are some suggestions for keeping the kids safe, healthy, and entertained.

Restaurants at LAX

You’ll find no shortage of restaurants to choose from at LAX, meaning even the pickiest of eaters will find something they like. Family-friendly options include Fresh Brothers Pizza and Sandwiches, Homeboy Cafe, Lemonade, Farmers Market at LAX, Pinkberry and Vanilla Bake Shop to name a few. Parents and foodies might want to try Campanile, Loteria, and Ford’s Filling Station.

Shopping at LAX

Whether you’re shopping for souvenirs to bring with you on your trip or hoping to find the perfect small item that will keep your child entertained and content while traveling, you’ll most likely find it at one of the retail shops at LAX. Kids will enjoy checking out Magic Johnson Sports Store, Mattel Experience, Book Soup, and Bead Factory among others.

Related: Traveling with Toddlers

LAX Beach – Children’s Play Area
inside the Tom Bradley International Terminal

This special beach-themed play area is designed for children ages 2-11. The 975-square-foot play area features a slide, an interactive light table, and sculpted foam pieces that resemble waves, beach toys, and dolphins allow children to get their bodies moving before buckling in and settling down for a plane ride.  

Flight Path Learning Center and Museum
(in the LAX Imperial Terminal)
6661 W. Imperial Highway, Los Angeles, CA 90045

Depending on how much time you’ve got to spend at LAX, you might want to plan a little “field trip” to the Flight Path Learning Center and Museum. Your family will be treated to models, photographs, uniforms, and artifacts depicting the history of air flight. Kids can see the South runways and get a tour of the DC-3 plane parked outside. The Flight Path Learning Center offers free admission and is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm (except on major holidays).

Nursing Rooms at LAX

If you’re looking for a quiet place to nurse your baby, you’ll find them all over LAX. Click the link to find the exact locations.

Pet Parks at LAX

Lower/Arrivals Level of the Central Terminal Area (between Terminals 1-2) and
Southeast End of the Central Terminal Area (near Terminals 7-8)

For kids who are animal lovers, take a walk to the small “pet parks” at LAX. For the pets, these areas provide a needed place for animals to take a little bathroom break. But for young children, the sight of dogs may provide them with the distraction they need as they wait to board their flight.

Art Exhibitions at LAX

The LAX Art Program has up to 20 exhibitions a year featuring Southern California artists. Families can see special exhibits located at the arrival and departure areas.

And if your travels take you to other airports, try these suggestions for activities to keep your kids busy:

Scavenger Hunt.  Keep your child’s age in mind when designing your scavenger hunt. Maybe you’d like your preschooler to practice his alphabet. Wander around together and see if you can find an item that starts with every letter of the alphabet. (You can also look for colors or shapes as well). For an added bonus, document your findings. Use a disposable camera, your smart phone, or an older model smart phone that still has a working camera to take photos of your discoveries.

Exercise.  If you can find some open space, get the family moving. Challenge family members to 10 jumping jacks, 10 lunges, 10 push-ups, etc. Do an experiment and see who gets upstairs faster — the family member on the escalator or the family member taking the stairs.

People Watch.  Watch people.  Look at their body language, their gestures, and their facial expressions. Can you make up stories about them? What are they saying to each other? Where are they traveling? What will they do there? (You can even record your “stories” into your phones while you invent them).

Practice Random Acts of Kindness.  Can each family member find 5 pieces of litter to pick up and throw away? Chairs that need to be pushed in? A book that has fallen off a display and needs to be put back?

Play With Your Food.  Make a “Tic Tac Toe” game using pretzel sticks for the grids. Use cereal, raisins, or chocolate chips as the “x” and “o” pieces.

MOMSLA IS YOUR SOURCE FOR THINGS TO DO IN LOS ANGELES WITH KIDS

Disclaimer: MomsLA has made every effort to confirm the information in this article; however, things can often change. Therefore, MomsLA makes no representations or warranties about the accuracy of the information published here. MomsLA strongly urges you to confirm any event details, like date, time, location, and admission, with the third party hosting the event. You assume the sole risk of relying on any of the information in our list. MomsLA is in no way responsible for any injuries or damages you sustain while attending any third-party event posted on our website. Please read our Terms of Use which you have agreed to based on your continued use of this website. Some events have paid to be listed on MomsLA.