Activities for kids in Los Angeles (SoCal)

[Rumpltzer]

The wife is bringing a group of students to "visit America" for a couple of weeks in late July. They're coming from Taiwan, they speak English, and their parents don't mind putting down the money to do it.

I'm looking for activities for 10-12 year olds. These kids have spent most of their lives in the city and get excited if they see a squirrel or large tree, so I'm trying to get them outdoors as much as possible.

Here's what I have so far:
1. Disneyland
2. Disney's California Adventure Park
3. Universal Studio
4. Magic Mountain at Magic Mountain
5. Water Park
6. Golf n' Stuff
7. Knott's Berry Farm
8. San Diego Zoo
9. Sea World
10. Mall-shopping
11. Picnic
12. Santa Monica Pier
13. Yosemite National Park
14. Science and Art museum / IMAX
15. Denmark Town / Santa Barbara beach / UCSB
16. Legoland
17. Indoor rock climbing
18. Aquarium of the Pacific (Long Beach)
19. Micheal Jackson's Neverland Ranch

I'm not really from LA. Clearly, we'll be driving for a while to get to Yosemite and San Diego. Anyone have anything else to add?

 

[InverseOfNeo]

Not sure if you wanted to hit up (art) museums...but the Getty Museum is pretty spectacular, and LACMA is pretty interesting for an art museum.

 

[chrisms]

It sounds like Yosemite and any other outdoors type stuff would be most impressive. Try to hit Sequioa/King Canyon National Park on your way north.

 

[Malladine]

Originally posted by: Rumpltzer
19. Micheal Jackson's Neverland Ranch

?

 

[shimsham]

Originally posted by: Malladine

Originally posted by: Rumpltzer
19. Micheal Jackson's Neverland Ranch

?

:Q

im thinking thats not such a good idea

 

[Yossarian]

there's a Los Angeles Zoo that isn't bad. La Brea tar pits are all right too.

imo San Diego Wild Animal Park is better than the SD Zoo, the animals are in more of a natural habitat. you take a cool tram ride around an enormous outdoor area, all the animals are basically free to do what they want within that area.

 

[phreakah]

check out museum row on miracle mile (wilshire).... lots of neat things there

i agree with the wild animal park idea too... that place is awesome

 

[Darthvoy]

Originally posted by: Malladine

Originally posted by: Rumpltzer
19. Micheal Jackson's Neverland Ranch

?

If you want those kids to return to Taiwan the same, for God's sake don't take them there.

 

[JulesMaximus]

You could go bobbing for hypodermic needles in Santa Monica bay.

 

[Lobstar]

Take them to a buffet. They will be wowed at the amount of food you can get for $10-20.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: InverseOfNeo
Not sure if you wanted to hit up (art) museums...but the Getty Museum is pretty spectacular, and LACMA is pretty interesting for an art museum.

10-12 year old kids aren't going to really appreciate that though.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Rumpltzer

The wife is bringing a group of students to "visit America" for a couple of weeks in late July. They're coming from Taiwan, they speak English, and their parents don't mind putting down the money to do it.

I'm looking for activities for 10-12 year olds. These kids have spent most of their lives in the city and get excited if they see a squirrel or large tree, so I'm trying to get them outdoors as much as possible.

Here's what I have so far:
1. Disneyland
2. Disney's California Adventure Park
3. Universal Studio
4. Magic Mountain at Magic Mountain
5. Water Park
6. Golf n' Stuff
7. Knott's Berry Farm
8. San Diego Zoo
9. Sea World
10. Mall-shopping
11. Picnic
12. Santa Monica Pier
13. Yosemite National Park
14. Science and Art museum / IMAX
15. Denmark Town / Santa Barbara beach / UCSB
16. Legoland
17. Indoor rock climbing
18. Aquarium of the Pacific (Long Beach)
19. Micheal Jackson's Neverland Ranch

I'm not really from LA. Clearly, we'll be driving for a while to get to Yosemite and San Diego. Anyone have anything else to add?

Yeah, almost 500 miles...

 

[dc]

Originally posted by: Rumpltzer

19. Micheal Jackson's Neverland Ranch

lol

 

[shuan24]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: InverseOfNeo
Not sure if you wanted to hit up (art) museums...but the Getty Museum is pretty spectacular, and LACMA is pretty interesting for an art museum.

10-12 year old kids aren't going to really appreciate that though.

Yeah, but I bet they would appreciate Neverland Ranch!

 

[bwnv]

Hearst castle in San Simien (sp) it has a zoo, gardens, views, trees and after you can check out the ocean

 

[Rumpltzer]

Originally posted by: Lobstar
Take them to a buffet. They will be wowed at the amount of food you can get for $10-20.

You can eat like a king and actually have delicious food in Taiwan very easily for lass than US$5.

These are kids. McDonalds is their favorite.

 

[Landroval]

Tar Pits and Griffith Observatory. Loved those when I was a kid.

 

[Rumpltzer]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Rumpltzer

The wife is bringing a group of students to "visit America" for a couple of weeks in late July. They're coming from Taiwan, they speak English, and their parents don't mind putting down the money to do it.

I'm looking for activities for 10-12 year olds. These kids have spent most of their lives in the city and get excited if they see a squirrel or large tree, so I'm trying to get them outdoors as much as possible.

Here's what I have so far:
1. Disneyland
2. Disney's California Adventure Park
3. Universal Studio
4. Magic Mountain at Magic Mountain
5. Water Park
6. Golf n' Stuff
7. Knott's Berry Farm
8. San Diego Zoo
9. Sea World
10. Mall-shopping
11. Picnic
12. Santa Monica Pier
13. Yosemite National Park
14. Science and Art museum / IMAX
15. Denmark Town / Santa Barbara beach / UCSB
16. Legoland
17. Indoor rock climbing
18. Aquarium of the Pacific (Long Beach)
19. Micheal Jackson's Neverland Ranch

I'm not really from LA. Clearly, we'll be driving for a while to get to Yosemite and San Diego. Anyone have anything else to add?

Yeah, almost 500 miles...

I meant driving to these places from LA.

But yeah, it's a long way. It's even more when you consider that the island of Taiwan can be driven from top to bottom in less than six hours! The perception of what's a long way away is a lot different to the people I meet in Taiwan.

I've taken the wife to San Diego and then to Yosemite just this winter. She was so impressed with Yosemite that she says she just has to take the kids. She says they won't care about the drive as long as their Gameboy batteries are fully charged.

They've done similar trips to the Orlando/Tampa/Cape Canaveral area.

 

[Kaieye]

I plan on taking my family to the Hollywood Bowl in the evening and have a picnic dinner there before going in on August 7. In the day time, I plan on going to the LA county museum to see the King Tut exhibit this same day...

How about TJ? They would have to bring their passports for identification, of course. Grunion run by the pier? How about River rafting at the American river just north of Yosemite? How about a TV show in Hollywood - can you get tickets for this? How about a Churrascaria dinner? They don't have that in Taiwan!

 

[Rumpltzer]

Originally posted by: Kaieye
I plan on taking my family to the Hollywood Bowl in the evening and have a picnic dinner there before going in on August 7. In the day time, I plan on going to the LA county museum to see the King Tut exhibit this same day...

How about TJ? They would have to bring their passports for identification, of course. Grunion run by the pier? How about River rafting at the American river just north of Yosemite? How about a TV show in Hollywood - can you get tickets for this? How about a Churrascaria dinner? They don't have that in Taiwan!

Have you gotten your tickets to the King Tut exhibit already? I've been thinking about buying in, but I hate that I have to buy for a certain day and hour. What if plans change, you know?

Good suggestions, though. I'm not sure what Grunion and Churrascaria are, so I'll look that stuff up. I think the TV show idea is pretty good! I'll look into that. Thanks!

Oh, and I'm thinking that the kids would be safer at MJ's Ranch than in TJ!!

 

[FleshLight]

Speedzone! Dromo1!

 

[RaDragon]

Hollywood and Highland (or at least see the Grauman's Chinese Theatre, the concrete floor with the imprints and the stars on the sidewalk...)

Has the Griffith Observatory reopened? Maybe take them there in the evening (if it's open).


[ e d i t ]

Denmark Town? You mean, Solvang, CA. I didn't know they were Danish.
While you're at it, San Francisco -- Golden Gate Bridge, etc.

Back in LA... Chinatown!

 

[Rumpltzer]

Originally posted by: RaDragon
Hollywood and Highland (or at least see the Grauman's Chinese Theatre, the concrete floor with the imprints and the stars on the sidewalk...)

Has the Griffith Observatory reopened? Maybe take them there in the evening (if it's open).


[ e d i t ]

Denmark Town? You mean, Solvang, CA. I didn't know they were Danish.
While you're at it, San Francisco -- Golden Gate Bridge, etc.

Back in LA... Chinatown!

Yeah, "Denmark Town" is Solvang. It's the literal translation from what the Taiwanese tour operators call it. I've taken her there when I lived in Santa Barbara. We were both bored, so I have no idea why she'd take the kids there.

Isn't Chinatown in LA kind of... dangerous?

 

[jammur21]

Skip Yosemite. The drive is too long, and the scenery along the way is severely lacking. Unless you're going to SanFran...

UCSB? Take them to UCLA, they've heard of it.

All three (plus Universal) SoCal amusement parks and you will be their hero.

Sea World+San Diego Zoo would be a killer weekend combo. San Diego also has a great central park (SDers, chime in here, I forgot the name).

Skip LegoLand. They might be a few years too old to enjoy it. The rides are aimed at a younger crowd.

Miracle Mile/Museum Row/Mid Wilshire, they're probably too young to appreciate it.

Do Not forget the Hollywood sign, lame to us I know, but they won't forgive you if they don't get to see it. A direct trip to Mann's Chinese Theater is a good choice too, but I wouldn't stray too far since it would become very difficult to keep track of that many kids in a major city environment.

Chinatown isn't that bad, again, keeping track of kids in a major city environment is a challenge you'll have to decide to take. No one is going to snatch a Taiwanese kid, but if one gets separated/wanders off, then its going to really fvck up your day.

Dana Point is probably the best beach area in LA/OC.

I don't think they would share our novelty of Catalina Island.

Angels baseball game is a good option.

Don't even think about TJ.

 

[amol]

I like :

1. Disneyland ... ultimate kid thing
8. San Diego Zoo ... can't go wrong with the zoo!
9. Sea World ... like an aquatic Disneyland
13. Yosemite National Park ... if they want to do something outdoors-y, this is great!
16. Legoland ... awesome
18. Aquarium of the Pacific ... ALSO AWESOME (my high school's prom was there last night, too)
19. Neverland Ranch ... sure, why not?