10 Summer Activities Off The Beaten Path
School is out for many now and summer has officially begun! Many people typically go to the usual places, such as the beach and Great Wolf’s Lodge which are always fun but we thought we would share some new ideas for this summer that you may not otherwise have thought of!
Here are 10 new ideas for family outings within an hour or two of Pico-Robertson.
Amir’s Garden and Travel Town Museum in Griffith Park Observatory
You are likely familiar with the Griffith Park Observatory. Here are a couple spots on their grounds you may not be familiar with. Amir’s Garden is a five acre garden that is perfect for a walk and a picnic after. The beautiful and lush grounds would likely make a lovely backdrop for a family photoshoot as well!
The Travel Town Museum seems like a great educational and fun activity for families. According to the LA Parks website, Travel Town was initially created to be a “railroad petting zoo and opportunity for the children of LA to imagineer themselves as engineers. They take re in servations online for both picnics and birthday parties.
https://www.laparks.org/traveltown/
Marina Del Rey Boat Renting
Although Marina Del Rey is a little over a few miles away, it doesn’t seem to be somewhere people go very often. It’s a great alternative if you want to do something in the water, but don’t necessarily want to swim in the beach. Their options of boat rentals include power boats, sail boats, and kayaks. You can also reserve an excursion such as a ‘seafari’ harbor cruise or a Malibu jetski tour.
https://marinadelreyboatrentals.com
Farm Sanctuary
The Farm Sanctuary is a great activity for children who love animals. It is a large rescue farm home to over 100 animals that have been abused and neglected. They offer an hour long tour of the farm where you can meet and pet the various animals on the farm.
Greystone Mansion
The Greystone Mansion is on the grounds of a beautiful, scenic park that is perfect for a nature walk or family photo shoot. While the mansion itself isn’t always open for tours, you can call the Greystone Office to inquire about a tour. Please see their website for contact information.
The Annenberg Pet Space
Has your family been wanting a pet? You can help teach your children more about caring for a pet by coming to the Annenberg Pet Space, which is more than just a pet rescue- they offer camps and activities for kids as well! This is a unique and fun idea for animal lovers.
The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens
Long summer days call for an outing that will take up a good chunk of your day. You can easily spend a full day on the Huntington grounds visiting the library, art museum, and their gorgeous gardens which is over 130 acres. Visit their website for more information!
Stoner Water Park Pool
It can be hard to not have your own pool on these long, hot summer days. This water park/pool is perfect for figuring out what to do with bored kids as it is part pool and part jungle gym making it fun for all ages.
https://stonerpark.lacitypools.com
The Japanese Garden
This is another unique, hidden scenic gem in the LA area. This is a great family outing for taking a walk in beautiful scenery and enjoying their gardens.
Grand Park Los Angeles
Grand Park is a large 12 acre park in the LA area and great for when you want to go somewhere a little more exciting than your local park. They offer fun programming throughout the year as well. The website says people are more than welcome to picnic there- they have a splash pad as well for some fun water play!
https://grandparkla.org/visit/
Peterson Automotive museum
This is a fun activity for families with car-obsessed little ones. In addition to their exhibits, they offer fun programming and events throughout the year- check their website for more information!