Sunshine, Stars, and Smiles: 4 Days Visiting LA with Kids

For Thanksgiving this year, we were spoiled enough to get away to Los Angeles from the frigid temps of the Midwest. Even though I’d been several times before kids, I wasn’t entirely sure what we’d get into. Sure, I knew about the big sights – the walk of fame, the sign, Universal, and Disneyland – but what else was there for a family who wanted to have something for everyone ages 1 to 58? We spent 4 days in LA – here’s what we did – and what we learned. 

Day 1: Malibu Beachin’

The first day we spent in The City of Angels was actually Thanksgiving – meaning not a lot was open. This gave us the perfect chance to go check out the beaches of Malibu! We chose Pointe Dume, a beautiful little beach with amazing cliffs and a short hike for our first stop. It was gorgeous and we all unexpectedly got a little wet in the waves. The hike was about 30 minutes long (with kids), but it is not a stroller-friendly hike, so be sure to bring a pack or ensure your kiddos are okay to walk a bit.  

I love Malibu and could’ve spent all day there, enjoying the slow, chill vibes and the gorgeous scenery. With nap time upon us, we headed back to our spot in Culver City for the evening. Speaking of Culver City, my little family unit stayed at my brother and sister-in-law’s gorgeous townhouse there, while my in-laws stayed at the Culver Hotel. I love the old-timey vibes of the hotel, but I would not recommend having kids at this hotel. You could probably get away with an infant, but between the upscale restaurant on the ground floor and the room configurations, it was pretty clear to me that it is more of an adults-only type of hotel. If there are other hotels in the area, I’d totally recommend staying in the area! We loved being able to walk to restaurants (like Mendocino Farms and Pasta Sisters), ice cream, and of course… the legendary LA staple: Erewhon. When in Rome, do as the Romans (or Hailey Biebers) do.  

Day 2: Seeing the Sights

Day 2 was a bit more traditional “LA” sightseeing. In the morning, we toured Paramount Studios. This was an absolutely fantastic tour, whether you’re a movie buff or not! Be warned, they only allow children over the age of 10 to go due to insurance with their golf carts, so we had to leave our kids with an adult. I loved every minute of the tour and it truly brought the magic of movies to life. I don’t wish our kids went though – it wasn’t a kid-friendly tour (just would’ve been boring) and I would’ve been stressing about telling them not to touch everything.

In the evening, we went to the Santa Monica Pier which is legendary, of course. Depending on how much you’re looking to spend – both time and money – you could make this a 20-minute venture or an all-day type of thing. We chose to have our 2-year-old ride a few of the rides, but at $8/ride per person, we only did a few select ones. There seems to be fun food options on the pier as well, though we didn’t try any. Sunset is totally worth catching here! We also did a bit of driving around Abbot Kinney Boulevard, which has some famous shopping and some of my favorite brands. 

Day 3: Fishing the Ports

My husband’s side of the family loves to fish on vacations, so naturally, we booked a fishing charter. Not sure how we found our charter, but we booked with Captain Harry of Mystic Queen Sport Fishing and it was great! We brought everyone except our 1-year-old (which was a good move). For about 4 hours, we caught fish non-stop! Like seriously, we caught 31 fish and threw several back on top of that. They were great with my 2-year-old, helping keep an eye on him and helping him fish over and over again. It was such a relaxing tour that we enjoyed. They even fileted the fish right in front of us for us to take home and cook! Definitely check him out if you’re looking to fish.

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Day 4: Enjoying Dana Point’s Chill Vibes

On our last day, we drove about an hour south to Dana Point to visit some friends. They grew up in the area, so they showed us around town and all that this cute little area has to offer! We first checked out the beach and then headed to the harbor. All decked out for Christmas, the harbor was so cute and just an all-around beachier vibe than where we’d been before. We sat down for lunch at Wind and Sea, a cute restaurant on the harbor and enjoyed some seafood and margaritas. We then meandered over to Frisby Cellars for a little wine tasting – because what California trip would be complete without a lunchtime wine? 

After that, we headed back to their place for a little nap for the kiddos and enjoyed basking in the sun and catching up with them. Post-nap, we checked out a killer sunset at the beach and grabbed a quick bite at Project Social, a fast casual place with yummy fresh food. 

Would I Recommend to a Friend?

All things considered, we had a wonderful trip to LA. The city is just so big and has so much to do, I feel like we barely scratched the surface. When we go back with our kids, I think we’ll probably check out Disneyland or Universal, the Griffith Observatory, or even the LA Zoo. If you’re willing to drive, the city is chok full of fun activities to get you outside and enjoying the Cali life.