Our favorite SoCal museums
- Skirball including Noah's Ark exhibit
- Museums at Exposition Park, including the California Science Center and the Natural History Museum (the Butterfly Pavillion is open)
- LACMA - each kid signed up in NextGen gets themself and 1 adult into the museum for free
- Kidspace Museum
- Petersen Automotive Museum
- Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
- Discovery Science Cube in OC
- Gullwings Museum in Oxnard - Great for little kids, 18 months to 8 years.
- Carnegie Art Museum in Oxnard
- Zimmer Museum - best for kids under 10
- The Autry Museum of Western Heritage - free the second Tuesday of each month
- Getty Center - gorgeous views, gardens, and art
- Getty Villa
- Rancho los Alamitos - recently renovated
- Rancho los Cerritos - tours are informative and fun
- L.A. Zoo
- OC Zoo
- Santa Ana Zoo - small, with a nice "farm" area and lots of monkeys
- Santa Barbara Zoo - right close to the beach, with a nifty train
- Point Fermin Lighthouse - best for kids over 3
- Museum of Flying in S. Monica - great for all ages!
- Griffith Observatory - great at night or during the day
- Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens
- Bowers Museum in OC - fabulous family area free one Sunday a month
- Toyota Museum
- Orange Empire Railway
- Nethercutt Museum
- Columbia Memorial Space Center - best for kids 5 and up, and worth the drive
- Environmental Nature Center in Newport Beach - free butterfly house, nature center, and easy, shady hiking trails.
Museum tips
Before going to a museum, check their website and/or Yelp.
Look for coupons and free days (often held monthly). Go with friends and you might be eligible for group rates. Information should be available online.
If you are a large family and/or will visit frequently, it's often worthwhile to buy a Zoo membership for the year.
Look for coupons and free days (often held monthly). Go with friends and you might be eligible for group rates. Information should be available online.
If you are a large family and/or will visit frequently, it's often worthwhile to buy a Zoo membership for the year.