Too old for the playground, too young for an art gallery, and with opinions for days, planning things to do in LA with tweens (the 8-12-year-old crowd) feels hard. But the city of Los Angeles is full of surprises, like a Michelin-starred restaurant in a food hall, a store just for time travelers, and a former Hollywood star’s beach home now open to everyone. Swap the phone screen for the silver screen and get ready for your epic LA vacay.
Active things to do with tweens in LA
Take your tweens on the Warner Brothers Studio Tour to see where movies and TV shows are made. My kids were confused as to why I was so excited to sit on a couch in a coffee shop (I’m sure they will eventually come to know and love Friends), but they were delighted to see the set of Young Sheldon. Tickets get you a backlot tour and museum access, including an interactive Harry Potter exhibition.
If you prefer your studio tour with a side of adrenaline, Universal Studios Hollywood is the better option. Most of the rides are simulation-style, but there is a Harry Potter-themed roller coaster and plans for a high-speed Fast & Furious coaster for summer 2026. A 60-minute studio tour is included in the admission price.
I have to mention Disneyland too, because I feel like the 8-12 age group is peak Disney. It’s incredibly expensive, and you will need to dedicate one full day per park (and I mean a full day—turn up at opening to beat the lines). But the Disney experience beats other theme parks, even those with better rides. I highly recommend buying Universal Studios and Disneyland tickets from Undercover Tourist for a discounted rate.
On a cheaper note, cycling from Santa Monica to Venice Beach along the beach path is the perfect sunny day family activity. Rent everything you need from Santa Monica Bike Rentals for cruising the dedicated bicycle path, past Muscle Beach and The Cove, a popular skatepark. Reward your pedalling with a stop at Gjusta, a Venice Beach bakery with delicious breakfast and lunch options to enjoy on the oak-shaded patio.
Indoor things to do with tweens in LA
Echo Park Time Travel Mart is a unique store selling supplies for time travelers, from robot milk to dinosaur eggs. It’s actually a front for another activity–teaching creative writing to local kids. You can buy their work in the store too. If you’re in San Francisco, check out their sister store, 826 Valencia Pirate Supply Store, for all your swashbuckling needs.
Madame Tussauds Hollywood–is it cringe? Yes, but also, so. much. fun. If you haven’t already, watch E.T with the kids before your trip, because posing as Elliot in the iconic alien-in-a-bike-basket scene is worth the ticket price alone.
If it’s a rainy day (or catastrophically hot), catch a movie at the Chinese Theater, a place designed to be just as theatrical as the movies it showed. If you’re not in the mood for a movie, tours are also available.
Another cool movie option: experience a 4D movie at Regal LA Live, where movies go beyond 3D with special effects like wind, scents, and motion seats. Look for a film featuring 4DX, Real 3D, as the theater also shows standard movies.
An escape room is a fun family activity for teens aged 13 and up, and this one is conveniently located in LA’s Westfield Century City (with cheap-ish parking available). If you prefer a quieter afternoon, TuTuFun, located in the same mall, offers a soothing space to craft all manner of colorful souvenirs.
For a no-reservations, cheap-but-fun indoor activity, head to Lost Worlds in Industry City to play laser tag in a cavernous, two-story arena. Games start every 30 minutes and cost $15 per player.
Outdoor activities for tweens in LA
If you have a horse girl (or boy), a sunset trail horseback ride in the hills above Los Angeles is a must-do activity with tweens. Available to ages eight and above, this one-hour horseback ride through the hills of Griffith Park is the very best way to view the Hollywood sign, the ocean, and downtown LA.
Join Santa Monica locals for a classic Los Angeles summer activity—swimming at Annenberg Community Beach House. This historic beach club was built during the Golden Age of Hollywood for actress Marion Davies, and was rebuilt by the city for everyone to enjoy. Featuring a swimming pool, shaded lounge chairs, a splash pad, volleyball court, soccer court, and playground, it’s perfect for a relaxing afternoon by the ocean. The pool is open June-September, first-come, first-served. Bring your own towel and a lock for the lockers.
If your tween enjoys celebrity gossip, book a Hollywood Homes tour. It’s so much easier than trying to find all the places yourself, and this one includes infamous LA landmarks like the Chateau Marmont and Rainbow Bar & Grill.
Ride an LA landmark with a trip on the world’s shortest railway, Angels Flight Railway. Built in 1901 to connect downtown to the upscale residential neighborhood of Bunker Hill, this one-minute adventure now takes tourists from 351 S Hill Street to California Plaza. Combine this with a visit to Grand Central Market, a cavernous food hall located opposite the lower entrance.
Free things to do in LA with tweens
Is your tween sports-obsessed? Take them along to the California Science Center for the latest exhibit, Game On! Science, Sports & Play. With a bunch of interactive exhibits, this is a genius way to sneak some science into play, and a free, indoor tween activity in LA.
Griffith Park, home to the famous Hollywood sign, is one of the largest urban parks in the USA. With over 4,000 acres of rugged terrain, the beautiful Griffith Observatory is free to visit and features several fun things to do with tweens in LA. There is no charge to check out the exhibitions and gardens, or to use the telescopes set up on the lawn at night. There is a charge to park in the observatory lot, but you can park for free in the Greek Theatre if you don’t mind the walk uphill.
Another free activity in Los Angeles for tweens with energy to burn: visit the Hollywood sign up close. The Mount Hollywood Trail is a three-mile loop through the hills with a gentle incline to the summit. There is almost no shade along the route; take plenty of water. Start this trail from the north end of Griffith Observatory parking lot, where you will find the trail sign.
General admission at The Broad, a contemporary art museum in downtown LA, is always free. Get timed tickets in advance from the website for popular exhibits, like Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirrored Room, an immersive and inspiring experience.
Hit the beach—LA is blessed with wide, white-sand beaches. Santa Monica Beach is my favorite, with a laid-back vibe in contrast to nearby Venice Beach. Santa Monica Beach stretches for 3.5 miles, with the pier at one end and Muscle Beach at the other. Swing by at sunset for stunning views of the Ferris wheel at the pier. If you want a more natural setting, drive north on the Pacific Coast Highway to Malibu. Parking at Malibu Beach is limited, so turn up on a weekday for your best chance.
Best family-friendly places to eat in LA
Los Angelenos love good food, from Michelin-starred fine dining to beloved neighborhood food trucks. The city has a dozen officially recognized cultural neighborhoods, including one of only three Japantowns in the country, Koreatown, Chinatown, and Little Ethiopia, to name but a few.
Dining with tweens is certainly preferable to dining with toddlers, and they may already be beyond the kids’ menu, but I will keep the list to the casual side to be safe.
Sugarfish, Santa Monica
Some of the best sushi I have ever had, for a reasonable price, close to the ocean. Sugarfish uses warm rice in the sushi, which contrasts beautifully with the raw fish. They also use some very subtle yuzu sauces in some of the dishes, which never overwhelm the flavors.
Perfect for families because you can order as much as you want, and then order some more if you’re still hungry. There is also a no-tipping policy, as a 16% service charge is added automatically, which negates the need to whip out the phone calculator at meal’s end. Turn up unfashionably early to guarantee a seat without a long wait.
Grand Central Market, Downtown LA
I have come to love food halls as the ultimate answer to “what does everyone want to eat?” Grand Central Market has vendors serving food from across the world, so follow your nose to your happy place. If you want to try a little of everything, book a downtown LA food tour and let a local be your guide to the best spots.
Mercado La Paloma, South LA
This smaller, calmer foodhall is the place to find some of the best Mexican food in Los Angeles. Mercado La Paloma hosts Holbox, a Michelin-starred restaurant serving Mexican coastal cuisine.
The eight-course tasting menu is priced at an incredibly affordable $130 per person, but you have to make a reservation on the first of the month for the following month. If you’re happy to go à la carte, just turn up and order over-the-counter.
Pizzeria Sei, West Los Angeles
Los Angeles is such an overachiever when it comes to food; even the pizza is topping nationwide lists. Pizzeria Sei took the number two spot in the US for best pizza recently, beating out competitors from New York and Chicago.
Head over for Tokyo-style Neapolitan pies with light, perfectly charred crusts. There are two locations, a dine-in restaurant at 10700 Tabor Street and a take-out bar at 8781 W Pico Blvd.
In-n-Out Burger
If you’re from California, you already know. But for the out-of-state folk, this is California’s favorite burger joint. The California chain remains stubbornly in the 1950s with great quality burgers, fair prices, and a simple, never-changing menu.
Regulars shake things up with the “secret” menu (actually pretty well known at this point) by asking for animal fries (fries loaded with a secret sauce mixture including cheese and grilled onions) or an animal-style burger (extra sauce, extra pickles, mustard-grilled burger patty). There are a few In-n-Out locations across the city, primarily wherever hungry tourists are at.
Best neighborhoods to stay in LA
Topping my list is Santa Monica, a laid-back community with a beach and great restaurants. We stayed at the Hyatt Centric Delfina, which had a pool, welcoming staff and free bicycles to ride along the beach path.
If you prefer to stay downtown, you could check out the AC Hotel by Marriott Downtown LA, which has a very chic rooftop pool and restaurant.
West Hollywood/Beverly Hills area is very walkable and close to the major tourist attractions. Hotel Sofitel Beverly Hills is a chic option with an outdoor pool, and kids under 12 receive a free breakfast when accompanied by a paying adult.
And those are my recs! I’ll try to keep the list updated as things change, but let me know in the comments if you want to share a great LA find. If you’re looking for things to do outside LA, Joshua Tree National Park and Death Valley National Park are within a three-hour drive.
