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Spring Break Guide - Los Angeles

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Venice Skate Park (credit: jdsskate.com)

Spring Break is fast approaching and it's time to start planning activities for you and your family.

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(credit: artbites.net)

Mommy & Me Mondays

ArtBites Kitchen
450 S. Detroit St. #1
Los Angeles 90036
310-396-4648
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If you have first-graders or Kindergartners, kick start your week at ArtBites, a unique cooking-meets-art program founded three years ago by chef/art historian Maite Gomez-Rejón. Mommy & Me Mondays start out with a children's story. Then the kids alternate between preparing two or three dishes and working on crafts—all related to the story's theme. For example, after reading "Where The Wild Things Are," the kids made carrot-ginger soup, forest salad and banana boats with sails, and each decorated tall crowns. For the finale, everyone gathers around the large table to enjoy their creations. Each child leaves with a booklet of the recipes prepared. For children ages 3-6, Mondays 11am-1pm. Reservations required.

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Courtesy of California State Parks, ©Copyright 2011

Will Rogers State Historic Park

1501 Will Rogers Park Road
Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
(310) 454-8212
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In the early 1930s, Will Rogers was the most popular and highest paid actor in Hollywood. During the 1920s, he bought land in Santa Monica and developed 186 acres overlooking the Pacific Ocean, in what is now known as Pacific Palisades. When his widow, Betty, died in 1944, the ranch became a state park offering everything from hiking trails to a polo field. Horseback riding lessons are available, as are tours of the Ranch. A great big lawn in front of what was once Will Rogers' home is the perfect spot for a picnic and a game of Frisbee.

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(credit: nhm.org)

Butterfly Pavilion

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
900 Exposition Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90007
(213) 763-DINO

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Each year, the Butterfly Pavilion provides a Spring and Summer home to over 40 different species of butterflies and moths in a lush plant-filled ecosystem. This is a truly magical experience for young kids, since the butterflies have been known to land on little arms and heads. Opens April 10.

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(credit: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Skate Parks

Venice Skate Park
1 Windward Circle
Venice, CA 90291
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LA is where skateboarding was invented, and if you haven't taken your kids to a skate park yet, now's the perfect time. Grab a deck, don't forget your helmets and knee pads, and go shred it up! You can try out some moves at the Venice Skate Park, located right on the world-famous beach of the same name.

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(credit: wikimedia)

Hollywood Walk of Fame

Hollywood Blvd. between Gower and La Brea
Hollywood, CA 90028
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The Walk of Fame is a time-honored tradition in our Company Town, and you can walk along with the stars (on the sidewalk) and see how many names you recognize. If you've got an iPhone, the Walk of Fame has an app available for $1.99, so you and your kids can look for your favorites and the ones who don't ring a bell.

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(credit: lamountains.com)

Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area

17017 Burbank Blvd.
Encino, CA 91316
(818) 343-4143
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Consisting of several parks, golf courses and sports centers, the Sepulveda Basin is also known as the only place where the LA River runs wild. In a city that's known for its cement river, showing your kids what a real one looks like could be quite an eye-opener.

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(credit: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Swimming At UCLA

UCLA Sunset Canyon Recreation Center
111 De Neve Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90095
(310) 825-3671
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During Spring Break it's usually just getting warm enough to swim, albeit in a heated pool, without catching a Los Angeles cold. And nothing occupies a bunch of kids more fully than splashing around all day. UCLA's Sunset Canyon Family Pool is 25 feet long with a shallow area and lanes for lap swimming as well. Sunset Canyon also has picnic and BBQ facilities, making it a one-stop shop for family fun.

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(credit: benjamindesign.ro)

Spring Break Camps

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For working parents who can't take time off, Spring Break means camp time for the kids. Luckily, there are lots of choices out there, with themes ranging from acting to gymnastics, and at locations ranging from surf camp at the beach to zoo camp at The Los Angeles Zoo, and everything in between. Prices range all over the map as well, and some have started to fill up.

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(credit: Kim Tracy Prince)

Design Your Own Camp

The Amazing Kid Company
Eric 310-420-2773
818-981-4321
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Because the various LA school districts and private schools haven't synchronized their spring breaks, sometimes it's hard to find a camp available for your week. That's when you call The Amazing Kid Company to solve your dilemma. They'll bring camp to your house - or a bunch of kids' houses. Choose from "Sports & Games", "Artsy-Smartsy", "Strictly Movie Making", or create a custom plan. Campers can even head off to field trip locations with the highly trained staff. All you need is a minimum of 5 kids ages 2-12 (can mix ages) and $25/day (check for discounts).

Sarah Auerswald is the blogger behind Mar Vista Mom and a co-Founder of Moms LA.

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