Best Fun For Kids In The South Bay
There's plenty of family fun in South Bay, Los Angeles. From sea-inspired aquariums to planes, trains, and fire-themed automobiles (and some pretty incredible historic ships!), there is something for every kid to enjoy while in South Bay. To help us navigate the options, we turned to Trekaroo, the nation's largest independent family travel website, where parent-written reviews helped determine the cream of the crop in South Bay and beyond.
Roundhouse Aquarium
2 Manhattan Beach Blvd.
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
(310) 379-8117
www.roundhouseaquarium.org
Located at the end of the Manhattan Beach Pier, the Roundhouse Aquarium features an impressive variety of sea life exhibits considering its size. A touch tank pool at the entrance is a highlight for kids of all ages and the upstairs level with themed tables, books, and puzzles make for a perfect mid-week afternoon full of marine life exploration. The free aquarium accepts donations and offers visitor events including weekly story times for toddlers.
Charles H. Wilson Park
Charles H. Wilson Park
2400 Jefferson St.
Torrance, CA 90510
www.torranceca.gov/Parks
Charles H. Wilson Park, located in Torrance, boasts a wide variety of opportunities for kid-friendly fun including a pond to feed the ducks, playground equipment, ball fields, plenty of open space and picnic areas, as well as the Southern California Live Steamers train operators. Visit on the first or third Sunday of the month to hop aboard the mini-trains for free or explore the farmer's markets offered multiple times throughout the week at this park.
Western Museum of Flight
Torrance Airport
3315 Airport Dr.
Torrance, CA 90505
www.wmof.com
Take your little aviators to the Western Museum of Flight located at the Torrance Municipal Airport. A variety of restored aircraft and aviation artifacts are on display at this small museum, and older kiddos can even climb inside the cockpits of various crafts including an F-5A Freedom Fighter jet, BD-5 sport plane, and more. Spend the rest of your afternoon watching the runway landings and takeoffs at the airport. Kids under 12 are free!
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
3720 Steven White Dr.
San Pedro, CA 90731
(310) 548–7562
www.cabrillomarineaquarium.org
The Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro boasts an impressive collection of marine life native to our Southern California coastline. The extremely popular touch tank exhibit (boasting sea stars, anemones, and more) can be extremely crowded on busy days, so plan accordingly. The museum's exhibits feature informative displays, with even a few at a very low level that makes it easy for even the littlest visitors to spot sea life. Hands on activities encourage educational development. The aquarium is free, but a $5 donation is encouraged.
Los Angeles Maritime Museum
Berth 84 6th Street
San Pedro, CA 90731
(310) 548–7618
www.lamaritimemuseum.org
Learn about the history of Los Angeles harbor at the Los Angeles Maritime Museum in San Pedro. Educational exhibits, best geared for kids elementary age or older, coupled with helpful and informative guides, 700 ship and boat models, and an operating radio station make this living history stop a must-visit for families hoping to deepen their knowledge of local history. Kids will love trying to make one of the 64 types of sea knots on display.
Los Angeles Fire Department Museum and Memorial
Harbor Museum
638 Beacon St.
San Pedro, CA 90731
(323) 464-2727
www.lafdmuseum.org
The Los Angeles Fire Department Museum and Memorial, located at the Harbor Museum in San Pedro, is the perfect place to take your little ones as it serves as both a fun afternoon coupled with a hefty dose of fire prevention and safety training, tailored to children's young ages. Open only on Saturdays, (although tours are available on request), the museum features two fire engines from 1927, as well as numerous artifacts from LA's fire history past and present.
Battleship IOWA and SS Lane Victory
San Pedro Harbor
San Pedro, CA 90733
www.pacificbattleship.com
San Pedro Harbor boasts two historic vessels, the Battleship IOWA, the 70-year-old US Battleship, and the SS Lane Victory, the WWII cargo ship that served in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. Tours of these boats are fascinating for older kids interested in the history of our involvement with these wars, and as an added bonus your kids will sleep well from climbing through the vast network of passages and staircases in these ships. Young children are not recommended.
