Best Spots for Summer Playdates In LA
Just A Putt
Sherman Oaks Castle Park
4989 Sepulveda Blvd.
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
(818) 756-9459
laparks.org/
Click here for mini golf prices/Click here for arcade prices
Miniature golf is a great game for kids in the summer, and there's no better place in the vicinity to play than at Sherman Oaks Castle Park, a snazzy member of the LA Parks Organization. Although other distractions exist in this Valley play land, the mini version of a bigger game invites kids of all ages to try and putt the ball in the right direction while soaking up the sun in the process.
CBS LA Insider's Tip: Be sure to slather sun screen on each player before he or she heads out because this location gets more light than in most places in the Los Angeles area.
Related: Best Batting Cages in Los Angeles
Annenberg Community Beach House
415 Pacific Coast Highway
Santa Monica, CA 90402
(310) 458-0402
beachhouse.smgov.net
Price: $6 to $10 per day
A public swimming pool has never been so exciting as the one at the Annenberg Community Beach House, just a frisbee's throw from the mighty Pacific. This is the best arena for getting the kids together to splash around in a hole that's manmade to perfection. It's also perfect for these tykes to learn to swim in the proper way and take their strokes seriously enough to perhaps some day perform in competitions.
Related: Best Public Pools in Los Angeles
Big Tujunga Creek
Tujunga, CA
fishingnetwork.net
Price: free
A day of fishing with friends can make even the youngest kids happy. Take them out to sink those hooks into a pond before catching and releasing their prey. This outlet is a nice challenge for neophytes and expert fishers who are not yet adult enough to drive themselves to this fun endeavor. If you're looking for trout, look to the edge of the Angeles Crest at Big Tujunga Creek where these floppers will flip out for some company on a hot summer day.
Kidspace Children's Museum
480 N. Arroyo Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91103
(626) 449-9144
kidspacemuseum.org
Price: $10/free children younger than 1
Sometimes being outside is overrated during particularly steamy summer days, so why not go inside and play at Kidspace Children's Museum, a fun place for kids of all ages to goof around and learn all at the same time. There are so many activities to choose from, from running a radio station to digging for bugs, rocks and fossils. While many exhibits are located indoors where air-conditioning reigns, more than a dozen other activities are on the grounds out in the open, so be sure to have your tykes ready to take advantage of both opportunities on a special summer afternoon at this fascinating facility.
SpeedZone Los Angeles
17871 Castleton St.
City of Industry, CA 91748
(626) 913-9663
speedzone.com
Click here for tickets and pricing
Bigger kids will likely go crazy (in a good way) if you plan a play date that revolves around go carts. That said, the best place to go for this fast-paced activity is SpeedZone in the City of Industry, about 20 minutes from downtown Los Angeles. While getting ready for this event, remember that anyone under the age of 18 will need to be accompanied by an adult, so plan to take part in the fun, too. Also remember that this sport can become dangerous for those who don't follow instructions. Make sure your offspring know it is important to heed the rules before pressing on the gas.
CBS LA Insider's Tip: This activity is restricted by way of height so nobody shorter than 42 inches should come play here.
Los Angeles freelance travel writer Jane Lasky, contributes to publications such as Travel + Leisure, Vogue and Esquire. Her weekly sojourning column ran in 40 newspapers for 20 years. Jane is anything but an accidental tourist. Check out her articles on Examiner.com.
