Best Science Attractions In LA For Kids

One of the best things about living in Los Angeles is the vast number of resources at our fingertips. Within a very short drive you can visit some of the best museums in the country. Here is a list of the best exhibits for your little science enthusiast at home.

Endeavour Space Shuttle

California Science Center
700 Exposition Park Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90037
(323) SCIENCE
www.californiasciencecenter.org

Take your little science lover to the Samuel Oschin Pavilion, where you can get an up-close encounter with the Endeavour Space Shuttle. The Endeavour completed 25 missions into space, including the first service mission to the Hubble Space Telescope and the first mission to add a U.S.-built component to the International Space Station. Timed tickets are available to reserve online for a nominal processing fee. Entry into the California Science Center is free.

Galvin Physics Forest

Kidspace Children's Museum
480 North Arroyo Boulevard
Pasadena, CA 91103
(626) 449-9144
www.kidspacemuseum.org

With a mission to enrich the lives of our children, Kidspace Children's Museum brings the best outdoor science exhibit to us in Southern California. The Robert and Mary Galvin Physics Forest consists of 13 hands-on exhibits which inspire children to be the innovators and creators of tomorrow. From the bottle rocket, tennis ball launcher, and sun spotter, there are activities to touch, teach and ignite children's love of science.

Preschool Space Explorers

Columbia Memorial Space Center
12400 Columbia Way
Downey, CA 90242
(562) 231-1200
www.columbiaspacescience.org

The Columbia Memorial Space Center offers preschool space explorers classes every Saturday from 10 to11 a.m. Each week has a different theme with hands-on exploration and discovery. Cost is $12 per class, one guardian per child, with guardian participation is required. Class is for 3 to 5 year olds only and class sizes are limited. Go to their website for more details.

Public Star Parties

Griffith Observatory
2800 East Observatory Road
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(213) 473-0800
www.griffithobservatory.org

Held once a month, the public star parties on the grounds of the iconic Griffith Observatory from 2 to 9:45 p.m. are free and open to the public. The public star parties are a great opportunity for the whole family to gather and look at the sun, moon, visible planets and other objects, to try out a variety of telescopes, and to talk to knowledgeable amateur astronomers about the sky and their equipment.

Santa Monica Pier Aquarium

1600 Ocean Front Walk
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 393-6149
www.healthebay.org

The Santa Monica Pier Aquarium is Heal the Bay's public marine-education center located beach-level, just below the carousel at the world-famous Santa Monica Pier. The family-friendly facility is home to more than 100 species of marine animals and plants – all found in the Santa Monica Bay. The aquarium is closed on Mondays, open on the afternoons the rest of the week.

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Desiree Eaglin is a Southern California Explorer. She blogs at Sarcastic, Funny and Brutally Honest. You can find her on Twitter too.