Jennifer Cook Nice

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10 Toddler-Friendly Hikes and Nature Walks in and around Los Angeles

Submitted by Jennifer Cook Nice on Fri, 01/08/2021 - 6:54am

Wide trails and gentle grades are perfect for kids at Kenneth Hahn Park. Photo by Jeremy Miles/Flickr

Is there any other city in the world where you can hike in nature and visit world class museums (not to mention the beach) all on the same day? This is why the premium paid for living in LA is steeper than these hikes! Los Angeles has some majestic mountains, but not all our trails are exhausting treks—there are loads of hikes in every nook and cranny of the city that are perfect for little legs (or beginner hikers of any age).

Get ready to discover your favorite new place to take even the smallest hiker in the family. If you’ve also got older kids or babies in strollers, we’ve outlined which hikes are just as fun for big kids and which are stroller (and dog) friendly. These LA hiking spots are kid-tested and whole family-approved, and are the ones that everyone will want to visit again and again.

Ten Things My Preschooler Loves at the California Science Center

Submitted by Jennifer Cook Nice on Tue, 04/17/2018 - 4:01pm

We've talked before about our teen and tween favorite features at the California Science Center, but there are at least as many things to fascinate preschoolers and toddlers at LA's oldest, freest science museum. Never underestimate the appeal of science to the preschool set, and amazingly, with the exception of IMAX films and special exhibits, the California Science Center is free and open to the public 7 days a week, 362 days a year.

30 Things To Do with Kids in Downtown Los Angeles

Submitted by Jennifer Cook Nice on Fri, 02/09/2018 - 9:00pm

Vista Hermosa Park: photo by Corona/Flickr

From the outside looking in, Downtown LA can seem somewhat daunting and unfriendly. Isn't it just another part of LA with tall buildings and not enough pedestrian zones? Tourists and LA natives alike often find themselves wondering what kid-friendly activities there are to do Downtown. Well, I'm happy to be the messenger as well as the reminder of all the wonderful family-friendly activities that there are in this bustling metropolis. Read on for a list of 30 kid friendly things to do in Downtown LA. Then hop on the Metro or the Expo Line and start the adventure!

25 Things To Do with Your Preschooler in Downtown Los Angeles

Submitted by Jennifer Cook Nice on Tue, 01/12/2016 - 3:22am

It's the New Year; time to get creative! There's only so much a parent can dream up for the kids to do in a 12 hour span of time, especially after a busy holiday season when there might have been too much on the things to do list.

Even if you live in a bustling city like Los Angeles, sometimes options for preschool activities seem limited—even more so the farther you get from the suburbs. As concrete and dry as Downtown LA might seem at times, I promise you there's a ton of stuff for families to do, particularly for you and your preschooler. Have fun exploring!

Kiddie City: Leimert Park's New Indoor Play Area for Young Kids

Submitted by Jennifer Cook Nice on Mon, 11/09/2015 - 2:00pm

Being a mom Downtown and in South LA is a different experience from parenting in, say, Pasadena or the Westside, where it seems like parents can bring their kids to a different indoor playspace or park every day of the week. Places to safely let little ones run free around DTLA are not so plentiful, which is why it's such big news having a brand new playspace open up in Leimert Park—especially one created by a local mom. Kiddie City, which opened its doors on Crenshaw Boulevard in September, is offering moms on this side of town a haven for physical activity, mental stimulation, and free Wi-Fi.

13 Things Every Hockey Mom Knows about Taking Kids to an LA Kings Game

Submitted by Jennifer Cook Nice on Wed, 10/07/2015 - 12:24pm

As the weather cools down, the hockey season warms up, and LA is lucky to boast a hockey team well acquainted with the joys of bringing home the Stanley Cup. Los Angeles Kings games are packed with excitement and fast-paced action on the ice—a great event for the whole Angeleno family, as long as you know a few things before you go. Here are some tips every parent should know about taking kids to a Kings game at Staples Center—things to look forward to, and things to prepare for.

Three Bully Goats Gruff and Snow White at West LA's Little Theater

Submitted by Jennifer Cook Nice on Wed, 06/17/2015 - 9:02am

How often do I find myself at a loss for what to do with my child between dance and soccer? I only have a little over an hour, but that 60 minutes can be tough for my little one if I don't make the right plans. Sometimes, a simple trip to the library will suffice, but other times I opt for a children's show at the 49-seat Little Theater in West LA, a destination we have previously spotlighted as a great place to capture your youngster's attention.

The two plays currently playing at The Little Theater are Snow White and Three Bully Goats Gruff, and each one runs a little less than an hour.

10 Kid-Friendly Happy Hours in Silver Lake and Los Feliz

Submitted by Jennifer Cook Nice on Wed, 06/03/2015 - 6:51am

Man, do I miss the spur-of-the-moment, after-work, happy hour drop in. What joy was had from discounted drinks and finger foods that involved no cooking or washing dishes when finished. In my hunt for ways to revive my pre-kid life that was—at times so spontaneous and uncomplicated—I found that I can still work in an occasional happy hour weeknight... with kids!

The happy hour concept is generally associated with a younger, rowdier crowd that does not want to wait for the weekend to have drinks with friends. Why should anyone wait? Happy hour can mean more than just cheap booze; it also offers a bargain menu of small portions of food that may be the perfect-size meal for little ones. Why not include your family in the pre-dinner hour fun, which often commences early enough for an after-school special? To that end, we present the sequel to Mommy Poppins' Westside Happy Hours post: Silver Lake joints for snacks and drinks that aren't just for the over-21 crowd.

Jennifer Cook Nice

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