Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
Planning a family vacation is tough no matter what, but planning an educational family vacation is even tougher. Luckily, LA museums make it easy with hands-on exhibits, where children can learn by playing — and where parents have just as much fun as the kids. These LA museums offer experiences your children will remember forever.
Exhibit: In the Studio
Experience: Step inside one of eight pods and meet some of the music industry's most significant figures who will guide you through the recording process.
Details: Opened in December 2008, the GRAMMY Museum celebrates the rich cultural legacy of music with a variety of state-of-the-art interactive exhibits. $14.95 general; $11.95 seniors and students; $10.95 military and youth (6-17); FREE members and children under 5. Purchase tickets at www.ticketmaster.com or call 213.480.3232.
Skirball Cultural Center
Exhibit: Noah’s Ark
Experience: You can’t let your children miss the opportunity to help build a gigantic wooden ark, weather a storm and collaborate with others to build a brighter future.
Details: $10 general; $7 seniors and full-time students; $5 children 2–12. Purchase online or call 877.722.4849 (877.SCC.4TIX).
California Science Center
Exhibit: Structures
Experience: Children can build their own structures and see if they can survive an earthquake with the exhibit’s mini shake table, as well as experience what an actual earthquake feels like and how to prepare for one.
Details: Free admission; $6 parking. Ticket prices vary for exhibits.
Autry National Center
Exhibit: Gold Rush
Experience: Gold Rush puts visitors through the experience of being a real 49er gold miner — including all the ups and downs that went along with it.
Details: $2 per person, not including general admission. Open weekends 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
Exhibit: Discovery Center
Experience: Stocked with hefty hands-on activities, the Discovery Center gives children a chance to dig for fossils and artifacts, as well as meet the center’s live Burmese python and iguana (takes place at 3 p.m.).
Details: Open 10 a.m.–4:45 p.m. on the ground floor.
Museum of Tolerance
Exhibit: The Millennium Machine
Experience: The high-tech “time machine” takes visitors through a series of human rights abuses, and then uses interactivity to ask visitors how to find solutions.
Details: Included in cost of admission.
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
Exhibit: Aquarium Touch Tank
Experience: Children get a chance to actually touch a variety of sea life in the aquarium's touch tank, while a staff member points out all the interesting facts about starfish and other sea animals located in the tank.
Details: Call for hours of operation.
Madame Tussauds Hollywood
Exhibit: Entire museum
Experience: Not only will visitors be able to see their favorite celebs up close, the figures at Madame Tussauds Hollywood can be touched and approached for photos.
Details: Located in the heart of Hollywood adjacent to Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, Madame Tussauds Hollywood is the first Madame Tussauds to be built from the ground up in the 200-year history of the company. Click here to buy your tickets now.
