Los Angeles has every possible thing you may want to experience on a holiday and for us it was a mix of quality family time, theme parks and connecting with friends over good food. This was definitely a trip that focused on experiential fun more than anything else. I’ve been told that Los Angeles can be navigated without a car but for our sanity we chose to rent a car and luckily we managed to avoid any major traffic. We drove around everywhere and found parking easily and to be fairly cheap. On occasion we did use the many valet options and were quite shocked at how cheap valet parking was in L.A – hey everyone likes to feel like a celebrity I guess! We also decided to rent some baby gear from City Strollers so we didn’t have to lug our gear on the flight.
Sleep
Needless to say there’s something for every budget and every need when it comes to accommodations in LA and this time around we explored a couple different spots. My favourite was our stay at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza because they really catered to everyone’s needs. From cribs with mini toiletries for the little ones to an adults only lounge and a killer infinity pool this can easily become home base. The Hyatt Regency Century Plaza was a great spot from which to explore the downtown area and was only twenty minutes away from Universal Studios Hollywood. Oh and mamas… there’s a great strip mall just across the street!
Dine
No matter which neighbourhood you’re staying at you will definitely stumble upon some fantastic joints. Though keep in mind that if you’re visiting attractions the chances are quite high that you may want to grab a quick dinner or lunch on the go. From Universal Citywalk to Santa Monica Pier and downtown Disneyland, they all have quick dine and dash options though they may not cater to extreme foodie desires!
Foodie highlights include the following hot spots :
- Rock Sugar : Fresh sushi and fusion asian dishes in a kid friendly yet fancy setting can be found here.
- Blue Plate Taco : If you love a good sunset alongside some fine Mexican cuisine and stellar cocktails then you want to dine here!
- In & Out Burger : No one leaves unsatisfied after an animal style burger is had. NO ONE. EVER.
- Tar And Roses : If you’re looking for an upscale evening in Santa Monica (we actually went here without kids but would have felt just as comfortable with kids in tow) Tar & Roses may be the perfect spot.
- Milo and Olive : Great sandwiches and their buttery breakfast croissants are ah-mazing!
Play
Kids of all ages will find something to do in Los Angeles and for this trip we wanted a mix of some adult and kid fun at the same spots. From museums to beaches there’s ways to enjoy the winter months in L.A with tots in tow.
- Santa Monica Pier : An ideal place for strolling with babies or swinging with toddlers.
- Universal Studios Hollywood : So much to enjoy in this place and whilst it does cater for older kids we managed to enjoy it with a toddler and newborn thanks to the child swap areas.
- Starline Tours : Los Angeles has many boroughs filled with history, culture and many an infamous story and Starline has quite a few tours that may appeal to you.
- Disneyland : Definitely a spot for the tiny tots! Mickey and the entire gang are waiting for you… so hop to it!
- Hollywood Walk of Fame : Kids will love skipping along and jumping on the stars. Plenty of free entertainment can be found along the 15 blocks spanning Hollywood Boulevard.
As with any visit to a fabulous city we were left wanting to do more. Discover LA has a great list of all the possible options.
