Los Angeles is a popular summer destination for families around the world and we have so many fun things to do other then Disneyland. One of my kid’s favorite places is the Natural History Museum in LA. It’s huge and there are tons of things to see and do.
If you are local the family membership is the way to go because you also get into La Brea Tar Pits and a few other cool places that are right there. If you aren’t local it’s really affordable, kids under 4 are free and over 5 is just $5.00 adults are $8.00. The museum is usually pretty crowded but where in LA isn’t? And it is still a far cry from Disneyland crowds plus it’s air-conditioned, a win-win.
The butterfly exhibit is up right now through September 3rd and it is spectacular. You walk through and interact with the butterflies and moths right in their own environment. My 4 year old loved it, she had one land on her arm and was ecstatic, it’s very interactive and now she wants to be a butterfly when she grows up.
The dinosaur exhibit is a permanent fixture at the NHM with over 14,000 feet of dinosaur fun. They have huge complete fossils and you can even catch a peek in their lab, it’s pretty cool. The live insect showcase is really neat too, my son loves it but honestly mommy could do without the creepy crawlers they have thousands of bugs.
There are over a dozen permanent exhibits featured at the museum including an amazing gem and mineral gallery showcasing over 2000 pieces, it’s stunning and there are even some you can touch. They also have an enormous ancient Latino art work collection with breathtaking pieces. The permanent exhibits also include history, birds, mammals, African and many more it’s a great place for family learning and fun.
There is a really great grill on site but if your kids are picky like mine because of the location there are plenty of other restaurants within walking distance. I totally recommend bringing a stroller because there is a lot of walking and snacks for the little ones are a good idea too. The NHM is an all day event we have been there many times and still find something new every time we go I totally recommend it.