The Perfect Family Day in LA—According to a Local

Welcome to Like a Local, our travel series where writers share how to spend an ideal weekend in their favorite hometowns. This time, Anna shares her go-to itinerary for a quick stop in LA.

I’ve lived in Los Angeles for a lot of years, but I didn’t really start to explore all of the incredible activities the city has to offer until I had kids—and needed to get them out of the house. Now, we spend our weekends and summers exploring and enjoying all the adventures in and around Los Angeles. I even started a Substack to help parents navigate local and not-so-local travel with kids.

If you’re from somewhere other than Southern California, the words “Los Angeles” likely conjure up images of the Hollywood sign or paparazzi shots of celebrities. But while The Industry is definitely what put this town on the map, LA is so much more than just the movies.

So, if you’re looking to spend a perfect Los Angeles day that’s not at all about the film industry —and instead focuses on the lively art and food scene—I’ve put together an itinerary that you’ll love. Grab a hat (it’s always sunny here!), put on a comfortable (but fashionable) pair of shoes, and come along for a day full of must-see museums and must-eat food. Clare V. fanny pack not required, but definitely recommended if you want to rep a local designer.

Where to Stay

When traveling with kids, I personally find it much easier to stay in a house or apartment rather than a hotel. Having separate bedrooms for each of the kids—and the parents—makes for a more restful trip for everyone. Plus having access to a kitchen gives you the option to save money by eating some meals at home, and we have so many wonderful farmers markets that you’ll want to shop at.

For kid-friendly vacation rentals, there’s no better option than Kid & Coe. All of the properties are designed with families in mind, so you can rest assured that they’ll be stocked with toys and gear, and the majority of the available houses are beautifully designed. I’m a sucker for a good aesthetic, and Kid & Coe always delivers.

As far as deciding on which neighborhood to stay in, that really depends on what kind of vibe you’re interested in. The truth is that Los Angeles is massive—502 square miles—so no location is going to be convenient for everything you want to do. You’ll likely have to rent a car, navigate our subpar public transport, or go broke paying for car services.

If you want to be close to the beach (and who wouldn’t!), opt for Brentwood or Santa Monica. For something more centrally located, Larchmont Village or West Adams are both good choices with a high walkability score.

A Day of Art, Food, and Fun in DTLA

One of the best things about LA is that when you’re tired of going to the beach you can have a completely opposite urban cultural experience just by traveling less than 10 miles. The perfect day in downtown combines a blend of amazing art museums, historic sights, and incredible food.

Start your day at the historic Grand Central Market, with an iced Almond Macadamia Latte at Go Get ‘Em Tiger. This is the mini chain’s original location and the drink they're best known for. They make their own almond macadamia milk, and it’s rich, just a teensy bit sweet, and absolutely delicious.

Once you have your coffee in hand, stroll through the market to either Eggslut for one of their egg sandwiches, or The Donut Man for a fresh strawberry donut. Grab one of the outside tables so that you can enjoy your breakfast while you bask in the warm sunshine that’s almost always present in L.A.

After breakfast, walk right across the street to Angel’s Flight, a 118-year-old funicular that is the world’s shortest railway. Built in 1901, the all-wood railway cars really do make you feel as if you’ve taken a step back in time. The short ride costs just $1.50 and takes you to the top of Bunker Hill, enabling you to avoid a steep walk (and children complaining).

From Angel’s Flight, walk to The Broad. General admission is free, but definitely try to get timed tickets to Yayoi Kusama's Infinity Room; it’s transcendent.

Once you've taken in the 2,000 pieces of contemporary art on display at The Broad, walk to Little Tokyo for a sushi lunch at Oomasa. The restaurant has been open for 50 years, and not much has changed, including the sushi chefs. The classic Japanese wooden interior is wonderfully vintage, and the sushi is not only delicious, but also reasonably priced.

After lunch, stroll through Little Tokyo (it gets crowded, so best to wear a fanny pack or move your backpack to the front). You can pick up any touristy things you want to bring home to friends, or stop into the arcade or anime stores.

Take a left on 2nd Street and walk half a block to Bumsan Organic Milk Bar for incredible soft serve ice cream. This is an “only in Los Angeles” experience as the shop doesn’t exist anywhere else, and the flavors are unique and include matcha, taro, and guava. Not only is Bumsan’s soft serve really tasty, but it’s Instagram-worthy as well.

Once you've satisfied your sweet tooth, walk back through Little Tokyo and across the street to The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art). Many of MOCA’s exhibits have interactive elements, and they are always really out-of-the-ordinary, so it’s a good museum when you’ve got kids in tow.

After MOCA, everyone is sure to be tired and complaining about their feet hurting and / or being hungry, so head over to the Arts District for pizza dinner at De La Nonna.

We love the beautiful outdoor space, the Sicilian-style pizzas are delicious, and they have a full bar and craft cocktail menu. Don’t sleep on the starters, either, as everything is market-driven and incredibly fresh. It’s casual—meaning no one is going to give your children dirty looks just for existing—but feels elevated enough that you won’t feel that you’re settling for a kid-friendly dinner. Cap off your dinner with an order of zeppole (better than the ones from a NYC street fair!) before heading back to your vacation house and calling it a night.