Hello folks.<div><br></div><div>I'm a huge fan of hidden gems. Having grown up here in LA, I can tell you there's TONS!</div><div><br></div><div>-LA Arboretum (Arcadia, next to Santa Anita Racetrack) -> Fantasy Island was filmed here. Walk amongst the peacocks!</div>
<div><br></div><div>-Calif. Museum of Science & Industry (LA, near USC) -> OMG! A must see. Interesting displays & interactive awesomeness for young children all the way to older adults</div><div><br></div><div>
-Aquarium of the Pacific (Long Beach) -> Just simply awesome.</div><div><br></div><div>-San Pedro -> Ports O' Call, an aquarium & the finest (yet amazingly cheap) fresh crab in all of LA!: <a href="http://www.sanpedro.com/spcom/expharb.htm">http://www.sanpedro.com/spcom/expharb.htm</a></div>
<div><br></div><div>-LA Dodgers baseball game (LA next to Downtown) -> Take in a nice sporting event</div><div><br></div><div>-LA Lakers or Clippers basketball game (Downtown LA) -> Take in a nice sporting event. Kids can say they saw Kobe Bryant or Blake Griffin play live!</div>
<div><br></div><div>-Drive up PCH (start in Santa Monica, north to Malibu) -> A fantastic drive, especially during sunset.</div><div><br></div><div>-Camp @Leo Carrillo State Beach (just north of Malibu & Zuma) -> You can camp under the stars next to the beach.</div>
<div><br></div><div>-Legoland (northern San Diego) -> Not sure if the LA Children's Museum is still around (loved it when i was a kid tho) but Legoland reminds me a LOT of it. Interactive games for the kids to play & enjoy.</div>
<div><br></div><div>-Traveltown (LA near Griffith Park/LA Zoo) -> Loved going to this as a kid. You could ride a little train around too. Great fun & didn't feel like you were in LA at all: <a href="http://www.ci.la.ca.us/RAP//grifmet/tt/information.htm">http://www.ci.la.ca.us/RAP//grifmet/tt/information.htm</a></div>
<div><br></div><div>-Downtown LA -> Little Tokyo, Chinatown, Olvera Street, Disney Concert Hall, the Museum District (where the Downtown LA ArtWalk happens)</div><div><br></div><div>/end braindump</div><div><br></div><div>
There's a lot more things, depending on what you, your wife & the kids are into. Hope that helps.</div><div>--miguel</div>