< Back to Table of Contents
Aerial view of Griffith Observatory, Griffith Park, Los Angeles
ADOBE STOCK
CALIFORNIA
Three Days in
Los Angeles
This kid-approved long weekend combines fossils, sweets, beaches, cars and canyon trails into an easy Southern California escape.
By Amity Moore Joyce
When families think of visiting Los Angeles, theme parks understandably dominate the conversation. But beyond the roller coasters and movie magic lies a parallel experience, one filled with Ice Age history, kid-friendly food tours, outdoor exploration and unexpected discoveries. A long weekend is all families need to explore this other side of Southern California.
TIP: Choose lodging that meets your budget and is in the Fairfax, Miracle Mile or Mid-Wilshire neighborhoods. Such a location ensures central proximity to suggested attractions while minimizing time spent in L.A.’s traffic.
La Brea Tar Pits
Discover los angeles
Digging Into the Past
First thing Friday morning, things get sticky at La Brea Tar Pits. Here, outdoor active excavation sites and fossil discoveries turn paleontology into something kids can watch unfold in real time. It’s astonishing that in the middle of this sprawling metropolis families can see gurgling tar pits that have yielded thousands of Ice Age specimens. Interpretative displays explain how animals—from saber-toothed cats to giant ground sloths—got stuck, ultimately leaving their remains for scientists to discover millennia later. Researchers continue uncovering new finds, and the public can watch them work.
Located within Hancock Park, the tar pits dot the green space alongside the Richard Simun Pleistocene Garden, where Ice Age plants still grow. If you’re arriving this summer, the companion La Brea Tar Pits Museum, with its fully intact fossils of a Columbian mammoth, ground sloth and other animals, will be closed as it undergoes a two-year renovation ahead of the 2028 Olympics. Tickets for La Brea Tar Pits are available through AAA.com/TripCanvas.
While in the area: A short walk from Hancock Park lies the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, better known as the LACMA. Despite ongoing construction at the property, the exhibits are open. Programming specifically for youngsters is found within the Boone Children’s Gallery. Advanced purchase of timed entry tickets is recommended.
Before you visit the Santa Monica Pier, take a tour of the area’s sweetest shops.
AAA
A Sweet Route to the Beach
From there, trade fossils for frosting. Santa Monica’s Sweetest Tour delves into California’s donut culture. Bookable through AAA Trip Canvas, this guided food tour tastes its way through donuts at Randy’s Donuts and Sidecar Doughnuts & Coffee, churros at Papi Tacos & Churros, and ice cream at McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams on the Third Street Promenade. It’s a decadent introduction to one of SoCal’s most walkable beach communities.
While in the area: Burn off the inevitable sugar rush at the Santa Monica Pier, where street performers busk and the Pacific Wheel offers a bird’s-eye view of the ocean and coastal landscape. It’s also the time to dig your toes in the sand and play in the California waves.
Exhibits inside Petersen Automotive Museum
Petersen Automotive Museum
Cars, Cars & More Cars
Spend the morning at the Petersen Automotive Museum whose dramatic red exterior makes it hard to miss. Inside, admire a captivating collection of movie vehicles, unusual automobiles and otherwise cool cars. Highlights include the 1989 Batmobile, Lightning McQueen from “Cars” and several Aston Martins.
While in the area: On the other side of the street stands the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. Exhibits vary, with a couple usually catering to young people. Current and upcoming exhibits include “Studio Ghibli’s Ponyo” closes Jan. 10, 2027; “Hidden Worlds: The Films of LAIKA, Dec. 12, 2026 to Sept. 9, 2027; “The Horror Show,” Sept. 26, 2026 to July 25, 2027; “Glow: A Cinematic Moodscape,” July 31, 2026 to July 18, 2027.
View of Los Angeles from Griffith Park
The Middle of Nowhere, the Middle of Everywhere
Griffith Park, one of the nation’s largest urban parks, offers an afternoon escape into rugged wilderness found in the middle of Los Angeles. Families can hike portions of the Mt. Hollywood trails system for panoramas of downtown, the famous Hollywood Sign and the quirky remains of the city’s former zoo. (Think abandoned grottoes and rocky outcroppings built to showcase lions, bears and other animals.)
While in the area: If you are still in Griffith Park after dark, visit Griffith Observatory to see the skyline sparkle below as the stars twinkle above, wondrously close through the observatory’s telescopes.
Park bench overlooking Los Angeles from Runyon Canyon Trail
One Last Look
Before leaving La La Land, trek alongside locals—and maybe even a Hollywood celebrity—on the East Trail of Runyon Canyon. The trailhead is in a residential area, so start early to secure streetside parking. Hike the fire road and dirt path to see downtown Los Angeles and the surrounding valley, the distant Hollywood Sign, and even the Pacific Ocean at the horizon. It’s a fitting finale to a weekend of discoveries beyond the city’s headline attractions.
Ready to plan your own getaway to Los Angeles? From mapping out must-see attractions to finding great rates on hotels, rental cars and more, AAA makes every mile easier. Explore member-only savings and start building your itinerary at AAA.com/TripCanvas.
If you’d like to share this article with someone, click the SHARE icon at the top right of the page.
Check out these other stories!
Hidden Giants: On The Hunt for Trolls
Tour of American Hot Dog Styles
Natural Wonder: Chimney Rock, Nebraska
Local Events: July & August
