LA With the Kids - LA Proper
EDUCATIONAL LA - Part 2: LA Proper
By: Matt Tucker
Los Angeles itself is FULL of great educational attractions. You figure in a city of more than 4 million people (9 million+ in LA County), there has to be some culture out there somewhere, and we aren't talking about movie sets made to look like the Old West. There is actual culture here...and lots of it. You just have to look for it, and that is where I come in.
Griffith Park. You may remember it from my first posting...unless you didn't read it...in which case, SHAME ON YOU! Okay, for those of you just joining us (always wanted to say that), Griffith Park is the largest municipal park in the US. At 5 times larger than NYC's Central Park (4210 acres compared to 843), that means huge! Technically, the Hollywood sign is part of the park, but really, it covers just about all of the undeveloped mountains to the North of Hollywood. There are stables, hiking trails, the Greek Theater, the observatory, the LA Zoo...I think Jimmy Hoffa is even in there somewhere. Bottom line; this is a place you could spend the whole day (or maybe two or three, depending upon your navigational skills). Pack a picnic, or spend ungodly amounts at zoo concessions, it is up to you. Any way you slice it, Griffith Park is a great choice when you need a little (or a lot of) nature. Check my post: I Wish I Was a Tourist for links to all the things that Griffith has to offer.
The La Brea Tar Pits are one of those well known, but not so well remembered LA places of interest. You probably learned about them in 3rd grade science class, and never gave them another thought, let alone realized that they are in the heart of Los Angeles. Located just off of Wilshire Blvd, in a stretch called the Miracle Mile, bubble these pits of tar. There is a museum also located at the scene, called the Page Museum. You can check it out to see what "treasures" have been pulled from the goop, or just take a walk in the park and try to find an artifact for yourself. The museum will cost you $7 for the old folks, $4.50 for the big kids, and a mere $2 for the wee ones. (HINT: If you can make it on the first Tuesday of the month, admission is FREE.) Kids are getting smarter these days, and this place is more mainstream educational, so you may have a tough time convincing anybody that it isn't. It is really cool, though.
Right next door to the La Brea Tar Pits on Wilshire is LACMA. The Los Angeles Contemporary Museum of Art...something like that...don't quote me on the exact title...its LACMA (lack-muh) to everyone who lives here. Among other things, this place has - wait for it - art. It is mostly art, actually. They do have some kid oriented stuff here, but this is your normal, everyday art museum. It is a huge facility with great collections, but (to re-re-reiterate) it is a classic "museum" in every sense of the word.
The next "attraction" is going to be the last for this particular installment, my patient reader. Perched high above the 405 freeway, just North of Sunset Boulevard, sits the fabulous Getty Center. The J. Paul Getty Trust (an oil guy that actually gave back????) is responsible for putting this $1.2 billion dollar art museum and research center on the map. I'm going to be completely honest with you...I didn't find the Getty particularly amazing, as far as the collections are concerned. Some people may be impressed, but the real WOW came for me when I happened upon the garden. Chances are the kids will like this, too. It is an open area, with incredible views of everything from Century City to the ocean, not to mention a hedge maze. And who doesn't like a good hedge maze? The Getty's best feature, though, has to be the price. Parking will run you 8 bucks, but the museum is FREE. Pack as many people as you can into that clown-car minivan rental and ride the tram up to LA's most elevated art museum.
Please be safe, my educated little traveler...and whatever you do, DON'T take the 405. The thing is a giant parking lot as it is.
