If you haven’t visited the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum recently, things have changed. The Museum still houses the largest and most diverse array of extinct Ice Age plants and animals in the world. But these days, a visit is also a chance to see history come alive. That’s because now you can do things like watch scientists prepare fossils in the Fossil Lab or visit an excavation … [Read more...]
Pick Your Own Berries at Underwood Family Farms
Picking fresh fruit reminds me of my own childhood summers, when I would pick boysenberries off the vines growing in our backyard here in Los Angeles. There were prickly thorns to contend with and messy hands to be sure, but it was worth it to taste those fresh berries. What I didn’t realize before having kids is that you can actually pick your own berries at Underwood … [Read more...]
Butterfly Pavilion at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles
Every summer, the Butterfly Pavilion at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles comes to life with hundreds of live butterflies in a walk-through open-air setting. It's worth a visit because it offers kids a chance to get up close views of more than 30 species of butterflies native to California, including the fan favorite orange and black Monarch. The outdoor … [Read more...]
How to Kayak the L.A. River with Kids
I’ve lived my entire life in Los Angeles and until June of 2015, had never set foot in the Los Angeles River. And if I’m being completely honest about it, I never really had any desire to. But when I found out that people could take guided kayaking trips on the River, I wanted to know more. It took me two years of reading about these tours online to muster up the courage to … [Read more...]
The Great Solo Parenting Road Trip Adventure of 2015
Picture this: An epic summer family road trip along the California coast up through Oregon, with a final destination in the San Juan Islands off the coast of Washington. The goal? To see orca in the wild, No. 2 on my list of top nature sights I want to see. This trip will take us some 2,700 miles before we’re finished, with more than 50 hours on the road. There will be … [Read more...]