Favorite L.A. Play Date Spot (Part 3 of the Dads Love LA! Series)

This is the third post in a four-part series on our ultimate go-to spot for an L.A. play date. Check out our first post on why these dads came to LA and our second post on kid-friendly places to eat. And come back next week for the next in the series on the author’s most “L.A.” parenting experience.

Where is your ultimate go-to spot for am L.A. play date (weekday or weekend)?

My go to spot for a play date is the Japanese Garden in Van Nuys. There is so much to see there, and yet you think you’re no longer in LA! There is also an adjacent park area to picnic and allow the children to play.

-JOËL LËOJ, L.A. Dads Group Co-Organizer; blogger @Joël Lëoj

So many places! We love everything that the City of LA has to offer from the Zoo to Griffith Observatory to any City park, public library, or pony rides in the park. The Central Library in Downtown LA is an incredible building with a huge children’s book section, story time, and lots of places to play. You can also go to the 100+ year-old Angel’s Flight and ride up and down on the world’s shortest rail and then get lunch at either Grand Central Market for a smorgasbord of food or Clifton’s Republic – a blast-from-the-past playground for kids (and adults – they have a bar, too!). Most of them have free parking but check open times first because I have definitely shown up too early or on days when they aren’t open.

– Eli Lipmen, LA Dads Group Blog Editor; Blogger @Badassparenting

My kids are older now (tween and teen, respectively), so play dates have been replaced with extracurricular activities and the occasional “hanging out.” That said, the overwhelming majority of play dates over the years were held at outdoor areas: parks, beaches, hiking trails, etc. In fact, those are still our go-to spots for family fun and fun with other families.

– Whit Honea, Author of The Parents’ Phrase Book; founder of @dads4change.

Soccer of course!

– Juan Pablo Delgado Gomez, LA Dad Group Co-Organizer

This is probably the most predictable answer, the beach! You have the most options: swimming/surfing, building sand castles and so much more!

– Trevor Mulligan, LA Dad Group Co-Organizer; Blogger @OneSAHD