School is nearly out for the summer all across the country, and that means both tourists and locals will be out and about in Southern California with their families. Whether you have children of your own or you’re a grandparent or a nanny in charge of little ones, you’re about to have some energetic young people in your care all day who will be ready to have some fun.

There are so many amazing things for families to experience in the greater Los Angeles area. From our beautiful beaches to our internationally known theme parks, the children in your life will never be bored when you’re here. We’d like to suggest a few of our favorite family-friendly attractions, all of which are less than an hour from downtown Los Angeles.

Of course, in order to experience L.A. at its finest, you’ll need reliable transportation. Super Cheap Car Rental’s Los Angeles car rental packages are affordable and convenient, helping you get to where you need to go. If you’re a nanny or an au pair, you’ll be happy to know that our company has many underage renters as customers. In fact, we are the best company for underage car rental Los Angeles deals.

When you and your little ones are ready to explore LA, start with a few attractions from this list.

1. The Santa Monica Pier

Kids of all ages (and kids at heart) love the Santa Monica Pier. While it definitely gets crowded, especially during the summer, you can avoid long lines and a packed boardwalk if you go during the week and get there earlier in the day. And even if you have to share the space with many others, you’ll still enjoy the carnival rides, carousels, arcade games, ice cream and people-watching.

And when the kids have had enough (ha!), you can take them down to the beach to run off some of their energy or enjoy a nice picnic. Santa Monica is a beautiful little city, and the beach is the perfect place to be on a hot day.

2. El Matador Beach

If you’re looking for something a little more secluded than Santa Monica, you’ll love the vibe at El Matador Beach. Located in Malibu just north of Zuma, this spot is known for its sea caves and unique rock formations. It does get pretty popular here during the summer months, but it’s nowhere near as packed as Venice or Santa Monica. The kids in your care will love being able to roam free and explore.

3. The California Science Center

The California Science Center is full of interactive exhibits, live demonstrations and rotating displays, all meant to awaken children’s interest in Science and support learning. Kids love the IMAX theater, but the biggest draw is the space shuttle Endeavor, which is on display in the Samuel Oschin Pavilion.

The science center is open daily from 10 AM until 5 PM, and believe it or not, admission is free.

4. Griffith Park

Most people have heard of the Griffith Observatory, which is amazing—but there’s so much more to Griffith Park. You can hike to the Hollywood Sign, explore the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, or ride a historic merry-go-round.

But the best part of this park for children has to be the Griffith Park Pony Rides. For just $3 each, the kids can ride a slow, medium or fast pony. The park also has three different train rides and a tasty sandwich shop, the Trails Cafe.

5. Kidspace Children’s Museum

With more than three acres of interactive exhibits that include a huge ant colony climbing structure and an interactive greenhouse, Pasadena’s Kidspace Children’s Museum is one of the top destinations for LA youngsters. The highlight of the museum has to be the Arroyo Adventure area, where the kids can learn about ecosystems in the best way: By building dams and getting dirty in a mud kitchen. Needless to say, it’s best to bring each child a change of clothes if you visit.

6. Grand Park

You’ll find Grand Park on Grand Avenue in downtown LA between the Music Center and City Hall, and this urban oasis is a great place to cool off on a hot day. There’s plenty of green space, fountains and a splash pad here, plus a perfect playground.

7. Descanso Gardens

Some days, it’s nice to just relax and let your kids roam free and explore. You can do that at Descanso Gardens, which is located in Flintridge (near Glendale and Pasadena). Not only does this urban retreat have gorgeous gardens you’ll surely appreciate, but it also has events and attractions for little ones.

Don’t miss the Enchanted Railroad, daily story times and the live musical performances that are always family-friendly. Music on the Main takes place on Thursdays from June 15 – August 3 at 6 PM.

8. La Brea Tar Pits & Museum

Located in Beverly Hills, the La Brea Tar Pits & Museum has the world’s most famous fossil site from the Ice Age. Children can take an excavator tour of the tar pits to check out the things that scientists are digging up, then explore the museum. There’s even a fossil lab here where your little scientists can see what happens when fossils are found in the tar.

They’re open daily from 9:30 AM until 5 PM. Admission is $12-$19 for adults and $5-$11 for kids, depending on how much you’d like to see.

9. Bob Baker Marionette Theater

Since 1963, LA families have enjoyed coming to the Bob Baker Marionette Theater, which is the oldest ongoing puppet theater in the country. The show features hand-crafted puppets your kids are sure to love.

10. Disneyland

Sorry, parents, nannies and au pairs… we could never leave the Happiest Place on Earth off this list. It may be chaotic, crowded and expensive, but Disneyland is amazing. Taking your little ones to the Magic Kingdom is a rite of passage, and they’ll never stop thanking you for it.

The post The Top 10 Family-Friendly Attractions In The Los Angeles Area appeared first on Super Cheap Car Rental TM.