Sabrina T. Sanchez
engages with parents of young children to shape stories that are useful and meaningful to them.
Published September 4, 2025 5:00 AM
A group of children play at a splash pad in Alhambra. The National Weather Service says "significant heatwave will impact Southern California Friday into next week."
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Frederic J. BROWN
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AFP via Getty Images
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Topline:
Parents have a lot of favorite places to take their kids around L.A., including a variety of activities for play and learning. LAist collected their recommendations, which include nature visits, water outings, and indoor playgrounds, all tested and approved by parents.
The backstory: To find out where families go, we turned to parent communities LAist has formed: Our Hey BB texting group (which helps people navigate the journey of new parenthood) and the early childhood newsletter community. They shared nearly 30 spots that they love taking their kids to and why. Spoiler alert: There's a map to help you plan your next family adventure!
Finding free or affordable places tailored for young kids, children 5 and under, has been a popular topic when talking to parents. To get answers on where families can go, I went to the source: parent communities. From nature and water to indoor playgrounds, they shared a variety of spots tested and parent-approved.
LAist's Hey BB text group (which helps people navigate the journey of new parenthood) and the early childhood newsletter community shared nearly 30 spots they love to take their kids.
Jessica Li, a parent of a 1- and 5-year-old, says all three places she recommends are "yes spaces for kids where they can lead self-directed play with minimum risks.”
The recommendations showcase a wide range of places for children with different interests, hobbies, and energy levels.
Check out our map of all the recommendations, in addition to the more-detailed list below.
Dina Morales and her 20-month-old-daughter sing hello during storytime at the South Gate branch of the L.A. County Library system.
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Mariana Dale/ LAist
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Libraries
Public libraries are by far the most popular spot to take kids. They offer storytime, classes, and books — and some even have play areas and toy rentals.
“The sensory room is a solid indoor option that you can reserve for an hour in advance with a library card," Li says. "There are various tactile, visual, and audio toys to play with in a comfy environment — think beanbag chairs, vibrating floor rockers, a white-noise machine, bubble and lava lamps, a starry night light projector."
“Glendale Central Library, Monterey Park Library, Jefferson Branch Library in Pasadena — all have great areas for kids to play and be as LOUD as they want, with good book selections,” says Aimee Suen, who goes with her 5-year-old.
Alexis Cun, a parent of a 2-year-old, loves the Harte Neighborhood Library in Long Beach because of the dedicated library teachers who put a lot of effort and care into their storytimes.
About 650 kids attending PlayLA summer programs throughout the city tried out different sports outside the Coliseum on Monday, July 14, 2025.
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Mariana Dale/LAist
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Indoor play and kid classes
PlayLA The Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks offers the PlayLA Program, which gives children ages 3-17 the opportunity to take part in sports such as swimming, baseball, and football, as well as adaptive sports designed to include all kids with disabilities. There are 88 recreation centers to choose from.
Kidspace Children’s Museum The educational and cultural institution is designed to bring joy to children and families through hands-on exhibits, water features, and different spaces for kids to play and explore.
Cost: General Admission for Adults and Children (1+), $15.50
My Gym My Gym offers a variety of activities for children from 6 weeks to 10 years old, including parties, camps, and classes. It has more than 700 locations, with 28 in Los Angeles, according to their map.
Adriana Orea takes her child to the “interactive play classes” at the Koreatown location, which features an indoor playground.
“My son has a lot of fun, it's safe, indoors, and he gets to socialize and learn new skills at the same time,” Orea says.
Cost: Base Tuition, $149 every four weeks; Unlimited Tuition, $179 every four weeks.
The Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks provides $10 summer passes for youth, which give unlimited access to city pools. Adults can also enter free if they have a child under 7.
“The summer youth pass is amazing!” Gillespie-Vargas says.
The lagoon at Redondo Beach is a unique public swimming pool engulfed by seawater with small water slides.
“I love taking my son to the Redondo Beach Lagoon because it's a shallow kiddie beach that uses cycled chlorinated salt water — I don't have to worry about big ocean waves, and he gets a great experience in a pretty clean pool!” Ali Sivak says.
Cost: Adults (18+), $10.00; Children (2-17), $8.00; Children under 2, free
This family-friendly beach features a children’s play area, metered parking, picnic tables, ample shade, and tide pools!
“White Point offers some of the most diverse tide pools in Southern California,” according to the Los Angeles County Beaches & Harbors website.
Li likes how safe and calm it feels for her kids to play in the ocean, whether it’s high tide or not. She says the beach where her family visited has never been crowded, and she enjoys that it’s a pebbled beach instead of sandy.
"There's a playground on the cliff overlooking the tide pools and free parking if you don't mind walking down the cliffside,” Li says.
Cherry blossoms in the Japanese Tea Garden, Descanso Gardens.
“There is a little creek there with lots of wildlife and shade from all the trees,” Li says. “It's large enough to feel like you could almost get lost but small and dense enough to feel comfortable letting your kids wander.”
This 87-acre garden has more than 25,000 plant species, attracting a wide variety of birds and wildlife. Highlights include the Dorothy and John Bohannon Rose Garden, Living Wall, Garden for the Senses, and more!
A Kidspace attendee marvels at the Bottle Rocket exhibit in the new "Physics Forest."
The Natural History Museum has an array of exhibitions for all ages. Ongoing exhibits include the dinosaur hall, where children can see mounted skeletons and fossils on display. For an immersive experience, there’s the discovery center.
“Pretend to be a paleontologist in the Paleo Playzone; marvel at the beauty and variety of bugs in Bugtopia; and create your own nature scene in the Moveable Museum,” according to the Natural History Museum website.
Cost: Adults, $18; Children 3-12, $7; Children under 2, free.
This coffee shop serves quality coffee — co-owner Frank La won the 2024 U.S. Barista Championship. One parent especially likes that it has a play area for when her child tags along.
The Mexican army killed the leader of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, "El Mencho, " in an operation today, a federal official said.
The backstory: The U.S. State Department had offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to the arrest of El Mencho. The Jalisco New Generation Cartel, known as CJNG, is one of the most powerful and fasted growing criminal organizations in Mexico and was born in 2009.
Security alert issued: It's a busy travel week for Californians and others where schools are on break. The U.S. State Department is telling U.S. citizens traveling inJalisco State (including Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, and Guadalajara), Tamaulipas State (including Reynosa and other municipalities), areas of Michoacan State, Guerrero State, and Nuevo Leon State to shelter in place until further notice.
MEXICO CITY — The Mexican army killed the leader of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, "El Mencho, " in an operation Sunday, a federal official said.
The official, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, said it happened during a military operation in the western state of Jalisco.
State Department warning
The State Department is telling U.S. citizens traveling inJalisco State (including Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, and Guadalajara), Tamaulipas State (including Reynosa and other municipalities), areas of Michoacan State, Guerrero State, and Nuevo Leon State to shelter in place until further notice.
Follow the directions of local authorities and in case of emergency, call 911.
Avoid crowds.
Keep family and friends advised of your location and well-being via phone, text, and social media.
It followed several hours of roadblocks with burning vehicles in Jalisco and other states. Such tactics are commonly used by the cartels to block military operations.
Videos circulating social media showed plumes of smoke billowing over the city of Puerto Vallarta, a major city in Jalisco, and sprinting through the airport of the state's capital in panic. On Sunday afternoon, Air Canada announced it was suspending flights to Puerto Vallarta "due to an ongoing security situation" and advised customers not to go to their airport.
The U.S. State Department had offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to the arrest of El Mencho. The Jalisco New Generation Cartel, known as CJNG, is one of the most powerful and fasted growing criminal organizations in Mexico and was born in 2009.
In February, the Trump administration designated the cartel as a foreign terrorist organization.
It has been one of the most aggressive cartels in its attacks on the military—including helicopters—and a pioneer in launching explosives from drones and installing mines. In 2020, it carried out a spectacular assassination attempt with grenades and high-powered rifles in the heart of Mexico City against the then head of the capital's police force and now head of federal security.
The DEA considers this cartel to be as powerful as the Sinaloa cartel, one of Mexico's most infamous criminal groups, with a presence in all 50 U.S. states where it distributes tons of drugs. It is one of the main suppliers of cocaine to the U.S. market and, like the Sinaloa cartel, earns billions from the production of fentanyl and methamphetamines.
Since 2017, Oseguera Cervantes has been indicted several times in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
The most recent superseding indictment, filed on April 5, 2022, charges Oseguera Cervantes with conspiracy and distribution of controlled substances (methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl) for the purpose of illegal importation into the United States and use of firearms during and in connection with drug trafficking offenses. Oseguera Cervantes is also charged under the Drug Kingpin Enforcement Act for directing a continuing criminal enterprise.
Copyright 2026 NPR
The bright green bird is a familiar site in Hermon
By Brenda Rees | The Eastsider
Published February 22, 2026 10:12 AM
T.J. Gonzalez rescued Pepe, a red-crowned amazon parrot, who had a broken wing about five years ago. The two now makes appearances at various community gatherings and local hubs, including in front of Fresco Market in Hermon.
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Brenda Rees
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The Eastsider
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Topline:
A colorful parrot has captured the hearts of a northeast Los Angeles neighborhood.
The backstory: T.J. Gonzalez, a mail carrier for 37 years before he retired, found Pepe, a red-crowned Amazon in July 2021. The chick had fallen out of a nest and was flailing on a busy street in San Marino.
Where to meet Pepe the Parrot: The pair are a common site at the Fresco Market in Hermon. They can also be found at community centers, farmers’ markets and local events and they often take the Metro into downtown Los Angeles, Long Beach and other locations.
Hermon — Some shoppers heading into Fresco Market were lost in their phones, but when they momentarily looked up, they were greeted by a flap of brilliant green feathers and a cheery squawk. Phones were put away.
“Pepe! Hey Pepe! So good to see you!”
Perched on the shoulder of T.J. Gonzalez, Pepe the Parrot was in full greeter mode. Wide-eyed and seeming to almost smile as he surveyed the parking lot and his approaching public, Pepe did what he naturally does: make people happy.
A common sight at the Hermon market, near where they live, Gonzalez and Pepe can also be found at community centers, farmers’ markets and local events. They often take the Metro into downtown Los Angeles, Long Beach and other locations.
There’s no money asked, stressed Gonzalez, adding that Pepe simply adores the attention. “People want to see and talk with him more than me,” he joked as he cracked a nut and placed it in his mouth. On cue, the bird reached around Gonzalez’s mouth to retrieve it.
Michael Eagle-Hall of El Sereno is delighted to meet Pepe outside of the Fresco Market in Hermon.
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Brenda Rees
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The Eastsider
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A mail carrier for 37 years before he retired, Gonzalez found Pepe, a red-crowned Amazon (flocks are often seen in Northeast L.A.) in July 2021. The chick had fallen out of a nest and was flailing on a busy street in San Marino. “He was like roadkill,” said Gonzalez, who watched cars drive over (without striking) the bird.
Gonzalez retrieved the parrot and looked for help, but wildlife rehabbers said they’d euthanize the bird since it had a broken wing. Gonzalez instead brought him to a vet and christened him Pepe.
Since Pepe could not fly, Gonzalez started walking him around the neighborhood. He soon discovered how kids and adults enjoyed interacting with the parrot. Pepe is also a social media darling, with more than 8,600 followers on Instagram.
Pepe is more of a squawker than a talker, but Gonzalez has learned how to art-direct photos of people and the bird, instructing them on how to hold their hands and arms best. “We just want that smile because that’s all that Pepe wants from you,” said Gonzalez.
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Crews have now recovered the bodies of all nine backcountry skiers who were killed in an avalanche in Northern California earlier this week. It marks an end to what authorities on Saturday described as an agonizing five-day search and recovery operation complicated by intense winter storms northwest of Lake Tahoe.
Why now: Until Saturday, authorities had not confirmed the death of a ninth victim, a skier who had been missing and presumed dead. Officials say their body was found near the eight other victims that have now been recovered.
Crews have now recovered the bodies of all nine backcountry skiers who were killed in an avalanche in Northern California earlier this week. It marks an end to what authorities on Saturday described as an agonizing five-day search and recovery operation complicated by intense winter storms northwest of Lake Tahoe.
"While we wish we could have saved them all, we are grateful that we can bring them home," said Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon during a Saturday news conference.
Until Saturday, authorities had not confirmed the death of a ninth victim, a skier who had been missing and presumed dead. Officials say their body was found near the eight other victims that have now been recovered. Authorities said avalanche hazards and weather conditions were too dangerous most of the week to search for the remaining victim or recover the bodies.
Four of the bodies were recovered on Friday, and the rest of the bodies were recovered on Saturday, all in the Castle Peak area where the avalanche – one of the deadliest in California history — struck. Six people from the group of 15 skiers survived Tuesday's disaster, the last day of a three-day backcountry ski trip. One guide and five travelers were among the survivors.
Helicopters with the California National Guard as well as the California Highway Patrol were used to hoist the remaining bodies from the mountain, officials said at the press conference.
On Friday, officials were able to use specialized techniques with the help of Pacific Gas & Electric to reduce the avalanche risk.
The ski trip was organized by Blackbird Mountain Guides, an outdoor tour company based in Truckee, Calif. Moon confirmed the identities of the victims. Three guides were killed: Andrew Alissandratos, 34, from Verdi, Nev.; Michael Henry, 30, from Soda Springs, Calif.; and Nicole Choo, 42, of South Lake Tahoe, Calif. The other victims, who had signed up for the group trip, are: Carrie Atkin, 46, of Soda Springs; Lizabeth Clabaugh, 52, of Boise, Idaho; Danielle Keatley, 44, of Soda Springs and Larkspur, Calif.; Kate Morse, 45, of Soda Springs and Tiburon, Calif.; Caroline Sekar, 45, of Soda Springs and San Francisco; and Katherine Vitt, 43, of Greenbrae, Calif.
"A D2 would take down a person. A D3 would take down a house, so it was right in between those. It was described by them as a football field length of a path of the avalanche," Sheriff Moon said on Saturday.
Multiple agencies are investigating.
"We are investigating the incident to determine if there were any factors that would be considered criminal negligence," Ashley Quadros with the Nevada County Sheriff's Office said in an email to NPR on Sunday. "It is a standard investigation. It is too early to know if criminal charges will be applicable, as the investigation is preliminary and remains active and ongoing."
The area will be closed to visitors for several weeks.
Copyright 2026 NPR
"Donald Trump is violating the law and Constitution. He's ignoring court orders. He has weaponized the Justice Department to go after his enemies. He is letting loose ice troops in our streets that are getting people killed. I will not be attending the State of the Union. I've never missed one. I have always gone both to inaugurations and to states of the Union, but we cannot treat this as normal," he said in his message.
What's next: Instead, Schiff plans to attend The People's State of the Union, organized by Democratic advocacy organizations MoveOn and MeidasTouch on the National Mall that same night, joining a number of Democratic lawmakers who'll also be skipping President Trump's address to the nation on Tuesday.
