Palos Verdes with Kids: 25 Best Things To Do in Palos Verdes, CA

Exploring Palos Verdes with kids means idyllic ocean views, rugged coastlines, white-picketed equestrian paths, and lush forested hiking trails. The Palos Verdes Peninsula might feel worlds away from the rest of LA's urban bubble, but the gorgeous and quieter coastal scenes are worth the traffic, especially with plenty of things to do in Palos Verdes with kids. 

From jaw-dropping hikes and whale-watching lookout points to horseback rides and garden strolls, keep reading below for the best things to do in Palos Verdes with kids. 

If you're craving more coastal scenes, discover the best tide pools for kids in Los Angeles, drive up the PCH for the best things to do in Malibu with kids, and dive into our Beach Guide to Los Angeles and Orange County. 

Best Outdoor Activities in Palos Verdes with Kids

1. South Coast Botanic Garden

Step inside this 87-acre garden and let your littles run free. Sure, there are 2,500 different species of plants here set atop what was once an urban landfill—but really, your kids will just want to run and maybe smell the flowers. Don’t miss the annual SOAR tropical butterfly exhibit that lets you mingle with thousands of winged beauties.

Trot through Palos Verdes on a pony at the Peter Weber Equestrian Center. Photo by Melissa Heckscher ​

2. Peter Weber Equestrian Center

Tiny cowboys and cowgirls can live out their horse and pony dreams at this equestrian center and petting zoo. The place is reservation-only but offers pony and horse rides, hay rides, and 30-minute petting zoo sessions for anyone who wants to mingle with goats, sheep, and bunnies—all set in a replica Old West facade that your Instagram account will love.

3. Palos Verdes Stables

If it’s a trail ride or a formal English-style lesson you want, this is the place to go. You’ll get a horseback view of the inner Peninsula as you weave through forests and across country roads while you learn the ropes of equestrianism atop show-caliber beauties.

4. Frog Creek

Did it just rain? Head to Frog Creek, where tiny explorers will love puddling around in the small creek inside this forested canyon. Psst: Don’t leave until you find the wooden swing nestled by a crop of fallen trees. 

RELATED: Hidden Gem Beaches: LA's Secret Seaside Spots that Only Locals Know 

 
Abalone Cove is a Palos Verdes paradise. Photo by Gina Ragland

5. Abalone Cove Tidepools

This rocky tidepool beach is the home to a plethora of sea creatures—urchins, sea stars, crabs, snails, small fish, and hermit crabs, to name a few—and your budding marine biologists will love scouring the puddles between the rock crevices to find them. Be sure to check the tide charts before embarking, as it’s only safe to explore during low tide.

6. George F Canyon Nature Center & Stein/Hale Nature Trail

There are so many hikes to choose from in Palos Verdes with kids, but we recommend the woodsy George F. Canyon Nature Trail. It's an easy (and dog-friendly) forested path leading to a summit vista with a view of the LA Basin and Bluff Cove Trail, a short trail off the side of the road that takes hikers down a wide dirt path to a gorgeous hidden cove. The trailhead also has a nature center with a few critters on display. 

7. Promenade of the Peninsula

In the summer, the Promenade of the Peninsula, an outdoor shopping complex, has a fountain splash pad open when temperatures reach 80ºF. In addition to the splash pad, there are kid-friendly seasonal events throughout the year. 

Awesome Parks and Playgrounds in Palos Verdes with Kids

8. Hesse Park 

As if the sweeping ocean view isn’t enough, this expansive park lies across several levels that include grassy areas for picnicking, a baseball diamond, a playground, a soccer field, a sand volleyball quart, and a quarter-mile walking trail that blazes through fields of blooming flowers in the springtime.

9. Robert Ryan Park

Ahoy, kids! This pirate-themed playground with an adjacent tot lot sits on the edge of a huge soccer field atop the summit of Palos Verdes. There are views galore, plus a baseball diamond and a grove of thick-trunked trees that are perfect for climbing. 

10. Los Arboles/Rocketship Park

Technically, this park is in Torrance, but it's close enough to include for its sheer awesomeness. This space-themed playground has a lunar module and a four-level rocketship to climb with a view of LA that stretches from the San Gabriel Mountains to the ocean. 

Fun Indoor Activities in Palos Verdes with Kids

11. Urban Youth Park

Kids who love to bounce off walls will appreciate this indoor parkour center, which offers enough trampolines and padded springy floors to entertain the most energetic kids. Open Gym times mean you don't even have to be a member to let your kids play.

RELATED: Best Indoor Playgrounds in Los Angeles 

Glide into indoor entertainment at LA Kings Ice. Photo by Melissa Heckscher

12. LA Kings Ice

Strap on some skates at this popular ice skating rink in Palos Verdes with kids. The rink is owned by the LA Kings. When everyone is tired, grab a milkshake or meal at Ruby’s Diner, which has a nice view of the rink from above. Lessons are available, or check the website for public skate times. 

13. Palos Verdes Performing Arts Center

If you plan ahead, you might be able to catch a show at this Broadway-caliber performance space, which hosts hit shows and concerts—including performances by its own youth theater program—year-round.

14. Olivia’s Dollhouse Tea Room

Kids can get hair updos and makeup, pick from a huge selection of princess dresses, and meet the fairy tale princesses of their dreams before enjoying teatime at this adorable place. 

15. Looma 

Pretend play elements, like stocked wardrobe closets and make-believe supermarkets, fill this play space, making it an entertaining afternoon in Palos Verdes with kids. It also has a full menu with delectable snacks, like bulgogi and gyoza, and kid-favorite bites like pizza and chicken nuggets. 

16. Palos Verdes Arts Center

Not to be confused with the Palos Verdes Performing Arts Center, this art center commits to arts education and culture with art exhibition galleries. It offers art classes to older children, too. 

Can’t Miss Attractions in Palos Verdes with Kids

17. Wayfarer’s Chapel

Note that Wayfarer's Chapel is indefinitely closed. Surrounded by trees and nestled on the bluffs above the ocean, this stunning chapel designed by Lloyd Wright (son of Frank Lloyd Wright) is made of nothing but wood, stone, and glass, and its unique architecture has attracted visitors since its construction in 1951. Grown-ups will be wowed by the church, while kids will enjoy running around the grounds, which have plenty of spots to sit and take in the view. Note: The inside of the church is currently closed for upgrades. 

18. Point Vicente Lighthouse

This 67-foot lighthouse is a Palos Verdes landmark. The grassy areas that surround it make the perfect place for a picnic with stunning views. Want to climb up? The lighthouse tower is open to the public on the second Saturday of each month. Children under seven years old are not allowed up.   

19. Point Vicente Interpretive Center

Just next door to the lighthouse, this small museum showcases the history and biodiversity of the region through fun, interactive exhibits. Meanwhile, the outside patio is the designated go-to spot for resident whale watchers, who gather daily with binoculars to document migrating gray whales along the peninsula. You can even borrow a pair of binoculars while you’re there. Just ask inside the Interpretive Center and be ready to hand out your ID. 

Family-Friendly Restaurants in Palos Verdes with Kids

20. Good Stuff

Located inside the Promenade of the Peninsula shopping center, this is the perfect place to bring the family for burgers before going to the movies. Try the chicken lime soup or anything from the all-day breakfast menu. 

21. Ruby's Diner

For an old-fashioned dining experience, take the kids to this throwback diner with jukeboxes and red vinyl seats. It's one of the restaurants where kids eat free in Los Angeles. Score the deal on Tuesdays after 4 pm for kids 12 years old and under with the purchase of an adult meal.   

22. Nelson’s at Terranea

Offering arguably the best ocean view for a restaurant on the Peninsula (unless you count this Starbucks on Palos Verdes Drive), this casual eatery perched on the bluffs at Terranea Resort offers upscale bar food at luxury resort prices. That said, the view—and the excuse to hang out at Terranea—is worth it. Be sure to explore the grounds before or after your meal.

23. The Original Red Onion

Cozy, quaint and a local favorite since 1949, this place is bustling enough that nobody will hear when your kid screams—and it’s got reliable Mexican food that keeps regulars coming back.

24. Malaga Cove Ranch Market 

If you’re planning a trek to or from Frog Creek or Bluff Cove, stop into this charming little market for a sandwich, smoothie, or ice cream treat. There’s also a coffee and wine bar. 

Family-Friendly Hotels in Palos Verdes with Kids

25. Terranea Resort 

Terranea’s pristine 102 acres of luxury oceanfront property offers more than just a simple place to stay if you're willing to splurge. With eight restaurants, four pools, including a “family pool” with a curving waterslide kids will love, a spa, a kids club, and stunning views of the ocean from almost everywhere, there’s enough to do here that you won’t even need to leave the resort grounds. 

You don’t have to be a guest to enjoy the grounds at this sprawling luxury coastal resort. Kids will want to roll down hills, run the network of walkways, and frolic in grassy fields all around. There’s also easy access to Discovery Trail, a short hike that leads to a secluded rocky beach below. Don’t miss the near-daily and free 30-minute meet and greet with the resort’s resident falconer and his beloved birds.