Kylie Williams

Kylie Williams is a mom of four who loves exploring Los Angeles with her kids and reporting back about the exciting events, attractions, and hidden gems she discovers. When she's not schlepping the kids around the city, she's probably at the gym, reading a book, or putting together snack bags for one of the kids' sports teams. If you know of a place she should check out, drop a line at Kylie@MommyPoppins.com.

Latest posts by Kylie

Free in May: 29 Things To Do with Kids in Los Angeles

Submitted by Kylie Williams on Thu, 05/04/2023 - 7:00am

Meet the horses after the (free) polo matches at Will Rogers State Park.

Summer break for kids in Los Angeles is just around the corner, and so are the summer camp fees, family vacation expenses, and a TON of ice cream trips. Before the summer budget blows up, use the month of May to enjoy some of the fabulous free events all over the city. Whether it's free Memorial Day weekend celebrations, budget-friendly excursions, outdoor adventures, or checking out a new museum, here are free family things for kids in Los Angeles to do in May.

Discover all the free activities and events near you in our Free Things To Do with Kids in Los Angeles Guide, which includes a roundup of all the Free Museum Days in Los Angeles, plus a list of 60+ Birthday Freebies for Kids.

Best Fun Restaurants for Kids' Birthdays in Los Angeles

Submitted by Kylie Williams on Fri, 04/28/2023 - 2:15am

Photo by Frontburner, courtesy of The Melting Pot.

Our kids' birthdays deserve special treatment, and luckily, Los Angeles has tons of unique restaurants to help make the celebrations extra special. So many places throughout Los Angeles take a "Happy Birthday" serenade to the next level with delicious desserts, outlandish decor, impressive culinary displays, and incredible settings. Read below for the best restaurants for kids' birthdays in Los Angeles.

For more birthday fun, try the craziest desserts in Los Angeles, enjoy birthday freebies, browse great places for indoor kids' birthday parties, and see even more ways to mark the milestone occasion in our Birthday Party Ideas Guide for LA Kids.

12 Best Summer Camps in Long Beach, California

Submitted by Kylie Williams on Sun, 04/09/2023 - 5:30am

Girls climb high. El Ranchito Day Camp photo courtesy of Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles

From baseball to ballet, summer camps in Long Beach set themselves apart with that cool ocean breeze, accompanying camp snacks, and field trips. Life in Long Beach is always sweet, but summer on the coast is when California truly shines.

School will be out before we know it, and the kids will start asking, "Mom, what am I going to do today?". That's why we love summer camps. Whether you choose a traditional day camp with all the classic activities or a specialty camp that hones in on your kids' favorite sports or hobbies, we're sure there's a camp out there where your child can make lasting memories and have a summer to remember. We've rounded up the best summer camps in Long Beach for kids of all ages. This guide includes camps on the ocean, camps in the mountains, camps at art studios, and camps to dance and sing your heart out.

Interested in more summer camps? We've already done the research for you. Check out science camps, surf camps, and so many more camps in our Summer Camp Guide and Directory.

Free in April: 35 Things To Do with Kids in Los Angeles

Submitted by Kylie Williams on Sun, 04/02/2023 - 9:00am

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo Family Day. Photo courtesy of LA Plaza de Cultura Y Artes

Free in April sounds refreshing, especially after all those overstuffed Easter baskets. Here's the good news—tons of activities and things to do with kids in Los Angeles are free in April, costing less than a carton of eggs. In addition to the kid-friendly free museums that are always available to explore, there are a bunch of free Easter egg hunts at parks and pools all over town, plus loads more free activities, events, family days, festivals, and Earth Day celebrations. Read on to learn 35 ways you can create family memories this month without spending a cent!

Discover all the free activities and events near you in our Free Things To Do with Kids in Los Angeles Guide, which includes all the Free Museum Days in Los Angeles plus a list of 60+ Birthday Freebies for Kids.

Munchkins Indoor Playground is a Bright Spot for Kids in Los Angeles

Submitted by Kylie Williams on Thu, 03/30/2023 - 1:15pm

Munchkins Indoor Playground is balls of fun!

Munchkins Indoor Playground in North Hollywood is the perfect solution for when you're about to give birth to a baby but also have young kids to entertain—and a special occasion to celebrate. Let me set the tone: It was raining. It was my daughter's second birthday. It was the due date of my fourth baby. Maybe it's crazy to head to a play space when you are worried your water could break, but it was a birthday. And it turned out to be the perfect thing to do.

Read on to find out why Munchkins is a great place to play indoors, no matter why you need a distraction for your kids! And if you're looking for more indoor entertainment, visit the best indoor playgrounds in LA and browse even more ideas in our Indoor Fun and Playspaces Guide for LA Kids.

The Inside Scoop on The Autry Museum of the American West's Family Play Space

Submitted by Kylie Williams on Thu, 03/09/2023 - 5:30am

Playing in the Autry’s Museum's new play space. Photo by the author

The Autry Museum of the American West is known for stunning wild west paintings and artifacts celebrating cowboy culture. It’s also now home to a sweet little indoor spot for kids—the brand-new family play space.

What the new space accomplishes at the Autry Museum is powerful: it normalizes bringing kids to museums. It allows parents to soak in beauty and culture without boring the littles. While most art galleries might not appeal to young kids, this space invites children to enjoy and play. This adds to the already long list of enticing things for kids to do in Griffith Park. The Autry made a museum adventure easy and even relaxing for our family. Read on for everything you need to know about this new family play space!

For more local museums with great kid spaces or attractions—like the Skirball, the Getty, and The Huntington Library and Gardens—read all our local parent museum secrets in our Museum Guide for Kids in LA and OC.

Free in March: 20 Best Things To Do in Los Angeles with Kids

Submitted by Kylie Williams on Fri, 03/03/2023 - 2:45am

Celebrate the return of the swallows. Photo courtesy of the Swallows Day Parade Facebook page

There are so many free in March events that it will be hard to choose just one each weekend. Spring is in the air this month, but you don't have to spring for high-priced admission to have a good time.

There are plenty of free and festive fun happenings throughout LA. Look to the skies to enjoy the Point Mugu Air Show, the 49th annual Festival of the Kite, and the San Juan Capistrano swallows parade. From the sky to the sea, keep an eye on those Pacific Ocean waves as it's whale watching season, and there are free celebrations in Dana Point and Oxnard. Leprechauns are among us at several St. Patrick's Day parades, and Purim brings free carnivals to the city. Save your cash for spring cleaning projects and Easter baskets because March has enough free fun to take you through the month.

Think this is it for events in March? Not so fast. Here are even more things to do in March with kids. Plus, our calendar is frequently updated. If you're looking forward to springing ahead as much as we are, embrace the new season with the beloved butterfly pavilion at NHM, and start planning your springtime outings with our spring fun guide.

Holiday Road’s Immersive Light Show is a Must-Do for Los Angeles Families

Submitted by Kylie Williams on Tue, 12/06/2022 - 8:30pm

This immersive holiday light show is at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas through December 30, 2022.

Catch larger than life holiday installations, thousands of Christmas lights, festive food trucks, seasonal drinks, and fun for all ages at Holiday Road’s immersive LA event.

“This is the best night of my life!” my three year old squealed as he skipped through a tunnel of twinkling lights.

My almost-two year old pointed towards the sparkling trees and illuminated tunnels with wide eyes, murmuring the word “pretty” under her breath.

My six-year-old, ever practical, turned to me and said “When you said we were going to look at lights, I thought you meant lights on houses. This is way more impressive.”

Their glowing reviews all point to one fact: Holiday Road in Calabasas is one of the top things to do for Christmas and the Holidays in Los Angeles! The immersive holiday light show is at King Gillette Ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains in Northwest Los Angeles through December 30, 2022.

Kylie Williams

Latest posts by Kylie

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