Things to do with kids in Culver City

Things to do with kids in Culver City

1. Eat

   Annapurna Cuisine

   This Indian vegetarian restaurant serves up tasty South Indian dishes including a large selection of masala dosas. It's usually full of Indian families.

   Sun-Thu 11AM-9PM, Fri-Sat 11AM-10PM, closed Mon·Mains $8-16

2. Drink

   Conservatory for Coffee, Tea and Cocoa

   Family-run coffee shop that roasts their own beans daily and makes one of the best macchiato's this side of the Big Pond. They are known for their "latte art" - you have to order one in a china cup to appreciate it. A local favorite, they also have a huge variety of teas from around the world and make a wonderful Mexican hot chocolate.

3. See

   Culver City Historical Society

   An archives and resource center preserves local history, and aims to serve everyone from young children to senior citizens.

   1PM-3PM on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month, and by appointment

4. Do

   Fiesta La Ballona

   This annual festival is held at the end of the summer and generally lasts from Friday through Sunday. The festival features a beer & wine garden, carnival rides, petting zoo, food trucks, a farmers' market, 100 booths selling artisan wares, and live music.

   Free admission, rides are generally $1 each

5. Buy

   Sorrento Italian Market

   Established by the former mayor (and councilman) of Culver City, this market has a reputation as the place to go for authentic Italian grocery items on the West Side. The deli offers amazing sandwiches and the friendly family owners are more than willing to help with everything from selecting a wine to choosing a dessert.

6. See

   Star Eco Station

   An exotic environmental science & wildlife rescue center that is in a nondescript building, the Eco Station is a hidden attraction offering hands-on experiences with rescued tropical birds, mammals, reptiles and other critters. Most of the facility's animals are illegal shipments seized by US customs that needed a home. Hands-on tours lasting 45-60 minutes leave every hour on the hour from 10AM-3PM on weekends. Hands-on opportunities as part of the tour. Special community events throughout the year. If you are in the area for Earth Day they hold a massive celebration including hands-on experiences and special events.

   Sat Sun 10AM-3PM·$8 for adults, $7 seniors, $6 for children, infants under 2 years free

7. Buy

   The Ripped Bodice

   Bookstore devoted to romance novels, especially mass-market paperbacks but a range of others too. Extensive new and used selection, complemented by greeting cards and a few books outside the romance genre (children's books with an emphasis on diversity and some general bestsellers).

8. Eat

   Tito's Tacos

   Cheap (a full meal for under $5) and authentic Mexican food, individually prepared while you watch. Opened in 1959, it is known for its American-style hard-shell taco and burritos. Considered a Los Angeles-area icon, the restaurant was named to Fox News' list of the ten best tacos in America in 2014, and was ranked #1 on The Daily Meal's "Top 35 Burritos in America" list in 2015. You stand in line to order, then move aside to wait. Delicious and unusual. Noisy; you hear Spanish and English spoken here in equal amounts. Family-friendly. Park in the lot or under the freeway (feed the meters with dimes or quarters), not in the red cul-de-sac.

   9AM-11:30PM daily

9. See Not mapped

   King Fahad Mosque

   The King Fahad Mosque was opened in 1998 and has a capacity of 2,000 worshippers, a marble facade, hand made tiles from Turkey, and a high minaret topped with a gold leaf crescent. The complex also contains a lecture and meeting hall, classrooms, research centers, a bookshop, a children’s playground, and a car park. Tours can be arranged in advance through their web site; visitors are asked to wear pants, long sleeves, and head scarves are recommended for women.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Culver City (CC BY-SA 4.0).