This is a great place to see fossils; just be sure your child knows that there aren’t any dinosaurs at the Tar Pits (head to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County for those). The most plentiful creatures here are wolves and saber-toothed cats, but there’s plenty of variety to hold interest. Kids can learn how prehistoric creatures got trapped in tar, even try pulling a lever to feel just how difficult it is. The museum’s single-story, small-scale setting is very manageable for little ones and there’s also plenty of open space for parents to comfortably maneuver a stroller. There’s a small library of books about dinosaurs that our group gravitated right to and enjoyed for quite a while. (We actually had to pull them away!) Another surprise was the outdoor atrium in the center of the museum. The kids meandered along the entire path, checking out a waterfall, fish and turtles along the way. We topped off our two hour visit with a picnic at the tables just outside the museum. There’s a huge grassy area the kids loved exploring, plus the iconic creatures trapped in tar just outside the front entrance to the museum. Kids under 5 are free and adults cost just $7, so this place is a great bargain. A great morning worth of nature-inspired fun!

This isn’t my favorite zoo by any means, especially when compared to the likes of the San Diego Zoo just a couple of hours south. But it’s an easy way for those of us living in Los Angeles to introduce our kids to wild animals. On our most recent visit, my 4 ½ year old and I were lucky enough to have an up-close and personal encounter with a gorilla at the Campo Gorilla Reserve. A huge silverback came right up to the glass and plopped down in front of us! We were so close we could hear him chomping on his lettuce. My son even noticed that the gorilla’s fingernails look a lot like ours. Very cool! Other favorites were the giraffes, the playground at the top of the zoo, the tram ride (he loves anything with wheels, so this was a must-do) and watching the construction vehicles working on the new elephant exhibit. To cut costs, we brought our own lunch and enjoyed it at the tables next to the giraffe exhibit. We visited the day before school started and the place was empty, but it can get packed, especially during the summer. The place gets hot and there are plenty of hills and much walking to do, so avoid visits during hot weather and be patient with little legs. Watch out for wasps because they seem to be everywhere -- especially around trash cans.

Underwood Family Farms is a working farm where you and your little ones can pick your own fruits and veggies or shop at the farm’s market. What makes this place so spectacular is that in addition to the pick-your-own fun, the Farm also has an animal center where kids can see chickens, cows, goats, sheep and the like. You can purchase tickets to enjoy a variety of other activities, including electronic mini tractors (which I couldn’t get my son off!), cow train, pony rides and feed for the animals. The Fall Harvest Festival runs from the end of September through the end of October, when each weekend is full of special events, including an antique tractor weekend and western heritage weekend, plus a pumpkin patch and tons of food. There is always plenty to do here and even your youngest will find something fun to do during your visit. Underwood Family Farms actually have two locations, this one and another smaller place in Somis. They recommend that you call ahead to find out how weather might affect your visit. Get out to the farm for an inexpensive and fun way to spend the day outdoors!

The Children’s Garden is a total hands-on experience teaching kids all about earth, air, fire and water. My son loved the marble jets (which shoot water into the air), the prism tunnel (a crawl-through experience with changing prism lights) and the magnetic sand (where magnets allow you to create cool shapes). Kids must be supervised while they’re here, but there are plenty of great spots for you to sit back and enjoy the experience, too. Bring a change of clothes, because if they’re doing it right, kids will get dirty and/or wet. This place is a wonderful spot for kids to discover many of nature’s gifts, but it’s not perfect. On weekdays, the gardens don’t open until noon, which seems like lunch time or close to nap time for most little ones. We opted to visit on the weekend instead, which was considerably busier. And although kids under 5 are free (yay!), adults aren’t. Unless you take advantage of all the Huntington has to offer, it’s hard to feel like that’s money well spent. (That said, my 4 year old loved both the Chinese and Japanese gardens, but boy is there a lot of walking!) Consider going on the free day (the first Thursday of each month) for a great bargain on nature fun.

We visited the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County because I wanted to check out the Pavilion of Wings. We wound up spending almost three hours there because my 4 ½ year old loved everything about the place. I knew we were in for a treat from the moment we walked in the front door, when my son’s eyes lit up at the sight of two life-sized dinosaur skeletons. He also loved getting an up-close and personal view of all the stuffed animals in the North American and African Mammal Halls. The Hall of Birds was a blast with plenty of buttons for the little ones to push, each activating lights, sounds or motion in accompanying educational displays. If you’ve got little ones, you’ll also enjoy the Discovery Center and Insect Zoo, where live tiny critters abound. The best part is that most stations include a step stool so little ones don’t have to rely on an adult to check out what’s inside. We also watched a live animal presentation during our visit, where we met a scorpion and tarantula. My son dug for fossils and tried his hand at putting together a giant T. Rex puzzle with fossils for pieces. Kids under 5 are free, so if you haven’t been to this place yet, get going!