LA with a 5yo
 

Haven't been there in years, and never with my kiddo. Looking for 3 days worth of kid-friendly suggestions. We'll have a rental car and a hotel room in Torrance.

What do you and your kid like doing?

Here is a link to an older thread.Most of the recommendations there are still valid.

Plan for at least 2 days at Disneyland ...3 is even better as kids can get wiped out after a few hours.
Since you are in Torrance grab a pail and shovel and boogie board and come to the beach!!
Long Beach has the Aquarium of the Pacific which is fascinating for all ages.
La Brea Tar Pits has dinosaurs .

AFAIK you can still visit the Queen Mary (now used as a hotel) in Long Beach.

If there is any interest in science/space/astronomy, the Griffith Observatory (aka Griffith Park Observatory) could be worth a visit. Also has great views of the surrounding area.

These days, it is only open four days a week, Thursday through Sunday. Admission is free. There is pre-paid (credit card only) parking close to the Observatory, and free parking down the hill (if you're up for a hill walk).

Griffith Observatory - Southern California’s gateway to the cosmos!

Unfortunately tours are suspended until further notice.

When are you coming? Usually there are one-off events each weekend that might be of interest.

I don't know if this is too babyish but it is certainly close to where you are in Torrance

https://www.wonderofdinosaurs.com/

Is your kid into trains?

David

Take the train from Union Station LA to San Juan Capistrano. Visit Zoomars, which is a short walk from the train station.

https://riverstreetranch.com/

Have lunch at Trevors at the Tracks restaurant, located at the train station.

Catch the train back to Union Station in LA.
This is a great day for a 5 year old and the family.

I'll let folks who've raised kids (e.g. know of things for 4-7 year olds) in the greater LA area respond with the multitude of options that abound.

For Torrance and the greater South Bay (and San Pedro and Long Beach), here's a few:

• Trains: Southern California Live Steamers at Wilson Park (miniature ride on rail cars), Lomita Railroad Museum
• Airplanes: Western Museum of Flight at TOA, Flight Path Museum at LAX,
• A Rocket Body: Falcon 9 First Stage adjacent to the SpaceX Hawthorne Factory
• Ships: Los Angeles Maritime Museum (San Pedro), Queen Mary (Long Beach), USS Iowa (San Pedro),
• Blimp/Airship: Goodyear Blimp Base in Carson,
• Autos: Zimmerman Automobile Driving Museum in El Segundo,
• Parks: Rocketship Park / Los Arboles, Wilson Park, Polliwog and Sand Dune Parks in Manhattan Beach, Hopkins Wilderness Park (Redondo Beach),
• Japanese Gardens: Pine Wind Garden (Torrance), (plus multiple others around)
• Protected Swimming (besides the hotel pool): Seaside Lagoon (Redondo Beach)
• Aquaria: Cabrillo Marine Aquarium (San Pedro), Aquarium of the Pacific (Long Beach) Roundhouse Aquarium (Manhattan Beach),
• Nature Areas: Madrona Marsh in Torrance, Point Vicente Interpretive Center in RPV

At most of the places identified above, there's a whole host of other things to do and explore and usually food and drinks nearby. And they are close to/driveable from the larger hotels in and around Torrance.

At some of the local beaches, there's bike rentals, plenty of ice cream and some kite shops.

As was mentioned by others, the greater Los Angeles area abounds with the many museums and other things that may be of interest to a 5 year old depending on what he/she is now focused on.

And, there's a bunch of things for adults and the whole family to do as well in and around Torrance.

Good luck and have fun!

David

Also, two other places should you head on PCH toward San Pedro or Long Beach - Both in Wilmington nearby each other should anyone be interested in historic California:
The Banning Museum
Drum Barracks

And, if your kid is into sand building/castles/digging, most supermarkets/pharmacies (Ralphs/Vons/Albertsons/CVS/RiteAid/Walgreens) in the Beach Cities have an aisle where you can select from plastic sand tools, hats and even swim wear if a trip to one or more beaches come into play.

David

Last comment (for now) from Mrs. DELee (mom of 3) - One highlight about Torrance and the South Bay is the concentration of Japanese noodle shops as well as Italian restaurants. Also a few options for dumplings, Vietnamese pho and Chinese noodles of all kinds as well.

Our kids very much enjoyed in those days were the opportunities to consume quantities of ramen, udon and multitudes of pasta either with fork, chopsticks or (primarily in an early time) with their hands.

FWIW if your 5 year old is big into noodles/pasta.

David

Not too far from Torrance is Abalone Cove in Palos Verdes..it can be a bit of a trek but there are tide pools where you can see crabs and sea urchins etc. Check first as parts were closed for a while. https://californiathroughmylens.com/...cove-preserve/

If you do go to the USS Iowa in San Pedro there is a place called Vicky's Dog House on there that serves all kinds of hot dogs.

Thanks, folks. This is great!

They fall far below dinosaurs, planes, robots, pirates, and construction equipment. Maybe I could say it's Dinosaur Train...