Hi kids! Welcome to Santa Monica! If your parents are thinking of moving here, you're going to find so much of interest to do and experience that you won't quite know where to begin. So, let's start with the beach! The weather in Santa Monica is pretty warm all year round, and the water is just fine for swimming, surfing, sailing, and fishing. The three and a half miles of sweet sandy beach is more than fine for lying around, or jogging, playing volleyball or any games you care to create. Santa Monica beach has a great Pier and Promenade, with playgrounds, and 20 miles of South Bay Bicycle Trail for rollerblading, skateboarding and riding scooters or bicycles - you can bring your own, or rent one. And then, once you've discovered the delights of the beach, there are so many places to go and things to do - here's a few of the really good ones:  FOR TODDLERS Art, Music, and Movement The Colburn School of Performing Arts Learn to dance, or sing or play a musical instrument. The teachers at this school are really good. The Cornerstone Music Conservatory Baby's First Music Classes, can happen when they are ages seven to 20 months and upwards. Singing, dancing, games, and experimenting with musical instruments, in a fun-filled environment that will teach you all about enjoying good music. Creative Space If you would like to learn about making art projects, playing with other kids, and learning songs and having some messy fun, this is just the place for you to visit. Lots of classes to choose from. Gymboree Play & Music Center through music, art and play, children tell us who they are. With our more than 25 years of learning expertise and your love, there's no telling who they might become. Swimming Family Life Aquatics Learn to swim with Mommy or Daddy. Hold your breathe, under you go, and swim to the steps. It's so much fun! Santa Monica Pier Visit the friendly dragon at the beach and go for a play on his ship. There are climbing frames and jungle gyms to test your swinging and climbing skills on. You can also go for a swim if you are with an adult. Parks and Playgrounds Pacific Park (for kids) Check out the games and rides with Inkie at Pacific Park. Santa Monica Mountains Ask happily and your mom and dad might take you for a look, a walk or a picnic in one of the National Parks where the hills seem to go on forever and the sky and the sea are beautiful to look at. Breathe the air there, it's so clean it smells sweet! Adventure Outings Pali Mountain Overnight Adventures Starting at three years, you too could go on an overnight camp in the mountains. You might go with a big brother or sister and have a really exciting time. Books and Reading Santa Monica Public Library Puppet shows, poetry, storytelling and more things to do and learn about at the Library.

FOR MIDDLE KIDS Amusement Parks and Entertainment Places Pacific Park at the Pier The only Admission free amusement park in Los Angeles. Ferries Wheel, Roller Coaster, and games to play and prizes to win. Playland Arcade Play one of the over 200 games at the Playland Arcade, on the Pier at the beach. Disneyland Disneyland is only 40 miles away, that's a .45-minute drive. Click on the link, and you can find out the driving instructions from your house to Disneyland. I think you know the rest! Universal Studios Hollywood Universal Studios Hollywood puts you so close you can hear the cameras rolling. Get an inside look at the sets and uncover the behind-the-scenes secrets of legendary films. Sports and Outdoors Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area Explore the amazing mountains around Los Angeles, past homes to Native Americans, Spaniards, and Rancheros Mexican Settlers. Check out the site for some games that will also teach you history. Santa Monica Pier Biking, rollerblading, skateboarding, it's all possible at the Santa Monica Pier. Pali Mountain Overnight Adventures 74 acres of pristine wilderness surrounded by 2,000 acres of untouched nature. At the center of camp stands our 10,000- square-foot lodge, which houses our restaurant-quality kitchen and main dining hall. Each of our 24 cabins comes equipped with full bathroom and shower facilities, ample closet space, and built-in solid wood bunks for ten campers and two counselors. Family Life Aquatics Learn to swim, surf, or improve your style. Los Angeles Magazine name this the "Best Swim School in Los Angeles" Art, Music, Theatre Santa Monica Playhouse Theatre is exciting, amazing, interesting, and takes you through a door into another world. The world of other people, other places, other ways of thinking. Try it, and you might find you will enjoy and use it for the rest of your life. The Colburn School of Performing Arts Learn to sing and dance and juggle and mime, and so much more. Who knows, perhaps you will be a star! The Cornerstone Music Conservatory Older children can get a comprehensive music education from the Harmony Road Piano Course, which takes kids from age four and a half and up, on a step-by-step journey through ear-training, note-reading, piano instruction, singing, ensemble experience, improvisation, and composition. The Cornerstone Music Conservatory Older children can get a comprehensive music education from the Harmony Road Piano Course, which takes kids from age four and a half and up, on a step-by-step journey through ear-training, note-reading, piano instruction, singing, ensemble experience, improvisation, and composition.

FOR NOT-SO-KIDS Amusement Parks Pacific Park at the Pier The only Admission free amusement park in Los Angeles. Ferries Wheel, Roller Coaster, and games to play and prizes to win. Knott's Berry Farm Theme attractions and rides. Try the Silver Bullet! Disneyland Disneyland is only 40 miles away, that's a .45-minute drive. Click on the link, and you can find out the driving instructions from your house to Disneyland. You're never too old for Disneyland! Universal Studios Hollywood Universal Studios Hollywood puts you so close you can hear the cameras rolling. Get an inside look at the sets and uncover the behind-the-scenes secrets of legendary films. Life at the beach! Santa Monica Jetties Locations and forecasts for the best places to surf. Sports Santa Monica sports Experience Get Active! Through team sports, organized games and safety training in extreme sports such as rock climbing and skateboarding, Santa Monica Sports Experience offers youth 8-14 years action-packed, non-stop fun. Theatre and the Arts Santa Monica Playhouse Theatre is exciting, amazing, interesting, and takes you through a door into another world. The world of other people, other places, other ways of thinking. Try it, (if you haven't already) and you might find you will enjoy and use it for the rest of your life. The Colburn School of Performing Arts Provides music, dance and drama training in non-degree and degree programs. The School boasts of more than 50 years successful experience, and a distinguished 80-member faculty. Creative Space Learn breakdancing, claymation movie making, inventions, cooking, architecture, or just make some good friends, you can do that and more at the classes at Creative Space. The Cornerstone Music Conservatory Private lessons in piano, clarinet, voice, guitar, saxophone, and many other instruments. The Great Outdoors! Santa Monica Mountains Located in a Mediterranean ecosystem, the Santa Monica Mountains contain a wide variety of plants and wildlife. The mountains also have an interesting and diverse cultural history, which begins with the Chumash and Gabrielino/Tongva peoples and continues today in "L.A.'s backyard." Pali Mountain Overnight Adventures 74 acres of pristine wilderness surrounded by 2,000 acres of untouched nature. At the center of camp stands our 10,000- square-foot lodge, which houses our restaurant-quality kitchen and main dining hall. Each of our 24 cabins comes equipped with full bathroom and shower facilities, ample closet space, and built-in solid wood bunks for ten campers and two counselors. Education, Books Santa Monica Public Library Film screening, jewelry making, video game development, knitting, Comix and more to be explored and learned about at your local Public Library.