Are you trying to find awesome things to do in LA with teens that will get them off their phones (at least for a little while)? I’ve got 7 teen-approved options here for you to consider, and maybe talk over with your offspring. These are all things I’ve done in LA with my teen or that I did back in my own late teenage years in Los Angeles.
Pro tip: All of these activities are awesome but the prices can add up quickly. If you’re planning for an action-packed Los Angeles with teens itinerary, consider the Go City Los Angeles All-Inclusive Pass or even the Plus version.
Warner Brothers Studio Tour
Does your kid like to watch TV or movies? From Harry Potter, Friends and Big Bang Theory to Casablanca and Crazy Rich Asians, so many of their favorites have been made at Warner Brothers Studios.
Getting to see the magic up close is a dream come true to lots of tweens! We took our kids a few years ago and they through the tour was fun and interesting. But now that our older one is 14? He LOVED our return visit! As a teen he’s now seen a huge number of movies and shows filmed at WB so he appreciated the inside tidbits even more.
I’ve actually done the Warner Brothers Studio tour three or four times (first when I was an older teen) since moving to LA 25 years ago and it keeps getting better. The latest addition is an entire area dedicated to sound mixing, which first showcases a WB movie that earned the Academy Award for sound mixing – I won’t spoil which one – and then lets you try your hand at some voiceover work.
Read up on my Warner Brothers Studio tour tips to have an amazing experience (and hopefully save some money).
Go shopping
If you have a teen that loves to shop, they’re going to love LA. There are so many different areas to peruse depending on whether they’re more into major brands, trendy boutiques or funky spots off the beaten path. Even better, a lot of the prime teen shopping areas in Los Angeles are also pleasant for adults to walk around.
Here are a few spots to put on your radar:
- The Grove – mostly well-known mid/high end chains but really nice to walk around and there are lots of great eats at the adjacent Farmer’s Market (which is more like an open-air food hall than what you’d usually think of as a farmers market); if it’s more convenient, check out The Americana at Brand, a matching development in Glendale
- Montana – trendy street in Santa Monica with a relatively high chance of seeing celebs combined with a very relaxed vibe
- Century City – a recent mega-renovation turned this from a sleepy mall where I’d buy my work clothes to a Mecca for every high end brand you can think of plus lots of great dining (hello, Din Tai Fung!)
- Melrose – for a mix of edgy, vintage and trendy in mid-city, this is a popular spot whether you’re window shopping or whopping out a credit card (with a high limit); Melrose is also popular among vintage lovers browsing dedicated shops or the Sunday Melrose Trading Post
- Abbott Kinney – while we usually visit Abbott Kinney for the awesome food scene (like Gjelina and RVR), it also has tons of cool shops like Urbanic Paper Boutique for quirky stationary and gifts or the funky flamingo-themed goodr cabana for shades… plus everything in between
Hit the beach
Got a teen who dreams of dipping their toes in the Pacific Ocean? Thankfully LA County offers 75 miles of coastline, 25 of which are beaches! Of course they aren’t all created the same.
One of the most convenient options is Santa Monica, where you’ll find easy beach access on either side of the famous Santa Monica pier. While it’s a a very popular spot, there’s plenty of sand to go around since it’s a pretty deep beach.
Manhattan Beach is a great choice if you want a day in the sun with cute beach town vibes. You might even let your teen go for a stroll on their own (or with a friend/sibling) here since it’s an incredibly safe area with tons of local families out and about.
Of course there are tons of other great beaches for teens in LA! They all offer different features and vibes.
Tour SoFi stadium
Any teen who cares about sports – and even many who don’t – will be blown away by a tour of LA’s futuristic SoFi Stadium. This 5 year old, $5.8bn project housing the Rams and Chargers has anything you can think of, from a four story tall “infinity screen” to a team of three trained hawks that keep birds from flying through the open-air arena.
We recently took our teen and his older cousin on this tour and they were both like kids in a candy store! Even though neither is a huge football fan, they loved checking out the luxury suites and throwing a ball down on the field surrounded by 70,000 seats.
The tour is available almost every day, but if it’s high on your priority list be sure to check the schedule in advance – sometimes they’ll take a day or two off from tours due to football games and concerts.
Since the stadium is just a few minutes from the new LAX Rental car center, you can follow our lead and plan to tour on your arrival day (as long as you arrive early enough). Be sure to stop by La Fonda before or after your tour for some excellent Mexican food!
Universal Studios Hollywood
Harry Potter? Check. Super Nintendo? Check. Thrill rides? Check.
Even if you feel like your teen has outgrown “The Mouse” there’s so much at Universal Studios Hollywood to keep them excited. It’s really a theme park that’s built for teens and young adults more than kids – I went for the first time at 17 and absolutely loved it, and my son had an awesome time at 13 last year.
One of the best parts of planning a visit to Universal Studios Hollywood with teens is that they can do everything. The park is known for fairly high size requirements and intense rides so sometimes visitors with younger kids are disappointed.
Your teen will also have a good time roaming around City Walk after the park closes – there are tons of cool restaurants and shops plus interactive experiences like an escape room and live performances.
Unlike a lot of other theme parks, this one is smack dab in the middle of the city – you can see the Hogwarts Castle when you’re driving on the freeway and it’s just a few minutes from the Burbank airport. That makes it easy to slot into the rest of your Los Angeles itinerary, though I recommend going when local kids are in school if possible.
Pro tip: Bundle your Universal Studios Hollywood tickets with your rental car here to score major savings!
Read these tips before you visit Universal Studios Hollywood
Go to a live event
One of the best things to do in LA with teens is take them to a live event! With a dozen professional sports teams (not to mention some top-ranked college ones) and more music and performance venues than anyone can count, there’s always something going on for any interest.
With a big budget and big dreams, take in a Lakers game at Crypto.com Arena in DTLA or catch an epic concert at the Hollywood Bowl. If you want to spend a little less, you can often catch reasonable deals on teams like the LA Galaxy and at venues like UCLA’s Royce Hall – without sacrificing any of the fun.
Take a surfing lesson
One of the most unique things for teens to do in LA is learn to surf (or at least try). Not every beach is beginner-friendly, so you’ll definitely want to stick to the areas with smaller waves and sign them up for a surfing lesson.
Fun Surf LA offers great group lessons in Venice for ages 12+, or you can opt for private lessons at a few different locations around LA – go for private if your whole family wants to get in on the action (ok for younger siblings age 7+).
Confession: When I moved to Los Angeles as a teenager I tried exactly one surfing lesson before throwing in the towel. Thankfully the photographic evidence predates the digital era.
How to save money in LA with teens
All of these activities are awesome, but the prices can add up quickly.
Where to stay in Los Angeles with teens
Now that we have a teen in our family, I really value having enough space to spread out! Check out these great places to stay in LA with teens for a great experience (and enough room that you won’t all be on top of each other):
- The Garland – Great location for Universal Studios and Warner Brothers Studio tour; generous family rooms including bunk bed options; nice pool and good-sized gym
- The Shay – Centrally located in Culver City; we like the premium suite here with our teen + tween; fun game room off the lobby to keep busy if there’s downtime plus plenty of chill spaces
- Hampton Inn & Suites Santa Monica – Excellent location near the beach and Metro; free breakfast buffet for everyone; very reasonable upcharge for the “larger” king studio suite