Greater Los Angeles Vacation

 

Best places to stay in the Los Angeles area:

 

Westside areas such as Los Feliz/Griffith Park

• Offers walkable areas and are much calmer than the Holywood area

• Great access to nature and open spaces

• Easier parking and less sensory stimulation 

• Great central area for kid-friendly activities

• Griffith Park

• Observatory

• L.A. Zoo

• Museums

• Travel Town

 

Coastal areas such as Santa Monica

• Lots of outdoor activities

• Good food options without nightlife environment

• Cooler temperatures

• Easy for sensory decompression

• Great for:

• Beachwalks

• Malibu Day trips

• Aquarium

• Short Drives to several Museums

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Inland areas such as Pasadena

• Calmer than Central Los Angeles

• Tee-lined streets

• Less traffic

• Family-oriented

• Calmer evenings

• Good for:

• Museum hopping

• Huntington Library Art Museum & Botanical Gardens

• Kidspace Children’s Museum

• Shopping

PLACES TO SEE/VISIT:

 

Griffith Park Observatory (located in the Los Feliz neighborhood) is great to visit in the early morning or late afternoon but try to avoid the sunset hours as crowds gather and could be too much stimulation and loud noises.  The outside areas are best as there are pockets of areas for quieter surroundings.  The views are amazing and expansive.

 

Discovery Cube Los Angeles (located in Sylmar) hosts Sensory Friendly Mornings on certain Sundays of the month from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. The museum provides a calmer environment before they open to the general public which includes sensory tools such as fidget spinners, headphones upon request. They provide sensory-friendly maps as well as visual cue cards for nonverbal guests as well as quiet spaces that are designated from overstimulation.  Their background music is turned off during these hours and staff is specially trained to support.

California Science Center (located in Exposition Park near the campus of USC) is a great place to visit although they do not offer special hours for those with sensory needs. They do suggest to visit on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays after 2:00 p.m. as this is when the museum is quieter since the mornings are usually filled with students on field trips and can get noisy.They do offer free wheelchairs large-type exhibit text, ASL interpretation, and assistive listening devices for IMAX films and lectures (caveat: must be reserved with at least 10 day notice) so plan accordingly.

Kidspace Children’s Museum (located in Pasadena) is a great child centered sensory place which is mostly outdoors with active play and many spaces that are transitional. The Museum has less pressure for “museum behavior" and they have a calendar of events that they host throughout the year.

 

Descanso Gardens (located in the La Canada/Flintridge area) has wide walking paths that provide wheel-chair and stroller friendly walkways with shady areas, low noise and a great place for sensory decompression. It boasts a variety of wildlife from birds, to butterflies, squirrels and ducks. Their Japanese Garden is especially calming as it possesses water features with benches to take in the scenery. They do ask that guests use “museum manners” as it is a living museum and it is requested to avoid jumping, running or climbing on non-play structures. Best time to visit is weekday mornings as weekends do become very busy.

 

The Huntington Library Art Museum and Botanical Gardens (located in the San Marino neighborhood of Pasadena) is great for neurodivergent families, especially the month of April when they host the National Autism Awareness Month. The Helen and Peter Bing Children’s Garden display of topiaries and water features offers a great area to explore using sight, sense, smell and touch.

 

Warner Bros. Studio Tour (located in Burbank) offers structure pacing with smaller groups and a routine schedule and is less chaotic than theme parks such as Universal Studios. If provided with advance notice, they can arrange tailored, low-stimulation experiences, particularly for guests sensitive to noise or crowds, that move at a slower, more comfortable pace. Guest Services can also assist with bypassing specific crowded areas.  

 

Aquarium of the Pacific (located in Long Beach) is worth a drive to as it houses over 10,000+ animals and 100 exhibits focusing on the 3 main geographic regions of the Pacific. It is a KultureCity certified sensory-inclusive place to be if you enjoy learning about marine life and science.  The aquarium provides sensory bags free of charge that include fidget tools, and noise-cancelling headphones. They feature both indoor and outdoor spaces that provide a more quiet environment. They offer early morning hours for those with sensory sensitivities and they offer “Autism Family Nights” tailored to adults and children on the Spectrum.

 

Best places to stay in the Orange County area:

 

Costa Mesa (near the Newport border)

This area sits Inland from the busier beach towns

Quiet access to walking trails at the Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve

Sensory-friendly parks

Great for a short drive to Anaheim attractions

 

 

Irvine Business District

The area becomes incredibly quiet and calm during evening and weekends

Provides wide-open environment with minimal noise

Close to the John Wayne Airport

 

Seal Beach (for a Coastal vibe)

Small, slow-paced seaside town that exudes a relaxed family atmosphere

Plenty of open-wide sandy spaces

No intense boardwalk crowds

Boasts small boutique like accommodations

 

 

PLACES TO SEE/VISIT:

 

Pretend City Children’s Museum (located in Irvine) provides noise-cancelling headphones, sunglasses, weighted materials and fidget toys upon request. They feature an indoor sand box play area with an observation room that can serve as a quiet retreat area.  They offer a monthly “Neurodivergent Family Night” with dimmed lighting, quiet sounds, limited capacity, and sensory relief areas. Families can also access an online "Social Story" to help children visualize the visit beforehand.

 

Pavion Park (located in Mission Viejo, about  25-minute drive from Irvine) is a  tucked-away, fully enclosed sensory playground designed specifically for children with special needs. It features smooth rubberized surfaces and accessible play equipment away from heavy traffic.  They have colorful seating grouped together for social interaction, a large colorful maze with game rules and even boasts a rocking boat that fits a wheelchair.

 

Boomers Amusement Park (located in Irvine) has partnered with IBCCES and is a Certified Autism Center. The staff are trained to assist guests with sensory sensitivities in a welcoming environment. They focus on inclusivity where they can enjoy go-karts, miniature golf and even the arcade in a safe surrounding.

Children’s Museum (located in La Habra, about a 30-minute drive from Irvine) is very welcoming to neurodivergents in that they host dedicated early-morning hours with reduced crowds, lower noise levels, and dimmed lighting so children can explore at their own pace. Guests get full access to the hands-on exhibits, including the outdoor dinosaur garden, the 1942 historic train caboose, and the art studio.

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Knott’s Berry Farm (located in Buena Park) offers comprehensive accessibility services specifically for guests with ASD and other neurodivergent needs. They offer a “Boarding Pass Program” that allows guests and their riding companions to access the rides via the exit ramps to assist in avoiding crowded queue lines. They offer the “KeyTrack Wristband” to assist Park Staff in reuniting family members if they become separated or wander off. The Park’s Accessibility Guide aids in specific sensory intensities of each ride.

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Great Wolf Lodge (located in Anaheim) offers Day Passes if you prefer not to lodge there.  Through their partnership with the IBCCES, they offer multi-colored sensory wristbands which discreetly signal trained staff to take special considerations during interactions.  They offer a “Sensory Guide” that ranks each attraction by sensory level. To avoid the overwhelming crowds and sensory overload of a bustling water park, many families rent a private cabana. It offers a calm, shaded retreat where kids can easily decompress, all without leaving the convenience of the park.