Top 5 Los Angeles Locations For Group Trips and Family Fun

by Joanna Ramirez

Los Angeles may be more known to the world as the land of Hollywood, glamorous celebrities, the infamously cunning paparazzi, and the land of movies and music. However, you’ll be surprised at the number of attractions within the cityscape that are completely suitable for kids and their parents or grandparents. Right in the midst of all the glitz and glamor, you’ll find fun and lively gems like theme parks and some old-school amusement centers. Of course, at this point, most people would be thinking of Disneyland and the Hollywood Walk of Fame...but really, that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

You’ll find a play space (and delicious food and drinks for everyone else) at the unsuspecting Giggle N’ Hugs; immersive playful exhibits and real-world action about global citizenship and world injustices at The Zimmer Children’s Museum; electric bike tours around Santa Monica and Venice Beach; and a fun day-out splashing around in the waves and cooling waters of Hermosa Beach located 30 minutes southwest of the main downtown LA area. 

But frankly, who can leave the theme parks and amusement centers of Los Angeles out of the list when talking about the best family-friendly attractions in the City of Angels. Here, allow me to just skim the surface with just the top 5.

1. Griffith Park & Southern Railroad

4400 Crystal Springs Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 664-6788
www.griffithparktrainrides.com
Little boys...and little girls too, in fact...are naturally attracted to the chuggin’ trains and locomotives at The Griffith Park. The relaxing ambiance allows for easy cognizant tours while the little ones as families sign up for the gripping affordable rides. The friendly staff is always readily available at the well-kept as it remains open every day of the year except for major holidays like Christmas. Just to be sure, visit their website or social media sites for the latest update or schedule. Visitors can enjoy the one-mile easy track along the bridge, into forested areas, and around the Old Western Town with the Southern Railroad, enjoy a mini 16” train ride (twice for good measure) with Travel Town Railroad while exploring ancient cars and rolling stocks, or sign up for the limited number of Holiday Lights Train Ride which takes place at the end of every year.

Also be on the lookout for The Colonel Griffith Locomotive which was built by one of the world’s premier builders, The Freedom Train which is a streamliner built by the All American Streamliner Company of Los Angeles, The Stanley Diamond, Five-Seat Steel Coaches, or the Six-Seat Wood Gondolas. The last two were commonly used, back in the day, to carry bulk goods across the great continent of North America. Which is no mean feat considering the technology they were working with at the time.

2. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608
(800) 864-8377
You don't need to know how Hermione used 'Alohomora' to unlock doors so that she can go sneaking around the great Hogwarts castle because you'll get to 'Accio' your way around the theme park to enjoy the fantastic and magical rides. The wizarding world is located on the grounds of the world-renowned Universal Studios Hollywood and the dedicated Harry Potter franchise features daring heroes and dark villains that you're already familiar with. Apart from the rides, fans will get their fill of thrill by purchasing wands with magnetic sensors from Ollivander’s Wand Shop to perform popular Harry Potter spells around the theme park...like opening a box of candy without lifting a finger or unlocking a cabinet with a wave of the wand. Kids and adults alike will also be entertained by shows like The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle, Ollivanders, Frog Choir and Triwizard Spirit Rally.

The theme park stays true to the Harry Potter stories while also helping non-fans enjoy the experience. The experience, however, will simply be more memorable for fans of the long-standing series. 

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LA Charter buses, mini buses, school buses, coaches, and limousines are amazing ways to get around the theme parks. You can forget about who is driving who and when everyone is EVER going to get to the drop-off point on time. Instead, set up a charter bus service to bring everyone there on schedule! Give Bus Charter LA a call right now and get yourself a quick quote. You’ll be surprised at how affordable the vehicles are for your group trip.

Visiting Festivals in Southern California on a Charter Bus

Festivals and events are a great way to experience the culture of a region while on a charter bus visit. In diverse Southern California, there is an overwhelming list from which to choose. The Pasadena's Tournament of Roses with its diversity of cultures represented in the floats is a way to start off the new year. And county fairs provide a big and tasty slice of Southern California living. After that the selection is much more subjective. Perhaps a good place to start is following California's deepest roots, which tap into Native American and Mexican cultures, and then turning to the coast, a major attraction and culture in itself using a bus, coach bus, party bus, mini bus, passenger coach or school bus chartered from Bus Charter Los Angeles.

A big part of Southern California's allure, along with Hollywood and Disney, are the beaches. Whether you are into the surf scene or sand castles, festivals and events at the beach provide opportunity to mingle and have fun with others when on a LA charter bus. One of the most eclectic events is the San Clemente Ocean Festival. Billed as “The Biggest Show on Surf,” its activities include a sandcastle contest, surf race, fishing derby, beach runs, a Woody car show, an ocean art show, and a family concert and barbecue. Having a good time is key at this laid back surf event where kids competing in the Grom's Rule surf contest are judged not only on surfing ability but on the amount of fun they are having and the size of their smiles.

This Old Town San Diego tradition is billed as the largest Cinco de Mayo celebration north of the border, and it just may be, packed as it is with entertainment, activities, tours, food and drink. The Old Town San Diego Festival's main location is outdoors, although charter buses take festival-goers to nearby participating places, such as the Natural History Museum. Music, including Latino Jazz, Latin a Go Go, Flamenco, classical and Mariachi, is performed on three stages. Exhibits range from horseback riding and fancy roping to low riders. There's a beer garden, tequila sampling and food vendors with Mexican and American fare. Kids' activities include arts and crafts, games, performing arts and even physical education as with the Indo board balance training.

Learn about Southern California's American Indian heritage at one of the region's many pow wows, such as the Southern California Indian Center Powwow at the Orange County Fairgrounds. The event offers charter bus visitors traditional powwow fare, authentic American Indian dancing, foods and arts and crafts. The pow wow also includes a toy and food drive and children's area. In the high desert, attend a pow wow, and if you like, camp at Mojave Regional Park. The Mother Earth's People Inter-tribal Council Traditional Annual Gathering Pow wow includes Native American dance, drumming and storytelling; a teepee village, vendors and a variety of cultural and nature workshops. Shade is provided by cottonwoods along the river that runs through the park, and children can chill in the “Water Park Saloon.”

Visiting Los Angeles and southern California at festival time has never been more fun that with a charter bus from Bus Charter Los Angeles. Grab a charter bus from Bus Charter Los Angeles today and have a fun filled and memorable time at southern California’s festivals.

Seeing Los Angeles in a Charter Bus

For charter bus visitors to Southern California, a visit to the area usually means Los Angeles and a stop in Hollywood to see Grauman's Chinese Theater as well as a stroll along Hollywood Boulevard to see the stars on the Walk of Fame. Charter bus visitors with children will inevitably end up at Disneyland in Anaheim. Although these well-known tourist destinations are must-sees, there are many other attractions in Southern California that the first-time visitor or frequent traveler shouldn't miss, and a great way of getting in and around Los Angeles is with a bus, charter bus, coach bus, party bus, mini bus, passenger coach or school bus chartered from Bus Charter Los Angeles.

Los Angeles has long identified itself with the movie industry, and charter bus visitors should stop by Universal Studios in Hollywood, which calls itself "The Entertainment Capital of L.A." The 415-acre complex incorporates a shopping area, theme park and studio tour. The restored back lot reopened in May 2010 after a major fire in 2008 destroyed many of the original film and television sets. The venue is so large that it has its own zip code. Film theaters and a major concert venue are also part of complex of attractions. All of the attractions are open year-round and tickets are available at the venues.

Ontario is located within the Cucamonga Valley, a short charter bus ride away from Los Angeles, in one of California's oldest wine regions. While most small wineries and vineyards have disappeared since the region's wine business exploded more than 200 years ago, a few tasting rooms, vineyards and wine shops persist. One of the most widely known tasting rooms is the San Antonio Winery's Ontario Wine and Gift Shop. This is a satellite shop of the historical San Antonio Winery in Los Angeles. The Ontario wine shop offers three complimentary tastings per visit. Charter bus visitors to LA can purchase an artisan tasting and the wine shop also offers classes and seminars throughout the year. Contact the Ontario wine shop directly to find out what subjects, if any, will be offered during your charter bus visit.

Catalina, formally known as Santa Catalina Island, is an island off the coast of California located 22 miles south-southwest of downtown Los Angeles, and a great way to spend the day in the sun for charter bus visitors. Officially part of Los Angeles County, the island is accessed by hour-long boat shuttles from San Pedro, Marina del Rey, Long Beach, Newport Beach and Dana Point, or by a 15-minute helicopter ride from Long Beach and San Pedro. The island has a rich history and lore beginning with the earliest residents nearly 7,000 years ago. Arguably the most famous residents were Western author Zane Gray and William Wrigley, Jr., of chewing gum fame, who constructed homes on the island. Tourist sites for charter bus visitors include both famous houses, the island casino structure, Green Pleasure Pier, first constructed in 1894 by the Banning Brothers, Los Angeles business promoters, and rebuilt after a storm in 1914; shopping, and nature viewing.

For a fun filled time in Los Angeles, let Bus Charter Los Angeles help you plan your charter bus trip with their friendly, personalized service.

L.A. is a lady

Visiting attractions in the very spread-out city of Los Angeles can be a challenge, because the city is so sprawling that several tourist spots popularly associated with the city are actually in neighboring counties. This is where chartering a bus, coach bus, party bus, mini bus, passenger coach or school bus from Bus Charter LA makes sense. Tour famous LA attractions in style and comfort in your charter, bus, visiting sights such as quirky museums, famous graves, hipster shopping and offbeat art galleries, plus world-class sports and entertainment venues such as the Staples Center and the Hollywood Bowl.
For most charter bus visitors to LA, the Hollywood Sign is the most easily recognized landmark in all of Los Angeles, standing as a symbol for LA as a whole and its entertainment industry in particular. It was built in 1923 as a giant ad for a housing development that never took off, called Hollywoodland. You cannot approach the sign on foot but there are plenty of vantage points nearby from which you can get a great view. Try the intersection of Hollywood and Highland or the nearby Griffith Park Observatory if your charter bus group wants some group photo memories.
The Bradbury Building, completed in 1893, is an iconic structure that has served both as a public building and the backdrop for several famous Hollywood movies. For science fiction buffs on a charter bus tour, the Bradbury Building is where the famous confrontation scene in Ridley Scott’s movie “Bladerunner”, was filmed. The five-story building's modest brick exterior conceals a splendid atrium inspired by a description of a commercial building in Edward Bellamy's futuristic novel “Looking Backward”. Bathed in diffuse natural light from a skylight roof, the atrium features lacelike wrought-iron railings, stair frames and open-cage elevators along with red-oak trim and paneling. The stair treads are made of pink Belgian marble, and walls of glazed yellow brick and Mexican tile. It is the oldest commercial building remaining in the central city. 
Another Hollywood icon, and one of the main draws for charter bus visitors to LA, is Grauman's Chinese Theatre. The theater, true to its name, is an ornate confection of bronze, silk, coral and stone. A sinuous dragon graces the facade and "heaven dogs" imported from China flank the main entrance. Opened in 1927, Grauman’s is the opening night launchpad for every Hollywood blockbuster-to-be. "The Chinese," as it's nicknamed, still hosts first-run movies as well as a series of classic Hollywood films for only 25 cents a ticket. Charter bus visitors can also take a scheduled tour that runs several times a day. In the forecourt of the theater you will find the handprints and footprints of famous stars from every era of Hollywood embedded in concrete blocks. 
For a glamorous look at Los Angeles, give Bus Charter Los Angeles a call to find out how they can help you plan your charter bus trip with a selection from their fleet of charter buses and friendly, personalized service.