Where: Los Angeles
What: T Lopez shows us how to soak up the culture and the sunshine in LA with the kids in tow.
Who: T Lopez is a tour de force of creative energy. The Mexican-American recording artist and TV and radio host’s latest project is Mom Life, Yo, a podcast she co-founded on Dash Radio with our friend Breegan Jane. She and her husband Hapa, a Chinese-American international DJ/Producer and Entrepreneur, have two beautiful daughters, Ellie, age 3, and Irie, age 1. You could say they like to "mix it up," both musically and culturally. Right now, they’re prepping for upcoming trips to Mexico and Europe! Join them as they share their favorite local spots to feel reconnected with each other and our special city.
T Lopez and daughters Ellie and Irie Perdue. Image by Katee Grace
Pamper & Play
T Lopez: This is the ideal place for the work-at-home-mom. Your baby, toddler, or child is supervised by the trained staff while you relax (or work, in my case) in the comfy parents' lounge, complete with wifi, coffee, desks and couches. If you need to buy yourself an hour or two in the middle of a weekday, Pamper and Play makes it easy. And my little ones love the colorful play areas and outdoor finger painting. Just pack a snack for your little, and the staff will take it from there. They even change diapers! Pay by the hour or save money by buying a package or becoming a member.Olvera Street
T: Colors, colors, and more colors! Whenever we make a stop at Placita Olvera, my two babes can’t take their eyes off all the colorful paintings, paper flowers, and papel picado hanging from shop to shop. Generally the weather in LA makes it just fine to walk this outdoor path where vendor after vendor is offering you sweet smelling treats, a hand painted toy or trinket, and a trio is creating a live soundtrack of your afternoon with a beautiful songs played on their acoustic guitars. There is so much history and culture that surrounds you at Placita Olvera. I am Mexican, and my daughters are half. This is a wonderful way for me to teach them about their heritage and the history of Los Angeles. Finger foods (quesadillas, tacos) are everywhere, and entrance is FREE!
Marvin Braude Bike Path
T: The Marvin Braude Bike Trail is huge, but I specifically like the very small stretch between Bali Way and Via Regatta. It's such a great place to teach kids how to ride their bikes, or to just ride with your kids without the worry. This is more like a small park that happens to have a bike trail. You can set up a picnic on the grass (with food you can grab from Ralph's, just through the gate), and have lunch with a great view of the boats parked in the Marina. The trail also has a pedestrian path, if you're not a bicycle rider and would rather power walk with a stroller. There is small lot with easy parking; always a plus. My family has such great memories here. My first daughter learned to walk on this very path, and she now loves to take her bike and ride like the wind.
Kidspace Children's Museum
T: We love non-stuffy museums where you can touch everything! That's exactly what Kidspace Museum is. This is where I go when my nephews come over to spend a weekend with my daughters and I need to entertain energetic boys, and inquisitive girls, all ranging in age from 1-10. This is an indoor/outdoor museum with lots of hands on learning involved. My kids especially love the indoor Ant-hole exhibit where kids suddenly become the size of ants and climb enormous leaves and crawl through tunnels to find their eggs. The outdoor space has lots of water play, but not the kind you get at a regular pool space or water park. Think naturistic; wooden windmills and baby rivers that kids can walk across or play in for a minute before continuing on the trail (all man-made). Definitely come dressed to get splashed, bring water shoes (shoes are required) and an extra set of clothes. Great in the summer when you want to cool the kids off but don't want to do a full on pool or beach day. There are tricycle trails, rock climbing walls, arts and crafts, and areas for kids under 2 years. Parent note: This space is not overwhelming as museums go. You can spend all day, or go for just two hours. Parking is easy as Kidspace shares the parking lot with the Rose Bowl.
J Nichols Kitchen
T: OK, so this is not a kid-focused place per se, but it is absolutely kid-friendly ... without the "I-can-only-go-to-these-kid-friendly-restaurants-now-that-I'm-a-parent-vibe." First of all, the food is YUM. Not too basic, not too fancy—all tasty. The decor and lighting are just vibey enough that it sets it apart from a chain restaurant, but not so vibey you feel like you are disturbing someone's date night by bringing your toddler. There is a kids menu for every meal, and an etch-a-sketch to borrow if you ask. Breakfast is our family's favorite meal there, and on weekdays there is a breakfast specials menu where you are getting gourmet food for IHOP prices. My kids' fav is the french toast. My fav is the California Scramble.
AdventurePlex
T: AdventurePlex is an indoor play yard that rocks. On the first floor there is a play structure on steroids. It's five levels of tunnels, mazes, swings, slides, and ball pits ... Even If you've only spent your two hours on this structure, you've successfully tired them out. The structure is ages 5+, but if you've got a little one as well, there is miniature version of this locked off from the rest of the structure. Everything is behind mesh so you can keep your eyes on everyone at all times. If you only have little ones 4 years and under, there is Toddler Town on the 2nd floor. Toddler Town is freaking adorable and the little ones love it. There is a grocery store where the littles can go "shopping" and toss toy produce and canned goods inside their adorable little mini shopping carts, a living room/kitchen area where kids can "cook" and "entertain" (I can't ...), a farm where your little farmer can pick the fruit off the trees painted on the wall (magnetic plastic fruit), a ball pit, and a mini road to pedal tiny tractors on. We have celebrated birthdays at Toddler Town and it never disappoints. There are also other areas in AdventurePlex where your child can take classes such as summer camps and basketball, but we love the drop in play the most.
Pamper & Play Image courtesy of T Lopez.
Olvera Street. Image courtesy of T Lopez.
Marvin Braude Bike Path. Image courtesy of T Lopez.
Image courtesy of Kidspace Children's Museum
J Nichols Kitchen. Image courtesy of @mkarolqueiroz
AdventurePlex. Image courtesy of T Lopez.
Keep up with T, DJ Hapa and the girls on Instagram at @officialtlopez and @djhapa.
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Header image by Katee Grace
