Classes

The Los Angeles Zoo doesn't compare to its neighbor to the south in San Diego, but it's an excellent option for animal lovers, sitting on over a hundred acres of hilly, wooded land in Griffith Park.

The Winnick Family Children's Zoo includes Muriel's Ranch, an animal contact area that's staffed with zookeepers and safety zones, where children and animals can safely mingle. You'll also find Kids' Korner Restaurant, Adventure Theatre (where kids don costumes and help act out stories about animals), and a new animal nursery exhibit - the Winnick Family Animal Care Center.

It's a bit of a walk to the Main Zoo, but you can stop along the way to watch the meerkats, the amazing, although somewhat smelly, flamingos, or take a pit stop at one of the many refreshment and souvenir kiosks.

Kids tend to have a special affinity for the snake house, the habitat for orangutans, and the state-of-the-art chimpanzee exhibit. The koalas are housed in a darkened building, which is fun for older kids but can be scary for little ones.

Guided tours are available for groups and families who make advance reservations. Request a variety of tours by calling 323.644.4700.

Picnic areas and a variety of restaurants are scattered throughout; most of the restaurants have special children's meals, with hot dogs or chicken, a drink and a small plastic toy.

At the farthest end from the entrance is a popular playground with climbing equipment and slides. There is an adjacent picnic area, restrooms, and plenty of adult seating. However it's not fenced in, and the equipment is not safe for toddlers unless carefully supervised.

Distances can be very long for shorter legs; the Zoo runs a regular shuttle (Adults $4; Children $2 for unlimited use during the course of one visit). And strollers are available for rental just inside the entrance (singles are $7/day; doubles $11/day).

Bathrooms with changing stations are easily found. The first aid station is by the front gate.

Programs and classes at the LA Zoo invariably require pre-registration, and are less expensive for members. For information and/or reservations call 323.644.4211, and see our event calendar.

Zoo Camp is a fun summer activity for fans of the zoo, ages four to 12. Full or half-day programs are available on a weekly basis, and fill quickly.

A must-do at the zoo is a sleep-over at one of the famous Sundown Safaris! You can fall asleep to the roaring of lions and wake up to the singing of siamangs. The Zoo provides dinner, breakfast, and a special after-hours tour. You can bring your own tent or rent one. Sundown Safari begins at 5pm as the Zoo closes, and ends at 9am the next day. Check our calendar for dates, or call 323.644.4253 for information.

Plan a birthday party among the animals; the Zoo has a variety of birthday plans available at varying costs. Call 323.644.6047 for information.

Membership offers many benefits, and, if you plan to visit more than once a year, is worth the investment. Prices are $45 for Individual; $65 for Family.

SignShine's success-based American Sign Language (ASL) classes help parents open a window to their pre-verbal child's thoughts.

Creative Space offers a full and varied program of classes and after-school programs for pre-school and school-age boys and girls.

The directors spent months talking to neighborhood parents and educators, and put together a complete curriculum, with qualified faculty, designed to help kids learn and have fun.

Classes range from animation and bead-design to puppetry, cooking, film-making, yoga, and dance for school age kids. Mommy-and-me classes, as well as special pre-school programs in yoga, music, dance, and gymnastics, are also available.

Birthday party packages include a two-hour party on Saturdays or Sundays, entertainment, food and beverages for kids, and noshables for adults. Themes range from arty parties, dance parties, and magic to science, aromatherapy, make-your-own-doll, and animals. The space is also available for Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, sweet 16s, and grown up parties.

Summer Camp is based at the Wilshire Boulevard Temple campus, featuring playgrounds, a playing field, state of the art and fully air-conditioned athletic facilities, dance studio, black box theater, and an art studio.

Creative Space also has a Hawai'i Sleepover Camp, which includes airfare and two weeks of fun and cultural experiences on Oahu's north shore.

A toddler program is available for three-year-olds; children ages four to 12 may attend the day camp proper (Mon-Fri 9am-3pm).

For adults only, parenting, infant massage, nutrition, and exercise classes are also available.

Creative Leap gives kids the opportunity to jump, climb, bounce, spin, slide, explore, create, design, and interact in a safe, clean and most importantly, FUN environment.

The main play structure, the Valley's largest, offers corridors of mazes, slides, see-through tubes, look-out domes, a submarine climb, magic ball popper, large ball pit, and tons of other cool stuff.

The Dinosaur Room is equipped with a fossilized climbing wall in a prehistoric setting.

Creative Leap also features video games appropriate for both younger and older children, an electric keyboard for the musically-inclined, and super-sized geometric pieces with which to build cars or castles... or whatever a kid's imagination can dream up.

The toddler area is specifically designed with the smallest children in mind. Infants to three-year-olds have a room all to themselves, allowing them to explore and socialize in a more intimate setting.

Creative Leap also offers classes in prenatal yoga, theater, art, mommy & me, music & movement, and more!

Birthday parties include an hour of open play (rock climbing wall, three-story play structure, video games, giant lego pit, and more) and one hour in a private party room where at least two hosts take care of the work. Included in the package is pizza and drinks for the kids, face painting and/or balloon animals, age-appropriate activities (activities may include parachute play, dance games, magic show, etc.), personalized cake & cake ceremony, balloons, decorations, all paper goods, birthday child's hand print on the party room wall and a return play pass for the birthday child. Call for pricing.

Themed parties, characters, shows, and special requests can also usually be accommodated.

Following the infamous incident at the end of 2007 in which a crane dropped a billboard on their space, Cool Baby's facility is temporarily closed for renovations. Until further notice, many classes are being held at two temporary locations; call for details or see their online schedule, which is updated weekly.

Cool Baby offers enrichment classes for kids and babies in art, music, and yoga, as well as yoga for moms-to-be and new moms by Yoga Works trained teachers. The first pre-natal yoga class is always free. Other options include Abrakadoodle Art, music, Spanish, family circus, and a Daddy & Me Drum class.

There is a family lounge with a bright, spacious free play zone, full of well-made toys in natural materials; and the drop-in Art Splash Zone is fun for all ages. Stroller parking is available.

Custom birthday parties can be accommodated, with themes including yoga, circus, drum circles, and art.

The retail store features unusual items, like Ugly Dolls, bouquets of baby clothes, and products from around the world that give a portion of the proceeds to charity. There is a Putumayo listening station that kids can use, and this is the only place on the Westside to buy Entertaining Elephants kids' clothes. There's a great selection of books, too.

Paintbox Kids, a hands-on arts studio designed for children, is a warm, cozy destination adjacent to Pasadena's Historic Highlands neighborhood. Murals and samples of all kinds of artwork don the walls, and Terry, the studio's owner, describes her business as "unstuffy." She's right; the set-up is comfortable and unpretentious, with throw rugs, mobiles, pint-sized chairs and tables, and neat art supplies.

Parents, grandparents, and caregivers are invited to roll up their sleeves and create right alongside visiting children, and kids ages five and up can be dropped off for themed classes. Custom classes for groups of six or more can also be arranged.

Paintbox Kids offers classes, workshops, and summer camps for artists ages five to 11, as well as teen and adult classes; check the website for more details. The venue also features weekly walk-in studio hours, when patrons can take advantage of traditional and recycled art supplies to create their own masterpieces. Call ahead to inquire about when walk-in times are offered.

Children's parties at Paintbox Kids last two hours and include the theme and art activity of your choosing, teaching staff and all materials, a story or game related to the party theme, and set up/clean-up services. Parties are $300 for up to 10 children and $25 for each additional
guest. Optional add-ons, such as invitations and party favors, are available at an extra charge.

Homemade Baby provides freshly prepared, organic, kosher baby food delivered conveniently to your front door. For parents interested in exploring new foods with picky babies, the store also offers L.A.'s only baby food tasting room, where little ones can try free samples of various dishes, and get exclusive previews of the newest culinary creations.

In addition to tastings, the store regularly hosts workshops in nutrition, infant safety, CPR, and more. Check our calendar for more information.

Regular patrons should consider joining the Yummy Tummy Club for regular discounted (and customizable) bundles of baby food and early previews of new dishes before they become available to the general public. Check the website for packages and prices.

AdventurePlex, South Bay's health and