Hamburger Habit was voted best hamburgers in LA, and we can't help but agree.

Not just another hamburger joint, this place loves children, as is evidenced by the crayons, balloons, gummy burgers and lollipops doled out by owner Frank Pecefhky.

Great burgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob, and fries. Booster seats and swingin' music for kids (and us) to swivel to as we happily munch down our chiliburgers.

With massive toy warehouses (both on- and off-line) sucking up most of the business, smaller toy stores are getting hard to find. Located in Encino Place, Gregory's Toys competes in this environment with a charming, low-pressure atmosphere.

The best feature of the store is the way it invites children to lay their hands on most of the toys. A large receptacle at the front of the store overflows with multi-colored balls for every kind of sport. And tickets can be purchased for a dollar to ride on the carousel at the front of the outdoor mall.

The store is neatly laid out, with hanging signs that label the categories of playthings. There is a surprisingly wide array of toys, including developmental toddler toys, science kits, books, arts and crafts, and musical instruments.

Another distinguishing factor of Gregory's Toys is the selection of imported items. Kettler tricycles and Bruder trucks, both brought in from Germany, get a lot of attention for their quality and uniqueness.

As is the case with most single-location toy shops, Gregory's Toys has moderate to expensive prices. Still, there is great value in the fine time your children will have in looking around and experiencing the store.

The historic Santa Anita Park is known as one of the most beautiful race tracks in the world, and on a clear day, with the snow-capped mountains in the distance, the waving palm trees, silk-clad jockeys, and shining thoroughbreds create a picture that more than lives up to its billing.

Yes, you may encounter a few colorful characters during your day at the track, but the management has made family comfort a priority in its recent restoration, and a family outing to Santa Anita is well worth the drive.

The Infield playground areas are colorful and clean. There's a wonderful circular swing set, a geodesic dome that draws climbers like a magnet, and a fantastically complicated structure of spiralling slides - all arrayed atop a thick rubberized safety mat.

Sunny and shady spots for picnic blankets abound, and there are tables and benches for those without. Basic refreshments and snacks are also available.

Children could easily spend a happy day in the Infield playground and barely notice the thoroughbreds as they thunder around the track. But it would be a pity to miss the chance to show your kids the racehorses for which the 65-year-old track was built.

Take a walk through the Paddock Gardens to the saddling barns, where you can see the horses being groomed, and watch the jockeys conferring with the trainers. Listen for the bugle that calls the horses to the post, and then walk by the lifesize statue of the famed Seabiscuit, and on to the restored Art Deco Grandstand to watch the actual race from start to finish. The thrill is unforgettable.

Wagering, of course, is optional, and only parents can place the actual bets, but let the kids pick a horse; maybe you'll get lucky, and cover your costs for the day!

Santa Anita offers a wide range of facilities for parties - from the elegant Turf Club to the completely casual picnic areas in the Infield - at a variety of costs. There is a special staff to help you plan your event; call 800.574.6401 for information.

When the movie is over, or the episode has aired, where do all the clothes go?

It's a Wrap is a primary dumping ground for clothes that have been seen before; items range from glamorous soap wear to a dozen pairs of lederhosen from some lesser-known ER episode. Wardrobe sometimes comes off the backs of celebrities in famous movies (no bargains here; you'll pay a lot for Indiana Jones' spare coat), and sometimes still has the tags because no one got around to wearing it at all.

And, since we all know Hollywood has plenty of hard-working children, toddlers, and even infants, great deals on all of these clothes can be found, too. Let the rest of the country wear hand-me-downs; LA kids wear Hannah Montana's gym shorts.

In 1934, a group of farmers gathered at Third and Fairfax to sell fresh food from their trucks. Since that time, The Original Los Angeles Farmers Market has fed and entertained countless tourists and locals as one of the city's most enduring landmarks.

The main area of the market is an open-air bazaar of food stands and gift shops. Amidst the look and feel of '40s Los Angeles, patrons can pick up delectables of virtually any ethnic variety and chow at metal tables. Speaking of variety, people watching alone is worth the visit.

Food and shopping highlights of The Original Los Angeles Farmers Market include the indulgent baked goods of Thee's Pie Shop, the charming intimacy of Kip's Toyland, the mouth-watering fresh fish of Tusquellas Seafoods, and the classic coffee-shop experience of DuPar's Restaurant. The Grove shopping center offers open air shopping at its best.

Families can have an easy time here, with all to see and sample. The atmosphere is noisy and casual. Bathrooms are old and not terribly well-equipped. But the greatest challenge you will have is in getting your kids to decide exactly what they want to eat or buy amidst the many choices.

If they somehow can't find enough to keep them entertained here, a replica of an old red line trolley connects the market to the adjacent Grove Shopping Center.

Also of note is the market's year-round slate of events. These range from the winter Holiday Music at the Market to the more locally flavored Cinco de Mayo festivities. The Summer Music Series runs Thursdays and Friday evenings from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Check our calendar for scheduled events.

Los Angeles doesn't have many of those beloved public spaces that give energy and a sense of identity to great cities like New York, Chicago or Boston. Griffith Park is one of the few such spaces in LA. But beyond that role as the city's heart and soul, Griffith Park bears little resemblance to Central Park, the Boston Common, or Chicago's Lincoln Park. You won't find carefully maintained green lawns and neatly tended flower beds in this city park!

Most of the park's 4,213 acres are remarkably unchanged since the first Spanish explorers looked west across the Los Angeles River at what was to become the nation's largest municipal park. The wooded and hilly land first became part of the Rancho Los Feliz land grant from the king of Spain, then fell into the hands of Colonel Griffith J. Griffith, the mining tycoon whose bronze statue now graces the Park's main entrance, and who deeded the land to the city in 1896.

A hundred years later, the park is still mainly uncultivated; coyote, deer, raccoons, hawks, woodpeckers and, of course, rattlesnakes abound, and the wildflowers in the spring make for glorious vistas.

There are countless reasons to visit:

Griffith Observatory is a good first stop, for its views, its Planetarium, and for its trail maps, available for $2 in the Hall of Science. The famous Mount Hollywood Hiking Trail leads up the hill from the Observatory parking lot; there are 53 other miles of hiking trails in the entire park. A lot of the landscape will look familiar, even to a first time visitor; hundreds of movie and television crews have used Griffith Park as a backdrop and continue to do so.

Another Griffith Park day can be spent exploring the Los Angeles Zoo and the Autry Museum of Western Heritage, next to one another on the eastern side of the Park.

A favorite destination for children and adults, on the northern side of the Park, is the Travel Town Transportation Museum. Ride on, climb on, marvel at the Museum's wonderful collection of trains, fire engines, and automobiles, of all sizes and vintages.

You can enter the park on horseback, too, along the many miles of equestrian trails, well maintained by the park rangers and well-used by the region's many horse owners and lovers. It's a great way to see the Park. On the Burbank side, try Circle K Ranch Stables,, or Bar S Stables; they both have horses and guides available for rent. On the Hollywood side of the Park, Sunset Ranch Hollywood Stables takes riders out for daytime and evening rides.

Smaller horse lovers can try the Griffith Park Pony and Wagon Rides, by the main entrance at Los Feliz Boulevard and Riverside Drive. Also in that complex, at the southeast corner of the Park, the beloved Griffith Park & Southern Railroad is where millions of Los Angeles children have experienced their first train ride.

A little golf? The Park has four golf courses. Wilson/Harding features two 18-hole courses, a driving range, several putting greens and a Pro Shop. The Los Feliz Municipal Course is a nine-hole, three par course, highly recommended for younger golfers. And Roosevelt Municipal is also nine-holes, but more difficult, and not usually recommended for children. Golf lessons are available at the Tregnan Golf Academy and the Griffith Park Golf School.

Tennis? Non-fee tennis courts are available in several locations throughout the park, and Griffith Park-Riverside Tennis takes court reservations for peak hours, and offers lessons and rent-a-pro sessions.

The enormous and beautiful swimming pool is open from mid-June to mid-September in the Griffith Park-Riverside Recreational Complex, at the corner of Riverside Drive and Los Feliz Boulevard. The fee is $1. Call 323.665.4372 for information about hours and lessons.

Crystal Springs Ranger Station is another place to get information about hiking trails, park regulations, and nature walks. Call 323.913.7390 for information.

Behind the ranger station, find the Crystal Springs Bike and Skate Rental, open Mon-Fri 3pm-8pm, and Sat-Sun 10am-8pm. Call 323.662.6573.

Pote Field is the baseball field. Call 323.913.4372 for information about permits.

For soccer, try the John Ferraro Soccer Fields, at the northeastern corner of the Park, near the intersection of the 5 and the 134. Call 323.485.7611 for information about reserving one of the five regulation-size fields and two practice fields at this popular and newly renovated area.

The shaded Crystal Springs picnic area, which can accommodate hundreds of people, can be reserved ahead of time, for a fee, through the ranger station. But most of the picnic areas are available for picnics, birthday parties, and whatever, on a first-come, first-served basis; you'd better get up before the birds if you want a good spot on a Saturday in June.

Worth a stop is the Old Zoo picnic area, off Griffith Park Drive - a slightly eerie, but fascinating, spot. The tiny old cages that once housed the zoo's lions, tigers and monkeys, now contain picnic tables, outdoor grills, and graffiti.

A bit further up Griffith Park Drive is the Mineral Wells picnic area with outdoor grills; it's a bit smaller, more out-of-the-way, and therefore sometimes less crowded, spot. It can be a popular trysting area; exercise discretion.

Pecan Grove is another pleasant picnic area with outdoor grills; it's off the Zoo Drive, between Travel Town Museum and the Zoo. A a bit close to the freeway, it can be noisy.

The Park Center picnic area, near the intersection of Griffith Park Drive and Crystal Springs Drive, is, as its name suggests, in the center of things. It's big, with a lot of different table and grill areas, but it fills up quickly on weekends.

Nearby is the marvelous Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round, with its 68 splendid horses. It's open 11am-5pm, Saturdays, Sundays and school holidays. Tickets cost $1.
An old-fashioned organ plays LOUD waltzes, and the horses go round FAST; as merry-go-rounds go, this may not be the most gentle experience for a sensitive toddler, but older children and adults will love it. Call 323.665.3051 for information.

Also near the Park Center is the trail head for the Fern Gull Nature Walk, an easy, yet unusual, climb that winds along a gully, going back and forth across some bridges, and up and down some short hills. It's a good walk to do with younger children, and is often where the rangers take school children on weekday morning field trips.
Call 323.913.7390 for information.

There are seven playgrounds in Griffith Park.
The newest, on Griffith Park Drive, near the Park Center picnic area, is called Shane's Inspiration.

If you need a playground inside the Los Angeles Zoo, take a long walk from the entrance - or jump on the Zoo Shuttle - and go to the northern end, past the bears and tigers. This one has two large play structures, one for toddlers, one for older kids, picnic tables, a bark-covered surface, and a bathroom.

Across from the Park's main entrance, near the public pool and Griffith Park-Riverside Tennis is a pleasant, breezy, playground with sand, toddler and regular swings, and two play structures, both safe for toddlers. This one is popular because it is completely fenced-in, and has a water fountain, but the bathrooms are hundred of yards away and are often locked. Portable toilets have been installed, but do urge the kids to go before you leave home! A snack-bar is open on weekends, and there are picnic tables and outdoor grills.

Another playground is on the Los Feliz side of the Park, off of Fern Dell. This one is small and a bit dusty, but it does have an unusual roller-type slide, picnic tables, outdoor grills, and bathrooms. This is another notorious trysting spot, though, which may be why it is usually empty of children.

The other two playgrounds are on the Hollywood side of the Park. One is in Bronson Canyon, where Canyon Drive heads north from Franklin Avenue, and dead ends in the Park. It's small, shady, and popular with the neighborhood's toddlers and their nannies. There are picnic tables, but no bathrooms. In the spring Bronson Creek goes burbling by, a great attraction for those who enjoy sailing toy boats and wading.

The last one is in Beachwood Canyon, the next canyon west from Bronson. The so-called Hollywood Sign Dog Park is a challenge to get to, but worth the trouble. It's on Mulholland Drive, at the very top of Beachwood Canyon, overlooking the Hollywood Reservoir. Here's where you can fly a kite, throw a frisbee, let your dogs run free, and play in the small, but well-equipped and fenced-in playground. This area offers as close a view as you can get - legally - of the famed Hollywood Sign. Turn around, and you can see the Pacific glinting in the distance. There are no bathrooms, but there is a water fountain, (rather heavily used by dogs). Watch out for the poop; this is the only area of the Park where dogs are allowed off leash.

Bicycles are allowed on any of the paved park roads, but not on the equestrian and hiking trails up in the hills. The best bike path runs along Crystal Springs Drive and Zoo Drive, then turns back along the Los Angeles River and ends on Los Feliz Blvd near the main entrance.

Bird-watchers can have good luck all over the park; there is a bird sanctuary, off the Vermont Canyon Road, just past the Greek Theatre. It's open from 10am-5pm daily.

Explore and enjoy!

Superb breakfasts make Nat's Early Bite Coffee Shop a jewel amidst the otherwise drab area of Van Nuys in which it's located. Everything from freshly made turkey sausage and fluffy hot cakes to chorizo and eggs keep this shop humming from the early morning on.

Owner Hugo Carlos often greets customers to his pride and joy. In 1983, having risen from busboy to lead chef, Carlos bought Nat's from the original owner and has expanded its menu and popularity since then.

Other breakfast highlights include the terrific bakery case and fresh-squeezed juices. Lunch and dinner are also quite tasty, with such items as hot turkey or beef meatloaf, Caesar chicken salad, and cod veracruz.

Carlos stresses health, along with the usual greasy spoon delights. Egg whites, smoothies, and diet plates have proven to be popular among his Valley customers.

Breakfast during the week and weekend stays busy from as early as 7am on, so plan on a wait of about 20 to 30 minutes, especially on the weekends.

For families, Nat's has inexpensive kids meals and high chairs for little ones.

Best hotel in the area, possibly even the universe, according to our intrepid hotel-weary team of testers.

Food (from Cucina! Cucina! or Citrus, the two in-house restaurants) is good, very reasonably priced, and kid-savvy. Room service is available as well, at a much cheaper rate than any other hotel we've ever visited.

Rooms are well-appointed and supremely kid-friendly. The Snoopy wing, in particular (on the second floor, overlooking the pool or the Park), is kid heaven, with a welcoming Snoopy stuffed toy (let the hotel know if you need more than one - extra toys can be added to your bill; the first one's free), an 8pm tuck-in from Snoopy himself, wearing a very fetching nightshirt and distributing chocolate "bones," and lots of lovely Peanuts touches in the decor. We especially appreciated the small red stepstool in the bathroom that gave our toddler a boost to the sink!

Those not staying in the Snoopy wing aren't left out; Snoopy is available to one and all in the lobby starting at about 7pm, and kids can dial special numbers on the phone to hear any number of bedtime stories.

Kids whose parents are signed up for special Park packages are issued Peanuts buckets and cups, with IOUs for popcorn and drinks when they enter the Park, in addition to a special stuffed toy.

TV channels include Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, and two Disney channels, in addition to standard cable fare.

Rooms have only one phone line. For those of us hopelessly addicted to our laptops, this means making a choice between using the phone and using our computers.

The pool area, open from 9am to 11pm, is also excellent, with a nice sized hot tub, zig-zag shaped pool, and a wonderful play structure that squirts water from any number of tubes and pipes.

The laundry room, on the main floor, is open from 8am to 10pm, and boasts 4 washers and 4 dryers. We'd have to quibble with the limitation on the hours (our experience being that we didn't see the hours sign, went to the park for the evening till the 10pm closing, and came back to find our wash behind locked doors), though we understand the hotel's concern that keeping the laundry room open all hours will contribute too much noise to the neighboring rooms.

If you need to make a late night laundry run, and no guests are using those rooms closest to the laundry facilities, call the front desk for assistance with your request.

Bob DiDio left the streets of Philadelphia behind to open this italian ice and sweet shop on busy Montana Avenue. His 47 rotating flavors of ices just may be the best this side of Sicily; try the crimson blood orange when it's in season, or the grapefruit, or the blue raspberry, mango, root beer, lemon, coffee, chocolate...

DiDio's offers a great array of nostalgic candy, including dots-on-paper (candy buttons), wax bottles, gum cigars, licorice whips, ring suckers, Charleston chews, and much more. The shelves are conveniently located within reach of the shortest arms, in the style of an old-fashioned penny candy store. The shop also serves fresh sandwiches and cold drinks.

Seating is available at a small counter, but expect to find a crowd during after-school hours; this is a very popular neighborhood institution.

One of seven playgrounds in Griffith Park, Shane's Inspiration is the newest, on Griffith Park Drive, near the Park Center picnic area.

The playground is named after Shane Williams, who died in 1998, two weeks after being born severely disabled. In his memory, his parents created a playground for children in wheelchairs, and with other disabilities. Known as a boundless playground, the intention is to make the structures safe, accessible, and enjoyable for all kinds of children, and it succeeds; this is a great playground!

You'll find huge, armchair swings for mothers cradling babies, slides, tunnels, bridges, a miniature 'driving area' - complete with stop signs and lane lines - for bikes and scooters, sand boxes, boat, plane and train shapes for pretend driving, rocketship shapes for pretend blasting-off, dinosaur and castle shapes for just pretending, and tire swings. And all of it is on a thick, rubberized surface to protect knees, elbows, and heads.

Plenty of new bathrooms have just been built, too.

The mission of the Zimmer Children's Museum is to provide interactive learning opportunities for children and families that incorporate core Jewish values and traditions and that encourage visitors from varied backgrounds to discover shared ideals.

Museum highlights include a Main Street play space; a play airplane equipped with navigational tools, an electronic control panel, and flight simulation; and the blue-screen technology powered Mann Theater. Lots of fun on rainy days, or even sunny ones!

Children ages three to seven particularly respond to the "please touch" exhibits, while pre-teens and teens participate in leadership training and community service opportunities. The Museum welcomes young adults and seniors as docents.

Birthday parties can be held in the museum on Sundays or Fridays. A Sunday celebration runs from 10am to 12 noon and includes visiting the museum exhibitions, a specially designed arts & crafts activity, and a private room. The party host is responsible for bringing paper goods and kosher food. These parties cost $600 for up to 80 guests; a fee of $12 is added for each additional person.

Friday parties run from 1:30pm to 3:30pm, do not include an art project, and cost $300.

Parties should be booked six months in advance by calling 323.761.8994.

Miles Memorial Playhouse is located in Christine Emerson Reed Park. The building, constructed in 1929, was donated by former City Councilman, J. Euclid Miles for a "public recreation hall for the young men and women of the city," and dedicated to the memory of his theater-loving daughter, Mary A. Miles.

Designed in the Spanish Colonial revival style, the building is a City landmark eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places.

After the Northridge quake, the Playhouse was completely re-built and re-dedicated to its original purpose of providing quality, youth appropriate performing arts events by professional non-profit organizations. In fact, it will only rent space to companies producing theater appropriate for children to watch, so it's always safe bringing the kids to a show at The Miles!

If someone you know is in that serious dino phase, The Dinosaur Farm is a show-stopping, can't-miss place to find the perfect gift.

The store is home to a monstrous collection of dinosaur toys, bedding, games, books, and lots of other dinosaur goodies, in addition to offering the staples you'd expect to find in an educational toy store (Thomas the Tank Engine, Brio, Alex art supplies, etc). The store also has a small but well-considered selection of books.

Prehistoric items can also be purchased through the store's nicely designed website.

Three Cheeky Monkeys is a toy store that offers a change from the typical antiseptic Toys R Us fare. Most of the items in the store are at "kid level," and children are allowed to play with virtually everything.

The store has a large Plan Toys table, castles, doll houses, Zoob construction toys, a puppet theater, and more. Families trying to find alternatives to toys made in China can find an impressive collection of American and European-made toys here as well.

Complimentary gift wrapping is available with every purchase.

Babes in Backpacks offers a full range of outdoor adventures, including adult hikes (with babies in carriers) and toddler walks. Toddler walks include crafts and educational activities about the wildlife encountered along the way.

The people who run these hikes are very responsible and always check the condition of the terrain and the air quality on the day of a hike, making location changes if needed. Families are definitely in good hands here.

To find out where this week's hikes are, call or send an email. There are usually at least three hike per week.

Other periodic group activities include bike rides, sledding, camping, and whale watching.

It's a wonder that such a vibrant forest exists five minutes above the urban din of the San Gabriel Valley. Monrovia Canyon Park - an oak woodland, chapparal, and riparian forest - is home to bears, grey foxes, bobcats, raccoons, coyotes, and Virginia opossums, most of whom thankfully visit the park only after hours.

The Nature Center is a bright building, staffed by friendly volunteers who love to introduce young visitors to the snakes and bugs kept in terrariums. Displays of local wildlife and plant communities are found throughout the center; picnic areas and barbeque pits can be found just outside.

Kids can easily handle the 1.5-mile roundtrip Monrovia Falls hike, which brings them to a waterfall with giant boulders to climb. On the way, they'll marvel at small caves, the trickling stream just begging for dipped bare toes, and "The Cathedral" - an area in which the oaks bend to create a domed "room." The hike starts right behind the Nature Center.

LA Surf and Swim is the swim school operated by popular Westside swim coach Sydney Lovelace. For years Lovelace only catered to clients with private pools, but in 2007 LA Surf and Swim became available to everyone.

Lessons are all private or semi-private. The latter approach makes private lessons affordable for most families, since Coach Syd teaches semi-privates as tandem sessions, in which each child alternates between one-on-one time with him and practice with an assistant (or resting on the floats).

In addition to being the man behind so many successul swimmers west of the 405, Lovelace also gives surf lessons to adults and children as young as three; if they can stand, Lovelace can get them on a board. He provides the surf element of Venice del Play Surf and Yoga Camp.

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 $325 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.

When the movie is over, or the episode has aired, where do all the clothes go?

It's a Wrap is a primary dumping ground for clothes that have been seen before; items range from glamorous soap wear to a dozen pairs of lederhosen from some lesser-known ER episode. Wardrobe sometimes comes off the backs of celebrities in famous movies (no bargains here; you'll pay a lot for Indiana Jones' spare coat), and sometimes still has the tags because no one got around to wearing it at all.

And, since we all know Hollywood has plenty of hard-working children, toddlers, and even infants, great deals on all of these clothes can be found, too. Let the rest of the country wear hand-me-downs; LA kids wear Hannah Montana's gym shorts.

The inviting studio at Scribble Press is a place where families can create all sorts of gratifying creative projects. Kids can write and illustrate their own books; parents can turn artwork into gift items or keepsakes, and anyone can feel like an author.

Stocked with high quality art supplies and all the tools young artists need, Scribble Press offers visitors a selection of book templates to work from (with themes ranging from first day of school to Father's Day to vacation memoirs) as well as attractively laid out blank pages to create a custom work of fiction (or non-fiction) of one's own choosing. By the end of a session the book is printed in either hardcover or paperback, complete with photo of the author on the back. Books start at $22.

We loved sitting down for a leisurely session of turning imagination into a storybook that could be read that very night. The staff are very supportive, and kids are treated like true artists.

Another appealing option is bringing artwork from home (or the back seat of the car, or the desk at school) and having it all scanned and bound into an elegant coffee table book that lasts a whole lot longer than construction paper and glitter glue. These books start st $50; second copies cost less.

Other gift items include custom made greeting cards, note pads with the artist's work printed on every sheet, and do-it-yourself books for home authoring projects.

Birthday parties accommodate up to 20 guests and include a guide to lead the activities, invitations, thank you notes, and a group author photo on every book. Party packages start at $500.

It's not the largest park around, but Juan Bautista de Anza is very popular with families in the west valley. The playground is next to the parking lot, and the adjacent recreation center is bright, airy, and well laid out for keeping an eye on play areas - a perfect set-up for birthday parties.

The park has three large picnic areas and game and basketball courts.

Santa moves fast, and sometimes he even seems to be in more than one place at the same time! Of course we all know that's not possible, so GoCityKids offers a condensed Santa Guide, highlighting some places to find the man who dresses for winter even in sunny SoCal. And one of the great things about visits with Santa is that they're almost always free!

Upcoming free Santa Claus appearances include Anaheim, Beverly Hills, Burbank, Costa Mesa, East LA, Glendale, Glendora, Hermosa, La Verne, Long Beach, Malibu, Montrose, Northridge, Pasadena, Redondo, Santa Monica, Sherman Oaks, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, Torrance, West Hollywood, and West LA.

A great way for kids to be sure that they've got the right jolly old elf's undivided attention is to ride a boat with him at Dana Wharf in Orange County. The rides are free and allow for 20 minutes with Santa on the high seas. Other free ideas include emailing Santa for a quick response and talking with Santa on the phone.

Check our calendar for more Christmas events and activities for kids, and for a complete list of ways to find Santa Claus around Los Angeles in the days ahead!

When it comes to Christmas events for families, we're spoiled for choice in the Southland. We've got Santas, Nutcrackers, tree lightings, and holiday boat parades in every direction - and only a few weeks to enjoy it all!

Some highlights this year include a star-studded production of A Christmas Carol at Hollywood and Highland, a flamenco holiday celebration at Caltech in Pasadena, and seasonal ice rinks at The Lakes and a few other spots around town.

A few of our free Christmas favorites include the Holiday Light Festival in Griffith Park, The CityRockin' Christmas Tree Show at Universal CitWalk, the Winter Holiday Festival at Pershing Square, and free screenings of animated Christmas classics at the Laguna Hills Mall. For something a little different - still free and kid-friendly - we recommend checking out UnSilent Night, too!

Check our calendar for a complete list of Christmas events and activities for kids around Los Angeles and Orange counties in the days ahead!

Egyptian motifs and glorious visual treats await at this magnificent library in LA's downtown historic district. An extensive children's section, children's theater, storytimes, special events, and friendly docents make the Richard J. Riordan Central Library a must-do for all ages.

The Children's Literature Department, surrounded by artist Albert Herter's California History murals, will astound you and your kids: over 250,000 books, an extensive Mother Goose collection, fairytales galore, a folk doll collection, and cozy nooks and crannies in which to read and dream. Located on the second floor, the Children's Department has its own phone number: 213.228.7250.

The remodeled Ronald McDonald Multimedia Center (located in the Children's Literature Department) has 23 PCs available for the 12 and under set; software includes interactive storybooks, and math and reading games.

Special showings from the library's Gladys English Collection of Original Illustrations of Children's Books, a traveling exhibit with over 200 pieces, are regularly scheduled, as are puppet shows, crafts, and family activities.

StoryTime is every Sat at 2pm in the KLOS Story Theater (in the back of the Children's Department); the Children's Story Theater Series is once a month at 2pm in the Mark Taper Auditorium (first floor, Tom Bradley Wing). See our events calendar for more details.

Older kids can join a guitar workshop or chess tournament at Teen'scape, on the second floor, or peruse the hefty collection of comics, teen magazines, college and job info, as well as CD's, videos, and cyberspace stations in the Reading Lounge and Study Room.

Teachers can arrange field trips with their classes for a
specialized kids' tour, which includes a thirty- minute architectural tour of the building and a storytime in the beautiful KLOS Story Theater. (Call the Docent Office at 213.228.7055.)

Validated parking for people using the Central Library is available in the 524 S. Flower Street garage beneath the Maguire Gardens. Enter the garage from Flower Street. To obtain a validation, you must show your Los Angeles Public Library library card at the Information Desk on the first floor during regular Library hours. Library cards are available free of charge. Parking is $1.00 on
Saturdays and Sundays and after 3 pm with validation.

KidsPath, sponsored by the LAPL, introduces the pre-teen set to the library's resouces, including its 71 branches, two bookmobiles, and a Central Library that is extraordinary in its collections and services for kids.

The homework help and safety on the Internet links are worth checking out.

The Commons at Calabasas is an upscale, attractive shopping center, recreated as an authentic Italian village (they even hired a movie set director to help design it) with plenty of places to eat, shop and play: Gymboree is next door to a child-friendly Barnes & Noble Booksellers and not far from M. Fredric Kids.

Just4Kids at The Commons offers free entertainment for children ages ten and under every Tuesday evening at 6pm at the Community Stage (located between Mi Piace and Marmalade Cafe).

Why serve hamburgers and hot dogs from a little shack when you can do it from a refurbished train car? Without fail, kids love eating in the choo-choo atmosphere, but it's what people chew there that has kept the place going. The hot dogs, hamburgers, and fries - especially when smothered in beef chili - are quite good. The inexpensive menu also includes chicken-breast sandwiches, wraps, salads, and shakes.

Carney's has relatively clean bathrooms and offers high chairs.

For generations, DuPar's has been a signature coffee shop in the L.A. area. From its beginnings at the Original Los Angeles Farmers Market, DuPar's any-time-of-the-day breakfasts and pastries have been the main reasons for its staying power.

For your first visit, go for broke with the hot cakes, which you can top with maple or boysenberry syrup, or (heaven forbid) real melted butter. The omelets are also nice, as is the french toast.

Less breakfasty fare includes coffee-shop standbys such as tuna and open-faced turkey sandwiches, as well as decent greasy fries. But aside from breakfast, your best bet is to go for some pie or date-nut bread, which headline a terrific sweets menu.

A time-honored late-night hangout for teens, the weekend days find the place full of families. The wait for Sunday brunch is a long one (averaging a half-hour at 10:00am and on), so plan on perusing the bakery case for something to nibble on as you while away the time.

The cost is moderate to expensive for anything but hot cakes and French toast, depending on the item. There's also a kids' menu that is very affordable. But it's the food quality, old-fashioned atmosphere, and friendly servers (dressed in ‘40s-era uniforms) that make the visit worthwhile.

High chairs, booster seats, crayons (with a colorable menu), and clean bathrooms add to the family-friendliness of this classic coffee shop.

When it's not an emergency, contact your local police without dialing 911.

One of the gems of downtown Los Angeles; a day in Little Tokyo will remind residents of how wonderful their city is, and visitors will feel as though they've uncovered a treasure.

The neighborhood is anchored at the southern end by Noguchi Plaza, in front of the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center. The treeless Plaza can seem a bit barren when the Santa Ana winds are blowing, but you have to remember that in Japanese culture eveything symbolizes a larger truth, and the empty expanse of the Plaza, dominated by the two huge rock-like Isamu Noguchi sculptures is a reflection of the difficult history of the Japanese people in America.

And, if you visit the Plaza during seasonal celebrations or cultural festivals, you'll recognize that, ultimately, the Japanese-American experience has been triumphant.

Check our calendar for events and exhibitions at the JACCC, but even if there is nothing special going on, GO IN. Just inside the front door is the tempting, but quite pricey, Center Gift Shop, full of gorgeous jewelry, textiles, porcelain, and kites. This is not a place for young children, and it is not the place to buy your souvenirs for the day, but it's a wonderful stop for unique gifts and decorative arts. Open Tue-Fri 12n-5pm; Sat-Sun 11am-4pm; closed Mondays.

And, to see one of the great treats of Little Tokyo, go down to the lower level in the elevator, and follow the signs to the James Irvine Garden. Children will shriek with delight at discovering this 'secret garden', and you will be amazed at finding such a peaceful place in the middle of the big city.

Little Tokyo has many unique shops and restaurants. On 2nd Street, stop at Firefly T-Shirt Designs and Rafu Bussan, Inc, for Japanese-designed clothing, housewares, dolls and toys and candy.

Japanese Village Plaza is a pedestrian mall connecting 2nd Street to 1st Street, full of restaurants, shops, and sunny places to sit, rest, and watch the people go by. Shabu-Shabu House, at 127 Japanese Village Plaza is a popular, inexpensive restaurant where patrons sit at a counter and eat enormous bowls of noodles. Cash only, open daily except Mondays, 11:30am-2:3Opm and 5:30pm-10pm.

For dessert, try the Mikawaya Sweet Shop, at 118 Japanese Village Plaza. The pastries are colorful and pretty to look at, but may taste strange to younger children; you might want to stick with the ice cream. Open daily 10am-5pm.

Must-stop shopping on 1st Street: S. K. Uyeda Department Store, for kimonos, T-shirts, futons and pillows, and