Where to Go with Your Baby + Toddler + Young Kids {Burbank 2020 Edition}

This was one of my most popular posts a few years ago, so I decided to update it and add some additional places where young kids (like the 5-8 set) like to go. I don't know about your little ones, but my kids are so active, love to explore, get bored easily, and need to leave the house at least once a day on the weekends! I don't blame them -- there are things to do, people to see, food to taste, and music to hear! The world is their oyster and Burbank is the perfect place to explore. Being such a family-friendly community, Burbank has many destinations that are great for kids, but what about the toddler and baby set in particular?

Toddlers are a distinct group, needing just the right amount of stimulation and excitement, but too much of that can be a disaster, so I have listed some places around town that you may (or may not) have considered venturing to with your little ones!

Los Angeles Zoo

This is a no-brainer, but in case you haven't yet been to The Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, here are a few facts. The Zoo opened on November 28, 1966. The Zoo is home to more than 1,100 mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles representing more than 250 different species of which 29 are endangered! In addition, the Zoo’s botanical collection comprises several planted gardens and over 800 different plant species with over 7,400 individual plants. 

The Zoo receives over 1.5 million visitors per year for good reason. It's a wonderful place to go with infants to stroller around and melt off that baby weight. During the toddler years, they love to visit the sheeps and goats at the petting zoo, and burn off some steam at the Play Park located at the top of the Zoo. The kids and I have been there so many times, it never gets old and each visit we all enjoy it just as much as the first time!

Adults $22, Children $17 (2-12), Kids under 2 are FREE - 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Rockin' Kids Indoor Playground and Party Center (Burbank Town Center) 

Love the name on this one, haha. Seriously though, this is a fun place to take a break while at the mall. After about a half hour of strolling around shopping, your toddler might need to get out of her stroller and run around.  It's hard to keep them cooped up for so long, so you can come here and let them roam and play, and then continue on with your shopping while they fall asleep from exhaustion! It’s a bit on the pricey side, but may be worth it on those days you have a lot of shopping you need to do.

$11 per child - 201 E. Magnolia Blvd. #306, Burbank, CA 91502

Burbank Scales N Tails

I know this is a pet store, but I take the kiddos here to just look around and they love it. It’s is a family owned pet shop showcasing a wide variety of exotic animals. They carry many types of reptiles, amphibians, bugs, birds, bunnies, guinea pigs, rats, mice, hamsters, fresh water fish and salt water fish. They have been in the wonderful city of Burbank for many years, and have grown drastically since the small store they started from. Feel free to just browse, but be careful, your kids might want to take home a little “souvenir”.

FREE -1701 W Magnolia Blvd, Burbank, CA 91506

Chuckee Cheese

This isn’t necessarily awesome for babies, but I took Skye here when she was a toddler. It was good when my ex and I wanted a fun, DISTRACTING, family-friendly place to eat. We would just go there for some pizza and played some simple games with her. She even had her picture taken on the photo Chuckee Cheese car. If you bring a little one, just make sure to hang on to her to protect her from all of the larger kids running amuck on a carb-suger high!

Pizza and token packages start at $19.99 - 930 N San Fernando Blvd, Burbank, CA 91504

Santa Anita Playlot

This little-known park is hard to find, but it’s a hidden gem in the Burbank park arena. It has both a younger kids play area, and larger kids play area. The younger kids area has a slide, swings, a climbing area, and sand below them all for tear-free falls. And because it’s not very well known, it usually doesn't have many kids, giving your little one a chance to run around freely.

FREE - 250 E Santa Anita Ave - Burbank, CA 91502

Travel Town Museum

A favorite when I was a little kid, the Travel Town Museum has been around for 61 years. Opening on December 14, 1952, Travel Town has been amusing kids young and old with it's 17 locomotives. For the younguns, tickets can be purchased to ride the Melody Ranch Special, a miniature live steam train once owned by Gene Autry, for two circles around the museum grounds. Classic!

FREE, Trainride tickets are $3 - 5200 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Americana at Brand

Technically, this is in Glendale, but if you live in Burbank, this is must for you. A favorite with one of my playdate moms, the Americana lets you get in some amazing shopping, and some playtime for the tots. There is a large fountain which features a water show, a San Franciscan style trolley, a large grass area where kids can run around freely, and a small, often crowded, sand playpark. They have a kids club on Tuesdays, 11am-1pm, where activities and entertainment are held for children, parents, and caregivers.

FREE - 889 Americana Way, Glendale, CA 91210

McCambridge Park

This park is expansive and there is alot of room to run around, chase balls, and people watch. The play area of the park is pretty big. And their is a separate play area for little toddlers, completely away from the bigger kids area, which is a plus. No worries of them spilling over into each other's space. Tip: Go during the week if you can, the weekend can be a bit crazy here since it is such a popular park, especially during the Summer months.

FREE - 1515 N Glenoaks Blvd  Burbank, CA 91504

Universal CityWalk Hollywood

CityWalk is a three-block entertainment, dining and shopping promenade. There are more than 30 great places to eat, a 19-screen movie theatre featuring a eight-story-high IMAX, nightspots, indoor skydiving and more than 30 retail stores. You may not get to go to the nightspots, but just coming up here and eating and shopping is fun with the kids. Your little one will have so much too look at and experience here.

FREE - Parking is $28 and up, 100 Universal City Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90068

Starlight Bowl

During the Summer in Burbank, the Starlight Bowl is one of my favorite activities on Sundays.  Starting July 4th each year, the Bowl hosts kid-friendly concerts each Sunday for a very good price. Summer 2020 lineup TBA. I prefer the cheaper, open seating on the grass so you can lay down a blanket, have a picnic, pour a glass of vino (or your favorite kombucha), and relax to the music!

Tickets TBD for 2020 season - 1249 Lockheed View Dr, Burbank, CA 91501

Lincoln Park

This is a great park to bring toddlers! The play area is completely gated off, so no little ones can stray off. They provide toys (like cars they can ride, etc), so no need to bring any of your own. There are a couple of baby swings, and sand to shovel. There are plenty of park benches inside the gate for weary moms to commiserate. It does tend to get a bit crowded, so make sure to keep an eye on your eager tots, since bigger kids can easily knock them over when the area is filled to maximum capacity.

FREE - 300 North Buena Vista St, Burbank, CA 91505

Verdugo Aquatic Facility

This remodeled swimming facility has a 50-meter pool with diving boards, a separate activity pool with two waterslides, a shallow pool and play area with fountains for littler kids, a new locker room and lifeguard area! 

It's really an impressive local pool! Be sure to bring cash though, since they do not have a credit card machine and it is cash-only admittance.

Tickets TBD for 2020 season - 3201 W Verdugo Ave, Burbank, CA 91505

Burbank central Library

The Burbank Central Library has several programs for kids:

Lego Club - Play with our Legos and Duplo blocks! For families with children ages 2-14.

Music & Movement - Music, movement and dance for preschoolers and their families. We meet once each month from 10:15-11am in the second floor auditorium at the Burbank Central Library.

FREE - 110 N. Glenoaks Blvd. Burbank, CA 91502

Buena Vista Library

The Buena Vista Library has a program for kids:

Baby Party - An informal space to read, play, explore and make new friends, for babies under 12 months (prewalkers) and their caregivers. Buena Vista Storytime Room, Saturdays from 10:00-11am. Space is limited. 

FREE - 300 N. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91505

Burbank Parks & Rec

I can't tell you how useful and fun the classes I have taken through Parks & Rec have been! Since the kids were born, I have been signing up for either one or two classes per session. It's been a lifesaver having structured classes made just for babies and toddlers. Some days my daughters just really needed to get out of the house and interact with other little like-minded peers. Whether it's a Mommy & Me class, swimming, or baby signing, it's been a great experience, and affordable. As they get older, it has become a reliable resource for classes ranging from art, to dance, to soccer.

Locations and fees vary.

La La Land

This used to be a Gymboree Play & Learn Center, but they closed years ago, and La La Land opened. La La Land Playground is open for playtime from Monday to Friday between the hours of 10am-7pm. Just do not forget your socks! Once admission is paid, you can relax with free coffee and a Wi-Fi while children run, climb, jump and slide their way through their incredible play space. Important note: There is a designated Toddler Area (for ages newborns to 4 years old).

$12 for the first kid, $10 for any siblings - 443 Irving Dr. Ste. F, Burbank,California 91504

Fun & Fit

The Tumble Tots program, for children ages 12 months to 3 years, is child-directed and the classes have the entire facility to themselves. Imagine a room filled with specially designed play equipment arranged to challenge and delight your toddler. It includes a 45 minute lesson involving: hand-eye coordination (important for writing ability), eye-tracking skills (important for reading readiness), basic gymnastics skills and social skills working with other children.

They also have a Gymnastics Clinic which is a fully supervised 90 minute event where the kids (ages 3 and up) are in control of choosing where they want to go and what they want to practice! Instructors are stationed around the gym at many of the different events and every 10 minutes we ring the bell signaling the kids that they can change stations or stay on their favorite event if they'd like! It's all up to them!  Make sure you sign up in advance because the Gymnastics Clinic fills up fast! 

$21 for Gymnastics Clinic, Inquire for pricing on Tumble Tots program - 1919 W. Burbank Blvd., Burbank, CA  91506

This will be an ever-growing list, so when I add additional activities, I will repost it. Do you have any favorite local haunts you frequent with your toddler? If so, I would love to hear about it! Just comment below and I will add it to my list!