Celebrate New Year’s in Los Angeles

Los Angeles is always a fun city to explore, but when New Year’s Eve rolls around, there seems to be no end to the ways family travelers can enjoy the City of Angels. If you want to enjoy the fresh air (although it may get a bit nippy by Southern California standards with temps getting down to the 40s and 50s), it is still fairly warm for visitors from some other parts of the country. Head to Pershing Square in the heart of downtown LA, where the area has been transformed into an outdoor ice-skating rink for the holidays.

You can also enjoy the fresh night air as you check out one of LA’s most iconic theme parks, Eve at Universal Studios Hollywood. Not only will the park be open all day, but as midnight approaches, there will also be a New Year’s Eve countdown along with music, dancing, photo ops, and all the great rides and attractions that make Universal such a family-friendly theme park. The park will stay open until 2 a.m. to ensure you can make the most of the night and pack in as much fun as your family can handle.

For a more subdued, indoor experience where things won’t be quite so chilly, score tickets to a late-night magic show at the legendary Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. Magic at the Biltmore will feature magician David Minkin and is a great option for families with older kids.

If your kids are still little, you’ll want to ring in the new year a bit early with the Noon Year’s Eve Party at Southern California Children’s Museum. Playtime, a special marionette show and even a dance party just for the kids makes it a perfect day of fun, especially with the confetti drop at noon. The museum is open from 9:30 a.m. until 10 p.m., and events are designed for children ages 8 and under.