Start the day in Pasadena at Kidspace Children’s Museum, host to PST ART’S Wired for Wonder: A Multisensory Maze. All ages will have fun navigating this maze that uses color, light, movement, texture, and more to challenge visitors’ perspectives and spark wonder. “We go to Kidspace all the time,” says Nasser, “and this exhibit sounds awesome.” [Editor's note: This is one of the few PST ART exhibitions opening in January 2025.]

When your littles have worked up an appetite, Nasser recommends Kidspace’s Bean Sprouts Cafe. “The snacks and lunches are really good and creative,” says Nasser. “Like, my kid always gets this sandwich that looks like a little piano. It’s not just a situation of, ’Okay, we're going to do chicken fingers and deep fried everything.’ No, Kidspace is like, ‘We’re going to do this properly.’ They have vegetarian and other dishes presented in fun ways that kids want to eat."

Cool off after lunch at the Rose Bowl Aquatic Center next door. (Kidspace and the Aquatic Center share a parking lot.) There are recreational swim hours most days and multiple Olympic-size pools. Another kid favorite? The snack bar. “Like Kidspace, the Aquatic Center also has good, affordable food,” says Nasser. “So, after a hearty swim, you can get a popsicle.”

Head next to the Griffith Observatory where you’ll find Pacific Standard Universe, a 25-minute film about how space and the cosmos have been represented throughout time. “I'm all about that. I love the Observatory,” says Nasser. “We're actually having my kid's birthday there soon. It's great to hike up there, too. You can make an afternoon event of it and it’s a very doable hike for kids. We’ll either start down by the Greek Theater or by Trails Cafe and the giant playground right there."

The Trails Cafe, a charming outdoor cafe, is tucked in the Fern Dell area of Griffith Park. “It’s so great. They have amazing quiche,” recommends Nasser. “My kid really loves their snake dogs, these hot dogs wrapped in bread. The pie is amazing. And it’s a good way to fuel up before you go up to the top or vice versa. Do the hike, and then come back and have a snack before you leave.”

One thing Nasser likes about the hike up to the Observatory is how you never know exactly what you might see. “The hike is sort of busy, and some people don’t like that, but you often meet or run into interesting people. One time, there was a guy who had all these birds of prey, and he was doing these amazing flight demonstrations of his hawks and eagles. It was incredible. My kids still talk about it. It wasn’t something we planned, but it felt like the most serendipitous thing.”

After all the activity, you and your family may be ready for some quiet time. Head downtown to the Los Angeles Public Library’s Central branch. “My kids always enjoy it whenever we go,” says Nasser. “The children’s literature department is fun. I also dig their ALOUD series of book talks and panels. I try to go whenever I can.” The PST ART exhibition No Prior Art: Illustrations of Invention is on view at Central Library and is a sure hit for kids, as it explores the magical process of invention.

Not far from the Central Library is the Natural History Museum, where you can check out PST ART’s Reframing Dioramas: The Art of Preserving Wilderness. For 100 years, the Museum has displayed over 75 dioramas of habitats around the world. In celebration, the Museum is opening a diorama hall that has been closed for decades. “I'm so excited for this exhibit,” says Nasser. “The dioramas are so cool."