Walking distance from family-friendlly mothership, The Grove and The Original Farmer's Market, Pan Pacific Park features three different playground areas that offer inclusive play for all abilities. In addition to the playgrounds, there are new-ish basketball courts, a top-of-the-line athletic field, and plenty of picnic and barbecue areas.

Across the road from the Santa Monica Pier is another little piece of kid paradise—the Tongva Park playground. With an awesome climbing wall, three tall slides that are built into the hillside, whirly twirly seats that spin, climbing structures and a roller slide, your littles will love spending an afternoon here. And when the temps heat up, there’s even a splash pad to help kiddos cool off.

Ship ahoy! Located on the Santa Monica beach next to one of LA's best bike paths is a nautical playground fit for all sorts of swashbuckling adventurers. With climbing ropes, swings, a roller slide, and sandpit with water pump, your curious captains will have a blast pretending they are ocean explorers adrift at sea. A soft rubber padded play area covers the entire park’s floors so parents breathe out a sigh of relief while they breathe in that fresh ocean air.

With plenty of shade, a lovely stream and tall billowing trees, Coldwater Canyon Park is one of our top go-tos whenever we’re in Beverly Hills. This gorgeous spot oozes peace and tranquilty and is perfect for an afternoon picnic or playdate. After kids work up a sweat on the playground, they'll love taking a cool dip in the stream. Good to Know: While you’re more than welcome to picnic anywhere you like in the grass, picnic tables must be reserved ahead of time.

As the first universally accessible playground on the west coast, this special place has set the bar for how much fun kiddos of all abilities can have when given the chance to play together. Littles will love playing on the ship, the double-arched buddy zip line featuring a high-backed seat, and even an accessible merry-go-round! The playground also offers musical instruments and interactive literacy panels.

Located at the end of the kid-friendly Fern Dell Trail, this towering nature-inspired playground was recently refurbished. Designed for kids ages 2 to 12 years old, it's fully equipped with five slides (including three that are 8 ft. high!), plus a rope ladder, climbing rocks, tree stumps, lily pad ladder and more. For some reason, the playground hasn't yet made it onto Griffith Park's official map or the LA Parks website, but trust us, it's there!

Small but impressive, this neighborhood park remains under the radar for most. It's located in the Rancho Equestrian area of Burbank, where stables abound and cars stop for horses. (You might even see one during your visit—giddy-up!) Big kids will love the tall, sloping slides in the larger play area, while tots can explore a smaller structure with a climbing wall and faux cave and boulders. There's also plenty of sand for diggers to enjoy.

A second Burbank find, the playground at Johnny Carson Park has bridges, ladders, rings and beams to challenge kids' climbing and coordination skills. Another perk? A large grassy area for running around and a path for practicing bike riding. And although the park is in an urban setting, you can cross a bridge behind the playground to discover a sweet little nature trail.

Lakes in Los Angeles are not the norm so if you’re looking for a playground that feels more like a weekend getaway, Anthony C. Beilenson Park delivers in spades. With a universally accessible play structure that’s almost as big as the park itself, little ones have more than enough elbow room to swing, shimmy through tunnels and romp around on the jungle gym. It's lakeside bike path is one of our favorites—your little two-wheelers can pedal past gaggles of honking geese and quacking ducks.