If you're in Los Angeles and wondering where to take the kid(s) to ride scooters, then read on for a list of places and events to take your little riders to.
Parks are a great go-to, especially if they have a designated paved path for walking, cycling or scootering. If you're near the San Gabriel Valley, check out Lacy Park in San Marino.
Other favorite bike paths in Los Angeles include:
Marvin Braude Bike Trail (The Strand)– Santa Monica / Venice / Manhattan Beach / Torrance
Ballona Creek Bike Path– Culver City-ish
L.A. River Bikeway– Elysian Valley / Glendale Narrows / Atwater Village
Chandler Bikeway– Burbank / North Hollywood
Shoreline Pedestrian Bike Path– Long Beach
Arroyo Seco Bike Path– Pasadena-ish
For a full list, including path details, maps/trails, check out TimeOut's 'The Best Bike Trails in L.A.'.
Quick note: If taking the young ones on scooters to ride these bike trails, please do make way for the cyclists, as they tend to ride faster than a wee one navigating a scooter.
Many 'Old Town' districts make great scooter outings for children. These districts typically have less foot traffic and are geared towards families. Kids can ride on sidewalks while stopping off to grab an ice cream or snack, take a break for lunch at the nearby restaurants or do a little shopping.
A few of our favorite old town districts include the following.
South Pasadena at Mission and Fair Oaks. Enjoy a banana split at the old fashioned Fair Oaks Pharmacy & Soda Fountain, discover new toys at The Dinosaur Farm, grab a bite to eat Gus's BBQ, recharge at Jones Coffee or Teamorrow, and pick up some fresh produce at the Farmer's Market every Thursday afternoon.
Monrovia at Myrtle and Lemon. Cool off after a ride in the sun at Moo Mia Mia for a scoop of artisan ice cream, snack on garlic parmesan fries at Basin 141, find your child's favorite new plush toy or book at Clever Bear Toys, or explore the weekly Street Fair every Friday afternoon through evening.
The Village in Claremont is another notable old town area in SoCal (a little further east from Los Angeles), where kids will have a blast shopping at Boon Companion, the local toy shop, scooter over to I Like Pie Bake Shop for savory or sweet handheld pies, and parents can refuel at Iron & Kin Coffee Co with an iced honey latte.
The Row in DTLA provides a safe atmosphere for little ones to ride around.This 'City-Within-A-City' boasts wide, open streets for walking, scootering or just running around. Stop by Smorgasburg every Sunday from 10am to 4pm for an assortment of truly amazing eats. Roll on over to Omamini to pick up an edgy new outfit for the kid(s). With all the cool artwork and murals, you'll have plenty of photo ops for your memory book.
There are family-friendly events in L.A. designed just for fun, safe riding experiences. Keep an eye out for event announcements from Ciclavia and 626 Golden Streets where entire streets are shut down to give the public an opportunity to cycle / scooter / skateboard / rollerskate around town without having to worry about cars and traffic.