3 days, 3 adventures: Montebello, Downtown & Long Beach

Last weekend our family hosted some friends who dropped in for a visit on their way up north to Tahoe. This wasn't their first time in L.A., so they were itching to see something new. Past trips included Hollywood, the Hollywood sign, Santa Monica and Venice beaches, Beverly Hills, the Getty and the Original Farmer's Market.

We decided our daughter would be the factor in determining some interesting sites to take them. Finding family-friendly things to do in L.A. has become one of our favorite challenges, as we're always delighted with our discoveries and generally pleased with our experiences.

Our itinerary for the long weekend: a picnic and visit to the Montebello Barnyard Zoo at Grant Rea Park in Montebello; breakfast Downtown and a stroll through Little Tokyo; and a day in Long Beach at the harbor and Aquarium of the Pacific.

Museum free for all

If you didn't have the opportunity to partake in last week's National Museum Day, you're in luck! This weekend (Oct. 3-4), 24 museums in Los Angeles and Orange County are participating in a "Museum-Free-For-All." This is a great opportunity to experience what Southern California has to offer in art, cultural heritage, natural history and science. Museums involved range from The Getty Center, and Natural History Museum of LA County, to the Craft and Folk Art Museum and Japanese American National Museum. For a complete list of museums, and to see what days they're participating, visit our partner site, MuseumsLA.org. Plan your day, visit an old favorite, or see something new.