Jacey Duprie’s Top Tips for Things to Do in Los Angeles With Kids
The Bump presents Where In the World Is The Bump, a series of summer travel guides featuring tips, favorite picks and insider know-how from local moms for families looking to visit their cities this season. From the best baby-friendly restaurants to preschooler-approved playgrounds, savvy packing lists and more, you’ll get all the honest, parent-proven advice you need to plan your trip.
Hi, I’m Jacey Duprie. My husband, Grant Leavitt, and I have been married for over seven years, and we recently welcomed our daughter June Marion, who’s now 3 months old, to the family. We love living in Los Angeles because it has such a diverse offering. The area we live in is wonderful for walking with the baby, but there are so many other areas, like Santa Monica and downtown LA, that have great walkable neighborhoods. Grant’s family lives in Manhattan Beach so we love visiting the beach often. Los Angeles is a great destination for families because we have everything from the beach to Disneyland; you can visit the mountains in the morning and end your day with a sunset on the ocean.
There’s a great spot called Connie & Ted’s in West Hollywood that we frequent with the family. It’s a delicious seafood spot that has a cool aquarium for kiddos. The noise level also hits that sweet spot where you don’t feel bad about a crying baby or kids running around.
For a nice dinner out on the town we like to take June to South Beverly Grill. It’s dark, cozy and always buzzing with enough noise for no one to notice a cry or two.
During the summer months, we have Cinespia that’s a very special outdoor movie night in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. It’s something we LOVE doing every season.
We love the Flower Mart in downtown Los Angeles. It’s easy to duck in and out of and has plenty of parking. June loves all of the colorful flowers and buzzing activity.
I’d always encourage a visit to the beach with kids. I would also recommend Santa Monica Pier, where there are fun rides and games for kids to participate in.
Bike Riding
Depending on the age of your kids, I’d highly suggest renting bikes from Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica and cruising down the boardwalk. There’s nothing better than getting some fresh air, and it’ll burn off some energy for the kids. There are also some bars along the way for the parents to make a pit stop.
• Los Angeles can feel like one really big suburb. I suggest sticking to one area per day and thoroughly exploring it. For example, if you’re doing Santa Monica one day, I’d stay in that area for the whole afternoon. Traffic can be brutal, and driving from downtown to the beach can cost you a day if you aren’t careful.
• Pack layers! People always think LA is much warmer than it really is. The evening hours tend to cool down, so having a jacket and pants are key.
Damsel in Dior started out as a creative outlet for Jacey Duprie, and in 2011 she turned her hobby into a fulltime job. The website has been featured in Vanity Fair, Harper’s Bazaar, Forbes, Huffington Post, WhoWhatWear, and E! News. With readers in over 193 countries, Damsel in Dior receives a combined viewership exceeding 9 million monthly. Jacey is also the social media ambassador for Cotton Inc., and she currently has a clothing line that she distributes in-house called “By Damsel.” In her spare time, she enjoys playing the piano, writing and spending time with her English Bulldog, Polly, and her daughter, June. She loves the feeling of stepping onto an airplane, and chicken fingers are her weakness. Follow Jacey on Instagram @jaceyduprie and @damselindior.
Published June 2019
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