Gardens worth visiting with kids around Los Angeles

Gardens are the most underrated outing with small kids: flat paths, quiet, and something new around every corner. The San Gabriel Valley is lucky to have three of the best gardens in the country within 20 minutes of each other. With peacocks, koi and a little train, kids don't even notice they're visiting a garden.

The LA Arboretum is right in Arcadia, with hundreds of peacocks underfoot and a fully accessible loop; the Huntington's children's garden plays with water and fog, and its Chinese garden has stone bridges and koi; Descanso Gardens has shade under its oaks year-round, a little train on weekends and camellias in winter. Arlington Garden in Pasadena is free, with a stone labyrinth and a garden full of hummingbirds. Farther out, the South Coast Botanic Garden in Palos Verdes has a children's garden with a treehouse and a creek, and the GLOW light show on December nights.

• 5 places
• 1 free
• 5 stroller-friendly
• closest is 5 min away