What's Open on Thanksgiving in Los Angeles

 
A morning trot means you deserve extra pie. Turkey Trot photo courtesy of Mommy Poppins

1. Run in a Turkey Trot

Get moving and burn some calories before the big feast with a 5K or 10K walk/run. The whole family can participate; the Rose Bowl Turkey Trot or the DTLA Turkey Trot is a great way to start the day. 

2. Aquarium of the Pacific

All the fish are there (plus the odd shorebird and Arctic fox), and while they're chowing down on krill and voles, you can chow down on Thanksgiving lunch at the Aquarium.

3. South Coast Botanic Garden

The gardens are open on Thanksgiving! Stay for the evening and enjoy Astra Lumina, a fantastic walk-through light display that will put you right into the holiday season. 

RELATED: Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving in Los Angeles

The Ferris wheel and carnival games dish up fun on the Santa Monica Pier. Photo courtesy of Pacific Park

4. Pacific Park at the Santa Monica Pier

The perfect ending to a SoCal Thanksgiving is a sunset ride on the iconic Ferris wheel at Santa Monica Pier. All the rides and games are open on Thanksgiving from 11am - 9pm. 

5. Playgrounds

Kiddos might have a lot of pent-up energy before they sit down for Thanksgiving dinner, and luckily, there are hundreds of playgrounds throughout Los Angeles. Get some fresh air in the afternoon and spend some time at one of the many LA playgrounds. 

6. Bike and Surrey Rentals

Why not rent a Surrey and pedal around a favorite LA spot to work off that turkey? Wheel Fun Rentals has open rental booths in Oxnard, Orange, Long Beach, Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley, Dana Point, Van Nuys (Lake Balboa), and Ventura Harbor. 

7. Disneyland

What could be more fun than hanging out with Mickey, Minnie, and all their friends at the happiest place on earth? Plus, Disneyland is famous for some pretty fantastic Thanksgiving meals. 

8. Universal Studios Hollywood

The kids will surely tell you what they're thankful for if you take them to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter on Thanksgiving. Universal CityWalk is also open on November 28, so it's the perfect time to do some pre-holiday shopping. 

9. Griffith Park

A hike through the iconic Griffith Park might be the perfect way to burn off those Thanksgiving calories and soak in the November sunshine. Note that while Grffith Park and its trails will be open on Thanksgiving, other popular attractions in Griffith Park, like the LA Zoo, Autry Museum, and Griffith Observatory, are closed on Thanksgiving. 

10. ICE in Santa Monica

Take a twirl around the rink at Ice at Santa Monica, one of the spectacular outdoor ice skating rinks in Los Angeles. This rink is open from 11:30am to 8:30pm on Thanksgiving Day. The Holiday Ice Rink at Pershing Square is also open on Thanksgiving Day. 

RELATED: Best Neighborhood Holiday Lights and Christmas Lights in Los Angeles 

 
Everyone can go snow sledding, but sand sledding is an LA right of passage.

11. Go Sand Sledding!

Make a big impression on visiting relatives with the ultimate (and unique) SoCal activity. The berms should be ready for your inaugural sled runs by Thanksgiving. 

12. Descanso Gardens

Take a refreshing nature daytime stroll at Descanso Gardens. Note that Enchanted: A Forest of Light (Descanso's wintertime night attraction) is not open on Thanksgiving. 

13. Six Flags Magic Mountain

If you have teens, there's a good chance they'll prefer Riddler's Revenge to make small talk with Uncle Geoff at Thanksgiving dinner. 

14. Take a Hike

Burn a few calories so you can indulge at dinner with a hike on one of LA's many trails. Griffith Park and Runyon Canyon are our favorite places to hike. There are endless other trail options, like Solstice Canyon in Malibu, Elysian Park near DTLA, or Eaton Canyon in Pasadena. If your family holiday plans include wee ones, check out our favorite LA hikes in LA for toddlers or the best LA stroller-friendly hikes. 

15. Santa Barbara Zoo

Visit elephants, gorillas, and other zoo animals. Reindeer are also in town. While kids love checking out the larger-than-life Zoo Lights sculptures during the daytime, keep in mind that Zoo Lights doesn't happen on Thanksgiving evening. 

RELATED: Thanksgiving Crafts and Activities for the Whole Family

 
See the cars of the future at the LA Auto Show. Photo courtesy of the LA Auto Show

16. LA Auto Show

If you have car enthusiasts in your family, then the LA Auto Show is the perfect complement to a turkey dinner! The show is at the LA Convention Center and includes the return of the Electric Vehicle (EV) Test Track. Purchase a special Thanksgiving Family 4-pack, only offered on the holiday. 

17. Tide Pools

The beach is one of the biggest draws for LA, but it's usually a bit too cold to get into the water in November. However, tide pools are great for exploring, no matter the weather. Check out our list of great tide pools in Southern California. 

18. Go to the Movies

Sure, lots of us hit the movie theaters on Christmas Day, but Thanksgiving is another day when you need a few hours of peace and quiet and entertainment for kids and visiting family for a while. Disney's Moana 2 opens for the holiday, and it's playing at the El Capitan, among many other LA theaters.

19. Swan Boats at Echo Park and Rainbow Lagoon 

Paddle around a scenic lagoon at Echo Park in Los Angeles or Rainbow Lagoon in Long Beach on Thanksgiving Day. There's nothing like enjoying an iconic LA experience to keep you thankful! 

20. Holidays at Legoland

Head down to Carlsbad for a winter wonderland! Legoland gets decked out for the holiday season, and it's open on Thanksgiving for a "bricktastic" day. 

21. Knott's Merry Farm

Sure, Knott's Berry Farm is known for chicken, not turkey, but what difference does it make if you're grabbing a bite between roller coaster rides? Plus, Knott's Merry Farm is in full swing on Thanksgiving this year.

22. Sesame Place San Diego

Sesame Place is open on Thanksgiving and will delight your kids to no end. Even better, for the holidays, San Diego's newest theme park is transformed into a festive winter wonderland filled with holiday magic and surprises at A Very Furry Christmas.

23. Ventura Botanical Gardens

Not only are these gardens open on Thanksgiving, but they are also free that day! Wander these gorgeous grounds and cancel out the calories from that pumpkin pie. 

Finally, wishing all of our readers a wonderful Thanksgiving!