A short drive west of L.A. on the beautiful California coast sits the gem known as Malibu. To first time visitors, the area may just look familiar, in part due to the fact that movie studios owned large land tracts of the Malibu Rancho during the 20s and 30s, and many westerns were shot in the surrounding mountains.

The Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Griffith Park is a great place to view animals both native and exotic to the area. The zoo features natural habitats for animals such as koalas and komodo dragons and is one of the only zoos in the world to house mountain tapirs. The zoo also presents many kid-friendly programs and areas perfect for grandchildren.