Kids Enjoy Museums, Special Areas During Christmas Vacation

Christmas vacation may be a respite for teachers and students, but parents who are faced with two weeks of high-spirited, holiday-revved-up youngsters may not see it that way at all. To most parents, juggling shopping trips, parties and work schedules while trying to keep the kids occupied may not sound like much of a vacation. So, for everybody’s peace of mind, we’ve pulled together 10 places where you can take children during their two-week holiday--including a few free ones.

Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum. This museum takes two to three hours to do justice to it. Kids might be especially interested in the full-size bison, long-horn steer, chuck wagon and some personal belongings of Gen. Custer. But it’s the singing cowboy section that really . . . well, sings. Not just Gene; there are film clips and fancy duds from Hoppy, Roy, the Cisco Kid and all the other western heroes. The museum, located across the L.A. Zoo parking lot at 4700 Zoo Drive, has a restaurant with a good menu for picky kids’ palates and a great store for holiday shopping. From Tuesday to Dec. 24, Rhonda Renee will lead holiday songs and sing-alongs all day, and from Dec. 28 to 31, Navajo story-teller Geraldine Keams will enchant you at 1 and 2 p.m. daily. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday-Sunday. Admission is $4.75 for adults, $2 for children. Information: (213) 667-2000.

Dinosaurs! exhibit at the Natural History Museum. Thirteen huge dinosaur models (not life-size but bigger than us) from the high-tech Kokoro Co. in Japan will go on display Saturday at the museum. A 15-foot-tall Tyrannosaurus rex , a long-necked Apatosaurus , an Ankylosaurus and two babies, a Triceratops and three babies and others were designed with the assistance of U.S. paleontologists to assure their lifelike character. Visitors can also climb inside a “Robosaur” (a robotic Apatosaurus ) and operate its neck from the “cab.” Admission to this special exhibit is $5 for adults, $1 for children 6-12, free for children under 5. The museum will be open next Monday (it’s usually closed Mondays) to start the holiday week off with a prehistoric bang. The address is 900 Exposition Blvd. in Exposition Park. Information: (213) 744-6292.

The Flower Market and Gorky’s for pancakes. The 700 block of Wall Street is lined with wholesale flower markets. Too busy to deal with families early in the morning, the proprietors welcome retail buyers after 9 a.m. But you’ll still get wholesale prices (plus tax). That means buying the kids their own wreaths, poinsettias and other holiday decorations at bargain prices. Then head for a late breakfast at Gorky’s (536 E. 8th St.), just south of the flower district, where they make delicious pancakes with kid appeal.

Shogun Santa at Japanese Village Plaza. Ensconced in his holiday pagoda, Little Tokyo’s version of Old St. Nick welcomes children on his lap just like the Nordic one does. With his samurai accessories, he’s a perfect Santa for those older youngsters just a bit too jaded by the traditional version. He’ll pose for instant pictures too (small charge), or you can bring your own camera. Santa’s normal hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. The week before Christmas, however, he’ll be available for consultations every day, same hours. The plaza is located at 327 E. 1st St. Information: (213) 620-8861.

Venice Boardwalk. This is a great place for youngsters to do their holiday shopping. Plenty to choose from, good prices and you’re outside--not sealed up in a mall all day. Lots of inexpensive T-shirts, jewelry and other trinkets. You can also rent skates or bikes (some with baby seats) to become part of the scene. The action begins at Washington Street and runs north, with parking lots all along the way.

Santa Anita Race Track Workouts. The racing season begins the day after Christmas, and for families who don’t rush to the sales, the race track is a great place to watch the early-morning activity that precedes each racing session. The public is welcome to watch the workouts (an announcer will keep you informed) and mingle with the track regulars over hot coffee, hot chocolate, doughnuts and Danish. Parking, workout and mingling are free; the breakfast isn’t. The views of the San Gabriel Mountains are spectacular on cool winter mornings. (Open race days Dec. 26 through late April.) Enter at Gate 8 off Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia. Information: (818) 574-7223.

Holiday workshops at the Westside Arts Center. When you’ve got some last-minute shopping to do (or simply have to work), sign your children up for two-hour workshops at the center’s new studios, 1302 11th St., Santa Monica. Workshops for 4- and 5-year-olds include jewelry making and card and frame making. For 6- to 10-year-olds, there’s rice paper batik, folk art, card making, kaleidoscope making and more. Classes are held from 10 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 3 p.m. Children may bring a bag lunch ($1.50 charge for supervision at lunch). Classes are $12 each; early registration is advised. Information: (213) 395-1443.

Workshops at the Junior Arts Center. At Barnsdall Art Park, 4814 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, the center offers a series of four-day holiday art workshops Tuesday through Dec. 22. Classes for younger children include drawing and painting. Classes for older children (to age 17) include toy making, jewelry making and T-shirt designing. The fee averages $12 for each four-day workshop (call for class hours and exact fees). Early registration is advised. Information: (213) 485-4474.

Holiday shows at the Pasadena Playhouse. The Hampstead Players (B. J. Turner and Steve Cassling) are returning to the playhouse this holiday to present their versions of two children’s classics, “Robin Hood” and “The Road to Oz.” The emphasis is on comedy and audience participation (yelling at the players, wandering around the theatre are okay here). Performances will be held from Saturday to Jan. 7, with “Robin” offered at 10 a.m., “Oz” at 11:30 a.m. (On Sundays the only show is “Oz” at 11:30 a.m.; no performances are held Mondays and Tuesdays.) For one show, tickets are $10 for adults, $6.50 for children; for both shows, tickets are $17 for adults, $11 for children. The address is 39 S. El Molino Ave. Reservations are suggested. Information: (818) 356-7529.

Los Angeles Children’s Museum. Expanded vacation hours make this a great place for a full day’s fun. Sticky City, the velcro/pillow play pen, has just been refurbished, and there will be plenty of holiday-oriented workshops in which to make take-home crafts. The museum is located at 310 N. Main St. Vacation hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Closed Dec. 24-25 and Jan. 1-2). Admission is $4. Information: (213) 687-8801.