Where the Wild Things Are (As It Turns Out, Culver City)

What is it with small children’s fascination with animals? We’ve got a ton of under-tens in our orbit, and I feel like every other kid I interact with is crawling around on all fours under the kitchen table, wagging an invisible tail and demanding you call them Rover. Is it an experimental quirk of evolution? A consequence of too much time spent in the world of Paw Patrol? Or simply, perhaps, a yearning for the wild world, the unstructured spaces of animality? Puppies, after all, do not have a bedtime, and never have to wash their hands.

If you’ve got a little animal lover or two in your life and are looking to expand your orbit beyond the wonderful LA Zoo, this city has got you covered. Here are some of our favorite under-the-radar spots to explore with animal lovers, big and small.

The Gentle Barn (Santa Clarita)

One of my most salient childhood memories is milking a cow, the slippery feel of those udders, tacky-soft, the enormity of the peaceful, dust-smelling creature beside me. They won’t let you milk anyone at the Gentle Barn, but there are two behemoth cows you can pet (one of whom is named Mooodona), rescued carriage horses waiting to be fed carrots, and a passel of pigs, goats, sheep, and ostriches, all of whom enjoy days full of acupuncture, chiropractic, and music therapy. Sign me up.

STAR Eco Station (Culver City)

A sanctuary for illegal-to-own, abandoned, or abused exotic animals, STAR Eco Station has been providing a home to creatures in need since 1997. Open for guided tours on the weekends, they also offer birthday parties and even a summer camp, where kids can interact with over 200 birds, reptiles, and other rescued wildlife.

Shambala Preserve (Acton)

You’ll have to plan ahead to visit this wildcat sanctuary, but if you gift your little big cat lover a “Wild One” adoption, you can visit on the first Saturday of every month, walk the preserve, and even throw your kitty a delicious femur bone.

Reptacular Ranch (Sylmar)

With a petting zoo, animal encounters, bird displays, and even camel riding, this petite sanctuary is tucked away in the scenic Sylmar foothills. Guests can explore the animal enclosures, participate in feedings, or do a bit of gentle petting of large noses while exploring the property. Also, they host weddings? I went to one here once and let’s just say there’s something surprisingly romantic about being given the evil eye by an alpaca.

Barnyard Buddies (Lakewood)

Home to sheep, pigs, alpaca, chickens, and, of course, ponies, this backyard petting zoo is the perfect place for a low-key animal encounter. If everyone is in the right mood, the ponies are available to ride, and the animals are available to feed. It’s all on a first-come, first-served basis, so arrive early if you want to make sure you get a shot at greatness.

Annenberg PetSpace (Playa Vista)

A community space/interactive education center/pet adoption hotspot, Annenberg PetSpace focuses on the science behind the human-animal bond. Unlike the other options on this list, you can actually take a pet home, so make sure to lay the groundwork for that “no” unless you want a real-time meltdown over the q why Mr. Whiskers can’t be your new roommate.

Oasis Camel Dairy (Ramona)

Admittedly, this one is a bit of a drive, but where else are you going to find a working camel dairy where you can visit with miniature sheep, talking parrots, and… racing turkeys? Stock up on camel milk ghee, chocolate, and skincare, feed them treats, and watch the parrot and turkey shows. You can even ride a camel through lavender fields, in an experience as scenic as it is surreal.

Lions Tigers & Bears (Alpine)

Another long-haul but worth-it animal day trip is Lions, Tigers, & Bears, the only fully accredited exotic animal sanctuary in Southern California. Home to over sixty rescued animals from all over the country, it’s a serene mountain sanctuary where wild beasts live out their final days in peace.

What’s Happening This Weekend?

Thursday, July 23rd

Celebrate the life and work of legendary Chicano artist Willie Herrón with a special Thursday concert featuring the eclectic global sounds of The Neighborhood Orchestra. This free all-ages show features a special outdoor exhibit of Herrón’s work, plus musical performances from Quinto Sol, Yuka, Los Chiles Verdes, Negrazul, and The Neighborhood Orchestra themselves.

Friday, July 24th

Today marks the start of the weekend-long LA Indie Book Crawl. Follow the map with your Book Crawl Passport and collect exclusive merchandise and prizes. If you get stamps at all thirteen, they’ll enter you to win the grand prize of $25 gift cards at each store. The perfect way for you and your little bookworm to explore our wonderful city.

Lucky you, there’s not one but TWO KCRW Summer Nights happening this weekend! Friday is our partyt at the Long Beach Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA), where you can dance under the stars to sets from KCRW DJs Tyler Boudreaux & Wyldeflower.

All our LA photo enthusiast friends love Samy’s Cameras, and this week they’re hosting Samy’s Summer PhotoCon, with classes, photo walks, and other hands-on activities. Break out that ancient digital camera or grab your phone and learn how to take the cutest family portrait ever.

Saturday, July 25th

Great news — Saturday is time for the second KCRW Summer Nights shindig! This time it’s in collaboration with Grand Performances. Pack up a picnic and soak up the sounds from Mariachi El Bronx, Tijuana Panthers, and KCRW DJ LeRoy Downs.

Break out the westernwear, because it’s National Day of the Cowboy and Cowgirl at the Autry Museum. There will be live music, trick ropers, country line dancing lessons, and so much more — anything your little cow boy/girl could desire.

If you’ve got a little skater in the family, celebrate at SWIRLFEST, a free, all-day celebration of surf skate culture hosted in Venice Beach by GRLSWIRL, one of the world’s largest women-founded skate collectives. There will be a pop-up skate park, a swirl skating competition, and so much more.

The Getty Museum’s Off the 405 series is always a hit in the summertime. Arrive early to catch some art and share a garden picnic, then take in the free 6:00 PM set from experimental Baltimore-based band Horse Lords.

Sunday, July 26th

Round out the weekend with a little surreal magic from the folks at Heritage Square, the historic open-air museum you might have glimpsed off the side of the five. They’re celebrating Christmas in July with interactive storybook houses, Candyland delights, and a 30-minute performance from the Pasadena Civic Ballet.

Or create some surreal magic of your own with the Mystic Makers: Art, Imagination & the Hidden Worlds Family Art Workshop at the Philosophical Research Society. Explore the cosmic world of Hilma af Klint and create mystical masterpieces inspired by her radiant colors, spirals, and sacred forms.