What Are Some Fun Weekend Activities To Do Near El Monte, CA?

El Monte, California, is only about 20 minutes from downtown Los Angeles and has plenty of fun indoor and outdoor activities for kids and adults. Here are some of the best weekend activities in the area.

The Whittier Narrows Nature Center

At the Whittier Narrows Nature Center, you can enjoy nature in the heart of the city. It’s in South El Monte, about 10 minutes away from El Monte. The National Audubon Society started this nature center in 1939, and the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation acquired it in 1970. It covers 400 acres and is ideal for enjoying the sunrise or sunset. The Whittier Narrows Nature Center is next to the San Gabriel River and the Whittier Narrow Dam. It also has four lakes that act as winter sanctuaries for migrating waterfowl.

There’s also a picnic area and an equestrian area. You can explore this place’s many trails on your own or participate in one of the regular excursions led by guides. On guided walks, you can borrow a pair of binoculars. The area is excellent for hiking or bird watching, and many trails are accessible for people with wheelchairs or strollers. More than 300 bird species inhabit this park, including the protected white-tailed kite, the California gnatcatcher, and the endangered Least Bell’s vireo. You can also see American kestrels, turkey vultures, red-tailed hawks, and over 250 plant species.

Location: 1000 Durfee Road., South El Monte

Hours: Tuesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The American Military Museum

People often call the American Military Museum “Tankland” because of its wide range of tanks, military choppers, buses, and other equipment. It has more than 180 exhibits that date from 1933 to the present. Some highlights include an M-47 Patton medium tank, an M551 Sheridan light tank, and an M5A1 Stuart light tank.

Along with military vehicles from World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and more, you can see old photographs, weapons, first-hand narratives from veterans, uniforms, and many other interesting items. This museum opened in 1962, designed to honor veterans and active members of the military. You can explore it at your own pace or sign up for a guided tour.

Admission is free for kids under 5 years old, and it’s only $1 for children from 5 to 9 years old and $3 for those from 10 to 16 years old. Adults pay $5, and veterans and people 65 or older pay $4. The museum doesn’t accept cash, but you can use your credit or debit card. Since most exhibits are outdoors, it’s closed when it’s raining or the ground is muddy.

Location: 1918 Rosemead Blvd., South El Monte

Hours: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Huntington

People often call the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens the “Huntington” for short. All these attractions are part of a large complex in San Marino, about half an hour from El Monte. Visiting it is a great way to spend part of your weekend. The Huntington Library is available for people 18 and older for independent research. It has more than 11 million items, including medieval manuscripts, photographs, maps and atlases, early hand-printed books, and information about the history of California and the history of science, medicine, and technology. Appointments for research are required.

The Huntington Art Museum has more than 45,000 art and historical artifacts from Europe, Asia, and the United States. It has many galleries, and the exhibits change often. Seeing everything takes at least a few hours, and this place displays many different art forms and styles.

One of the most famous paintings at this museum is The Blue Boy. British painter Thomas Gainsborough created the portrait of a young boy wearing dashing blue attire in 1770. Henry and Arabella Huntington bought it in 1921 for $728,000. At the time, it was the highest amount ever paid for a painting.

Here are some of The Huntington Botanical Gardens’ many absorbing, beautiful gardens:

• California Garden
• Australian Garden
• Camellia Garden
• Herb Garden
• Japanese Garden
• Chinese Garden
• Jungle Garden
• Subtropical Garden
• Lily Ponds
• Ranch Garden
• Palm Garden
• Shakespeare Garden
• Rose Garden
• Desert Garden

It has many endangered and rare species and covers about 130 acres. It also contains more than 83,000 plants and a variety of sculptures and fountains. There’s a conservatory with a 16,000-square-foot greenhouse and a plant lab where you can design a leaf quilt. The greenhouse also has a bog with many carnivorous plants.

Location: 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino

Hours: The Huntington is open every day except Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Capacity is limited, so weekend reservations are required and strongly recommended for weekdays.

The Montebello Barnyard Zoo

The Montebello Barnyard Zoo is in Montebello, about 20 minutes away from El Monte. It’s ideal for kids; you and your family can ride a pony, a tractor, or a merry-go-round. On weekends, your children can ride all three for $16 per child. However, you need to bring your own helmets to ride the ponies.

General admission is $7, and there’s a petting zoo where you can feed and pet ponies, donkeys, goats, and sheep. You can also see many other animals and a pond with lots of ducks. Drinks and snacks are for sale, and you can mine for stones and get a fun glitter tattoo as well. After you try these fun activities, you can enjoy one of the many restaurants in the area.

Location: 600 Rea Drive, Montebello

Hours: Wednesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

These are only some of the fun things you can do during a weekend in the El Monte area. Did we miss any of your favorite activities? Contact our Longo Toyota dealership and let us know which places you like to visit most. We would love to check them out as well.

Tags: Activities, Family Friendly, Local
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