Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in West LA, CA

LAX is not a place I look forward to spending any time at all. Whether you're arriving, departing, dropping someone off or picking someone up, LAX is a tangled maze of cars, people, and of course, planes. If you happen to have a longish layover in LA, don't try and wait it out at the airport, especially if you have children.

Since you need to estimate being at the airport at least two hours before domestic flights and three hours for international flights, factor that in when planning your layover activities. Also keep in mind that LA traffic is famously horrible (you don't know traffic till you've been to LA), especially during rush hour.

If you have a shorter layover and want to avoid driving, have a meal at the iconic Encounter restaurant towering 70 feet above the ground right smack in the middle of the airport. With its 360 degree view of the airport, it's a great place to watch planes take off. It's also the only place within realistic walking distance that is at all worth seeing.

If you want to explore a bit, consider hiring a taxi (or bumming a ride off an LA-based friend). Public transportation in LA is possible, but not something I would recommend trying to navigate in a couple of hours with kids and luggage in tote.

As for things to do outside of the LAX bubble? Here is a shortlist of a few of the best within 15 minutes of the airport (without traffic, of course):

Food: If you're from a state that does not have an In N Out, this should be your first stop. Burgers, you ask? I could get that anywhere! Trust me. You'll thank me later. (Feel like an insider by ordering your burger "animal style", one of off-the-menu secrets.) The closest one is at 9149 S Sepulveda Blvd. Otherwise, stop at Truxton's in Westchester for fresh California-style American food. Or if you're looking for comfort food (and probably more kid-friendly to boot), try Pann's fried chicken and waffles.

Beach: There are a couple of closer beaches in the area (Hermosa and El Segundo, among others), but Santa Monica is the most dynamic. Start at Palisades Park, perched atop the cliffs facing the ocean, where the kids can burn off some energy and you can take in the spectacular ocean view. This is also where the Santa Monica Visitor Information Kiosk is located. If you won't have access to a bathtub and aren't inclined to have wet, sandy children on your connecting flight, the Santa Monica Pier has enough to entertain your children for several hours. Third Street Promenade is also only a few minutes walk east from the beach and is a favorite shopping/dining stop for locals and tourists alike. There's always something fun going on the Promenade, from the street performers to the fun fountains to the excellent people watching.

Shopping: For an easy and relaxing, if not very exciting, outing, check out the Howard Hughes Center, the closest mall to the airport.

Tour: Touristy? Yes. Convenient? Most def. LA City Tours' layover tour bus will pick you up the airport and drop you off again. In between you'll do the standard Look Ma! I went to Hollywood! thing see the homes of movie stars, take a picture with the Hollywood sign as a backdrop and visit Rodeo Drive.

[photo credit: stock.xchng]