15 Best Things to Do in Compton, CA

Compton, CA

Compton has earned the nickname "Hub City" because of its location in Los Angeles County.

Compton has a wealth of historic architecture, including the Heritage House from 1869.

It is the birthplace of many notable celebrities, including rappers Dr. Dre, Ahmad, and Kendrick Lamar.

Compton is close to exciting and entertaining destinations that everyone will enjoy.

Here are the 15 best things to do in Compton, California.

Explore the Past at the Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum

Exterior of the Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum
Vanesser III, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum is a great place to learn about the history of California.

The museum shows the history of California as seen through the eyes of the Dominguez family.

The Rancho San Pedro, later renamed the Dominguez Ranch, began with a generous gift of 75,000 acres of land to Juan Jose Dominguez.

Initially, the adobe ranch house had six spacious rooms, including a chapel.

The house has solid, tarred walls that are two feet thick and has survived for over a century.

Two of the ten exhibition rooms at the Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum are devoted to exhibits on the Early Birds of Flying and the 1910 International Air Meet.

The Friends of San Pedro's mission is to educate the public about the rich history of the San Pedro Ranch and to ensure that it is preserved for future generations.

The museum is located at Lameda St, Compton, California.

Discover Aviation History at Tomorrow's Aeronautical Museum

Tomorrow's Aeronautical Museum is the perfect place to take the whole family to learn about the development of powered flight.

Tomorrow's Aeronautical Museum is an interactive learning space that inspires the next generation of aviators.

They teach kids that no matter their background, they may pursue a career in modern aviation.

Their dynamic nonprofit flight academy and afterschool programs offer STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education and compelling alternatives to drugs, gangs, violence, and other risky behaviors.

They produce hands-on exhibits examining race's role in modern flight development.

There are photos, personal items, and World War II planes and helicopters in a special exhibit dedicated to the Tuskegee Airmen.

Visit this one-of-a-kind museum at W. Alondra Blvd, Compton, California.

Visit Burrell MacDonald Park

Burrell MacDonald Park is fantastic for laid-back, informal get-togethers with loved ones.

Burrell MacDonald Park features a baseball field, basketball court, multi-use field, picnic tables, outdoor exercise equipment, a banquet hall for community events, and playgrounds.

You can have a variety of family gatherings or relax in Burrell MacDonald Park.

You can shoot hoops there after dark because they have a lighted court.

Take a break and stroll through the park after a day of sightseeing in Compton.

You can have a picnic at one of the many picnic areas.

You can also enjoy the warm hospitality of the locals by mingling with them at the park.

The park is located at W Alondra Blvd, Compton, California.

Explore the Compton Art and History Museum

Visit the Compton Art and History Museum to learn about the region's rich cultural heritage and artistic contributions.

Marquelle and Abigail Lopez-Byrd established the Compton Art and History Museum on February 18, 2023.

The Byrds also lead a charity called "Color Compton" that encourages youth to bond over shared cultural experiences.

The museum is a subsidiary of Color Compton, also serving as its parent company.

It features murals, archives, paintings, and other local art that depicts life in Compton through the perspective of its residents.

The museum's debut exhibition features Anthony Lee Pittman's paintings, textile works, and artifacts from the Communicative Arts Academy.

The Compton Art and History Museum is located at 306 West Compton Boulevard.

Take a Scenic Ride with Celebrity Helicopters

A Celebrity Helicopter mid-air
skinnylawyer from Los Angeles, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Fly using Celebrity Helicopters for a once-in-a-lifetime tour of Los Angeles.

Skip the bus tours and view Los Angeles differently with Celebrity Helicopters.

You can choose from nine different tours above Los Angeles, as well as two airplane tours.

On one of the tours, you can enjoy a gorgeous flight over some of Los Angeles' most recognizable mansions and sites.

These 15-75 minute helicopter tours allow you to explore the sights of Los Angeles from above.

As you fly above Bel-Air, Brentwood, and other celebrity enclaves, watch for the homes of your favorite actors and musicians.

Celebrity Helicopters is based at Compton/Woodley Airport, at W. Alondra Blvd.

They also offer hotel and airport pick-ups in the surrounding areas.

Take a Quick Run at Roy Campanella Park

You can run, chill out, exercise, or have fun with your family and friends in Roy Campanella Park.

Since 1959, residents have had access to Roy Campanella Park, named after the former Los Angeles Dodgers baseball player.

The park has grown and changed over the past 53 years alongside the neighborhood it serves.

They have a nice playground for the kids, trees for shade, and clean restrooms.

The park's pool and walking trail recently underwent renovations and now feature fitness stations at regular intervals.

This park is ideal for a healthy family outing, with its plentiful trees, picnic tables, and spacious playground.

After a day of exploring the local area, stop for a brief picnic or relax under one of its many trees.

The park is located at S Stanford Ave, Compton, California.

Catch Local Games at Gonzales Park

Gonzales Park, which houses the Jackie Robinson Stadium, is an excellent venue for sporting events.

It is also a site for the Dodgers Dreamteam program.

The Dodgers Dreamteam is an all-encompassing youth development program that employs the transformative power of athletics to deliver essential assistance to communities afflicted by social injustices.

Dreamfields is a program that restores baseball and softball fields in underprivileged neighborhoods.

It is dedicated to providing youth in California with access to high-quality sports facilities, and its work on the Dodgers Dreamfields in Compton is a part of that effort.

Jackie Robinson Stadium and the adjacent fields had their playing surfaces, fencing, dugouts, irrigation, lighting, paint, and scoreboards upgraded on April 15, 2021.

Come over for some batting practice or to see the local teams play in Compton.

It is located at W Cressey St, Compton, California.

Take a Relaxing Hike at Compton Creek Natural Park

Compton is home to Compton Creek Natural Park, adjacent to the Compton Creek Bike Route.

Compton Creek Natural Park is an urban green space created by teachers, school personnel, community residents, and other stakeholders.

The three-acre park was built on school district property next to George Washington Elementary.

The park has a multi-use theater, parking, a community plaza, picnic, and seating areas, fitness equipment, grassy areas, trees, and walking trails.

It also features interpretive signage highlighting the natural habitat and plant species in the Compton Creek watershed.

The park is a haven for local and migratory wildlife and an outdoor classroom for local children.

Its trails are perfect for strolling or simply hanging out for a picnic.

It is located at W. Cressey St., Compton, California.

Explore Lueders Park

Lueders Park, known initially as Oaks Park, provides locals and visitors with a vast greenspace, recreational activities, and picnic spots.

The Lueders Park features a multipurpose gym, playground equipment for kids, barbecue pits, meeting rooms, a kitchen, a swimming pool, outdoor stalls, and parking.

In addition, the venue is home to the "Venus & Serena Williams Court of Champions," officially opened by the Williams sisters in November 2016.

Have a good time while you exercise and soak up some sunshine in the park.

Invite your loved ones for a picnic and take advantage of the large picnic area.

You can swim in the William Love Pool throughout the summer, which is open daily.

It is also the home of the William Love Pool, which is available all day during the summer.

The park is located at Rosecrans Ave, Compton, California.

Other Things to Do Nearby

Have Fun at Disney California Adventure Park

Paradise pier at Disney California Adventure Park
CrispyCream27, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

In 1955, Walt Disney had an idea that would one day become the Disney California Adventure Park.

The "Happiest Place on Earth" still has thrilling rides and shows for the whole family.

Every year, almost 15 million people flock to Disney California Adventure Park.

The area is home to Disneyland® Park, which features attractions like Main Street, U.S.A., Mickey Mouse's Toontown, New Orleans Square, and Tomorrowland.

Other areas include Adventureland, Critter Country, Fantasyland, Frontierland, and Tomorrowland.

The whole family may enjoy over a hundred attractions and performances at Disneyland® Resort.

Hidden Mickeys are Mickey Mouse heads hidden in various attractions and pieces of decor around the park for guests to discover.

Ride the Disneyland Railroad, an elevated train that travels the park's perimeter.

The fun begins at Disneyland Dr., Anaheim, California, 23 minutes from Compton.

Enjoy a Picnic at Ted Watkins Memorial Park

Visit Ted Watkins Memorial Park to exercise, stroll, or spend quality time with loved ones.

This 28-acre site was named in honor of the Watts Labor Community Action Committee (WLCAC) founder in 1995.

The Ted Watkins Memorial Park is an excellent place for a fast run, a stroll, or to spend quality time with loved ones.

The Ted Watkins Memorial Park is well-regarded in the community for a good reason.

After school, local kids can join Team Ridley-Thomas Youth Club at the park's pavilion.

Visitors can participate in sports like baseball, flag football, basketball, and soccer.

In addition to a Farmer's Market and workout areas, the park has a swimming pool, skate park, walking trail, and fitness areas.

Ted Watkins Memorial Park also houses the Promenade of Prominence Walk of Fame, which honors the achievements of local leaders.

The park is at E 103rd St, Los Angeles, California, 12 minutes from Compton.

Play a Round of Golf at Lakeside Golf Club

Aerial view of Lakeside Golf Club
VDB Photos / Shutterstock.com

Lakeside Golf Club is a traditional, old-school course in Burbank, California, 33 minutes from Compton.

Golfers of all ability levels will enjoy the stunning scenery and exciting play at Lakeside Golf Club.

The greens and fairways at Lakeside Golf Club are always in great shape, making for a challenging yet enjoyable round.

The length of the course, measured from the blue tees, is roughly 6,600 yards.

Max Behr, a Yale alumnus, and the magazine's first editor, created the layout in the early 1920s.

Bing Crosby was a five-time club champion at Lakeside, proving the club's popularity among Hollywood's elite.

Lakeside Golf Club in Burbank is an excellent option for regular rounds of golf or as a new location for you and your pals when you're in town.

The greens are small, but the course is highly well-bunkered and offers some of the best-conditioned gardens in Los Angeles.

Explore Universal Studios Hollywood

The iconic globe of Universal Studios Hollywood
Chizhevskaya Ekaterina / Shutterstock.com

Enjoy a fantastic trip to Universal Studios, a tourist hotspot that spans 400 acres and attracts people worldwide.

This site offers visitors a glimpse into the workings of a professional TV and film studio, along with all the thrills and spills of a state-of-the-art theme park.

It's roughly 13 blocks in size and was designed with input from Steven Spielberg.

Universal is among the oldest of Hollywood's film studios.

Visitors may get a behind-the-scenes look at the business that has made Los Angeles famous through guided tours of production facilities.

The range of adrenaline-pumping activities on offer is the main lure to the amusement park.

Street scene at Universal Studios Hollywood
Alkhutov Dmitry / Shutterstock.com

Many of these attractions are based on well-known movies and series created by Universal Studios.

Experience the thrill of the Revenge of the Mummy roller coaster, or let your hair down at the Jurassic Park-themed attraction.

The Studio Tour is the most memorable portion of a visit to Universal Studios.

Get on a tram and travel past Hollywood's most famous locations.

You can find Universal Studios at Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, 31 minutes from Compton.

Krustyland at Universal Studios Hollywood
Asif Islam / Shutterstock.com

See a Movie at Paramount Drive-In Theatres

Paramount Drive-In Theatres offer a one-of-a-kind experience for moviegoers.

You won't find a better drive-in theater nearby than Paramount Drive-In Theatres.

The new and improved Paramount Drive-In Theatres include larger screens, more lights, and better sound.

It also has two 75-foot screens, Barco Digital Laser projection, FM radio sound, a more extensive selection of cuisine, and a welcoming, clean, and safe environment.

You will not find a more thrilling experience at any other drive-in theater.

Watch your favorite movies from the luxury of your car, RV, or truck; there's something for everyone.

Anyone can fit into this theater, as the back rows are reserved for larger vehicles like vans, trucks, and tall SUVs.

Movies will go on no matter the weather.

It is conveniently located at Rosecrans Ave, Paramount, California, 11 minutes from Compton.

Visit Exposition Park

Garden of Exposition Park
Kit Leong / Shutterstock.com

Exposition Park is a great place for discovery and adventure.

Exposition Park was initially established as an agricultural park in 1872.

It has numerous museums, cultural centers, entertainment centers, and sports arenas.

The 160-acre complex houses museums and attractions showcasing STEM fields through hands-on exhibits.

They include the California Science Center, the California African American Museum, and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

California Science Center at Exposition Park
louannchin / Shutterstock.com

The Rose Garden, located in the heart of Los Angeles, is a beautiful place to unwind.

In addition, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum offers the excitement of elite competition.

In contrast, the EXPO Center is a community hub with many events and resources.

So bring your whole family for a day of fun and discovery.

The Exposition Park is at Exposition Park Dr, Los Angeles, California, 22 minutes from Compton.

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum at Exposition Park
TMP - An Instant of Time / Shutterstock.com

Final Thoughts

Compton is a popular family destination due to its many exciting attractions.

There is always something fun to do in this city due to its numerous amusement parks, golf courses, and parks.

You can also explore the city's rich history through museums and heritage houses.

Enjoy a picnic with friends or take a relaxing stroll on its parks and walking trail.

Discover the best things to do in Compton, California!

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