Blake Walsh

15 Best Things to Do in South Gate, CA

  • Published 2023/04/15

At the center of the Los Angeles Metropolitan area nestles South Gate, an active suburban community comprised of residential, commercial, and industrial progress distributed over 7.4 square miles.

It’s the 19th-largest city in Los Angeles County, seven miles southeast of Downtown Los Angeles.

Unified on January 20, 1923, South Gate was called the “Azalea City” when it made the flower its emblem in 1965.

This captivating city got its name after the South Gate Gardens on the Cudahy Ranch, referring to the city’s location south of Los Angeles.

There are several ways you can enjoy the best things to do in South Gate, CA, so pack your bags and get ready to go!

Make it a Kids’ Day at Hollydale Community Park

Taking your kids to Hollydale Community Park would be the best day for young or older kids.

Advanced and traditional play elements were integrated to forge a universal playground full of life.

Younger children and those with disabilities can try to spin on the OmniSpinner or go through the RollerSlide.

Conversely, older children can challenge themselves on the free-standing Mobius Climber and SpaceWalk bridge.

On Industrial Avenue, Hollydale Community Park also features picnic tables, restrooms, basketball courts, baseball fields, and community centers.

Satisfy Your Cravings at Wingstop

A long trip can sometimes make you hungry, but Wingstop can satisfy your hunger and cravings.

Located on Firestone Boulevard, this local favorite food hub ensures you will go home full and satisfied with its delicious food and excellent service.

As the name implies, it’s mostly chicken wings served with your choice of irresistible dips paired with blue cheese and ranch dipping sauce.

Try all of their 11 signature flavors, including Lemon Pepper and Mango Habanero, with an option to have it boneless or classic wings.

Wingstop also offers delectable chicken sandwiches, sides, dips, wing combos, desserts, and drinks that will make you return for more.

Celebrate Milestones at Kids Empire South Gate

Treat your kids to a beautiful place they can enjoy all day, such as the Kids Empire South Gate on Garfield Avenue.

Housed within the El Paseo South Gate Shopping center, this indoor playground features The Maze and Tots, where kids can unleash all their energy.

The Maze has various obstacles where kids can climb, spin, build, slide, kick the ball, dance, and more.

At Tots, younger kids can find new ways to climb up and down and slide on soft slides, perfect for the smallest adventurers, or bounce, crawl, ride, and dance.

Kids Empire South Gate has many other activities for your kids to discover so they can enjoy their stay and come back again soon.

Learn to Ride Horses at Imperial Equestrian Center

Do you or your child dream of becoming an equestrian someday?

Imperial Equestrian Center can help make your dream come true by teaching you how to ride a horse.

The center has been operating for less than a century, and its owners are striving to develop and expand it to accommodate over 100 of the region’s show horses’ debuts.

They offer lessons to people as young as five in diverse disciplines, including dressage, show, and hunter/jumper.

Located on Leeds Street, Imperial Equestrian Center offers horse camps for children to learn horse anatomy, horseback riding, horsemanship, delight in crafts, and have lunch.

Test Your Endurance at Hapik South Gate

If you’re a climbing enthusiast, don’t forget to drop by Hapik South Gate and test your endurance.

This climbing wall facility is located on Garfield Avenue and has more than 5,000 square feet of fun and excitement.

Challenge yourself to over 100 routes throughout 30 themed climbing walls prepared with automatic belaying.

Compete with friends or loved ones and see who can reach the top at 26 feet and find out who is the best climber.

After that friendly “competition,” try the variety of drinks and snacks served at Hapik South Gate, also inside the El Paseo South Gate Shopping Center.

Bring Your Dog to Hollydale Regional Park

Just like humans, dogs need a day off, too.

So, bring your pets to Hollydale Regional Park, where they can run freely and mingle with other dogs.

This 56-acre local recreation area offers expansive lawns, play areas, athletic fields, and more.

There are picnic areas, so bring food you can feast on after a leisurely walk, jog, or run.

The park is so vast you won’t have any problems claiming your spot where you can play soccer, frisbee, volleyball, or run with your dog.

Located on Monroe Avenue, Hollydale Regional Park is adjacent to a school, making it ideal for the family to drop by the park for a quick stroll or for kids to play.

Jump and Bounce at Jumper’s Jungle Family Fun Center

All kids love to jump and bounce (even adults!), and the best place for them is at Jumper’s Jungle Family Fun Center.

Located on Tweedy Boulevard, this amusement facility offers a secure, sanitary, and climate-controlled place for young and old.

Your children will love playing in the inflatable obstacles, jungle bouncers, sports games, super slides, and much more!

Remember that no shoes are allowed inside, only socks for kids and adults, whether jumping or not.

You can also celebrate your kid’s birthday at Jumper’s Jungle Family Fun Center for the best birthday ever.

Play and Relax at South Gate Golf Course

William H. Johnson designed the South Gate Golf Course, a public golf course that opened in 1954.

This beautiful nine-hole golf course offers a warm-up driving range, a putting green, and a par three course.

The course suits all skill-level golfers and has a snack bar, rentable carts, and clubs.

You can now play disc golf and experience fun and exciting tournaments all year round.

You’ll find South Golf Course on Pinehurst Avenue, between Southern and Tweedy Blvd.

Have Fun Skating at South Gate Skatepark

If you’re into skating, you must stop by South Gate Skatepark and put your skills to the test.

This cute skatepark has a large round bowl with a spine and two speed bumps in the flat.

Constructed by designer Purkiss Rose, this good skatepark has long, high handrails and a central staircase, almost six to seven feet.

You might notice that the bowl area is kind a bit close to each other.

Located on Hildreth Avenue, South Gate Park is an excellent place also to learn new skating skills.

Other Things to Do Nearby

Make the most of your visit to South Gate and nearby towns and cities.

Discover other attractions and places that will surely captivate your heart and senses.

Experience the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles

Entrance to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles

Kit Leong / Shutterstock.com

If there’s one thing most people want to learn, it is dinosaurs.

Dinosaur Encounters at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles will provide information and fun to the viewers because it’s a live exhibition of life-sized juvenile dinosaurs!

These are just puppets, including the full-scale, life-like T. rex and triceratops that will surely captivate the imaginations of the audiences during weekly shows.

Fossil of a Dinosour at Natural History Museum of Los Angeles

Kit Leong / Shutterstock.com

Visit L.A. Underwater and see almost 40 fossils formed 90 million years ago when Los Angeles was still underwater.

Learn about different butterfly species in the Butterfly Pavilion, including their life cycle.

Located on Exposition Boulevard in Los Angeles, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles is only 21 minutes from South Gate.

Interior view of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles

Kit Leong / Shutterstock.com

Get Your Kids Camping at Camp Little Bear Park and Lodge

Outdoor camping is a different experience for people and an exciting one, especially for children.

Camp Little Bear Park and Lodge in Bell, California, should motivate kids 12 years old and below.

This fantastic camp features a miniature golf course, an outdoor amphitheater, a synthetic soccer field for kids below 42 inches, a water play apparatus, and a basketball court for children 12 and below.

Its “Mountain Lodge” theme includes stained concrete floors, a large stone fireplace, and detailings of re-sawn lumber.

Just six minutes from South Gate, Camp Little Bear Park and Lodge provide two large activity rooms, central control desk, and computer terminals for education programs.

Catch a Movie at Paramount Drive-In Theatres

Watching movies is more enjoyable on an enormous movie screen.

That’s what Paramount Drive-In Theatres in Paramount, California, promises its patrons.

It features two 75-foot screens, FM radio sound, Barco Digital Laser projection, an extended food menu, and a clean, secure, and friendly environment.

This fantastic drive-in theatre can accommodate 325 cars per screen and has “ridges” on the parking spaces, ensuring everyone gets a clear elevated view.

It’s only a 12-minute drive to Paramount Drive-In Theatres from South Gate.

Live Like a Pirate at Pirate Park

Do you want to become a pirate, even for just a day?

You can live your dreams at Pirate Park, located along Bellflower Boulevard in Bellflower, California, 19 minutes from South Gate.

You and your kids will surely enjoy the pirate-themed playground inside the 400-square-foot, fully-confined park.

Take note that the park is not rentable, especially for private parties.

This fabulous park features a pirate ship, a climbing bridge, a skull cave, a fort, and a treasure chest, and the only missing thing is you and your costume.

Pirate Park is only a 16-minute drive from South Gate.

Glide on the Water with Long Beach Waterbikes

It’s fun biking on land, but what about on the water?

Biking above the water is much more exciting with Long Beach Waterbikes.

Engage yourself, your loved ones, and your friends in hydro biking, which is also a form of exercise.

Situated on North Marina Drive in Long Beach, California, Long Beach Waterbikes provides a great hour-long adventure and let you experience incredible views and local wildlife.

You can also watch SoCal skies and the clear waters during a LED-Lit Glow Ride, a Day Ride, or Sunset Ride.

Long Beach Waterbikes is 31 minutes from South Gate.

Final Thoughts

Are you planning a vacation or a quick family or friends getaway?

Consider visiting South Gate to experience its historic sites, delightful food, panoramic landscapes, and more.

Discover the best things to do in South Gate, California.

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