On the lookout for the most effective household journeys in California? As a mother and longtime Californian who has explored a lot of the Golden State, I’ve acquired you coated! Uncover this stunning state’s shores, theme parks, nationwide parks, and cities with this checklist of 15 wonderful locations to go to in California with children in 2025.
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1. San Diego
San Diego is the right place for a California household trip. Since I lived in San Diego for 15 years, I admit I’m a fan of this coastal metropolis. San Diego pleases all ages with the famend San Diego Zoo, oodles of lovely seashores, all types of marine life at SeaWorld San Diego, the at all times entertaining Balboa Park, and a great deal of different points of interest.
Learn in regards to the greatest issues to do in San Diego with children and my picks for the high eating places in San Diego for households. Get comfortable with this checklist of the greatest household motels in San Diego, too.
2. Disneyland Resort in Orange County
In fact, no checklist of the most effective locations to go to in California with children can be full with out Disneyland Resort. With memorable character meals, thrilling rides, and imaginative points of interest, you’re by no means too previous or younger for a Disney trip.
Positioned in Orange County, this trip vacation spot consists of Disneyland and its sister theme park, Disney California Journey. Three themed Disneyland motels, plus the Downtown Disney buying and eating district, add to the expertise.
Visiting with little children? Try my picks for the greatest Disneyland points of interest for infants and toddlers.
Headed to the Happiest Place on Earth with older children? Take a peek on the greatest thrill rides at Disneyland.
3. Huntington Seashore
In case your supreme California household trip focuses on ocean waves, sandy seashores, and hanging ten — e book a visit to Huntington Seashore! Also referred to as Surf Metropolis USA, household surf classes and a visit to the Surfer Corridor of Fame are musts throughout your go to. Nighttime seaside bonfires are mainstays on this walkable small city, too.
Learn extra about what to anticipate in Huntington Seashore with children.
4. San Francisco
What’s to not love about this Northern California metropolis by the ocean? There’s a lot to discover in San Francisco, from the large Golden Gate Park and Pier 39 to Fisherman’s Wharf, Alcatraz Island, and the crookedest road on this planet. Youngsters will particularly get a kick from driving on one of many metropolis’s well-known cable automobiles.
Plus, San Francisco Bay can be house to the second-largest Chinatown within the nation. Go see the ornate Dragon’s Gate and wander by the realm’s many energetic outlets. Subsequent, you could eat some scrumptious Chinese language delicacies. Fortune cookies have been invented in San Francisco, so you’ll want to go to the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Manufacturing unit, the place you may watch the manufacturing course of and purchase freshly made cookies.
Acquired a Star Wars fan or comics lover within the household? Then, you’ll wish to learn our geek’s information to San Francisco earlier than you go!
5. Monterey
Alongside California’s Central Coast lies the picturesque metropolis of Monterey. The famend Monterey Bay Aquarium wows children with displays full of tuxedoed penguins, playful sea otters, and fish of all types. Seafood lovers rejoice in Monterey for its abundance of fresh-caught alternatives.
Lively households will particularly recognize Monterey. Mountaineering alternatives give households an opportunity to attach with nature and one another. If your loved ones golfs (and even should you don’t), then a scenic drive to the Pebble Seashore Golf Hyperlinks can’t be missed.
Monterey is simply 4 miles (6.5 km) from Carmel, a darling vacation spot worthy of a day journey or a couple of extra days in California with children. (Or with out offspring on the romantic Hofsas Home Resort in Carmel-by-the-sea!)
6. Lake Tahoe
Snow in California? Oh sure, certainly! Snowboarding is probably not the very first thing that springs to thoughts whenever you image a California trip, however possibly it needs to be.
Northstar California at Lake Tahoe gives a wintry wonderland for the entire household. This resort boasts over 3,000 skiable acres (12+ sq km). There are trails for skiers and snowboarders of all ability ranges. Snowshoeing, ice skating, s’mores, and extra hold children content material throughout a California winter journey to Lake Tahoe.
The play doesn’t finish when the snow melts, both. In summer time, head to Lake Tahoe for jet snowboarding, paddle boarding, climbing, kayaking, and past.
7. Carlsbad and Legoland California
Positioned simply over 30 miles north of downtown San Diego and fewer than an hour’s drive south of Orange County’s Irvine, you might simply spend your whole California household trip in Carlsbad.
Moreover its seven miles (11+ km) of seashores, Legoland California is the star of the present in Carlsbad. This amusement park gives mellow curler coasters, interactive rides, colourful play areas, and different enjoyable for teenagers.
Additionally onsite is Legoland Water Park, which has plenty of slides and water rides for summer time guests. Open year-round, Legoland’s SeaLife Aquarium is full of an interesting assortment of marine life.
The well-known Carlsbad Flower Fields and a music museum add to the enjoyable. Find out about all there may be to do in Carlsbad with children.
8. Los Angeles
The second largest metropolis in america is full of family-friendly actions. The truth is, the Los Angeles is house to over 90 museums, and the metropolitan space boasts round 15,000 eating places. No surprise L.A. is among the greatest locations to go to in California with children!
Los Angeles additionally gives 24 miles (38.5 km) of sandy seashores alongside the California Coast. Some of the well-known seashores is Venice Seashore. Soak up its distinctive SoCal vibe, an expansive skate park, and an out of doors gymnasium with musclebound locals lifting weights beneath the California solar.
Los Angeles Household Sights
The Getty Heart is among the many hottest points of interest within the Los Angeles space. The museum is full of art work by such artists as Van Gogh, Monet, and Cezanne. The encircling gardens are beautiful as properly.
Positioned on Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park, Griffith Observatory wows guests with its planetarium, high-powered telescopes for public use, and area displays.
Households really feel like they’ve crossed the border into Mexico on Olivera Avenue, also called El Pueblo Historic Monument. That is the birthplace of Los Angeles. It options 27 historic buildings and a central Mexican plaza. Come right here to buy handicrafts and style conventional Mexican delicacies.
Then, step means again in time at La Brea Tar Pits and Pure Historical past Museum. Youngsters would possibly surprise in the event that they’ve entered Jurassic Park as they stare at life-sized statues of wooly mammoths, huge sloths, and different extinct animals in swimming pools of gooey asphalt effervescent from the earth.
A private favourite, Huntington Botanical Gardens stretches throughout 130 visitable acres (half a sq. kilometer). Escape the hectic tempo of town in favor of a myriad of vegetation and fountains set in 16 themed gardens.
Cowl loads of floor with a Los Angeles Go Metropolis All-Inclusive Move for 40+ Sights, together with the Los Angeles Zoo, Knott’s Berry Farm in close by Buena Park, and way more.
9. Burbank and Hollywood
If your loved ones goes gaga for glitz and glamour, plan a visit to the Media Capital of the World. A suburb of Los Angeles, Burbank has lots of of main movie and tv studios.
Bubank is house to round 100,00 residents and three powerhouse studios: Walt Disney Studios, Common Studios Hollywood, and Warner Bros Studio. For an immersive take a look at units and memorabilia from favourite reveals and films, e book a Warner Bros. Studio Tour upfront.
For a scrumptious serving of films and TV reveals with a aspect of curler coasters and reside reveals, Common Studios Hollywood is a should. That is very true for Harry Potter followers who adore this theme park’s Wizarding World.
In fact, additionally, you will wish to view the enduring Hollywood Signal and stroll alongside the well-known Hollywood Stroll of Fame. Be taught extra about this spectacular suburb with this checklist of enjoyable issues to do in Burbank.
10. Yosemite Nationwide Park
Resplendent with climbing trails, waterfalls, and towering timber, Yosemite is a spot of pure surprise. In 2024, a record-breaking 4.1 million company visited this beloved nationwide park. It spans practically 750,000 acres (3,035 sq km) house to wildlife like foxes, deer, cougars, and black bears. Adventurous households may even be happy to know that Yosemite is called one of many greatest locations in North America for mountain climbing.
Yosemite opened in 1890 and stays one of many nation’s best examples of land conservation. Carved by glaciers over tens of 1000’s of years, Yosemite Valley options granite giants El Capitan and Half Dome.
Households looking for to discover California’s pure magnificence will love visiting Yosemite. Plan your journey with these Yosemite Nationwide Park ideas.
11. Palm Springs
Palm Springs lures vacationers to its desert locale with its huge golf programs and glowing lodge swimming swimming pools. Whereas on this desert oasis, you’ll want to sip a crave-worthy date shake made with fruits from the realm’s plentiful palm timber.
Households are enamored with The Dwelling Desert Zoo and Gardens. This spectacular zoo and botanical backyard gives progressive play areas for teenagers and a enjoyable mannequin practice exhibit.
Large spinning wind generators within the Palm Springs space produce an electrifying 1.5 million megawatt-hours. In addition they present beautiful picture ops.
Soar from the desert valley to the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains by way of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. The automotive’s ground rotates all through the journey, so passengers get a 360-degree view of Coachella Valley.
Intrigued? Uncover extra issues to do in Palm Springs with children.
12. Ventura County
For a novel array of actions for households, think about a Ventura County trip. Suppose gondola rides by canals, whale watching, spying on wild foxes on an uninhabited Channel Island, and piloting a battery-operated boat. Uncover extra distinctive issues to do in Ventura County with children.
13. Santa Monica
Santa Monica epitomizes Southern California with its surfable waves, beachy downtown, and seaside amusements. This suburb of Los Angeles is greatest recognized for the Santa Monica Pier with its iconic Ferris wheel spinning beside the Pacific Ocean.
Pacific Park on Santa Monica Pier contains a dozen rides, together with the 130-foot-tall Pacific Wheel and a full-sized curler coaster. You’ll additionally discover each deal with your candy tooth may crave and a plethora of arcade video games with prizes.
Santa Monica Seashore is among the greatest seashores in California. Click on by to find the remainder!
14. Sequoia and Kings Canyon Nationwide Park
Positioned in Central California within the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Sequoia Nationwide Park is house to beautiful groves of the world’s largest timber. Adults and youngsters of all ages can’t assist however really feel awestruck by the large sequoias within the Large Forest.
This nationwide park boasts the world’s largest tree, Common Sherman. You may even drive by one other spectacular large sequoia known as the Tunnel Log. This stunning place gives an assortment of nice issues to do in nature, like climbing, mountain biking, tenting, and horseback driving.
Sister park, Kings Canyon Nationwide Park, is lower than 30 miles (48 km) away and makes a fantastic addition to a nature-focused household vacation. Recognized for its glacial-carved canyon, Kings Canyon, is among the deepest in North America. This park gives dramatic rock formations, rugged wilderness, and distant climbing trails.
Be taught extra about Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and different nationwide parks in California, like Loss of life Valley and Channel Islands, in our checklist of the greatest nationwide parks within the U.S.
15. Joshua Tree Nationwide Park
Located about an hour from Palm Springs, Joshua Tree Nationwide Park is crucial for households who wish to discover pure wonders in California. That is the most effective place to identify unique-looking Joshua timber with their outstretched arms and spiky leaves. These uncommon timber develop solely within the Mojave Desert within the Southwestern U.S.
E-book a guided Joshua Tree Nationwide Park tour with our trusted accomplice, GetYourGuide.
Discover Extra of California
For a laid-back vibe, candy walkable downtown, and one of many prettiest California missions, go to San Juan Capistrano with children.
Uncover SoCal’s best-kept secret (shh!) with my La Jolla Seashore & Tennis Membership assessment.
Find out about a hidden gem desert trip spot with these issues to do in Borrego Springs.
For much more California bucket checklist concepts, take a look at this California highway journey itinerary, an inventory of nationwide parks in California, and my in depth catalog of California holidays and ideas.
Save These Locations to Go to in California with Youngsters
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Which locations would you want to go to most in California with children? Tell us within the feedback beneath!
Disclosure: I obtained financial compensation from Go to California for this story. This text about the most effective household journeys in California is up to date yearly to offer essentially the most useful data for readers. All opinions are mine, as typical.
