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Venice Beach in Los Angeles (Image credit: oneinchpunch,) The second biggest city in the United States is filled with family-friendly activities. No wonder L.A. is one of the best locations to go to in California with kids! Los Angeles likewise uses 24 miles (38.5 km) of sandy beaches along the California Coast.
Take in its unique SoCal ambiance, an extensive skate park, and an outside gym with musclebound residents raising weights under the California sun. The museum is filled with art work by such artists as Van Gogh, Monet, and Cezanne.
Located on Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park, Griffith Observatory wows visitors with its planetarium, high-powered telescopes for public use, and space displays. Households feel like they've crossed the border into Mexico on Olvera Street, likewise referred to as El Pueblo Historic Monument. This is the birth place of Los Angeles. It features 27 historical structures and a central Mexican plaza.
Kids might wonder if they've gotten in Jurassic Park as they gaze at life-sized statues of woolly mammoths, enormous sloths, and other extinct animals in pools of gooey asphalt bubbling from the earth.
Kids particularly enjoy Helen and Peter Bing Children's Garden, which includes lively, hands-on components such as tunnels, splash locations, fairy doors, and more. Cover a lot of ground with a Los Angeles Go City All-Inclusive Pass for 40+ Destinations, including the Los Angeles Zoo, Knott's Berry Farm in close-by Buena Park, and far more.
A suburban area of Los Angeles, Burbank has hundreds of significant movie and television studios. Burbank is home to around 100,00 locals and three powerhouse studios: Walt Disney Studios, Universal Studios Hollywood, and Warner Bros Studio. For an immersive take a look at sets and souvenirs from preferred shows and motion pictures, book a Warner Bros.
For a delicious serving of motion pictures and TV shows with a side of roller rollercoasters and live programs, Universal Studios Hollywood is a must. This is specifically true for Harry Potter fans, who will love the Wizarding World at this amusement park. Of course, you will also want to see the renowned Hollywood Sign and stroll along the well-known Hollywood Walk of Popularity.
Yosemite National Park Valley landscape (Picture credit: haveseen,) Resplendent with hiking tracks, waterfalls, and towering trees, Yosemite is a place of natural wonder. In 2024, a record-breaking 4.1 million guests visited this precious national park. It spans almost 750,000 acres (3,035 sq km) and is home to wildlife like foxes, deer, cougars, and black bears.
Yosemite opened in 1890 and stays among the nation's finest examples of land preservation. Carved by glaciers over tens of countless years, Yosemite Valley includes granite giants El Capitan and Half Dome. Households looking for to explore California's natural beauty will enjoy visiting Yosemite. Plan your trip with these Yosemite National forest ideas.
While in this desert oasis, don't miss out on a crave-worthy date shake made with fruits from the location's abundant palm trees. This remarkable zoo and botanical garden offers innovative play spaces for kids and an enjoyable design train exhibition.
Skyrocket from the desert valley to the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains by means of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. The cars and truck's floor rotates throughout the ride, so guests get a 360-degree view of the Coachella Valley. Fascinated? Discover more things to do in Palm Springs with kids. The Channel Islands in Ventura County (Photo credit: Colleen Lanin) For a special selection of household activities, think about a Ventura County vacation.
Families also take pleasure in walking Ventura Harbor Town for ice cream and waterside views, or spending an unwinded afternoon on the large, uncrowded beaches that define this coastal area. Discover more unique things to do in Ventura County with kids. Santa Monica Beach & Pier (Photo credit: oneinchpunch,) Santa Monica exemplifies Southern California with its surfable waves, beachy downtown, and seaside amusements.
Pacific Park on Santa Monica Pier features a lots rides, including the 130-foot-tall Pacific Wheel and a full-sized roller rollercoaster. You'll also find every treat your sweet teeth could crave and a wide variety of game games with prizes. Households also take pleasure in walking the Third Street Boardwalk for shopping, street performers, and simple dining just a few blocks from the beach.
Adults and kids of all ages can't help however feel awestruck by the massive sequoias in the Giant Forest. This national park boasts the world's largest tree, General Sherman. You can even drive through another impressive giant sequoia called the Tunnel Log. This beautiful location offers a selection of fantastic things to do in nature, like treking, mountain cycling, camping, and horseback riding.
Understood for its glacial-carved canyon, Kings Canyon, is one of the deepest in North America. This park offers significant rock developments, rugged wilderness, and remote treking tracks. Discover more about Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and other national forests in California, like Death Valley and Channel Islands, in my list of the finest national forests in the U.S. Joshua Tree National Forest (Photo credit: lunamarina,) Located about an hour from Palm Springs, Joshua Tree National forest is essential for households who wish to explore natural wonders in California.
Best 2026 Family Activities Near Your Preferred StudioCalico Mine Trip at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, a suburban area of Los Angeles (Image credit: Colleen Lanin) Just a brief drive from Los Angeles, Buena Park is a dream for households who like amusement parks, themed experiences, and easy trip enjoyable.
Summer visitors can cool down at Soak City Water Park, while yearround home entertainment includes Medieval Times and Pirates Supper Adventure. It's a simple addon to any Southern California trip and a terrific home for checking out nearby beaches, Orange County, and LA. Explore more in my guide to Buena Park with kids.
Discover SoCal's best-kept secret (shh!) with my La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club evaluation. Find out about a concealed gem desert destination with these things to do in Borrego Springs. For a lot more California pail list concepts, examine out this California journey travel plan, a list of national parks in California, and my substantial brochure of California holidays and ideas.
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