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Venice Beach in Los Angeles (Image credit: oneinchpunch,) The 2nd greatest city in the United States is filled with family-friendly activities. Los Angeles is home to over 90 museums, and the urbane location boasts around 15,000 dining establishments. No wonder L.A. is among the very best locations to visit in California with kids! Los Angeles likewise provides 24 miles (38.5 km) of sandy beaches along the California Coast.
Take in its unique SoCal vibe, an extensive skate park, and an outdoor gym with musclebound residents lifting weights under the California sun. The museum is filled with artwork 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, also called El Pueblo Historic Monument. This is the birthplace of Los Angeles. It includes 27 historical buildings and a central Mexican plaza.
Then, step way back in time at La Brea Tar Pits and Natural History Museum. Kids may question if they've gotten in Jurassic Park as they stare at life-sized statues of woolly mammoths, enormous sloths, and other extinct animals in swimming pools of gooey asphalt bubbling from the earth. Posturing at The Huntington (Image credit: Phil Journeys In between) An individual favorite, The Huntington Botanical Gardens stretches across 130 visitable acres (half a square kilometer).
Kids specifically enjoy Helen and Peter Bing Kid's Garden, which features playful, hands-on components such as tunnels, splash areas, fairy doors, and more. Cover a great deal of ground with a Los Angeles Go City All-Inclusive Pass for 40+ Attractions, consisting of the Los Angeles Zoo, Knott's Berry Farm in neighboring Buena Park, and much more.
A residential area of Los Angeles, Burbank has hundreds of major film and television studios. Of course, you will likewise want to view the iconic Hollywood Indication and stroll along the well-known Hollywood Walk of Popularity.
Yosemite National forest Valley landscape (Photo credit: haveseen,) Resplendent with hiking trails, waterfalls, and towering trees, Yosemite is a place of natural wonder. In 2024, a record-breaking 4.1 million visitors visited this cherished national forest. It covers 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 remains one of the country's finest examples of land preservation. Households seeking to check out California's natural beauty will enjoy going to Yosemite.
While in this desert sanctuary, don't miss a crave-worthy date shake made with fruits from the location's abundant palm trees. Families are enamored with The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens. This excellent zoo and botanical garden uses ingenious play areas for kids and an enjoyable design train exhibition. Giant spinning wind turbines in the Palm Springs area produce an electrifying 1.5 million megawatt-hours.
Soar from the desert valley to the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains via the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. The vehicle's flooring turns throughout the ride, so guests get a 360-degree view of the Coachella Valley. Captivated? Discover more things to do in Palm Springs with kids. The Channel Islands in Ventura County (Photo credit: Colleen Lanin) For a special range of family activities, think about a Ventura County trip.
Households also take pleasure in walking Ventura Harbor Village for ice cream and waterside views, or spending a relaxed afternoon on the wide, uncrowded beaches that define this seaside region. Discover more distinct things to do in Ventura County with kids. Santa Monica Beach & Pier (Photo credit: oneinchpunch,) Santa Monica represents Southern California with its surfable waves, beachy downtown, and seaside amusements.
Pacific Park on Santa Monica Pier includes a lots trips, consisting of the 130-foot-tall Pacific Wheel and a full-sized roller rollercoaster. You'll also find every reward your sweet teeth could long for and a myriad of arcade games with prizes. Families also delight in strolling the Third Street Boardwalk for shopping, street performers, and easy dining simply 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 nationwide park boasts the world's biggest tree, General Sherman.
Why Professional Portraits Are the Best InvestmentUnderstood for its glacial-carved canyon, Kings Canyon, is one of the deepest in North America. This park provides remarkable rock formations, rugged wilderness, and remote treking routes. Find out more about Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and other national forests in California, like Death Valley and Channel Islands, in my list of the best nationwide parks in the U.S. Joshua Tree National Park (Picture credit: lunamarina,) Located about an hour from Palm Springs, Joshua Tree National forest is vital for households who wish to explore natural wonders in California.
These unusual trees grow only in the Mojave Desert in the Southwestern U.S. Children will take pleasure in scrambling over the park's giant boulders and checking out short, simple trails that display the desert's transcendent landscape. Book a guided Joshua Tree National forest tour with our trusted partner, GetYourGuide. Calico Mine Ride at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, a suburb of Los Angeles (Photo credit: Colleen Lanin) Simply a short drive from Los Angeles, Buena Park is a dream for households who like theme park, themed experiences, and simple getaway enjoyable.
Summer season visitors can cool down at Soak City Water Park, while yearround entertainment consists of Medieval Times and Pirates Dinner Adventure. It's an easy addon to any Southern California journey and a great online for exploring nearby beaches, Orange County, and LA. Check out more in my guide to Buena Park with kids.
Discover SoCal's best-kept trick (shh!) with my La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club review. Find out about a surprise gem desert destination with these things to do in Borrego Springs. For a lot more California bucket list concepts, inspect out this California journey itinerary, a list of nationwide parks in California, and my substantial brochure of California vacations and pointers.
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