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Venice Beach in Los Angeles (Photo credit: oneinchpunch,) The second biggest city in the United States is filled with family-friendly activities. In truth, Los Angeles is home to over 90 museums, and the city location boasts around 15,000 restaurants. No wonder L.A. is among the best places to check out in California with kids! Los Angeles also offers 24 miles (38.5 km) of sandy beaches along the California Coast.
Take in its unique SoCal vibe, an expansive skate park, and an outside fitness center with musclebound residents lifting weights under the California sun. Olvera Street in Los Angeles (Picture credit: Colleen Lanin) The Getty Center is amongst the most popular destinations in the Los Angeles area. The museum is filled with artwork by such artists as Van Gogh, Monet, and Cezanne.
Found on Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park, Griffith Observatory wows visitors with its planetarium, high-powered telescopes for public use, and space shows. Families seem like they've crossed the border into Mexico on Olvera Street, likewise referred to as El Pueblo Historic Monument. This is the birthplace of Los Angeles. It includes 27 historical structures and a central Mexican plaza.
Action method back in time at La Brea Tar Pits and Natural History Museum. Kids may wonder if they have actually gotten in Jurassic Park as they look at life-sized statues of woolly mammoths, huge sloths, and other extinct animals in pools of gooey asphalt bubbling from the earth. Posing at The Huntington (Photo credit: Phil Journeys In between) A personal favorite, The Huntington Botanical Gardens stretches throughout 130 visitable acres (half a square kilometer).
Kids particularly delight in Helen and Peter Bing Children's Garden, which includes playful, hands-on elements such as tunnels, splash areas, 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 nearby Buena Park, and much more.
A suburban area of Los Angeles, Burbank has hundreds of major film and tv studios. Of course, you will also desire to see the renowned Hollywood Indication and stroll along the famous Hollywood Walk of Popularity.
Yosemite National Park Valley landscape (Image 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 beloved national park. It covers nearly 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 conservation. Families seeking to explore California's natural beauty will love going to Yosemite.
While in this desert sanctuary, do not miss a crave-worthy date shake made with fruits from the location's numerous palm trees. Families are fascinated with The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens. This impressive zoo and arboretum offers innovative play spaces for kids and an enjoyable design train exhibit. Giant spinning wind turbines in the Palm Springs area produce an electrifying 1.5 million megawatt-hours.
The car's floor rotates throughout the trip, so guests get a 360-degree view of the Coachella Valley. The Channel Islands in Ventura County (Photo credit: Colleen Lanin) For a special selection of household activities, consider a Ventura County trip.
Households also enjoy strolling Ventura Harbor Town for ice cream and waterside views, or spending an unwinded afternoon on the wide, uncrowded beaches that define this coastal area.
Pacific Park on Santa Monica Pier features a dozen trips, including the 130-foot-tall Pacific Wheel and a full-sized roller rollercoaster. You'll also discover every treat your cravings for sweets could yearn for and a myriad of arcade games with rewards. Households also take pleasure in walking the Third Street Promenade for shopping, street entertainers, and simple dining simply a couple of blocks from the beach.
Adults and kids of all ages can't help however feel awestruck by the enormous sequoias in the Giant Forest. This national park boasts the world's largest tree, General Sherman.
Known for its glacial-carved canyon, Kings Canyon, is among the inmost in North America. This park uses significant rock developments, rugged wilderness, and remote treking trails. Learn more about Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and other national forests in California, like Death Valley and Channel Islands, in my list of the finest nationwide parks in the U.S. Joshua Tree National Forest (Picture credit: lunamarina,) Located about an hour from Palm Springs, Joshua Tree National Park is essential for households who want to check out natural wonders in California.
Building a Tradition with Local Artists in Your StateCalico Mine Ride at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, a residential area of Los Angeles (Photo credit: Colleen Lanin) Just a short drive from Los Angeles, Buena Park is a dream for families who enjoy amusement parks, themed adventures, and easy vacation enjoyable.
Summertime visitors can cool off at Soak City Water Park, while yearround entertainment consists of Medieval Times and Pirates Supper Adventure. It's a simple addon to any Southern California trip and a great home base for checking out neighboring beaches, Orange County, and LA. Explore more in my guide to Buena Park with kids.
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