California is family-friendly, with abundant sights and activities, from theme parks to beaches. Your family holiday plan will seem much better with these ideas of exciting activities to do in California. Choosing one or two in the same city or region and taking a road trip between them is the most straightforward plan for first-time tourists. Your children will be begging to return, making exploring the remainder of the following vacation simple.
- San Diego Zoo
In addition to housing more than 4,000 animals from 800 species, the well-known San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park is renowned for its stunning natural features, emphasis on conservation, and status as a certified botanical garden. Highlights include hippo habitats, koalas, Galapagos tortoises, polar bears, and the state-of-the-art elephant care center. Children adore the play areas, keeper talks, and using the Skyfari Aerial Tram throughout the Zoo. Consider one of their private guided tours if you are short on time; they can quickly whisk you around the park after reaching California by private jet rentals. Reminder: Don’t overlook San Diego Zoo Safari Park, another San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Park. Additionally, San Diego Zoo Safari Park tickets and discounts are available.
- Disneyland Resort
Park Hopper tickets make sense because the newer Disney California Adventure Park is conveniently located just a short distance away. Pixar lovers will love Toy Story Mania and the legendary Radiator Springs Racers attraction in Cars Land, as well as the recently added Avengers Campus. Some restaurants allow parents to relax in addition to offering a choice of cuisines that are different from what is often served at amusement parks. A couple of them even sell alcohol. Get multi-day discounted Disneyland tickets to save extra cash in your wallet. By reserving a room at a resort hotel and relaxing at a Downtown Disney restaurant at the end of the day, you may even prolong your stay in the Disneyland wonderland.
- Learn How to Surf
You and your children can learn to surf while on a family vacation in California. Choose a family-friendly beach in California that offers surfing instruction, such as La Jolla Shores Beach or Huntington Beach. These schools have foam boards and wetsuits. While 5 years old and above is generally the suggested age, some younger children who swim well can begin earlier (check with the school). In the first session, kids can stand up on a board.
Look for surf camps if you’re planning a summertime family trip to California. Some don’t require reservations for a whole week; you may stop over for the day. If you’re arriving from somewhere in the United States that doesn’t have beaches, your child will love telling friends about how cool it is to hang out.
- La Jolla Beaches and Tide Pools
If you can visit during the winter, the tidal pools at La Jolla are among the best-kept secrets in the area. In the Village, you may stroll down Coast Blvd. to discover several habitats revealed during low tide, including those inhabited by hermit crabs, sea stars, rockfish, sea cucumbers, sea anemones, and more. This is also the location of the well-known, frolicking La Jolla sea lions and seals, which is another must-see when visiting San Diego with children at almost any time of the year. One of the state’s only urban rookeries is located on Children’s Pool beach, and sea lions may be found on the cliffs and beach in La Jolla Cove. From December to April, cute seal pups are born on this beach yearly.
- Universal Studios Hollywood
Take a peek behind the scenes at some of your family’s favorite films and enjoy exciting rides with themes drawn from Fast & Furious, The Simpsons, Despicable Me, The Mummy, and more. This California amusement park and real TV and movie studio is a great place to see live stunt acts and munch on enormous donuts. In the immensely famous Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood, fans of the series may enjoy butterbeer and shop for Hogwarts house apparel in Hogsmeade. The must-see World Famous Studio Tour allows visitors to witness King Kong demolish buildings in the world’s most significant and dramatic three-dimensional performance. There are several methods to get the Universal Studios entrance fee less. You may get inexpensive tickets from me here for both locals and non-residents.
- Huntington Beach (Surf City USA)
Its gigantic waves that crash along the pier, the more than a century of world-class surfers who made the breaks famous (some of whom I am fortunate enough to call family friends), and maybe a song you may recognize from the Beach Boys are why it has earned the moniker Surf City USA. The 10 miles of broad, playable sand make this among the most enjoyable things to do in California with kids. This ocean has a sandy bottom and is unobstructed. In HB, you may enjoy a traditional SoCal beach day. On day vacations, the entire family may even take surf lessons here. Participate in a beach bonfire to round off your day once you’ve mastered the art of hanging ten.
- Griffith Park Observatory
With one of the most giant telescopes in the world, this fantastic museum is THE spot to go in Los Angeles for anybody who enjoys stargazing at night. There are also many entertaining displays in the universe to check out. The memorials to some of the most famous space missions that people have taken will also be enjoyable for you. Griffith Park Observatory is the space enthusiast’s dream come true. The best part? Admission is free. Additionally, there’s a lovely outdoor picnic space where you can pack a lunch for a leisurely family outing. If you like the film La La Land, one pivotal moment occurs at the observatory.
Conclusion
A minor child may not find a visit there very enjoyable at first, but when they witness this fantastic technical achievement, they will. This monument, known as the Golden Gate to the Golden State, combines a breathtaking vista with some Californian history. Enjoy the beauty or teach your kids why the bridge is orange rather than gold by taking them for a stroll or a bike ride. Take a ferry beneath the bridge to see it from below, or go to the Marin Headlands for a less crowded, uninterrupted perspective.