We love taking family getaways in California! With a handful of major metropolitan areas, the Pacific Ocean, national parks, wine country and plenty of sun, there are endless destination options. We have spent many weekends traveling around California but are always looking for new places to explore. We asked fellow family travel bloggers to share their favorite California family weekend getaways and came up with this amazing list:
#1: Death Valley National Park
Death Valley National Park is an amazing destination to visit with kids of all ages. From the lunar looking landscapes to the massive sand dunes and expansive salt flats, kids of all ages will be mesmerized!
The top thing to do on any family itinerary at Death Valley is to spend some time at Mesquite Flats Sand Dunes. The furthest, tallest dune is about two miles out; however, families will have fun exploring the different dunes no matter how far they go. While visiting on this side of the park, take a detour to the only interpretive trail in Death Valley, the Saltwater Creek Trail. This is home to the elusive pupfish that families will enjoy searching for along the boardwalk trail. The best bet for pupfish sightings is during the spring. Heading deeper into the park, Badwater Basin is another must visit on any trip to Death Valley. This expansive salt flat sits 200+ feet below sea level and is considered the lowest point in North America.
There is so much to do in the park, but no visit is complete without a stop (or two) at Zabriskie Point, which offers the most iconic views in Death Valley. View it from the top before heading out the Badlands Trail to see it from within as well!
Recommended by Karilyn Owen from No Back Home. Find out more from Karilyn about Death Valley with kids.
#2: Disneyland
Disneyland is just 40 minutes from Los Angeles International Airport and is a must-do family two-night getaway. Sure, there are plenty of crowds and high-priced expenditures that come with this particular holiday. But, a visit to the dreamland that Walt originally built also brings with it a sort of magic. Here’s our recommended itinerary:
- Disneyland: Day One
- Book the Character Dining Breakfast at Plaza Inn. It gets you inside before the crowds, and kids can bust a move with beloved characters while enjoying a decent buffet.
- Visit original attractions from opening day (1955) like Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, Disneyland Railroad, Jungle Cruise and Mad Tea Party.
- Meet Mickey & Minnie in Toontown before or after a home tour.
- Book lunch at Blue Bayou inside the world of the Pirates of the
Caribbean and dinner at Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen
for live music, adult drinks and NOLA cuisine in Downtown Disney. (Note: Until the Star Wars Bar opens summer 2019, the general public can’t buy alcohol on property.)
- Disney California Adventure (DCA): Day Two –
- Casually stroll the boardwalk-themed waterside. Explore Cars Land.
- Grab a cocktail. Enjoy rides as you come upon them. The feel is completely different here and can be done at a slower pace.
We recommend staying at Sheraton Park Hotel, an off-property hotel that is a short 15-minute walk from the entrance. Guests get a break from the hustle and bustle and get more bang for their buck. Families who book a Fireworks View Room on the Concierge Floor won’t regret it.
Recommended by Brandy from Kid Allergy Travel.
#3: Hollywood
Hollywood is an amazing city to visit with kids. We spent an afternoon to exploring Hollywood after visiting Warner Brothers Studios. We parked on Hollywood Boulevard and walked the hall of fame listing all the Hollywood stars and took great delight in pointing out any Australians that made the cut. We briefly stopped at the Chinese Theater for a few photos. Next up was the famous Hollywood sign. We choose to view it from the Hollywood Bowl. The gates were open and we walked around and took some photos from the very rear seating area.
Warner Brothers Studios is a great tour, visitors see behind the scenes of many different sitcoms we have come to know and love. We did a quick skit on the Friends set sitting on the couch in the Central Peaks Cafe. Kids thought that was brilliant. Universal Studios was also a big hit with the kids. Especially popular was the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and all the new 4D thrill rides. The Back Stage tram ride took us around many of the sets for different films that we recognized from some of Hollywood’s blockbuster movies. Last but not least, we took a drive through Beverly Hills and down Rodeo Drive. Would have been nice to kick back in a convertible Mustang but our trusty Ford Mondeo hire car was more than fine!
Recommended by Sally Lucas from Our 3 Kids v the World. Find out more from Sally about Universal Studios with kids.
#4: Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
Visiting the world’s tallest trees in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park with our family was like stepping into another planet. In fact, our kids often found themselves looking for Ewoks hiding among the massive tree trunks and head-high ferns during our visit. We later learned that George Lucas filmed his Endor scenes from Return of the Jedi right here in the Redwoods. Coastal redwood trees, which can grow up to 360 feet tall, are only found on the California coast, from Big Sur up to the Oregon border. There are plenty of redwood forests in California, but in our opinion, the best place to explore with children is Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.
The trails in Redwoods are very accessible for kids, and there are interpretive programs that provide a closer look at the area’s wildlife and ecosystems. During our three-day visit, we camped under the canopy of massive trees and were able to explore many of the trails without ever getting in our car. We spent our mornings hiking through the fog, and our afternoons swimming in the gloriously cold and clean Smith River — seriously one of our top five swimming spots in the whole USA. The park is also just a short drive from the ocean in Crescent City, where we witnessed some of the most beautiful sunsets we’ve ever seen. Our weekend in the Redwoods is a trip we still talk about, and we can’t wait to go back.
Joshua Tree National Park is often described as ‘otherworldly’ and indeed, its peculiar landscape makes it one of the most unique and distinctive places in California.
Located about 3 hours by car from LA, Joshua Tree National Park lies where two different desert systems meet: the Colorado and the Mojave. The park is famous for the ‘Joshua trees’, big yucca plants stretching their arms to the sky, and giant boulders that erosion has carved into elaborate shapes that act as refuge for desert wildlife.
Despite the inhospitable climate, Joshua tree is fantastic to visit with kids. Several hikes such as Skull Rock discovery trail and Cholla cactus garden are suitable even for the youngest explorers and the rangers organise excellent kids activities such as the Dr Seuss inspired ‘I speak for the tree’ events about conservation.
The best way to visit Joshua tree is to drive to the area and spend a couple of days exploring different trails. Make sure not to miss the junior ranger program.
Recommended by Marta Correale from Learning Escapes. Find out more from Marta about visiting Joshua Tree with kids.
Lake Tahoe‘s laid-back vibe and abundance of outdoor activities make it my favorite place to visit with kids during any season. With stunning views of blue water and snow-capped mountains, the area is purposely underdeveloped to protect and maintain a pristine lake. In the winter, Tahoe is a wonderland. There are several ski resorts around the lake. For families, I recommend Northstar, Heavenly, or Squaw Valley. All have excellent ski schools, plus activities such as ice skating, sledding, snow tubing, bungee trampolining, shopping, dining, and even crafts like candle- and pottery-making.
The resorts are also popular spots in the summer, offering zip-lining, ropes courses, climbing walls, and gondola rides. But there’s so much more Tahoe offers in the summer. Every time we visit, we try to hike a new trail – and there are tons to explore! Tahoe also has beautiful beaches and every water sport imaginable. We have camped, kayaked, hiked, and biked. And Kings Beach on the north shore of Lake Tahoe has one of the best mini golf courses we’ve ever played!
We also love exploring by car. Driving around the lake, with its winding roads and incredible vistas, is quite an experience! Driving non-stop takes about three hours, but we stopped at all the beaches and scenic viewpoints we could find. At each stop, we took pictures and collected cool rocks or some of Tahoe‘s gigantic pine cones!
Recommended by Shannon Entin from the TV Traveler. Check out more of her California adventures.
#7: Los Angeles
Visitors could easily spend a week or more in Los Angeles with kids, however, it’s still a worthwhile trip for families who only have a few days. Weekend visitors will just have to be selective as to what they do. International visitors will most likely fly into LAX, and it may even be their first stop before moving on to explore other parts of the USA. LA is also the official end of the famous Route 66, so this a good place to start or end a road trip as well.
As to family friendly attractions in LA, they are endless! Some of the more popular attractions include Universal Studios and the Warner Bros Studio Tour. Other places I recommend for families are the Grammy Museum (great for music fans), Broad Museum (great for creative kids) and the Natural History Museum of LA County (great for little dinosaur fans).
For free activities, spend some time on Santa Monica beach and stroll down to Venice Beach to watch the buskers. For families who love to shop, check out the Grove a lovely outdoor mall and the Farmers Markets next door is great for lunch.
Recommended by Melissa Delaware from of Thrifty Family Travels. Find out more from Melissa about Los Angeles with kids.
#8: Malibu
Looking for an escape from the hustle and bustle of LA? Look no further than, Malibu, LA’s closest neighbor to the north. Stretching 21 scenic miles along the Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu is the stuff California dreams are made of. Malibu’s Mediterranean climate means warm dry summers and moderate winters. There are gorgeous beaches, world famous surf spots, fishing, hiking and plenty of dining, shopping, and museums to keep families occupied no matter the time of year. The best way to experience Malibu is in a car.
Experienced fisherman and first timers will both find the pier to be a great place to enjoy a day of fishing. We’ve been a few different times and have had great luck even enjoying an evening meal with our catch of the day. The Malibu Sport Fishing Pier is located at 23000 Pacific Coast Highway and is open daily from 6:30 am to sunset. Fishing permits are not required, and fishing rods, bait and tackle are available for rental on the Pier.
Zuma Beach, located at the northern end of Malibu, is one of LA’s most popular beaches. The drive to Zuma is spectacular in itself, and there are almost two miles of soft clean sand, a wide variety of beach activities, restaurants, public restrooms and plentiful parking.
An entire glorious day could be spent at Leo Carrillo State Park where activities at the park are many and include, exploring the tide pools, swimming, surfing, windsurfing, surf fishing, and beach combing. There are also caves and reefs for exploring, hiking trails, picnic tables and camping. Leo Carrillo is located at 35000 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu and is open from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm. The entrance to the park is on the East side of the Pacific Coast Highway. There are bathrooms and pay showers on site.
I love the beach, but I don’t love eating in the sand, which makes Neptune’s Net, located just a few miles north of Leo Carrillo State Park, a great place to grab a bite to eat prior to hitting the beach. Since 1956 it’s been a favorite of motorcyclists, surfers, locals and anyone else looking for a delicious basket of golden fish and chips. Expect a crowd, especially on weekends.
Recommended by Hilary from Hilary Style. Find out more from Hilary about Malibu with kids.
#9: Marin County
Marin County is a wonderful location for a family weekend. It is separated from San Francisco by the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge but offers many great kid-friendly activities. Our favorite is definitely Muir Woods National Monument. This magical redwood forest features the Sequoia sempervirens, the Earth’s tallest living things. These trees are around 250 feet tall and hundreds of years old. A walk through these woods is nothing short of awe-inspiring. We also enjoy visiting Point Reyes. Point Reyes is the windiest place on the Pacific Coast and the second foggiest place on the North American continent, so it’s no surprise that its famous lighthouse had to work overtime and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Another great place to visit during a weekend in Marin County is the Marin County Civic Center, which was designed by one of our favorite architects, Frank Lloyd Wright. Marin County is a great destination for a weekend trip.
Recommended by We Go With Kids. Find out more about Muir Woods with kids.
#10: Mendocino
Mendocino is a fantastic city for families to visit in California. It is located just off the Pacific Coast Highway, three hours north of San Francisco. As a coastal small town, Mendocino boasts access to beautiful beaches, state parks and outdoor fun. Families can kayak through sea caves, bike or swim in Mendocino State Park, visit a museum downtown or hike Russian Gulch State Park. Those with smaller children may just enjoy wading in the Pacific Ocean. The dramatic cliffs make for a spectacular backdrop and one of the unique features here is that there are two rivers that meet the ocean – the Little River and Big River. Walking along the river bank and watching how the freshwater interacts with the salt water is fascinating.
For those who prefer a more wooded area, Jackson State Park and Mendocino National Park are within 30 min to an hour away. Here families can enjoy camping, boating, and walking among the redwoods. Families looking for a continued adventure further north than Mendocino can check out the Pacific Northwest.
Recommended by Margie from DQ Family Travel. Find out more from Margie about visiting the Pacific Northwest with kids.
Monterey is one of California’s most unsung treasures. Located just two hours south of San Francisco, Monterey is the perfect getaway for families traveling with children. On a recent trip, my family of four was blown away by the breadth of activities in Monterey – everything from California history, amazing marine life, hiking, and wine tasting is available!
Every trip to Monterey should be anchored by the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium. Located on the bay, the aquarium is the perfect place to spend hours discovering and exploring marine life. We enjoyed, in particular, the amazing jellyfish exhibits, the beautiful views of Monterey Bay, and, the abundant marine themed play spaces for children, which came in particularly handy on a rainy morning.
In addition to Monterey Bay Aquarium, families should absolutely take advantage of California’s beautiful outdoors. Visit the Dennis the Menace Playground and take a paddle boat ride on Lake El Centro. Take a walk alongside the Asilomar State Beach, where the boardwalk meanders along 25 acres of restored sand dunes. And if you’re feeling particularly adventurous, Jacks Peak Park is an ideal location for families looking to hike with young children as it is perfectly manageable for little legs and the heavy forestry provides abundant shade and cool on warm days.
If time permits, be sure to check out an integral part of California history – the Carmel Mission. Built in 1770, the Mission provides a quick primer of California’s rich Spanish missionary history and is also the final resting place of Juniper Serra, the priest who founded the first missions in California.
Recommended by We Go With Kids. Find out more about Monterey with kids.
#12: Napa Valley
When we planned a family vacation to Northern California, my husband and I did not want to miss an opportunity to visit some of the country’s best wineries just because we were traveling with our two young sons. We regularly visited Grand River Valley wine country in Ohio with them, and the rare treat of drinking grape juice even more when it was served in wine glasses. While none of the wineries served grape juice in wine glasses and only one offered them Capri Sun, they enjoyed taking winery tours and riding an aerial tram at Sterling Vineyards, watching grape stomping at Grgich Hills Estates, frolicking in the vineyards at Andretti Winery, picnicking at V. Sattui and even taking a nap during a tasting at Beaulieu Vineyard. But, their highlight was really our suite at the Meritage Resort and Spa. Napa Valley may not be welcoming, but we would definitely plan a repeat trip next time we are in the area. The scenery itself is breathtaking.
Recommended by We Go With Kids. Find out more about Napa with kids.
San Diego might be one of the best family-friendly destinations in the U.S. It’s great for a weekend stay – or longer. There are both unique activities and attractions as well as beautiful scenery and beaches. For animal loving families, it’s an ideal location with the world-famous San Diego Zoo, San Diego Safari Park, and whale watching boats.
One of our family’s favorite things to do in San Diego was spying on seals and sea lions and inspecting the tidal pools at La Jolla Cove. Legoland California is a must-do for theme park junkies and is perfect for kids under 12. A trip via ferry (or by car) to Coronado Island offers a beautiful beach, but I’d also check out the grand old Hotel del Coronado and the cute seaside restaurants and shops. Gaslamp Quarter offers some great restaurants, and don’t forget to eat some fish tacos!
Recommended by Lori from Maps, Memories and Motherhood.
#14: San Francisco
San Francisco is an amazing family destination because there are endless things to do – literally. Our list of things to experience in San Francisco keeps growing because new places are popping up all the time! We live here, but if anyone wants to get here, families can fly into San Francisco or Oakland airport, or there are trains from all over the country into Emeryville, right across the Bay Bridge. It is about a 7-hour drive from Los Angeles area.
In San Francisco, families can visit kids museums, aquariums, see sea lions at Fisherman’s’ Wharf, visit Alcatraz, eat the best dim sum in Chinatown, roam around the Golden Gate Park and spot bison. There are special events happening all year round – holidays are big here in San Francisco. Also, traveling families may not consider San Francisco as a budget-friendly city, but there are over 200 free things to do with kids in San Francisco! So don’t let the average hotel price is $397 per night scare you from coming. That’s not all – there are national parks and kid-friendly wineries in every direction within an hour of a drive!
Recommended by Emily Jenks from Henry and Andrew’s Guide. Find out more from Emily about San Francisco with kids.
#15: Santa Barbara
With it’s beautiful coastline, perfect Mediterranean climate and gleaming white mission style buildings Santa Barbara is one of the most beautiful, if not the most beautiful, coast city in California. Throw in great shopping, its many fascinating sights, including the Mission, botanic gardens, a renowned natural history museum and an adorable zoo with ocean views, it’s pretty much the perfect place for a relaxing family weekend. Just two hours from Los Angeles, Santa Barbara can also make a great day trip.
My boys really love Santa Barbara’s many playgrounds. Many of them have fun interactive statues, great climbing trees, and there is even a beachside carousel.
The Santa Barbara Mission is located within acres of beautiful gardens overlooking the city of Santa Barbara and the Pacific Ocean. Guided or self guided tours are available we enjoyed exploring the grounds on our own. I was most excited about visiting the final resting place of the heroine from one of my favorite childhood books, the Island of the Blue Dolphins.
The city’s Natural History Museum may be small, but it packs a lot of punch. surprised to learn that 150,000 people visit the Museum every year. We really enjoyed our afternoon here.
The Santa Barbara Zoo is an absolutely lovely little zoo with a fabulous ocean view. The gardens are beautiful and finding your way around is relatively easy. There are many unique animals and if you’re interested you can even feed the giraffe.
Santa Barbara is relatively compact and many activities are within easy walking distance of one another, including the zoo. However, the Santa Barbara Mission, Natural History Museum and Botanical Gardens are a bit further out and require transportation
Recommended by Hilary from Hilary Style. Find out more from Hilary about Santa Barbara with kids.
#16: Santa Cruz
“Keep Santa Cruz Weird” is a bumper sticker or t-shirt slogan often seen in the Central Coastal California region advertising this quirky Monterey Bay beach town. But is Santa Cruz really that… strange? Bring your kids for a weekend and find out!
A family weekend in Santa Cruz is probably going to start out with a trip to the famous Boardwalk. Here there is a small amusement park, arcades and every fried food imaginable and its right on the beach! Be sure to try the Giant Dipper coaster, which has been in operation since 1924.
After riding the rides, head north along West Cliff Drive (Beautiful homes and stunning views) to my favorite Santa Cruz beach, Natural Bridges State Park. Relax in the sand, or take a dip in the {probably very cold} Pacific.
After a beautiful sunset at Natural Bridges, head into town to browse the funky shops, eat at one of the cafes (I love the Saturn Café for all things vegetarian) or grab a treat or ice cream on Pacific Avenue. My kids also loved eating at Pizza My Heart, not just for the pizza, but to look at all the surf memorabilia and to score a $10 t-shirt! For families spending more time in Santa Cruz, take a surf lesson (or watch the surfers at Cowell Beach), head to the Lighthouse at Seabright Beach, tour the campus at UCSC or hit up the famous Mystery Spot, which is a silly tourist destination, that well, I guess is a little weird!
Recommended by Harmony Skillman from Momma to Go. Find out more from Harmony about Santa Cruz with kids.
#17: Ventura County
One of my family’s favorite places to visit in California is Ventura County. We get to play in the ocean, hike in the mountains, visit islands, and learn about California history.
Weekend visitors to Ventura County should make sure to visit Channel Islands National Park on one day. The boat leaves from Channel Island Harbor, and it takes about one hour to get to Anacapa Island. During the journey, it is possible to see whales, seals, and other marine wildlife. Once there, families can explore this tiny island on foot, easily covering the two miles of trails before the boat ride back.
On the other day, we recommend visiting the San Buenaventura Mission and learning about the Spanish influence in this state. Ride your bike (or rent one) along the bike path next to the beach, or stroll through Ventura Harbor Village and enjoy the shops, restaurants, pedal boat rentals, and Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center. Make sure to get ice cream, too!
Recommended by Melynda Harrison from TravelingMel.com.
#18: Yosemite National Park and Sequoia National Park
Our family loves U. S. National Parks and decided to take a detour to two of California’s most visited parks during a recent family road trip. These parks are massive, and visitors could easily spend a week at each. With proper planning and research, it’s possible to enjoy many of the amazing views while bringing little ones along. Our family of six embarked on a family trip along the California coast and decided to maximize our cross-country flights by starting our adventure by visiting both Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks. We were not disappointed. A key to successfully taking on these national parks in one weekend is extensive advance planning. Key accommodation decisions are whether to stay onsite or offsite in a nearby town and at a hotel or camping. Advance lodging reservations are a must, especially during peak season.
Our itinerary: We arrived in LA on an early morning cross-country flight from Boston and drove to Sequoia, making a pit stop at Salty’s BBQ for lunch). At Sequoia, we visited the Giant Forest and hiked the family-friendly Big Trees Trail. We left Sequoia after sunset and drove to Fresno for the night. The next day, we spent a full day at Yosemite with an early start (a must to secure parking in the park) and visited Yosemite Falls and Half Dome. Lastly, we drove to San Francisco for the night. Pro tip: pack water, snacks, sunblock and insect repellent and arrive early or late as mid-day is crowded and can be particularly frustrating with cranky children.
Recommended by Ruth Mendes from Have Kiddos Will Travel. Find out more from Ruth about Yosemite or Sequoia.
Ready to plan a weekend trip in California? Check out all of our posts on the Golden State.
A close second favorite experience at the LA Zoo was the petting zoo, called Muriel’s Ranch. Free with admission, the petting ranch offers the opportunity to get up close and personal with the zoo’s residents goats and sheep. I was thrilled to be handed a brush on our way into the petting area and my three year old and I had a great time, brushing the very docile and friendly goats.
He also loved the recycling/environmental hazards center, which prompted him through specific tasks.
There were a number of separate stations in this “big kid” play area, including a climbing wall, which my 8.5 year old was happy to test out. Sadly, our time exploring was cut short because the weather turned bad – yes! We actually got caught in a rare downpour during our visit to Los Angeles!
Having visited Long Beach on a number of occasions now, I heartily endorse making plans to spend an afternoon at the Aquarium or, if you want to be really wild, plan to spend a night in Long Beach and take full advantage of everything the city has to offer. We did this on a more recent trip to Long Beach, purchasing both Aquarium tickets and a harbor tour as part of a package directly from the Aquarium, then spent the evening at hotel nearby so that we could enjoy dinner and a few hours of sand time on the beach before heading back to Los Angeles.
The LaBrea Tar Pits are shallow pools of oil that coagulated into asphalt and trapped Ice Age animals. The Tar Pits are registered as a National Natural Landmark, and over 3.5 million fossils have been found on the site, with excavation continuing year round at Project 23 and seasonally at Pit 91.
My second favorite thing in Los Angeles was Santa Monica. I liked Santa Monica because it was about 90 degrees and felt good to dip my feet in the Pacific Ocean. The other reason I liked Santa Monica was because of the pier. A pier is like a boardwalk over the ocean. On the pier, I saw multiple musicians, a magic performer, and an artist. I bought a painting of the pier from a painter. There was also an amusement park with a roller coaster, ferris wheel and other rides.
