After spending a ton of time on various Southern California vacation adventures, we have compiled the ultimate list of travel tips for making the most of this beautiful part of the country. With over 100 items below and great tips for each area we have visited, you are sure to have an amazing family vacation that your family will talk about for years to come.
101 Southern California Vacation Family Activities
Southern California is our home away from home, or so we like to say. That means we have explored hundreds of local attractions and found that it is truly the ideal California vacation destination to spend with your family. We have broken down a few of the top areas to visit with our favorite travel tips and recommendations for family activities that you will love.
One of our favorite things about Southern California is you are within 2-3 hours of everything. From crossing the border into Mexico to seeing the Hollywood sign, you aren’t far away from any of these great attractions. Taking a weekend trip to just one area has been something we have done many times, but the best California vacation is for 1-2 weeks giving you time to visit all of the area destinations you have an interest in seeing.
Los Angeles Attractions:
- Universal Studios Hollywood
- Le Brea Tar Pits
- Santa Monica Pier {we love going here!}
- Six Flags Magic Mountain
- Hollywood Walk Of Fame
- Hollywood Sign
- Rodeo Drive
- Japanese American National Museum
- Los Angeles Zoo
- United States Holocaust Memorial
- Battleship USS Iowa
- Venice Canals Walkway
- Hollywood Bowl Museum (and amphitheater)
- Griffith Observatory
- TLC Chinese Theater
- Malibu Lagoon (beach)
- The Getty Center
- Los Angeles County Museum Of Art
- Walt Disney Concert Hall
- Natural History Museum – Los Angeles County
- California African American Museum
- Peterson Automotive Museum
- Madame Tussauds Hollywood
- Museum of Contemporary Art – Los Angeles
- Venice Beach {you see very interesting things in this area}
- The Last Bookstore (bookstore, record shop, and more)
- Chinatown {perfect place to get dim sum}
- Travel Town (transportation museum – bonus free!)
- California Science Center
- Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
- Serenity Park Parrot Sanctuary
- The Hollywood Museum
- Autry Museum of the American West
- Eat at In-N-Out Burger {Yes, this is a must. It’s the first thing we do when we land!}
As you can see, this list has something for every age and desire in your family. From theme park rides to amazing classic and contemporary art, the list of fun California vacation activities in Los Angeles is thorough.
Travel Tips #1 – Stay outside of the city for better rates on lodging, consider an Anaheim vacation home.
Los Angeles is a short drive from surrounding areas in Orange County. Take advantage of the many free walking tours throughout the city, and spend 1-2 days just observing the hustle and bustle around the city. Look for discount tickets for attractions through local grocery stores or Costco Warehouse for bundle packages to save money.
You can also find quite a few foodie spots in the Anaheim area.
Anaheim and Orange County Attractions:
- Disneyland
- Downtown Disney
- Disney California Adventure
- Knott’s Berry Farm
- Flight Deck Air Combat Center
- Fullerton Arboretum
- Downtown Fullerton at Night (coffee shops, vintage stores, and more)
- Muzeo (museum of art exhibits that rotate regularly)
- Angel Stadium (watch a game)
- Pretend City Children’s Museum
- Discovery Science Center
- Brookhurst Park
- Anaheim Gardenwalk (shopping)
- Adventure City (a small amusement park for kids under 9)
- Santa Ana Zoo
- City National Grove of Anaheim
- Bowers Museum
- Medieval Times Dinner Theater {fun, family event}
- Richard Nixon Presidental Library and Museum
- Orange County Zoo
- Yorba Regional Park
- Seascape Kids Fun
- Olinda Oil Museum & Trail
Travel Tips #2: Orange County is within a few minutes of many major attractions. A vacation house rental is a great way to save money on expenses, but you may also want to look at surrounding areas like Fullerton, Brea, and Placentia for lower cost hotel prices. Take advantage of the lower costs and stock up on groceries at a local market to avoid paying high prices inside the popular theme parks.
San Diego County Attractions:
- Coronado Island {another favorite spot to visit}
- San Diego Zoo
- San Diego Zoo Safari Park {a must do!}
- Sea World San Diego
- Balboa Park
- San Diego Natural History Museum
- San Diego Museum of Man
- Balboa Park Botanical Gardens {gorgeous area}
- San Diego Air & Space Museum
- San Diego Model Railroad Museum
- Old Town San Diego
- La Jolla Beaches {one of my favorite places to go! Plus, you can catch the sea lions laying out in the sun}
- USS Midway Museum
- Seaport Village {one of my favorite spots to visit!}
- Corvette Diner (enjoy classic burger & fries in a fun environment)
- Maritime Museum of San Diego
- Torrey Pines State Natural Preserve
- Point Loma, San Diego (lighthouses)
- Rueben H. Fleet Science Center
- Mission San Diego de Alcala (first Franciscan mission)
- Balboa Theater
- Santee Swap Meet
- Classic Car Thursday’s in El Cajon
- Waterfront Park
- Santee Lakes
- California Surf Museum
- San Diego Chinese Museum
- Mission Bay Park {great foodie spots in this area}
- Mount Soledad
- Cabrillo National Monument {amazing views of San Diego from here}
- Sunset Cliffs National Park
- Eat at The Mission in San Diego (best breakfast ever!)
- Old Globe Theater (great live performances!)
- Birch Aquarium at Scripps
- SanDiego Mormon Tabernacle (beautiful architecture and garden)
- Spreckels Organ Pavillion (Sunday for live shows)
- San Diego Fair (usually June-July month long with concerts, rides, and food)
Travel Tips #3: Consider renting a vacation home or even a condo near the water to save money on hotel costs.
San Diego offers a great rail system for public transit that has dozens of locations all over the county. Instead of driving everywhere, grab the inexpensive day passes and ride from destination to destination. You may also consider investing in a Southern California CityPass for savings on many of the popular area attractions.
Other Southern California Attractions:
- Cross the border to Tijuana
- Legoland in Carlsbad {see how we scored free tickets to Legoland}
- Joshua Tree National Park {still on my bucket list}
- Salton Sea
- Visit Julian for an old town feeling and apple pie { this is a fun, quaint little town!}
- Drive to Mount Laguna
- Check out the top things to do in San Diego
- Border Field State Park
- Be sure to spend in Carlsbad- near the beach, plus tons of shopping options!
As you consider making your California vacation happen in Southern California, you’ll find there are dozens of amazing things to do with your family. This list includes museums, amusement parks, water parks, theaters, shopping, historical landmarks, and even a few places you really must enjoy a meal at while in the area. Southern California truly is the ultimate family vacation destination.
Find more ideas in Southern Calfornia:
California Vacation Destinations In Los Angeles
Eight Days in a Californian Paradise
California Vacation: How We Saved BIG & Spent Under $3000
Disneyland Things to Do and Discover: 32 Fun Ideas
Why Anaheim Vacation House Rentals For Your California Vacations Is The Perfect Place
California Vacation Destinations In Anaheim & Orange County
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