Family Vacations to California

Why Go

National Parks

California is home to Yosemite, Joshua Tree and Death Valley National Parks.

Mojave National Reserve

The Mojave National Reserve is in the southeast of the state.

Major Cities

California’s major cities include San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego.

Location

Southern California shares a border with Mexico.

Coastal Area

The beautiful West Coast is on the Pacific Ocean.

Popularity

California is the most visited U.S. state with an average of 223 million visitors each year.

Los Angeles

The City of Angels is end to end legends and there’s nowhere else quite like it, especially for older kids. Behaving like a tourist is inevitable, so just go with it and take guided tours wherever possible. Don’t miss Santa Monica Pier at night, a walk along Rodeo Drive, do at least one Hollywood experience, fit in a visit to the Fashion District for teens and spend more than a day on the city’s wonderful beaches.

Make it your mission to do a little of Museum Row. It’s home to the La Brea Tar Pits and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
LA has a bewildering number of restaurants, to find fun and kid-friendly places check out the reliable and unbiased Gayot Restaurant Guide online.
From Museum Row to Santa Monica Beach and Universal Studios, LA has most of its popular family hotels within easy reach of the city’s biggest sights.

Take Me to Los Angeles

Yosemite

Yosemite National Park is just over a three hour drive east of San Francisco. Not a day trip by any means, but a fantastic family adventure you can have over a long weekend.

There’s a range of good value family accommodation in the park and it’s bookable in advance.
Kids are welcome guests and Yosemite has a wide range of well-organized and imaginative children’s activities and initiatives.
Trails and walks throughout the park are well-marked in order of difficulty so even younger kids have freedom to explore.

Take Me to Yosemite

San Diego

San Diego is sunny all year round, has acres of beaches and is California’s most family-friendly city. It may not have the same number of star attractions as LA or San Francisco, but the historic quarters, fun theme parks and world famous zoo are more than enough to keep kids of all ages entertained.

Home to the New Children’s Museum and Legoland, San Diego also has a fascinating Little Italy and the charming Gaslamp Quarter for teen appeal.
Glamorous La Jolla is just a short distance from downtown San Diego – one of the prettiest stretches of southern California coast.
The city is less than an hour from the border of Mexico and infamous Tijuana.
San Diego’s huge, beachy waterfront is edged with large resort hotels. Historic districts are good for family-friendly character hotels. And La Jolla is where to look for the ultimate in luxury accommodation.

Take Me to San Diego

San Francisco

San Francisco is another California city that’s worth a visit with kids. Younger ones love the fun activities, many parks and surprising thrills. Don’t miss the sea lions on Fishermen’s Wharf and Telegraph Hill’s flocks of colorful wild parrots. Teenagers will love the quaint historic quarters, exceptional shopping and once-in-a-lifetime experiences like crossing the Golden Gate Bridge and sailing to Alcatraz. Walk around and take the trolley cars as much as you can in San Francisco, it’s the best way to see the city and soak up its unique atmosphere.

Over the past decade San Francisco has become one of the world’s most expensive cities. But it’s also the birthplace of Airbnb and hosts here are well versed in the art of sharing with families. You’ll find the system highly professional in San Francisco and it’s an affordable way to stay in some of the city’s more historic and interesting areas.

Take Me to San Francisco

Educational Value for Kids

California is almost as famous for its rugged landscape as it for beaches and big highways, Yosemite National Park is a snapshot of this breathtaking state. Take the kids camping here, it’s an unforgettable experience.

A San Francisco walking tour from Russian Hill to the Ferry Building goes through the oldest areas of the city and lets kids see the wild parrots of Telegraph Hill.

San Francisco and LA are packed with astonishing museums and galleries. Many have year-round children’s programs.

Getting Around with Kids in California

If you’re sticking to cities, don’t drive. Public transport is always excellent, clearly explained and extensively laid out. On the coast and in the countryside, renting a car is the best way to get around with children. There are good rail and coach services across the state, but they involve long journeys and few stops.

Family Vacations to California

California – Family Vacation Guide

Explore California

Why Go