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Venice Beach in Los Angeles (Image credit: oneinchpunch,) The 2nd greatest city in the United States is filled with family-friendly activities. No wonder L.A. is one of the best places to visit in California with kids! Los Angeles likewise uses 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 locals lifting weights under the California sun. The museum is filled with art work by such artists as Van Gogh, Monet, and Cezanne.

, likewise understood as El Pueblo Historic Monument. This is the birth place of Los Angeles. It includes 27 historical structures and a central Mexican plaza.

Kids might wonder if they have actually gone into Jurassic Park as they stare at life-sized statues of woolly mammoths, massive sloths, and other extinct animals in pools of gooey asphalt bubbling from the earth.

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Kids specifically delight in Helen and Peter Bing Children's Garden, which includes playful, hands-on components such as tunnels, splash locations, fairy doors, and more. Cover a great deal of ground with a Los Angeles Go City All-Inclusive Pass for 40+ Destinations, including the Los Angeles Zoo, Knott's Berry Farm in close-by Buena Park, and a lot more.

A suburb of Los Angeles, Burbank has hundreds of major film and television studios. Burbank is home to around 100,00 locals and three powerhouse studios: Walt Disney Studios, Universal Studios Hollywood, and Warner Bros Studio. For an immersive take a look at sets and memorabilia from preferred programs and motion pictures, book a Warner Bros.

For a tasty serving of movies and television programs with a side of roller coasters and live programs, Universal Studios Hollywood is a must. This is specifically real for Harry Potter fans, who will love the Wizarding World at this theme park. Obviously, you will also desire to see the iconic Hollywood Sign and walk along the well-known Hollywood Stroll of Popularity.

Yosemite National forest Valley landscape (Image credit: haveseen,) Resplendent with hiking trails, waterfalls, and towering trees, Yosemite is a location of natural wonder. In 2024, a record-breaking 4.1 million guests visited this cherished national park. It spans almost 750,000 acres (3,035 sq km) and is home to wildlife like foxes, deer, cougars, and black bears.

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Yosemite opened in 1890 and stays one of the country's finest examples of land preservation. Families seeking to explore California's natural charm will like going to Yosemite.

While in this desert oasis, don't miss out on a crave-worthy date shake made with fruits from the area's numerous palm trees. Families are captivated with The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens. This remarkable zoo and botanical garden provides ingenious play spaces for kids and a fun design train exhibit. Giant spinning wind turbines in the Palm Springs location produce an electrifying 1.5 million megawatt-hours.

Skyrocket from the desert valley to the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains through the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. The automobile's flooring rotates throughout the trip, so guests get a 360-degree view of the Coachella Valley. Captivated? Discover more things to do in Palm Springs with kids. The Channel Islands in Ventura County (Picture credit: Colleen Lanin) For a distinct range of family activities, think about a Ventura County vacation.

Families also enjoy walking Ventura Harbor Village for ice cream and waterside views, or spending a relaxed afternoon on the wide, uncrowded beaches that specify this coastal area.

Pacific Park on Santa Monica Pier includes a dozen rides, including the 130-foot-tall Pacific Wheel and a full-sized roller coaster. You'll also discover every reward your cravings for sweets could long for and a variety of arcade games with prizes. Households also take pleasure in walking the Third Street Boardwalk for shopping, street entertainers, and simple dining simply a couple of blocks from the beach.

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Grownups and kids of any ages can't assist but feel awestruck by the huge sequoias in the Giant Forest. This national forest boasts the world's biggest tree, General Sherman. You can even drive through another impressive giant sequoia called the Tunnel Log. This beautiful place provides a selection of fantastic things to do in nature, like hiking, mountain cycling, camping, and horseback riding.

Understood for its glacial-carved canyon, Kings Canyon, is one of the inmost in The United States and Canada. This park offers remarkable rock formations, rugged wilderness, and remote treking routes. Learn more about Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and other national forests in California, like Death Valley and Channel Islands, in my list of the best national parks in the U.S. Joshua Tree National Park (Photo credit: lunamarina,) Located about an hour from Palm Springs, Joshua Tree National Park is important for households who want to check out natural wonders in California.

These uncommon trees grow only in the Mojave Desert in the Southwestern U.S. Kids will delight in scrambling over the park's giant stones and checking out brief, simple routes that display the desert's transcendent landscape. Schedule an assisted Joshua Tree National Park tour with our relied on partner, GetYourGuide. Calico Mine Trip at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, a residential area of Los Angeles (Photo credit: Colleen Lanin) Just a brief drive from Los Angeles, Buena Park is a dream for families who enjoy theme park, themed experiences, and easy getaway enjoyable.

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Summer season visitors can cool off at Soak City Water Park, while yearround entertainment includes Medieval Times and Pirates Supper Experience. It's a simple addon to any Southern California journey and a terrific home for checking out close-by beaches, Orange County, and LA. Check out more in my guide to Buena Park with kids.

Discover SoCal's best-kept secret (shh!) with my La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club review. Find out about a hidden gem desert vacation area with these things to do in Borrego Springs. For even more California bucket list ideas, have a look at this California journey schedule, a list of nationwide parks in California, and my comprehensive brochure of California getaways and ideas.