We love California. Of course, California is our home, but we also love that there are so many exciting things to do in California with kids. The mild weather, changing landscape, and hundreds of kid-friendly activities make it the perfect place for families to explore year-round.
For this post, I wanted to showcase some of our favorite things to do in California with kids of all ages. These attractions and venues span all across California, so no matter where you’re vacationing in CA, one of these activities will probably be near you.
Here’s my list of things to do in California with kids:
30 Things To Do In California With Kids
Beaches and Watersports
Kayak in San Harbor, Lake Tahoe
We love Lake Tahoe any time of year. There are few places you can visit that have so much to offer both in the heights of summer and depths of winter. This is why my husband and I decided to invest in a mountain vacation home in Lake Tahoe! One of our favorite things to do with the kids in the summer season is kayaking in clear kayaks. You can do this in the San Harbor Nevada State Park and it’s well worth your time.
Make a splash at Stinson Beach
Stinson Beach is a favorite of ours, and we visit it often as San Fran residents. It’s one of the best beaches in northern California and has the most beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background! At Stinson beach, your family (including your dogs) can swim, hike, play volleyball, have a picnic, surf, or even fish. They have a snack bar too if you’re hoping to pack light!
Play in the sand at Coronado Central Beach
Coronado Central Beach in San Diego is another beautiful beach that’s very family-friendly. It’s flat, which makes it easy for toddlers to run and explore. Or, if you or your children like skim boarding, a lot of that goes on at Coronado as well. As parents, you’ll enjoy the backdrop of the amazing Hotel del Coronado and a boardwalk lined with mansions and impressive homes.
Go for a swim or hike at La Jolla Shores Beach
Here’s another beautiful beach in San Diego. We like this one, because not only are there areas to swim, but you can go on hikes over the bluffs, kayak in the ocean, or even host a beach fire with s’mores after dark.
Boogie board at Zuma Beach
Zuma Beach in Malibu is the perfect beach for an all-day trip. There’s a massive, wide beach that gives you plenty of room for beach play or water play. Plus, there are multiple volleyball nets, fishing areas, food stands, and kite surfing spots. Of course, they’re also known for being the perfect boogie boarding beach!
Winter Sports
Ski and snowboard at the Palisades
You can expect Lake Tahoe to come up a few times on this list, as we think it’s one of the best places in the U.S. for a family vacation! Though Caden and Willow are not quite to skiing and snowboarding age yet, Jason and I are really excited for that season of our lives. We’ll definitely be taking them to the Palisades for their first trip down the slopes.
Play in the snow at Soda Springs
If you also have younger kids who aren’t ready for skiing and snowboarding, Soda Springs has “Planet Kids” which is a snowy playplace made for kids under 7. The kids can tube and sled down a mini slope and then ride back up “the magic carpet.” There’s also a carousel, snow volcanoes, snowmobile/sled rides, and just lots of snow to play in!
Sled at Donner Summit
There are also plenty of public areas to play in the snow in northern CA. This one is near Soda Springs and in the winter there are places to sled and have a snowball fight. In the summer, stop by again for hiking and biking!
Hiking and Biking
Bike from Santa Monica to Venice
One of our family’s favorite bike rides is the approximately 30 minute ride from Santa Monica to Venice. The bike trail goes right along the beach the whole way, so it’s an incredible view! The terrain isn’t too challenging either for young bike riders. For kids, either grab a bicycle stroller or let them zoom along on a balance bike! Caden loves his and can easily handle the quick trip.
Explore Lassen Volcanic National Park
If your family enjoys hiking, nature walks, camping, and scenic drives, Lassen Volcanic National Park in northeastern California is a great place to visit with kids. The mountains are beautiful and you’ll see plenty of local wildlife along the way. Some toddler- and kid-friendly trails we love are the Manzanita Lake Trail, the Devastated Area Interpretive Trail, and Lilly Pond Nature Loop.
Ride across the Golden Gate Bridge
Biking across San Francisco’s iconic Golden Gate Bridge is a breathtaking and memorable experience for any age. The ride is pretty flat and takes about 30 minutes. If you plan to ride all the way to Sausalito, be sure to plan for over an hour if you have young bikers.
Hike Cascade Falls Trail
There are numerous hiking opportunities in Lake Tahoe, but the Cascade Falls Trail is one of our top picks. It’s about a 1.5 round trip and midway through you see the 200 ft. waterfall. Kids find this sight extremely exciting.
Theme Parks and Attractions
Have a blast at the Sesame Place
Sesame Place in San Diego is a Sesame Street water and amusement park. Kids can ride rides, make a splash, meet their favorite Sesame Street characters, watch parades, and explore the Sesame Street neighborhood.
Ride rides at the Santa Monica Pier
The Santa Monica Pier is another exciting attraction for families. You can stroll across the pier, ride the Ferris wheel, play carnival games, eat classic fair food, and even hang at the beach all in one place.
Get a thrill at Knott’s Berry Farm
You might be asking how you get a thrill at a berry farm, but Knott’s is not a quaint orchard at all, but a large amusement park with roller coasters and rides. It’s in Buena Park (about 10 minutes from Anaheim) and it actually once was a small family farm, but has since grown into a representation of Cali culture. Not only does it have rides and carnival fun, but Knott’s also has an 1800s ghost town and the “Fiesta Village” to pay homage to California’s rich history.
Build at Legoland California
Caden and Willow both love to build with Lego Duplo. Legoland in Carlsbad (about 1 hour from Anaheim) is the perfect place to encourage their creativity and burn plenty of energy. Legoland has a waterpark, theme park, aquarium, and plenty of places to get your brick on.
Experience the magic at Disneyland
It wouldn’t be a list of “things to do in Cali with your kids” if Disneyland wasn’t on the list. You won’t find a more kid-friendly place than a Disney resort! From meeting their favorite Disney characters and riding rides to eating themed food and watching shows, there’s plenty for Disney lovers to do at the park in Anaheim.
(Don’t forget to park hop to the Disney California Adventure Park. They have some of our favorite lands including Avengers Campus, Cars Land, Pixar Pier, and Grizzly Peak.)
Museums
Learn through play at the Clayton Children’s Museum
If you have kids under 3, it can feel difficult to find vacation activities that are just for them. Children's museums are the perfect places for your toddlers to explore, learn, and have a blast. The Clayton’s Children’s Museum in Los Angeles is one of the best, with pretend play, climbing gyms, collaborative stations, creative studios, and more.
Encounter natural history at the California Academy of Sciences
San Francisco’s natural history museum is perfect for any age. They have an aquarium, planetarium, indoor rainforest, dinosaur fossil exhibit, and plenty more to fill your day. You can even plan a sleepover and fall asleep in one of the iconic exhibits like the Philippine Coral Reef or the African Penguin colony.
Have fun while learning at the Bay Area Discovery Museum
The Bay Area Discovery Museum is located at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge and was created specifically for children 6 months – 8 years old. Whether your kids like to be creative and learn how things work or explore outdoors and get messy in the mud, The Bay Area Discovery Museum will have something to stimulate your children’s growing mind.
Discover the beauty of nature at Turtle Bay Exploration Park
Turtle Bay Exploration Park in Redding is another top children’s museum. This one is all about experiencing Northern California’s diverse plants and wildlife. Kids can meet native animals, explore the interactive museum, walk the gardens, and climb on the outdoor playgrounds. They also have a pedestrian bridge over the Sacramento river that’s breathtaking for parents and kids alike.
City Exploring
Spend all day at Balboa Park
Balboa Park is described as “San Diego’s backyard,” and it really feels like the 1,200 acre area encompasses all of what San Diego has to offer. There are dozens of trails, gardens, and playgrounds along with shops, restaurants, museums, theaters, and attractions. This is also where the San Diego Zoo is located, so if you’re planning to visit there, leave extra time during your visit to ride the mini train or catch a puppet show.
Ride a cable car in San Francisco
Even though we live in San Francisco, my kids love a cable car ride. If you’re visiting the area, make sure to squeeze it into your schedule for an authentic San Fran experience.
Wildlife and Nature Activities
See otters at The Elkhorn Slough
In Monterey Bay go hiking or kayaking on the Elkhorn Slough Reserve to witness sea otters and other endangered wildlife, like the long-toed salamander and the Californai brown pelican.
Experience wildlife at the San Diego Zoo
The San Diego Zoo is one of the best zoos in the world! (It often goes toe-to-toe with Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo.) The zoo has an impressive map that encompasses almost every region of the world from the arctic to the outback. Aside from thousands of animals, the San Diego Zoo also has a botanical gardens, play areas, wildlife presentations, an aerial trap, and plenty of places to eat and shop.
Explore sea life at the Monterey Bay Aquarium
Here’s a wildlife experience that won’t take up the whole weekend like the San Diego Zoo. The Monterey Bay Aquarium is known mostly for sea otters (like The Elkhorn Slough), but it also features over 200 sea creatures from coral reefs all the way down to the deep seafloor.
Ride a train through redwoods.
If you have a toddler, you know that trains are a big deal. Roaring Camp in Felton (about 1 hour from San Jose) allows visitors to ride steam trains through the Santa Cruz Mountain redwoods. The ride is a little over an hour, and you can even ride it all the way to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk during high season!
Enjoy a picnic and wine tasting at Scribe Winery
Scribe Winery in Sonoma is one of our favorite kid-friendly places in Napa Valley. The wine is delicious and the architecture and landscape are incredible. There is plenty of open space to explore and sit and have a picnic with the family. Scribe also serves plenty of snacks that even your toddlers will chow down.
Camping
Camp in Curry Village
Within Yosemite National Park is Curry Village, which is a great place to camp. They have wood cabins and canvas tent cabins that give you the feel of authentic camping without so much of the hassle. Within Curry Village there’s a bar, mountaineering school, and a swimming pool to keep you entertained. Of course, you’re not far from Yosemite hiking, biking, boating, and horseback riding.
*I will note that there are no pets allowed on the property. This is a big downside for us, because we know Bear would love camping with us!
Stay in a luxury RV in Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park in southern CA is another beautiful California wildlife and nature area that has a lot to offer. We love staying in luxury RVs for a fun and memorable glamping experience. With AutoCamp you book a classic-looking Airstream with modern amenities that sits facing an incredible view of the park.
California has plenty of places to make lasting memories with your family.
If you’re thinking about coming to California for your next family vacation, I highly recommend you hit some of these attractions and venues. Many of these, my family has visited time and time again and they always deliver a perfect, memorable experience!
For more travel tips and recommendations, make sure you visit the blog. As an avid family traveler, I have plenty of advice on things like flying with a toddler, traveling internationally, getting a newborn ready to fly, and road trip packing lists. Of course, you can also follow me on Instagram to ask questions and be inspired by our recent family trips.
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