Fun Things to Do in California with Kids

👉 Jump to: Best Things | Beach Activities | Amusement Parks | Museums | Sites & Attractions

There are so many things to do in California with kids that a single trip to this sunny state barely scratches the surface. 

I spent my childhood in California, and this list highlights some of the most famous spots, kid-friendly attractions like amusement parks and zoos. But I’ll also point out some lesser-known local things I enjoyed as a kid. I cover a range of price points in this list and have included some great free activities! 

So many of the best things to do in California are kid-friendly. Here are 43 of my favorites! 

Affiliate Disclosure: Travel Lemming is an independent reader-supported blog. You can support us by purchasing via the affiliate links on this page, which may earn us commissions. See our Advertising Policy for further explanation. Thank you!

Top 10 Best Things to Do in California with Kids

Disneyland & Disney California Adventure Park

Navigate through different fairytale lands at the “Happiest Place on Earth.”

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (714) 781-4636 | Website | Hours: 8 am-12 am daily | Entrance: Tickets start at $104, plus an additional $60 per Park Hopper

Disneyland Resort is the most popular thing to do in California with kids. Families flock from around the world to experience their favorite Disney characters come to life! 

Embark on wild adventures via famous rides like Pirates of the Caribbean, Indiana Jones, and Big Thunder Mountain, or experience new heights on Soarin’ Over the World and the Incredicoaster at Disney’s California Adventure Park.

Because there’s so much to do at Disneyland, I suggest an epic multi-day Disneyland itinerary to experience the theme park in all its entertainment glory.

Joshua Tree National Park

Hike among unusual rock outcroppings and groves of iconic Joshua Trees.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (760) 367-5500 | Website | Hours: 24 hours | Entrance: $30 per vehicle, $25 per motorcycle, $55 annual pass

Experience the desert like never before in Joshua Tree National Park. Camp between the iconic (and rare) Joshua Trees and marvel at the park’s famous rock outcroppings, each as curiously formed as the last. It’s also one of the best places for stargazing!

Joshua Tree is one of the most kid-friendly national parks and hosts a variety of easy, level hiking trails. Some of the best kid-friendly hiking trails include the Hidden Valley Nature Trail and the Skull Rock Trail.

After experiencing the cool activities in Joshua Tree, head over to Pioneertown. Kids will love the ghost town vibe, while adults will appreciate the lively dive bar.

🛎️ Need a Hotel? Trying to decide where to stay near Joshua Tree? AutoCamp Joshua Tree is one of the most highly-rated and unique accommodations here, especially if you’re curious about what it’s like to stay in an Airstream!

San Diego Zoo

Meet your favorite wildlife at this beachside zoo.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (619) 231-1515 | Website | Hours: seasonal, typically 9 am-6 pm daily with later hours in summer | Entrance: $76 adult, $66 children under 12

The San Diego Zoo is the perfect activity for families visiting Southern California with small children. It’s one of the most popular zoos in California and is world-renowned for its wide collection of animals. 

Not only does the San Diego Zoo have almost every animal imaginable on display, but it also hosts fun kid-friendly events like 4D movie showings, wildlife presentations, and the Balboa Park Miniature Train.

You may also want to consider visiting the Serengeti-like San Diego Safari Park, one of the top activities in San Diego.

Calico Ghost Town

Giddyup partner, the old-timey stores and attractions of Calico await.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (760) 254-1123 | Website | Hours: 9 am-5 pm daily | Entrance: $8, adults, $5 ages 4-11, free under 4

Did you know that there are over 300 ghost towns in California? Calico Ghost Town is one of the most popular “deserted” towns from the old Wild West. 

Wander around the dirt streets of this old Gold Rush-era mining town, only 1.5 hours outside of Los Angeles in the hills of the high desert. Calico is one of the more developed ghost towns and has souvenir shops, restaurants, and live cowboy performances. They also have campsites and rental cabins for guests who want to spend the night in a real ghost town.

At only $8 a ticket, a visit to Calico Ghost Town is affordable, educational, and fun!

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Discover more about aquatic life at this huge Central Coast aquarium.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (831) 648-4800 | Website | Hours: 10 am-6 pm Sun-Fri, 10 am – 7 pm Sat | Entrance: $65 adults, $50 ages 13-17, $50 ages 5-12, free under 5

The Monterey Bay Aquarium is easily one of the best aquariums in the country. It’s located in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, a protected area famous for its incredible marine life and biodiversity.

View marine mammals like otters and seals, marvel at the weightless movements of giant jellyfish, and discover a variety of fish species. Your kids will love the interactive penguin show, the life-size kelp forest, and the wildlife viewing deck out back. Be sure to bring your binoculars to look for breaching whales during whale season!

👉 Local Tip: Only 2 hours from San Francisco, Monterey is the perfect day trip from SF.

Knott’s Berry Farm

Explore the kiddie rides at Camp Snoopy in this wild west-themed park.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (714) 220-5200 | Website | Hours: (change seasonally) 9 am – 6 pm Mon-Fri, Closed Sat-Sun | Entrance: Tickets start at $59.99 for adults, free under 3

Knott’s Berry Farm is one of the oldest amusement parks in California. But that’s not what makes it the most unique — it pays homage to the state’s mining history with Western sets and a ghost-town feel.

Knott’s Berry Farm has thrill rides for more daring adventurers, with some of the best roller coasters in SoCal. They also have a kid-friendly area, Camp Snoopy, for younger guests. Knott’s “Scary Farm” is the most popular time to visit, during the Halloween season, but visitors must be able to handle a good spook.

Yosemite National Park

Hike, bike, or float in a wonderland of meadows, waterfalls, rocks, and rivers.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (209) 372-0200 | Website | Hours: 24 hours | Entrance: $35 per vehicle, $30 per motorcycle, $70 annual pass

Yosemite National Park is the most famous of the California national parks and is one of my all-time favorites. 

Traditionally the land of the Miwok people, the national park is home to black bears, luxury lodges, hiking trails, and hundreds of thousands of tourists each year.

My favorite Yosemite National Park activity is hiking. There is no shortage of hiking trails in Yosemite, with Clouds Rest, the Falls Trail, and North Dome being the most popular. The Lower Yosemite Falls trail is one of the easiest for small children. 

Hiking in Yosemite is no joke, with lots of elevation gain on some trails. Make sure you choose a hike adapted to your children’s fitness levels. Additional kid-friendly activities include biking around the Yosemite Valley meadow, viewing waterfalls and wildlife, or listening to a free ranger program.

Yosemite has plenty of options for places to stay, from luxury hotels to gorgeous camping spots. Accommodation fills up quickly; book 6 months in advance to snag a spot.

Balboa Fun Zone

Explore this beachside amusement park with a ride on the Ferris wheel or a round of ski ball in the arcade.

📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: 11 am – 7 pm Fri-Sun, 12 – 5 pm Wed-Thu | Entrance: Free, but rides and games have varying costs

Going for a swim in the ocean is always a fun activity, but it’s even better if there’s a nearby arcade and mini theme park! The Balboa Fun Zone is located in one of the best beach areas in Southern California — Newport Beach.

Located just across from the Balboa Beach Pier, the Balboa Fun Zone hosts a variety of arcade games and rides, like a Ferris wheel and kiddie bungee jumping. You can also find carnival food like chocolate-dipped soft serve and funnel cakes.

Golden Gate Bridge

Bike ride across California’s most famous bridge.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (415) 921-5858 | Website | Hours: 24 hours | Entrance: $9.75 for cars, free for pedestrians

The Golden Gate Bridge is the classic postcard photo of San Francisco. Walking, biking, or driving across this famous bridge is one of the most iconic things to do in the Bay Area — and it’s kid-friendly! 

You can drive across the Golden Gate Bridge if you have a car, but the better experience is walking across. It’s free to do, and you’ll get beautiful views over the San Francisco skyline, the Pacific Ocean, and Alcatraz Island. You can also rent bikes and cruise across the bridge for an unforgettable SF experience with the whole family.

Griffith Observatory

Observe the night sky at a museum above Los Angeles.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (213) 473-0800 | Website | Hours: 12 pm-10 pm Tues-Fri, 10 am-10 pm Sat & Sun, Closed Mon | Entrance: parking $4 per hour

The Griffith Observatory is, quite literally, out of this world. This museum is perched high above Los Angeles and is equipped with a planetarium, interactive astronomy exhibits, and a large telescope used to view astronomical events.

The best part about this intergalactic museum is that it’s completely free (save for parking). Not only is this popular California museum incredibly informative, but it’s also picturesque. You will likely get the best photo of the LA skyline and the Hollywood sign from the Griffith Observatory — another compelling reason to pay a visit!

Beach Activities

Laguna Beach Tide Pools

Hunt for sea anemones in this opulent beach town.

📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: 24 hours | Entrance: Free

While it may seem as if Laguna Beach only caters to affluent California locals, there are actually tons of kid-friendly activities to do in this beach town. Kids will love playing beach volleyball, going for a swim in the gentle warm waters, or exploring Laguna’s iconic beach coves. 

They will also have a blast searching through the tide pools for hidden marine life! Laguna has one of the densest concentrations of tide pools compared to other Southern California beaches, making it the ideal location for marine discovery. 

Santa Monica Pier

Play pier arcade games next to crashing waves at this iconic LA tourist destination.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (310) 458-8900 | Website | Entrance: Free

Go for a refreshing dip in the Pacific Ocean during the day, then check out the excitement on the Santa Monica Pier afterward! The Santa Monica Pier is one of the most entertaining activities in Santa Monica thanks to its small boardwalk theme park.

Go for a whirl on the boardwalk roller coaster before indulging in one of the pier’s sweet treats, like ice cream, churros, or funnel cakes. You may also run into street performers on the Santa Monica Pier — if you enjoy their music or magic shows, be sure to give them a tip.

Whale Watching

Take a boat cruise in Long Beach for the best chance to see migrating whales.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (562) 432-4900 | Website | Hours: 9 am-6 pm Mon-Fri, 9 am-7 pm Sat-Sun | Entrance: $35 adults, $35 seniors over 62, $30 ages 3-11 | 👉 Book a Guided Whale-Watching Tour from Long Beach

Give your kids a trip to remember with a whale-watching excursion! If you’re lucky enough, you may just catch a whale fin or two as Humpbacks and Gray Whales migrate between Mexico and Alaska.

There are many places to go whale watching in California, but Long Beach is one of the best. I always recommend this tour with Harbor Breeze Cruises — I’ve toured with them before and had a wonderful time with lots of whale spotting! 

The most likely times to encounter a whale breach are in the early mornings, so make sure to get a good night’s rest and try to book an early excursion time if possible.

Huntington Beach

Experience California’s most famous beach town, known as Surf City USA.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (714) 852-8233 | Website | Hours: 24 hours | Entrance: Free

Huntington Beach is one of the best places to catch some waves in California. Whether your kid is a novice surfer or already a young pro, Huntington will have something for everyone. There are plenty of places to rent a board, and tons of shops offer lessons. 

Non-surfers can also enjoy sunbathing, people-watching on the pier, playing beach volleyball at the designated courts, or having a beach bonfire.

To get planning, see our full guide to the best activities in Huntington Beach.

San Onofre State Beach

Ride the waves, have a bonfire, or go camping at this underrated beach.

📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: 6 am – sunset | Entrance: $15 per vehicle

This is one of the most underrated beaches in California. Although it requires an entrance fee, San Onofre is worth every penny. This beach is void of tourists, full of surf enthusiasts, and welcoming to those who prefer a quieter beach experience.

The water here is warm and gentle, so it’s a perfect spot to take kids for a swim or beginner surf experience. There’s something for all types of beachgoers here, from surfing to searching for anemones and having a beachside bonfire.

Crystal Cove State Park

Hike along the coastline or camp in the hills of the beach backcountry.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (949) 494-3539 | Website | Hours: 6 am-sunset daily | Entrance: $15 per vehicle

Crystal Cove State Park invites visitors to lay out a towel, screw in a beach umbrella, and stay for a while to soak up the Southern California sunshine. With over 3 miles of coastline, this is one of the best kid-friendly state parks in Orange County.

Hiking trails in this state park parallel the coast. Want to take your kids backpacking? There are three backcountry primitive campsites with 360-degree views of both the San Gabriel mountains and the Pacific Ocean. 

Catalina Island

Take a short ferry from SoCal to discover a developed, flourishing island oasis.

📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: 24 hours | Entrance: Ferry tickets are $42 adult, $32 child | 👉 Browse Tours on Viator

Catalina is an island paradise in California. Located only 22 miles off the mainland, Catalina Island is the perfect place to relax with kids for a peaceful weekend.

There are hundreds of fun activities to do in Catalina like scuba diving, parasailing, cantina drinking, buffalo viewing, backcountry hiking, gambling, and more! Your Catalina experience can be very kid-friendly while still offering adult after-hours fun.

Ferries to Catalina leave from Long Beach and San Pedro. The ferry only takes an hour.

Amusement Parks

Six Flags Magic Mountain

Experience adrenaline on upside-down coasters.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (661) 255-4100 | Website | Hours: 10:30 am – 9 pm Sun-Thu, 10:30 am – 10 pm Fri-Sat | Entrance: $85 adult, free under 3

Six Flags Magic Mountain is for the more daring kids in your life. While this theme park caters more to older individuals, young ones can still enjoy the park’s kiddie rides like Elmer’s Weather Balloons and Pepe Le Pew’s Tea Party.

Pre-teen, teenager, and young adult adrenaline seekers can take their pick of multiple backward, upside-down, and vertical drop rides at Six Flags. This park is an awesome day trip from Los Angeles, only 1 hour away from downtown.

Universal Studios Hollywood

Discover the secret of movie magic at this Hollywood park.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (800) 864-8377 | Website | Hours: 9 am-9 pm daily | Entrance: Ticket prices vary, typically $109+

Universal Studios Hollywood is a quintessential Hollywood activity that has something for everyone. From a Harry Potter world to a Simpsons land and backlot tours of Hollywood TV studios and movie sets, Universal Studios is the entertainment capital of LA.

Because Universal Studios Hollywood is so fun, it can fill to capacity on the weekends, especially in the summer. I recommend visiting during the week for a less crowded experience.

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Amusement Park

Play arcade games and ride roller coasters at one of the best beaches in NorCal.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (831) 423-5590 | Website | Hours: (vary seasonally) 11 am – 10 pm Mon-Sat, 11 am – 9 pm Sun | Entrance: Free

Enjoy California’s largest beach theme park. The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is similar to the Santa Monica Pier — but tripled in size.

At the boardwalk, you can play games, ride the Ferris wheel, and satisfy your sweet tooth, all after a day filled with surfing and sunbathing. The boardwalk sits right on Santa Cruz’s main beach, which is one of the best beaches in California. 

Entrance to the park is free, but most rides cost anywhere from $5 – $20.

Legoland

Enjoy the magical world of Legos at this kid-friendly park.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (888) 690-5346 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 7 pm Sun-Fri, 10 am – 8 pm Sat | 👉 Browse Hotels on Booking

Discover the world as engineered by Legos in the smaller-than-life theme park. Legoland is the perfect activity to do with young kids in Carlsbad, just outside of San Diego.

Besides small, kid-friendly rides, Legoland also offers hands-on activities like digging for dinosaur bones, rock climbing, and a junior driving school. Prepare for an all-day excursion because your kids won’t want to leave the excitement of Legoland!

Raging Waters

Soak up the sun at California’s largest water park.

📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: Seasonal, May-September | Entrance: $44.99, adults, free under 3

Raging Waters is the coolest water park in the Inland Empire. Located in San Dimas, this seasonal park has all the top water slides and isn’t overcrowded. 

Raging Waters is the largest water park in California, so it’s a must-do when visiting in the summer!

Sesame Place San Diego

Live on Sesame Street for a day with your favorite characters.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (619) 943-3566 | Website | Hours: (vary seasonally) 10 am – 5 pm Mon-Fri, 10 am – 6 pm Sat-Sun | Entrance: tickets start at $79.99

Have some fun with Elmo and friends next time you’re in San Diego. The Sesame Place theme park was made especially for little ones who love Sesame Street! 

Go on rides, enjoy a parade, wander around the Sesame Street Neighborhood, and take photos with Sesame Street characters. There are also seasonal events at Sesame Place, like Elmo’s Eggstravaganza and The Count’s Halloween Spooktacular.

Belmont Park

Entertain yourself with rides and attractions right on the beachfront.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (858) 488-1549 | Website | Hours: (vary seasonally) 11 am – 10 pm daily | Entrance: Free, prices for individual rides and games vary

Enjoy some San Diego beachfront fun at Belmont Park! Smell the sweet ocean air as you twist and turn down the outdoor roller coaster, or stop for a churro before scaling the two-story rock wall.

There are also fun laser tag and escape room attractions at Belmont Park. While entrance to the park is free, you must buy tickets for rides and arcade games.

California’s Great America

Ride thrilling roller coasters with huge drops at this Northern California park.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (408) 988-1776 | Website | Hours: (vary seasonally) 10 am – 8 pm daily | Entrance: Tickets start at $40

Experience thrill-seeking rides at one of Northern California’s best theme parks. Located near San Jose, Great America offers over 60 rides, from roller coasters to kiddie rides, and even has a waterpark on-site.

The park is open year-round and is a great way to have some fun on a long California road trip.

Museums

La Brea Tar Pits

Learn about the ancient mammals that used to roam California.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (213) 763-3499 | Website | Hours: 9:30 am – 5 pm daily | Entrance: $18 adults, $14 seniors & students, $7 children (ages 3-12), free under 2

The La Brea Tar Pits is one of the most unique museums in Los Angeles. The tar pits were created as a result of natural asphalt seeping up from the ground over thousands of years.

Ancient, now-extinct animal footprints and bones have been identified in these tar pits like wooly mammoths and saber tooth tigers. The rare pits display science in action and are present in very few places around the world — but you can see them in LA!

Exploratorium San Francisco

Explore hands-on art and science activities on the SF waterfront.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (415) 528-4444 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm Mon-Sat, until 10 pm Thu, 12 – 5 pm Sun | Entrance: $39.95 adult, $29.95 youth (ages 4-17), free 3 & under

One of the most popular museums in San Francisco, the Exploratorium communicates the relationship between science, art, and human perception to its visitors. It has six galleries of interactive exhibits and plenty of room for kids to run around.

👉 Nearby Attractions: This hands-on museum sits on San Francisco’s Embarcadero, just a 10-minute walk from other kid-friendly attractions like Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39.

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

Visit the mineral hall or make friends with dinosaurs at this LA museum.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (213) 763-3466 | Website | Hours: 9:30 am – 5 pm daily | Entrance: $18 adults, $14 seniors & students, $7 children

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is a fun yet educational experience in the heart of Los Angeles. This is one of the coolest things to do in LA for visitors of all ages.

With exhibitions like the Gem Hall, L.A. Underwater, and Dinosaur Encounters, you can spend hours at the Natural History Museum. They also have seasonal exhibits, like a huge hall full of butterflies.

Discovery Cube Orange County

Learn about science in a hands-on way in this SoCal museum.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (714) 542-2823 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm daily | Entrance: $25 adults, $22 children (ages 3-14), additional $10 for parking

The Discovery Cube is one of the best interactive museums in Orange County. This science center gives kids the unique chance to experience science firsthand — like laying on a bed of nails to experience what an electric shock feels like!

There is also a showtime theater at the museum that showcases educational films.

The Getty

Photograph some of the world’s most famous art — and walk the grounds of an equally impressive mansion. 

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (310) 440-7300 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 6:30 Sun & Tue-Fri, 10 am – 9 pm Sat, Closed Mon | Entrance: Free, $20 parking, $15 after 3 pm

For any classically-minded children, The Getty in Los Angeles displays some of the world’s most famous art from the Middle Ages to today. Collections include works from Pissarro, Van Gogh, and Monet.

The Greek-like architecture of The Getty gives it a regal feel, and the grounds are nothing short of marvelous — but the best part about this museum is the free admission.

LACMA

Visit one of the most photographed museums in LA.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (323) 857-6000 | Website | Hours: 11 am-6 pm Mon, Tues, & Thurs; 11 am – 8 pm Fri; 10 am-7 pm Sat & Sun; Closed Wed | Entrance: $28 adults, $13 children (ages 3-17), free under 3

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, or LACMA for short, is the most popular museum in LA for young people. The huge museum is affordable and colorful — and it’s one of the most popular spots for an impromptu Instagram photo shoot.

Children’s Creativity Museum

Let your children unleash their creative side through art, gardening, or music.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (415) 820-3320 | Website | Hours: 10 am-4 pm Friday-Sunday | Entrance: $20 adults & children, free under 1

The Children’s Creativity Museum is a child’s dream come true. The hands-on environment of the museum is designed to promote creativity in children ages 2-12 through the art lab, community garden, paint studio, and music studio.

Located in San Francisco’s downtown, the Creativity Museum is close to other popular spots like the Museum of Modern Art and Union Square.

The Tech Interactive

Explore the ever-evolving world of technology in the heart of Silicon Valley.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (408) 294-8324 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm Tue-Sun, Closed Mon | Entrance: $38 adults; $28 seniors, students, & children

You’ll find an excellent technology museum in San Jose, the heart of Silicon Valley. Kids can design and test machines in the Tech Studio, solve a cyber mystery in the cybersecurity area, or build a robot to help with a simple task. The Gravity Wall, where you can create a massive ball run, is always a huge hit!

San Diego Natural History Museum

Learn about the unique California natural history.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (619) 232-3821 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm daily | Entrance: $24 adult, $14 children (ages 3-17), free under 3

San Diego’s Natural History Museum might be slightly smaller than its Los Angeles counterpart, but it still displays similar educational exhibits.

Learn about California wildlife from the Caught on Camera display, or about the native flora and fauna of Baja Mexico from the Expedition Baja showroom. Kids will love the big screen theater in the museum that showcases educational science films.

Turtle Bay Exploration Park

Support a non-profit conservation wildlife center in an unlikely place.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (530) 243-8850 | Website | Hours: 9 am-5 pm Mon-Fri, 10 am-5 pm Sat-Sun | Entrance: $22 adult, $18 child (ages 4-15), free under 4

If you’re driving in Northern California, you may feel you’re a far cry from the tropics. But a visit to the Turtle Bay Exploration Park might change your mind. 

Encompassing more than 300 acres, this park in Redding is a wildlife center, arboretum, and botanical garden. With over 64 different species of animals from around the world, this is the perfect spot to take your nature-loving child. 

Little explorers can participate in an art exhibit every Thursday, and animal lovers can watch the park’s Predator vs Prey show each Saturday to learn about survival techniques in the wild.

Sites & Attractions

Oak Glen

Pick the ripest apples in SoCal or try a warm apple pie.

📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: 24 hours | Entrance: Free | 👉 Browse Hotels

California is full of small towns, but Oak Glen stands out from the rest. Known for delicious warm apple pies and orchard apple picking, Oak Glen is a fun Southern California activity for the whole family.

Little ones enjoy the Oak Glen petting zoo and train ride while older kids can enjoy live music and fresh caramel apples during the peak summer season.

Lassen Volcanic National Park

Hike among basaltic rocks in this volcano park.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (530) 595-4480 | Website | Hours: 24 hours | Entrance: $30 per vehicle, $10 in winter

Lassen Volcanic National Park is a bit off the beaten path but offers a beautiful landscape you won’t find anywhere else in the state. It’s one of the best things to do in Northern California and one of the few places in the world that houses 4 different types of volcanoes.

Hike around volcanic dry lake beds and through pine tree forests for a fun Lassen experience. It’s a great national park for kids because most hikes are relatively short. Head to Manzanita Lake or Lake Helen for easy walking trails.

Lava Beds National Monument

Discover underground geological wonders near the Oregon state line.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (530) 667-8100 | Website | Hours: Visitor Center 10 am – 4:30 pm daily | Entrance: $25 vehicle pass

Explore these underground caves in northeast California that were made by lava flows from the Medicine Lake volcano.

The park has a variety of caves ranging from easy-to-explore caves where you don’t even have to dip your head to seriously challenging labyrinths. I recommend Skull Cave for the whole family — it’s roomy and has an ice floor!

Sequoia National Park

Camp under the world’s largest trees.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (559) 565-3341 | Website | Hours: 24 hours | Entrance: $35 per vehicle, $30 per motorcycle

Located in the Sierra Nevada mountains just south of Yosemite, Sequoia National Park is a must-see. It’s the best place to view sequoias, the largest trees in the world. 

Sequoia is a great national park for kids, with tons of amenities like a park shuttle, easy walking paths, and a camp store.

Be sure to also check out the gateway town to the Sequoias, Three Rivers, for a local brew or a calming dip in the river. This is one of the best California mountain towns and is only minutes from the national park entrance. 

Death Valley National Park

Explore sand dunes and salt flats in this desert park, the hottest place in the world.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (760) 786-3200 | Website | Hours: 24 hours | Entrance: $30 per vehicle, $25 per motorcycle

Did you know that Death Valley, California holds the record for the hottest air temperature in the world?

Run down Death Valley sand dunes, hike to 11,000 feet, snap a photo of the park’s wild donkeys, or camp under a star-filled sky in Death Valley. Death Valley is one of the best places to camp in California, but visit in the winter or spring for the best experience.

Most importantly, pack plenty of water! The desert heat is no joke, and kids can easily get dehydrated.

Mount Baldy

Shred down the slopes in one of California’s smallest mountain towns.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (909) 982-0800 | Website | Hours: 11 am – 7 pm Fri, 7 am – 7 pm Sat-Sun, Closed Mon-Thur | Entrance: $30 per person per chairlift ride

Mount Baldy is the highest mountain in Los Angeles County. It’s one of the smallest mountain towns and is home to a booming California ski resort in the winter.

Teach your kids how to snowboard, hike with them on one of many Angeles National Forest trails, or play pool in the Mount Baldy Lodge. Mount Baldy is one of the top destinations in the San Gabriel Mountains.

Lake Tahoe

Swim, boat, or paddleboard in one of the largest alpine lakes in the world.

📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: 24 hours | Entrance: Free

Welcome to alpine forest paradise. Tahoe is the ultimate destination for outdoor recreation activities, from winter sports to fishing, mountain biking, and hiking. Lake Tahoe is one of the best lakes in California and is the largest alpine lake in North America.

This area is the perfect family-friendly destination. Little ones will love playing at the sandy beaches, while adolescents can enjoy adventure sports like wakeboarding, jet skiing, parasailing, and more! Afterward, stroll around for an ice cream or eat out at a restaurant on the waterfront.

Santa Barbara Zoo

Visit native California fauna in this picturesque coastal town.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (805) 962-5339 | Website | Hours: 9:30 am-5 pm daily | Entrance: $25 adult, $15 children (ages 2-12), free under 2

Only three hours north of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara is a top California beach destination. Next time you’re in town, be sure to check out the Santa Barbara Zoo!

The beach is the main activity in this romantic California destination, but the zoo is the most entertaining activity in town for younger kids. Visit native California wildlife at the Santa Barbara Zoo for ultimate family fun.

***

Have fun exploring these things to do in California with kids! Check out my California packing list guide for the perfect trip to the Golden State.

–Laura Falin contributed to this list of the best things to do in California with kids.