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California Family Adventures: Places Kids Actually Love
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items As a California mom/auntie and family travel lover, I’ve gathered some of the best places for kids and families around California!
From theme parks and aquariums to museums and outdoor adventures, these are places families genuinely enjoy and retur...
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Southern California Adventures ☀️
Central California 🌊
Northern California 🌲
Southern California Adventures ☀️
From Disneyland to kid-approved museums, these are some of our favorite family destinations in Southern California.
✨ We’re a Disney family through and through! My husband and I have been going since before we had kids, and now we can’t wait to experience the magic all over again with our little man as he grows up.
❤️ There’s just something special about Disneyla...
Disneyland Resort 🏰
🌊 If your kids love sea animals, this place is such a fun day out. There are so many exhibits to explore, and the touch tanks are always a huge hit.
💙 It’s one of those attractions that’s entertaining for the kids but still really enjoyable for ad...
Aquarium of the Pacific 🐠
🤸♀️ My nieces and nephews absolutely LOVE this place. Every time they go, they have an absolute blast exploring, climbing, splashing, and getting hands-on with all the activities.
✨ It’s one of those places where kids can just be kids. If you’re l...
Kidspace Children's Museum 🎨
🌟 We visited when the King Tut exhibit was there, and it was absolutely amazing! It ended up being one of those experiences that really sticks with you.
🚀 The space exhibits are also so freakin’ cool. Seeing the Space Shuttle Endeavour in person i...
California Science Center 🚀
👧 This is such a fun spot for younger kids. Everything is designed around imaginative play, and it’s so fun watching little ones explore and create their own adventures.
🏡 They can pretend to run a grocery store, be a firefighter, work in a doctor...
Pretend City Children's Museum 🎭
💛 I went to LEGOLAND when I was younger and got my LEGO driver’s license, and I thought it was the coolest thing ever.
✨ Honestly, I still carry that memory with me to this day. It’s one of those childhood experiences that sticks with you. If your ...
LEGOLAND® California Resort 🧱
🐾 There is a reason this zoo is so famous. It’s one of those places that truly lives up to the hype.
❤️ The animal habitats are beautiful, there is so much to see, and it’s easy to spend an entire day exploring. Every visit feels like a new adventu...
San Diego Zoo 🦁
🌿 This feels completely different from a traditional zoo experience. Watching animals roam huge open habitats makes the whole day feel like an adventure.
✨ If your family loves animals, this is one of those experiences you’ll be talking about long ...
San Diego Zoo Safari Park 🦒
Central California 🌊
Perfect road-trip stops, aquariums, beaches, and family adventures along the Central Coast.
💙 This is hands down one of the coolest aquariums I’ve ever been to. The sea otters alone could keep me entertained forever—they’re just so cute and playful.
🌊 There are so many beautiful exhibits, and it’s one of those places where kids and adult...
Monterey Bay Aquarium 🦦
✨ If your kids need to burn off some energy, this place is a must. It’s not your average playground—there are giant slides, climbing areas, swings, and plenty of room to run around.
💛 Honestly, it’s the kind of playground that makes adults wish the...
Dennis The Menace Playground 🛝
🎡 I feel like Gilroy Gardens is one of California’s best-kept family secrets. It’s smaller and more relaxed than the big theme parks, which honestly makes it really enjoyable with kids.
💚 The rides are perfect for younger children, and the beautif...
Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park 🌳
🐾 This smaller zoo is such a fun stop if you’re exploring the Central Coast. It’s easy to walk, doesn’t feel overwhelming, and gives kids plenty of opportunities to see animals up close.
❤️ Sometimes the smaller attractions end up being the most en...
Central Coast Zoo (formerly Charles Paddock Zoo) 🐻
🦦 One of my favorite things about Morro Bay is spotting sea otters floating around in the water. They’re absolutely adorable and always seem to steal the show.
✨ Between the ocean views, wildlife, and fresh air, this is one of those places that rem...
Morro Bay State Park 🌊
📸 If you’re visiting Morro Bay, you can’t miss Morro Rock. It’s one of those iconic California landmarks that’s even more impressive in person.
💙 The views are gorgeous, and it’s a great place to take family photos while exploring the area.
Morro Rock 🪨
🚂 There is just something magical about riding a real train through the redwoods. Kids love it, but honestly, adults do too.
🌲 The scenery is beautiful, and it feels like stepping into a completely different world for a few hours.
Roaring Camp 🚂
❤️ We are lucky to have this one close to home, and it’s a place we visit often. The kids absolutely love it, and it’s become one of our favorite family outings.
🦒 There is always something exciting to see, from feeding the giraffes to exploring th...
Fresno Chaffee Zoo 🐘
🎢 Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
💙 I’ve only been once, but I had so much fun. There is just something about being right next to the beach while riding rides and walking around the Boardwalk that makes it feel so special.
🎡 Between the rides, games,...
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk🎢
🪐 Mystery Spot
🤩 Okay, full honesty… I’ve never actually been here, but it’s been on my California bucket list forever.
✨ Everyone I know who has gone says it’s such a fun and unique experience. Between the optical illusions and all the weird thi...
The Mystery Spot 🪐
Northern California 🌲
Science, nature, animals, and hands-on fun for families exploring Northern California.
🏚️ Winchester Mystery House
👻 I visited the Winchester Mystery House with my parents because they’re really into spooky stuff, and honestly, it was SO cool.
✨ Seeing the mansion in person and learning about all the unusual things Sarah Winchester...
The Winchester Mystery House 🏚️
💚 I’ve only been once, but one thing I remember is how HUGE it is. We spent so much time exploring and still felt like there was more to see.
🦒 There are so many animals and exhibits throughout the zoo, and it feels like one big adventure from sta...
Oakland Zoo 🦏
✨ This is one of those places where there is seriously something for everyone. You have an aquarium, a planetarium, a rainforest, and science exhibits all in one place.
💙 I love attractions that can keep both kids and adults entertained, and this d...
California Academy of Sciences 🔬
🤩 If you have a kid who wants to touch absolutely everything, this is their dream come true.
✨ So many of the exhibits are hands-on, which makes learning feel more like playing. It’s the kind of place that gets kids asking questions and experimenti...
Exploratorium 🧪
🦓 This place has been on my family’s bucket list because how often do you get to go on a safari without leaving California?
✨ Getting to see giraffes, zebras, and other animals in a more open environment looks like such an incredible experience.
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Safari West 🦒