California

25 Fun Things to do in San Francisco with Kids

Submitted by Dore Duhaime on Sat, 08/18/2018 - 1:00pm

With its famously steep hills, iconic sights, and many kid-friendly attractions, San Francisco is chock full of family fun. Unique thrills like a ride on the clanging cable cars, a ferry trip across the bay to visit a fabled island prison, amazing experiential food spots are some of the only-in-San Francisco experiences that kids and adults will love. Hands-on museums, a bayside aquarium, and enormous parks round out the family fun.

Read on to discover our best bets for family fun on a trip to San Francisco. And for more Bay Area fun, check out our list of things to do in Silicon Valley with kids.

26 Things To Do in Santa Barbara with Kids

Submitted by Audrey M on Fri, 07/27/2018 - 9:57pm

There is more to SoCal than just Los Angeles; only slightly farther afield families can explore Ojai, play in Palm Springs, and indulge in Santa Barbara. A 150-mile jaunt up the coast from LA, Santa Barbara is chock full of fun and educational things to delight kids and adults. Day-trippers can make it an extra-special jaunt (or maybe just avoid traffic and parking) by taking Amtrak from any of the LA or OC stations then spending the day or weekend riding Santa Barbara's downtown and waterfront shuttles—or the water taxi—to enjoy the 26 local attractions below.

9 Must-See Dinosaur Theme Parks and Attractions for Kids

Submitted by Elaine Paoloni ... on Sat, 06/09/2018 - 1:25pm

If your kid is fascinated by dinosaurs, chances are everything in your home revolves around the prehistoric creatures, including your family vacations. Your nearby natural history or kids' science museum is a great bet for a quick trip to study major fossil displays. For an even bigger thrill, families might want to check out one of the many outdoor dinosaur parks, from full amusement parks to nature walks and mini fossil digs.

We've rounded up a list of 10 great places for dinosaur lovers across the country. These dinosaur-themed attractions offer up-close encounters with lifelike creatures, thrilling rides, impressive fossils, and more fun things to do and see for kids, including dino-theater.

For more family vacation ideas—that may, or may not, involve dinosaurs—check out our United States Family Travel Guide.

Legoland California's New Castle Hotel Is Open for Your Royal Family

Submitted by Roberta B on Tue, 05/08/2018 - 3:26pm

Hear ye, hear ye! After much anticipation, the Legoland Castle Hotel has opened to young knights, princesses, and wizards of all sizes at the Legoland California Resort. Families now have two choices for staying overnight when visiting the brickiest of theme parks. We attended the opening ceremony for the new hotel and were royally impressed.

Joshua Tree: 12 Things Not To Miss with Kids in this Desert National Park

Submitted by Arianna Menon on Sat, 05/05/2018 - 1:15pm

Visiting Joshua Tree National Park is an otherworldly experience: groves of twisted trees and giant boulders create enchanting settings so unique, you might think you have stepped into a fairy tale—or landed on an alien planet. Approximately a two-hour drive from Los Angeles, and a stone's throw from Palm Springs, this park is great for a family camping adventure or just a day hike, because it captures everyone’s imagination. Stroller-friendly trails make it a great option for little trekkers, as do several walks easy enough for young kids (or tired grown-ups) to maneuver. But teens and tweens who never tire will never run out of rocks and boulders to climb over.

Visit the Old West like the Brady Bunch at this Hollywood Style Western Town

Submitted by Arianna Menon on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 12:46am

Deep in the Mojave Desert, not far from Palm Springs and Joshua Tree, and just two hours from LA, tumbleweeds roll down dusty, unpaved streets. A saddle shop, an old bank, a bath house, and a saloon line the appropriately-named Mane Street, where transportation is horses-only. There are occasional cowboy brawls (mostly on Saturday afternoons) and a sense that some old character actor might be haunting the jail. If Pioneertown feels like an old movie, that's no surprise—it should.

20 Road Trips From Los Angeles for a Weekend Family Getaway

Submitted by Li Starr on Fri, 04/06/2018 - 1:35pm

Eager to hit the road and put Los Angeles in your rear view mirror for a while? From glamping getaways to deserts to not-so-far islands, here are some fabulous destinations to remind you of one of the other major benefits of Los Angeles: it's never more than a few hours' drive to find a spot that seems as if it's a world away.

San Diego: More than 50 Fun Things To Do with Kids

Submitted by Jacqueline Stansbury on Wed, 03/28/2018 - 3:01am

Whether you live in the area or are just visiting, San Diego is a great place to spend some time. What better weekend is there than the San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld, Legoland, and the Safari Park? Wherever you live, the SoCal town with the nation's most perfect weather can be a great weekend getaway for families. I grew up going to the Zoo and Sea World, but there are many other ways to enjoy our southern-most county.