Family Vacation In Southern California
Family vacation to southern California is a memorable experience. It’s exciting, fun and full of emotions that come with a once in a lifetime trip. Carrying out the planning process of the vacation itself can be frustrating. The number of things to do, places to visit and good restaurants to dine in are enormous.
This year, my family plan to take a vacation in Southern California. We booked a few hotels on Hotwire, and then we found information on Agoda.com that helped us book a really cheap vacation rental. We wanted to visit San Diego and Los Angeles area to check out the amusement parks there. Southern California has some of the best family vacation spots in the United States. Why not bring the family out to Southern California and visit one of these amazing, places?
There are so many great family vacation ideas in Southern California, deciding on which one to choose can be a challenge. I’ve put together a collection of some of my favorite Southern California family vacation ideas with tips and advice to help you decide.
Family Vacation In Southern California
Southern California is one of the most visited groups of destinations in the world. Many people don’t realize this but there are a variety of climates as well that allow you to choose the right climate for your vacation. Because Southern California is so large, I will be breaking this up into East Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County and San Bernardino. Now each city has its own appeal to it but all the cities have the same entertainment attractions which include theme parks, world class restaurants, shopping malls and casinos. This makes it easy to visit all the areas around Southern California in a short period of time while still having fun and not having to worry about transportation or parking fees.
Home to the major metropolises of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California also draws families with its gorgeous beaches, beautiful mountains, iconic theme parks, and more. Here are some of the top getaways with kids in sunny SoCal.
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Disneyland Resort
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ADDRESSDisneyland Dr, Anaheim, CA 92802, USA
PHONE +1 714-781-4636
WEB Visit website
Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, holds a special place in the hearts of Disney fans as the place where the magic began. It’s also a classic family vacation perfect for all ages. Instead of heading to the sprawling Disney World in Orlando, plan your getaway at the original Disneyland theme park and Disney California Adventure Park. You can stay at one of the three on-site resorts (Disney’s Grand Californian, Disneyland Hotel, or Paradise Pier Hotel) or explore options nearby.
To plan the perfect Disneyland vacation, including where to stay, how to visit, and what to do, read our complete guide to the theme park.
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Los Angeles
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ADDRESSLos Angeles, CA, USA
WEB Visit website
From Beverly Hills to Disneyland and from Hollywood to Santa Monica, there’s a lot of ways to have fun in Los Angeles with kids. One of LA’s big draws is the thriving film industry. Not only can you see the iconic TCL Chinese Theatre and Walk of Fame but you can also tour film studios or find out more about celebrity homes in the area.
Because of its sheer size Los Angeles is an ideal vacation for the family who wants it all. Be it the glamour of Rodeo Drive, the beachy chill of Malibu, or something in between, the city has you and your family covered.
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Santa Barbara
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ADDRESSSanta Barbara, CA, USA
WEB Visit website
From Santa Barbara‘s posh resorts and gourmet restaurants to stunning beaches and an awesome zoo, there’s a seemingly endless list of things to love about this coastal town. The coastline and bays make for stunning beach views while the more adventurous can tour the rugged Channel Islands.
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Universal Studios Hollywood
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ADDRESS100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608, USA
PHONE +1 800-864-8377
WEB Visit website
Open since 1964, Universal Studios Hollywood is the granddaddy of movie theme parks. Over the years this park has evolved and expanded, adding exciting new attractions such as the beloved Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Jurassic World-The Ride. As an extra bonus, and something that can’t be found in its Orlando counterpart, Universal Studios Hollywood offer a studio tour narrated by Jimmy Fallon that takes guests into Hollywood’s largest street set and shares some movie making secrets.
Continue to 5 of 10 below.
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Laguna Beach
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ADDRESSLaguna Beach, CA, USA
WEB Visit website
Known for its mild year-round climate and artist community, the seaside resort town of Laguna Beach beckons families to enjoy its scenic beaches and kid-friendly attractions. The town has more than 20 beaches to relax on and when you get tired of the sand you can go for a hike, explore the Laguna Art Museum.
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San Diego
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ADDRESSSan Diego, CA, USA
WEB Visit website
Bring the kids to San Diego Zoo and Legoland California, of course, but be sure to mix as many free activities into your itinerary. After you explore some of the amazing beaches in the San Diego area, check out some free kid-friendly activities that will stretch your vacation budget.
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Great Wolf Lodge Garden Grove
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ADDRESS12681 Harbor Blvd, Garden Grove, CA 92840, USA
PHONE +1 888-960-9653
WEB Visit website
This rustic, woodsy Great Wolf Lodge indoor waterpark resort may at first seem like an odd fit in sunny Southern California. But keep in mind that it is impervious to the weather, offering either an appealing one-stop short getaway or a nice complement to a trip to Disneyland, which is just 2 miles away.
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Legoland California
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ADDRESSOne Legoland Dr, Carlsbad, CA 92008, USA
PHONE +1 888-690-5346
WEB Visit website
Do your kids love Legos? The Legoland California theme park is devoted to the colorful bricks, with amazing landscapes made entirely of Legos as well as rides and a water park. Aimed at younger kids age 3 to 10, this is a bullseye for families with elementary school-aged kids.