101 Southern California Vacation Family Activities

After spending a ton of time on various Southern California vacation adventures, we have compiled the ultimate list of travel tips for making the most of this beautiful part of the country. With over 100 items below and great tips for each area we have visited, you are sure to have an amazing family vacation that your family will talk about for years to come.

101 Southern California Vacation Family Activities

Southern California is our home away from home, or so we like to say. That means we have explored hundreds of local attractions and found that it is truly the ideal California vacation destination to spend with your family. We have broken down a few of the top areas to visit with our favorite travel tips and recommendations for family activities that you will love.

One of our favorite things about Southern California is you are within 2-3 hours of everything. From crossing the border into Mexico to seeing the Hollywood sign, you aren’t far away from any of these great attractions. Taking a weekend trip to just one area has been something we have done many times, but the best California vacation is for 1-2 weeks giving you time to visit all of the area destinations you have an interest in seeing.

Los Angeles Attractions:

Universal Studios Hollywood
Le Brea Tar Pits
Santa Monica Pier {we love going here!}
Six Flags Magic Mountain
Hollywood Walk Of Fame
Hollywood Sign
Rodeo Drive
Japanese American National Museum
Los Angeles Zoo
United States Holocaust Memorial
Battleship USS Iowa
Venice Canals Walkway
Hollywood Bowl Museum (and amphitheater)
Griffith Observatory
TLC Chinese Theater
Malibu Lagoon (beach)
The Getty Center
Los Angeles County Museum Of Art
Walt Disney Concert Hall
Natural History Museum – Los Angeles County
California African American Museum
Peterson Automotive Museum
Madame Tussauds Hollywood
Museum of Contemporary Art – Los Angeles
Venice Beach {you see very interesting things in this area}
The Last Bookstore (bookstore, record shop, and more)
Chinatown {perfect place to get dim sum}
Travel Town (transportation museum – bonus free!)
California Science Center
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
Serenity Park Parrot Sanctuary
The Hollywood Museum
Autry Museum of the American West
Eat at In-N-Out Burger {Yes, this is a must. It’s the first thing we do when we land!}

As you can see, this list has something for every age and desire in your family. From theme park rides to amazing classic and contemporary art, the list of fun California vacation activities in Los Angeles is thorough.

Travel Tips #1 – Stay outside of the city for better rates on lodging, consider an Anaheim vacation home.

Los Angeles is a short drive from surrounding areas in Orange County. Take advantage of the many free walking tours throughout the city, and spend 1-2 days just observing the hustle and bustle around the city. Look for discount tickets for attractions through local grocery stores or Costco Warehouse for bundle packages to save money.

You can also find quite a few foodie spots in the Anaheim area.

Anaheim and Orange County Attractions:

Disneyland
Downtown Disney
Disney California Adventure
Knott’s Berry Farm
Flight Deck Air Combat Center
Fullerton Arboretum
Downtown Fullerton at Night (coffee shops, vintage stores, and more)
Muzeo (museum of art exhibits that rotate regularly)
Angel Stadium (watch a game)
Pretend City Children’s Museum
Discovery Science Center
Brookhurst Park
Anaheim Gardenwalk (shopping)
Adventure City (a small amusement park for kids under 9)
Santa Ana Zoo
City National Grove of Anaheim
Bowers Museum
Medieval Times Dinner Theater {fun, family event}
Richard Nixon Presidental Library and Museum
Orange County Zoo
Yorba Regional Park
Seascape Kids Fun
Olinda Oil Museum & Trail

Travel Tips #2: Orange County is within a few minutes of many major attractions. A vacation house rental is a great way to save money on expenses, but you may also want to look at surrounding areas like Fullerton, Brea, and Placentia for lower cost hotel prices. Take advantage of the lower costs and stock up on groceries at a local market to avoid paying high prices inside the popular theme parks.

San Diego County Attractions:

Coronado Island {another favorite spot to visit}
San Diego Zoo
San Diego Zoo Safari Park {a must do!}
Sea World San Diego
Balboa Park
San Diego Natural History Museum
San Diego Museum of Man
Balboa Park Botanical Gardens {gorgeous area}
San Diego Air & Space Museum
San Diego Model Railroad Museum
Old Town San Diego
La Jolla Beaches {one of my favorite places to go! Plus, you can catch the sea lions laying out in the sun}
USS Midway Museum
Seaport Village {one of my favorite spots to visit!}
Corvette Diner (enjoy classic burger & fries in a fun environment)
Maritime Museum of San Diego
Torrey Pines State Natural Preserve
Point Loma, San Diego (lighthouses)
Rueben H. Fleet Science Center
Mission San Diego de Alcala (first Franciscan mission)
Balboa Theater
Santee Swap Meet
Classic Car Thursday’s in El Cajon
Waterfront Park
Santee Lakes
California Surf Museum
San Diego Chinese Museum
Mission Bay Park {great foodie spots in this area}
Mount Soledad
Cabrillo National Monument {amazing views of San Diego from here}
Sunset Cliffs National Park
Eat at The Mission in San Diego (best breakfast ever!)
Old Globe Theater (great live performances!)
Birch Aquarium at Scripps
SanDiego Mormon Tabernacle (beautiful architecture and garden)
Spreckels Organ Pavillion (Sunday for live shows)
San Diego Fair (usually June-July month long with concerts, rides, and food)

Travel Tips #3: Consider renting a vacation home or even a condo near the water to save money on hotel costs.

San Diego offers a great rail system for public transit that has dozens of locations all over the county. Instead of driving everywhere, grab the inexpensive day passes and ride from destination to destination. You may also consider investing in a Southern California CityPass for savings on many of the popular area attractions.

Other Southern California Attractions:

Cross the border to Tijuana
Legoland in Carlsbad {see how we scored free tickets to Legoland}
Joshua Tree National Park {still on my bucket list}
Salton Sea
Visit Julian for an old town feeling and apple pie { this is a fun, quaint little town!}
Drive to Mount Laguna
Check out the top things to do in San Diego
Border Field State Park
Be sure to spend in Carlsbad- near the beach, plus tons of shopping options!

As you consider making your California vacation happen in Southern California, you’ll find there are dozens of amazing things to do with your family. This list includes museums, amusement parks, water parks, theaters, shopping, historical landmarks, and even a few places you really must enjoy a meal at while in the area. Southern California truly is the ultimate family vacation destination.