By Robert Vaux
The warm sun and pleasant climate of California make it an excellent destination for families on vacation, and the list of potential attractions could easily fill an entire book. California contains a wide variety of natural attractions, as well as three major metropolitan centers holding a number of fun things for families to do. No trip to California would be complete without a visit to at least one of these locales.
Disneyland
Let's be honest: if you take your kids on vacation to California and don't spend at least one day at Disneyland, they'll wreak a horrible, bloody revenge when you're too old to fight back. The Happiest Place on Earth contains dozens of rides and attractions, from classics like Pirates of the Caribbean to new rides featuring Buzz Lightyear and Roger Rabbit. Parades take place in the park every day, and weekend and summer evenings feature fireworks displays above Sleeping Beauty's Castle.
Disneyland
1313 S Harbor Blvd.
Anaheim, CA
714-781-4000
The San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park
The San Diego Zoo is arguably the best of its kind in North America, taking advantage of California's pleasant climate to host thousands of different animals from all over the world. The Zoo also runs a Wild Animal Park in nearby Escondido, displaying animals in open habitats reminiscent of the African veldt. Both locations are within easy driving distance of downtown San Diego.
San Diego Zoo
2920 Zoo Drive
San Diego, CA 92101
619-231-1515
Yosemite National Park
Families with a penchant for the outdoors absolutely need to make Yosemite National Park a priority on their vacation. It was one of the first national parks ever established in the United States and covers nearly 1200 square miles of pristine Sierra Nevada wilderness. Features include the magnificent Sentinel Rock and Half Dome geological domes, waterfalls such as Bridal Veil Falls and Yosemite Falls, and countless hiking and biking trails throughout the park. Seasonal events and nature hikes take place on a regular basis, and the park is open 365 days a year.
Beaches
California beaches are the envy of the world, from warm, sandy bathing beaches to pristine rock and cliffside beaches. Highway 1 in California winds along the coastline, providing an excellent tour of the most spectacular coastal spots. Noted California beaches include Laguna beach, with its natural tide pool preserve; Santa Monica Beach, near its world-famous pier; and the beaches near Hearst Castle in San Simeon, which play host to elephant seals and other forms of wildlife.
Bay Area Discovery Museum
The Bay Area Discovery Museum is tailored towards younger children (under eight), combining indoor and outdoor attractions intended to inspire creativity and hands-on exploration. Moreover, it stands in the middle of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, providing nature walks and other outdoor activities afterwards. The Golden Gate Bridge is closeby as well (in fact, you must cross it from the city to get to the Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito), making the Museum an excellent starting point for a larger tour of San Francisco.
Bay Area Discovery Museum
Fort Baker
557 McReynolds Road
Sausalito, CA 94965-2614
415-339-3900
About the Author:
Robert Vaux has been a professional writer and editor since 1995. He has traveled throughout Europe and North America as well as parts of North Africa. Since 2000 he has been a professional movie critic at Flipside Movie Emporium, the Sci-Fi Movie Page and Mania.com. Vaux has a Master of Arts in English literature from Syracuse University.
