By Emily Beach
California Vacations With Kids
California is both the largest (by population) state and the third largest (by area) in the U.S. With so much land to cover, it's no surprise that the state is characterized by its diverse cultural and geographical landscape. Coastal California is celebrated for its broad sandy
beaches and surf culture. The desert interior is home to Death Valley and Joshua Tree National Park. The northern and mountainous regions of the state offer great skiing, hiking and scenery. With so much diversity, families visiting the state will find no shortage of activities that even the kids can enjoy.
Beaches
A Beach in Big Sur
California has hundreds of miles of coastline, with many fine beaches along the way. Visitors may want to base their choice of beach first on climate, as there is a vast temperature difference between the water temperature of northern versus southern beaches. In northern California, for instance, most visitors will only feel comfortable swimming during the peak of the summer season in July and August. In the San Diego area, however, most people are able to swim through most of the non-winter months. Families may want to focus on beaches that offer boardwalk-type amusement areas in addition to the traditional beach activities. The Santa Monica Pier and Santa Cruz Boardwalk feature plenty of rides, games and attractions for kids, in addition to world class beaches.
Santa Monica Pier
200 Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 458-8900
Santa Cruz Boardwalk
400 Beach Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 423-5590
Theme Parks
Disneyland
California is home to some of the country's best theme parks, including the Disneyland resort. The Disney resort area is actually comprised of two major theme parks, each of which can keep kids busy for several days. Beyond Disney, families can visit Knott's Berry Farm or Sea World, a marine-based park in San Diego. Parents of young children should consider taking the kids to LegoLand in Carlsbad, known for its gentle, kid-friendly rides. For older kids, try Six Flags Magic Mountain just north of L.A. The park features dozens of thrill rides, including some intense roller coasters.
Disneyland
1313 S Harbor Blvd.
Anaheim, CA 92802
(714) 781-4000
Knott's Berry Farm
8039 Beach Blvd.
Buena Park, CA 90620
(714) 220-5200
Sea World
500 Sea World Drive
San Diego, CA 92109
(619) 226-3900
Legoland
1 Legoland Drive
Carlsbad, CA 92008
(760) 918-5346
Six Flags
26101 Magic Mountain Pkwy.
Valencia, CA 91355
(661) 255-4100
Yosemite National Park
Merced River
For families looking to enjoy the great outdoors, Yosemite National Park is a great vacation spot. It covers nearly 1,200 square miles over the Sierra Nevada mountains, and provides spectacular views, dozens of waterfalls, and plenty of widelife viewing opportunities. One of the most popular sites is El Capitan, a giant granite formation popular with rock climbers and hikers alike. There are several rivers here, which provide for whitewater rafting, fishing, canoeing, and swimming. Yosemite Information, (209) 372-0200.
About the Author:
Emily Beach works in the commercial construction industry in Maryland. She received her LEED accreditation from the U.S. Green Building Council in 2008 and is in the process of working towards an Architectural Hardware Consultant certification from the Door and Hardware Institute. She received a bachelor's degree in economics and management from Goucher College in Towson, Maryland.
Photo Credits:
Wiki Commons
