By Robert Vaux
Southern California has enough fun places to please everyone in the family, especially the kids. The list could run for miles and still only cover part of the museums, theme parks and public events to be found there. The warm weather of the area means that most attractions are open all year, and the host of permanent entertainment venues is augmented by annual parades, festivals and special events. Here's a brief list of the most notable family fun places for kids in Southern California.
Disneyland
Family entertainment in California begins and ends with the Happiest Place on Earth. Disneyland is open 365 days a year and contains hundreds of beloved rides and attractions, including classics like Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion. The park offers fireworks displays on the weekend and summer nights, along with daily parades featuring classic Disney characters.
Disneyland
1313 S. Disneyland Drive
Anaheim, CA 92802
Telephone: (714) 781-4565
Knott's Berry Farm
Though not as well-known as its rival theme park next door, Knott's Berry Farm still features a number of kid-friendly attractions. The most notable is Camp Snoopy, an area full of children's rides and featuring beloved characters from the "Peanuts" comic strips. A number of roller coasters and grown-up rides provide ample entertainment for teenagers as well.
Knott's Berry Farm
8039 beach Boulevard
Buena Park, CA 90620
Telephone: (714) 220-5200
The San Diego Zoo
The San Diego Zoo is arguably the greatest of its kind in the world, featuring more than 4,000 animals from 800 different breeds. In addition to the zoo proper, there's also the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park in nearby Escondido. It uses the Southern California landscape to recreate the African plains, giving the animals a much wider habitat in which to roam.
The San Diego Zoo
2920 Zoo Drive
San Diego, CA 92112-0551
Telephone: (619) 231-1515.
Wild Animal Park
15500 San Pasqual Valley Road
Escondido, California 92027-7017
Telephone: (760) 747-8702
The La Brea Tar Pits
Southern California features countless museums and art galleries, but the Page Museum in Los Angeles may be one of the most interesting for children. Some 10,000 years ago, the area was home to a number of tar pits, which trapped and preserved thousands of prehistoric species. The skeletons and bones are on display at the museum, along with exhibits letting kids feel what it's like to be trapped in the tar.
George C Page Museum
5801 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Telephone: (323) 934-7243
The Santa Monica Pier
The Santa Monica Pier opened in 1909 and today hosts a wide number of amusements and attractions, including concerts, fishing tournaments and similar events. Admission is free, and the pier's proximity to Santa Monica Beach means that families can enjoy the attractions and play in the surf without driving anywhere. Santa Monica's 3rd Street Promenade, featuring more entertainment venues and restaurants, is located within short walking distance.
Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica, 90401
Telephone: (310) 395-9621
Resources
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.
