By Jeffrey Brian
From its Pacific Coast to the Sierra Nevadas, California has great diversity.
California boasts a seemingly infinite variety of natural and man-made tourist attractions. It's a great vacation destination for families because of the numerous kid-friendly destinations and attractions in addition to adult activities. The Golden State has something for everyone in the family, including attractions to fit every taste and budget.
Disneyland
It's called "The Happiest Place on Earth" for a reason. Known worldwide for its famous characters and rides, Disneyland encompasses two amusement parks filled with rides for all ages. There's also Downtown Disney, a walking district with shops and restaurants. Stay at the Disneyland Hotel and make a weekend out of the trip.
Disneyland
1313 South Harbor Blvd.
Anaheim, CA 92802
714-635-2300
disneyland.disney.go.com
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
It's an 1,800-acre wildlife preserve with more than 3,500 animals and a botanical garden. Kids will love the animal exhibits and being able to drive through the various terrains where the critters roam around in their natural environments. The park also hosts nighttime hours where you can experience the zoo life at night. A couple times a year they even have a sleepover package where you can spend the night in the park and re-create living in the wild. Kids will love the experience.
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
15500 San Pasqual Valley Road
Escondido, CA 92027
760-747-8702
sdzsafaripark.org
Pier 39
Spend a day on San Francisco's famous Pier 39. There's something for everyone. The kids will love the bungee trampoline, carousel and various live shows. However the highlight is really the large sea lion community that makes the area its home. Kids love watching the sea lions "talk" and push one another off the buoys. For the adults, there's shopping, great seafood and things to do like ferry rides and kayak trips off the pier.
Pier 39
beach Street and the Embarcadero
San Francisco, CA 94133
www.pier39.com
California Science Center
Take your kids out for some fun and education. The science center in Los Angeles has tons of exhibits ranging from anatomy to plant life and molecular structure. There are new exhibits rotating in all the time so you never know what new things you'll see. In addition to the exhibits, there's a science-oriented arcade for some pure "fun" time and an IMAX theater that shows science-related films.
California Science Center
Exposition Park
39th and Figueroa Streets
Los Angeles, CA 90037
323-724-3623
californiasciencecenter.org
Beach
There are numerous beaches along the California coast. Take the kids to any beach for a day of fun in the sun. Be sure to take beach towels, sunblock, some toys for playing in the sand and floaties for smaller children if they aren't yet able to swim, as they could easily be swept up in the tide if you even look away for a moment. Each beach has its own hours and policies, so you'll need to check on each before heading out.
Huntington Beach is known as "Surf City" and is a great place for families. Santa Monica Beach can be a lot of fun for families because its pier has tons of amusements and attractions. Newport Beach has nice sand and a long boardwalk for kids and adults for rollerskating, jogging or bike riding.
About the Author:
Jeffrey Brian is a professional writer specializing in fishing topics. He also uses his real estate training, sales abilities and general life knowledge to tackle a variety of other subjects.
Photo Credits:
california coast image by michael tunbridge from
Fotolia.com
