Southern California is a place where people go on vacation with their kids because of its beaches and variety of theme parks. In summer it is usually not as hot as in the valley, and winters are always milder. Here are the top 10 places travelers should definitely check if they are planning to go there with kids.
Recommendations: If you only have one day to visit the parks and you are looking for a Disney atmosphere, it is better to go to Disneyland. Disney California Adventure Park is more like Six Flags with different attractions and rides, but still Disney themed. The ticket price in the summer season starts from $150 and depends on the date. You should reserve a date when purchasing tickets. There is also an option to buy express passes called Disney Genie+. These passes cost an additional $50 per ticket and allow you to skip the lines for most rides and attractions. This might be a good idea, otherwise you can spend more than an hour in front of each attraction. However, we recommend you to download the Disney app and book the attractions at the entrance to the park, because some of them are only available in an hour or more. Also, with these passes, you should be aware that you can only reserve one attraction at a time, and not all rides work with Disney Genie+.
Recommendations: The prices for LEGOLAND during the season start at $110 per person. There is also an option of express passes at the park, but here it is called Reserve’N’Ride. There are three types of these passes, priced at $35, $55 and $100 per ticket, and they differ in access types and waiting times. The park not only has rides and attractions, but also many places where kids can build different things with LEGO, and parents can spend time building together or relaxing on the bench. The park also has a water park.
Recommendations: Tickets start from $130. Definitely a great idea to take express passes here for $160 more per ticket! Otherwise, it is possible to miss many attractions and shows. The park is huge. And it has not only rides, attractions and tours but also studios where the movies are filmed.
Recommendations: Great place to learn about sea creatures and to enjoy some rides. The park recently opened Arctic Rescue, the fastest and longest straddle coaster on the West Coast. Tickets start at $65 per person. A must visit place in Southern California.
Recommendations: The territory of the park is quite large. So it is a good idea to take strollers for kids and plenty of water as it gets hot there in summer. Giant pandas are really adorable, but most of the time they sleep. We recommend that you start your day from a panda exhibit, then you will have a better chance of seeing pandas active and avoid getting stuck in a long line.
Recommendations: One of the three must-see parks in San Diego. For nature lovers, this is a great place to feel far away from civilization and see animals in their habitat, such as roaming herds and running cheetahs. One day may not be enough to see everything, and there is a 2-visit pass option that costs around $110. However, there is also the option of a 1-day pass from $60. Apart from the African Tram safari, the rest are paid, but we recommend trying a couple of them.
Recommendations: This place is definitely very popular among tourists. Some people go there to take pictures of the Hollywood Sign, others enjoy the views of Los Angeles when the sky is clear. The best time to visit is early evening. You will have the opportunity to stargaze from the observatory’s giant telescope and enjoy the lights of Los Angeles. But go there while it is still light to see the Hollywood sign. Estimated time spent there is 30 minutes to an hour. The observatory inside is also a good place to learn the basics of astronomy. We recommend parking your car at the bottom of the hill, there is a large parking lot. The walk from there to the observatory takes about 30 minutes.
Recommendations: Go to the park and ride the Ferris wheel. It is worth looking at the ocean from the top of the wheel. If you do not plan to spend the whole day there, late afternoon is the best time. You will have plenty of time to explore the park, watch street performers and enjoy the ocean. You can also learn to surf starting at $60 for two hours. And don’t forget to watch the sunset from the beach or from one of the restaurants on the Santa Monica pier.
Recommendations: The estimated time to visit the aquarium is three hours, but it may take longer if you plan to attend shows and special events. Take a list of these shows and events upon arrival and plan your visit according to the list. The aquarium does not allow outside food or drinks. There is a nice café upstairs. If you have small kids, bring your own strollers, there are no rentals there. Tickets are $30 for kids and $45 for adults and you should reserve a date.
Recommendations: If you just want to walk along the Walk, one hour may be more than enough. But people usually look for specific stars and go to gift shops. This place is one of the most popular places to visit and it is very crowded. Take water and a hat. And if you have time, visit Madame Tussauds Museum. It is a great place even if you have visited it before because the museum adds new figures once in a while.