LA & Southern California Family Holidays

Best California Theme Parks

Universal Studios Hollywood

Head to Universal Studios Hollywood – a real, functioning movie studio with a theme park attached. We can include tickets as part of the bespoke package we create for you. Take the famous one-hour Studio Tour then let kids loose on attractions such as Jurassic World: The Ride and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. 

Disneyland

Don’t miss Disneyland, at Anaheim, an hour southeast of Downtown LA. The original theme park designed by Walt Disney, with classic attractions including Sleeping Beauty Castle alongside hi-tech rides, it's actually now the Disneyland Resort, embracing two theme parks, Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park, plus Downtown Disney for shopping and dining. See our review of the Star Wars themed Galaxy's Edge at Disneyland Park.

Knott's Berry Farm

Check out Knott's Berry Farm, which despite also having some incredible thrill rides maintains a more homely feel in keeping with its origins as a berry stall and fried chicken restaurant. See our review of a day out at Knott's Berry Farm. 

Things to do in Los Angeles with Kids

Mann’s Chinese Theatre

Start at Mann’s Chinese Theatre, comparing handprints with the stars’, then take in a show at Disney’s El Capitan Theatre, a historic ‘movie palace’ that hosts new and classic Disney films and fan events, and has a walk of fame on which kids love spotting the bronze stars marking spots where Snow White, Mickey Mouse and so on have stepped.

Walk of Fame

Go star-spotting on the Walk of Fame, keeping your eyes peeled for Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny among the stars lining Hollywood Boulevard.

Homes of the Stars bus tours

Take older kids on one of Hollywood’s many Homes of the Stars bus tours, or buy a map of the celebs’ homes and hit the road yourself.

Beverley Hills and Rodeo Drive

Take a trip to Beverly Hills to window-shop on Rodeo Drive – don’t leave without catching a glimpse of the infamous Hollywood Sign, visible from more or less anywhere in Hollywood.

Griffith Park and Observatory

Head to the green slopes of Griffith Park to see one of the planetarium shows at the Griffith Observatory.

Downtown LA

Explore Downtown LA, starting with the marketplace at Olvera Street (El Pueblo de Los Angeles), the original settlement of Los Angeles. Sample great Mexican food before paying a visit to Avila Adobe, the oldest house in LA, now a museum depicting life in the 1840s.

Exposition Park

Check out Exposition Park – a great place for a picnic as well as home to two of LA’s most child-friendly museums, the California Science Center and Natural History Museum of Los Angeles.

The George C. Page Museum and La Brea Tar Pits

Make your way to The George C. Page Museum and La Brea Tar Pits in the Miracle Mile district of LA. The oozing pits have replica prehistoric mammals, while the museum has the skeletons of sabre-tooth tigers. This is the world’s only active urban Ice Age excavation site.

Beaches and aquariums 

Enjoy LA’s iconic beaches. Watch the beautiful people work out on Venice Boardwalk or take the half-hour trip south from downtown to Long Beach to visit the Aquarium of the Pacific, the largest aquarium in southern California.

Other Southern California Beaches

Huntington Beach

Head to Huntington Beach for its 16km beach, surf museum and longboard tuition. See our feature on a family surfing break at Huntington Beach.

Santa Monica State Beach

Make a beeline for Santa Monica State Beach in the city of Santa Monica (which is surrounded by Los Angeles), with good swimming conditions and lifeguards all through summer, plus year-round entertainment on Santa Monica pier, parts of which date back to 1916.  

San Diago 

Combine a trip to Los Angeles with a stay in neighbouring San Diego, a very child-friendly city where you can hit the beach at Mission Bay, take a trolley tour of the historic Old Town and explore Balboa Park, the USA’s largest urban cultural park, home to 15 museums, gorgeous gardens and the world-famous San Diego Zoo – credited as one of the most ethical zoos in the world and a non-profit leader in conservation.

Palm Springs and the Joshua Tree National Park 

Hire a car (we can include vehicle rental in your holiday package) and explore this vast (790,000+ acres) protected area where the Mojave and Colorado deserts meet, famed for its unique rock formations and twisted, spikey trees. It's a place for family adventures including stargazing, rock climbing, hiking, and camping.

Spend time in the desert oasis of Palm Springs, known for its mid-century modern architecture and Old Hollywood glamour, and offering outdoor adventures such as the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, hiking and natural mineral hot springs, plus great accommodation with pools or even water parks.