California for Families Holiday Guide
Nowhere else in the USA encapsulates the fabled American Dream quite like California.
California, the Golden State. The glossy world of LA, Big Sur, San Francisco and Yosemite National Park. California is the most versatile of all America’s states, particularly when it comes to family-friendly adventures. You’ve got sea, surf and sun on tap, glittering coastlines, and super-sized ocean views. There are mountains to hike and wineries to run around. And that’s even before we get onto theme parks. A family trip to California will go down in your vacation history as one of the best, no matter what age you are.
“You can see so much in a short space of time in California, but for me, the looks on my kids’ faces when I took them to Disneyland was unbeatable.” Rob Holmes, USA Travel Expert
Is California a good family vacation destination?
California ticks all the boxes for a first trip to the USA with your family. Everything about it is easy and breezy, making traveling with children stress-free. For toddlers and babies, there are soft sandy beaches to make their playground, plus pushchair-friendly streets and hiking trails. Active children will be in their element, cycling along boardwalks, learning to surf, kayaking on lakes, and living their best life at Universal Studios. California is a dream for teens who will relish the somewhat bonkers world of Hollywood, delight in San Francisco’s bohemian vibe and love the buzz of beach life.
Then there’s the food. More than just the classic burgers and fries, California, the birthplace of healthy eating, has so much to offer. Influences come from all over the world. You’ll find sushi on every street corner in the cities, Mexican restaurants - particularly as you travel south, then there’s Michelin-star fine dining (for some adult time) and on the coast, there are amazing little crab shacks to stop at. California is a foodie family’s paradise but caters brilliantly to dietary requirements and allergies too.
With good internal flights and excellent wide highways, you can tick off a lot of California family road trip ideas in just one or two weeks. The best time to visit is between April and November, making it ideal for the school vacations.
Is California suitable for children?
While California is great for children of all ages, (and Scott Dunn will tailor your trip to work for your family) it is older children, especially teenagers, that would get the most out of a vacation there. Experiences tend to center around the great outdoors, both on land and sea, making it a utopia for active families. Even when touring cities like LA, Santa Barbara, and San Francisco you will be doing a fair amount of walking, and all the sights and sounds can be overwhelming for young kids. However, the national parks, Disneyland and beaches are heaven for younger children who need space to play and run around.
Where to Go on a Family Vacation to California
A successful family vacation is all about finding the right balance, mixing some kid-pleasers like theme parks and water sports, with a smattering of grown-up indulgences – it is your vacation too after all. Below are some ideas for your California family vacation itinerary.
San Francisco
Buzzy, energetic, and beautiful, San Francisco is the perfect place to start your California family vacation. It will be a particular hit with your teenagers who will love strolling the streets, popping in and out of boutiques and finding cool restaurants or cafes to stop at. Don’t shy away from the tourist attractions, they’re popular for a reason. Take a cable car down to Fisherman’s Wharf for seafood, shopping, and sunbathing sea lions. Cycle over the Golden Gate Bridge or see it from the water while sailing on an America’s Cup yacht. There are also fantastic art galleries and museums to visit for those who love a bit of culture. Scott Dunn will plan and book any entrance tickets, baseball or basketball games, reservations and transfers around the city, so all you need to do is enjoy the sights.
Los Angeles
LA is archetypal California, with idyllic weather, beautiful people, green juices, and designer shops. The City of Angels is another world and one that’s fun to get a glimpse of. With plenty of attractions, amazing restaurants, and several day trips and excursions nearby, it’s a popular draw with families all year round. While LA might be associated with city life, there is a lot of nature around it too. Hire a bike and cycle along Santa Monica’s beachfront for top-notch people watching or join a guided hike of Hollywood Hills. Your teens will love the open-top bus tour of celebrity homes, and then there’s Universal Studios. Let us organize a VIP tour for you to see behind-the-scenes places closed off to the public and skip the queues on all the rides. Throw in a family vacation to Disneyland California, which is just 25 minutes from LA, to get cool parents points too.
Big Sur, Monterey & Carmel
Soaring over redwood-covered cliffs above the Pacific Ocean, Big Sur offers some of the most inspiring scenery you’ll see on a family trip on the California coast. It makes for a beautiful day trip from the nearby central coast towns of Carmel or Monterey. Boho, beachy vibes cascade out of everyone and everything in this part of the state. It’s all about being amongst nature and hitting the refresh button. Take beach walks to spot seals, join a whale watching trip (humpbacks can be seen between April and December), hit up the Monterey Aquarium for the kids, and hike through the towering redwoods.
Santa Barbara
Laid-back Santa Barbara is just a couple of hours from LA and a more manageable place to visit with younger kids. It’s got a bit of everything too, from the cool restaurant and café scene to beautiful beaches, which are great for surfers, and plenty to keep kids occupied. Rent a cruiser bike to get around the city, stopping at local haunts like the farmers’ market, botanical gardens, Museum of Art, or Santa Barbara Zoo. Visit the Channel Islands by boat to see dolphins and kayak the turquoise waters around them. You could also visit the wine country with a private driver, although the vineyards might not appeal to your kids, a picnic in the countryside could tempt them.
Yosemite National Park
Home to gigantic ancient sequoia woods, granite peaks, thundering waterfalls, and over 800 miles of hiking trails, Yosemite is one of the best national parks in California and it has something for kids of all ages to enjoy. The most flexible way to see the park is to have a car and stay in a self-catering cabin. For children who are too young to walk long distances, you could hire a bicycle and have them in a seat. There are also shuttle buses and open-air trams to get around. Along with hikes for all abilities (and some suitable for pushchairs too), there are lakes to swim and raft in, and a Junior Ranger course to join. If you’re traveling to Yosemite National Park with kids, Scott Dunn can put together the complete itinerary, booking guides, planning activities, and coordinating transfers or car hire.
Laguna Beach
If rest and relaxation are on the agenda for you, and surfing and beach activities are on it for the kids, Laguna Beach is an ideal destination for a California family vacation. And it’s just an hour from LA. Along with beautiful sandy coves to play in, the bright blue waters around Laguna Beach are home to dolphins and whales. There are the ubiquitous Californian hikes in hills around the city and plenty of golf courses to test out too. It even serves up a smattering of culture, with a contemporary art gallery and huge arts festival from June to September, which brings live music, workshops, and outdoor dining to the area.
San Diego
San Diego is all about the attractions. From its famous zoo and to Legoland, to SeaWorld and San Diego Air & Space Museum, it serves up fun after fun for families. VIP tours of the main sights bring them to life even more and allow you to skip the queue. And, along with all the theme parks, there is beautiful nature surrounding San Diego. Join a Sea Cave Kayak Adventure through the diverse La Jolla Ecological Reserve. Suitable for those aged 6 years and over, a knowledgeable guide will introduce you to the flora and fauna native to the region, show you the sea caves, the sea lions lounging on the rocks and the vibrant orange Garibaldi fish (the State’s fish).
Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe, found in the Sierra Nevada in northeastern California, is the largest alpine lake in North America. The peaceful, blue water, mountains, pine-scented air, stony shoreline, and clear skies make Lake Tahoe a perfect California family vacation destination for nature lovers. There’s a plethora of activities to enjoy year-round. During the winter months, you can hit the slopes at world-class ski resorts like Heavenly and Northstar. In the summer, the crystal-clear lake beckons for boating, swimming, and beach picnics. Join a private kayak tour with lunch on the beach, take scenic hikes in the surrounding national parks, such as Emerald Bay State Park, or rent bikes to explore the stunning Tahoe Rim Trail. For a bit of culture, visit the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival or explore the charming towns of South Lake Tahoe and Tahoe City.
Where to Stay in California with Your Family
When it comes to family-friendly accommodation, California has options aplenty. Cozy design hotels by the ocean and the five-star names in the cities. Here are our favorites.
For Younger Kids
Traveling with babies, toddlers and small children doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice on style, comfort, or facilities. These hotels make a family vacation in California stress-free and enjoyable whoever you’re with.
At the bottom of a valley about 25 minutes from Monterey Bay, is this idyllic 500-acre retreat, with a roster of activities so great you’ll need weeks to experience them all. Professional tennis instructors lead camps for adults and kids, there’s an 18-hole golf course, beekeeping, hiking trails, astrology workshops, geocaching lessons, picnics, and a kids’ club with an imaginative timetable. At the end of the day, grab a bite at Valley Kitchen, where the meals are locally sourced, including some ingredients made on the ranch.
You can’t get a better location in Santa Monica than Shutters on the Beach. Right on the soft sand, this iconic New England-style hotel is also bang in the center of LA. Its interiors are beautiful, stylish and comfortable but not so lavish that you feel worried about having kids in them. Plus, Shutters on the Beach is known for its incredible art, with originals by Hockney and Lichtenstein hanging on the walls. Rooms connect and can have cots or extra beds added to them. The hotel’s fine-dining restaurant 1 Pico is one of the best in LA – ideal for a dinner a deux – but there is also a laid-back beachfront eatery with a kids’ menu.
For Older Kids
Here are some of the best child-friendly hotels in California with activities and locations ideal for keeping older kids entertained and happy.
Sitting above the bay of Santa Barbara, the Belmond El Encanto is set in seven acres of gardens and made up of a collection of pared-back Californian-style bungalows, suites, and cottages. Accommodation options can hold up to eight guests, which allows groups flexibility while on a family vacation in California. Being up high gives you the lovely sea breeze and amazing views across the ocean, while a hotel shuttle will take you downtown to see the sights. When not exploring the area, lounge by the saltwater swimming pool or escape to the small spa while your kids play games on the lawn, feed the turtles or cycle around the grounds on electric bikes.
These cozy, low-key cabins are the only privately owned homes within Yosemite National Park. Traditional in style and varying in size, they are a fantastic place for families looking for a memorable experience. Kids will love the location amongst the forest and all the space around them to play and explore. They are comfortably furnished with televisions and fireplaces, as well as grills for summer barbecues, some even have hot tubs on the deck to sink into after a day in the park.
For Multigenerational Trips
There’s something really special about traveling with grandparents and children, but finding the space to do it can be tricky. These hotels are designed to keep kids entertained and give adults some grown-up time too.
Enveloped by 28 acres of green vines and rolling hills, this gorgeous resort takes inspiration from its surrounding countryside with a refined farm-house-style look. Individual cottages with modern interiors are positioned in what feels like mini neighborhoods. They’re decked out with fireplaces and floor-to-ceiling glass doors leading to manicured gardens and outdoor baths. Some cottages will connect for families, there are larger homes with kitchens and dining rooms, or you can just have several small cottages all nearby. You don’t have to cook though, the restaurant Farm features produce from the property's kitchen garden, making delicious meals. Activities will please all ages, for kids there are outdoor movies and s’mores to roast, camping under the stars, kitchen garden tours, kids’ yoga, and a fantastic pool. For the adults, there’s wine tasting, spa treatments, bike rides and Cadillacs to rent for a beautiful drive.
Located in a residential area just north of downtown San Diego, Rancho Valencia is made up of 49 casitas in a Spanish Colonial style and decorated with orange groves and bright pink bougainvillaea. The hotel boasts a world-class spa, a fine dining restaurant, an award-winning tennis program, yoga, and golf nearby at The Farms by Tom Lehman. Staff are wonderfully attentive and there’s a no-fee mini-bar in the room, so you can breathe a sigh of relief as the kids tuck in. If grandparents and parents need a moment to themselves, there’s an adult-only swimming pool to hide in.
For Multigenerational Trips
There’s no shortage of fun experiences to be had on a trip to California with family, it’s like a giant playground for kids (and adults) but these hotels have some of the best activities right on their doorstep.
Tenaya Lodge is the ideal choice for a family adventure thanks to its breathtaking location amid Yosemite National Park and huge array of activities on offer. There’s hiking, mountain biking, and guided nature walks in the park, plus the lodge has an indoor pool and spa, a games room, and rock-climbing wall. On the roster of amazing things to do around the grounds is horseback riding, panning for gold, archery, and glass blowing, plus there’s a dedicated Kids’ Camp to keep the little ones truly captivated by the nature around them. In the evenings join a campfire, gaze at the stars, and roast delicious s’mores.
Set against the stunning backdrop of the Sierra Nevada mountains, The Ritz Carlton is right in the middle of the mountain, making it ski-in ski-out in the winter and offering up fabulous views in the summer. Along with skiing, snowboarding, and hiking during the winter, there are mountain biking, golfing, and water sports on the lake during the summer. It even has a Lake Club, with an outdoor whirlpool, fireplaces, showers and changing facilities. From here you can borrow kayaks and paddle boards too. After an action-packed day, families can retreat to the cozy rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, fireplaces, and private balconies.
For Relaxation
Is a vacation even a vacation if there aren’t at least some restful moments? To ensure you head home from your California family vacation revived, book into one of these hotels.
Right on the beach, Montage Laguna Beach has everything you need for a peaceful family vacation, combining just the right blend of luxury and family-friendly amenities. The resort's exquisite bedrooms are spacious and comfortable with ocean views, creating a tranquil retreat for parents. Meanwhile, the children's club, Paintbox, is ready and waiting with arts and crafts, games, and creative activities both indoors and out to keep young ones entertained while parents unwind at the spa or enjoy strolls along the beach. With opportunities for beach picnics, kayaking, and exploring tide pools, there’s time to connect as a family too.
Spacious and elegantly appointed bedrooms make a comfortable sanctuary for families. But it’s the resort's Camp Pelican Kids’ Club that will mean you can really switch off. Offering a treasure trove of engaging activities for children, including arts and crafts, outdoor adventures, and educational programs, it makes sure the kids are happy and you can have some time to visit the spa or play golf. With family-friendly pools, access to stunning beaches, and an array of outdoor activities like hiking and biking, the Resort at Pelican Hill is the perfect destination to unwind, rejuvenate, and make cherished family memories.
Visit California
If a family vacation in California is now firmly on your bucket list, start to make it a reality by contacting one of our travel experts who will put together your dream itinerary, ensuring every activity suits your children’s ages and interests.
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