California travel destinations for families are the best in the world. From the coast to the valley; from the desert to the alpine realms of the High Sierra; from the quiet mountain and oceanside retreats to the vibrant, lively cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco, there is something to meet any family group interest.
To begin with the obvious: There is Disneyworld. The iconic theme park can be the entire focus of the trip, or the major stop on the way to San Diego’s Marine World, which is about an hour and a half away. Between San Diego and Los Angeles, a week or two can be gone in a wonderful flash. Also, day excursions to Catalina Island, the beaches of the Southland, and a host of glamorous film venues will complete a well-rounded view of the classic southern California vacation destinations.
For the outdoors lovers: Northern California offers the best Alpine, mountain, river, and Gold Rush lifestyle. From Yosemite National Park to the great ski areas of the Tahoe-Donner region of the Sierras, there is no end to outdoor opportunity. For hiking, camping, fishing, and hunting, the Tahoe National Forest offers trails and campgrounds that are sublime, which lead from Nevada City, a wonderful haven for the arts, food, history, and unique shopping.
A unique adventure can be found at the numerous Plumas county gold panning campgrounds, where even the beginning prospector can find everything needed to pan for gold.
California’s Farmer’s markets and festivals: are world-renowned. From “dried plums” (which used to be prunes) in the Yuba Sutter Region, which is the gateway to the gold Motherlode, to garlic (and yes, they do make garlic ice cream), there is no end to the list of fruits and vegetables which have earned their own festival of fun and food. There are festivals for every month of the year, and they are worth visiting if one is going on near your vacation venue. The Los Angeles Farmers Market is one of the wonders of the world, and worth a visit.
The San Francisco Bay Area is a vibrant and diverse megalopolis, where two major baseball, football and basketball teams find their home. Two major universities in the world reside there. Every major style of music is represented in venues that are huge, medium and small. Foods from around the world are plentiful.
And the beautiful Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay offer a wide variety of water activities, from cruises that go all the way to Sacramento to a host of guided tours for viewing or for ocean fishing. San Francisco is a cultural centre of world renown, and California municipalities are very “kid-centric”. From the Exploratorium to the hall of science and nature, to the symphony and Opera, there are kids programs galore.
California offers natural, urban, country and other environments for just about any family from anywhere in the world. It is worth it to come and see!
