75 places within 100 mi of 92692
Oso Creek Trail & Mission Viejo Library
Mission Viejo · Parks & Hiking
A whimsical paved creek trail dotted with mosaics, gardens, and a koi pond — right next to the library's story-time programs.
Free
Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park
Lake Forest · Parks & Hiking
Shady creekside singletrack leads to Red Rock Canyon's mini badlands — a payoff hike that feels like a desert adventure for kids.
Free
Great Park Balloon & Carousel
Irvine · Parks & Hiking
Ride a tethered helium balloon 400 feet up for skyline views, then a spin on the carousel and a romp at the huge play areas.
Balloon free; carousel $4
Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park
Aliso Viejo · Parks & Hiking
Wide, stroller-friendly canyon trails with shaded creek crossings and big oak meadows — an easy intro to hiking for kids.
Free (street parking) / $3 lot
Bommer Canyon Trail
Irvine · Parks & Hiking
A gentle former cattle-camp canyon with wide dirt paths and shady oaks — an easy, scenic hike that older kids can handle.
Free
Treasure Island Beach & Montage Tide Pools
Laguna Beach · Beaches & Coast
Manicured bluff gardens and a ramp down to a gentle cove with rich tide pools — accessible, beautiful, and free to enjoy.
Free (paid garage)
Heisler Park & Laguna Tide Pools
Laguna Beach · Beaches & Coast
Clifftop gardens above protected coves with some of the most accessible tide pools in OC, plus a marine-life refuge.
Free (paid street parking)
Outlets at San Clemente
San Clemente · Shopping & Treats
An ocean-view outdoor mall with a kids' play zone and a small train — combine bargain shopping with a sea breeze and room to roam.
Free; ocean-view play areas
Tom's Farms
Corona · Shopping & Treats
Roadside marketplace with a fudge shop, weekend pony rides, a mini train, a petting corral, and burgers.
Free entry; food/rides extra
San Clemente Pier & Beach Trail
San Clemente · Beaches & Coast
A laid-back pier, a flat beachfront trail past the train tracks, and gentle sand — easy, free, and quintessentially SoCal.
Free (paid parking)
Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve
Newport Beach · Animals & Nature
A wide back-bay estuary with flat trails and kayak launches — paddle past egrets and learn at the interactive nature center.
Free; kayak rentals extra
Environmental Nature Center
Newport Beach · Animals & Nature
Native-habitat trails and a seasonal butterfly house tucked behind the city — a quiet, free nature fix close to the coast.
Free (donation); butterfly house seasonal
Centennial Farm
Costa Mesa · Animals & Nature
A free working farm at the OC fairgrounds with pigs, goats, chickens, and crop rows — a quick, easy animal fix for little ones.
Free
The Camp & The Lab
Costa Mesa · Shopping & Treats
Two laid-back open-air courtyards of indie cafes, bookshops, and string-lit patios — an easy, free hangout with great snacks.
Free to wander
Newport Pier & McFadden Square
Newport Beach · Beaches & Coast
Watch the dory fishing fleet, walk the pier, and rent bikes or surreys along the boardwalk — quintessential easygoing beach-town fun.
Free (paid parking)
Old Towne Orange Plaza
Orange · Shopping & Treats
A walkable historic circle of antique shops, candy stores, and old-fashioned soda fountains — a charming, free afternoon wander.
Free to stroll
Huntington Beach Pier & Pacific City
Huntington Beach · Beaches & Coast
Walk the iconic pier to watch surfers, dig in the wide sand, and grab a bite at the bluff-top Pacific City shops.
Free (paid parking)
California Citrus State Historic Park
Riverside · Parks & Hiking
Living-history park among working orange groves with picnic lawns, trails, and a glimpse of SoCal's citrus heyday.
Free; parking ~$5
Huntington Central Park & Shipley Nature Center
Huntington Beach · Parks & Hiking
The county's largest city park: a free nature center, a fairy-tale-themed Adventure Playground, dog park, and a lakeside cafe.
Free
Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve
Huntington Beach · Animals & Nature
Flat boardwalk loops over a coastal wetland alive with herons, egrets, and stingrays — bring binoculars and let kids spot wildlife.
Free
Old Town Temecula
Temecula · Arts & Culture
Walkable historic district with candy shops, a children's museum, splash fountains, and weekend events.
Free to stroll
Oceanside Pier
Oceanside · Beaches & Coast
One of the longest wooden piers on the West Coast, great for strolling, fishing, and beach play below.
Free; food and rentals extra
Ontario Mills
Ontario · Indoor Play · Indoor
Huge indoor outlet mall with Dave & Buster's, an arcade, a ropes course, and comedy — great for rainy days.
Free entry; attractions extra
Victoria Gardens
Rancho Cucamonga · Shopping & Treats
Open-air shopping town center with a cultural center, splash areas, and family events.
Free; shops/dining extra
Carlsbad Village
Carlsbad · Shopping & Treats
Walkable seaside downtown with ice cream, toy shops, cafes, and a weekly farmers market near the beach.
Free to stroll
Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park
Carlsbad · Parks & Hiking
Restored 1930s rancho with adobe buildings, free-roaming peacocks, and shaded picnic grounds.
Free admission
Carlsbad Premium Outlets
Carlsbad · Shopping & Treats
Open-air shopping center with family dining, dessert spots, and easy stroller access.
Free to browse
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
San Pedro · Animals & Nature · Indoor
Free aquarium focused on Southern California marine life with touch tanks and tide-pool programs.
Free (suggested donation)
Moonlight State Beach
Encinitas · Beaches & Coast
Family-favorite cove beach with lifeguards, a playground, volleyball, fire pits, and easy facilities.
Free; lot parking
Daley Ranch
Escondido · Parks & Hiking
Over 3,000-acre conservation preserve with miles of hiking and mountain-bike trails and a historic ranch house.
Free
Redondo Beach Pier & King Harbor
Redondo Beach · Beaches & Coast
Horseshoe-shaped pier with arcades, seafood, harbor boat rentals, and a small marina.
Free entry; paid parking
California Science Center
Los Angeles · Museums & Learning · Indoor
Hands-on science museum home to the Space Shuttle Endeavour and a kids' Discovery Center.
Free (Endeavour ticket extra)
Eaton Canyon Nature Center
Pasadena · Animals & Nature
Nature center and easy trail to a seasonal waterfall, with live-animal exhibits for kids.
Free
Oak Glen Preserve & Children's Forest
Oak Glen · Parks & Hiking
A Wildlands Conservancy preserve with easy family loop trails, a pond, and a nature center amid apple country.
Free; donations welcome
Old Pasadena
Pasadena · Shopping & Treats
Walkable historic shopping district full of shops, ice cream, and family dining.
Free to stroll
Lake Hodges / Del Dios
Escondido · Parks & Hiking
Reservoir with trails and the Lake Hodges pedestrian suspension bridge, good for easy family walks and birding.
Free
Hermosa Beach & Pier
Hermosa Beach · Beaches & Coast
Lively beach with a long pier, The Strand bike path, and volleyball courts.
Free; metered/paid parking
Manhattan Beach & Pier
Manhattan Beach · Beaches & Coast
Wide sandy beach with a walkable pier, the small Roundhouse Aquarium, and a family-friendly downtown.
Free; metered/paid parking
Del Mar Beach & Powerhouse Park
Del Mar · Beaches & Coast
Calm family beach next to a grassy bluff-top park with a playground and ocean views.
Free; metered parking
Eagle Rock Recreation Center
Los Angeles · Parks & Hiking
Neighborhood park with playgrounds and sports courts below the namesake Eagle Rock formation.
Free
Roundhouse Aquarium
Manhattan Beach · Animals & Nature · Indoor
Tiny free aquarium at the end of the Manhattan Beach Pier with touch tanks and local sea life.
Free (suggested donation)
Hahamongna Watershed Park
Pasadena · Parks & Hiking
Open-space park at the foot of the mountains with flat trails and a kids' nature stream.
Free
Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area
Los Angeles · Parks & Hiking
Sprawling hilltop park with lakes, picnic areas, easy trails, and panoramic views of the LA basin.
Free (~$6 parking weekends)
Griffith Observatory
Los Angeles · Museums & Learning · Indoor
Iconic hilltop observatory with free space exhibits, public telescopes, and sweeping skyline views.
Free (planetarium ~$10)
Idyllwild
Idyllwild · Day Trips
A cozy mountain arts town with pine forests, easy nature trails, a nature center, and a famous mascot (Mayor Max the dog).
Free to visit; activities extra
Griffith Park Pony Rides & Merry-Go-Round
Los Angeles · Parks & Hiking
Massive park with easy hikes, a historic carousel, and acres of picnic lawns.
Free (rides extra)
Brand Library & Art Center
Glendale · Parks & Hiking
Hillside park with hiking trails, a Moorish-style library, and shady picnic spots.
Free
The Grove & Original Farmers Market
Los Angeles · Shopping & Treats
Open-air shopping plaza with a trolley, fountain shows, and a classic food market.
Free (trolley rides)
TCL Chinese Theatre & Hollywood Walk of Fame
Los Angeles · Arts & Culture
Famous movie palace and star-studded sidewalk where kids spot celebrity handprints.
Free to walk
Hollywood Sign Griffith Park Trails
Los Angeles · Parks & Hiking
Family hikes with up-close Hollywood Sign views along marked Griffith Park trails.
Free
Marina del Rey / Mother's Beach
Marina del Rey · Beaches & Coast
Calm, lifeguarded harbor beach ideal for young kids, with kayak, paddleboard, and pedal-boat rentals.
Free; paid parking; rentals vary
Travel Town Museum
Los Angeles · Museums & Learning
Outdoor railroad museum where kids climb vintage locomotives and ride a miniature train.
Free (mini train ~$5)
Verdugo Mountains Family Trails
Glendale · Parks & Hiking
Accessible foothill trails with shade and views, great for an easy family nature walk.
Free
Abbot Kinney Boulevard
Venice · Shopping & Treats
Trendy walkable street lined with boutiques, ice-cream shops, cafes, and weekend food stalls.
Free to stroll
Venice Beach Boardwalk
Venice · Beaches & Coast
Famous oceanfront boardwalk with street performers, the skate park, Muscle Beach, and bike paths.
Free; paid parking
Universal CityWalk
Universal City · Shopping & Treats
Lively pedestrian promenade with candy shops, arcades, and family restaurants.
Free entry (activities extra)
La Jolla Shores Beach
La Jolla · Beaches & Coast
Wide, gentle-surf beach ideal for young swimmers, sandcastles, kayaking, and beginner surfing.
Free
La Jolla Cove & Children's Pool
La Jolla · Animals & Nature
Scenic cove where families watch sea lions and harbor seals haul out on the rocks and beach.
Free
Lake Miramar Reservoir
San Diego · Parks & Hiking
Flat 5-mile paved loop around a reservoir, ideal for stroller walks, biking, and shoreline fishing.
Free; boat rentals extra
Third Street Promenade
Santa Monica · Shopping & Treats
Pedestrian shopping street with street performers, dancing topiary fountains, shops, and treats.
Free to stroll
The Getty Center
Los Angeles · Arts & Culture · Indoor
Hilltop art museum with a fun tram ride, sculpture gardens, and grassy lawns.
Free (parking ~$25)
Pacific Beach
San Diego · Beaches & Coast
Popular family beach with gentle surf, Crystal Pier, and a walkable boardwalk full of eateries.
Free
Getty Villa
Pacific Palisades · Museums & Learning
Roman-inspired villa and gardens displaying ancient Greek and Roman art overlooking the ocean.
Free (parking ~$25)
Mission Beach Boardwalk
San Diego · Beaches & Coast
Lively oceanfront boardwalk for biking, skating, and swimming along miles of sandy beach.
Free
Ocean Beach Pier & Beach
San Diego · Beaches & Coast
Laid-back beach with a wide sandy stretch and a long fishing pier (pier periodically closed for repairs).
Free
Mission Trails Regional Park
San Diego · Parks & Hiking
One of the largest urban parks in the U.S. with kid-friendly trails, a visitor center, and Lake Murray.
Free
Old Town San Diego State Historic Park
San Diego · Museums & Learning
Living-history park recreating 1800s San Diego with restored buildings, museums, and Mexican restaurants.
Free entry; some attractions paid
Liberty Station / Liberty Public Market
San Diego · Shopping & Treats
Former naval base turned arts district with a food hall, waterfront promenade, and open lawns.
Free entry; food/shops vary
Sunset Cliffs Natural Park
San Diego · Beaches & Coast
Dramatic Point Loma sea cliffs famous for tide pools, sunset views, and coastal walking paths.
Free
Balboa Park
San Diego · Parks & Hiking
Sprawling 1,200-acre cultural park with gardens, fountains, Spanish-Revival architecture, and 17 museums.
Free to enter; museums ticketed
Spanish Village Art Center
San Diego · Arts & Culture
Colorful Balboa Park courtyard of working artist studios where kids can watch artists create.
Free to browse
Waterfront Park
San Diego · Parks & Hiking
Downtown bayfront park with a huge interactive fountain kids splash in and big lawns for play.
Free
Seaport Village
San Diego · Shopping & Treats
Waterfront shopping and dining village on the Embarcadero with a vintage carousel and bayfront strolls.
Free to stroll
Coronado Ferry Landing
Coronado · Shopping & Treats
Bayfront shops and dining with skyline views, reached by a fun harbor ferry from downtown.
Free; ferry ~$8 each way
Coronado Beach
Coronado · Beaches & Coast
Wide, sparkling-sand beach beside the iconic Hotel del Coronado, great for swimming and sandcastles.
Free (paid parking)
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