Inland Empire family guide
Things to Do in Hemet with Kids
Curated by Simir Shah
Reviewed & updated August 2026 · we check listings regularly, but hours and prices change — confirm before you go.
Hemet on the map
📍 Where Hemet is
Hemet sits in Inland Empire, Southern California. Nearest major airport: Palm Springs Intl (~26 mi / 41 km). It's roughly 76 mi (122 km) from Downtown LA and 71 mi (114 km) from San Diego — SoCal traffic can make a drive take far longer than the distance suggests, so plan around it.
Visiting? See SoCal at a glance, getting around and which airport.
🏡 New to Hemet? Start hereRec classes, library cards, school lookup, alerts and getting around.OpenClose
- Rec classes & camps: Programs, sports, camps and aquatics in Hemet come from Valley-Wide Recreation & Park District, which serves Hemet and San Jacinto.
- Valley-Wide guide: Valley-Wide's Fall/Winter 2026 Activity Guide lists classes, youth sports and events across its parks.
- Library card: Hemet Public Library is city-run; cards are free to California residents with a picture ID showing your current address.
- Storytime: Family Storytime for all ages meets Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m., with stories followed by a craft.
- Find your school: Hemet Unified handles new-student enrollment, TK, transfers and address changes; start on its Enrollment page.
- Pool: Valley-Wide runs the Hemet/San Jacinto Aquatic Center for swim lessons and public swim.
- Alerts: Hemet runs its own Community Alert System at alerthemet.com; register your phone and email there.
- Newsletter: Hemet's City Update newsletter shares city news, events and service updates.
- Getting around: RTA's GoMicro on-demand minibuses cover the Hemet-San Jacinto zone; book in the app, and riders 18 and under ride free.
Things to do in Hemet
Parks & Hiking
Diamond Valley Lake
Large reservoir with shoreline trails, a marina, seasonal fishing, and an aquatic center for paddling. At more than 4,500 surface acres and up to 260 feet deep, it's one of the largest man-made reservoirs in Southern California, built to store imported water for the region. The separate Aquatic Center next to the lake has its own heated outdoor pool with a water slide and a zero-depth splash area for younger kids, distinct from the open-water lake itself.
Day-use ~$10–15
Cawston Community Park
A small 0.84-acre park behind Fire Station No. 3 (4110 W. Devonshire Ave.) with a playground, picnic tables, a half basketball court and a lawn. It is a quick neighborhood play stop rather than an outing.
FreeDavid R. Oltman Park
A 6-acre park at the northeast corner of Cawston and Fruitvale avenues with a dog park, a half basketball court and two playgrounds. The city says the playgrounds are being redesigned, so expect changes.
FreeDiamond Valley Aquatic Center
A heated 25-yard outdoor pool by Diamond Valley Lake (1801 Angler Ave.), run by Valley-Wide Recreation, with zero-depth entry for small children and a water slide. Valley-Wide says it closed Aug. 1 to install an aquatic play structure, and no reopening date had been posted. Call 951-929-0047 before going.
Weekdays $8 ages 3–54; weekends $10; ages 2 & under $2Diamond Valley Lake Community Park
An 85-acre Valley-Wide sports park at 1806 Angler Ave. with eight lighted ballfields, three soccer fields and four pickleball courts, next to the Aquatic Center and near the Western Science Center. It is mostly used for leagues and tournaments; call 951-926-5917 for field schedules.
FreeEcho Hills Golf Course
A Valley-Wide course at 545 E. Thornton Ave. (Buena Vista and Thornton) with a $5 junior rate and $5 club rentals, so it is a cheap way to try golf with kids. All tee times must be booked in advance by calling 951-652-2203.
$15 daily ($5 juniors 17 & under); clubs $5, pull carts $2Jim Venable Exchange Club Park
A 4.3-acre Valley-Wide park at 26384 Fairview Ave. (Fairview and Mayberry) with a playground and tot lot, two pickleball courts, two tennis courts, basketball, grass volleyball and horseshoe pits. It has restrooms, a walking path, three gazebos and a bike repair station.
FreeSimpson Park
A wilderness park of more than 400 acres in the Santa Rosa Hills southeast of town (28505 Rawlings Rd.), rising to about 2,500 feet with views over the San Jacinto Valley and Diamond Valley Lake. It has a sheltered picnic area with barbecues, restrooms, and hiking, mountain-bike and equestrian trails. Gates close automatically at 8 p.m., so have your car out before then.
FreeStoney Mountain Park
A 7-acre neighborhood park at 1320 Sagestone Dr. with a tot lot, two half basketball courts, a gazebo, picnic tables and a big lawn for kites and ball games. The city's description does not mention restrooms.
FreeWeston Park
One of Hemet's oldest parks (4 acres, Florida Ave. and Thompson St.), with a children's play area, a half basketball court, shuffleboard courts, a shade structure and restrooms. It closes every Monday for maintenance, and the city is redesigning it with community input.
FreeMary Henley Park
A 16-acre park at 801 S. Kirby St with two children's playgrounds, gazebos, picnic tables, a half basketball court, a perimeter walking path and a free outdoor fitness court with seven exercise zones.
FreeGibbel Park & Skate Park
A 12-acre park at 2500 W. Florida Ave with a children's playground, gazebos and barbecue picnic areas, a baseball field, lighted tennis and pickleball courts and lawn bowling. The skate park has a bowl, quarterpipes, ledges, rails and banks for a range of skill levels. The park is closed Tuesdays.
FreeBrubaker Park
A 60-acre park at 3707 Mustang Way with a playground, 5 acres of open turf, a basketball court, a baseball/softball field and a large gazebo. It's home to Hemet Little League, so weekends can be busy with games; bring your own shade for picnics.
Free
Museums & Learning
Western Science Center
A compact paleontology museum starring "Max," the largest mastodon ever discovered in the western United States, alongside Ice Age fossils dug from Diamond Valley Lake during its construction. Opened in 2006 as a LEED Platinum building, the first museum in the U.S. to earn that distinction, it also holds Smithsonian affiliate status.
~$8 adult, ~$6 kids
Hemet Public Library
Run by the City of Hemet at 300 E. Latham Ave. Kids' programs include Family Storytime on Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m., Little Wigglers play-and-story time for ages 0–6 on Thursdays at 10 a.m., and Brick Builders LEGO time for ages 3+ on Fridays from 3:30 p.m. Note that the library is closed Sundays and Mondays.
Free
More for families in Hemet
From our researched guides: the Hemet spots for bowling alleys. Hours and prices change, so check the venue's site before you go.
Bowling
All SoCal bowling alleys →Lucky Strike Hemet
A 32-lane alley at 2850 W Florida Ave with online reservations, an arcade and private rooms for kids' parties. Family-friendly, with a full food menu.
Per-game pricing; see site. Family Unlimited promo listed for weekends 11am-3pm
Venue website ↗Farmers markets in Hemet
Downtown Hemet Certified Farmers & Artisanal Market
A big all-day-into-evening market on E Florida Ave with fresh produce, breads, pastries, food trucks, and live music.
Festivals & annual events in Hemet
What Hemet is known for — the events locals plan the year around.
Science Saturday: The Science of Engineering (Western Science Center)
A National STEAM Day event exploring different engineering fields with building challenges on the museum's piazza. Museum exhibits cost extra. Tip: Science Saturdays run the first Saturday of each month, September through May, but only Oct and Nov are confirmed so far.
Free activities; museum entry extra
Science Saturday: Max's Science Bash (Western Science Center)
The museum's 20th-anniversary Science Saturday, with the best past activities, games and prizes on the piazza. Museum exhibits cost extra. Tip: children under 13 need adult supervision.
Local restaurants in Hemet
Emilio's Mexican Restaurant & Cantina
Second-generation Redín-family Mexican restaurant (since 1983), the area's top-ranked spot with a loyal local following.
Dattilo Ristorante Italiano
Italian restaurant at 2288 E Florida Ave with pizza, fresh pasta made daily, calzones, chicken and seafood dishes, tiramisu and cannoli. Closed Mondays; takeout and curbside pickup.
Rocking K Ranch
Western-themed bar, grill and bakery at 3969 W Florida Ave, famous for fresh-baked cookies and pies and its house Caesar dressing, with burgers, steaks and seafood. Confirm hours before going.
Seasonal & outdoors near Hemet
The closest splash pads, patches, lights and more — distances from Hemet.
Hemet is part of the Inland Empire family guide — see the region's best things to do, local eats and events.
More Inland Empire family guides
Hemet family FAQ
What are the best things to do in Hemet with kids?
Family favorites in and around Hemet include Diamond Valley Lake, Western Science Center, Ramona (California's Official Outdoor Play) and Valle Vista Community Center & Louis M. Jackson Park, and more. Our guide lists 17 spots, each with a price note and practical tips where we have them.
Are there free things to do in Hemet?
Yes — free family spots near Hemet include Hemet Public Library, Cawston Community Park, David R. Oltman Park and Diamond Valley Lake Community Park. Our free things to do page lists more across Southern California.
Where can families eat in Hemet?
Local, family-friendly spots in Hemet include Emilio's Mexican Restaurant & Cantina, Dattilo Ristorante Italiano and Rocking K Ranch — independent, SoCal-only eateries, never national chains.
What does the YourSoCal Hemet guide cover?
Our Hemet family guide includes 17 things to do, 3 local eats and 1 farmers market — with independent, non-chain eats and shops.
Listings are curated and may change — confirm hours and details before you go.
Where to stay in Hemet
Hotels & rentals via Stay22 · we may earn a commissionCompare hotels, resorts, and vacation rentals near Hemet on one map — then book on your favorite site.