Temecula with kids
~50–75 min from OC; ~1.5 hrs from LA
Temecula pairs wine-country charm with surprisingly kid-friendly fun — a whimsical inventor-themed children's museum, grassy winery lawns where kids run while parents sip, sunrise hot-air balloons over the vineyards, and a real working gem mine nearby. It's an easy day trip that feels like a getaway.
Open guide →Lake Arrowhead & Lake Gregory with kids
~1.5–2 hrs from OC & LA
Up in the San Bernardino Mountains, Lake Arrowhead and nearby Lake Gregory deliver classic mountain-lake summers and a year-round adventure park built on the bones of a beloved old Santa's Village. Kids can ride a paddlewheel boat, conquer a floating obstacle course, or take a first water-ski lesson — and the pines and cool air feel a world away from the coast.
Open guide →Julian with kids
~1.5–2 hrs from OC; ~2.5–3 hrs from LA
This historic Gold Rush town in the San Diego mountains is famous for apple pie, but rewards families with far more: a real 1870s gold mine to tour, a pioneer museum, and some of SoCal's darkest skies for stargazing. Main Street is walkable and small enough for young kids, and the cool mountain air makes it a refreshing escape.
Open guide →Joshua Tree National Park with kids
~2.5 hrs from OC & LA
Where two deserts meet, Joshua Tree is a giant natural playground of twisted trees and house-sized boulders practically built for kids to scramble on. Easy, short loop trails put the best sights within reach of little legs, and after dark the park becomes one of the country's premier stargazing spots — the 'wow' payoff comes with very little hiking.
Open guide →Ventura & Oxnard Coast with kids
~1.5 hrs from OC; ~1.25 hrs from LA
This stretch of Ventura County coastline pairs a classic California beach town with a working harbor and the launch point for one of the country's wildest national parks. Families can ride a carousel and rent pedal boats one day, then sail out to see whales or hike a sea-cave island the next — relaxed, walkable and refreshingly uncrowded versus OC and LA beaches.
Open guide →Solvang & Santa Ynez Valley with kids
~2.5 hrs from LA; ~3.5 hrs from OC
Tucked into Santa Ynez wine country, Solvang is a storybook Danish village of windmills, half-timbered buildings and aebleskiver bakeries that delight kids and grown-ups alike. Add an ostrich farm, a waterfall park and a costumed trolley, and you have an easy two-day family escape just up the coast.
Open guide →Idyllwild with kids
~2 hrs from OC; ~2.5 hrs from LA
A pine-scented mountain village in the San Jacintos, Idyllwild trades theme-park bustle for slow days of easy forest trails, ice-cream-on-the-porch downtown strolls, and a famous dog mayor who poses for photos. Families love that it feels like a different world only two hours from the coast, with cool air even when the valleys swelter.
Open guide →Ojai with kids
~1.5–2 hrs from LA; ~2 hrs from OC
Tucked in a mountain-ringed valley, Ojai is a tiny, artsy town built for slow family days: biking a flat paved trail, splashing at a lake water park, and wandering a Spanish-arcade downtown full of ice cream and bookshops. Families love how compact and walkable it is, with playgrounds and oak-shaded parks right in the heart of town.
Open guide →Channel Islands National Park with kids
~1.5–2 hrs to Ventura Harbor + ~1 hr ferry
Often called 'the Galápagos of North America,' this island park is a real adventure: board a ferry, watch for dolphins and whales on the crossing, then hike, explore tide pools, and spot the tiny island fox found nowhere else. Even families who only visit the mainland Visitor Center get aquariums, exhibits and a park film to spark imaginations.
Open guide →Inland Empire & Riverside with kids
~45 min–1.5 hrs from OC & LA
An under-the-radar region for families, Riverside and the surrounding Inland Empire pack in a classic amusement park, a fairy-tale historic hotel that becomes a holiday light wonderland, citrus-grove history, and hands-on art and ranch days. Because it's so close to OC and LA, it's an easy day trip with far smaller crowds than the coast.
Open guide →Get more SoCal adventures near you
We'll send the best family things to do and day trips near you every week — plus this week's $50 giveaway. Unsubscribe anytime.