Southern California is an epicenter for family-friendly attractions with theme parks, aquariums, wildlife parks, and endless adventures, creating an abundance of memories for the whole family. From the thrilling rides at Disneyland Resort and beachside theme park experiences in Santa Monica to Universal Studio Hollywood’s family-friendly offerings and the magical world of LEGOLAND, or a day with wildlife at San Diego Zoo Safari Park, these experiences fulfil all the essentials of a memorable family-friendly trip.
Disneyland Resort, Anaheim
Disneyland Resort has been welcoming visitors in Anaheim since 1955, featuring world-class attractions and exciting live shows, taking families on a memorable journey through the Happiest Place on Earth. Consisting of the original Disneyland Park and the adjacent Disney California Adventure Park, the sprawling Disneyland Resort is divided into themed “lands” with related rides, shows, and attractions. Rising beyond Main Street, Sleeping Beauty Castle is the unmistakable beacon at the heart of the theme park. More experiences await at Adventureland Treehouse, inspired by Walt Disney’s Swiss Family Robinson. Enjoy classic attractions in Disneyland Park like Pirates of the Caribbean, the Haunted Mansion, the Mad Tea Party’s whirling teacups, the flume log ride, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, and the Matterhorn Bobsleds ride. Step into the world of Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker at the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge land and fly the Millennium Falcon, explore Avengers Campus, a land dedicated to discovering, recruiting, and training the next generation of super heroes, or take a peek into Dr Strange’s knacks at the Ancient Sanctum. Families with smaller kids should not miss Mickey’s Toontown, which offers interactive experiences, green spaces for free play, and the Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway ride, which has no age or height restrictions. At Fantasyland Theatre, get transported to the savannas of Africa via Tale of the Lion King, a fascinating 30-minute theatrical adaptation of the classic Disney movie.
Santa Monica Pier
About 1–1.5 hours from Anaheim lies one of the top family-friendly attractions in California by the water, featuring amusement park rides and an aquarium. Pacific Park, the amusement park perched right on Santa Monica’s pier, is home to roller coasters and classic carnie rides that will appeal to little ones. From incomparable views from atop the pier’s Pacific Wheel to the thrilling West Coaster ride, boardwalk’s Funhouse experience, which draws inspiration from the original Toonerville Funhouse, to enjoying a creamy thick shake, the pier is a vibrant playground for children and adults alike. Just steps away from the carnival rides, games, and snack bars of the Santa Monica Pier and right below Pacific Park’s carousel, sits this unassuming attraction of the Heal the Bay Aquarium (the former Santa Monica Pier Aquarium), housing 100 local aquatic species from sea hares to moray eels, inviting children and guests to get hands-on through exhibits, touch tanks, and daily educational programs.
Hollywood Highlights, Universal Studios Hollywood and Hollywood Walk of Fame
About an hour drive from Anaheim, located on a sprawling complex in the Hollywood Hills of Los Angeles, the unique theme park of Universal Studios Hollywood blends a behind-the-scenes world-famous Studio Tour with film sets, original film props, and special effects. The theme park’s rides and attractions are inspired by popular movies, television series, and games, including The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, DreamWorks Theatre Featuring Kung Fu Panda, The Simpsons Ride, Revenge of the Mummy—The Ride, Transformers: The Ride—3D, and Jurassic World—The Ride. The immersive world of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter or the iconic pipe to enter SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, which takes you into the Mushroom Kingdom and the world of Mario, are worth checking out. Moreover, regular and seasonal events such as performances by the Frog Choir in Hogsmeade and Halloween Horror Nights are designed to engage a child’s curiosity. Just nearby, kids can find their favourite celebrity’s star along the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the famous sidewalk located on Hollywood Boulevard, while enjoying a bevy of other entertainment from street performers to costumed movie characters.
LEGOLAND California Resort, Carlsbad
Conveniently located about 1–1.5 hours by car from Anaheim, LEGOLAND offers multiple ways to bring out anyone’s inner child, and also features a water park, an aquarium, and two onsite hotels. The park has roller coasters, shows, and attractions, many based on LEGO incarnations from The LEGO Movie, LEGO Friends, Ninjago, LEGO City, and LEGO Duplo. Walk through Miniland USA for a visual and structural jaw-dropper: expansive miniaturised LEGO recreations of Washington D.C., New York City, and San Francisco, among other cities, as well as Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium. Fans of the LEGO movie series will love The LEGO MOVIE WORLD, featuring characters, attractions, and rides inspired by the films, like the Build Wat’evra You Wa’Na Build play zone or Emmet’s Flying Adventure Ride. Thrill awaits at the LEGO Ferrari Build & Race attraction, where kids can sit inside a life-size Ferrari F40 made with 350,000 of the tiny plastic bricks. For older kids, The Dragon roller coaster, the Deep-Sea Adventure submarine ride, the Fun Town area’s Driving School, or Ninjago The Ride are popular attractions. Aside from the classic rides and LEGO-building opportunities, LEGOLAND Resort features the SEA LIFE Aquarium, offering interactive exhibits and giant marine displays, all inhabited by diverse sea creatures from colourful fish to majestic sharks. Experience bioluminescence and make actual contact with starfish and sea urchins while also learning about marine conservation.
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Drive 2-.2.5 hours to reach the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, an ideal base for a day trip from Anaheim for a spectacular experience among the wildlife. Unique experiences at the park include the Flightline Safari, a zipline ride above the rhinos, giraffes, and other animals below or the exhilarating Balloon Safaris and a Jungle Ropes Safari for kids 7 and up to test their balance and jungle skills on rope bridges, tightropes, and more. The Denny Sanford Elephant Valley habitat is an immersive new home for the Safari Park’s African elephant herd, where guests can walk alongside or above the herd and observe elephants in more natural behaviours while learning about their ecological roles and social structures. For those who want to extend the trip, the Roar & Snore Safari offers a sleepover adventure in one of 46 comfy, safari-style tents that border an expansive grazing area for giraffes, rhinos, gazelles, antelopes, and other exotic animals within the park.
