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Go beyond the beaches and theme parks to discover the other wonders of Southern California. Find the intersection of Hollywood and nature as you explore the terrain (take your kids to Tatooine!). From steaming fumaroles to moon-like craters, from giant sequoias to otherworldly salt flats, Southern California is one of North America’s richest natural settings. Best part, most of the parks here are within a day’s drive of Los Angeles and San Diego.
As always, at a US national park, be sure to ask for a Passport to Your National Parks Junior Ranger Edition for each kid in your family. Filled with engaging, informative activities, the National Park Service booklet helps kids ages 6-13 get the most out of their visit at their level. Your kids can collect stamps from each park they visit to complete the Junior Ranger program.
Here, we’ll take families into each of our favorite six parks to learn about the best hikes, fun non-hiking activities, and a cool place to stay while you’re there. Have fun!
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Joshua Tree National Park
Explore two desert ecosystems, the Mojave and the Colorado, in one mind-bending park. Full of fascinating plants and animals – and trees that look straight out of a Dr. Seuss book – this geologically gorgeous park invites kids to climb on rounded boulders, bound down family-friendly trails, and stare mesmerized by the dark night sky.
Family Friendly Joshua Tree Hikes
Barker Dam Trail: This loop trail boasts the Mojave Desert’s finest, from Joshua trees to a variety of yucca and cacti to monzogranite rock formations (there’s a great new spelling bee word for the kids!). Bighorn sheep sometimes even make an appearance at the watering hole.
Fortynine Palms Oasis: Kids who are confident hiking or can be carried in a backpack will love this 3-mile roundtrip trail, with an oasis at the end. The lush refuge amidst the desert mountains allows life to thrive and is a crucial water supply for plants and wildlife. Use the biological sensitivity of the oasis as a teaching moment about how important it is to remain on the trail while hiking.
Living in a Seussical World. Photo by James Lee, Unsplash.
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Off the Trail
Turn your kids’ opinion of trash on its head at Noah Purifoy’s Joshua Tree Outdoor Museum. Wander through a fantastical melange of discarded materials that have been transformed into sculptures representing a memory or moment from Noah’s life.
Where to Stay
Reserve a family-in-mind king or queen bunk room at Field Station. King Bunk Rooms have space for four guests in a king bed and full-size bunk bed. The King + Double Queen Bunk Room sleeps up to ten, with two queen-size bunk beds. Cozy linens, a walk-in shower, air-conditioning, a flat-screen TV, bike storage, and a mini fridge are the perfect antidote to an adventurous day outside.
From $176 per room, per night.
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Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park
Enter a land of giants at Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park. At only 50 miles apart, families really can’t visit one without the other. Ancient trees that touch the sky, deep canyons, expansive caverns, and huge mountains converge in a dizzying display of nature.
Family-Friendly Hikes At Sequoia and Kings Canyon NP
Sheep Creek Cascade: With a small 600-foot elevation change, this easy 2-miler boasts a 360-degree view of the Redwood Canyon and the Monarch Divide. Park near the Cedar Grove visitor center and look for the trailhead access across Highway 180.
General Sherman Tree Trail: The world’s largest tree is so accessible you don’t have an excuse to skip it. It’s a paved, easy walk for kids with just under 200 feet in elevation gain. Check this one off early in the day to avoid the crowds.
When the kids wake you up too early, at least you can enjoy this magnificent view. Photo by Polina Kuzovkova, Unsplash.
Off the Trail
See Sequoia’s subterranean side in Crystal Cave, a stunning scene of fragile stalactites and stalagmites, all visible along an easy to moderate hike. Book a tour with the Sequoia Parks Conservancy at least 36 hours prior to your visit … and bring a layer because the cave doesn’t get warmer than 50 degrees all year.
Where to Stay
For a boutique feel in the wilderness, stay at John Muir Lodge, oozing with rustic charm. Think open wood-beam ceilings, a stone fireplace, a redwood mantel from Sequoia National Park, handcrafted wood furniture in your guest room, public balconies facing Sierra sunsets, a great room with games, puzzles and books, and more. Family-friendly breakfast, lunch and dinner are available in the Grant Grove Restaurant a short distance away.
From $185 per room, per night.
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Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park’s natural splendor is the outdoor play space of your kids’ dreams. Within its nearly 1,200 square miles, waterfalls, deep valleys, soaring sequoias, and vast meadows are the backdrop for wonder-filled moments.
From the adrenaline-inducing heights of Sentinel Dome to the Yosemite Valley floor, explore miles of trails, visit Mirror Lake and Bridalveil Falls, and wander through groves of giant sequoias. Don’t miss this Yosemite guide for first-time visitors if you’ve never been to the park!
Family-Friendly Hikes At Yosemite NP
Lower Yosemite Falls: Gape at the 320-foot cascade known as America’s tallest waterfall. The half-hour hike to the viewpoint is well-suited for kids. It’s also fully paved, so bring along the stroller if you need to. There is no trailhead parking, so take the free Yosemite shuttle to stop #6.
Valley Loop Trail/Mirror Lake: Most hikers love a loop, and this one doesn’t disappoint. A combination of paved and dirt paths, of moderate difficulty, ring the glassy lake, where you’ll see a number of ducks and birds. It’s about an hour to walk to the lake, then 2 to 3 hours for the circumnavigation. Take the free Yosemite shuttle to stop #17.
Off the Trail
Splash the day away at Lake McClure and Lake McSwain in the Sierra foothills of Mariposa County. Both lakes, fed by the Merced River, offer protected swimming areas and day-use picnic tables. But the real highlight is the Splash-n-Dash Aqua Park, a floating obstacle course that even parents won’t be able to resist!
Where to Stay
Two miles from Yosemite National Park, the Yosemite View Lodge sits on the banks of the frothy Merced River. It’s so catered to families that it’s worth building in a day to hang at the hotel and take advantage of the four swimming pools, fitness center, and fireside s’mores. They can even pack and set up a picnic for you along the water’s edge. Spacious suites (you’ll get “cool parent” points for securing one with a spiral staircase to a sleeping loft) come with a kitchenette and complimentary WiFi.
From $177 per room, per night.
Glassy lakes, granite cliffs, ancient forests – it’s all in a day at Yosemite. Photo by Kevin Wolf, Unsplash.
Death Valley National Park
Go below sea level (pack your sunscreen and bring lots of water!) as you venture to the lowest point in the United States. Don’t suffer hearing your kid’s wails after they finish their water, as Death Valley National Park holds the world record for the hottest place on Earth. Within this land of extremes, families will find towering peaks dusted with snow, lush oases, and wildflower fields made possible by rare rainstorms. Under the moonlight, spot kangaroo rats and kit foxes who only come out in the dark. The kids’ heads will be on constant swivel as they check out the lunar-like landscape, giant volcano craters, and salt flats.
Family-Friendly Hikes At Death Valley NP
Mosaic Canyon: This kid-sized canyon is a 4-mile roundtrip hike with 1,200 feet of elevation gain. Head up the rocky wash and into the canyon, coming to a narrow with smooth marble walls towering over you. As you go farther, be on the lookout for the Mosaic Canyon Breccia, tiny angular fragments of rock locked into the natural cement of the walls. Adventurous kids will love the boulder jam at 1.3 miles in, which you can crawl between to get access to a second set of narrow, with more colorful breccia and some tight bends.
Ubehebe Crater: Take your kids to the surface of Mars or just a place that really looks like it. This large volcanic crater that is 600 feet deep and a half-mile across is named “Big Basket,” or Ubehebe in Paiute. Take a walk to the bottom of the main crater (the trip back up will be tiring), or walk the 1.5-mile loop of the crater rim, which leads past smaller craters, including Little Hebe. These craters, also known as Maar volcanoes, were created by steam and gas explosions after hot magma rose and met with groundwater. It’s believed the most recently formed one was around 2,100 years ago.
Go low for a family high at Death Valley. Photo by Jamie Street, Unsplash.
Off the Trail
You’ve crossed Mars-like crater off your list, so why not blow your kids’ minds with a Star Wars driving tour of Death Valley? Episode IV – A New Hope and Episode VI – Return of the Jedi both featured park footage. Visit Tatooine as you explore Dantes View (come back at night for a remarkable Milky Way panorama), Golden Canyon, and the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes.
Where to Stay
Soak up mid-century nostalgia at The Ranch at Death Valley, welcoming guests since 1933. It’s right next to the National Park visitor center and makes a perfect home base with an 87-degree spring-fed swimming pool, sports courts, and playground. Ask for a room with a patio that opens directly to the grounds. Check out the horseback and carriage rides, Jeep rentals for exploring the park, and the general store with souvenirs and groceries.
From $271 per room, per night.
Pinnacles National Park
Discover a landscape where volcanoes formed around 23 million years ago when eruptions left behind striking rocky spires and deep canyons. Towering rock structures jut out of the earth like giant’s fingers in a place that feels well off the beaten path. Pinnacles National Park has two sides, East and West, and they’re not connected by road, only hiking trails. It’s worth stopping at both visitor centers to get a map and updates on trails and road conditions.
Family-Friendly Hikes At Pinnacles
Juniper Canyon Trail: This can’t-miss 2.5-mile hike includes an epic view of the Pinnacles. You could take on the High Peaks trail down to Tunnel Trail to make a loop hike of 4.5 miles. Expect some steep switchbacks that lead into the heart of the High Peaks.
Balconies Cliffs-Cave Loop: With awesome views of the Pinnacles and a cool, flashlight-necessary portion through Balconies Cave, this easy 2.4-miler is a family favorite.
Off the Trail
While you’ll technically be on a trail while doing this activity, you’ll want to stay still and patient. Birdwatching, particularly for the critically endangered and iconic California Condor that finds refuge here, is a favorite pastime. Also, look for the Greater Roadrunner, Canyon Wren, and the Peregrine Falcon, the world’s fastest bird.
World’s best natural bouldering playground! Photo by Joel Durkee, Unsplash.
Where to Stay
The closest town to Pinnacles is Soledad, with limited accommodations. Salinas is the next closest, about 25 miles away, with a few more options, typically nationally branded hotels, including the Best Western Salinas Monterey Hotel. To really immerse your family in the park, consider camping at Pinnacles Campground on the east side of the park. You’ll have a picnic table and fire ring at tent sites, while RV sites have electrical hookups and share community tables and barbecue pits. There’s a swimming pool open in the summer and coin-operated showers.
From $23 per tent site, per night at Pinnacles Campground.
From $117 per room, per night at Best Western Salinas Monterey Hotel.
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