Southern California, or SoCal, stretches from north of Los Angeles to San Diego and points south. It’s a popular vacation destination for its wonderful climate, miles of dramatic coastline, endless stretches of great beaches, mountains ranges, giant redwood forests, deliciously trendy food, glitzy shopping, laid-back California attitude and family-friendly attitude. Oh, and don’t forget the long list of amazing theme parks with thrill rides galore and water fun.
Classic seaside amusement parks, then called Boardwalks, have existed along SoCal’s coast since late 1800s and early 1900s, the heydays of the gilded age. After years of decline, they emerged in modern, high tech form both along the SoCal coast and a bit inland. While there were others before it, Disneyland placed SoCal on the map as a global vacation destination. Since SoCal encompasses a large geographical area, this comprehensive list begins just north of Los Angeles and works down through the Anaheim area, through Orange County, and south to San Diego.
Summertime = Vacation time! Kids are out of school and ready to go! Everyone’s excited about all the great adventures, museums, zoos, and tours Los Angeles has to offer. The list is so long, and the area so spread out, it’s hard to know where to begin. And, with a family in tow, or traveling with friends, it can be pricey. The solution: Purchase Go Los Angeles Cards. Here’s why and how:
Not far from Anaheim, and close to Disneyland is a castle in Buena Park – a Medieval Spanish castle. Inside, King Don Carlos and his daughter, the fair Princess Catalina, hold court, inviting the people of the realm to a dinner and tournament in the Great Hall. Thus begins a wonderful evening of family entertainment at Medieval Times. You can save time and money by purchasing your tickets online with Trusted Tours and using the exclusive coupon at the end of this article.
Los Angeles has incredible scenery, thrilling attractions and a Mediterranean climate. When visiting the City of Angels, consider these top 10 fun family things to do.
Disneyland
A popular destination since the mid-1950s, children can see their favorite movie and story time characters come alive. The thrill rides, live shows and high-tech attractions will please the entire family. Enjoy roller coasters, boat rides, animatronic shows and a petting zoo.
Knott’s Berry Farm
This attraction is America’s oldest theme park. There are several roller coasters, water chutes and free-fall thrill rides. Family and children rides include bumper cars, a wave swinger, carousels and flying airplanes. There are several live shows as well as a variety of shopping and dining options.
The Aquarium of the Pacific is situated on a majestic five-acre site on Rainbow Harbor. Home to more than 11,000 marine animals, the popular Los Angeles attraction has an award winning architectural style that summons images of rhythmic ocean waves. Established in 1998, the Aquarium of the Pacific delights over 1.5 million visitors each year.