More than 267 million people will drop by California in 2025, according to a report from Visit California. That’s a slight tick down from 2023 and 2024, in part due to fewer international tourists visiting. However, for those who make the trip, California is still a prime destination.
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It’s easy to imagine that all California has to offer is Hollywood stars and Disney parks. But that’s just one corner of America’s third-largest state. The Golden State has plenty of opportunities for outdoor fun the whole family will enjoy.
Visit California projects a jump of nearly 10 million more visitors in 2026. California is an outdoor adventurer’s wonderland. Almost nowhere else in the United States can you walk the beach at sunrise and be hiking mountains, or skiing down them, in the afternoon.
Yosemite highlights for families
Families looking for smaller-scale adventures at huge iconic locations need look no further than Yosemite. Technically, the third U.S. National Park, the preservation of the land was established nearly a decade before the park system was put into place in 1872. These days, it’s one of the most visited parks, requiring reservations for several months of the year just to drive in and park. There are five entrances to the 750,000-acre preserve, and once you’re inside, you can hike, bike or hop on a shuttle to see the sights.
Probably the most famous sight, and a definite bucket list photo, is Tunnel View in the Yosemite Valley. Even the most amateur photographer can squeeze El Capitan, Half Dome and Bridalveil Fall into one landscape shot. From there, you can hike to Cathedral Lakes or Wapama Falls. Families with younger kids can also opt for May Lake, the shortest trek that still provides stunning views.
Families can camp in tents or cabins, or even stay in hotels more than 100 years old, right in the park. Some cheaper motel arrangements can be made at the communities in Mariposa County right outside the national park borders. Some of the park’s campsites also cater to RVs, as well as offer backpacker-friendly lodges with meals.
Lake Tahoe sunshine and scenery
Three hundred days of sunshine is a definite draw for Lake Tahoe. Straddling the border between California and Nevada, the iconic body of water boasts several outdoor communities with activities for singles, couples and families alike. The year-round destination is known for boating, hiking and sustainable travel, as well as its brilliant fall colors.
If you get bored lakeside, which is unlikely, it’s a short drive to historic Carson City in Nevada or beautiful San Francisco. A better option would be to lounge on the beaches of Sand Harbor, hike to Eagle Falls in Emerald Bay State Park, or ride the gondolas at Heavenly for sights you can’t imagine.
For closer to ground postcard-worthy vistas, plot a road trip around the 72-mile border of Lake Tahoe. Leave time to stop at each of the varied visitor centers, explore Cave Rock Vista Point, the sacred site of the Washoe Indians, and learn about fisheries at the UC Davis Education Center.
Redwood National and State Park
Many things in California can be referred to as majestic, but only one truly fits the bill. The redwood trees in Northwestern California, near the Oregon border, are the tallest and most impressive trees in the world. There’s value in visiting historical sights, but entering this area is like literally stepping back in time to the origins of our planet.
Long before humans walked this landscape, the vast alluvial plains and the fog-shrouded valleys of the Big Sur Coast hosted these ancient Sequoia forests as they grew to a massive size. But this 50-mile stretch of coastline has acres of biodiversity. From open prairies and oak woodlands to pristine rivers and untamed coastline, native tribes lived in this land for some 10,000 years before Europeans discovered them and their valuable lumber.
Since 1968, the land and trees have been protected, the vast 130,000 acres of territory segmented into Redwoods National and three California state parks. In addition to the attraction of nature and wildlife, families can learn a varied history, both positive and negative, going back millennia. The park offers camping, hiking, bicycling and scenic automobile routes for exploration.
Anaheim theme parks and more
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with hitting the theme parks, as long as you’re in Southern California. Especially the O.G. Walt Disney might not have built the first theme park, but the transformation of orange groves in Anaheim set the standard that dozens have followed since. Like Adventure City, a smaller park just outside the city limits with fun rides and fewer crowds. Anaheim is also a great place for families to find more affordable accommodations that aren’t too long a drive, relatively speaking, from the sights and sounds of Los Angeles and the film industry.
Anaheim is more than just a bedroom community to Hollywood. The beaches and parks of Anaheim are quieter and more accessible than their neighboring city to the North, and the whitest sand west of Sarasota, Florida. Family-friendly and kid-centric options abound. There are plenty of opportunities to hike, golf, surf and test your skateboarding skills. The Santa Ana River Lakes provide a primo fishing hole.
One of the more unusual California excursions can be found on Catalina Island. Hop on the Catalina Express ferry at Long Beach or Dana Point and ride over to romantic Avalon or more rustic Two Harbors. Once home to several native tribes, the island was transformed in the ‘20s thanks to Hollywood movies and William Wrigley Jr. Yes, the family that started the chewing gum empire. Explore the Memorial and Botanic Gardens, the gambling-free Catalina Casino and the Conservancy with some of the last remaining bison in America.
The great outdoors
Whatever type of exterior adventure you’re looking for, California fits the bill. Whether you’re looking to explore nature’s incredible vistas and unique forests or combine vacation fun with interactive history lessons, you’ll find it all in the Golden State. The hardest part is deciding where to go and how long you can stay.
Karee Blunt is a nationally syndicated travel journalist and creator of the travel blog Our Woven Journey. Karee enjoys sharing what she learns about places she visits, including history museums, unique things to do indoors and out, one-of-a-kind festivals and upscale dining and accommodations. She is the mother of six kids, including four through adoption, and lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest.
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