Why take your family on vacation to Historic California? What about Disneyland? The studios?
Everyone knows California for its beaches and Hollywood but there is a lot more than that to experience in the Golden State. A TON! Historic California is too often overlooked and yet a great theme full of fun and adventure for a family vacation!
Ready for some spectacular and unexpected beauty and history? If you are looking for something other then theme parks and celebrity sightings for your family vacation, you are in the right place!
Grab some coffee and lets explore… Where will you take your family vacation through Historic California!
California Natural History
California has some amazing natural history and for the outdoor types, the Golden State offers a truly unique family vacation. Did you know that the great monarch butterfly migration passes through California? How about a family vacation to the poppy fields that inspired L Frank Baum in The Wizard of Oz? Dinosaurs? Yup… California has those too! Historic California is literally older than the hills…
Natural History Museum and La Brea Tar Pits
Big Bear
California Waterfalls
This Family was featured in Trivago talking about how much we love Big Bear.
More resources for a family vacation to Natural Historic California:
California Pre European Contact
Before colonization, California was full of thriving cultures throughout what is now the state. If your idea of family vacation is to immerse yourself in historic culture, This Family has your vacation covered. There were and are so many tribes that are as diverse as the California terrain itself.
The Gene Autry Museum of the West
Ahjumawi Lava Springs State Park
Tomo-Kahni State Historic Park
Wassama Round House State Historic Park
More resources for a family vacation to Historic Native California:
The Historic California Missions
The Historic California Missions are world renowned. Take a family vacation up the California Mission Trail or visit the missions individually. Each one of these missions has its own history and holds a unique place in California History and really, in American history. Seeing the historic missions was the last trip President Lincoln was planning before his assassination. His trip was never realized but your family vacation can be!
The Historic California Mission Trail
Basilica San Diego de Alcala
Mission San Carlos Borromeo del Carmelo
San Antonio de Padua
San Gabriel Arcangel
San Luis Obispo
San Juan Capistrano
San Buenaventura
Santa Barbara
La Purisma Concepcion
Santa Cruz
Nuestra Señora de la Soledad
San Jose
San Juan Bautista
San Miguel Arcangel
San Fernando Rey de Espana
San Luis Rey de Francia
Sana Ines
San Rafael Arcangel
San Francisco Solano de Sonoma
More resources for a family vacation to the historic California Missions
Colonial California
We don’t often think about California being part of colonial America. In truth, at the time of the American Revolution California was part of Mexico. Many of the missions were at their zenith in this time period and we don’t really equate California with colonial America. None the less, Historic colonial America is celebrated today throughout California now and there are some great historic places to visit as part of a family vacation. Some of these are replicas or recreations of historic places.
Green Dragon Tavern Replica
American Revolution at Huntington Beach
More resources for a family vacation to historic colonial California
1800’s Historic California
The 1800’s is when most people get a visual for Historic California. Pioneer towns, Gold Rush, Cowboys. If this is your idea of a perfect family vacation, California is a great choice! I mean, who doesn’t want to be a cowboy at least once? So many historical places to visit and things to experience throughout California! Buckle up Partner! It’s a family vacation to the wild wild west!
More resources for a family vacation to historic 1800’s California
1900’s Historic California
A LOT was going on in California in the early 1900’s…actually, right on up to the end of the century. The birth of Hollywood, two Presidents, Ski towns, resort towns, agriculture, logging industry, whaling, abalone… California boomed and if you have an idea for a family vacation, a way to visit it can probably be found in this state at this time.
Historic Ski Lodges of America
Lavender Festival at Historic Highland Springs Ranch
Reagan Presidential Library
Nixon Presidential Library
More resources for a family vacation to historic 1900’s California
Historic Hollywood
Historic Hollywood…The Golden Age…The silver screen… many a family vacation has been planned around the magic of Hollywood but few actually take in the history of California’s number one export, entertainment. More than Disneyland and Universal Studios, the history behind the entertainment industry is rich and a great twist on a family vacation.
Bob Baker’s Marionette Theater
Old Hollywood Walking Tour
Cecil B Demill’s Barn
Disney’s Barn
Walt Disney’s Los Angeles Tour
Gilmore Girls Tour
Harry Potter World The Dark Arts Show
More resources or a family vacation to Historic Hollywood, California
Pin It for Later!
Keep this article to plan your California family vacation… or several! So much to see and experience in historic California!
I just got back from California and am going again next week. I love it there!
Oh cool! California is such a big state I get excited to travel around and experience it. beaches, mountains, city, so many ways to vacation all in one state! Something for everyone in the family!
We love California, the mountains- the beach- the weather. It helps that we have family that lives in both Nor and SoCal. As much as we visit, there’s always something to do as you point out.
Yes California has the goods for a great family vacation. So many ways to vacation…beach, mountains, city, history… all rather historic! 😉
It’s been a long time since I’ve been to California, but you definitely gave me itinerary ideas for when I finally get back.
Glad to be of service! There is so many ways to family vacation. Historic California is just one of them….
Looks like fun. I am excited to visit!
YAY!!! If there is anything I can help you out with in planning your family vacation to historic California, let me know. Happy to help!
My daughter lives in California so I have to agree….it’s a fantastic place!!
nice! I’m sure she is well versed in family vacation the California way! Hopefully she gets to experience some of the great history too!
When I was a kid, we used to travel across the U.S. from New Hampshire to visit my aunt and uncle in California. We loved San Diego, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, the Hearst Castle, Yosemite, the Red Woods, Sequoias and of course, Disneyland!
What a bunch of cool memories!!!! We’ve lived in California for a decade and it’s amazing how many different vacations we’ve taken in the sate. historic vacation, beach vacation, theme park vacation, redwoods vacation, it’s a vacation kind of state LOL
Checking out all the nature is what I want to do. After Disney, of course!!
hahahaha I hear you! It’s all about balance 😉 California has a very interesting natural history. So many ways to vacation. It just really depends what the family interests are. natural, historic, theme parks, so many choices..so many ways to make it historic! 😉
It is great that there is so many different types of activities to do in California.
California really is a unique place. And vastly different place to place. So much history! It’s great for family vacation and for historic vacation fun too!
Great list. Thanks.
My pleasure! Love a good vacation… especially if its a family vacation and even more if it’s historic! California has great venues for all of that!
We’re headed there in May and can’t wait! It’s going to be a glorious trip.
Oh fuN! Let me know if you are in the area. Would love to meet in person! I can point you in the direction of some great historic California places to see. Is it a family vacation or just the adults?
We are looking to drive the coast in a couple of years. Can’t wait.
OH up the 101? Great trip! I did it years ago. Well worth the time. So much to historic California to see on a family vacation! the road passes through a lot of it. California is so different south to north…
All of these are for sure things to see and do in California
haha indeed!No end to family vacation fun in historic California!
So many beautiful things to see and do in Cali!
I try to choose some of the less obvious ones. 🙂 I think people forget how much there is to see and do past beaches and Hollywood. Historic California is super interesting and a great family vacation!
Now I need to go to California!
YAY! If you do, let me know when you are here! I’d love to show you and your family some historic California!
This post gave me some new places to want to check out with the family. I live in California and love all its beauty, but don’t always take advantage of all that there is todo and see.
Oh I’m so glad! Yes that is one thing about CALIFORNIA… SO big and vast and so much to see and do for a family vacation, especially historic california but we forget because it’s a busy place and we get caught up in it all. I’m trying to break free to go see the poppies this weekend…