10 Summer Activities with Kids in Los Angeles & Orange County

Southern California has such a diversity of kid-friendly things to do, especially in the summer. As the weather heats up, there are a lot of ways to stay cool, from water activities to indoor venues. Here’s a list of things to try.

Water Activities

When it gets hot outside, try these outdoor water activities to stay cool.

1. Beaches

The most obvious benefit of living in Los Angeles and Orange County are the incredibly beautiful beaches. Almost any stretch of beach is great to visit, but here is a list of some our favorite ones.

Looking for baby beaches? Check out these lists:

2. Lakes & Rivers

Living in SoCal, you also have the option to head inland to cool off. There are multiple lakes and rivers you can swim in. Here are some of our favorites:

3. Splash Pads

Splash pads have popped up everywhere and are an easy way to cool down and have fun. There are splash pads in almost every city in Los Angeles and Orange County. But these are some of our favorite ones that are worth driving to:

Learn more about each splash pad >

4. Water Parks

There’s no shortage of water parks in Southern California, and they all have rides for younger and older kids. Try out some of these in LA & OC

5. Boat Rides

Cruising on a boat through the harbor is the epitome of summer vibes, and you can do it fairly inexpensively. Here are a few great options:

Indoor Activities

You can always find fun things to do in air conditioned, indoor facilities.

6. Indoor Playgrounds / Trampoline Parks

Indoor playgrounds are becoming more popular in Southern California, and there’s likely one in a city close to you. These are the more fun ones we’ve been to:

7. Children’s Museums

Kids’ museums are designed to engage children. They’re a great way for kids to have fun in the summer while still learning. Try out these children’s museums in Los Angeles and Orange County.

8. Family-Friendly Museums

Check out these inspirational and educational museums that adults and kids and enjoy together.

9. Aquariums

In addition to visiting the beaches this summer, learn about the environment and marine life of our oceans.

10. Libraries

Your local library is always a great place to go for some reading . But some libraries like these are really unique and worth a visit.

Learn more about these libraries >

There’s no limit to the all the different activities you can do in Los Angeles and Orange County. Vacation travel is great, but there’s plenty of fun here for locals.

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