30 Days Blog
X
Subscribe For the latest
Latest About Mique Privacy

Thirty Handmade Days

30 Days Blog

Home » Travel

50 Staycation Ideas for Southern California

Created On:   |  Updated:   |  

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy here.

It’s officially summer- woohoo!  The time of year when people head out of town to explore and create memories with the family. Are you planning on going on summer vacation?  I’m here to share some staycation ideas for Southern California.

50 Staycation Ideas for Southern California - fun places to go and things to do locally.
Our family is doing a lot of traveling in our area for baseball.   More and more people are doing “staycations” to take in sites locally instead of traveling far away.  It’s a simple concept but an awesome way to experience things you wouldn’t normally.
Because I live in the LA area, I wanted to share 50 Staycation Ideas for Southern California.  Southern California is huge.  You could probably do something different every day for an entire year and still have plenty more to do.  But these are things on our bucket list- things we’ve done or always wanted to do. I broke them down by area but even within each spot there is a LOT of miles between them.  As anyone who lives in SoCal knows, it all depends on traffic.  With no bumper to bumper action you could get from one end to the other in 2-3 hours.

If you’re looking for some other travel information in Southern California, you’ll like these too:

Staycation Ideas

Los Angeles Area
My family has lived in the LA area for over 15 years now.  It’s home to us.  There are lots of things I love about it and a few I don’t.  TRAFFIC.  The opportunities for exploring are endless here.  These are some places we’ve visited and some we hope to some day: 

Enjoy nature at the LA Arboretum.
Go to the Kidspace Children’s Museum for an interactive adventure.
Explore the La Brea Tarpits.
Stop to smell the roses at Descanso Gardens.
Be entertained at Universal Studios.
Reach for the stars that the Griffith Park Observatory.
Visit Dodgers Stadium with a Dodgers Ballpark Tour.
Take a spin on the Griffith Park Carousel.
Hit the beach with these kid friendly beaches.
Go take a hike. (we like this one in our area)
Be amazed at Vasquez Rocks.
The Getty Center doesn’t disappoint.
Take in the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Baseball Exhibit.
Ride the big roller coasters at Magic Mountain.
Cool off at a splash pad.

Orange County Area
What’s not to love about Orange County?  Beautiful beaches and shopping galore, all of my friends who live there absolutely adore it.  We haven’t had as much time here as I’d like to but always have a good time when we visit.

Take in the Orange County Fair.
Visit Mickey & Friends at Disneyland.
Tiptoe through the tulips at the Fullerton Arboretum.
Dude! Visit the Surfing Museum.
Play some games at the Balboa Fun Zone.
Explore, explore and explore some more at the Discovery Science Center.
Go choo choo at the Irvine Park Railroad.
Games, games and more games at Dave & Busters.
Give stand up paddleboarding a try.
Pick out some of the freshest food at a farmer’s market.
Experience a military flight stimulation.
Go whale watching in Dana Point.
Beach it up at 15th Street in Newport Beach.
Board the Queen Mary.
Like vintage? Enjoy shopping at Old Towne Orange, the antique capital of Southern California.
Hit it out of the ballpark with an Angels Ballpark Tour.
Visit Orange Y BMX.
Choose your castle at Medieval Times.
Go shopping at Fashion Island.

San Diego Area
Even though I now live in the LA area (and love where we live), my heart will always belong to the San Diego area.  I grew up there and it really was a magical place for my childhood.   There is soooo much to do but here are a few things that are must do’s. 

You could spend a month at the different museums and attractions of Balboa Park.
Eat some of the best Mexican food in Old Town.
Visit Hotel Del Coronado because it is breathtaking.
Hike Torrey Pines and you won’t regret it.
Go to Old Poway Park for the train depot.
Take your kids to the best park evvver – Cottonwood Creek.
And then go to the best beach evvver- Moonlight (the one I happened to grow up on).
It wouldn’t be the same without the World Famous San Diego Zoo.
Go to a laser show at the Laser Dome at the Pacific Science Center.
Check out the Children’s Museum.
Visit the San Diego Botanic Gardens.
Walk along or skate along the Pacific Beach Boardwalk.
Because EVERYTHING IS AWESOME at Legoland.  (just ask my nephews)
Shop, explore or be entertained at Seaport Village.
Visit my favorite stadium with (yes another) Stadium Tour of the Padres at Petco Park.
Ride the Coaster all along the beach and avoid that darn traffic while enjoying the view.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. albia says

    Love this! Thank you for putting this together, I’ve been looking for place that I ( a college student) and my two siblings could enjoy this summer!

  3. Kate K says

    I’d love to go see Europe, esp. Germany! For $500 the fam could have some fun doing a little road trip to the WI Dells :-)

  8. Kasee Johnson says

    I’m kinda hung up on old Scottish Highlander books, so I’d LOVE to visit Scotland. I want to tour a real castle! But I’d totally settle for a stay-cation at the San Diego Zoo’s Safari Park – but I’ll always call it the Wild Animal Park.

  9. Jaime says

    I want to go somewhere tropical. The carribean or fiji or tahiti or something. But I live in So Cal and always say I am bad cuz I haven’t done lots of stuff here. Thanks for the list! pinned.

  10. Lindsay says

    I live in the LA-area now (due to work) and I’d go back home to DC to visit my parents so they could spend time with their grandson! We miss them so much.

  14. Sydney @ Tastefullyfrugal says

    Hmmm if I could go anywhere huh?! I’d say I would probably take my kids on a Disney Cruise.

    Thank you for all the great staycation ideas! We’re going to be in Oceanside for a few weeks and will have to check some of these places out!

  17. David Smith says

    If I could go anywhere on vacation, I would go with my son and fiance to Nome, Alaska to see where I was born and also do some gold mining. We left there when I was 7 years old, so I don’t remember very much about living there, but it would be nice to see if our store and apartment is still there.

  19. Melanie says

    I would love to take our girls to Walt Disney World when they are a bit older.

  21. Karen says

    Anywhere on vacation? I would go on a cruise that would take me to at least 3 or 4 destinations… to see and experience as much of an area as I could! Thank you.

  22. Katie Alesso says

    If I won the $500, I would go see my family in Seattle! But if we’re talking these staycation ideas, Balboa sounds super fun! Thanks for both the post and the giveaway. Fantastic ideas!

  23. Jacque says

    If I win, I would visit my son’s family in Tuscon, AZ. I have not been able to see them for 5 years! That would be a wonderful trip….Thank you for the chance to win. I love reading blogs and sending ideas to my kids and grandchildren since I live so far away from all of them. I also love to share these ideas on facebook.

  24. Stacey Roberson says

    If I can go anywhere, I would head to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

  25. Ann C says

    Would love to the visit South Korea (where I was born and where my mother is from) and if not there Southern California of course. :)

  28. Alison C says

    If I could go any where, I would go to Vancouver BC. I used to live there and really miss it. We usually only drive through it or stop overnight without time to do anything there these days. It would be nice to spend a few days there exploring my old haunting grounds!
    Thanks for the chance to win!

  31. Tina Gloer says

    I would go to S. Cal because it’s where I’m from and where all my family is. Heading home to OC this weekend for a visit! Can’t wait to go to the OC Fair!

  32. Rachel Dowd says

    I just moved to San Diego! I am having fun exploring my new home town! All summer is going to feel like a vacation after living in Ohio. :)

  33. Candice says

    This giveaway is awesome! If I could go anywhere it would be to Hawaii. I have been wanting to go for a long time and it would be great for my hubby and I to get away!

  36. shari says

    I would love to visit Italy someday. Although, I love to travel and love to learn about new cultures, and would be willing to try many new places I haven’t been to yet.

  38. Carli says

    My husband and I would finally take the honeymoon we weren’t able to take when we got married 6 years ago!

  40. Erin says

    europe with my husband….disneyland with my kids….new mexico to visit my grandma….a beach…

  45. chelle says

    The beach is my favorite place, so a great beach in Italy (somewhere I’ve never been) would be my vacation of choice!

  47. Sonya Neal says

    I would love to go to North Dakota and visit my family and then to Illinois to visit my husbands family!

  48. Beth says

    If I could go anywhere on vacation with my family, I would choose a trip to Hawaii. My kids would have a blast!

  50. Jill says

    It’s been a busy summer. The $500 Visa gift card would come in handy for a mini summer vacation or even a staycation.

  64. Michelle M says

    I would go anywhere at this point!! But I would LOVE to go to Napa Valley and indulge in wine and good food! Plus, get to look at all the beautiful scenery :)

  65. Hannah Murdoch says

    This would be amazing to win! My best friend and I have finally scraped up the money to take a trip down to LA, Newport Coast, and San Diego in July! Extra travel and sight seeing money would do us some good!! Thank you for giving us all the chance to win this!

  70. Chelsey says

    I’ve never been out of the country! I would love to go visit anywhere in Europe.

  72. jeani b says

    if i could go anywhere, i think i’d choose paris in the spring as my first choice. thanks for the giveaway! i hope i win!

  75. Danielle Do Nascimento says

    I have been to Europe.. Brazil.. A few states in the USA. LOL! My dream is to someday visit China, Japan, anywhere exotic.. but I guess I will settle for Hampton Beach, MA! Haha.. Its nice and hot out… it is time to enjoy the MA weather while it still last. :)! And with my wedding coming up in August.. Yeah I should definitely enjoy it! Soon its South Carolina for me.

  79. Juanita H says

    Wow, great question. I have always wanted to go to California and we are finally getting to go in December. Super excited.

  81. Bridget M says

    I have ALWAYS wanted to go to Hawaii, but with the entire family I’d love to go back to Disney World, or take the kids to Colorado!

  86. lesley says

    if money and time wasn’t an issue, i would love to go to australia to look for and meet family i have never met before. that has always been our family dream. my mom was born there but moved here when she was two and has never been back. since my grandmother passed several years ago, we have lost contact with all her family members she talked to monthly.

  88. Kim says

    I’d really like to go back and visit Alaska again. I lived there as a young child.

  92. Lilliana says

    We are Disney people, so if I could go anywhere, I would take my kiddos to Disneyland for the first time (Already been to WDW ;) )

  94. Charmaine says

    I would go to Rome, Italy, hubby and I would stay in the Lord Byron Hotel and do lots of shopping and eating and relaxing without kids. My family dream vacation is Dubai.

  95. Charmaine says

    This would be PERFECT for us as we are planning a vacation to California and the internet is overwhelming. This would really help to narrow things down a lot. Thanks for the opportunity to win!

  98. Sonia says

    I would go anywhere as long as my family went too! Favorite places: Traverse City MI, Crete Greece, Koh Samui Thailand

  100. Korey Lindberg says

    If I could go anywhere on vacation right now, it would be to Tokyo, Japan! My hubby and I LOVE it there and have promised our 6 year old that the next time we go, he gets to go with. We hope to get back there in 2015 :D

  102. Kristine M says

    I would love to share this wonderful gift with my sister. We are miles away from one another…but are lucky enough to get our 5 children together in the summer and have a staycation at the home we grew up in together for 3 weeks. It’s the best time of the year. Thank you for the opportunity… :)

  105. Theresa Sea says

    I have always wanted to visit Australia, but if staying in the States is the goal, I’d say visiting the east coast and seeing all the historical sites and landmarks along the way.

  107. Meagan says

    We always go to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It is beautiful, uncrowded, and we can do a whole week for less than $500.

  111. Tami says

    We have never taken a vacation that was more than a long weekend, so a week away almost anywhere would be wonderful. My dream vacation is a week in a cottage by the ocean or by a lake!

  112. Kim B says

    If my family and I could go anywhere for a vacation we would chose somewhere like the Galápagos Islands , we are all very outdoorsy and athletic and love exploring and discovering new things! Pretty far fetched yhoigh…a more realistic close to home pick would be the Florida keys!

  113. Tracy Castleberry says

    Wow, what an incredible getaway! I would love to go to the San Juan Islands off the coast of Seattle where my husband and I got married. Three kids later… it would be great to take them along and rent a house for a week!

  114. Gina M says

    I would love to visit Sicily!

    Entered the rafflecopter form as “Wild Orchid”

    Thanks for the chance to win!
    wildorchid985 at gmail dot com

  116. Shannon says

    I’d do a local staycation. I live in NC and am right in the middle of everything. Mountains two hours West and the beach four hours to my East. Love this place!

  118. Stephanie H says

    There are so many neat places that it’s hard to say just one, but I would love to see the Pacific NW – I’ve heard it’s beautiful! My husband has never been West of the Mississippi, so it would be fun to change that!

  120. Michele E says

    We have always dreamed of a vacation to Australia. Maybe someday, for now I’d settle for Myrtle Beach!

Printable chore chart

Printable Shop

Looking to get organized? I’ve got you covered with colorful printables for almost every need!

Shop Now
Thirty Handmade Days

About

About Mique Privacy Policy Shop The Store

Browse.

Free Printables Browse Recipes Organization Ideas

Let's Connect!

Join the Email Club