Things to Do in Southern California

Wilderness enthusiasts can move through the landscape while hearing and feeling the gravel underfoot in Sunnylands Center & Gardens .

The center is open to the public and provides tours and interactive educational kiosks, information panels, videos, and art selected from the Sunnylands Collection.

It is surrounded by 1¼ miles of garden paths winding through the gardens, which are carefully designed to look different in each season.

Inside Sunnylands, there are various exhibitions such as Asian Artists in Crystal, 20th Century Sculpture as well as a theatre and interactive gallery and other treasures. Sunnylands always offers an ever-changing variety of events. Sunnylands Center & Gardens is one of the best things to do in SoCal.

37977 Bob Hope Dr, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270, Phone: 760-202-2222

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is the perfect way to enjoy the wilderness in the company of your loved ones.

Not only can you ride in the world´s larger rotating tramcar, but there are also guided nature walks, hiking plans, and camping or skiing opportunities in the winter adventure center. There is a wealth of family fun to be had in Palm Springs in the winter season with cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snow camping.

While you are out in the wild, you can make your reservation at a hotel or resort of your choice, or have a great dining experience at the Pines Café, the Lookout Lounge, or the Peaks Restaurant.

1 Tram Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262, Phone: 888-515-8726

Hearst Castle in San Simeon is a National Historic Landmark that became a state park in 1954. Inside this museum, visitors can take the Grand Rooms Tour to travel back in time and experience what it was like to be a guest in the Enchanted Hill, explore the Upstairs Suites Tour, see architectural wonders, and appreciate the Cottages and Kitchen Tours.

There are also Evening Tours allowing you to experience the castle at night. Inside the museum, you can plan your next coastal vacation and find the Hearst Castle Theater, where you can watch the movie “Building the Dream,” an account of the history of the castle.

750 Hearst Castle Rd, San Simeon, CA 93452, Phone: 800-444-4445

Universal Studios Hollywood is a theme park offering an opportunity to enjoy the world of Hollywood movies at its best. This park provides guided tours of a real working movie studio and tourists from all over the world can explore where Hollywood movies are made, see top celebrities being interviewed, and have intense 3D experiences.

The history of Universal Studios Hollywood began back in 1915, when Carl Laemmle, its founder, opened the gates of Universal City, as it was called back then. Since then, Universal Studios has been the place to visit for loads of Hollywood fun, including movie tours, attractions, and lots more.

100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608, Phone: 4800-864-8377, Video

Disneyland Park in Anaheim is a more than just a theme park. It is America´s magical destination for the entire family where you can find several attractions for everyone, from young children to adults.

Explore jungles, sail with pirates, dive under the ocean, meet beloved fairytale princesses, or have an outer space experience.

This Southern Californian destination opened in 1955 and has since welcomed many families who all come to experience the Disney magic. Disneyland is divided into eight lands: U.S.A., New Orleans, Square Mickey's Toontown, Adventureland, Main Street, Critter Country, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, and Frontierland.

1313 Disneyland Dr, Anaheim, CA 92802, Phone: 877-560-6477

The Gamble House , designed by the brothers Charles Sumner Greene and Henry Mather Greene, was constructed in 1908-09 and is now known as a National Historic Landmark and museum in Pasadena, California. Inside the Gamble House, visitors can join guided tours like the neighborhood walking tour.

In addition, the museum showcases details on joinery, fire and light, and the brothers Greene and Greene at the Huntington and a variety of other delightful exhibitions. Guests can also book an event, appreciate the architecture in all its splendor, and be part of the many events the center offers.

4 Westmoreland PI, Pasadena, CA 91103, Phone: 626-793-3334

Environmental Nature Center is one of Newport Beach's top family-friendly tourist attractions, originally founded in 1972 as a nonprofit environmental sanctuary and research facility.

The LEED Platinum-certified museum and facility, commonly referred to as The ENC, spans five acres, showcasing 15 native California ecosystems and plant communities ranging from oak woodlands and redwood forests to freshwater marsh and desert habitats.

Walking trails allow for perusal of the facility's habitats, while a nature museum offers hands-on exhibits for visitors of all ages. Other attractions include a seasonal butterfly habitat and an annual nature camp for area students. A wide variety of educational programming is held at the center throughout the year, ranging from public special events to school outreach programming.

1601 E 16th St, Newport Beach, CA 92663, Phone: 949-645-8489

San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve is a 1,000-acre natural reserve and nonprofit land trust in San Diego's North County coastal area, originally founded in 1987 to protect more than 1,000 native species of plant and animal life.

The reserve , which has been in operation for more than 30 years, is bounded by the cities of Solana Beach, Encinitas, and Rancho Santa Fe, striving to engage the Bay Area with its natural surroundings and preserve important ecosystems for generations to come.

A visitor center at the reserve showcases interactive museum exhibits for all ages on the area's history and ecology, including several living animal experiences.

A 5,600-square-foot LEED Platinum-certified nature center showcases ecological practices, constructed entirely from recycled materials. Within the reserve, visitors can hike along seven miles of lovely trails, which showcase wetland, salt marsh, riparian and coastal sage shrub, and mixed chaparral habitats.

92024, 2710 Manchester Ave, Cardiff, CA 9200, Phone: 760-436-3944

In La Brea Tar Pits Park, you can follow one of the suggested itineraries, access the excavation 101, take a look at the observation pit, and visit the museum.

Another part of the journey to La Brea Tar Tips includes exploring the fossil lab, viewing exhibits, and watching Ice Age Encounters and more in the 3D theater.

Visitors can also plan group visits or catch special events and filming activities.

Schools are invited to the park for field trips to discover a different world, one that was once covered with ice and home to such species as sabre-tooth tigers and mammoths.

5801 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036, Phone: 323-857-6300

Balboa Park in San Diego is one of the many interesting historic places to visit in the United States.

As a cultural park located in San Diego, it is surrounded by natural vegetation zones, open space areas, gardens, greenbelts and walking paths.

It is the perfect destination for people who enjoy visiting museums, theaters, and the San Diego Zoo.

Apart from all the cultural activities on offer in the park, there are several recreational facilities, restaurants, and gift shops. Balboa Park was placed in reserve in 1835 and since then has served the sole purpose of public recreational use. Balboa Park Video, Phone: 619-239-0512