Parks & Outdoors
Yosemite, Redwoods, Joshua Tree, Sequoia — California's legendary national parks and wild places
Best Glamping in California for Families
The best glamping in California for families gives you all the magic of sleeping outdoors with none of the tent-pitching stress, and this guide shows you exactly where to go. You'll discover the standout family glamping spots across the state, from safari tents and cedar cabins near a Santa Barbara beach and a resort with a splash park near Solvang to Airstreams outside Yosemite, redwood retreats on the Northern California coast, wine country tents beside giraffes, and desert domes near Joshua Tree. For each spot, you'll learn what makes it special for families, what kind of accommodations to expect, and what your kids will love most. You'll also get the practical know-how that keeps a glamping trip smooth, including the single most important thing to check before booking with children, what the bathroom situation is really like, what to pack, and when to go for the best weather. Just as important, you'll get honest guidance on which sites genuinely welcome kids and which quietly don't. Think of this as your complete guide to sleeping under the stars in comfort. Read on to find your spot and start planning an outdoor family adventure to remember.
Best Family Resorts in Palm Springs
The best family resorts in Palm Springs turn a desert getaway into a splash-filled, sun-soaked vacation, and this guide helps you choose exactly the right one for your crew. You'll discover the standout family resorts across Palm Springs and the wider Coachella Valley, from water-park wonderlands with lazy rivers and towering slides to spacious villas with full kitchens, timeless classic resorts, and budget-friendly stays with pools of their own. For each resort, you'll learn what makes it special for families, which water features and kids' activities set it apart, and what your family will love most. You'll also get the practical know-how that makes a desert trip smooth and safe, including the best time of year to visit, how to handle the intense desert heat, what resort fees to expect, and what to pack. Just as important, you'll get honest local guidance on matching the resort to your family's style, plus ideas for desert fun beyond the pool, from the Aerial Tramway to the Living Desert Zoo. Think of this as your shortcut to the perfect poolside paradise in the California desert. Read on to find your resort and start planning a family getaway your kids will treasure.
Redwood National Park With Kids
Visiting Redwood National Park with kids drops your whole family into a hushed, cathedral-like forest of the tallest living things on the planet, and this guide shows you exactly how to make the journey worth it. You'll discover why this wild, often-overlooked corner of far Northern California rewards families with a sense of awe the busier parks can't match, and how easy it is to enjoy with little ones thanks to short, flat, stroller-friendly grove trails. You'll learn the best time of year to visit, how to handle the remote roads and famously foggy weather, and which groves, beaches, and wildlife meadows are absolute must-sees. You'll get the inside scoop on the fern-walled canyon kids adore, where to reliably spot massive Roosevelt elk, and how the free Junior Ranger program turns a walk in the woods into an adventure. Just as important, you'll pick up the practical details that keep a family trip smooth and safe, from what to pack and where to stay to the permits you'll need and the coastal hazards to watch for. Think of this as your complete family playbook for the redwoods. Read on and start planning a trip north your kids will never forget.
Sequoia National Park Family Guide
This Sequoia National Park family guide is your key to a trip your kids will never forget, among the largest living things on the entire planet. If you're dreaming of watching your children stand speechless at the foot of a tree wider than a city street, you've come to the right place. You'll discover exactly how to plan a smooth visit to this towering corner of the southern Sierra Nevada, from the best time of year to go to how to handle the steep mountain roads, the high elevation, and the busy summer parking. You'll learn which giant trees and easy trails deliver the biggest wow for little legs, how to climb the staircase summit of Moro Rock, and how to explore the storybook chambers of Crystal Cave. You'll also get the practical know-how that keeps a family trip safe and comfortable, including where to stay, what to pack, how the summer shuttle works, and how to stay bear-aware. Think of this as your toddler-to-teen playbook for an awe-filled adventure among the giants. Read on to plan your Sequoia trip and get ready to feel wonderfully, unforgettably small.
Joshua Tree With Kids: A Family Guide
Visiting Joshua Tree with kids is like setting your family loose in the world's largest natural playground, and this complete guide shows you how to make the most of it. You'll discover why this surreal Southern California desert park, where giant climbable boulders meet twisted, Dr. Seuss-style trees, is one of the most kid-friendly national parks in the state. You'll learn the best time of year to visit, how to handle the park's quirks like the heat and total lack of services inside, and which short trails and boulder scrambles deliver the biggest thrills for little legs. You'll get the inside scoop on iconic stops like Skull Rock, the Cholla Cactus Garden, and the panoramic Keys View, plus one of the darkest, most star-filled night skies your kids will ever see. Just as important, you'll pick up the desert safety know-how that keeps a family trip comfortable and worry-free, from how much water to pack to where to stay and the current reservation rules. Think of this as your toddler-to-teen playbook for an unforgettable desert adventure. Read on to plan a Joshua Tree trip your kids will be talking about long after the sand shakes out of their shoes.
Yosemite With Kids: A Family Guide
Planning a trip to Yosemite with kids is easier and more rewarding than many families expect, and this complete guide shows you exactly how to do it well. You'll discover how to match one of the largest, most awe-inspiring parks in the country to little legs and short attention spans, focusing on the short walks, easy viewpoints, and hands-on programs that make Yosemite magical for every age. You'll learn the best time of year to visit, how to handle parking and the free valley shuttle, and which kid-friendly hikes and overlooks deliver the biggest wow for the least effort. You'll get the inside scoop on standing among the giant sequoias of Mariposa Grove, taking in the jaw-dropping view from Glacier Point, and spotting black bears and mule deer in the meadows. Just as important, you'll pick up the practical details that keep a family trip smooth, including entrance fees, where to stay, what to pack, and the current reservation and road rules so there are no surprises at the gate. Think of this as your toddler-to-teen playbook for one unforgettable Sierra adventure. Read on to plan a Yosemite trip your kids will be talking about for years.
Best National Parks in California for Families
The best national parks in California for families turn a simple vacation into the kind of awe-filled adventure your kids will remember for the rest of their lives. If you're dreaming of standing beneath trees older than ancient Rome, scrambling over desert boulders, or watching a waterfall thunder off a granite cliff, this guide shows you exactly where to go. You'll discover seven standout parks, each chosen with families in mind, stretching from the misty northern redwoods to the sun-baked southern desert and the wild islands off the coast. For each park, you'll learn what makes it magical for kids, which short and easy trails deliver the biggest wow, and the practical details that keep a trip smooth, including the best time to visit, what to pack, how parking and permits work, and which conditions to check before you go. You'll also get the up-to-date scoop on reservations and passes so there are no surprises at the gate. Think of this as your family's shortcut to choosing the right park and planning a trip that sparks wonder in every age. Read on to find the perfect California national park for your crew and start mapping out an unforgettable outdoor adventure.