101 Family Day Trips and Staycations from Around Orange County, CA
**Follow each link to get details about your visit directly from your destination, since some places operate seasonally or by reservation, as well as to check each venue's COVID requirements (masks, limits, social distancing).
Free activities and splurges that are worth it. The coolest stuff for a staycation in town and road trips for less than a tank of gas from Orange County, CA. Kids Out And About has tons of ideas for family travel, with places to explore, learn, and have fun!
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Take A Deep Breath In the Garden
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123 Lavender Farm |
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Sherman Library and Gardens |
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Casa Romantica |
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Niguel Botanical Preserve |
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Mission San Juan Capistrano |
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Coastkeeper Garden |
Get Wild on a Hike
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Peters Canyon |
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Santiago Oaks |
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Laguna Coast Wilderness Park |
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Upper Newport Bay Nature Park |
Time Travel Today
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Heritage Museum of Orange County |
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Fossil Reef Park |
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Rancho Los Alamitos |
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Mission San Juan Capistrano |
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Carbon Canyon Redwoods |
Make Life a Beach
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Coronado Beach |
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La Jolla Cove |
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Balboa Beach |
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South Carlsbad State Beach |
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Carmel City Beach |
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Zuma Beach |
Splash into Some Water Fun
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Great Wolf Lodge |
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Knotts Berry Farm |
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Splash! La Mirada |
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Castle Park |
Spend the Day at a Museum
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International Surfing Museum |
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Muzeo |
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Discovery Cube of OC |
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The Children's Place at La Habra |
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San Diego Natural History Museum |
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Bowers Museum |
Explore These Cities
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San Diego |
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Riverside |
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Carlsbad |
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Oceanside |
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Redondo Beach |
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Santa Monica |
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Palm Springs |
All Aboard Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (and Boats!)
Grow Some Fun at the Farm
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Tanaka Farms |
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Centennial Farm |
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Orange Home Grown Educational Farm |
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Southcoast Farms |
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Temecula Berry Company |
Play Ball!
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Concourse Bowling |
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Camelot Golfland |
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Fiesta Village Miniature Golf |
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Laguna Beach Batting Cages |
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Tennis Club Monarch Beach |
Treat Yo' Self
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Hans Homemade Ice Cream |
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Handel's Ice Cream |
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Summerland Artisinal Creamery |
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Cauldron Ice Cream |
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Joe's Italian Ice |
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Salt & Straw |
Connect with Nature
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Ocean Institute |
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Sherman Library and Gardens |
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Coastkeeper Natural Play Garden |
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Fullerton Arboretum |
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Arden: Helena Modjeska Historic House and Gardens |
Amuse Yourself at These Amusement Parks
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Disneyland |
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Scandia Family Fun Center |
Talk to the Animals
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Zoomars |
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The Reptile Zoo |
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Santa Ana Zoo |
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Orange County Zoo |
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Aquarium of the Pacific |
Explore the Globe Close to Home
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Earl Burns Miller Japanese Gardens |
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Noguchi Garden |
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San Diego Chinese Historical District |
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San Diego Little Italy |
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Museum of Ancient Wonders |
Let's Go Chasing Waterfalls
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Ortega Falls |
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Black Star Canyon Falls |
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Sturtevant Falls |
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Chiquito Falls |
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Bonita Falls |
Get Active Indoors
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We Play Loud Kids Indoor Playground |
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BounceU |
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Billy Bees |
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Sky Zone |
Challenge Yourself
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Pacific Symphony |
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Orange County Center For Contemprary Art |
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Skull Canyon Ziplines |
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Mission Escape Games |
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Great Park Ice and The Rinks |
Shop Your Heart Out
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A Whale of A Tale |
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Laguna Beach Books |
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Lido Village Books |
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Comic Book Hide Out |
Limiting our list to 101 ideas meant some great destinations may have been left off the list - if there is something you’d like to see added, share it with us on Facebook!
Most of these destinations are within an hour from the middle of the OC. For those that are a bit farther away:
= Less than 1 hour away
= 1 to 2 hours away
= 2 to 3 hours away
= Just over 3 hours away