MomHop × OC Parent Guide
SoCal Family Staycations.
Planning a Southern California family getaway?
Together with OC Parent Guide , we put together five family-friendly itinerary ideas across Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego County. These are some of our favorite spots for easy outings, great food, kid-friendly activities, and memorable family time.
Of course, there’s plenty more to explore throughout Southern California, but these itineraries are designed to make planning easier—whether you’re visiting from out of town or looking for a local staycation idea.
Use these guides as a starting point, mix and match stops, and make them your own. We hope they help you spend less time planning and more time making memories.
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Los Angeles
Itinerary 1
Santa Monica
Stay
The Pierside Santa Monica is a convenient base near the pier, beach, restaurants, and walkable Santa Monica stops.
Drink
Stop at Dogtown Coffee, then head to Tongva Park for ocean views, play structures, and a seasonal splash pad.
Eat
Back on the Beach gives you beachfront dining. The nearby Annenberg Community Beach House area adds a playground and seasonal pool option, so check current operations before planning around it.
Do
Visit the Santa Monica Pier and Pacific Park for the Ferris wheel, pier walk, beach time, bikes, and nearby playgrounds.
Museum
Keep Cayton Children’s Museum, Museum of Flying, Heal the Bay Aquarium, and Museum of Illusions in mind for indoor or semi-indoor time.
Shop
Walk Third Street Promenade and check the Downtown Santa Monica Farmers Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8 AM to 1 PM.
Worth adding nearby
- Beach bike path if your kids are ready for a car-light ride.
- Santa Monica Beach for simple sand time between activities.
- Main Street Santa Monica if you want a slightly calmer food-and-walk option.
Good to know
- This is one of the better car-light staycations once you are parked.
- Tongva Park is a great reset before or after the pier.
- The pier can be overstimulating, so balance it with beach, park, or museum time.
Family fit: Best when you want beach, pier, food, museums, and walking-distance backup options in one place.
Itinerary 2
Griffith Park
Stay
Coast Burbank Hotel is a useful Burbank base with complimentary local shuttle service and access to a heated outdoor pool at its sister property.
Drink
Porto’s Bakery is a classic LA stop for pastries, Cuban-style breakfast, and coffee.
Do
Travel Town Museum is a free outdoor train museum in Griffith Park. Nearby Walt Disney’s Carolwood Barn opens to the public on select third Sundays.
Do
LA Zoo is the bigger Griffith Park anchor with animal exhibits and seasonal programming. Check current add-ons before planning around rides or special activities.
Eat
Golden Road Brewing is a family-friendly Atwater Village option near Griffith Park with outdoor seating and casual food.
Shop
Americana at Brand works well as a late-day reset with restaurants, shopping, fountains, and easy wandering.
Worth adding nearby
- Griffith Observatory for views and space exhibits.
- Shane’s Inspiration Playground for inclusive play.
- Griffith Park Train Rides if your kids want more train time.
- Ferndell Trail and The Trails Cafe for an easier nature-and-snack outing.
Good to know
- Travel Town plus train rides can be enough for younger kids.
- Zoo plus Travel Town can easily become a full day.
- Americana is a good end-of-day option when everyone needs food and a reset.
Family fit: Best when you want a high-value local getaway with trains, animals, playgrounds, food, and flexible add-ons.
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Orange County
Itinerary 1
Huntington Beach
Stay
Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach is the family-friendly hotel anchor here: beach access, pools, water slides, and seasonal resort activities such as mermaid programming, fish feeding, and s’mores-style activities.
Drink
Grab coffee at IYKYK Coffee Lab at Pacific City, then use the open shopping-center space as an easy reset with kids.
Eat
Mama’s on 39 is casual and family-friendly. Their kids-eat-free Thursday offer is worth planning around, and the Thrifty Ice Cream makes it an easy kid win.
Do
Ride the Huntington Beach bike trail as a family. It gives you ocean views, movement, and an outing that can be as short or long as the kids can handle. Stop by the inclusive beach playground near the pier if you need a play break.
Shop
Surf City Nights happens Tuesday nights on Main Street with a certified farmers market, vendors, food, live music, and a lively downtown feel.
Worth adding nearby
- Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve if you want a quieter nature break before or after the beach.
- International Surfing Museum for a short indoor stop that fits the Surf City theme.
Good to know
- This works best when you want beach, pool, food, and shopping close together.
- Surf City Nights is Tuesday only, so it is worth checking your dates.
- Resort activities are seasonal, so confirm the current hotel calendar before booking around them.
Family fit: Great for families who want a true beach-staycation feeling without needing to drive from activity to activity all day.
Itinerary 2
Dana Point
Stay
Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa works well if you want a resort base near Lantern Bay Park, Dana Point Harbor, and the beach. The children’s splash zone is the big family perk; seasonal activities should be checked directly before booking around them.
Drink
Coffee Importers is in Dana Point Harbor, so it pairs naturally with a harbor walk, Baby Beach, or an Ocean Institute stop.
Eat
Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern is an easy harbor-area meal. If you are planning around a kids-eat-free offer, verify the current promo directly before going.
Do
Visit Baby Beach for a low-key beach outing, check Ocean Institute family programs, take in views from Bluff Top Trail, and explore Dana Point Preserve if your kids are up for a nature stop.
Worth adding nearby
- Doheny State Beach if you want another beach option in Dana Point.
- Dana Point Harbor for stroller-friendly wandering, boats, food, and water views.
- Whale or marine-life tours if your kids are ready for a boat outing.
Good to know
- Baby Beach is one of the calmer-feeling beach options for younger kids.
- Bluff Top Trail is short and scenic, but not the easiest stroller pick.
- Ocean Institute programming changes, so check the calendar before making it the center of the day.
Family fit: A softer coastal option when you want beach, harbor, and resort time without the bigger beach-city energy.
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San Diego County
Family Staycation
Carlsbad
Stay
Grand Pacific Palisades Resort is a practical family base with an activity center, family pool with interactive splash pad, BBQs, and easy access to LEGOLAND.
Drink
Revolution Roasters is a Carlsbad coffee stop that works before beach time, village wandering, or the day’s main activity.
Eat
The Camp Store is the beachy casual food pick. Their Jurassic Beach dinosaur display is seasonal, so treat it as a special-timing bonus rather than an everyday guarantee.
Do
LEGOLAND California is the obvious anchor. Families can also add Candeeland Wonderpark, Kids & Coffee, San Diego Botanic Garden, or the Self-Realization Fellowship Meditation Gardens.
Worth adding nearby
- SEA LIFE Aquarium if you want an easier indoor add-on near LEGOLAND.
- Carlsbad Village for food, coffee, beach-town wandering, and a slower reset.
- The Flower Fields in spring.
- Agua Hedionda Discovery Campus for a nature-learning stop.
Good to know
- This is the most kid-centered trip on the list.
- Two nights works better than one if you want LEGOLAND plus beach or nature time.
- SEA LIFE, Candeeland, and Kids & Coffee are helpful backup options when you need lower-effort indoor time.
Family fit: Best when you want the whole trip to feel built around the kids.
Before you go: Hotel amenities, kids-eat-free offers, event schedules, farmers markets, seasonal programming, museum hours, and special activities can change. Always confirm directly with the hotel, restaurant, venue, or city before visiting.