20+ Southern California Adventures from Summer 2024
This morning we took a quick hike at Sycamore Canyon, and it was foggy and cool enough that I needed a sweatshirt for the first time in months! We are back to school, and it feels like summer is really coming to an end (though realistically it will probably be hot again here for another month or two!)
As I look back on Summer 2024, I’m remembering a lot of really wonderful adventures we took as a family! We went on a last-minute trip to Paris for the Olympics, which was definitely the biggest memory I’ll take away from the summer. But, we had plenty of fun adventures around Southern California too!
Of course, not pictured in the highlight reel is all the other stuff, often much more mundane or even unpleasant: a miserable visit to urgent care after being sick for weeks in July, a tonsillectomy for one of my kids, chauffeuring my children to day camps, volunteering at VBS, days where the kids watched lots of TV while I felt frazzled by my to-do list… life is naturally on a pendulum swing, moving between those wonderful days and the low points too.
In any case, here are some of the highlights of Summer 2024 for us - —
Colorado Lagoon Long Beach - seeing a ray in the water at this clean lagoon was a highlight!
Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center - we loved seeing this center in San Diego where future Olympians train!
a birthday celebration at Newport Beach - my twins were born at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, so when my son asked to spend his birthday at the beach, it was easy to choose which one to visit!
San Timoteo Nature Sanctuary - we had this creek all to ourselves on a random June afternoon
Annie’s Canyon Hike - we all loved this slot canyon hike in the San Diego area… feels super adventurous, but very kid friendly!
Marine Mammal Care Center in San Pedro - visiting the seals and sea lions here was a quick, memorable visit! bonus points: free admission!
Columbia Memorial Space Center in Downey - my children have asked to go back here several times since our visit at the beginning of the summer (so far we haven’t returned) — it’s air conditioned, low admission price, and the coding workshop is super cool!
Rancho Los Alamitos Long Beach - this was a quick stop after Colorado Lagoon… I’d like to return later when we have more time, as the gardens were just beautiful, and they have a little museum with lots of info!
an Amazing Race themed birthday adventure in San Pedro, complete with rip-open clues and challenges! When one twin chose Newport, the other requested an adventure race modeled after his favorite TV show! I wrote all the clues and even though I wasn’t feeling well that day, the race to our self-imposed finish line was so thrilling!
Legoland - we have passes so we went here a few times this summer.
Schabarum Regional Park in Rowland Heights (LA) - we’ve been here a few times recently… my girls are still singing, “We don’t feed the squirrels…” the song they made up when another park visitor was feeding wildlife out of his bare hands!
Castle Park Riverside - we got to go for a special group event and had the place to ourselves, which made it extra fun! The log ride was our favorite.
Torrey Pines Gliderport (San Diego) - this was a delightful snack stop to watch paragliders take off from the cliffs of Torrey Pines.
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro - we didn’t stay long this time, since were on a mission during our race, but Cabrillo Aquarium is always a fun time for our family.
taking the $1.50 ferry to Balboa Island for frozen bananas and ice cream bars — in the moment, this didn’t feel like that much fun… it was a long walk from the ferry to the ice cream shop on a hot day, with a few family members having injuries. In hindsight, I’m glad we enjoyed this special experience (but next time we’ll probably just drive!)
sunset hikes at Sycamore Canyon in Riverside - when it’s too hot to hike during the day, getting out just before sunset can be so pleasant!
Fullerton Arboretum - my niece had a performance nearby so we stopped at the Arboretum beforehand… it was a hot day but we appreciated some shady spots and checking out all the turtles in the pond!
Jurupa Mountains Discovery Center - we see “Eddie” the (metal) mammoth whenever we’re driving along the 60 Freeway, but this was the first time I’d visited this mostly-outdoor museum with a group. My 8 year old is into dinosaur facts and was excited for the little tour/hike where we learned about dinosaurs and got to dig for shark teeth, gems, and more. They do a great job of giving kids hands-on experiences!
trying to swim with sharks in La Jolla - “trying” being the key word… we were ill-prepared without snorkel gear or a kayak/paddleboard. I hope we can try again soon!
Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach - this is a favorite spot for one of my kids so we try to go every summer at least once!
Heritage Park in Santa Fe Springs -- no traditional playground here, but the train exhibit, model Tongva village, aviary, and historic buildings provide more than enough fun!
San Bernardino County Museum - we really enjoy this medium-sized museum… it has science and history exhibits, and is well-done with some hands-on stuff for children. It makes a good pass for families in the Riverside/Redlands area, as we don’t have tons of other indoor museum options locally!
All of these locations were visited on day trips… we live in such a wonderful place for adventures!