3 Fun Summer Vacation Family Road Trips in California

It's already the middle of July, and summer vacation is in full swing! If you feel like you and your family need to get away this summer without traveling too far, now's the time to plan your trip. With that in mind, we put together 3 fun California family road trip ideas and itineraries, so pack up the kids, load up the car, and head out for some summer vacation adventures.

California History in Sacramento & the Gold Country

Families, especially those with fourth graders (who can sign up to get a free California State Parks Adventure Pass), can have a great time exploring our state's history in the capital Sacramento and the Gold Country in the Sierra Foothills.

• Head up I-80 to Sacramento to visit Old Sacramento and the California State Railroad Museum. Take an excursion train ride along the Sacramento River!
• Visit Sutter's Fort to learn about life in California and the people who lived here in the 1830s and '40s.
• Our favorite place to dine with kids in Sacramento is the Old Spaghetti Factory on J Street in Midtown.

• After Sacramento, head east on Highway 50 to Placerville and then go south on historic Highway 49 to check out the Gold Country towns and sights along the way.
• Explore geological wonders and pan for gemstones at Moaning Caverns near Murphys.

• A must-visit stop is Columbia State Historic Park, where you can get hands-on with Gold Rush history in an authentic 1850s mining town. Try your hand at gold panning and ride in a stagecoach!
• If you're up to it, continue east on Highay 108 over the Sonora Pass and visit Bodie State Historic Park near Bridgeport, an authentic and atmospheric gold mining ghost town frozen in a state of "arrested decay."

• If you didn't get enough trains in Sacramento, make sure you stop by Railtown 1897 in nearby Jamestown for a ride drawn by a steam locomotive.
• Head back to the Bay Area via Highway 120. Stop in the little town of Knights Ferry to see the historic 1857 covered bridge and get ice cream at Knights Ferry Creamery & Sweets.

A Whale of a Time in Santa Cruz & the Monterey Bay Area

Monterey Bay is only about three hours away from the San Francisco Bay Area, and there's so much there for families to do. It's one of our favorite getaway destinations.

• Head south on I-280 and take Highway 17 over the Santa Cruz Mountains. Stop at the famous Mystery Spot to experience the unexplained in the redwoods.
• Step back into the 1880s and ride the rails at Roaring Camp Railroads in the Santa Cruz Mountains. You can even take a train ride down to the beach!
• Hit the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk for classic beachside amusement park fun. Ride the classic 1911 Looff Carousel and grab the brass ring!
• Our favorite place to stay in the area is the Dream Inn Santa Cruz located right on the famous Cowell Beach. It has a fantastic pool with an ice cream happy hour!

• Head down Highway 1 to the Monterey Peninsula. A visit to the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium is a must-do when you're there.
• Explore early California on the Monterey Walking Path of History and learn about the state's Spanish and Mexican eras.
• Burn off some energy at the awesome Dennis the Menace Playground adjacent to El Estero Lake.

• Take the kiddos an eco-adventure: go kayaking or whale watching on Monterey Bay.
• We love to spend time in the neighboring town of Pacific Grove, famous for its beaches, butterflies, and old-fashioned atmosphere.
• Asilomar State Beach is one of our favorite places to relax and play.
• Stay at the Butterfly Grove Inn, adjacent to the famous Monarch Grove Sanctuary.

• Visit Carmel-by-the-Sea for shops, galleries, restaurants, and the beautiful Carmel Beach.
• Point Lobos State Natural Reserve just south of Carmel is an incredible destination for an easy and scenic hike. It's truly an amazing place so try not to miss it.
• Make sure you check out the 18th-century Carmel Mission for even more California history. You can stop at Mission San Juan Bautista on the way back to the Bay Area, too — it's a short drive off 101.

Hooray for Hollywood!

Southern California and Los Angeles are closer than you think thanks to I-5. Explore the world of moviemaking and Hollywood on a fun family trip to the Southland.

• Our favorite place to stay is the Magic Castle Hotel in Hollywood. It has spacious apartment-sized rooms, wonderful service, and cool amenities like a poolside popsicle hotline, free snacks, free laundry, and breakfast is included, too. Plus, guests can get reservations to the legendary Magic Castle next door for brunch and magic shows. 
• Take the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood for a fascinating behind-the-scenes movie experience (for kids 8 and older). Visit the famous back lot where so many movies and TV shows were filmed, try on the Sorting Hat at the "Wizarding World of Harry Potter" exhibit, and get your photo taken on the set of the Daily Perk from "Friends"!

• Have breakfast or lunch at the original Bob's Big Boy in Burbank. If you're lucky you can sit in the Beatles Booth where the Fab Four dined in 1965. Every Friday from 4 to 10 pm Bob's hosts an amazing classic car show — you might see Jay Leno, who often shows up with a car from his extensive collection.
• Head up to the Griffith Observatory — featured in movies like La La Land and Rebel Without a Cause — in Griffith Park for stunning views of LA, science exhibits, a planetarium, and more. Admission is free!

• Watch a movie at the fabulous El Capitan Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard. This restored 1926 movie palace is run by Disney and features their latest cinematic hits in unforgettable surroundings. 
• Grab dinner before or after the movie at Miceli's Italian restaurant around the corner. A favorite of stars and celebrities since 1946, its talented waiters sing show tunes and opera arias while you dine.

• While you're down there, a trip to Universal Studios Hollywood is mandatory. Enjoy Hollywood fun at the theme park and don't forget to take the famous tram tour of the historic Universal back lot.
• Experience movie magic of a different sort at Disneyland, where you can immerse yourself in the world of Star Wars, classic Disney films, and more. Get there first thing in the morning to enter the park at "rope drop" — you'll have the run of the park for most of the morning to maximize your ride time.

• Hollywood Forever cemetery is the resting place for countless luminaries, from Cecil B. DeMille and Rudolph Valentino to Judy Garland and Paul Rubens to Johnny and Dee Dee Ramone. It's free to visit, and they host activities and events like classic film screenings, concerts, and even yoga classes.
• The huge Grove shopping mall nearby is worth a a visit for shopping, dining, a tram ride, and celebrity spotting.