3 Fun Summer Vacation Family Road Trips in California

It's already July, and summer vacation is here! 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, so pack up the kids and head out for some summer vacation adventures.

Experience California History in Sacramento & the Gold Country

Families, especially those with fourth graders, can have a great time exploring our state's history in Sacramento and the Gold Country.

• 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 in the 1840s. You can even see Patty Reed's doll from the Donner Party!
• 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 head 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 if 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, travel over the Sonora Pass and visit to Bodie State Historic Park near Bridgeport, an authentic 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 on 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.

Have 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 for families to do there. 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.
• Ride the rails at Roaring Camp Railroads. You can even take a train 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!
• 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.

• Take the kiddos an eco-adventure: go kayaking or whale watching on Monterey Bay.
• We love 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 and the adjacent Asilomar Conference Grounds is a fantastic place for families to stay.

• 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 amazing 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.

• If you still have time, take a trip to LA's Miracle Mile and visit the La Brea Tarpits for a fascinating prehistoric adventure.
• The huge Grove shopping mall nearby is worth a a visit for shopping, dining, a tram ride, and celebrity spotting.