Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is an area of outstanding natural beauty that is not to be missed on a visit to California. Whether you pack tents and sleeping bags or prefer a luxurious hotel room, spend your days hiking in the backcountry, horseback riding, biking or photographing waterfalls from the valley floor, Yosemite National Park never fails to inspire awe. Go in spring for waterfalls at peak flow, in summer for the warmest temperatures or in fall for smaller crowds. Stop in the tiny town of Wawona and play the nine-hole golf course there on your way into Yosemite Valley.
Yosemite National Park
Public Information Office
P.O. Box 577
Yosemite, CA 95389
(209) 372-0200
Wawona Hotel Golf Course
2005 Wawona Station
Yosemite National Park, CA 95389
(209) 375-6572
Los Angeles and Orange County Theme Parks
Families have many great theme parks to choose from in the Los Angeles and Orange County region. LA and OC Parks include the classic Disneyland Resort and adjacent California Adventure Park; movie and television themed-Universal Studios, Hollywood; thrill rides for the brave at Six Flags Magic Mountain; and Knotts Berry Farm where you may meet Snoopy and his friends. If you get the chance, play a round at Trump National Golf Course on the scenic coastline of Rancho Palos Verdes.
Disneyland Resort
1313 S Harbor Blvd.
Anaheim CA 92803
(714) 781-4565
Disney's California Adventure
1570 S Disneyland Drive
Anaheim, CA 92803
(714) 300-7800
Universal Studios Hollywood
100 Universal City Plaza
Universal City, CA 91608
(800) UNIVERSAL
Knott's Berry Farm
8039 Beach Blvd.
Buena Park CA 90620
(714) 220-5200
Six Flags Magic Mountain
26101 Magic Mountain Parkway
Valencia, CA 91355
(661) 255-4100
Trump National Golf Course
1 Ocean Trail
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275-6169
(310) 303-3240
San Francisco
San Francisco is one of California's most popular tourist destinations for good reason. Its toy-town appearance and plentiful attractions, including Alcatraz, Lombard Street, historic Cable Cars and Fisherman's Wharf delight visitors of all ages. You could spend an entire day just in Golden Gate Park, where you can explore the Academy of Sciences which hosts an aquarium, natural history museum, living roof and planetarium; the serene Japanese Tea Garden; and the Conservatory of Flowers, a must-see for gardeners. Don't miss a stroll around Chinatown and a trip across the Golden Gate Bridge.
California Academy of Sciences
55 Music Concourse Drive
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, CA 94118
(415) 379-8000
Conservatory of Flowers
JFK Drive, Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, CA
(415) 666-7001
Japanese Tea Garden
7 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive
San Francisco
(415) 752-1171
Alcatraz Island, Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Fort Mason, B201
San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 561-4900
San Diego
San Diego Zoo is widely considered one of the best zoos in the world. Giant Pandas and rare tigers are just a few of the remarkable species to see there. Consider a safari adventure at the Zoo's Wild Animal Park, or the aquatic rides and shows at SeaWorld. LEGOLAND California is another family favorite. One of San Diego's premier golf courses is Torrey Pines, the host of many PGA events.
San Diego Zoo
2920 Zoo Drive
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 231-1515
The San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park
15500 San Pasqual Valley Road
Escondido, CA 92027
(760) 747-8702
SeaWorld San Diego
500 SeaWorld Drive
San Diego, CA 92109
(800) 25-SHAMU
LEGOLAND
One LEGOLAND Drive
Carlsbad, CA 92008
(760) 918-LEGO
Torrey Pines Golf Course
11480 N Torrey Pines Rd Ste B
La Jolla, CA 92037-1096
(800) 985-4653
Redwoods State and National Parks
Explore the forests of Redwoods State and National Parks and enter another world. The tallest trees on the planet are an awesome and unforgettable sight whether you camp and hike among them or take a driving tour of the prime scenic spots. Don't miss the views from the Klamath River Overlook, where gray whales are sometimes spotted off the coast during their annual migration, the Avenue of the Giants, Fern Canyon or the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway.
Redwood National and State Parks
1111 Second Street
Crescent City, CA 95531
(707) 464-6101
The Monterey Peninsula
From the rugged Big Sur Coast to the historic harbor town of Monterey to quaint Carmel-by-the-Sea, this central coastal region of California is known as Steinbeck Country and to golfers as the home of Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill golf courses. If you are lucky enough to have the chance to play one of these elite courses, jump at it. Otherwise, use a the excuse of a scenic drive along Seventeen Mile Drive with its plentiful photo opportunities to check out the most spectacular coastal holes.
Pebble Beach
2700 17 Mile Drive
Pebble Beach, CA 93953-2668
(800) 654-9300
Spyglass Hill
Spyglass Hill and Stevenson Drive
Pebble Beach, CA 93953
(800) 654-9300
Death Valley National Park
The barren landscapes of Death Valley National Park, which include volcanic craters, huge sand dunes and "Devil's Golf Course," a curious field of crystallized salt formations (so named because of the absolute impossibility of playing a round there) are an extraordinary California sight. Be sure to visit Badwater, the lowest and hottest spot in the western hemisphere. Stay at Furnace Creek Inn & Ranch Resort, which provides both lodging and a golf course within the National Park. The 18-hole course is the lowest golf course in the world at 214 feet below sea level. Here you will have the unusual experience of having to consider the effects of slightly greater gravity and barometric pressure when choosing which club to hit. Family activities include hiking, walking, horseback riding and viewing wildflowers in early spring.
Death Valley National Park
P.O. Box 579
Death Valley, CA 92328
(760) 786-3200
Furnace Creek Inn & Ranch Resort
Highway 190
Death Valley, CA 92328
(760) 786-2345
Lake Tahoe
Visit the California side of Lake Tahoe to see the beautiful lake and forests within a more family-friendly atmosphere than the Nevada side, due to the lack of casinos. Stay at the full-service luxury Squaw Creek Resort to see the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics and fit in a round at the 18-hole Squaw Creek Golf Course designed by Robert Trent Hones, Jr.
Resort at Squaw Creek
400 Squaw Creek Road
Olympic Valley, CA 96146
(530) 583-6300
Santa Barbara
With the benefits of warm weather, sandy beaches and all the attractions of a big city without the hustle and bustle of San Francisco or the infamous congested freeways of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara is an ideal destination. If you play one golf course in Santa Barbara, make it Sandpiper Golf Course on the coast.
Sandpiper Golf Course
7925 Hollister Ave.
Santa Barbara, CA 93117-2421
United States
(805) 968-1541
Palm Springs
Palm Springs and the surrounding desert region are known for their abundance of golf courses, including the famous PGA West. However, the area is great for a family vacation too. Here you can show the family summer and winter in one day. During fall and winter months, Palm Springs still experiences warm and pleasant temperatures. Take a ride on the Aerial Tramway up to Mount San Jacinto State Park, however, and you will enter a snowy wonderland and can enjoy sledding, snowshoeing and other winter activities.
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
One Tramway Road
Palm Springs, CA. 92262
(888) 515-TRAM
PGA West Stadium Course
56150 Pga Blvd.
La Quinta, CA 92253-4600
(760) 564-7170
About The Author
Joanne Lewis is a freelance writer who has written for newspapers since 2005. She is currently the editor of a weekly community newspaper in Los Angeles, Calif. Lewis holds a Bachelor of Science in politics from the University of Bristol, England.
