Los Angeles County, California - Top 10 Family Spring Break Vacations

Los Angeles’ Griffith Park, for example, features the Hands-On Discovery Gallery at the Museum of Western Heritage, created exclusively for families. An elaborate selection of plants and animals can be found at the 113-acre Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, and The Griffith Observatory’s public star night is a great way to end the day. For a fun and educational whale watching excursion, head to Dana Point, the “Whale Capital of the West,” a landmark for whales migrating from the north.

On nearby Santa Catalina Island, leave modern Los Angeles behind and immerse yourself in what California looked like 200 years ago. While 86 percent of the island is protected by a nature conservancy, there are two towns: Avalon, bigger and more touristy, and the tiny and secluded Two Harbors, where many outdoor fanatics set up camp. The island’s miles of back roads are great for hiking and biking, or hop aboard an inland tour to see buffalo, fox and bald eagles. Kayaking is a prominent pastime on the island, as well as glass bottom boat tours and snorkeling.