Tours, Tickets and Things to Do Across Southern California

We divide Southern California into six areas: San Diego; the Orange County beach towns with Disneyland; Carlsbad and the Temecula wine country; Palm Springs and the desert; Santa Barbara; and a short section on Catalina Island and Los Angeles. Each section below shows a few of the most-reviewed tours and tickets for that area, and the area pages list everything we found along with places worth seeing on your own.

There is a lot to choose from if you are looking for things to do in Southern California with kids. Disneyland and Disney California Adventure in Anaheim, Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, LEGOLAND California in Carlsbad, the San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld San Diego can each fill a day, and harbor cruises, whale watching and tide pools are easy add-ons. For adults, the most popular bookings are wine tours in Temecula and the Santa Ynez Valley, desert jeep tours around Palm Springs, kayaking at La Jolla and food tours in San Diego. Theme park tickets bought in advance usually save time at the gate. Many other things to do in Southern California with kids cost little or nothing: tide pooling at Cabrillo or Crystal Cove at low tide, watching sea lions at La Jolla, riding the Balboa Island ferry or walking the Santa Barbara wharf.

Things to Do in San Diego

Viator

San Diego Whale Watching Cruise

★ 4.8 (2,544 reviews) · 4 hr

From$85

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Viator

USS Midway Museum Admission: Valid Any Date

★ 4.9 (2,405 reviews) · 2 hr

From$41

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La Jolla Sea Caves Kayak Tour For Two (Tandem Kayak)

★ 4.7 (1,499 reviews) · 1.5 hr

From$75

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Tiqets

Birch Aquarium: Entry Ticket

★ 4.6 (21 reviews)

From$35

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More things to do San Diego »

Things to Do in Orange County and Disneyland

Viator

Whale-Watching Cruise from Newport Beach

★ 4.4 (1,063 reviews) · 2.3 hr

From$39

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Viator

Dana Point Dolphin and Whale Watching with Underwater Viewing

★ 4.9 (988 reviews) · 2.5 hr

From$106

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Viator

Whale Watching Excursion in Dana Point

★ 4.7 (714 reviews) · 2 hr

From$68

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Tiqets

Knott’s Berry Farm: One Day Ticket

★ 4.4 (179 reviews)

From$65

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More things to do Orange County »

Things to Do in Carlsbad and Temecula Wine Country

Viator

Two-Hour Luxury Whale Watching Tour from Oceanside

★ 4.7 (1,075 reviews) · 2 hr

From$64

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Viator

All Inclusive Temecula Wine Tour - Tastings, Lunch, Hotel Pickup

★ 4.9 (758 reviews) · 5 hr

From$109

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Carlsbad Food Tour

★ 4.9 (546 reviews) · 3 hr

From$94

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Tiqets

LEGOLAND® California + SEA LIFE California + Waterpark

★ 4.5 (26 reviews)

From$74

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More things to do Carlsbad and Temecula »

Things to Do in Palm Springs and the Desert

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Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Admission Ticket

★ 4.4 (2,217 reviews) · 1 hr

From$34

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Viator

Joshua Tree National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour

★ 4.6 (815 reviews) · 3 hr

From$14

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Viator

San Andreas Fault Jeep Tour from Palm Desert

★ 4.9 (799 reviews) · 3 hr

From$175

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Viator

Joshua Tree National Park Scenic Tour

★ 4.7 (607 reviews) · 3 hr

From$159

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Things to Do in Santa Barbara and Solvang

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Santa Barbara Trolley Tour

★ 4.6 (934 reviews) · 1.5 hr

From$37

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Santa Barbara Electric Bike Tour

★ 5 (605 reviews) · 2.5 hr

From$85

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Viator

The ORIGINAL Downtown Santa Barbara Walking Food & Drink Tour

★ 4.9 (553 reviews) · 3 hr

From$175

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Viator

Kayak Tour of Santa Barbara with Experienced Guide

★ 5 (460 reviews) · 1.5 hr

From$55

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Things to Do in Catalina Island and Los Angeles

Viator

Yellow Semi-Submarine Tour of Catalina Island From Avalon

★ 4.4 (618 reviews) · 45 min

From$64

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Viator

Catalina Summit and Bison Safari

★ 4.3 (519 reviews) · 2 hr

From$89

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Catalina Food Tour

★ 4.9 (495 reviews) · 2.5 hr

From$176

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Viator

Catalina Island Zip Line Eco Tour

★ 4.9 (394 reviews) · 2 hr

From$156

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More things to do Catalina and LA »

Tours, tickets, prices and reviews from Viator (a Tripadvisor company) and Tiqets — prices are per person, from, and were checked October 31, 2026. Best in SoCal may earn a commission when you book, at no extra cost to you.