GoExploreNature's Lists

Where to Go in Wawona, Yosemite With Kids

I’ve been coming to Yosemite National Park every summer since I was a kid thanks to a family cabin in a little town called Wawona.

If you’re wondering where the heck Wawona is, you’re not alone. If you enter Yosemite through the south entrance, you drive right on past it (and its iconic Wawona Hotel) on your way to the Valley floor. Too bad, because this place is full of surprises – most of which come crowd-free.

Lucky for you, you’ve got me to share some of my favorite places to explore with you!

1. Wawona Hotel
Even though I’ve never actually stayed at the...
2. Pioneer Yosemite History Center
We visit Yosemite every summer and every summer we...
3. Meadow Loop
Unlike some of the more popular hikes in Yosemite,...

Great Places to Explore Nature With Kids in Oahu, Hawaii

Oahu, Hawaii is teeming with opportunities for nature fun. So many possibilities, in fact, that when I started planning our family’s spring break vacation last year, I got overwhelmed. Fast. Consider this a family-friendly wish list for nature lovers like us.

1. Lyon Arboretum
There aren’t many spots in the U.S. where you can...
2. Waimea Valley Audubon Center
Waimea Valley’s 1,800 acres include ferns,...
3. Dole Pineapple Plantation
Who would have thought that the world’s largest...

Family-Friendly U-Pick Farms in Southern California

What better way for kids to learn how foods grow than to visit a working farm and pick their own fruits and vegetables? In Southern California, there are farms open year round with opportunities to pick everything from strawberries and watermelon to lettuce and corn.

Here’s a list of some of the best spots to visit during spring and summer. (A second list just for fall picking is clearly in order, too!) Before you visit any farm, call ahead to see what’s available.

1. Underwood Family Farms

2. Tanaka Farms
What’s not to like about seeing how fruits and...
3. Bates Nut Farm

10 Nature-Inspired Adventures for Families in L.A.

Looking for places to help your kids connect to nature? It might feel challenging in a crowded city like Los Angeles. But these 10 places all have something amazing to offer, so get out there and explore!

1. Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific
The Aquarium of the Pacific offers little ones a...
2. Huntington Library Art Collection and Botanical Gardens
The Children’s Garden is a total hands-on...
3. Los Angeles County Fair
It may only come around once a year, but the L.A....