Things to Do Labor Day Weekend in Southern California

Labor Day is the unofficial end of summer even though here in Southern California the season is year round. This holiday weekend offers an opportunity for families to get out and enjoy activities together. Popular things to do over the Labor Day weekend include camping, visiting a theme park, going to the beach or visiting a fair of a festival. Your Labor Day weekend starts here.

Our top picks or jump to Family Activities – Beach Destinations – Road Trips – Camping Trips – Region

Santa Barbara Weekend Escape

Santa Barbara close enough for a day trip destination. It’s best to get an early start if you are planning to go to Santa Barbara. When you arrive you will not be disappointed. Santa Barbara features a full list interesting attractions for every member of the family. If you are planning on spending the night in Santa Barbara consider taking the Pacific Surfliner and avoiding the weekend traffic.

Catalina Island Adventure

Catalina Island is a perfect destination for a Labor Day weekend adventure. If your idea of an island getaway is an outdoor experience, a good start to your adventure would be to take a glass bottom boat ride. It’s a great way to discover Catalina’s abundant marine life.

Visit the Los Angeles County Fair

Open Labor Day closed subsequent Mondays and Tuesdays. This is the largest county fair in the nation and offers an eclectic mix of world-class concerts, interactive exhibits, food, shopping, carnival rides and a lineup of arts, crafts, and agriculture.

Take a Trip to Hearst Castle

This huge estate is about five miles inland and sits atop a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Hearst Castle is surrounded by a 40,000-acre ranch some of which is still owned by the Hearst family.

Labor Day Weekend Family Activities

Aquarium of the Pacific

Long Beach Aquarium is a fun and affordable destination for Labor day weekend. View sea creatures from Southern California, Northern Pacific, and Tropical Pacific all in one place. Kids and adults will love the aquarium’s touch tanks and be amazed by Shark Lagoon and the Penguin Habitat.

Knott’s Berry Farm Something for Everyone

Thrill rides, Ghost Town, Camp Snoopy, a real train, and stage coach ride. Knott’s offers a fun experience for every age group. If you want to cool off Knott’s Soak City is right next door. And don’t forget to visit Knott’s Berry Farm Chicken Dinner Restaurant for a delicious chicken dinner.

La Jolla Sea Caves

La Jolla coast boasts seven sea caves. Only one cave can be accessed by land, Sunny Jim Cave. The rest of the caves can only be visited from the ocean. Fortunately, several outfits offer guided kayak tours to the sea caves. No equipment is needed. Everything is included for this trip. Kayaks, paddles, wet suits, and a professional guide.

Irvine Regional Park

Enjoy a family picnic, ride a train or visit the Orange County Zoo. The main trail roams throughout the central park area towards the area’s many other attractions, including six children’s playgrounds, four softball fields, two horseshoe pits, volleyball courts, and a man-made lagoon and lake for fishing.

Legoland California

Legoland California Resort offers three amazing attractions. The main theme park, SeaLife Aquarium, and Legoland Waterpark. With over 60 rides and attractions geared for smaller children, LEGOLAND is one of the best places in California to take younger children for a fun day of play.

Raging Waters San Dimas

California’s largest water park is a fun place to cool off over Labor Day weekend. Popular rides at Raging Waters are Tunnel of Terror: a forty foot drop in the dark with 360-degree turns and Dragon’s Den: a two-person bowl ride.

Hollywood Day Trip Attractions Tours

You don’t have to be a tourist to enjoy a visit to Hollywood. One of the most popular things to do is take a Hollywood movie star homes tour. Enjoy a look into the opulent lifestyles behind the gates of the mansions of Hollywood’s elite. Another popular Hollywood attraction is Madame Tussauds Wax Museum.

Living Desert Zoo & Gardens

The Living Desert Zoo is an amazing experience in the California desert. This 1,200-acre exotic learning center provides the perfect environment for adults and kids alike to experience the majesty of wild animals and exquisite desert gardens in a stunning natural setting.

Labor Day Beach Destinations

San Clemente Beach Trail

There is no better place to enjoy the Southern California coastline than the San Clemente Beach Trail. Hike, bike, or take your dog for a walk along this ocean front pathway. San Clemente Beach Trail runs along the coast from North Beach to Calafia Beach south of the San Clemente Pier.

Mission Beach San Diego

Mission Beach is a hot spot for Labor Day weekend activities. A boardwalk borders two miles of pristine oceanfront on both the ocean and bay sides of this friendly community. Historic Belmont Park, at the intersection of Mission Blvd and West Mission Bay Drive, is an amusement park to delight all ages.

Oceano Dunes

Pismo Dunes is a very popular destination for types of off road vehicles. Over the Labor Day Weekend, the dunes are packed with riders and campers. Even if you don’t have ORV several outfits offer tours of the dunes and rentals if you want to go it on your own. Nearby attractions are plentiful from wine tasting to sightseeing.

Huntington Beach

Huntington has the largest and widest stretch of sand in Orange County. If your Labor Day plans include spending a day at Huntington Beach plan on arriving early to stake out a spot. Especially if you want a fire ring. Don’t forget to bring your bike. The beach trial runs from Sunset Beach all the way to the wedge.

Zuma Beach Malibu Coast

Well-known for its west, southwest swell, Zuma produces small but consistent waves, good for both experts and beginning surfers. But Zuma isn’t just a hip So Cal surf spot, the area is also a preferred destination for fishing, swimming, kite surfing, cycling and running.

Labor Day Weekend Road Trips

Palm Springs Road Trip

Only about a 90-minute drive from Los Angeles area Palm Springs features an almost endless list of things to do and see. The world famous Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is a must do on any day trip to Plam Springs. Enjoy an amazing view of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley.

Mulholland Highway

Mulholland Highway a legendary highway from city to the ocean. This stretch of roadway is the playground of the rich and famous and the auto enthusiast, with their sports cars and motorcycles.
Attractions along the way include Cornell Winery, Paramount Ranch, and the Rock Store, this Mecca of motorized madness is the one the best places to drink, eat and enjoy some the coolest machinery known to man.

Calico Ghost Town

This old western town is alive and kicking. At its height, Calico boasted a population of 1,200 people, and over 500 silver mines. Besides the usual assortment of bars, brothels, gambling halls and a few churches. Today streets that were once full of silver miners are now populated with tourists eager to explore all the town has to offer.

White Water Preserve

A very cool place to visit near Palm Springs. Wildlife enthusiast will get their fill, as they will enjoy catching a peep of Big Horn sheep, bobcats, coyotes, bear and deer that live on the Preserve lands. There are also trout ponds, mallard ducks in the nearby marshland, and the occasional spotting of a mountain lion.

Pioneer Town Western Movie Set

Located in the high desert of Yucca Valley Pioneertown was originally built in the 1940s as an old west movie set. Today locals keep the western tradition alive holding mock gunfights from April through October on Pioneer town’s Main Street. Pioneertown is a make believe Ghost Town but still well worth a look.

Labor Day Weekend Camping

Southern California Beach Camping

Most Southern California beach campgrounds book up months in advance. If you delayed making reservations there is still a chance to snap up a site if you can pick up a canceled reservation.

Central California Beach Camping

California’s central coast offers several amazing campgrounds on or near the beach. This area of California is less populated than SoCal so there may be some open sites even if you have not booked in advance.

California Lake Camping

If camping is on your bucket list you’re going to love this list of amazing California lakes. Perfect for a weekend adventure or an entire vacation. Secluded Alpine Lakes to huge freshwater reservoirs these California lakes offer fishing, boating, hiking, and lakefront campgrounds. Discover the best places to camp by a lake in California.

Kern River Camping

Kern River Camping areas include the Lower Kern River, Lake Isabella, and the Upper Kern River. There are plenty of free campsites along the upper Kern River. We recommend you stop at the ranger station in Kernville, pick up a map of camping areas along with a free campfire permit.