Activites for the young at heart on the California Central Coast.

Animals Beaches Parks

Avila Valley Barn Charles Paddock Zoo Elephant Seals Leffingwell Landing Monarch Butterfly Grove

Monterey Bay Aquarium Morro Bay Aquarium Oceano Park Ostrich Land Port San Luis Quicksilver Ranch

Santa Barbara Zoo Waller Park Wild Things Animal Rentals Windmill Farms View All

Avila Valley Barn

560 Avila Beach Road
San Luis Obispo, CA
(805) 595-2810
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The Avila Barn is a great place to bring kids of all ages. They are open 7 days a week from mid May until Christmas. Buy a picnic of baked goods and fresh produce from their store and ask for a free bag of "goat food" to feed the animals (goats, sheep, donkeys, ponies, a cow, geese, chickens, rabbits, peacocks, and ducks).

Charles Paddock Zoo

9305 Pismo Ave
Atascadero, CA
(805) 461-5080
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This small, 5 acre zoo is perfect for little kids. Toddlers can walk the entire zoo, and you can purchase food to feed to the barnyard animals. Another plus is that it is located in a park with two great play structures, swings, and a great picnic area.

Elephant Seals

Point Piedras Blancas, Hwy 1 a few miles N. of Hearst Castle
San Simeon, CA
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There are a few vista turn-outs on HWY 1 north of Hearst Castle, but you will know that you have come to the best place to view the Elephant Seals when you see a large gravel parking lot filled with cars just a few miles north of the castle. These seals are amazing and it is definitely a special stop. However, the wind is quite cold off the ocean here - even with hoods the cold can bother little ears - bring the knit caps.

Leffingwell Landing

North of Moonstone Beach
Cambria, CA

This is a great place to see the sea lions. Leffingwell Landing is a grassy bluff top park with picnic tables, restrooms, bbq grills, and a sandy beach.

Monarch Butterfly Grove

Hwy. 1 (0.5 miles south of Pismo Beach - parking in the North Beach campground)
Pismo Beach, CA
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Late October through February. Docents will be in the area starting November 1st.

Monterey Bay Aquarium

886 Cannery Row
Monterey, CA
(831) 648-4800
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The Monterey Bay Aquarium is an incredible place to visit. This aquarium first opened when I was a kid and we stood in line for hours for the chance to visit. These days the lines are not as long but the experience just gets better and better. The best thing about this aquarium is that there is something for everyone in the family and it will be a trip to remember. Babies will be entraced by the fish tanks, kids will love the touch pools where they can feel a starfish as well as the "Splash Zone" which is a special area for kids with exhibits, activities, and even a slide, teenagers might be inspired for a future career and along with adults will love everything! Visit the "Buy Tickets Now" link on the aquarium website to buy tickets in advance and avoid standing in line. If you would like to experience the aquarium from your computer check out the web cams (the pengium cam is my favorite!) Click here for the Pengiun Cam Click here for the Outer Bay (shark) cam Click here for the Sea Otter cam

Morro Bay Aquarium

595 Embarcadero
Morro Bay, CA

Oceano Park

Mendel and Noswing
Oceano, CA
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This is a great place to feed ducks.

Ostrich Land

610 E. Hwy 246
Buellton, CA

Ever see a herd of ostriches? Ostrich Land in Buellton is a very intersting stop. For a few dollars you can see the ostriches and for a few more you can feed them. They are really big and will come at you for the food! I recommend only letting the big kids (and by big kids I am talking teenagers) feed these bad boys.

Port San Luis

Harford Pier
Avila Beach, CA
(805) 595-5400
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Visit Harford Pier to see sea lions playing in the waves, pelicans, and tanks of fish, crabs, and lobsters caught by the local fisherman.

Quicksilver Ranch

1555 Alamo Pintado Rd.
Solvang, CA
(805) 686-4002.
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Quicksilver ranch is an impressive facility and you are guaranteed to fall in love with their beautiful miniature horses. During the months of April and May there will most likely be many babies to see. The ranch is open from 10am to 3pm. Please call to schedule a group or guided tour.

Santa Barbara Zoo

500 Ninos Drive
Santa Barbara, CA
(805) 962-6310
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The Santa Barbara Zoo is a beautiful zoo on over 30 acres. In addition to wonderful animals they have large grassy areas and picnic tables (ideal for a Birthday party), a playground, and a train ride/tour around the park.

Waller Park

Orcutt Expressway between Waller Ln and Goodwin Road (just north of Skyway Dr)
Santa Maria, CA
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Waller Park is a great place to feed ducks. See the parks pages (Santa Maria) for more information on the park).

Wild Things Animal Rentals

400 River Road
Salinas, CA
(800) 228-7382
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This facility trains wild animals for tv and movies. They have daily, private and VIP tours, and even safari camps for kids ages 7 and up! You have to check out there website, it is pretty amazing. I personally have not been to Wild Things yet but Jennifer (in customer sales here at Central Coast Kids) has been many times and says it is great place to visit with the kids! Check out the animal stunt pages, your teens sure won't think that they are at a kiddy zoo at this place!

Windmill Farms

1275 N. Thompson
Arroyo Grande, CA
(805) 489-1000
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Windmill Farms has a gourmet market and gift shop, a nursery, and many farm animals.