The West Coast is full of cities that families will enjoy visiting, whether you want the sunshine of California or the beautiful scenery in the Pacific Northwest. Choose one of these picturesque cities for your family vacation, or turn it into a road trip and drive up the coast from San Diego to Spokane, stopping at each location along the way.

San Diego

From the San Diego Zoo to La Jolla Cove, San Diego is full of things your family will enjoy. When you visit this coastal California city, leave space in your itinerary for walking Point Loma and Old San Diego as well as living it up at Balboa Park and the zoo’s Safari Park.

Your vacation plans aren’t complete unless you’ve chosen the perfect San Diego hotel. Stay in luxury near the beach at either the Pacific Terrace Hotel or the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa and Marina. Looking to save? Try the Quality Inn San Diego I-5 Naval Base.

San Francisco

You’ve got tons of accommodation options when you visit San Francisco, but if you want to be in the heart of everything, stay near Union Square. The Opal San Francisco offers upscale accommodations that will fit in your budget, or you can splurge on a room at the St. Regis San Francisco.

Either way, your San Francisco hotel at Union Square will put you close to tons of shopping and restaurants. From there, take a walking tour of San Francisco. You can find many for free or very low prices, and your entire family will love seeing the city with an expert’s commentary.

Portland

Portland has lots of gorgeous outdoor spaces for families to explore, such as Washington Park, the Portland Japanese Garden, and Forest Park. Any outdoorsy families will love taking a west coast vacation to walk through the beautiful scenery in and around Portland.

Downtown Portland is also lots of fun. Expect farmer’s markets, festivals, and lots of green space in this walkable district. It’s a great place to book your Portland hotel, so check out accommodations at the Courtyard Marriott Portland City Center or the Westin Portland.

Spokane

6056157352_f2aa4d850b

Spokane, Washington, has many activities that families with kids enjoy. The Mobius Science Center and the Mobius Children’s Museum are both places where the entire family can learn and experience some really cool science. Riverfront Park is right downtown and offers gorgeous nature views.

If you’ve driven to Spokane and don’t mind staying in an out-of-the-way hotel, the Howard Johnson Inn North Spokane has unbeatable prices. Stay closer to the center of things in boutique Spokane hotels such as Hotel Ruby, or treat your family to an upscale weekend at the Historic Davenport, Autograph Collection. Spokane is very walkable, making these downtown hotels extremely convenient for families.

A west coast vacation can last a weekend or several weeks depending on your resources and time. Wherever you decide to go, these cities have perfect outdoor spaces, accommodations, and attractions for families with kids.