Spring is in the air! It’s usually a time of new beginnings, hope, better weather and a breath of fresh air for some especially after a long winter. We don’t have the usual four seasons here in Southern California but Spring is still quite noticeable with the wildflowers popping up in many places and even more ideal weather for many outdoor activities and festivals.
Here are things to do in Southern California for Spring whether you’re a local or visiting the region. Please go on each attraction’s website before visiting to see any closures and restrictions.
Carlsbad Flower Fields
I live near The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch in north San Diego and seeing the hills transform into a rainbow of flowers is always a wonderful sign of Spring for us. The ranch has almost 50 acres of Giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers planted on the hills overlooking the ocean. These have been here for over 60 years and are only in bloom from early March to early May every year.
The colorful fields are quite a sight to behold. There is also a variety of activities around the flower fields for the whole family.
Walk through the fragrant paths of the sweet pea blossoms maze. Santa’s playground, was once part of a Santa’s Village, is now made up of several playhouses and large mushroom structures that is a big hit with kids.
Visit the greenhouse filled with over 20 poinsettia varieties or the cymbidium orchids exhibit. Visitors can also go on an open-air tour on an antique tractor through the rows of flower fields.
FYI: For 2024 season, tickets must be purchased online. No tickets will be sold at the entrance.
Stroll the Poppy Fields
It is an unforgettable sight when in full bloom. There is one area in the region guaranteed to seeing some of the state’s orange flower, the California poppy. The Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve puts on a show along its 1,700 acres of hillside and trails for residents and visitors with a dazzling display of the poppy flowers blanketing the area.
The park also has many varieties of wildflowers that add to the poppies’ orange blooms. Wildflower season is usually from late February to May.
Please keep in mind that duration of the blooms and wildflower color explosions are highly dependent on the weather and especially the winter rain we get in Southern California. This area and wildflowers in the region are subject to “superblooms” with heavy rains. Check the park website for updates and to see the live poppy camera before you visit to avoid any disappointments.
The park has eight miles of trails to explore and walk among the flower fields. It’s also a nice place to see some birds and wildlife that can range from gophers to coyotes.
Explore Balboa Park
Considered the country’s largest “urban cultural park”, San Diego’s Balboa Park is a center of family activities that includes 17 museums, theaters, pavilions, gardens and the world famous San Diego Zoo. Spring is a wonderful time to visit the park because of the various gardens.
The Japanese Friendship Garden (JFG) is my favorite Spring time destination here at Balboa Park. As a fan of everything Japan, I love that this 12-acre garden aims to educate and inspire visitors about the Japanese culture.
There are koi ponds, water features, bonsai trees and of course, beautiful cherry blossoms. This is such a peaceful oasis at the park.
Another favorite Spring area is the Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden. There are about 1,600 roses with over 130 varieties spanning a three-acre site.
The roses are usually in bloom from March through December. But, the roses are in seasonal peak between April and May. This is a beautiful place for a stroll, photos and to smell the roses.
The Botanical Building is the iconic and historic structure at the park that was originally built for the 1915-1916 World Exposition. The Lily Pond and lagoon in front of it always has something blooming in tune with the season.
The building has over 2,100 various plants and always worth visiting. I love seeing the orchids blooming here during Spring.
Visit Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens
The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens is a wonderful place to visit all year. The library is one of the finest and largest research libraries in the world with over 11 million items.
Though, only a few of them are displayed at a time from their impressive collection. Some of the most prized items are early editions of Shakespeare’s works, an Ellesmere manuscript of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales and one of the 12 copies of the Gutenberg Bible printed in vellum.
We also love the the Huntington Art Gallery which is housed in the founders’ former mansion. They have a vast collection of American and European art dating back to the 15th century. Some of the famous paintings here are Gainsborough’s Blue Boy, Thomas Lawrence’s Pinkie and Mary Cassatt’s Breakfast in Bed.
But, the best part about visiting the Huntington during Spring is its botanical gardens. With over 120 acres and 16 themed gardens, the various plants and flowers put on a glorious display for visitors.
My favorite area has always been the historic Japanese Garden with the ponds, the Japanese house and the unique moon bridge. It always looks like a postcard.
You can find cherry blossoms here as well as at the Chinese Garden during the Spring. The Huntington also hosts various events like the annual Spring Plant Sale, tours and lectures.
Wander through the Getty Center
The J. Paul Getty Museum’s Getty Center Los Angeles is an amazing combination of magnificent architecture, a world class museum and a beautiful central garden and all for free. The views are pretty awesome from this hilltop location too.
The museum is an eclectic mix of pre-20th century European art that include famed artists like Van Gogh, Renoir, Degas and Monet. The pavilions are a beautiful place to walk around and learn. Kids will enjoy the interactive and art activities.
My favorite area has always been the 134,000-square-foot garden with over 500 plant varieties with the floating azaleas maze as its centerpiece. Many flowers are blooming during Spring and the relaxing sounds of the waterfall and small creek make this a great place to hang out.
Hit the Beaches
There is no question that one of Southern California’s major appeal are its beaches and coastline. While the beaches may still be bit cold at abut 60 degrees F during Spring, it is still a great place to hangout to soak in the sunshine, breathe in the ocean air and enjoy it with lesser crowds.
The Pacific coastline stretches for 150 miles from the shores of Malibu down to Imperial Beach near the Mexican border. There are many beach options whether you’re in the Los Angeles or San Diego region. There are also plenty of activities from walking the shores, kayaking, surfing, visiting the popular piers or watching the sunset.
See the beach options in Los Angeles
See the beach options in San Diego
Explore Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
It may be surprising to know that this desert park, located about an 1.5 hour from San Diego, is a popular spot for residents and visitors to do some flower gazing during the Spring.
The varied and unique desert flowers put on quite a show. This park has 92 different plant families and hundreds of flowering species.
Like many areas, the amount of wildflower blooms are highly dependent on the amount of rain during Southern California’s winter season. The past few years have produced “superblooms” when there was an abundance of colors and flowers that last for a longer time. Though, there are usually small areas with wildflowers.
Anza-Borrego State Park and the Borrego Springs area offers many varied activities for visitors and especially for kids (ages 7-12) to learn more about the desert plants and animals. Be sure to stop at the Visitor Center to get hiking trails information or to join walks and hikes with the park staff or volunteers.
See what other activities you can do at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
Go Whale Watching
Over 20,000 Pacific gray whales make the annual roundtrip migration from Alaska to Baja California and Southern California’s coast is on its path. This makes the region one of the best places to spot them.
The gray whales can be seen from December to around late April. You may even get lucky and see the moms taking their calves back up north when you go later in the season.
There are also blue whales that migrate to Southern California’s water from May to November. Finback whales, humpbacks and minke whales can be seen all year. The best way to see these majestic creatures up close is through several whale watching boat tours from many cities in the area.
Cruises depart from San Diego, Oceanside, Dana Point and Newport Beach. Most of the cruise companies guarantee sightings of whales or dolphins or you’ll get a voucher for a return free trip.
Each trip is unique and you never really know which whales you’ll see but also sightings of dolphins, sharks, sea lions and various birds.
Take a Hike
There is no shortage of hiking trails all over Southern California. Pick a trail that fits your time and stamina and hit the trails. These are some wonderful resources to look for hiking trails in different parts of the region
Palm Springs/Palm Desert Hiking Trails
Visit Channel Islands National Park
One of the Southern California’s gems is the Channel Islands National Park and Marine Sanctuary. The park has five islands and seems like a world away from the Los Angeles urban jungle yet is only a short drive and a boat ride away.
The islands are only accessible via boat or plane. Island Packers remains the main boat transportation to/from the islands and leaves from Ventura Harbor and the Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard.
Many recommend visiting either Anacapa or Santa Cruz for your first visit. The islands have over 2,000 plant and animal special and is also known as North America’s version of the Galapagos Island.
150 of the species found on the islands can’t be found anywhere else in the world. The boat ride to the islands also offers amazing opportunities to see whales, dolphins and elephant seals.
Spring is a wonderful time to visit when the island is green and lush. It is also a great time to see the Western Gulls and other seabirds nesting, land birds also nesting, blooming wildflowers, like the yellow coreopsis flowers and California sea lions and seals gathering.
You may even get lucky and catch a glimpse of newly hatched chicks or island fox pups that were just born. There is also a chance to see some spring bird migration.
Attend a Baseball Game
Major League Baseball’s Opening Day is usually a highly anticipated event among sports fans during Spring. Baseball season usually runs from April to September. Luckily, Southern California has three MLB teams for fans to cheer on and watch games.
Baseball stadiums offer an undeniable energy during the games. The games can be long but worth it especially if you’re a fan. It’s a favorite American pastime of eating local ballpark food, socializing and enjoying the atmosphere of the game and stadiums.
Participate in Festivals and Celebrations
There are many festivals around Southern California to celebrate during Spring. Please check the local websites to make sure the events are scheduled as planned. Here are a few of the bigger annual events.
Celebrate Earth Day
April 22 is an Earth Day celebration. Many Southern California cities also celebrate throughout the week with many programs and activities to educate and be inspired.
Many San Diego cities and parks usually hold family-friendly, outdoor events and festivals during the weekends around Earth Day that include live music, education, vendor booths and activities for kids to inspire them to recycle and help their local environment.
Balboa Park holds a large annual San Diego Earthworks festival with over 300 exhibits, a parade and plenty of entertainment and activities for everyone. It has dubbed itself as “the world’s largest free Environmental fair and Earth Day Celebration.” This event is usually held in April.
Our family has participated for several years in the annual Creek to Bay Cleanup in April. It’s a wonderful opportunity to gather with other volunteers to participate in cleanup events across San Diego. You get to spend some time outdoors, clean your neighborhoods and beaches and help the environment.
The Bolsa Chica Earthlands, in the Huntington Beach area, usually holds an annual family-friendly festival to learn more about the area with several educational activity booths, interactive activities and guided tours of the reserve. Check out these Earth Day events in Orange County.
Cinco de Mayo celebrations
Southern California’s proximity to Mexico and its history makes it one of the best areas in the country to celebrate Cinco de Mayo or 5th of May. This annual event commemorates and celebrates the Mexican army defeating the French army on May 5, 1862 during the Franco-Mexican War.
It has turned into a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage in many parts of the United States. Old Town San Diego is usually the place to be for Cinco de Mayo.
The Bazaar del Mundo Shops and several of the Mexican restaurants offer entertainment or specials and of course, delicious authentic Mexican food. There are usually festivities with music and dance shows, craft displays and cultural demonstrations. Los Angeles puts on Fiesta Broadway which is several blocks of food, live music, games, dancing, kids activities and festivities.
Strawberry Festivals
if you’re a strawberry lover, several cities hold Strawberry Festivals in May. One of the biggest ones may be the California Strawberry Festival in Oxnard.
It is celebrating everything strawberry with plenty of entertainment, food, drinks, arts, crafts, activities and even a Strawberryland for kids. You may even discover you like unique strawberry concoctions like strawberry popcorn strawberry tamales, strawberry beer or deep-fried strawberries.
The Vista Strawberry Festival is the only festival of its kind in San Diego. This city was was once labeled as the “Strawberry Capital of the World” and still has many strawberry farms in the surrounding area. The festival has contests, carnival rides, music, food and even a beer garden.
The Garden Grove Strawberry Festival in Orange County has been around since 1958. It is a wonderful event filled with competitions, a parade, plenty of carnival rides, a 5K run and of course plenty of delicious strawberry related food and drinks.
Avocado Festival
Like guacamole? Well, there’s more to avocados than our favorite chip dip. Fallbrook, about an hour north of San Diego, is known as America’s “Avocado Capital”. The area has many orchards but it is also known for its annual Avocado Festival usually held during the third Sunday of April.
The festival, held along Main Street, usually features over 400 booths, contests, arts, crafts, entertainment with many avocado-themed products. See things from best decorated avocado to guacamole contests and learn a whole lot about avocados. Free admission and parking.
Explore Joshua Tree National Park
This Southern California national park treasure is filled with unique Dr. Seuss like trees, many boulders and plenty of hiking trails. Located about 140 miles east of Los Angeles, this desert park is a very popular weekend getaway for area residents.
March and April have been known as Joshua Tree National Park’s busiest with the crowds since weather is ideal at usually around the 80s(F). Plan accordingly to enjoy the many Springtime activities here especially for hiking and rock climbing. The nights are also quite clear for stargazing.
The extent of Spring wildflowers blooming can vary greatly depending on rainfall from previous months. Several cacti around the park show off their flowers around April or May. Higher elevation wildflowers start to bloom in March.
If you’re into bird watching, many birds migrate into the park to nest. There are also many sightings of resident birds (e.g. roadrunner, mockingbird, cactus wren) at this time.
Attend the Renaissance Pleasure Faire
While there are plenty of Renaissance themed fairs that have popped up all over the county, the original Renaissance Pleasure Faire in the Los Angeles region remains a family favorite. It has been a Spring tradition for many residents since the 1960s to educate visitors and honor this time period and is spread out over 20 acres.
Where else can you dress up as and find all the vendors and entertainers allo dressed up in beautiful Renaissance costumes? It is such a great place for people watching. But, there are also plenty of unique vendor booths, activities (archery, tea with the queen, axe throwing, etc.), rides, arts & crafts, entertainment, food and drinks and even jousting.
Bookmark this event to attend during your future Spring outings. It is usually held during the weekends in April and May.
Pick Fruits
One of the best things to do in Southern California for Spring is fruit picking. There are several orchards and farms to visit around Southern California and strawberries, cherries and blueberries are the most popular. Grab the kids and spend some time outdoors and eat the fruits of your hard work.
Strawberries
Our favorite strawberry farm over the years also happens to be near our house. The Carlsbad Strawberry Company in north San Diego has been growing strawberries since the 1950s.
This is a walk-in only farm where visitors can buy a container and fill it with as many strawberries on their fields. Go early in the day since it’s less busy. The season is usually from February until mid-July.
Another one of the most popular u-pick strawberry picking areas is Tanaka Farms in Orange County which has been around since 1940. They also have a drive-thru produce market stand. There is also Kenny’s Strawberry Farm in Fallbrook which is a popular spot for the Inland Empire residents.
Blueberries
Every May, our family loves going to the Temecula Berry Company to pick blueberries. They have some of the biggest and sweetest blueberries we’ve eaten.
This is a U-pick farm and is made up of about 10 acres of southern high bush blueberries. They also offer blueberry pastries and we always look forward to this outing.
There is also a blueberry patch at the Carlsbad Flower Fields that is available for U-pick opportunities during March and April. Go to this one early since they get picked over quickly.
Cherries
Villa del Sol is Southern California’s largest cherry orchard with about 25 acres of cherry varieties. Located in Leona Valley, which is an hour northeast of Los Angeles, this cherry farm is the premiere spot for cherry picking. The season is usually from the end of May through early July.
There are also smaller cherry orchards near this area. Copeland’s Cherry Ranch is one of them.
There are also some cherry farms in the aptly named Cherry Valley which is located about 1.5 hour east of Los Angeles. Guldseth Cherry Orchards that grows organic cherries in their u-pick farm is a favorite.
Go on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
One of the best times to visit the Palm Springs region is during the Spring. The weather is ideal for outdoor activities and the aerial tramway is a favorite attraction.
This is considered the largest rotating tram car in the world traveling over 2.5 miles through cliffs to the top at about 8,500 feet above sea level.While the ride is only ten minutes, the views provide a scenic ride with beautiful panoramic views.
The Mountain Station destination also offers restaurants, observation decks, documentary theaters, gift shop and over 50 miles of hiking trails at Mt. San Jacinto State Park. Layer up because it can get up to 30-40 degrees colder at the mountaintop.
Walk through Lavender Fields
One can pretend to be in Provence, France while visiting some of the region’s lavender farms. 123 Farm, located in Cherry Valley, is Southern California’s largest organic lavender farm.
There are 20 acres of lavender fields to walk through here including a garden with over 90 lavender varieties. The plants start to bloom in late May. You must buy tickets online.
Discover Idyllwild
This small alpine town of Idyllwild is nestled among pine trees in the San Jacinto Mountains which is about an hour from Palm Springs and two hours from San Diego. Known as “Mile-high Idyllwild”, this is an outdoor oasis of hiking, horseback riding, rock climbing, fishing and mountain biking.
It is also a town of varied artists. Some draw inspiration from their surroundings and the diverse Spring wildflower blooms. Peak wildflower season is usually around late May due to its higher elevation.
Wildflowers here are honored with the annual Idyllwild Wildflower and Art Show usually around Memorial weekend at the Idyllwild Nature Center. The event has arts and crafts, entertainment, food and guided nature walks for the visitors.
Visit Underwood Family Farms
This popular farm offers many seasonal events and activities throughout the year. They have two locations at Moorpark and Somis.
Both have a farmer’s market, opportunities for fresh fruit and vegetable picking and an animal center to visit the farm animals. The Moorpark location, which has over 50 acres, offers Springtime events like tractor-drawn wagon rides, Easter activities, an egg hunt, train rides and pedal carts.
Tour the Los Angeles Arboretum
The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden is one of the most underrated attractions in the area. Located east of downtown Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Valley, there are 127 acres of beautiful gardens and historic buildings to make this one of the best places to spend a Spring afternoon.
The arboretum always has blooming flowers but Spring and Summer can really put on quite a show. Take a look at the variety of flowers in the Bloom Calendar and where to find them.
In addition to the gardens, there are also historic structures here like Queen Anne Cottage (used in the Fantasy Island TV show), a Coach Barn and the Santa Anita Depot. The arboretum is also considered an official wildlife sanctuary so it’s always a delight to see the resident peacocks and a variety of birds.
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