How to Visit Watsonville – Top 8 Kid-Friendly and Fun Activities
Just south of Santa Cruz and north of Monterey you’ll find the city of Watsonville smack dab in the middle of lush California farmland. Here, you can reconnect your family with where your food is grown and to those who grow it. Visit Watsonville as a day trip from the East Bay Area or while you’re staying in Santa Cruz, Pajaro Dunes, Moss Landing, or Monterey.
Since Watsonville is only about an 1.5 hour drive from the East Bay Area, we’ve explored the city a few times as either a day trip or while staying at Mt. Madonna or Pajaro Dunes. Here are a few of our favorite kid-friendly activities in Watsonville:
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. At no extra cost to you, we may receive a small commission if you book travel or make purchases using these links.
Before you go
- Plan your route ahead of time: From the East Bay Area, you can either drive on Highway 101 or Highway 1. Pick the route that has less traffic or has you arrive closest to your first activity. We usually take HWY 101 if we’re headed to the farms first, or HWY 1 if we’re headed to the beach.
- Pick up food: Stop for groceries at Staff of Life Natural Foods and stock up on essentials. Or, pack all you need for your getaway in a cooler before you go.
- Factor naps into your departure time: Leave the East Bay during naptime so your kiddos can sleep on the ride. The total trip takes about 1.5 hours.
What we packed
- Standard diaper bag essentials
- Beach essentials (towels, sand toys, beach mat, kite, and sunscreen)
- Stroller and/or baby carrier
- Cooler with snacks, lunch, and water
- Scooter or bikes and helmets
- Tennis gear
- Pack layers – the beach can be cold when the fog rolls in, but not when it rolls out!
Top 7 Things to do in Watsonville with your Kids
1. Explore some of California’s best farmland
Purchase freshly picked strawberries from Monterey Bay Farms – Kuni Bea Farms
Just a short drive from Pajaro Dunes, this Asian-American-owned farm has been in the family for 100 years. I messaged them on Facebook to arrange to pick up a box of organic strawberries.
I arrived a little late and the shop looked closed, but as I walked back to my car, out came Farmer Rod down his driveway to get me my order. He was such a nice guy and even offered to wash my basket of freshly picked delicious red strawberries so we could eat them in the car.
It was an honor to meet one of the farmers and to learn of his love for my neighborhood market, Berkeley Bowl.
Visit Gizdich Ranch U-Pick & Pies
We stopped by Gizdich Ranch, a short 15-minute drive into Watsonville from the Pajaro Dunes beach to pick our own strawberries and buy some of their legendary pies. We were there just in time for strawberry season (July) and picked and ate strawberries to our hearts’ content. The strawberry patch is just off the main road, but be mindful that the pie ranch is actually a half-mile drive away!
We hopped back in our cars and drove to the main ranch house to buy delicious pies and check out some neat antiques. The parking lot for pie was crowded. If you’re hungry and don’t mind the wait they also offer sandwiches.
We’ll be back for apple season in the fall! Check out their website for additional fruit picking opportunities year-round.
Pick organic fruit at Live Earth Farms U-Pick and CSA
Live Earth Farms offers organic produce u-pick. Check their website for available dates and times. At the time of this writing, u-pick tickets were only available on Saturdays and Sundays from May-October.
Bring your own basket and feel good about picking and eating produce from a farm that focuses on biodiversity, making their land a wildlife corridor, and supporting the local community.
On the day we arrived there were plenty of strawberries for our little hands to pick. We left with a full basket and a full belly. Sorry Live Earth, I had a hard time stopping my toddler from eating your delicious berries before they made it into the basket…
Although we did see an insane amount of Teslas parked at Live Earth for U-Pick day – I’m talking over 50% of the cars – there were quite a few BIPOC families picking alongside us.
2. Sierra Azul Nursery & Gardens
Wander the Sculpture Gardens of Sierra Azul Nursery & Gardens. We were looking for a way to spend an hour after lunch with our young kiddos and found family-owned Sierra Azul Nursery & Garden which was the perfect spot to wander, almost so perfect I wish we brought our lunch here to eat!
There are picnic tables under vine-covered gazebos, kid-sized houses to play in, and a sculpture garden full of fun things to see. We wandered through the sculpture trail and found spiders, mermaids, fish, faces, kites, and so much more.
Be sure to bring home a plant or two before you go—I would not say I have a green thumb, but I have aspirations to be a plant mama like my dear friend Angelica! Also check out the “for sale” stash in the parking lot. We found some small metal art in the shape of birds and brought home four little metal birds for our fence.
3. Go to Palm State Beach
Just south of Highway 1 and 10 minutes from downtown Watsonville through fields of strawberries, you’ll find a secluded beach! We had fun running on the mostly empty beach, finding shells, crabs, jellyfish, and birds.
My toddler enjoyed kite-watching and making sandcastles, while my baby enjoyed eating sand. To each her own.
The beach can be reached through a beach access road between the Pajaro Dunes condos. Follow the signs from the highway to Palm Beach State Park at the end of West Shell Drive in Watsonville.
Pinto Lake County Park is a 183-acre park with a playground, a lake where people boat and fish, and a ton of open grassy space that is actually pretty easy to miss if you’re not looking out for it.
We were looking for a place for our older child to play while our baby napped in the car and found this park on google maps. I’m so glad we decided to check it out!
My preschooler loved the playground, the workout station, and watching a game of soccer while we waited for baby sister to wake up. I loved playing pretend with her at the workout station too while—you guessed it—working on my fitness.
I love multi-tasking.
5. Go wine tasting
Watsonville soil is good for produce and good for wine grapes! Although it does not get warm enough for all varietals, the Pajaro Valley is just the right temperature for a delicious Pinot Noir.
The winery is small and very family-friendly. The winemaker and owner greeted us, served us, and also shared stories about his two little girls of similar ages who are often seen romping around the vineyard.
You taste wine under the canopy directly on their vineyard, surrounded by hills, trees, and lots of space for your kids to roam and play. Try their cab!
6. Hike Mt. Madonna
Mt. Madonna County Park is nestled deep in the redwoods along the east end of Watsonville. The park is very popular with locals coming in to hike, walk, bike, camp, and explore.
We hiked to the Henry Miller Ruins, the 1860s summer mansion of the “Cattle King.” Henry Miller was a German immigrant who came to America with $5 in his pocket and made it rich. I can’t help but hear this story and roll my eyes; there is no mention of his benefit as a white man in this historical retelling, but I digress…
The hike is an easy 0.2 miles round trip, so let your kiddos walk and take their time meandering through a beautiful redwood grove and climbing on the ruins.
Since I live in an old house, my preschooler was asking a lot of questions about why our house is still standing but this one is not. Her concern surprised me!
8. Cider taste at Martinelli’s Company Store
Did you know that Martinelli’s has been making cider in Watsonville since 1868?
Visit the Martinelli’s Company Store to try all kinds of cider with your family.
Each taster can select three different flavors of Martinelli’s products to try for free. For example, I had “Blush” (cherry flavor), my kids tried pomegranate apple, pear apple, and peach apple, and my husband’s favorite flavor was the mango apple.
Although tastings are free, they only sell bottles in packs of six! We ended up buying a few of our favorites as gifts.
8. Eat at Watsonville’s kid-friendly restaurants
Watsonville is surrounded by lush farmland that – not surprisingly – fuels a delicious and kid-friendly food scene.
Some of our favorites are:
Check out our blog post about our favorite Watsonville eats here.
Antiracist Travel Considerations
History Corner:
The Amah Mutsun have stewarded this land since time immemorial. Many were relocated to Mission Santa Cruz or Mission San Juan Bautista in the 1800’s, and were not given federal recognized status or land in the years following.
Many migrant farmers have supported the development of the Watsonville farming industry. In 1930, the Watsonville Riots – a five-day brutal and xenophobic attack by white men on Pilipinx farmworkers in the area occurred. I wasn’t as familiar with this history, recognizing the erasure of the racism that families of color have endured in the United States.
Our experience
My family felt safe and comfortable visiting these farms. There were often many other BIPOC families present, picking alongside us. Farm staff were mostly white, and pleasant towards our family.
Learn More
1. Read more about the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band’s fight for recognition here. Donate to their land trust here.
2. Research the farms before you go and support locally owned and BIPOC farms first.
3. Read about the Watsonville is in the Heart project that is collecting stories of local families in this area to record their history.
Being in nature always regenerates me, reminding me of the importance of reconnecting with the land, nature, and my family. I value getting my children dirty, exposing them to the mist in the trees and the moss on the ground. There was something different though about being surrounded by farmland—it was a different value I wanted to share with my kids and wasn’t exactly sure how.
Somewhere in the middle of the picking berries and meeting the farmers I heard my toddler’s inquisitive mind ask about what farmers do and how strawberries grow. I would’ve been remiss if I didn’t bring up the Daniel Tiger song reminding us to “look a little closer to find out what we want to know.” We both looked a little closer on this trip to find out what we wanted and what we needed to know.
We recommend that you spend time in Watsonville connecting with the land, the food you eat, the history, and the people who grow your food. Share with your little one how everyone plays a role in helping them grow big and strong, and how our food choices matter.
How do you talk to your kids about where their food comes from? Share in the comments below!
This post is part of a series of posts about visiting Watsonville with kids. Continue the adventure with us here:
How to Visit Watsonville – Top 8 Kid-Friendly and Fun Activities
The town of Sintra is located just thirty minutes from Lisbon, but feels like you’re transported to a time of castles, kings, ornate stone buildings, and exquisite gardens. Due to its proximity to Lisbon, most travelers take a day trip to Sintra by train and try to see as many castles as possible.
Since we planned to visit Sintra with two kids under five years of age on our two-week trip to Portugal, I knew my kids would not be able to see multiple castles, walk for multiple hours, and then quietly take a train ride back to Lisbon. Nope.
Instead, we decided to spend two nights and two days in the historic district. Here were our favorite kid-friendly things to do in the area:
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. At no extra cost to you, we may receive a small commission if you book travel or make purchases using these links.
Why Visit Sintra with Kids
Sintra is a wonderful family-friendly destination to:
Quick Tips
When To Visit
Sintra is a beautiful destination to visit at anytime of the year. We visited in the winter and enjoyed sunny days with chilly mornings and a little bit of rain.
Avoid Mondays (Lisbon museums are closed and tourists flood Sintra)
Shoulder seasons (April–May, September–October) offer the best weather and fewer crowds
Before You go
- Buy tickets online - ticket lines can be long
- Plan for multiple days if you can. Many people visit Sintra in one day and try to see as many castles as possible. If you have the opportunity, I would recommend spending more than one day in Sintra so you can fully enjoy the most popular castles and downtown Sintra with your little kids.
- Parking is limited along the one-way road through the park and in the few tiny parking lots nearby
- Buy an e-sim to save on cellphone roaming costs
What To Pack
- Passports
- Standard diaper bag essentials
- Comfortable shoes, clothes, sunscreen, and hats
- Camera
- Ergobaby or soft baby carrier, most of Sintra is cobble stone streets and using a stroller would be difficult
- Princess dresses
Costs
| Item | base cost |
|---|---|
| Pena Palace | Ages 6 and under - Free | Ages 6-18 + Seniors €12,5 | Adults €14 |
| Moorish Castle | Ages 6 and under - Free | Ages 6-18 + Seniors €6,5 | Adults €7,6 |
| Quinta da Regaleira | Ages 6 and under - Free | Ages 6-18 + Seniors €6 | Adults €11 |
| Add-Ons | |
| Meals | |
| Shopping and souvenirs | |
| Audio guides | |
| Tuk tuk or taxi rides | |
Getting There
The trip to Sintra from Lisbon is about 30 minutes by car or one hour by train. Click here for train times and to purchase tickets.
The 434 bus transports visitors from the Sintra train station to the city’s historic center and to the castles beyond for €7.60 round trip. Altogether, budget about 90 minutes to get from Lisbon to Sintra by public transport.
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History Corner
The Moorish Castle that crowns Sintra’s ridge is perhaps the most vivid reminder that North African and Arab Berber peoples — collectively called the Moors — shaped this landscape profoundly. In 711 AD, North African Muslims crossed into the Iberian Peninsula, and the ancient Castelo dos Mouros stands tall in Sintra as a beacon of a time when the Moors brought their architectural prowess to the region. Their influence extended far beyond stone walls: they brought knowledge of agriculture, new irrigation methods, and planted olive trees and spices that remain part of the Portuguese diet today.
The first enslaved Africans were brought to Portugal as early as 1444, and by the mid-16th century there were approximately 10,000 Africans in Lisbon — around 10% of the city’s population. Many gained their freedom over time, and Afro-Portuguese communities became woven into the fabric of Portuguese culture, contributing to everything from fado music to cuisine.
Visiting the Castelo dos Mouros with children is a wonderful opportunity to talk about the multi-layered, multicultural roots of this region.
Our Experience
The community around Sintra is very international, with tourists visiting from all over the world. I did not see many Black travelers or locals, but did see other people of color. I was surprised not to see many children while we traveled in Sintra. We were treated with kindness and respect by everyone we met, felt safe, and genuinely that people were interested in our family and adored our kids.
Antiracist Travel Considerations
Top Family-Friendly Activities in Sintra
Limit yourself to 1–2 major palaces per day if traveling with young children
Visit Pena Palace
Historic castle, large gardens
- 14€ ages 18+ | 12€ ages 6-17 | free for ages 6 and under
- 3+ Hours
The world famous Pena Palace appeared in our coffee table book as one of the must-see places in the world and for good reason. This palace, built in the 1800s, is incredible and unlike anything I’ve ever seen. The colorful walls, with textured entryways and ornate light fixtures, are so distinct, it feels like it’s right out of a fairytale movie.
The palace grounds are huge with lots of walking involved.
Tickets are cheaper if you want to skip the palace and just visit the park grounds. Purchase your tickets here.
If you decide to visit, read our blog for all of the tips on visiting with kids.
Explore Qunita da Regaleira
Fewer crowds, lush gardens, fairytale magic
- $20+/ages 18+ | $10/ages 6-11 | free for ages 5 and under
- 3+ Hours
Quinta da Regaleira was my favorite palace in Sintra because it was less crowded than Pena Palace, and full of unique and accessible buildings, gardens, fountains, and grottos.
My kiddos wore princess dresses and danced through the palace grounds, getting “oohs” and “awws” by everyone who passed by.
We enjoyed snacks at the café, looking for cats, and wandering down the famous Initiation Well.
Check out our blog post for tips on visiting Quinta da Regaleira with kids.
Climb the Moorish Castle
Great views
- 7.6€ ages 18+ | 6.5€ ages 4-17 | free for ages 6 and under
- 2+ Hours
In stark contrast to the ornate Pena Palace and Quinta de Regaleira, the Moorish Castle is a more simple 10th century classic you can’t miss while visiting Sintra. Its rugged stone walls have stood on this hillside for centuries.
The Moorish Castle is a 10-minute walk from Pena Palace and can be visited on the same day if you plan it correctly. The walk from the entrance to the inside of the castle is long, uphill, and not stroller friendly.
Buy your tickets online or at the kiosk at the entrance to the castle. Tickets are free for kids under 6, 6,5€ for youth ages 6-18 and seniors, and 7,6€ for adults.
Check out our blog post for more tips on visiting the Moorish Castle with kids.
Find the Parque de Liberdade
Great for getting out the wiggles before dinner
- 1+ Hours
Parque de Liberdade is a huge park in the middle of the historic Sintra center with beautiful trails, old stone buildings, a few tiny fairy doors, and a small playground.
The playground is called “Jardim do Bico – Parque Infantile” and is located closer to the historic center side of the park.
We stopped to play for a bit while walking down the scenic Volta do Duche on our way to dinner.
Wander through historic downtown Sintra
Great for getting a feel of the city, walking, and community activities
- 1+ Hours
The historic center of Sintra is made up of tiny winding streets, pedestrian-only walkways, and beautiful old buildings all built near the Sintra National Palace. We wandered the quiet alleyways, popping into store fronts, some touristy, some artsy, and tasted the delicious foods shops along the way.
I recommend you walk down Volta do Duche, stop, and listen to the troubadours, then buy a souvenir from a street vendor.
We loved finding little fountains and ornate villas throughout the area.
Where to Eat in
Sintra with Kids
Raíz Sintra
Raíz Sintra offered fancy cocktails, delicious food, and an amazing location close to the historic Sintra center.
We walked along the Volta do Duche until we found the restaurant’s street sign, beckoning us to walk down a flight of stairs to a garden restaurant below. The views were stunning and the food was incredible. My favorite by far was the steak and sangria.
Romaria de Baco
Located on the corner of a tiny street, Romaria de Baco was completely empty when we arrived for lunch.
We loved the octopus, cheese pastry, and soup, and my girls loved that they could walk to Piriquita II for dessert after!
Piriquita II
Piriquita II bakery was founded in 1862 thanks to King Carlos I’s love of their famous Queijadas during his summer visits to Sintra. The bakery has been family run for six generations.
Try a Queijada (sweet cheese baked pudding dessert) and a Travesseiros da Casa Piriquita (flakey dough wrapped around sweet cheese and almond filling).
Final Thoughts
Walking through the streets of Sintra felt like we were part of a Shakespeare play, or the show Bridgerton. Wherever your castle fantasies take you, Sintra’s got it.
My girls loved dancing through the green gardens in their princess dresses, asking questions about the ornate houses and buildings, and spying feral cats around town.
There were moments along this trip, as with any trip, where we had to decide if we were going to do something that would be difficult with our kids, or if we should skip it. Sometimes, the activity was of interest and accessible to all of us (Quinta de Regaleira, for example), and sometimes the activity was a little more difficult for a two-year-old (Pena Palace, for example).
Although walking through the historic homes was a little bit of a challenge with a toddler, experiencing this special place with my two kiddos still felt magical.
Have you been to Sintra? Did you bring your kids? Why or why not? Share in the comments below.
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