So you're heading to the US for a family holiday, but should you fly into LA or go directly to NYC? Both coasts are chock full of fun things to do for kids of all ages – and their hard-working parents! We've rounded up the highlights on both sides of the country to make the choosing easier.

West Coast

Go celebrity spotting

Los Angeles offers families an exciting introduction to the US. Go window shopping on Rodeo Drive, take a walk along the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and sign up for a guided tour of star-studded Hollywood neighbourhoods. You won't exactly be rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous, but you will be able to peer through their high-security gates in the hope of catching a glimpse. The giant sign looming over Hollywood is also a must-see during your stay (and may even be included in your tour).

Hit the theme parks

Disneyland really does feel like the happiest place on Earth, and it's right next door to Disney California Adventure Park – a multi-day ticket will give you access to both. Wondering what the difference is between the two? Disneyland is nostalgic and magical while Disney California Adventure Park is fast-paced and action-packed with thrill-a-minute rides. Been to Disneyland before? Head to Universal Studios or ride the roller coasters at Six Flags.

Go on a road trip

The six-hour drive from LA to San Francisco is worth doing for the 145km stretch of stunning coastline between Carmel and San Simeon known as Big Sur. If the kids are still talking about their visit to Disneyland when you reach San Francisco, take them to ​​the Walt Disney Family Museum to learn about Walt Disney's life and legacy. While in San Fran, ride the ferry from Fisherman's Wharf over to Alcatraz Island, where you can learn about the most notorious inmates who called this former prison home. Hire bikes to ride through the Golden Gate Park to the California Academy of Sciences or, better yet, buy a Go City pass for discounted access to all of San Francisco's attractions. When nature calls – literally – Yosemite National Park is a 3.5-hour drive away.

East Coast

Take a bite out of the Big Apple

There's more to the US East Coast than New York City, but it's a great place to start. Fuel up on hotdogs, bagels, pizza and pastrami sandwiches before taking on this big-city adventure. Take the ferry over to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island (get a reserve ticket to speed up the boarding and security process); go up to the top of the Empire State Building for incredible city views; and take in one of the many musicals and shows playing on Broadway. Visit the fun and interactive Children's Museum of Manhattan before hiring paddle boats at Central Park or taking a stroll along the High Line, a landscaped pathway built on an elevated freight rail line.

Get wise in Washington DC

We've all seen the White House on the news and in movies, but this is just one of the iconic landmarks you can visit on a trip to the nation's capital. The Smithsonian museums (all 21 of them) are well worth visiting, but the National Air and Space Museum and the National Museum of Natural History are among the most kid-friendly. Oh, and don't forget the interactive International Spy Museum and National Zoo.

Take off in Orlando

You don't have to miss out on theme parks if you've skipped a west-coast stopover and headed straight to the east coast – Orlando, Florida, is known as the theme park capital of the world. Along with eight major theme parks, it's home to the Kennedy Space Center where you and the kids can take part in an Astronaut Training Experience, go on a simulated spacewalk, and learn about the future of space exploration. If any little space cadets in your family have been dreaming of becoming an astronaut, it might now become their mission.