(Photo Courtesy of Madison Amirehteshami) Mission Bay offers vacationing families access to the very best of San Diego. School’s out for summer and most families are in need of a getaway — something fun for the kids that will keep parents from pulling their hair out planning and budgeting for...
Sunset at Grand Solmar Land's End Resort At the tip of Baja, going chic to chic for a week, and learning the wahoo Watusi “You see, Sweetheart, you can always tell where the fish are by looking at the birds. You find fish where they are diving into the water....
(Photo Courtesy of Park Hyatt Aviara, Carlsbad) Beyond LEGOLAND and sandy beaches, a great resort is transformed into something extraordinary. Ranging from laid-back to luxurious, Carlsbad has many looks: venture beyond Legoland and you’ll find some of SoCal’s most beautiful beaches, three waterfowl-packed lagoons to explore, dozens of easy-walking trails,...
Quality time at One of California’s Top Dude Ranches, Alisal Guest Ranch in Santa Ynez Valley As the world opens up and normalcy creeps back one cautious step at a time, the annual summer getaway takes on a special significance this year. It must be good, a vacation so memorable...
A weekend of culture, kisses and kayaks proves it: couples that paddle together stay together. By Randall Tierney An aerial view of La Jolla, with the breakwater in the foreground. This gem of a seaside village called La Jolla is endlessly scenic, with hilly ocean bluffs and sandy beaches, and...
Northern Orange County Disneyland It’s an attraction that requires little introduction in Orange County—or any other part of the world, for that matter. Disneyland is a place where families can embark on a magical adventure in a parallel universe filled with life-sized mice and smiling princesses. The park’s many attractions...
Each of these two family getaways is a six-hour drive from OC—one-tank road trips—but the similarities end there. Off-season (summer) lodging at the Four Seasons in the Sonoran desert of Scottsdale allows for world-class luxury at a reduced rate. A stay at the Dream Inn in Santa Cruz offers the...
It’s the best time of the year to simmer down and get on a horse in snowy Colorado. If you are ready for a hassle-free school break in a fantasy setting, consider an all-inclusive family vacation at Vista Verde Guest Ranch, a luxury dude ranch in Northwest Colorado. How best...
Tips for a smoother, happier, and not-so-insane highway adventure. The average parent has, at one time or another, fantasized about taking their children on a road trip. Thoughts fill our heads of cheerful kids laughing and pointing out the window at magnificent sights, great music in the background of the...
Competition is fierce but the aloha spirit presides over this event on Maui for young dancers, the Hula O Na Keiki. According to our annual Parenting OC Reader’s Choice survey, Maui was the top choice for the family vacation. One reader explained its popularity by saying it’s a place that...
School may be out for the summer, but schedules can still be difficult to get away too far and for too long. Fortunately, there are numerous attractions and mini vacation spots up, down, and around Orange County to have a fun and unique family vacation for the scrapbooks. Palm Springs...
The impact of a million visitors a year and the arrival of dozens of activities can’t shake off the original Catalina. Here’s hoping it never fades away. By the nature of their isolation, separated by sea from other influences, islands can be slow to evolve. When a people, a way...
Where Moonstones, kayak paddles, otters and elephant seals compete with Hearst Castle for attention. The time was when families traveled to the San Simeon area solely to tour Hearst Castle and take in views of the dramatic Central Coast shoreline. Don’t get me wrong, those are still around and as...
A room becomes more romantic when paired with wine, art, or a coastal hike. The Carmel Highlands & Point Lobos. The storms of one year ago destroyed a large swath of the iconic Big Sur Highway, making Carmel inaccessible from the south (reopening is slated for summer of 2018). But...
Touching down in Kona, you might be confused as you exit the plane. But yes, that is the whole airport and yes, you would be correct in observing that most of it is outdoors. This is just the start of the charming quirks of the largest of the Hawaiian islands,...
This postcard perfect beachfront resort lies where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean. With cliffside tiers down to the water, these luxury digs have panoramic views over tranquil infinity pools to the crashing waves below. Sophisticated décor worthy of the JW brand adorns public areas and the well...
Sometimes a vacation feels like anything but, for parents. Schlepping beach toys over dunes, making endless rounds of sandwiches, picking up around campsites to avoid nighttime wildlife visits, packing-unpacking-repacking on roadtrips… maybe it is time to set sail to an escape where someone else makes the bed, entertains the kids,...
Miss Abigail Goes to Washington (and So Can You!) Twelve-year-old Abigail, a native of Huntington Beach, was born with a congenital heart condition. She has endured three open-heart surgeries and additional operations throughout her short life. Although she has faced many challenges because of her condition, she doesn’t let it...
It’s that time of year, to plan Spring Breaks and look ahead to Summer Vacations. If you haven’t yet shared the culture South of the Border with your kiddos, here are two ways to ensure a fabulous family getaway. Grand Velas Rivera Maya Everything at this very exclusive Riviera Maya...
When you want to get your Valentines on, skip the crowded airports and long security lines. A quick escape is just what the love doctor ordered for parents needing to decompress from the chaos of family life. The Ranch at Laguna Beach Coastal cool reigns at The Ranch at Laguna...
It’s Date Night in OC, and not just any date night…Valentine’s Day! Here are our picks for a great night out. SOL Cocina Bare your SOL to your significant other this Valentine’s weekend. In addition to Executive Chef Deborah Schneider’s award-winning regular menu, guests can enjoy Valentine’s Dinner Specials on...
A Colorado Family Ski Haven While Vail and Aspen have a serious reputation for exclusivity and upscale slopes with all the bells and whistles we’ve come to be spoiled by in OC, don’t discount this family-friendly Colorado option just a 90 minute transfer from Denver. Plenty of bucket list experiences...
November brings Disney’s latest movie princess, ‘Moana,’ to the Hawaiian resort. Located on the leeward side of Oahu, the resort was built to let the beachfront in. Disney could have placed Aulani in the middle of a godforsaken desert, and it would be considered a world-class resort, and millions would...
We’d all like to see our kids grow up as well-traveled citizens of the world, but they have to start somewhere. Here are our picks for easy first time trips to take with the kids. El Capitan Canyon Resort Cabin. Newbie Campers Ocean Mesa Campground & El Capitan Canyon Resort...
Celebrate your independence from the daily grind with a May getaway in the picturesque Riviera Nayarit and Iberostar Playa Mita. Just a hop, skip and an ole south of bustling Puerto Vallarta is a lovely stretch of coastline packed with enough fun activities to satisfy everyone in the family, and...
The Ultimate Family Ski Getaway There’s a wonderful indefinable energy about Colorado’s Beaver Creek Ski Resort, something akin to getting a family hug by a destination. Swoosh your way into this easy peasy one-stop spot that has everything you need to build memories and some serious quads from the world...