EVERYTHING
FOR YOUR FAMILY
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The essence of a vacation is escaping from the routine of our lives in order to spend hang-time with our families, relaxing or exploring new places. Whatever your time frame - a day, a weekend, or a week - here are some great getaways to enjoy together. Tip: Check websites and links for discount coupons. Also, show your Auto Club card as many attractions offer discounts to members. 'LITTLE' VACATIONS/DAY TRIPS 1: AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC, LONG BEACH A delight for all ages, the aquarium is hailed as one of the largest in the United States. Your "underwater" journey starts in the entryway where a life-sized blue whale is suspended overhead, along with her calf. Divided into three main areas, visitors flow from one room to the next to view mesmerizing moon jellies, sea horses, iridescent sea creatures, elusive octopuses. a coral lagoon showcasing brilliantly-colored tropical fish, and much more. Other highlights include the shark lagoon (try to come by at feeding time - usually 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.); a petting tank containing sharks and rays (which feel like rubber); the playful sea otters and seals; and the several Discovery Lab stations where visitors can learn about and touch sea stars, sea anemones and more. An onsite playground, a theater for live animal presentations, and the opportunity to feed lorikeets (and have them land on your head!) complete this wonderful aquarium. If you have time, stroll the pathway along the marina to the adjoining Shoreline Village for an ice cream treat. Or, cross over the bridge to Pike's Peak with its restaurants, shops, and a carousel. Note that the Queen Mary and the Scorpion (a Soviet submarine) are just around the "corner." IF YOU GO: Location: The Aquarium of the Pacific is located at 100 Aquarium Way in Long Beach. Exit the 710 at the Downtown exit, which turns into Shoreline Dr. Admission: $19.95 general; $11.95 for ages 3-11. Hours: Open daily 9 a.m.-6 p.m., except Christmas and the weekend of the Grand Prix in April. Contact: 562.590.3100 or aquariumofpacific.org 2: LEGOLAND, CARLSBAD This ever-expanding amusement park puts to rest the notion that Legos are just for kids! Millions of these interlocking bricks provide eye candy with scale reproductions of Washington, D.C., and New York, a bust of Abraham Lincoln, The Thinker sculpture, and, more importantly for kids - pirates, fairy-tale characters, dragons and a menagerie of other animals. So much to see and so much more to do! Ride roller coasters; get wet at the Pirate Shores water park (bring a swimsuit!); drive an electric car (and realize, again, why kids under 16 don't have licenses); laugh at the shows, especially at the zany firefighters and the clever ventriloquist; and enjoy a day of just playing together. Little ones are in their element in Duplo Playtown designed especially for them with its small buildings, slides, and activities. Older kids are challenged to build Bionicles and play Mindstorm games. All ages can bring the fun home by shopping at the stores which offer the largest selection of Lego products in the nation. IF YOU GO: Location: Legoland is located at One Legoland Drive, Carlsbad. Exit the 5 Freeway at Cannon Road East and follow the signs. Admission: $57 general; $44 for ages 3-12. (Note: A 2-day pass is $69 general; $56 for kids.) Parking is $10. Hours: It usually opens at 10 a.m.; closing times vary from 5-8 p.m., depending on the season. Sometimes it is closed Tuesday and Wednesday; check the website for a detailed calendar. Information: 760.918.LEGO or legoland.com 3: SANTA MONICA PIER, SANTA MONICA This quintessential Southern California destination offers a day of family fun. The beautiful stretch of beach surrounding the wooden pier includes Muscle Beach, with timeless athletic equipment; Chess Park, available for players of all levels; a playground; and part of a 26-mile paved pathway that hugs the shoreline. Bring bikes or blades. Kids especially love Pacific Park. This amusement center on the pier has a huge Ferris wheel (check out the great view at the top!), carousel, scrambler, bumper cars, and a ship that swings back and forth like a pendulum, plus a rock-climbing wall and miniature golf course. Carnival-style and arcade games, fishing off the pier, funky shops, and good food complete the pier attractions. The small and inviting Santa Monica Pier Aquarium (healthebay.org/smpa) is located under the boardwalk. Ogle swell sharks (that's their real name), sea slugs, sea stars, crabs, moray eels, leopard sharks and other sea creatures. Play nautical-oriented games and activities here, too. Not ready for your afternoon or evening to end? Just around the corner, near 3rd Street Promenade, catch a fantastic, one-man puppet/ventriloquist/magic show at the Santa Monica Puppetry Center (puppetmagic.com), geared for ages 3 and up. Or, for ages 6 and up, be entranced with large-scale illusions and sleight of hand performances at Magicopolis(magicopolis.com). IF YOU GO: Location: Santa Monica Pier/Pacific Park is located at the foot of Colorado Boulevard. Exit the Santa Monica Freeway [10] north on 4th Street, turn left on Colorado Boulevard. Admission: Unlimited rides wristbands for Pacific Park are $16.95 for 42 inches and taller; $8.95 for 41 inches and under. Parking ranges from $5-$8. Hours: The park is open during the school year Friday at 6 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m. It closes at midnight. During the summer, the park is open daily, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Information: 310.260.8744 or pacpark.com 'MEDIUM' VACATIONS / WEEKENDERS 4: BIKING, HIKING AND WILD LIFE IN BIG BEAR Blue skies, fresh mountain air and gorgeous scenery beckon outdoor enthusiasts to explore Big Bear. Start at the free Discovery Center, a classy ranger station that offers lots of information, including biking and hiking maps. It also has a hands-on exhibit hall, taxidermied animals and programs such as nature night presentations and campfires. Just down the road is an easy, family-friendly, paved biking/hiking path that meanders along the north shore of Big Bear Lake, between Stanfield Cutoff and the solar observatory. Younger children can pedal around the beginner trails at the base of Snow Summit, while older and more experienced riders can take the Scenic Sky Chair at Snow Summit to the top, then bike down a series of trails. If biking isn't your thing, ride the mile-long sky chair up, enjoy a picnic lunch (there is a snack bar here), and enjoy the view. Hike through some of the wilderness areas, then take the chair back down to civilization. Sometime during your stay, visit Moonridge Animal Park and Zoo. This small, non-stroller accessible animal sanctuary houses black bears, snow leopards, timber wolves, birds of prey, deer and foxes. Ask about taking the educational feeding tour - it's wild! IF YOU GO: Location: Nestled in the San Bernardino mountains, Big Bear is about a 2-hour drive from Orange County. Information: For directions and visitors information, visit bigbearchamber.com/visitingbigbear.php 5: COOL PLACES TO GO IN THE DESERT (PALM SPRINGS AREA) Beat the heat and start your morning at the Living Desert, where most of the animals dwell in enclosures resembling their natural habitat. Bighorn sheep, Mexican wolves, hyenas, camels, cheetahs, zebras, giraffes, mountain lions and numerous species of birds are just some of the exotic animals here. Check out the live animal presentations, the one-acre play area (with misters), and the good-sized Discovery Room geared for preschool through elementary-aged kids. The Children's Discovery Museum of the Desert is a fantastic, hands-on hub of activity for children 2 through 11. A few highlights include a simulated dig, make-it-and-take-it craft area, painting a real VW car, a pretend grocery store and pizzeria and Grandma's Attic, a wealth of dress-up clothes and accessories. Take an Indiana Jones-style jeep ride in the desert with Desert Adventures, for ages 5 and up. (The twilight tour was a personal favorite.) Although every tour has a different focus - stars, Native American plants, or the San Andreas fault - each is a combination of naturalist tour and off-road adventure. A quick trip to the quirky Cabot's Pueblo Museum reveals the pueblo's uneven 65 doors, its 150 windows, and other oddities. Then, quench your desire for refreshment at Knott's Soak City, a waterpark oasis with slides, water playground, and circular inner tube ride. IF YOU GO: Location: Palm Springs is located approximately 100 miles east of the John Wayne Airport and 70 miles east of Ontario Airport. Information: palm-springs.org 6: 'SHORE' BETS AND MORE IN SANTA BARBARA Driving here is an option, but a train ride makes the journey more of an adventure! Beachside fun includes watercraft rentals, tide pool exploration, fishing, whale watching (seasonal), beach volleyball, a playground, and oh yes - swimming. The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum and Ty Warner Sea Center are located on the waterfront, too. The museum's best interactive exhibit is the sportfishing chair where an attached fishing pole jerks around as you attempt to reel in a fish displayed on the screen in front of you. The neighboring Sea Center has touch tanks, a bio lab with marine equipment, and whale karaoke, which you gotta see and sing to understand. Across the street is Chase Palm Park, a kid favorite, with its shipwreck-themed playground, grassy hills, and carousel. Another winner is Alameda Park. It boasts Kids' World - a multi-level wooden play fort that engages the imagination as well as the body. A perfect excursion for young and old is the mid-size Santa Barbara Zoo. It showcases a walk-through aviary, reptiles, bats, sea lions (with above and below ground viewing), gibbons, elephants, alligators, monkeys, and big cats, plus giraffes that you can feed by hand. IF YOU GO: Location: Santa Barbara is nestled between Los Angeles and San Francisco, just north of Ventura. Information: santabarbaraca.com 7: JULIAN'S JEWELS Remote, but close enough for a weekend getaway, this quaint town features one main street. And yes, it is called Main Street. Shop around and enjoy a meal or ice cream at the old-fashioned Miner's Diner. Who's afraid of the big bad wolf? Replace misconceptions with fascinating facts at the California Wolf Center, for ages 7 and up. During the two-hour presentation/tour, learn what wolves eat and about their pecking order. The highlight is seeing more 20 wolves in their enclosures. Eureka! Eagle Mining Company hosts guided tours through a gold mine, for miners 4 years and up. Walk on ore-cart tracks, see hand-carved tunnels, and (briefly) experience utter blackness. Pan for gold at a trough outside. Each family member can lead his/her own llama all around Julian's countryside via Leelin Llama Treks. The gentle animals enjoy being petted - your kids will fall in love! The llamas carry your delicious lunch that's included in the four-hour trek price. The llama owners also run a bed and breakfast. Both campgrounds and cabins are available in the wilderness beauty of Cuyamaca State Park. Hike through forests, grassy meadows, peaks, and valleys, and spend some time fishing or boating at the adjacent lake. IF YOU GO: Location: To reach Julian from the 5 or 15 Freeway, take the 78 Freeway east to Julian and follow the signs. Information: julianca.com 'BIG' VACATIONS / WEEK-LONG 8: SAN JOSE Do you know the way to San Jose? Make your first stop the wonderful Children's Discovery Museum. Play with and explore water, gardening, bubbles, electricity, banking, "making" pizza, working in a post office and more of the more than 150 hands-on exhibits. Theater presentations and a huge area just for toddlers with tunnels, puppets, sand, and paint make this a delightful destination. Immerse yourself in the zany, cartoonish world of Dr. Seuss here through May. Happy Hollow Park and Zoo offers the perfect combination of family fun. It features a park to run around, themed picnic areas, an outside puppet theater, kiddie rides, play areas, a café, and a zoo. Come see meerkats, jaguars, lemurs, wallabies, pot-bellied pigs, and birds. Ornate, whimsical, expensive, and odd - these words and more apply to the 160-room Victorian mansion Winchester Mystery House. A window in the floor, staircases leading to the ceiling, and other bizarre architectural elements solicit several "wow" and "how weird" comments from both kids and adults. Boys, especially, enjoy the firearms museum showcasing Winchester rifles. For hilarious, clean, nighttime entertainment check out ComedySportz. Best suited for ages 5 and up, this improvisational theater show, performed in a sports team format (including a ref), employs lots of audience input. For an all-day outing in the neighborhood, visit Bonfante Gardens Family Theme Park. This horticultural-based theme park has uniquely-shaped trees, waterfalls, a rock maze, incredible gardens, a splash zone, and rides for kids. IF YOU GO: Location: San Jose, the largest city in the Bay Area, is located roughly 50 miles south of San Francisco and 390 miles north of Los Angeles. Information: sanjose.org 9: SAN FRANCISCO Days can be spent exploring the enormous Golden Gate Park. Walk, stroll, bike, or skate the acres of paved trails. Note: John F. Kennedy Drive is closed to automobiles on Sunday, so everything else on wheels take over! Rent a paddle boat at Stow Lake. Practice to reel 'em in at the casting ponds. Climb 'til your heart's content at the playground. Reflect at the Japanese Tea Garden. Ride the carousel. Visit bison at the Buffalo Paddock. Marvel at 10,000 plants at the huge greenhouse of Conservatory of Flowers. (Check out the gigantic lily pads!) Play disc golf. Be impressed at the array of art at the de Young Museum. And that's just a few of the interesting things to see and do! The renowned Exploratorium captivates inquiring minds with its hundreds of hands-on, science-oriented exhibits. The completely dark Tactile Dome section (not recommended for ages 6 and under) can be investigated only by the sense of touch. Lively Fisherman's Wharf, including Pier 39, offers loud (and smelly) sea lions sun bathing on floating docks; street performers; unique shops; and a launching point for numerous attractions. These include the National Maritime Museum, USS Pampinito Submarine Museum, Ghirardelli Square, Wax Museum, Aquarium of the Bay, Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum, cable car rides, and the infamous Alcatraz island and penitentiary. A tasty side venture: The Jelly Belly Candy Company Factory is about an hour north of San Francisco, in Fairfield. Free, 40-minute, stroller-friendly guided tours are given daily, 9 a.m-4 p.m. (except major holidays) through the colorful sights, sounds, and smells of the factory, ending with free samples. Note that candy-making machines do not operate on weekends. Take home some discounted belly flops! Visit jellybelly.com for more information. Tip: Purchase a San Francisco CityPass, good for nine consecutive days. The pass includes admission to California Academy of Sciences & Steinhart Aquarium or Asian Art Museum; de Young Museum/Legion of Honor; SF Museum of Modern Art; Blue and Gold Fleet Bay Cruise Adventure; Exploratorium; Aquarium of the Bay; and a seven-day unlimited cable car and muni public transportation pass, with stops at Fisherman's Wharf, Chinatown, Golden Gate Park, and more. CityPass cost $54.50 for adults; $39 for ages 5-17. Visit citypass.com for more details. IF YOU GO: Location: San Francisco, located on the tip of the San Francisco Peninsula, is about a six-hour drive from Los Angeles. Information: onlyinsanfrancisco.com 10: SEQUOIA AND KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARK God's country. From its majestic towering trees and untamed acres of land, to snowy (even in the summer) peaks and rugged canyons threaded with rivers, Sequoia National Park is divine. Stop first at the Giant Forest Museum to learn about the big trees and obtain maps. Walk the adjacent, short, paved Big Trees Trail, marked with trailside panels. Take the pathway down to gawk at the enormous General Sherman Tree, which stands 275 feet tall! From here, hike Congress Trail - a mostly level, partially paved, two-mile loop leading directly through a spectacular sequoia grove. (To aid the kids 5 and up in gleaning more from their forest adventure, sign them up for the Jr. Ranger program. Purchase the booklet, participate in a series of activities during your visit, and earn patches!) Just south is Tunnel Log, a fallen sequoia you can actually drive through. In one direction lies Crescent Meadow, brilliant with seasonal wildflowers. Chose from several trails here, including a one-mile jaunt to Tharp's Log (an early settlement house) or an arduous 71-mile hike to Mt. Whitney! Or, head to Moro Rock, a granite dome with a short, but steep climb to the summit with an incredible panoramic view. Although most of your visit in the Sequoias should be spent above ground, head underground for a 45-minute guided tour of Crystal Cave. You'll view stalactites and other unique cave formations. The cave is not wheelchair or stroller accessible, and baby backpacks aren't allowed. Tickets cannot be purchased at the cave entrance, but at Foothill or Lodgepole Visitor Center in the park. It can be chilly underground, so bring a jacket. With more than 800 miles of trails through amazing scenery to hike, bike and ride horseback - your family will never be bored! IF YOU GO: Location: To enter Sequoia Park, exit Highway 99 east on Highway 198 to the park entrance. To enter Kings Canyon, exit Highway 99 east on Highway 180. The Generals Highway connects these two parks. Where: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park - 47050 Generals Hwy., Three Rivers. Admission: Park entrance: $20 per vehicle for a 7-day pass. Camping fees (more than 800 sites) start at $12 a night. Hours: Open every day, 24/7. Information: 559.565.3341 or nps.gov/seki/ Susan Peterson is the author of a comprehensive guidebook called "Fun and Educational Places to go With Kids and Adults in Southern California." She can be reached via her website at funplaces.com. |
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