California Archives - 3 Kids and Us

Great Places for Families to Visit in Southern CaliforniaGreat Places for Fa

August 14, 2018 by admin

California is one of the most popular states to visit in the entire US. From the mountainous, northern regions, down through the Bay Area and onward to the coastal south, there are countless activities and sites to see that would entertain someone of any age. However, it is Southern California that has stolen the spotlight from the rest of the state. The culture, climate and overall atmosphere in this area have made it very popular with out of state visitors. Here are some great places for families to visit in Southern California.

1. Carlsbad

Located near San Diego, Carlsbad is home to a stunning array of sites and activities for the whole entire family. The Flower Fields is located in the Carlsbad Ranch and is home to nearly 50 acres of beautiful flower blossoms in the springtime. South Carlsbad State Beach is another popular family destination known for the swimming, surfing, camping and outdoor activities that are available. The San Elijo Lagoon is another great outdoor attraction with beautiful hiking trails along the waterside. For those looking to get away from the heat, the SEA Life Aquarium is a great place to see a wide variety of marine life. To learn more about all the fun things to do in Carlsbad, check out the official site for Carlsbad tourism info and travel recommendations.

2. Death Valley National Park

Although the name doesn’t sound welcoming, the iconic Death Valley National Park is a wonderful place to visit in Southern California. This national park is located on the border of Nevada and sees some of the hottest temperatures in the entire United States. The natural rock formations have been an attraction at this park for hundreds of years. The park is also home to famous salt flats and has an abandoned town. Even a short drive through Death Valley National Park is enough to capture the immense beauty that this place has to offer.

3. San Diego

There isn’t a better place to visit on a family trip to California than the San Diego Zoo. This zoo has been rated the top in the United States several different times. The San Diego Zoo boasts over 3,700 animals and 650 different species. The open-air exhibits were actually first designed by this zoo, offering a truly unique experience. The San Diego Zoo is also one of the only places in the world to successfully breed the giant panda. Members of the entire family will enjoy a whole day exploring the vast sites that this zoo has to offer. This is also famous for the skateparks in San Diego, which are popular among those who love skateboarding.

4. Santa Monica Pier

Santa Monica Pier is another great attraction for the whole family to visit when in Southern California. The pier features a host of attractions including a Ferris wheel, arcade center, an aquarium, pubs and restaurants, trapeze school and more. During the summer, there are more activities such as concerts and movies taking place along the pier. Although the evening is a popular time to visit the Santa Monica Pier, any family could easily spend the entire day enjoying all that this place has to offer. Santa Monica Pier is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean and is over 100 years old.

Southern California is one of the most popular places for families to visit in the entire United States. The mild climate, laid-back atmosphere and host of fun attractions make this region the perfect family vacation. All of the places listed are great fun for the entire family and should not be missed on a trip to Southern California. More exploration of this region will reveal even more hidden gems.

Essential Tips on How to Have a Great Family Vacation in LA

September 3, 2017 by admin

So, you’ve decided that you want to take the family for a vacation in LA. You know what you want to do and have already found one of the Los Angeles vacation rentals that’s going to be perfect for you and the kids. But, there’s one nagging feeling at the back of your mind. And that’s all about how you can make sure that everyone one is happy and has the best time on their vacation. If you’re in this position, don’t worry. We’ve all been there and experienced this at some point. Here are some essential tips on how to have the perfect family vacation in Los Angeles.

What Makes LA a Great Destination for Families?

The main reason is that LA has so many things to keep everyone in the family entertained and interested for the length of the trip. You can find something that suits pretty much any age and even the more resilient of teens will enjoy some of the activities. But, as parents, we all know that there’s a fine line between having a perfect trip and an absolute disaster! Let’s have a look at what you should do.

Plan, Plan, Plan:

Planning is one of the most important parts of having a successful and stress-free family vacation. The more time you take at the start by coming up with a suitable itinerary to keep everyone happy, the smoother it will be when you arrive. It’s also a good idea to read recent reviews on blogs or TripAdvisor to get an idea of any unexpected things that may pop-up so that you’ll be more prepared.

Plan what you want to do each day and draft up an itinerary to keep things organized. You should also consider spending a full day at the theme parks. One of the most important things to do is to plan carefully and not to overdo it with the different activities. The last thing anyone wants is to start off at breakneck speed to find themselves exhausted on the third day.

Start Your Day as Early as Possible:

When you’re on vacation, it can be difficult to drag yourself out of bed at 7 am. We all want to stay in bed until 11 am when we’re not working, right? But, this isn’t a good idea if you’re planning a day of sightseeing. The crowds typically start to come in the late morning and early afternoon. This means that you may be faced with long waits if you don’t get there early enough.

Quite simply, the best thing to do is to aim to avoid the crowds as much as possible. This means there will be less stress for you and the kids won’t get bored whilst waiting in the long lines. And the earlier you start, the earlier you finish, which means you can then have more time relaxing later in the day.

Take Advantage of Early Bird Deals and Offers:

A savvy parent will look online before taking their family vacation to see what early bird tickets and promotions are available. The better ones will give you a discount and allow you to skip the line. This is one of the best features of booking in advance because who wants to spend hours standing in the queue to get into the attraction?

Always Book a Hotel with Breakfast Included:

One of the top ways to make the most out of the time when you’re on vacation is to book a hotel or resort that offers a buffet breakfast. This saves you both time and money in the morning and the day will typically start off in a positive light. Compare this to waking up early and then spending 30 minutes walking around the street to find a place to get some food. If you’re staying at a vacation rental, consider stocking up on food from the supermarket for breakfast. This also helps you to leave at the earlier times to avoid the crowds and long lines later on.

Allocate at Least One Day to Relax:

There’s nothing wrong with spending a few hours relaxing around the pool. It’s a good idea to find your accommodation in a place that’s near the beach or has a pool at the very least. One day of relaxing will be perfect for everyone. And the best part is, you don’t have to plan the day!

Choose the Activities to Suit Everyone in Your Family:

Just because you and the spouse want to see Hollywood or visit some of the museums, it doesn’t mean that the kids or teens will appreciate it as much. Make sure you ask everyone what they want to do and find something to suit everyone. Younger kids tend to prefer areas where they can play and older ones love the thrills at the theme park. This is a family vacation and everyone should have their say on what they want to do.

Have a Budget and Stick to it:

The final point is a practical way to enjoy your holiday and not feel the post-vacation blues when you return home and realize just how much you’ve actually spent. Set a daily budget and stick to it as much as possible. It’s OK to spend a little extra, but if you do go overboard, the little extras quickly add up when there are three or four of you.

The Takeaway Message:

Los Angeles is a great place to spend a family vacation. Plan ahead and ask everyone what they want to do and see. And don’t forget to have at least one day around the pool or beach to relax!

West Hollywood: A Great Destination for a Family Vacation

August 5, 2017 by admin

Source

Remember how simple it was planning a vacation before you had children? You could plan something last minute with a few dollars to your name and have a great time. Now, planning a trip with children involves a multitude of complexities. Finding the right accommodations, activities that everyone enjoys, and even affordable dining can be quite the challenge as any parent might attest. Though it is without a doubt easier to plan a vacation alone than with children, that doesn’t have to mean it has to present a challenge.

A Destination with Something for Everyone

Mom and dad want to do some shopping, the younger kids want to go swimming and hit the beach, and your teenager wants a plush hotel room complete with a big screen tv for their video games. Everyone has different ideas of what would make a great vacation. The key to pulling off the best family vacation is to select a larger city like West Hollywood, CA that has tourist attractions and accommodations to meet everyone’s needs.

Find Comfortable Accommodations

While you don’t plan on spending that much time in the hotel room, when you do come back from an eventful day, you want to be in a space that you feel comfortable in. If you plan to visit West Hollywood, you can find hotels that offer comfortable bedding, indoor/outdoor pools, gyms, large bathrooms, and flat screen televisions for your gaming teens. If you’re looking to save money on your visit to California, you might select a hotel that comes with a mini kitchen. This way you can prepare some of your meals and save money on dining out.

Tours Are Always Fun – And Educational

Want to add a bit of education to your family trip without the kids knowing? Check out some of the local tours and attractions for a history lesson they’ll never forget. In West Hollywood, you can take tours through famous and historic neighborhoods and studios. Or perhaps head over to the local theme parks where you can check out rides like Transformers Ride 3D. Your younger kids might enjoy traveling in time through Dinosaur Hall in Los Angeles. There’s a lot of fun to be had in this town so be sure to check for discounts on tours and attractions.

Shopping Can be Interesting

Your kids might not like the idea of going from shop to shop as you browse stores. They often get bored pretty easily making your shopping experience anything but relaxing. The great thing about choosing a location like West Hollywood to vacation to is that the shopping can be pretty interesting for your kids. Known notoriously for being the design mecca on the west coast, the shops, fashion studios, and boutiques are all intricately designed to draw attention. This would make for cool selfie backgrounds for your teenagers – which is always a plus in their book.

Plan Around Annual Events

If you really want to see the true culture and diversity of a city like West Hollywood, CA, then you should definitely plan your family vacation around some of the city’s biggest events. For instance, in October, you can join thousands of locals and tourists for one of the biggest Halloween street parties. Your kids will have so much fun dressing up and being amongst others who enjoy dressing up as well. This is certainly an experience your kids won’t forget.

Whether you’re planning a summer vacation, a fall getaway, or a winter retreat with the family the key to having a good time boils down to the location. Choosing a large city like West Hollywood means a better chance of finding things to do that everyone loves and enjoys. It is most certainly a family vacation no one will soon forget.