Other Destinations

TRAVEL IDEAS FOR FAMILIES
SAN DIEGO
Lodging Choices San Diego: Paradise Point Resort *, Bahia, Blue Sea Lodge, private condo
Lodging Choice Coronado: Hotel del Coronado*, Loews Coronado Bay Resort*
Attractions: Sea World, Beach, Wild Animal Park, San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park, LegoLand
the zoo offers a 3-for-1 pass for Sea World, San Diego Zoo, and Wild Animal Park

CARLSBAD- about 40 minutes north from San Diego, Legoland and Beaches
Carlsbad Lodging Choice- La Costa Resort (new waterpark) , Pacific Palisades Resort* (across from Legoland, small waterpark, suites with kitchens), Beach Terrace Inn (condo style with kitchens and bedrooms, directly on beach), Four Seasons Aviara

DISNEYLAND
On Site Hotels- Grand Californian*, Disneyland Hotel*, Paradise Pier Hotel
Off Site Hotels- Sheraton* (large rooms), Hyatt, Anabella Hotel, Anaheim Fairfield Inn (across from park)
Suite Hotels- Embassy Suites South*, Portofino Inn*, Hyatt Suites, Marriott Suites
Best areas for young kids- ToonTown, Fantasyland, Small World, Character Breakfast
Best Times to go-November (not Thanksgiving week), early December, early October
Worst Times to go- Any time school is out, weekends
Absolute Worst time to go- Christmas break

SANTA BARBARA
Lodging Choices: Hotel Mar Monte (on beach), Sandman Inn, El Prado, Four Seasons Biltmore, Fess Parker’s Doubletree Resort
Attractions: downtown, cute shops and restaurants, nice wharfs
new water park with whale/fish theme, Santa Barbara Mission (kids loved running around on the large grass area), very nice zoo there, a really nice path along the ocean, you can rent all sorts of bikes, natural history museum has hands-on exhibits for the little ones, top-notch parks throughout the city, beach, railroad museum in Goleta with train ride.

MONTEREY
Lodging Choices: Embassy Suites Seaside, Marina Dunes, Hyatt Regency Monterey, Best Western Monterey (on beach)
Attractions: Aquarium (museum offers overnight programs, aquarium detectives, and SNUBA in it bay for kids), beach, downtown, Santa Cruz Boardwalk, Dennis the Menace park, kayaking (Elkhorn Slough is easy and has a rental company right there, lots of seals and otters), biking on bike path (rent canopy bikes and put children in seats), My Museum childrens museum (in parking lot building by aquarium), Oceans 18 Miniature Golf (in American Tin Cannery outlet, indoors glow-in-the-dark), Monterey Bay Chocolate Factory
Nearby in Salinas- The Farm (gives tours and you can pick produce), Wild Things- houses wild animals used in movies and offers tours at 1:00

CAPITOLA
Lodging Choices: Venetian (quaint but not fancy, kitchens and bedrooms), Best Western the the Sea, private rentals
Great beach town, walk to everything (ice cream, restaurants, toy store, wine tasting, , day trip to Monterey or Santa Cruz, Roaring Camp

KONOCTI HARBOR, CLEAR LAKE
Not fancy- Cottages, marina, boats, water, kiddie pool, pools, spa, restaurants, kids programs, playground, outdoor concerts with kids program

YOSEMITE
Lodging Choices: Tenaya Lodge is good for families, Yosemite Lodge at the Falls, canvas tent cabins in Curry Village
Attractions: Wee Wild Ones, Story times, family activities, hiking to falls, taking tour on tram (look at yosemitepark.com)

PALM SPRINGS
Lodging Choices- Westin Mission Hills Villas (1-bedroom spacious units, waterslide, kids program), Desert Springs, Doral Desert Princess (condos), Hyatt Grand Champions, Marriott Desert Springs, Palm Desert Resort (condo)
Attractions- Childrens Discovery Musuem, Aerial Tram, IMAX movie theatre, Living Desert zoo, Knott’s water park, jeep tours

HALF MOON BAY
Lodging Choices- Lighthouse Hostel with family room, Ritz Carlton (kids program), Beach House Hotel (suites with king + sofabed, fireplace, complimentary reception and breakfast), Half Moon Bay Lodge
Attractions – Pebble Beach, Kayaking in Pillar Point Harbor, Lemos Farm, Arata’s Farm, berry-picking, horseback riding, nice downtown, beaches, kite-flying, tidepools

CENTRAL COAST-SAN LUIS OBISPO-PISMO BEACH- ATASCADERO
Lodging Choices- Inn at Avila Beach, Cliffs Resort in Shell Beach, Avila Lighthouse Suites, Apple Farm San Luis Obispo, Embassy Suites San Luis Obispo, Inn at Morro Bay
Attractions- Charles Paddock Zoo, berry-picking, beaches, dune buggies, Avila hot springs, mission in San Luis Obispo and shopping, Avila Barn, paddle boat rentals on Atascadero Lake, natural museum Morro Bay, childrens museum San Luis Obispo

BIG SUR-
Lodging Choices- Big Sur River Inn (on river, two room suites with balcony, rocking chairs in the water, store and restaurant on site), Big Sur Lodge, Treebones Resort (yurts)
Attractions- Big Sur offers jr, ranger programs, guided hikes, hiking, waterfalls, horseback riding, kayaking

NAPA SAFARI WEST-
You can spend the night at this private animal reserve in safari tents on platforms. Daytime tours available as well. http://www.safariwest.com/

STINSON BEACH
Lodging Choices (all very casual and not upscale) -Stinson Beach Motel (two rooms with kitchenette, very modest), Sandpiper Inn, Ocean Court Motel, private rental
Attractions- Bay Area Childrens Discovery Museum, Point Reyes Lighthouse, Muir Woods, Sausilito, beach, childrens playground

LOCAL EMBASSY SUITES
South San Francisco, Burlingame, Milpitas, Santa Clara
Swim, cocktail hour, separate room for kids, video games in room- lodge
getaway!

RANCHES
Alisal Ranch Solvang, riding, pool, activities, nice dining room
Coffee Creek Guest Ranch-supervised activities ages 3-17, under 3 babysitting, in Trinity Alps Wilderness Area Includes: Full American Plan, lodging, heated swimming pool, spa, hayrides, pond - fishing and canoeing, square/line dancing, archery/rifle range, trapshoot, gold panning, live entertainment
Burney Mountain Guest Ranch
Trinity Alps

JAMAICA
-Beaches Family Resort (Jamaica and Turks and Caicos), run by Sandals Resorts, childrens programs and nannies for babies to teen, fun waterparks and pools, good diving in Turks and Caicos,
-FDR Resort, comes with vacation nanny for the week

CRUISES
Disney Cruise Line- fantastic kids programs, very upscale and well done
Carnival – fun atmosphere, kids programs start at 2
Royal Carribbean- in-room babysitting, childrens programs start at 3, new ships are really amazing Celebrity- upscale, kids programs start at 3, in-room sitting
Norwegian Cruise Lines in Hawaiian Islands, childrens programs start at 2

SKIING
TAHOE
Northstar and Squaw programs start at 3, very complete resorts
Sierra-at-Tahoe has licensed child care center starting at 18 months
Condo rentals
BEAR VALLEY- Arnold and Twain Harte
Dodge Ridge, private rentals, Tamarack Pines Inn, less crowded than Tahoe
COLORADO
Breckenridge has programs starting at 1 year

RANCHES
Alisal Ranch Solvang, riding, pool, activities, nice dining room
Coffee Creek Guest Ranch-supervised activities ages 3-17, under 3 babysitting, in Trinity Alps Wilderness Area Includes: Full American Plan, lodging, heated swimming pool, spa, hayrides, pond - fishing and canoeing, square/line dancing, archery/rifle range, trapshoot, gold panning, live entertainment
Burney Mountain Guest Ranch- cabins, horseback riding, activities

FAMILY TRAVEL COMPANIES
These are a few companies that run family trips to different destinations that cater to families and will have children on their packaged, tour led trips. Many of the activities are designed for both children and adults to enjoy.

RASCALS IN PARADISE

THOMPSON FAMILY ADVENTURES

AUSTIN-LEHMAN ADVENTURES

ADVENTURES BY DISNEY

RESOURCES

STATE BOOKS books for family fun in each state, (available on Amazon)
Fun with the Family by Globe Pequot Press
Where Should We Take the Kids by Fodor
RENTAL EQUIPMENT babysaway.com, babiestravellite.com
RENT A CAR VIDEO PLAYER www.drivinsane.com
FAMILY TRAVEL FORUM Familytravelforum.com
DRIVING IDEAS momsminivan.com
TINY TRAVELERS tinytravelers.net
FAMILY TRAVEL GUIDES familytravelguides.com,
ADVENTUIRE TRIPS WITH KIDS gorptravel.gorp.com
BABYCENTER INFORMATION babycenter.com/travel/
FAMILY FUN MAGAZINE monthly travel section