California Archives - Page 2 of 4 - My Family Travels
Aerial Tram view of High Camp at Palisades Tahoe.
Article
12 Reasons to Love Palisades Tahoe

Those who recall Vice President Richard Nixon opening the VIII Olympic Winter Games here on February 18, 1960, know Lake Tahoe’s Palisades Tahoe (formerly Squaw Valley Alpine...

Read More    4 min read

Article
Our Cross Country Family Road Trip 2020

The New York Tough Get Going should be the name of our cross-country road trip from New York to California. We are heading West to visit our son and stay awhile, then...

Read More    16 min read

An Adventure Themed room at Legoland Hotel in Florida.
Article
Legoland Hotel Brick By Brick

It takes the high-pitched energy of hundreds of little boys and dozens of brick by brick how-did-they-make-that? Lego sculptures to create the wild ambiance at the Legoland...

Read More    7 min read

bookshelves full of books
Article
Students Can Learn from Disneyland’s Storybook Adventures

A Disneyland vacation, like a storybook adventure, will always be something that is somewhat of an heirloom, being handed down generation to generation, no matter the age when you first visit. It's a family...

Read More    6 min read

Magic Kingdom at Disneyland.
Article
Take a Ride Through Disneyland’s Storybook Adventures

We all have sacred family traditions and storybooks from our childhood that we still hold dear today. I bet for a lot of us, one of the most magical childhood vacations we think about is Disneyland. The...

Read More    9 min read

Screenshot of lobby from National Museum of Natural History on Smithsonian VR tour
Article
7 Great Destinations Offering Virtual Visits from Home

Whether you’re sheltering in place by choice or command, we hope you’ll enjoy touring seven great destinations offering virtual visits from home.

Read More    5 min read

Article
Mariposa, The Heart of Yosemite

According to Jeffrey Hentz of the Yosemite/Mariposa Tourism Bureau, in Yosemite National Park,...

Read More    2 min read

The Millennium Falcon is a highlight of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Disneyland.
Article
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, An Epic Adventure

Give in to the gravitational pull of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland and Walt Disney World because there’s just no resisting it. Whether or not you’re a Star Wars fan, whether...

Read More    6 min read

Article
Lighthouses For The Night

August 7th is National Lighthouse Day and if you've never thought about staying in one, this is your chance.  In 1789, the United States passed an Act in support of all lighthouses,...

Read More    5 min read

Jurassic Ride at Universal Studios Hollywood
Article
Be A Star At Universal Studios Hollywood

Billing itself as the Entertainment Capital of L.A., Universal Studios Hollywood in Burbank is a movie and TV-based...

Read More    5 min read

Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel
Article
Disneyland Hotels And Resorts

Three fun family hotels are located within the Disneyland Resort theme park complex in Anaheim, California. Although they may charge more than some local chains, guests receive privileges...

Read More    4 min read

Busch Gardens Virginia coaster
Article
The 10 Best Themeparks For Family Vacations

At almost any time of year, family planners can count on a theme park to shift the annual vacation into high gear. Whether you’re planning a long vacation or just a day trip,...

Read More    4 min read

Article
Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort And Spa

If everybody's gone surfing, it may be because the hip Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach makes it easy to Hang Ten on the Surf City beachfront.

Read More    4 min read

Lake Tahoe from Northstar's Comstock Express lift.
Article
Northstar California Shows You How to Raise a Snowboarder

Anyone who has a passion for snowboarding and wants to excel should line up at the Burton Academy at Northstar California. At Northstar, snowboarding is more than a sport. “It’s a lifestyle we teach...

Read More    4 min read

Guests at the Cityscape Lounge on the 46th floor of the Hilton San Francisco Union Square
Article
San Francisco, California Hotels

With so many lodging options and a plethora of unattended rentals, choosing the right hotel -- with a good staff and a convenient neighborhood -- can make your visit to San Francisco, California less stressful....

Read More    6 min read

Article
Top 10 Geek Sights In Silicon Valley

If you're tired of technology taking over your life, take back control in Silicon Valley, where you can see the 10 top tech sights of interest to any geek and nerd. Google is headquartered...

Read More    4 min read

Article
Spring Skiing: Palisades Tahoe Does It Right

Think T-shirts, hiking shorts and polypropylene socks and you'll get a hint of the magic of spring ski season while the snow lasts.

Read More    5 min read

Article
A San Francisco Tahoe Weekend Away

Our San Francisco Tahoe Weekend is a brief, wallet-friendly California road trip. Drive from fabulous San Francisco to the sunny slopes of Lake Tahoe's mountain resorts to get...

Read More    5 min read

Hofsas House Hotel Mural.
Article
Carmel-by-the-Sea, Kids in Tow

Quaint and walkable Carmel-by-the-Sea is packed with chic shops, trendy restaurants and stylish wine tasting rooms -- it’s been a romantic adult getaway for decades.  But it’s also...

Read More    2 min read

Article
Disney Theme Parks Worldwide Expanding

At the annual fan-con #D23, organized by Disney’s most loyal fans in Tokyo this month, the company’s top executives revealed that characters from Pixar, Marvel and classic Disney franchises would...

Read More    5 min read

space theemd hotel
Article
Give Up a Night at 10 Unique Hotels

Want to skip the mass market hotel room for an Instagrammable sleeping experience your friends and family may envy – and the kids will remember forever? Travelers have a bigger choice of

Read More    5 min read

Article
Fairmont San Francisco Does Family Well

At the Fairmont Hotels & Resort's flagship property, the beautiful Fairmont San Francisco, my family was lucky enough to find out what the "Affordable Luxury for Families" concept...

Read More    4 min read

Article
Custom Itinerary: San Francisco And Yosemite on Tight Budget

Q.  Cathy P. and family of St. Peters, Missouri are visiting San Francisco and Yosemite National Park and want budget hotel and sightseeing ideas along...

Read More    3 min read

Article
Family Wellness Lives At Omni La Costa Resort

The Omni La Costa Resort & Spa is designed for family fitness vacations, and is a fun place to introduce children to a healthy lifestyle. Luxuriously restored, the Mediterranean style...

Read More    6 min read

Article
Safari West And Save Yourself A Flight To Africa

Those unexpectedly upside down moments in life, like seeing the Golden Arches among the pagodas of Beijing, can be fun and very reassuring, especially when traveling with kids. But when it's the reverse...

Read More    4 min read

Article
10 Places To Focus Your Eclipse Watching Skills

With today's total solar eclipse crossing America, interest in the universe is sky high. Since everyone in the United States can observe a partial to total eclipse...

Read More    6 min read

A Napa Valley winery.
Article
Best Wine Country Family Attractions – Sonoma And Napa With Kids

If you're visiting California's Napa Valley or nearby Sonoma...

Read More    6 min read

Southern California beach
Article
Short Breaks And Weekend Getaways From Greater Los Angeles

The neighboring Pacific Ocean, lush farmland, arid desert and snow-capped mountains give southern California families plenty of options for weekends away. "California, Here I Come!" may be the cry of...

Read More    4 min read

Article
Make It the Summer of Love Not War

The Bay Area around San Francisco is partying all year to the tune of #SummerofLove50, the 50th anniversary celebration of the counterculture’s meteoric rise to prominence in 1967. Like...

Read More    5 min read

Article
Specialty Sleepaway Camps for Insta-Stars

Have an unusual kid between the ages of 8 and 16 who hould be the next Insta-star? has unusual interests? Don't we all? Well, there's now an unusual sleep away camp with short (1 or...

Read More    2 min read

Article
Lake Arrowhead Resort, Lake Arrowhead, California

Lake Arrowhead, at an elevation of more than 5,200 feet in the San Bernardino National Forest, has attracted generations of southern California families with its cool climate, mountain breezes and pristine...

Read More    4 min read

Article
9 Questions to Ask Before Planning a Theme Park Vacation

Should you really be schlepping that baby to Disney World for a family themepark vacation? Parents inevitably reach a stage in their lives when they ask themselves: why are we planning a trip...

Read More    4 min read

Article
My 3 Favorite Family Dude Ranches

Looking for a dude ranch experience neither you nor your children will regret? Sit-a-spell and read on. Families with little critters will find most ranches only allow children 7 years and above on...

Read More    5 min read

Article
You’ll Strike Gold in Northern California

In Northern California's gold country, the western frontier and gateway to the foothills of the rugged Sierra Nevada Mountains, Tuolumne County came to be in 1850, the same year California achieved...

Read More    6 min read

Article
Ojai Valley Inn and Spa, California

Where do southern California families go for spa, fresh air and fun kids' activities with little fuss? Ojai. Shangri-La would not be too grand a name for the classic Southern California resort...

Read More    2 min read

Article
Southern California Skiing Means Powder And Sun

As the warmth of winter, the huge powder dumps of 2017 and the sun of spring beckon families, the California ski resorts at Big Bear, Mammoth and the small local mountains continue to up the family...

Read More    3 min read

Article
Lake Tahoe: A Directory of Winter Fun

Seven mountain resorts make the Lake Tahoe mountain district straddling the California and Nevada borders one of the country's most diverse and exciting snowsports destinations....

Read More    7 min read

Article
Vinum et Familia: California’s Hidden Multigen Reunion Destination

The Holman Ranch in Carmel Valley, California is an ideal destination for multigenerational vacations, family reunions and intimate destination weddings. On any starlit night,...

Read More    2 min read

Article
Top 10 Beach Resort Getaways For Family Vacations

Almost everyone's favorite getaway is a family beach vacation, whether it's winter or summer. Here are FTF's winners from a decade of "Top 10 Getaway" awards in the best family beach category. Our...

Read More    2 min read

Article
Palm Springs, California Hotels And Resorts

The desert communities that have blossomed around Palm Springs, California, boast intimate bungalow colonies and big flop and drop resorts, so if you're unsure what your family is looking for, you've come...

Read More    4 min read

Article
When Compassion and Travel Work Toward a Cure

October is the month to "Think Pink," the time of year we focus on ways to find a cure for breast cancer, a disease that affects about one in eight women and is the second largest...

Read More    3 min read

Article
Road Trip USA: The Pacific Coast Highway from San Francisco To Los Angeles

Perhaps the best known stretch of highway in America -- California's Highway 1 between Los Angeles and San Francisco is 400 miles of coastal beauty that's become our "favorite family roadtrip." What...

Read More    7 min read

Article
Disney Themeparks Going Where They Haven’t Gone Before

Wondering what's up and coming for the 2017 season at the Disney theme parks? Whether you're heading to Orlando, Hong Kong or a galaxy far, far away, there's a lot new in store.  Disney's...

Read More    5 min read

Article
Short Breaks And Weekend Getaways From San Francisco

We love vacationing in the Bay Area and its environs, but sometimes even families lucky enough to live there have to find weekend getaways from San Francisco.

Read More    3 min read

Article
Overnight At America’s Top Aquariums And Zoos

From coast to coast, special sleepovers at aquariums and zoos are available to travelers who book ahead. Interested in sleeping with the fishes or feeding reptiles after dark? Not only...

Read More    6 min read

Article
Top Baby Beach Getaways

Parents review their top baby beach getaways for that first vacation when your tiny traveler needs a gentle introduction to the pleasures of sun, sand and waves. As parents,...

Read More    2 min read

Article
The New Disneyland Resort

Disneyland Resort in Anaheim has long been my pick for that very first theme park vacation with little ones, because of its manageable size and laid back California vibe. You don't need a car or a shuttle...

Read More    6 min read

Article
Re-Visiting Our Original Tiny Traveler Award Winners: 1998 to 2015

In 1998 the concept of "family travel" was not as refined as it is today, with hotels mainly targeting the 5-12 age set when it came to services and activities. So, Family Travel Forum set out...

Read More    14 min read

Article
Montecito-Sequoia Lodge

Located in the magnificent redwoods between the Sequoia National Forest and Kings Canyon National Park, Montecito-Sequoia Lodge (650/967-9502,...

Read More    2 min read

Article
Anaheim, California Hotels And Resorts

Anaheim, California brims with local delights for families: Disneyland and California Adventure, the Wild West-inspired Knott's Berry Farm theme park, Angels baseball, and Ducks hockey,...

Read More    3 min read

Article
The Del Hotel Ultimate Family Reunion

Recently, five generations of our family gathered to share good times at one of the most famous San Diego beach hotels, the historic Hotel Del Coronado, better...

Read More    5 min read

Article
Free Travel Fun In Santa Monica, California

In a chic westside community like Santa Monica -- the "beach" to most Angelenos -- there are many options for free family fun. All ages will enjoy the relaxed Main Street, a truly walkable route that's...

Read More    8 min read

Article
Top 10 Disney Vacations – Hotels, Resorts And Cruises

Our Top 10 Disney vacation options allow families to choose from great themepark resorts in Florida and California, a Hawai'i resort hotel, and several cruise ships. We know there's never enough "Disney...

Read More    2 min read

Article
Julian, California: A Gem in Eastern San Diego

A natural landscape encased by iridescent skies and crisp mountain air dominates the view heading into the Gold Rush era town of Julian in the heart of San Diego's backcountry.

Read More    2 min read

Article
Inipiring My Kids Through Nature Yosemite: A Journey into the Sierras

Nature has always been a place of refuge for me. Living on the west coast I seem to have a deep connection to the mountains and to the wild and adventurous spirit from generations past. Unfortunately...

Read More    2 min read

Article
A Week of Perfect Health

It takes a visionary like Deepak Chopra to understand that in this day and age, being able to successfully achieve “Perfect Health” in one week is an irresistible offer. Anyone interested in practicing...

Read More    4 min read

Article
Scoring Happy Holiday Cheer and Disney Savings When You Need Them Most

Far from the pressures of cooking, shopping and putting on mittens, it’s all cast members on deck at the Disney theme parks to create winter holiday cheer, and ensure you and your family have a “magical’...

Read More    3 min read

Article
A Very Cool California Road Trip

My husband and I are trying to squeeze a lot of family travel into our lives, since our firstborn son will be going away to college soon. That prompted us to take a trip to Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon...

Read More    12 min read

Article
Outdoors Adventures In California Wine Country

Famed for its scenery and fine vintages, the California Wine Country has much more than grapes to offer family adventurers. In addition to the many gastronomical destinations just 50 miles north of...

Read More    7 min read

Article
California Roadtrips On Roads Less Traveled

If your clan has already done the family roadtrip up and down Route 1, rest assured that there's more to explore among the Golden State’s endless shoreline and sweeping landscapes. Whether you want...

Read More    9 min read