Tuesday Top Ten: Family Weekend Trips in Southern California

• Getty Museums: There are now two Getty Museums in Los Angeles the Getty Villa and the Getty Center. Have a fun filled weekend of culture and fun and visit both. Both Museums have family rooms and I suggest visiting them first, this will allow you to find the galleries that have the most to offer children. The Getty Villa will require parking reservations so you will need to plan ahead for this weekend adventure. The Getty Villa also has the bonus of sitting in the middle of beautiful Malibu so you may want to plan a little time to head to the beach. I would suggest finding a hotel between the two locations.
• Ronald Reagan Museum: Did you ever want to hop a ride on Air Force One? The Ronald Reagan Museum is now the home of the Air Force One used during four Presidents. Walk through a bit of history and see what first class really looks like. The museum is also home to a piece of the Berlin Wall, Marine One, and is the finally resting place of President Ronald Reagan. I suggest getting the headphones for the kids so they can hear the historical significance of the displays. We stayed at a lovely Homewood Suites in Thousand Oaks. It included both Dinner & Breakfast.
• Hollywood : The Walk of Fame, the el Capitan, and the Griffith Observatory are just a few Hollywood stops that make up a great weekend. A map to the stars home or a trip down Sunset Boulevard is an adventure that many native Californians take for granted, but have you ever shared it with your kids? Parking in this area may be difficult so arrive early for whatever plans you make.
• La Brea Tar Pits : Can a pit of tar be a fun outing for the kids??? Heck yeah! Mammoth bones found in the middle of Los Angeles is an amazing thought for adults to ponder, let your kids give it a try too. This museum and tar pit is full of California Science and History. It is a great outing on its own or mixed with the Museum of Natural History and California Science Center .
• Channel Islands : Okay let’s be honest my favorite part of this trip is the hotel Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach - Hotel & Resort there are many trips that we just hang out at the hotel (example last weekend) , but from the hotel you can see the channel islands and there are numerous tours available in the area to boat or kayak the islands. The trip is a little outdoors and a little luxury.
• Disneyland : Okay I know this is not creative, but 99.9% of kids will choose a trip to Disneyland. The hotel has some great specials during the off season so you can enjoy a full of Disney weekend. However if you can’t stay on the resort I suggest the Hampton Inn or the Embassy Suites on Harbor Blvd. I have stayed at both. The Embassy Suites on Harbor offers a Managers Reception (Free drinks & snacks) and a free full service breakfast. The Hampton Inn offers fun family rooms with bunk beds and a kid friendly bathroom and don’t forget about the free breakfast in the morning.
• Crystal Cove: Warning an overnight trip to Crystal Cove needs to be booked 6 months ahead of time, however a day trip can be planned in seconds. This is what California was like back in the 60’s. If you sit on the beach you wouldn’t be surprised to see a scene from Beach Blanket Bingo or Gidget played out. This is my favorite beach in California. It is an awesome mix of beach and tide pools. The parking can be difficult so start out early and plan to stay late.
• Balboa Park: A trip to the San Diego Zoo or an afternoon at the Fleet Science Museum is just a few of the fun things to do at Balboa Park. My description won’t do it justice go to their website and plan a weekend or the whole week. This is such a jewel of Southern California. Plan to pay a decent amount for a hotel, I am yet to find a reasonably priced hotel in San Diego, but the fun and education is well worth the extra $$$$.
• Big Bear Weekend: The kids of Southern California all want to see it….. SNOW! Kids in So Cal don’t get snow days from school or know the feeling of frostbite setting in their nose, so this is their big chance. Big Bear is their chance to go sleigh riding and to build a snowman. Planning this trip is always risky because you will need to book a room long before the snow is ready to fall so say a prayer and book a night at a cabin or lodge.
• Norton Simon Museum & Huntington Garden : Springtime is the best time for this adventure to Pasadena. If you have a ballerina in your life she will love the huge collection of Degas that the Norton Simon Museum displays. If you have a young man in your family he will love running through the gardens at the Huntington. The Norton Simon will be a day of leisure enjoying great art from scores of art periods. The day at the Huntington Library will require lots of walking, dress comfy, wear hiking shoes , and DON’T FORGET THE CAMERA.