L.A. Family Travel

21/11/2025

❄️🌽 MIDWEST WINTER: COLDER THAN YOUR EX’S HEART… BUT WAY MORE FUN.

When I first moved to Cleveland, someone told me I needed knee-high snow boots.
I laughed.
Cleveland laughed back. 😂

But here’s the surprise: once you accept that your eyelashes may freeze, the Midwest becomes a straight-up magical winter playground for families.

We rounded up 7 Memorable Midwestern Winter Getaways for Families, and each one brings its own brand of cozy, quirky, or absolutely bonkers winter fun:
🔥 Legendary museums in Cleveland and Detroit
❄️ Snowshoeing, sledding & a Fruit-Loop Run in charming Door County
💦 The waterpark capital of the world (yes, in winter) in Wisconsin Dells
🛍️ The Mall of America, aka “let’s pretend this is a quick trip”
🗿 A snowy, crowd-free Mount Rushmore from tiny Keystone, SD
🌁 Pittsburgh’s winter magic (yes, we’re claiming it for the Midwest today)

Whether your style is Indoor Cozy, Outdoor Adventurer, or “Please anything that’s NOT another weekend stuck at home,” these winter getaways deliver big memories and warm family moments… even if your toes never quite thaw.

👇 READ THE FULL GUIDE 👇
https://lafamilytravel.com/5-midwestern-cities-to-visit-this-winter/

P.S. Who else has survived a Midwestern winter getaway with kids? Tell me your funniest disaster story — bonus points if it involves snow pants or a rogue sled. 😂

If you visit these Midwestern cities during the colder months, you’ll find that winter weather makes these destinations more magical!

20/11/2025

🎄🚨 GIFTING PANIC SEASON IS OFFICIALLY HERE 🚨🎄

Me, December 23rd: calmly sipping coffee, totally prepared
Also me, December 23rd at 11:47pm: sobbing into my phone while googling “gifts for people who own passports and have opinions about luggage”

If you have:
- A mom who says “I don’t need anything” but secretly wants something cooler than another candle
- A dad who owns more Patagonia than regular clothes
- Kids who turn any car ride longer than 12 minutes into a WWE cage match
- A friend who says “I’m basically a travel influencer” but has 11 followers (one is their mom)
- A dog that thinks your backseat is his personal salon…

STOP THE MADNESS. I found the ultimate cheat sheet of travel gifts that are actually useful, cool, and won’t make you look like you grabbed something from the airport kiosk at 3am.

We’re talking:
✈️ Noise-canceling headphones that block out screaming toddlers AND your brother-in-law’s political rants
🎿 Art of their favorite ski slope (yes, really)
🛫 A tray table cover because airplane trays are basically Petri dishes with altitude
🚗 A dog seat hammock so your car stops looking like a werewolf exploded in it
☕ Yeti everything (because cold coffee is a crime)

I wish someone had sent this to me before I gifted my dad a “World’s Best Traveler” mug… that he immediately filled with tools in his garage.

Save yourself. Click this link before you end up buying another pair of socks with airplanes on them. Your people deserve better. You deserve better.

👉 https://lafamilytravel.com/perfect-holiday-gifts-for-family-travelers/

Drop a ✈️ if you’re currently stress-gifting and I’ll send good vibes (and maybe wine)

If you have a traveler on your list, even kids who love to wander, we’re here to help find them the perfect gift, with tried and true ideas.

19/11/2025

👶✨ TRAVELING WITH A BABY: CHAOS OR CORE MEMORY?

Before our first trip with our daughter, I genuinely thought, “How am I supposed to pack an entire nursery into a suitcase?”
Between the bottles, sound machine, stroller, wipes, backup wipes (because… explosions), it felt impossible.

But here’s the thing: when you pick the right kind of trip, traveling with a baby goes from “what were we THINKING?!” to “wow, we actually crushed that.” 💪

That’s why we put together:
👉 6 Best Baby-Friendly Vacations New Parents Will Actually Enjoy

We’re talking about:
🍼 Beach resorts where naps are just an elevator ride away
🌲 Nature escapes and glamping with real beds + real bathrooms (bless)
🏙️ A chill city break in Santa Barbara with stroller-friendly walks
🏡 Vacation rentals where you can bring the rocker, lounger, and 3,000 snacks
🛳️ Cruises where you unpack once and let the itinerary do the work
🎢 Theme parks that actually work with a baby (hello rider switch + shaded stroller time)

These are the kinds of trips where:
✔️ Baby can nap without derailing your whole day
✔️ You and your partner still feel like a team, not just two zombies with a diaper bag
✔️ The memories totally outweigh the meltdowns (most of the time 😅)

👇 READ IT HERE 👇
[Link to full article]

P.S. Where did YOU take your first trip with baby? Drop it in the comments so we can all steal your ideas! 💛

Discover the best baby-friendly vacation ideas for new parents, from relaxing beach resorts to stroller-friendly city escapes.

17/11/2025

🎄✨ Who else LOVES curling up with Christmas movies and dreaming of stepping RIGHT into the scenes? 🍿❄️

If your family is anything like ours at , you’ve watched *Home Alone* in NYC, *A Christmas Carol* in London, *It’s a Wonderful Life* in Seneca Falls, *The Santa Clause* in Chicago, and *A Christmas Story* in Cleveland… on repeat! 😍

But what if you could actually *visit* these magical movie locations THIS December? 🎥➡️✈️

We just published the ultimate holiday bucket list: **Top 5 Christmas Movie Filming Locations to Visit This Holiday Season** — complete with where to stay, what to eat (yes, even Kevin’s 16-scoop sundae 🍨), and how to live out your favorite scenes IRL!

From skating at Rockefeller Center ⛸️ to seeing the REAL leg lamp in Ralphie’s house 🟡, these spots are pure Christmas magic.

👉 **READ IT NOW** and tag your movie-loving travel buddy who NEEDS this trip! 👇
https://lafamilytravel.com/five-festive-christmas-movie-destinations/

P.S. Which movie town are YOU visiting first? Drop it below! ⬇️❤️

Inspired by our family travel adventures, L.A. Family Travel writers share the best family travel guides & tips for the best family vacation!

12/11/2025

**WINTER VACATION PLANNING: A LOVE STORY** 💕❄️

Me: "Let's do something fun for winter break!"

My kids: "DISNEY!"

My bank account: "LOL no."

My sanity: "Please... anywhere but home for two weeks..."

**GOOD NEWS EVERYONE** 🎉

I found 7 AMAZING winter vacation spots that won't require selling a kidney AND will actually make your family happy (yes, even the teenager who "hates everything").

From dog sledding in Park City 🐕🛷 to watching monkeys casually stroll by your hotel in Costa Rica 🐒, from ice skating at Rockefeller Center 🎄⛸️ to diving for your diving cert in Key West 🤿... there's literally something for every family vibe.

**Best part?** Half of them involve ZERO SNOW. (Tag your friend who threatens to move to Florida every time it drops below 60°F)

**Second best part?** The article includes actual hotel recommendations so you don't have to spend 47 hours scrolling through reviews wondering if "cozy" means "charming" or "so small you'll sleep standing up."

Whether you're team "give me ALL the snow" or team "I want sand in my toes by December 20th," this guide has you covered. 🏔️🏖️

Click the link and start planning before your kids suggest staying home and playing Fortnite for 14 days straight. 🎮😱

👇 READ IT HERE 👇

https://lafamilytravel.com/7-best-winter-family-vacations-from-hot-tubs-to-northern-lights/

P.S. - Who's planning a winter escape? Drop your dream destination in the comments! (And tag that friend who DEFINITELY needs to see this... you know the one whose last "vacation" was a trip to Target alone)

Dreaming of snow-capped peaks or sunny beach escapes for your winter getaway? Check out these seven winter vacations in the U.S. and beyond.

07/11/2025

🏴‍☠️ So a bear stole our neighbor's lunch at a natural spring, my kids got *way* too excited about medieval torture devices, and I'm pretty sure the gator at the fort judged my parenting choices...

Welcome to St. Augustine, Florida! 😂

Forget Disney for a minute (I know, I know). We just spent a week in America's OLDEST city and it was the perfect mix of:
✅ Pirates and cannons
✅ Crystal-clear springs (so cold my father-in-law refused to get in)
✅ Ghost stories that actually spooked the kids
✅ A scavenger hunt that had my boys RUNNING through a museum
✅ Beach time without the crowds

Plot twist: My partner wants to move to Florida and honestly... after seeing water so clear you can count fish at the bottom? I GET IT NOW. 👀

The best part? No $200 park tickets. No 2-hour lines. Just history, adventure, and one very food-motivated bear. 🐻

Who else has done St. Augustine with kids? Drop your must-see spots below! ⬇️

👉 [Link to full article with all our favorite stops, where we stayed, and how to avoid that I-4 traffic nightmare]
https://lafamilytravel.com/20-awesome-things-to-do-in-st-augustine-with-kids/

Discover the best things to do in St. Augustine with kids, from exploring pirate museums to relaxing on family-friendly beaches.

07/11/2025

Winter Vacation Goals: National Parks Edition ❄️🏔️

Who says you need a tropical beach to escape this winter? 🙋‍♀️

Forget the crowded summer trails and sweltering heat—winter is THE secret season for experiencing our national parks! Picture this: snow-dusted red rocks at Arches, fewer crowds, perfect hiking temps, and experiences you literally can't have any other time of year.

**5 incredible winter destinations:**
🏜️ Arches NP - Mars-like landscapes with powdered sugar rocks
🐊 Everglades NP - Manatees, gators & zero mosquitoes!
🦇 Carlsbad Caverns NP - Perfect 56°F year-round underground
🌲 Olympic NP - Rainforests, hot springs & epic winter waves
⛷️ Grand Teton NP - Ski resorts, fat biking & sleigh rides

**The winter park advantage:**
✨ Way fewer crowds (like, SIGNIFICANTLY fewer)
✨ No heat exhaustion on hikes
✨ Unique seasonal activities you can't do in summer
✨ Better wildlife viewing in many parks
✨ That magical winter wonderland vibe

Who's ready to trade the treadmill for snowshoe trails? Tag your adventure buddy who needs to see this! 👇

🔗 https://lafamilytravel.com/chill-out-in-these-5-best-national-parks-in-winter/

Five Best American national parks with wintertime activities for families looking for winter vacation destinations.

02/11/2025

They always said: Enjoy it, it goes fast but when you’re in it, the days are long and not until it’s too late do you see that the years are short.

Head over to our profile to read what drove us to seek comfort in Mexico’s Dia de Los Mu***os celebration that brought it all together.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

30/10/2025

When your kids outgrow trick-or-treating, sometimes you need to escape to Mexico to heal your heart. 💔✨

Last October, my husband and I traded Halloween candy for something even sweeter: Día de los Mu***os at Casa Velas Puerto Vallarta. What started as a sad mom running from an empty nest moment turned into the most magical celebration of life, death, and everything in between.

🌺 We painted sugar skulls with craft cocktails in hand
💀 Paraded through skeleton displays that told centuries-old stories
🕯️ Learned why being nice to animals in this life REALLY matters for the next
🌊 Had dinner in a beachside teepee while processing it all

The Mexican culture taught me something beautiful: even after a part of your life "dies," life goes on. It may not look the same, but finding what's good and beautiful that remains? That's the gift.

Plus, this adults-only, all-inclusive resort is only a 2-hour flight from LA and costs HALF what luxury vacations in the US do. The private plunge pool on our terrace didn't hurt either. 😍

If you've ever felt that bittersweet ache of watching your kids grow up, or if you just need a reminder that life is beautiful even in its changes... read about our journey.

https://lafamilytravel.com/casa-velas-puerto-vallarta-review/

***os

(This article may or may not contain affiliate links. What does that mean?)   There were two things that drove my husband and me to visit Puerto Vallarta at the end of October last year. The first is that we love Halloween, but since the boys have become teens, their desire to trick-or-treat with u...

24/10/2025

🎃👻 Looking for a TRULY spooky Halloween getaway?

Forget the fake cobwebs and plastic skeletons... how about spending the night in a room where Marilyn Monroe's ghost still appears in the mirror? Or checking into a hotel where friendly spirits might tuck you into bed? 😱

California is home to some of America's most haunted hotels, and they're not just scary in October—these spirits stick around ALL YEAR LONG! From Hollywood legends who never checked out to Victorian-era headmistresses still roaming the halls, these real-life ghost stories will give you chills.

We're talking:
✨ John Belushi's spirit in a West Hollywood bungalow
✨ A brothel ghost who literally pushes intruders out of the building
✨ Over 100 spirits haunting a historic ocean liner
✨ A heartbroken woman from 1892 still waiting for her lost love

Would YOU be brave enough to book room 410 at the Queen Anne Hotel? Or request the most haunted room at the Union Hotel?

Read about California's 9 most terrifying hotels and decide if you dare... 👇

https://lafamilytravel.com/9-most-haunted-hotels-in-california-for-brave-families/

Here are the 9 most haunted hotels in Callifornia. Are you brave enough to stay in one of these spooky rooms?

21/10/2025

🎃 PSA: Halloweentown is REAL and I'm not emotionally prepared for this information 🎃

Remember that Disney Channel movie we all watched 47 times as kids? Yeah, well someone decided to make it a whole VIBE in St. Helens, Oregon, and now we need to book a flight immediately.

From September 17th to October 31st, this town goes FULL Halloweentown mode with:

👻 Giant light-up pumpkins (like, GIANT)
🏴‍☠️ Pirates shooting cannons at the river (as one does)
🎭 Costume contests where literally EVERYONE is dressed up
🏚️ A haunted house that had someone's "too cool for school" teenager holding their hand in fear (no judgment, we've all been there)

The best part? Most of it is FREE. Just walk around, take 800 Instagram photos, and pretend you're about to help Grandma Aggie save Halloween.

Who's ready for a spooky season road trip? ✈️👻🍂

P.S. — Watch the movie first with your kids. It hits different when you're actually standing where Debbie Reynolds stood. 😭

https://lafamilytravel.com/celebrate-halloween-all-october-long-in-halloweentown-oregon/

Parades, costume contests, haunted houses, and more make Halloweentown, Oregon the spookiest spot to bring your family this Halloween season!