L.A. Family Travel

14/12/2025

Planning a trip to Washington, D.C. with kids and wondering how to make it fun for everyone? 🇺🇸😍
We’ve got you covered! This guide breaks down the best kid-friendly things to do — many of them free — from dinosaur exhibits and interactive science displays to giant pandas and big outdoor spaces perfect for little legs to run around.

✨ Smithsonian museums with play areas
✨ National Zoo
✨ Monuments kids can explore
✨ Hidden spots like the Library of Congress children’s library
✨ Tips for planning meals and timing your day

Make your D.C. trip educational and memorable — without the “are we done yet?” chorus.

👇 Read the full guide here:

Research is your friend when planning a great family trip to Washington, D.C. Use this travel guide to plan a great trip to D.C. with kids,

13/12/2025

🌺 Who knew the **best (and free) spa in Hawaii** involves knee-deep mud? 😆

Imagine: You're on vacation, but instead of just chilling with a mai tai, you spend a morning in a traditional Hawaiian taro patch (loʻi kalo), pulling weeds and getting gloriously muddy. Your toddler? Covered head-to-toe, beaming like it's the ultimate spa day!

Volunteering in Hawaii isn't "work" — it's the secret to deeper relaxation, real cultural connection (mālama ʻāina), meeting locals, and giving back. One kid hated the beach but rated mud-weeding a 10/10! 😂

Bonus: Many hotels in the **Mālama Hawaiʻi Program** give discounts or even a free night for volunteering. Total win!

Top volunteer ideas open to visitors:
- Restore ancient taro patches at **Papahana Kuaola** (Oʻahu)
- Beach cleanups with **Sustainable Coastlines** or **808 Cleanups** — save turtles while finding hidden beaches
- Native forest work at **Waimea Valley**
- Maintain ancient fishponds
- Garden at **Kōkua Hawaiʻi Foundation** learning farm

Pro tips: Reef-safe sunscreen, closed shoes, snacks, and clothes you don't mind destroying. Full list at gohawaii.com/voluntourism!

https://lafamilytravel.com/volunteering-in-hawaii/

Ever volunteered on vacation? Or is getting muddy now on your Hawaii bucket list? Tell me below — share if this inspires your next trip! 🌴💪

Volunteering on your Hawaii vacation is a great way to have a fun and valuable experience while contributing something meaningful.

12/12/2025

💦🌴 FAMILY VACATION LEGEND STATUS: UNLOCKED.

If you’ve ever planned a beach trip with kids and ended up chasing sunscreen and snack wrappers… we’ve found a better way. 😉

Cancun’s all-inclusive family resorts with water parks are the ultimate mix of tropical paradise + kid-friendly adventure. Think: huge water slides, splash zones, lazy rivers, kid clubs, and relaxed beaches — all under one roof (and one check-in).

Whether your kids are tiny splashers or big thrill seekers, these resorts deliver the perfect blend of family fun and grown-up vibes.

👉 Dive into the full guide to Cancun’s best all-inclusive family resorts with water parks!

Dive in to one of these top resorts in Cancun, bound to make your family vacation unforgettable—and leave you with a golden tan.

11/12/2025

Vegas with teens: chaotic? Maybe. Memorable? Absolutely. 🎉

If you’re planning a Vegas getaway and want activities that actually excite your teens — we’ve got your back. No stale buffets or boring walks here. This list features real teen fun: zip lines, arcades, sky-high views, epic desserts, glow-in-the-dark mini golf, and cool museums they’ll brag about.

Ready to make your Vegas trip one your teens will actually remember? 👏

👉 Here are 17 awesome things to do in Vegas with teens:

Want to plan a vacation to impress even sulking, eye-rolling teenagers? Check out this guide to the best things to do in Vegas with teens!

10/12/2025

Got teens? 👣 Planning a vacation that actually makes them say “Wow” (not just “meh”)?

We just published a list of the Top Vacation Spots for Teens in the U.S. — including beach resorts, national parks, amusement-park getaways, and city escapes packed with teen-approved adventures. From surfing and hiking, to thrill rides and iconic sightseeing, this guide is designed to please even the most hard-to-impress teen.

👉 Check it out here:
https://lafamilytravel.com/top-vacation-spots-for-teens-in-the-u-s/

Tag a parent who’s got teens and needs real vacation ideas! 🌟

09/12/2025

I love to get away (when I can) but to be honest, I’m usually tired and don’t want to drive far during a weekend.

When I found out Ojai Mountain Wines - which is about 60-90 minutes from Los Angeles - bought a villa for their members and guests, I couldn’t wait to bring my friends. It was so easy to get there and here is the inside of this gorgeous estate.

Our host informed me that the house is shockingly available this coming weekend 12/12-12/14 so our friends could have a 10% discount on their last minute booking. ALSO the winery is running a holiday special. Shipping is FREE if your enter the code SHIPFREE25 at check out on any products and gift boxes.

                    

08/12/2025

Finding the perfect gift for someone who lives for travel can feel impossible — but not when the advice comes straight from a seasoned travel agent ✈️💼

After years of flying, cruising, road-tripping, and squeezing in that “one last thing” before wheels up… we rounded up the gifts that actually work in real life.

From the best under-seat duffel to a neck pillow that changes your life, to cruise-friendly essentials and road-trip lifesavers, these are the must-haves every traveler will use over and over again.

✨ No gimmicks, no clutter — just genuinely smart travel gear.
🎁 Perfect for holiday gifting!

Check out the full guide here 👇

Need help finding the perfect travel gift for the nomad in your life? Check out our top picks from a professional travel agent!

07/12/2025

Finding holiday gifts for tweens can feel like trying to read minds 😂 BUT — if your kiddo loves travel, we’ve got you covered!

From instant cameras and journals to packable hammocks, tech organizers, and the “cool” water bottles they take everywhere… this guide is full of travel-inspired gifts they’ll actually love (and use!).

Check out our best travel gift ideas for tweens — perfect for your next adventure together! 🎁✈️🌎
https://lafamilytravel.com/best-travel-gift-ideas-for-tweens/

06/12/2025

Sometimes moms need a break from momming.

Only 90 minutes from Los Angeles is Ojai Mountain Ridge Estate, a villa perfect for moms, friends and families who want to remember what it feels like to be spoiled.

The Ojai Mountain Ridge Estate has its own vineyard, four glorious bedrooms, and 40 acres floating above the clouds.

We highly recommend arriving at sunset.

🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁

06/12/2025

Just got back from Santa Claus, Indiana and I’m still not over it… 😭🎅

I walked into the Christmas store expecting a quick “ho ho ho” photo with a tired mall Santa. Instead I had a 20-minute, completely in-character conversation with the man himself. I asked about the reindeer’s favorite snacks. He answered like he’d just left the stable. Zero cracks. I almost asked for adoption papers.

This tiny Indiana town is LEGIT Christmas 365 days a year:
🎢 Holiday World – so clean they literally retired the “World’s Cleanest Park” award because they kept winning it for 19 straight years 😂
🍫 Frozen hot chocolate at Santa’s Candy Castle that should be illegal
🍕 Grinch pizza & gravy boat roller coasters (yes, you ride in a giant gravy boat)
✉️ An actual post office where kids mail letters to Santa… and Santa writes BACK
🗿 More giant Santa statues than stop signs

We spent 3 days riding coasters, eating way too many sweets, hiking where Abraham Lincoln grew up, and basically living inside a Hallmark movie that never ends.

If your family needs a dose of pure joy (or you just really love Christmas in July… or December… or March), drop everything and go. Your kids will lose their minds. You might too.

Who’s coming with me next year?! Tag your people 🎄✨

Full guide + where to stay/eat 👇
https://lafamilytravel.com/the-essential-guide-to-santa-claus-indiana/

Discover Santa Claus, Indiana, where Holiday World, historic sites, toy shops, and nonstop Christmas cheer come together.

05/12/2025

If someone in your life can tell you the exact spot to find a bighorn sheep in Joshua Tree… or has 18 coffee mugs from Yosemite… then THIS GIFT GUIDE is for them. 🤣🌲

We pulled together the ultimate National Parks-inspired gifts — everything from the All-Access National Park Pass (YES, PLEASE 🙌) to cozy coloring books, outdoor hammocks, retro park posters, and even National Park-themed board games the whole family will love.

These gifts aren’t just cool — they're meaningful. They inspire adventure, spark curiosity, and remind us of America’s most incredible places. 🏞️💛

If you’re shopping for hikers, campers, photographers, tiny explorers, or that friend who keeps calling Death Valley “Tatooine” 😂… we’ve got you covered.

🎄✨ Tap here to explore the full list of amazing National Parks gifts!
https://lafamilytravel.com/the-ultimate-gift-guide-for-national-park-enthusiasts/