L.A. Family Travel

28/11/2025

Thinking about a winter getaway? ❄️✨
After growing up along the U.S.–Canadian border, I thought I understood snow… until my family went to Lake Tahoe in December. WOW. Just wow.

Ice skating under twinkling lights, skiing with lake views, snow tubing that made us feel like kids again, cozy sleigh rides, cross-country skiing in quiet forests, hot tubs under the stars — it completely changed how we see winter.

If your family is craving a little magic this season, Lake Tahoe has everything you need for an unforgettable winter escape. Here’s why we fell in love — and why your family will too. 💙⛷️🛷✨

Read the full guide 👇

Discover a new way to experience winter when you visit Lake Tahoe in December. From skiing to snowmobiling, there's something for everyone.

27/11/2025

Finding a resort your teenager actually enjoys?
Nearly impossible.
…Until now. 😉

We found the top all-inclusive resorts made for teens — not toddlers. These spots have real adventure, real independence, and real fun built right into the stay.

🤩 A few teen-approved highlights:
🎮 Xbox lounges + teen discos
🌊 Waterparks + lazy rivers
🛶 Paddleboarding, snorkeling & wakeboarding
🔥 Axe throwing + archery
🧖 Teen spas & VR rooms
🍦 Unlimited snacks (obviously)

Whether your crew wants tropical beaches, desert hot springs, or wild water adventures, these resorts check ALL the teen-friendly boxes.

Save this now for your next family getaway!
👉 Full list here:

Teenagers don't always enjoy bonding with family on vacation. Make sure they have fun too at these best-all inclusive resorts for teens!

26/11/2025

🚨 SAN DIEGO PARENTS, IT’S TIME FOR THE ULTIMATE FAMILY SHOWDOWN:
San Diego Zoo vs. Safari Park — which one will make your kids lose their tiny minds first?! 🦁🦒🐨

Here’s the drama in a nutshell:

🏙️ San Diego Zoo (Balboa Park)
- Basically a giant, gorgeous jungle in the middle of the city
- Polar bears doing laps like Michael Phelps
- Koalas napping harder than your toddler at 3pm
- Skyfari gondola = legally allowed to sit down for 5 minutes
- Albert’s Restaurant serving Quesa Birria Tacos so good you’ll cry happy tears while a gorilla statue judges your life choices
- Perfect for little kids, strollers, and parents who need shade + 47 bathrooms per acre

🌍 San Diego Zoo Safari Park (Escondido)
- 1,800 acres of “wait… are we still in California?!”
- Giraffes and rhinos casually roaming like it’s The Lion King live
- Africa Tram = your kid’s new favorite roller coaster (but with actual zebras)
- You can literally zipline over rhinos or sleep with lions roaring you to sleep (Roar & Snore = peak parenting flex)
- Warning: your children may try to move in permanently

The verdict?
- Tiny humans + nap schedules = ZOO
- Big kids who run on curiosity and snacks = SAFARI PARK
- Parents with zero chill and a 2-day itinerary = BOTH (just get the combo ticket and thank me later)

Pro tip: We did both in one weekend and our family is still talking about the cheetah sprint and that one gorilla who side-eyed us like he knew our Wi-Fi password.

Who’s ready to go full wild?? Drop your vote below 👇
🐾 Team Classic Zoo
🦏 Team Safari Park
🤑 Team “I’m doing both and my credit card is crying”

P.S. Staying tips in comments because Mission Bay RV Resort bonfires + Hotel del Coronado s’mores + Lakehouse Resort kayaks = the full San Diego glow-up 🔥

https://lafamilytravel.com/san-diego-zoo-vs-safari-park-which-one-is-best-for-your-family/

Deciding between San Diego Zoo and Safari Park? Compare the unique experiences each offers for family fun and animal encounters.

26/11/2025

🕶️ Teenagers are a different species. You can have a good plan… but unless that plan includes food, thrills, AND a photo-op, forget it. 😂

Now that our boys are 14 and 16, “family time” requires strategy. Lucky for us, Los Angeles might actually be the best city in the world to bribe—I mean bond with—your teens.

This week’s adventure list includes:
🎢 Universal Studios (because Harry Potter + Express Pass = no eye-rolling)
🌊 Biking from Santa Monica → Venice
🎨 Getting wowed at the FREE Getty Center
🛍️ Shopping Melrose like it's a sport
🌄 Hiking Griffith Park for Hollywood Sign selfies
🦖 Dinosaurs, Tar Pits, space shuttles, and science that won’t bore them

If you’re planning a trip to LA—or you LIVE here and need fresh inspo for your “please hang out with us for one hour” negotiations—this guide is the ultimate cheat sheet.

👉 Full list of teen-approved activities, where to stay, and discounts:
https://lafamilytravel.com/fun-things-to-do-in-los-angeles-with-teens/

Where are YOU taking your teens next? Drop your fav LA spots below! ⬇️

Here is our essential guide of the best things to do in Los Angeles when visiting with teenagers, from hip shopping to the best museums.

25/11/2025

WINTER FUN WITHOUT THE SKIS? YES, PLEASE. ❄️✨

If your family loves winter… but does not love skiing (or maybe you’re like me and prefer keeping all bones unbroken 😂), THIS is your list.

We rounded up 9 incredible winter destinations across North America where non-skiers can still have the BEST. TRIP. EVER.

Think:
🐶 Dog sledding in Jackson Hole
❄️ Exploring REAL ice castles in New Hampshire
⛸️ Ice skating + ice bikes in Beaver Creek
🚀 Olympic bobsledding in Utah
🌲 Snowshoeing & fat biking in Sun Valley
🌊 Disco tubing + mini snowmobiles in Tahoe
🏔️ Gondola rides + epic views in Taos
🎣 Ice fishing + sleigh rides in Vermont
🌨️ Ziplining over snowy treetops in Whistler

Zero skis required. Maximum fun guaranteed.

👇 READ THE FULL GUIDE 👇
https://lafamilytravel.com/family-vacations-for-non-skiers/

Which winter adventure would YOUR crew choose?

Looking to join your skiers for a winter holiday but want to find things to do for non-skier? Here are 9 great alternatives!

23/11/2025

🌊🌲 VANCOUVER ISLAND: THE TRIP WE SHOULD HAVE TAKEN YEARS AGO.

I’ll be honest… for the longest time, I thought Vancouver Island was just another name for Vancouver.
It’s not.
It is an ACTUAL ISLAND.
With ferries! Tide pools! Surf towns! Rainforests!
And the kind of views that make you question why you haven’t moved there yet.

On our weeklong adventure, we discovered three incredible places to stay on Vancouver Island, and each one captured a totally different side of this magical place:

🏖️ Tigh-Na-Mara — Cozy cottages, oceanfront suites, a spa that feels like a secret cave, and a beach that transforms with the tides.
🌊 Tofino — Surf vibes, insane food, retro hotels, and beaches straight out of a dream.
🌲 Ucluelet — Quiet coves, the Wild Pacific Trail, unforgettable brunch, and fewer crowds.

Whether you want to soak in a mineral grotto, ride bikes at sunset, kayak among rainforest islands, or eat pie for breakfast (bless you, Savary Island Pie Company), this island delivers.

👇 READ THE FULL GUIDE 👇
https://lafamilytravel.com/great-places-to-stay-on-vancouver-island/

Who’s been to Vancouver Island? What was your favorite spot?

Discover 3 great places to stay on Vancouver Island, top things to do & where to eat. Make the most of this stunning West Coast destination!

22/11/2025

🎄✨ THE HOLIDAYS: WHERE TRADITION MEETS TOTAL CHAOS.

Every year, my kids talk nonstop about presents…
Meanwhile, I’m over here getting emotional about the traditions — the lights, the cookies, the matching pajamas, the whole cozy magic of it all.

If you’re the same, you’re going to LOVE this list.
We rounded up A Christmas Family Bucket List to Remember — complete with REAL places where you can actually experience the magic, not just pin it on Pinterest and forget about it. 😅

Here’s a little taste:
🚂 Ride The Polar Express in Perris, CA (hot cocoa + actors = pure kid joy)
🏘️ See the National Gingerbread House Competition in Asheville
💃 Watch the Rockettes or The Nutcracker in NYC
🎄 Visit over 100 glittering Christmas trees in Branson
⭐ Experience Live Advent in Bethlehem, PA
🎁 PLUS: Cozy ideas you can do right at home

If you're looking to build memories your kids will remember long after the toys break, this bucket list is IT.

👇 READ THE FULL BUCKET LIST 👇
https://lafamilytravel.com/a-christmas-family-bucket-list-to-remember/

What’s YOUR family’s favorite holiday tradition? Tell me so I can steal it. 😍

A 2022 Family Christmas Bucket List Guide of unforgettable activities and the best places to experience all of the fun!

21/11/2025

RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOUR KIDS CAN SMELL A WATER SLIDE FROM 40 MILES AWAY. 🙋‍♀️💦

Mine? Professional-level waterpark detectors. If there’s a lazy river, they’ll FIND IT.

As a mom of three boys, I’ve realized something important:
✨ The best family vacations = water + lifeguards + a Marriott logo ✨

Because listen… I’ve got BONVOY POINTS TO BURN and children who require a minimum of 4 slides to feel joy.

So we pulled together the Best Marriott Resorts With Waterparks — and these places DELIVER:
✔️ Orlando’s insane multi-slide towers
✔️ FlowRider surf machines teens will face-plant on
✔️ Lazy rivers long enough to count as cardio
✔️ Cabanas (aka mom’s safe space)
✔️ And rooms big enough for families who travel with half their house

If you’re planning a waterpark getaway or just want to stretch those Bonvoy points like the responsible adult you pretend to be — this list is your new best friend.

👇 DIVE IN 👇
https://lafamilytravel.com/the-7-best-marriott-resorts-with-waterparks/

Who’s your “we don’t need another stuffed animal, we need a water slide” kid? 😂

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!