On a beclouded winter day, when the sun cast a soft glow through the subdued haze and a mild gust stirred the air, I had the pleasure of visiting the South Coast Botanic Garden with my family. We picked a day that happened to be perfect: not too cold or too hot, and uncrowded, this urban oasis made for an easy escape from the harried city of Los Angeles.

Who would have thought that this special place is one of the world’s first botanical gardens to be developed over a sanitary landfill? I did not know this until quite some time after I had visited. It was only when I came to write about this enchanted venue that I learned this. In fact, while doing a bit of background research, I found myself drawn off topic altogether onto a tangent which led me to learning more about landfills! Tangents can be fascinating, although this one took the better part of an hour so that the gardens had to wait while I was drawn into the intriguing world of waste management and landfill sites. It may sound unsavory, but it’s a very important part of life. It’s almost like sewer treatment, which is interesting also, and another tangent I will refrain from taking now. While it’s not something one would talk about at a social function, I immediately shared what I learned with my family because the whole landfill process is actually very interesting. But then again, I tend to find almost any topic interesting… almost.

Now that the South Coast Botanic Garden’s humble beginnings have been revealed, I will return to the garden itself, a much more lovely and palatable topic.

The Garden covers 87 acres with a wide diversity of shrubs, trees, and colorful flowers blooming throughout the year. There are plants native to California, attracting lots of birds, bees and butterflies. There are also numerous flowers among lush greenery including roses, carnations, poppies, dahlias, sage, sunflowers, daisies, lilies and many more blooms. One almost does not know where to look first. Every corner, every spot—sunny or shady—has its treasures waiting to be discovered. It’s beautiful.

Imagine strolling along the open paths or the narrower windy trails and pausing to see dew drops collect on silken webs like delicate strands of tiny pearls. They reflect the dappled light with a soft luster which only nature can bestow.

There are the popular Children’s Garden and Discovery Garden incorporating nursery rhymes with plants to match the stories. Things like a dollhouse and bridge, a secret tunnel, worm bin, alphabet garden, butterfly garden, and whimsical characters delight children’s imaginations.

Other highlights include the Desert Garden, Display Greenhouse, Japanese Garden and Koi Pond, Mediterranean Garden, Rose Garden, a tranquil lake with turtles and dragonflies, a Palm Collection, Redwood Grove, Vegetable Garden, Ficus Collection, Rare Fruit Orchard, Gift Shop, Picnic Area and Amphitheatre.

But my personal favorite is the Banyan Grove. I’ve always loved Banyan trees because they just appear so massive and dominating and powerful. One cannot help feeling small next to them, though that’s not an unpleasant thing at all. Banyans are the world’s biggest trees in terms of the area they cover. These strangler fig trees overpower and smother their hosts, sending down roots which grow into stout pillars appearing like new tree trunks. It is said that Alexander the Great was so fascinated by them, he had notes and illustrations taken back to Greece to share with Theophrastus, the founder of modern botany. Their prehistoric allure is utterly romantic. They tug at the imagination with their imposing strength—-mine at least.

Their massive tangle of roots and cool understory are almost like something out of a fairy tale. I feel as though I have stepped into an enchanted forest far away from civilization: a place where nature rules, mighty, indomitable and uncompromising, but benevolent enough if you approach with a humble sense of awe. I enjoy meandering through the grove in a kind of enraptured trance, half-expecting a horse and its fearless rider to appear suddenly through the trees. Who goes there? I ask in a shaky whisper, turning suddenly to glance around. But it is only a fallen leaf, or so I tell myself while exhaling the breath I was not even aware I held.

Yes, places like this do strange and wondrous things to the imagination. They breathe a vivid and fanciful dimension into life, sprinkling it with a liberal dose of mystery and romance as nature often does.

Come see the Banyan Grove and numerous other splendid things at the South Coast Botanic Gardens. Whether you spend half an hour, or half a day, it will be time well-spent. The Garden is open from 9:00-5:00 daily year-round except for Christmas Day, with a variety of programs and events for families and kids. There are docent-led tours, tram tours, or simply self-guided walking tours if you so desire, and which I personally find to be the most intimate and enjoyable. I have not seen my imaginary horse and fearless rider in the Banyan Grove yet, but perhaps you will. Please send him my regards if you do…

Hearst Castle by Durova CC BY-SA 3.0

Hearst Castle was once a vacation home belonging to newspaper mogul William Randolph Hearst. It sits high atop a hill in San Simeon, California, overlooking the Pacific Ocean.  Its location is certainly beautiful, and was aptly named “La Cuesta Encantada,” The Enchanted Hill, for the views are simply enchanting. It was first opened to the public in 1958 after becoming a California State Park in 1954.

I had the opportunity to visit this site for the second time in my life some months back. The first time I went, I was a child of about eleven or twelve, so my impressions were quite different.  What impressed me most during my childhood visit were the swimming pools. I have always been drawn to water, so gazing upon their sparkling depths, was like staring at a pastry locked behind a glass cabinet: I could look all I wished, but I could not touch, no matter how much I longed to do so. And for someone who loved to swim almost as much as a fish, this unfulfilled longing bordered on a kind of torture. Oh how I wanted to dive into those pools…

Neptune Pool by Stan Shebs CC BY-SA 3.0

NEPTUNE POOL

The Neptune Pool, empty during our recent visit while it undergoes restoration, is an outdoor pool with fountains, marble sculptures, marble pavilions, and an ancient temple façade. It offers gorgeous views of the coastline, the property, and the Pacific Ocean.

ROMAN POOL

This indoor pool is an artistic masterpiece. It was inspired by the ancient Roman baths of Caracalla from the early third century AD. Copies of ancient Greek and Roman statues, mosaic glass tiles fused with gold, vaulted arches, and the domed ceiling are all exquisite. What attracted me most was that the water was actually heated during its heyday. Now that is luxury. I think I could spend hours in such a pool.

Hearst Castle by King of Hearts CC BY-SA 3.0

ESTATE

Hearst Castle features the main “castle” called Casa Grande, and three guest houses known as Casa del Mar, Casa del Monte, and Casa del Sol. Casa Grande is what attracts most visitors. The estate has 56 bedrooms, 61 bathrooms, 19 sitting rooms, over 100 acres of gardens, tennis courts, a movie theater, and indoor and outdoor swimming pools. At the time of Mr. Hearst’s ownership, it also included an airfield, and the world’s largest private zoo with a diverse collection of wild animals grazing freely over the hills. Included among the animals were camels, deer, ostriches, emus, antelope, zebras, llamas, kangaroos and sheep. Other animals like giraffes, tigers, bears, lions, leopards, chimpanzees, orangutans, monkeys, macaws, and an elephant were kept in menagerie cages. Today, zebras can still be seen roaming the hillside.

View from a terrace at Hearst Castle
by Daderot CC0

CASA GRANDE

Casa Grande’s décor is an eclectic mix of architectural styles and elements that Mr. Hearst acquired during his extensive travels around the world. There are large European oil paintings, tapestries, rugs, furniture, decorative pieces of art, a rare-books collection, and even Egyptian artifacts dating back to more than two millennia.

A MELANCHOLIC ENCHANTMENT

While the design is handsome, and each component chosen with obvious care, the overall effect of the estate left me a little ambivalent. Perhaps that is why I waited some months to write about it after my most recent visit. Yes, Hearst Castle is beautiful, but it’s also forlorn. There is something hollow and gloomy about it. It is like a body without a soul. I would even go as far as to say that it reflects the man who had it built. He traveled far and wide, searching for priceless artifacts with which to fill the house, but the resulting effect was rather like an orphanage of uprooted valuable pieces all housed in permanent exile in one place. The built-in carved wood seats lining the dining room wall seem to pine for the old European monastery from whence they came. The elaborate stone fireplace sits cold and brooding over its genteel past. The centuries-old ceilings gaze not upon the graceful mansions and palaces from where they came, but upon an incongruous collection bordering on the ostentatious. It is almost gaudy in its proportions, as though the Master of the house went on a shopping spree and binged on a varied assortment of precious artifacts he was determined to find a place for in his new home; determined to fill a void that perhaps nothing tangible could fill. It left me with a feeling of melancholy. A subtle despondence that lingered even after leaving the estate.

Hearst Castle by Zlatko CC BY-SA 3.0

Regardless, Hearst Castle is definitely worth a visit. It will be especially appreciated by those who enjoy things at face value which is, perhaps, the best way to approach this California Historical Landmark. But I could not help imagining the artifacts as they once were in their points of origin.  I had a home in France, one relic would whisper in reminiscence. And I in Belgium, another would say. And I in an ancient Egyptian temple, a third would reply.

And so the castle goes on murmuring its secrets when no one is around. Its relics tell their many tales with all the wistful eloquence of a bygone time. But I’m sure I caught a word or two of their nostalgic undertones. If you listen carefully, you just might hear them too.

And that alone makes a visit worthwhile.

Dolphin Bay Resort

The resort sits atop the bluff separated by a green lawn and a walking path overlooking the ocean.

Dolphin Bay Resort

Note the walking path along the bluffs by the ocean. The sea breeze rises through the fragrant plants and seems to wash right through your soul.

Dolphin Bay Resort

This is another vista of the bluffs with the ocean below. The views are breathtaking.

Dolphin Bay Resort

This is a miniature model of the resort. The location is absolutely stunning, and the resort’s amenities and services are impeccable as well. Together they offer families or couples an unforgettable getaway certain to refresh both body and soul.

Dolphin Bay Resort

The rocky beach below the resort is perfect for exploring tide pools or walking along the sand. Sunshine shimmers on the water and warms the skin.

Dolphin Bay Resort

This tide pool has a sea anemone. There is nothing quite like the wonder of nature to hold children’s (and adult’s) attention. Exploring these hidden pools is better than any man-made treasure.

Dolphin Bay Resort

The rooms and suites at the resort are handsomely appointed and very comfortable. There are a total of 60 one bedroom and two bedroom suites on the property. Complementary valet parking service is included.

Dolphin Bay Resort

Crisp white linens are perfect for sinking into after a long day of exploring Pismo Beach and local attractions.

Dolphin Bay Resort

The gourmet kitchen has everything needed and more. This is luxury at its finest.

Dolphin Bay Resort

Included with daily housekeeping and nightly turn-down services are complementary toiletry items like lotion, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and a host of other small touches that make a stay here memorable.

Dolphin Bay Resort

There is a hot tub and heated pool, as well as a spa, fitness room, delicious dining, and so much more.

Dolphin Bay Resort

One cannot get enough of the views, they are that gorgeous. The ocean breeze is so fragrant, it inspires a kind of euphoria.

Dolphin Bay Resort

There is a long set of steps that leads down to the beach from the path on the bluffs. It is worth climbing down to take a walk on the beach. The fragrant breeze and crashing waves upon the shore seem to put everything in life into its proper perspective.

Dolphin Bay Resort

The stairway to bliss… or the beach in this case. The ocean’s allure is timeless, and this resort certainly makes the most of it.

Driving Death Valley – photo – Genie Davis

It’s been awhile since my family and I visited Death Valley, and an equally long time since I’ve written about it here. Viewed in the fall, with still-warm days and star-filled nights, or the spring, when a riot of wildflowers burst out along the valley floor; viewed in winter when snow crusts the Panamints and a wicked wind is liable to spring up at night, or in the summer, when the heat keeps visitors in their cars until dusk or dawn, and the Furnace Creek Ranch resort pool beckons – it’s all good.

5,219 miles of national park serves up views and visits that are ever changing. For the kids, the uniqueness of the geology makes just about everything about a visit interesting.

HIGHLIGHTS

Why not start at the top? Dante’s View emerges from a narrow paved road about 5000-feet over the valley. The view is expansive, and the kids will enjoy seeing the salt flats of Badwater, the craggy peaks of the Panamint Range, the golden, undulating dune system. Coming back down, it’s time to take the unpaved but perfectly-okay-in-a-passenger car Twenty Mule Team Canyon road. A great look at the canyon up close is a fun contrast with the vast view at the top.

Zabriskie Point is just about finished with the rehabilitation of its trail and parking, and with a spring-time reopening, it’s a must-see. A closer view of the park’s scenery than observable from Dante’s View, the trail is easy enough for even small children to walk, and there are several benches along the way to sit and drink in the scenery.

The next stop for any family must surely be the way-below sea level Badwater. Let the kids loose on the salt flat, take the obligatory photo that indicates this part of the park is a whopping 282 feet below sea level. The salt flats crackle, the mineral-rich, foul-tasting water looks like a mirror, and the kids will be awed. Continue the experience with a drive through Artist’s Drive. The pastel palette is astonishing, and there are a number of easy stops for photos or to take a short stroll with a view.

ACCOMMODATIONS 

Staying at Furnace Creek Ranch, Xantera resorts’ family-friendly enclave in the park, has a number of advantages over staying outside the park. The wonderful, spring-fed, warm, and open-late swimming pool for one. With only minimal chlorine, the pool is constantly refreshed and heated to a delightful soaking temperature of around 82 degrees. Antique rail road cars, wagons, and mining equipment for the kids to explore for another. The large green oases that is the resort itself, with date palms, a well-equipped children’s playground, and tennis courts, and basketball court let the kids burn off steam in a comfortable environment. And of course, the resort is right in the park, so getting up for an early morning stroll on the Mesquite Flat sand dunes or heading out to hunt for pup fish at Salt Creek takes a minimal amount of time. An onsite gift shop and store is the perfect spot to claim a souvenir, a cold drink, or a candy bar.

DINING

Dining options include the Wrangler, a comfortable steak-house type experience that’s child-friendly and includes options other than steak, from fish to salad bar to risotto. At lunch, the dining room serves buffet-style. The 49er is more casual, and has great sandwiches and breakfast fare. In spring and fall, the ranch offers wagon rides around the property; live music often graces the porch outside the ranch’s mining museum.

MORE EXPERIENCES

Another gorgeous view – photo- Genie Davis

There are many options for experiencing the park, and you’ll know what suits your family best. Some will enjoy the guided tours of Scotty’s Castle, the mansion built on tall tales and a city-dwellers improved health in the desert air. Smaller children – and the whole family – will enjoy a trip to the sand dunes, to tumble down some soft sand, look for lizards, and write their names in the soft whiteness. Older kids will enjoy the scramble and vibrant rock colors and patterns along the Mosaic Canyon trail. The unearthly shapes at Devil’s Golf Course will enthrall, the deep pit of Ubehebe and Little Ubehebe Crater create the impression of being on the moon. If your car is equipped for rough roads – a four wheel drive vehicle with good clearance – driving out to see the rocks and flats of the descriptively apt Racetrack is a fun way to spend a morning or afternoon. In the cooler, evergreen Panamints, the beehive shaped Charcoal Kilns, once smelting ore for the Modock Mine, are a unique sight with a great echo.

Death Valley dunes late afternoon – photo – Genie Davis

If you head out to the west, make a stop at the Pannamint Resort for a hearty lunch and a view of the Panamint Valley; from the east, you’ll want to make a stop in Shoshone for a milk shake and grilled cheese at the tiny, quaint, Crowbar. A bit further afield, off Highway 395 heading to Los Angeles, there’s the refurbished ghost town of Randsburg, whose general store offers lunch, drinks, and souvenirs, and the old mining facades includes a one room jail house that kids always enjoy. Heading for I-15, the must-stop is the kitsch and baklava at the Mad Greek.

Whether you are a thrill-seeker with an appetite for high speed, or prefer to wade through a tranquil pool, these 10 best waterparks in the USA have something for everyone in your family. From tots and teens, to adults with frisky genes, few things beat a visit to a waterpark on a hot summer’s day.

Splashin’ Safari – Santa Claus, Indiana 

Splashin’ Safari
courtesy of Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari

This ideal venue is really two awesome parks for one price: Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari (the theme park and the water park). Home to the two longest water coasters in the world – Wildebeest and Mammoth – Splashin’ Safari has everything from a wave pool and lazy river, to thrilling slides, tubing, rafting rides and much more. There are several play areas for young children with shallow pools, gentle waves, spray grounds, and small water slides certain to delight little ones. Open mid-May through early September, Splashin Safari offers guests free parking, free unlimited soft drinks, free sunscreen, and free Wi-Fi. With everything it has to offer, it’s no wonder this is one of the nation’s best waterparks!

Schlitterbahn Waterpark – New Braunfels, Texas

Schlitterbahn New Braunfels
photo by Schlitterbahn Waterparks and Resorts

Schlitterbahn Waterpark has four fantastic locations that are all highly rated: Galveston Island, South Padre Island, New Braunfels, and Kansas City. Schlitterbahn New Braunfels is our top pick with water attractions galore including slides, tubing, rafting, water coasters like Master Blaster that tops 6 stories and more than 1,000 feet of non-stop thrills. A lazy river, wave pool, activity pools, water playgrounds for tots and kids, and a whole lot more spread out over 70 glorious acres of endless fun and recreation for the whole family. Schlitterbahn in New Braunfels is open mid-May through mid-September, and has free parking. This waterpark is a must-see for waterpark enthusiasts!

Noah’s Ark – Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin

Noah’s Ark

Noah’s Ark is one of the two largest waterparks in America with 70 acres of endless fun for the whole family. It boasts numerous waterslides, two endless rivers, two giant wave pools, bumper boats, four water play areas for children, a 4-D dive-in movie theater, the thrilling Black Anaconda water coaster ride, the world’s largest bowl ride Time Warp, the near-vertical looping waterslide Scorpion’s Tail, the surfing ride Surfing Safari, and a whole lot more. There are indoor arcades for dry fun as well. Noah’s Ark is open from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, and includes free parking. Don’t miss this amazing waterpark in the heart of Wisconsin Dells!

Water World – Federal Heights, Colorado

Water World
courtesy of Water World

70 magnificent acres with 48 water attractions await waterpark aficionados at Water World in Colorado.  Besides the 720-foot lazy river, 2 giant wave pools, slides, water coasters, tube rides, flumes galore and more, there are plenty of family attractions for younger children at this fabulous park as well. Play areas like Clown Around Creek and Caribbean Family Adventure offer little ones lots of water fun with shallow pools, interactive elements, miniature slides, tubes, fountains and more. Water World is open late May through Labor Day weekend and has free parking and complimentary Wi-Fi access in select areas. With so many wonderful features, Water World is one of the best family waterparks anywhere!

Water Country USA – Williamsburg, Virginia

Water Country USA

The 1950s/60s throwback surfing theme of Water Country USA makes a visit to this park like a blast to the past with all the amenities and conveniences of today. It has a wave pool, tube rides, slides, rafting rides and more, including the 552-foot Colossal Curl funnel ride that’s a “splashtacular” thriller. Live entertainment shows like the Aquabatics! Dive Show feature incredible high dive acts, trapeze and trampoline stunts, while swimming and water exercise classes are offered for the fitness-minded. Tots and kids have plenty to keep them cool in the various water playgrounds with slides, falls, jet sprays and more. Water Country USA is open from late May through early September, and is one place the entire family will love!

Raging Waters – San Dimas, California

Raging Waters San Dimas

Arguably the West Coast’s best waterpark, as well as California’s largest waterpark, Raging Waters has 3 locations in California (Sacramento, San Jose, and San Dimas), with the San Dimas location being our top pick. Its 50 acres include a sandy beach, 36 slides and attractions, a Flowrider, endless river, a million-gallon wave pool, rapids rafting and more. There are plenty of kiddie attractions from Kid’s Kingdom, Splash Island Adventure, Volcano Fantasea, to Little Dipper with countless interactive water features, slides, fountains, waterfalls, tunnels and so much more. Raging Waters is open mid-May through mid-September. Come prepared to have a raging good time with your family!

Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon – Lake Buena Vista, Florida

Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon
photo by Ashley

Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon’s tropical storm-themed park is one of the world’s most visited waterparks. It boasts the largest outdoor wave pool in North America, rafting rides, slides aplenty, a sandy beach for sunbathing, lazy river, and much more. There is a manmade coral reef – Shark Reef – where older children, teens and adults can snorkel with live tropical fish, stingrays and sharks for an unforgettable experience. A play area for younger children – Ketchakiddee Creek – has lots of water fun activities including fountains, slides, crawl chutes, a small sandy beach and all kinds of interactive splashing implements for the little ones. Open January through the end of September, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon is perfect for the whole family!

Wet ‘n’ Wild Emerald Pointe – Greensboro, North Carolina

Wet ‘n’ Wild Emerald Pointe

Wet ‘n Wild Emerald Pointe in Greensboro, North Carolina has more than 36 marvelous rides and attractions for the whole family. Over 3 million gallons of wonderful water fun await. From thrilling body and tube slides like Bonzai Pipeline and Daredevil Drop, to rafting, a lazy river, a shallow lagoon, a huge wave pool and more, visitors are assured to have a great time. Young children will enjoy the Happy Harbor and Splash Island play areas with their shallow pools, slides and lots of interactive spraying fun. Open late May through early September, Wet ‘n Wild Emerald Pointe is another superb choice for families everywhere!

Disney’s Blizzard Beach – Lake Buena Vista, Florida

Disney’s Blizzard Beach
photo by Alain

Disney’s Blizzard Beach is another water park at Walt Disney World in Florida. It is themed after a melted ski resort that has left a wet world of watery fun in its wake. Its water is kept at a comfortable 80 degrees, and includes attractions like a 1-acre wave pool, thrilling rapids rides, slides, toboggan races, a lazy river and more. The children’s play area has small slides, fountains, sprayers, chutes tunnels, and tubing for pint-sized thrills. Open April through the end of December, Disney’s Blizzard Beach is sure to delight everyone in your clan!

Wet ‘n’ Wild Orlando – Florida

Wet ‘n’ Wild Orlando
photo by Ricky Brigante

Located at Universal Orlando Resort in Orlando, Florida, Wet ‘n’ Wild Orlando has 17 exciting attractions on a sprawling 30 acres that include a wave pool, lazy river, tubes, slides and rides like the newest Aqua Drag Racer that will keep you hollering for more. It also boasts something unique that sets it apart from other waterparks: the Wake Zone – a manmade lake perfect for water sports (additional nominal fees apply) like paddle boarding, wake skating, and knee skiing. Children have a spectacular interactive water play area – Blastaway Beach - that is over an acre of excitement including 15 slides, 2 splash pools, cannons, soakers and jets, and a 60-foot sandcastle tower rising at its center. And the best part? Wet ‘n’ Wild Orlando is open year-round!

The Riviera’s pool was large, warm, and shallow – family friendly.

My kids have always talked about the California desert as if it was a place even more exotic than it is – as if it were the sands of Arabia, and Aladin would soon be sailing a magic carpet over their heads. So a recent trip to the Rat Pack meets fairy tale wonders of the Riviera resort in Palm Springs seemed only to confirm the illusion of exotic magic, close to Los Angeles.

The Riviera was once a true Rat Pack escape, with Frank Sinatra hanging out by the pool drink in hand. While he might recognize the wheel-and-spokes design of the hotel’s twenty four acres, he’d be surprised by the cool changes a recent seventy million spent on hotel restyling and updating has wrought.

While the resort certainly caters to couples, girls weekends, and adults intent on relaxation, it’s also a surprisingly family friendly resort. Nestled in the quieter north end of town, with towering palm trees and shady gardens, the exotic decor is a real lure for adults and kids alike.

The rooms are large and sleek, and many have either balconies or patios. Sure, the kids will enjoy the big flat screen plasma TV, but even more they’ll like the pop art decorating the walls in bright primary colors – Warhol abounds – and light fixtures that look like “popcorn on top of tiaras.”

The kids loved the fantastic design elements throughout the Riviera resort in Palm Springs – lots of amazing light fixtures as art.

Best of all are the public spaces: the moment you walk into the lobby your inner child and children will be captivated by bright tangerine walls and intricate white scrolling; glittering chandeliers line a hall way that leads to the comfortable, casual yet lovely main dining room, Circa 59, with both indoor and outdoor seating. It’s in the restaurant that the wow factor really kicks in: a giant red octopus of a chandelier that could’ve been created by glass designer Dale Chihuly. There’s also a great looking outdoor corridor whose walls are covered with fake greenery – it feels like you’ve entered something out of Alice in Wonderland.

Of course your kids may be most interested in the pool offerings at the hotel. We found a smaller pool furthest from the center of the hotel was filled with families, and the pool was commodious, the hot tub not-too-hot. We also saw a number of families besides our own at the main pool, which is surrounded by large palms and also has the benefit of friendly, fast pool side food and beverage service. Morning egg and cheese burritos, veggies and hummus, fruit plates all make good, healthy snacks and truly serve two. The pool itself is shallow, topping out at four feet, making it child-ideal, and at night, story telling by a glossy fire pit pool side – with perhaps a desert order from Circa 59 to accompany the tale – is a sure hit. Besides loungers and luxurious rental cabanas, the hotel offers an inbetween-option: day beds big enough for a family of four and with overhead shade.

Maybe best of all: attentive service. The kids seem thirsty? Here’s a chilled Fiji water on the house. Need more towels in your room? Coming right up.

Parents can take turns booking a surprisingly reasonably priced massage at the poolside SpaTerre.

Our family loved the relaxing but luxurious vibe, as well as the op and pop art giving a ‘60′s era swagger to the walls, the friendly staff, and the illusion that we were indeed in an exotic place, self-contained and too comfortable to want to hurry away from. The hotel was able to accommodate our desire to linger with an extended check out, too.

Twenty-six feet tall and thirty-four thousand pounds. That’s Marilyn Monroe in Palm Springs through June 2013

We did leave the resort in order to take a look at the giant Marilyn Monroe residing in downtown Palm Springs just behind the mall. Sculptor Seward Johnson crafted Marilyn to be three stories and twenty six feet tall. She’s in town until June 2013, to celebrate what would be the icon’s 85th birthday and the fact that she was discovered and photographed in Palm Springs over fifty years back.

Previously residing in Chicago, the “Forever Marilyn” is even more impressive with palms and blue hills behind her.

We joined the small line of people waiting to pose for a picture op beneath her billowing skirt. Definitely a tourist draw, the sculpture weighs over thirty-four thousand pounds and had to be reassembled after her journey from the mid-west.

After some posing and mugging, we walked a few warm blocks to the new Lulu’s restaurant, where a three course, delicious Sunday brunch under a massive space-ship of a chandelier – cool lighting seems to be the norm in Palm Springs these days – is available for just under twenty dollars. Kid friendly? Yes indeed. The kids menu included tasty waffles for the under-twelve set for the bargain price of $5.99. Indoor/outdoor dining in what feels like a pastel colored space ship
includes vegetarian and gluten-free options. We loved people watching as the sun sank below the purple and honey colored hills.

Like everything else magical about the Palm Springs desert – nights almost as warm as days, welcoming staff at a super-cool hotel, our kids were enchanted, and your family will be too.

The City by the Bay is also home to many wonderful attractions that are perfect for families with kids. Below are five top picks to keep even the youngest in your clan happily entertained. These attractions are listed alphabetically, and provide for wonderful learning opportunities about the amazing and diverse world in which we live. Make sure to visit them next time you are in the great metropolitan city of San Francisco.

Aquarium of the Bay

A bat ray glides through the water at the Aquarium of the Bay

Located at the edge of Fisherman’s Wharf at Pier 39 by the San Francisco Bay, Aquarium of the Bay is home to more than 20,000 aquatic animals native to the bay and surrounding waters. The 50,000-square-foot aquarium is divided into three exhibit galleries: Discover the Bay, Under the Bay and Touch the Bay. Some of its impressive collections feature a variety of sharks, rays, skates, rock fish, sea stars, eels, jellies and more. A successful breeding program includes pipefish, moon jellies and skates, many of which are donated to educational facilities and public aquariums throughout the country. The aquarium’s water supply comes from the San Francisco Bay itself, where it is filtered and maintained a constant 55 degrees.

Guests can walk through two tunnel tanks for an up-close experience with the aquatic life gliding through their watery world. Several touch pools allow visitors to meet the amazing animals that live there, and include such creatures as leopard sharks, juvenile bat rays, skates, urchins, sea cucumbers, sea stars and anemones. This is an exciting opportunity for children especially to discover what the creatures look like and how they feel — from smooth, slippery textures, to rougher exteriors.

Aquarium of the Bay features daily feeding presentations, an interactive bay lab station with animal encounters including terrestrial critters like tarantulas, hedgehogs and skinks, and hands-on activities like games and puzzles for children to pique their curiosities and further enhance their learning experiences. A theater offers families a chance to see 3D films that immerse one in the mysterious and captivating world of the animals there.

For more information visit their website at www.aquariumofthebay.org

California Academy of Sciences

California Academy of Sciences Entrance

The California Academy of Sciences features a planetarium, a four-story rainforest, an aquarium with 38,000 live animals, and a natural history museum with beautiful dioramas including the African Hall, and exhibits that explore the wildlife of Madagascar and the Galapagos, as well as skeletons of a T-Rex and blue whale. The stunning exhibits are also home to many live plants and animals including a popular 17-year-old albino alligator named Claude.

Guests can watch fascinating shows in the planetarium, observe the educational penguin feedings and coral reef dives, meander through a 90-foot diameter glass-domed rainforest with a lush variety of tropical plants and animals representative of different habitats in our world and  including such creatures as free-flying birds, butterflies, frogs, spiders, snakes, tropical fresh-water fish and more. Programs for adults and kids include a variety of tours, presentations, academy sleepovers, and a plethora of fun in the Naturalist Center with crafts, games and stories, as well as lots of hands-on activities for toddlers in the Early Explorers Cove.

The California Academy of Sciences building is a spectacular sight in itself, with its domed grassy roof with sloping hills and lush vegetation. The Academy also features two delicious dining options, shops and gardens for strolling. This is a must-see while visiting San Francisco.

The California Academy of Sciences in located at 55 Music Concourse Dr. in Golden Gate Park. For more information check out our more detailed article called The California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco.

Exploratorium

As its name implies, Exploratorium in San Francisco is a wonderful place for children and adults to explore its fascinating exhibits while learning about the world in which we live. Established in 1969, this museum of human perception, art and science has hundreds of interactive exhibits that pique our natural human curiosity. The hands-on exhibits allow guests to learn more about things like physics, biology, cognition, listening, and visual perception through the exploration of intriguing subjects like living things, the human body, the mind, astronomy and space, the earth, and the everyday science of things around us.

Exploratorium will be moving to a new location at Pier 15 in spring 2013. This waterfront venue will feature 150 new exhibits, a Bay Observatory, an outdoor gallery and free civic space, and will be an improvement on this already fantastic museum.

With so many things to see and touch, families with kids can have a great time discovering all the artwork, displays and exhibits that have been built on-site. Programs at Exploratorium include film screenings, original plays, lectures, craft demonstrations, and more. For more information visit their website at www.exploratorium.edu

Muir Woods National Monument

Muir Woods National Monument

Muir Woods National Monument is home to the world’s tallest trees. Soaring over 250 feet into the sky, one feels an absolute sense of awe for these towering spires of nature. These coastal redwoods range from 500-800 years in age, with the oldest trees living over 1,000 years. Their long lifespans are a marvel. Just imagine historical events like the California Gold Rush, the American Revolution, or Christopher Columbus’s sailing to America. Then looking around at the trees, it can be rather mind-boggling to realize that many of the trees in this primeval wood existed at the time of those significant moments in history.

A short, comfortable drive from San Francisco, Muir Woods National Monument makes for a lovely family getaway any time of the year. The clearly-marked trails are lush with ferns and fragrant mosses that peek out among the stately trunks of these majestic trees. Being close to the San Francisco Bay, fog and mists rest above the canopy, or creep with haunting beauty through the evergreen branches. Sunlight filters below, illuminating the landscape with a hazy light that seems to transport one to a time of mythical beauty and enchantment.

A visit to Muir Woods National Monument is perfect for families with children of all ages, though will be most appreciated by school-aged children who can roam about on their own feet. Parents with infants and toddlers can carry their little ones in front or backpack carriers for hands-free versatility. Jogger strollers are best for negotiating the trails. For more information visit their official website at www.nps.gov/muwo

Muir Woods National Monument was also featured in a Tots & Travel article titled by the same name Muir Woods National Monument.

San Francisco Zoo

Kangaroo at the San Francisco Zoo

Nestled along the Pacific Ocean, the San Francisco Zoo is one of the top 10 zoos on the West Coast, and was featured in a Tots & Travel article in 2011. This 100-acre oasis has everything from feathered friends, ravenous reptiles, magnificent mammals, adaptable amphibians, to intriguing insects and more. Its fabulous exhibits invite guests to roam through the lush grounds and learn about the 700 animals representative of North and South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Some of the amazing animals living at the zoo are lions, tigers, kangaroos, bears, monkeys, gorillas, alligators, snakes, frogs, birds and a host of creepy crawly critters.

The zoo also features rides on a miniature steam train, a historic carousel, and a children’s zoo with petting farm, exhibits, insect zoo, and delightful activities for little ones. An interactive storybook with storybook sites spread throughout the park allows visitors to listen and learn about the animals at the zoo. The storybook recordings are activated by keys that can be purchased at the entrance. The San Francisco Zoo makes for a memorable visit that the whole family will enjoy. For more information visit their website at www.sfzoo.org

Desert Springs Marriott Villas 2 along the Valley Golf Course

Palm Desert, California is a very popular destination for snowbirds looking to escape the cold weather during the winter months. With hundreds of golf courses within minutes driving time, a wide range of accommodations from budget motels to five star resorts, plentiful recreational attractions, abundant shopping and dining, and stunning natural beauty, this desert oasis is a great place to visit anytime of the year.

This is the amazing view from our Villa patio looking out towards a lake on the Valley Golf Course

Our family chose the Marriott Vacation Club’s Desert Springs Marriott Villas 2 in Palm Desert for our summer vacation in July of 2012. Conveniently located only 2 hours from the heart of Los Angeles, or 2 hours and 20 minutes from San Diego, it’s no wonder so many Southern California residents make the Desert Springs Marriott Villas in this small town gem their respite from the hustle and bustle of city life. With Palm Springs International Airport a short 10 to 15 minutes driving distance, and the Ontario International Airport one hour away, there is no shortage of travel options for far-away visitors.

The Palmeras Pool pool area – 3 full size pools, children’s wading pool and splash fountains, and 2 large hot tubs

Between two and three weeks prior to your arrival, we recommend contacting the Pre-Arrivals department of the Desert Springs Marriott Villas with any special requests. We were traveling with three families, each with their own villa, so it was very important for us to be in close proximity to each other. We are a high maintenance group, so our requests did not stop there! In addition, we asked to be on the ground floor level, facing the golf course, and walking distance to the Palmeras Pool. Although they offer no guarantee, their friendly staff will do everything possible to accommodate their guests.

Villa Options and Descriptions

Entertaining the family in our villa living room

There are three accommodation options available at the Marriott Villas. The smallest and most economical option is the standard guest room also referred to as a studio villa. These rooms come with either a king size bed, or two double size beds depending on your requirements. A small kitchenette is available with a mini refrigerator, microwave, toaster and coffee maker, as well as a limited number of dishes and silverware. It comes with a full bathroom including shower and separate tub. Each studio villa has an attached private patio with patio furniture. We highly recommend securing one of these villas facing the golf course which will expand your patio into a sprawling scenic landscape of green fairways, palm trees and lakes.

The next step up in accommodations is the one bedroom one bathroom villa. This spacious villa comes with all the conveniences of home, including a full kitchen, living room, laundry room, and separate bedroom. The kitchen is equipped with a full size refrigerator, microwave oven, range oven with stove, toaster, coffee maker, garbage disposal, cabinets with a full set of dishes, glasses, pots and pans, and drawers with a full set of silverware and other basic necessities like spatulas, bottle openers, and a set of sharp knives.

Our kids playing in a small inflatable pool steps from our Villa patio

Book a 2 bedroom 2 bathroom villa like we did, and your family can stretch out and relax in comfort with separate quarters available for your kids during sleep time. Our two kids are both toddlers and still take long naps during the day, so that separate bedroom was a key feature for us. The bedroom walls are very well insulated, and with the blackout drapes, we had no problem entertaining guests in our living room while the kids were sound asleep during the day or night. If you are fortunate enough to have a villa facing the golf course like we did, you can slide open your drapes in the living room and both bedrooms and enjoy marvelous vistas visible through the large windows. My wife and I like our bedroom to be extra cold while we sleep, so the separate air conditioning thermostat in the kids bedroom was a key feature for our maximum comfort.

Our daughter enjoying one of the pools at the Palmeras in her comfortable shaded floaty

The Desert Springs Marriott Villas and the adjacent JW Marriott Desert Springs Hotel have invested millions of dollars in renovations over the past few years. Our three families stayed in villas that were completely remodeled with brand new carpeting, new tile floors, kitchen appliances, flat screen TVs, furniture, cabinets and granite counters throughout. We are a tough family to please, and from the moment we arrived, every one of us was thrilled with the clean, bright and modern upgrades. There was also free and ample covered parking for guests throughout the complex. Guests looking for a cardio or weight lifting work-out have free 24 hour access to the on-site gym located next to the main lobby.  Another bonus that cannot go unmentioned is the free WIFI broadband Internet service accessible from anywhere in your villa or the pool areas.

On-Site Recreation, Shopping and Dining

The one foot deep Palmeras children’s wading pool perfect for toddlers

With 7 enclosed pool areas strategically located throughout the resort grounds, a refreshing swim or soothing hot tub is always walking distance away. The Palmeras pool area is our favorite, with three large pools (one with a volleyball net), a 1 foot deep children’s wading pool, splashing water fountains, two hot tubs, and an outdoor bar and grill called the Water’s Edge just steps away. There are always plenty of lawn chairs available for you and your family to stake your claim. We recommend arriving to the pool before 11am to secure one of the many the umbrellas for shade.

Children running and playing in the water spray fountains at the Palmeras pool

Guests of the Villas can enjoy deep discounts at the two golf courses that meander their way throughout the resort connecting all of the villas and the adjacent JW Marriott Desert Springs Hotel. These two challenging golf courses, the Valley Course and Palms Course, lure golfers of all skill levels with their well maintained verdant greens and fairways, numerous white sand bunkers and picturesque lakes.

Our kids running free on the golf course outside our Villa in 89 degree weather and high humidity. It felt like we were in Hawaii!

Villa guests looking for spa, dining and shopping options within walking or free shuttle distance have full access to the Desert Springs JW Marriott Hotel. Our family favorite is the Mikado Japanese Steakhouse where you can enjoy good steak and seafood dishes prepared table side by skilled and entertaining chefs on their teppan grill. Mikado also has a sushi bar, and fresh sushi is available for order anywhere in the restaurant. Guests of the Villas can also enjoy a discount of up to 20% on dining at the Hotel as well as certain other restaurants in the Palm Desert area. Look for the discount card in your welcome package which also includes a list of the participating restaurants and attractions.

Nearby Shopping, Dining and Attractions

The Market Place shopping center with a Ralph’s supermarket, Rite-Aid, and several restaurants and other small shops are located less than 5 minutes drive from the Desert Springs Marriott Villas. Drive 10 minutes away to The River at Rancho Mirage, a fashionable center with a wide variety of food choices like P.F. Changs, Flemings and Babe’s Bar-B-Que, and plentiful boutique shopping outfits and entertainment including the Century Theaters at The River with over a dozen movie theaters.

Palm Springs Tramway rising 8,500 feet

For families with kids, we recommend a visit to the Children’s Discovery Museum Rancho Mirage less than 10 minutes drive from the resort. The Living Desert Zoo & Botanical Garden Palm Desert is also a great family attraction minutes from the resort with 1,200 acres of natural desert beauty, plants, and animals from all over the world. Another family favorite is the rotating Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, climbing 8,500 feet to the San Jacinto Peak. This scenic and unforgettable ride up the mountain is just the beginning. There are both Winter and Summer activities including hiking, camping, guided nature walks and even cross country skiing! Nourish both your body and soul at the Peaks Restaurant, with a good variety of food choices and breathtaking views of the valley below.

Family Tips

Celebrity Sitters is a wonderful on call babysitting service for in-room childcare in Palm Desert and other nearby cities. They are CPR and First Aid certified, but best of all, they are all very reliable, friendly, loving and experienced child care specialists. For reservations call (760)251-4567.

Families traveling with very young children and staying in a 2 bedroom 2 bath villa should bring along a baby monitor for the spare bedroom so parents can hear/see the kids when they wake.

Although there are high chairs and pack and plays available free at the resort, it’s always a good idea to request these items ahead of time to insure availability. Families with toddlers too big for a pack-and-play can request a villa with a trundle pull-out bed. Not all villas are equipped with one, so make sure to arrange this in advance. The Pre-Arrivals department is very accommodating and can handle this along with all of your other requests.

It’s not uncommon for Summer temperatures in Palm Desert to rise above 110 degrees. Make sure to bring sunscreen, hats and mosquito repellant. Mosquitoes are not usually a problem throughout the day, but they do come out for a short time around dusk and can be a nuisance. A convenience store is also available on-site next to the lobby.

There are no screen doors at the villas, so we recommend always closing the patio door immediately after use to avoid attracting crickets, flies, mosquitoes and other unwanted desert creatures.

The Marriott’s Desert Springs Villas 1 and the Marriott Desert Springs Villas 2 are located at 1092 Pinehurst Lane, Palm Desert, California 92260.  Their phone number for reservations, or to reach the Pre-Arrivals department is: (760)779-1200.

Located on the breathtaking Pacific Ocean cliffs of the Palos Verdes Peninsula lies the idyllic Terranea Resort and Golf Course. This Mediterranean style resort is perched along the Rancho Palos Verdes coast on over 100 acres of unobstructed views of the ocean and Catalina Island. Conveniently located just 25 minutes from the Los Angeles International Airport, this magnificent luxury resort makes a wonderful getaway for visitors and local residents alike.

The hotel is made up of a variety of well appointed accommodations including guest rooms, suites, villas, bungalows and Casitas, making it a wonderful choice for families of all sizes. All the guests we have interviewed agree that the rooms are fantastic and the beds very comfortable.

Terranea Resort Pool and Ocean View

There are a total of 3 pools on the property, and families especially will enjoy the main resort pool with giant water slide. The hotel appeals to adults as well as families. The Spa at Terranea was built with wellness and comfort as its main objective and is located in one of the most picturesque oceanfront settings in California. With an excellent gym, a peaceful outdoor pool facing the ocean, and a full service Spa and Wellness Center, this 50,000 square foot oasis is sure to nurture both body and mind.

There are ample dining choices at the Terranea Resort itself with 8 different options. Among these are casual settings like the Lobby Bar and Lounge open noon until about midnight, or more formal dining options like Bashi for both lunch and dinner (open 11am through 10pm daily). Order food from the full service poolside menu at the main pool or the Spa Cafe, or enjoy a private meal indoors with 24 hours in-room dining service.

Terranea Resort Spa Pool

Surrounding the hotel and weaving its way throughout the Terranea Resort is a challenging nine hole Par-3 golf course with spectacular views of the ocean from every hole. The Links at Terranea is a highly recommended course for golfers of any skill level simply because of it’s beauty, challenging design, and well maintained grounds. Pull carts and golf club rentals are available at the pro-shop. There are also two putting greens, and chipping green, and private lessons are available for anyone wishing to fine tune their swing. Anyone wishing to play on a full size world class course can also drive just a few minutes south to Trump National for the same experience, but on a larger scale.

Terranea Resort Ninth Hole Golf

There is plenty of shopping and outdoor activities to satisfy every craving. Activities include nature sunset walks along their many ocean trails, tennis, yoga, as well as scheduled events like “Friday Family Fun Night” with S’mores and hot chocolate by the fire pit, a drive-in “Movie Night”, lawn games like Bocce Ball and Croquet, and much more.

The Resort at Terranea is located at 6610 Palos Verdes Drive South, Rancho Palos Verdes, California 90275. It is an exquisite resort and a must-see even if you live close by and would like to visit for the day.

One of more than 60 food trucks at the Santa Anita Food Truck Festival

The City of Angels has become synonymous with the food truck. Spend any amount of time in our fair city and you’re sure to spot them rolling down the street, restaurants-on-wheels catering to as many different types and taste-buds as there are people in our city of 12 million.

No longer simply humble “taco trucks” hawking their wares on street corners, the modern, 21st-century food truck can be found dishing up everything from gourmet grilled cheese and burgers to seafood and sushi, and everything in between. The entrepreneurial spirit that drives millions to make Los Angeles their adopted home has given birth to proprietors who have found the food truck more economical and flexible than a traditional restaurant location. These restaurateurs are able to bring exotic food from their homelands (and a taste of home, for many) to businesses all over the city.

My three boys chow down on pizza and Asian food

With their ability to move all over L.A., many of these trucks have developed a following of pretty obsessive types (myself included), who will stalk them via social media sites like Facebook and Twitter to find out where in the city they will pop up next. I have to be honest, it’s an exhausting and time-consuming task for a foodie like myself.

Well, luckily for me there is an L.A. event that takes all the legwork out of tracking down my favorite food trucks. My family and I recently combined a gastronomic delight with a family fun day when we attended the Santa Anita Food Truck Festival at the Santa Anita Racetrack in Arcadia, California. More than 60 different food trucks congregated at the park to hawk more varieties of food than my taste-buds could possibly handle at once. But I fully intended to try my best.

Delicious shrimp ceviche lettuce wraps from the Shrimp Pimp truck

No matter where you hail from in the world, you were sure to find something to please your palate from the infinite variety of foods available–from Indian to Cajun, from German to Greek, from vegan to meat-and-potatoes only. When we first arrived, we were so overwhelmed by the diversity of menus that we had to take a couple of laps around the park to take it all in (which was no small feat!). This whetted our appetites even more, but made it possibly even more difficult to choose. I’m one of those people who even finds it impossible to choose from a diner menu.

Ultimately, my husband and I opted to start at the Shrimp Pimp, where we sampled some delicious (if rather pricey) shrimp tacos and lettuce wraps. These were merely the appetizer for us. We moved on to one of my personal favorite trucks around Burbank, the Grilled Cheese Truck, but found the line so incredibly long at this VERY popular truck that we got discouraged and decided to move on. A couple of our boys found the fare at Valentino’s Pizza and the Meet N’ Potatoes trucks to their liking. We also devoured delicious chicken tikka masala from the Bollywood Bites truck, and would have liked to try the Lobsta Truck as well–but alas, the long queue struck again, and deterred us from eating more seafood (which, in hindsight, was probably a good thing).

We finished our international culinary journey the Italian way–at Palazzolo’s Gelato Truck, where we were delighted by the chocolate and hazelnut gelatos–absolutely perfect on this very hot day. Our three boys opted for more “American” ice cream, buying cones from Longboard’s Ice Cream.

View from the grandstand at Santa Anita Racetrack, where we played the horses

I also simply got a big kick out of walking around and looking at all the great creative names people have come up with for their trucks: the Nom Nom Truck, Baby’s Badass Burgers, The Munch Box, and perhaps my favorite of all, Truck Norris (the truck is black with a large fist painted on each side of the truck. Pretty intimidating).

Once we had eaten waaaay more than our fill, we checked out the other activities. In addition to the food truck fiesta, the day featured live music from The Polyester Players and The M-80′s, and kids’ amusements including an inflatable giant slide, carnival games, pony rides, a bounce house, and face painting.

Since we were at a race track, and also since neither I nor my boys had ever seen a “live” horse race before, we decided to head up into the grandstands and check out a few of the races for fun. It was also getting almost unbearably hot and we thought a few seats in the shade with a cool drink might be just the thing. Never a betting person by nature, I thought it might be fun to wager just a small amount of money on one of the horses to make it more exciting. My husband agreed, and the family was all soon cheering on a beautiful black thoroughbred named “Ruler of Dubai.” Amazingly enough, our horse pulled out in front for the majority of the race, but he ultimately disappointed us by coming in fourth. Still, it was an exciting experience, and one I’d definitely like to try again.

The Food Truck Fest is held periodically throughout the year at Santa Anita Park (normally spring and fall). For more information go to: www.santaanitalive.com.