| Are you looking for a fun family vacation that all | | | | lake and village, then behold a spectacular view by |
| members of your family will enjoy? Travel to sunny | | | | driving the Rim of the World Highway. Enjoy the |
| Southern California, where you can choose from a | | | | "great outdoors" by boating and camping at Lake |
| variety of vacations...or mix 'n' match between them | | | | Arrowhead, nestled in the mountains behind San |
| to savor a smorgasbord of California fun!Theme 1: | | | | Bernadino, CA. Ride the alm Springs Aerial Tramway |
| Beach vacationsSwim at one of the many Malibu | | | | to the top of a HUGE mountain, where you'll drink in |
| beaches you'll find along its 27 miles of coastline. Stroll | | | | a panoramic view below. |
| along the Santa Monica pier---a famous Los Angeles | | | | Theme 4: Shopping vacationFor a high-end shopping |
| attraction that you WILL be seeing in TV shows and | | | | experience while visiting greater Los Angeles, head to |
| ads. (When you see it on your screen, you'll be able | | | | Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills---need I say more? Not |
| to say, "Hey, I've been there!) For a spectacular | | | | your style? You can bag some |
| view, take a ride on the pier's tall ferris wheel. Or, for | | | | direct-from-the-manufacturer bargains by visiting |
| some super-screamin' fun, ride on the pier's roller | | | | downtown LA's Jewelry and Fashion districts! For |
| coaster...the only coaster you may ever ride that's | | | | more bargain shopping, explore the Mexican market |
| built OVER the ocean!Visit wild and wacky Venice | | | | mecca of Tijuana, Mexico. (Except for a fence |
| Beach...whose mural-enshrouded walls are seemingly | | | | marking the international border, Tijuana is actually a |
| stuck in a '60's "flower power" time warp! Try | | | | part of the "continuous city" which makes up |
| Manhattan and Hermosa Beaches, which are the | | | | Southern California.)If you enjoy outlet shopping, you'll |
| sport of beach volleyball's "tournament central."Head | | | | quickly note that greater LA has MANY outlet malls. |
| to Huntington Beach, where you can "do it all." Your | | | | While you're visiting Tijuana, check out the still-new |
| family can skate, bike, jog or stroll along Huntington's | | | | "Shops at Las Americas" outlet on the USA side of |
| miles-long bike path. Saunter out onto the Huntington | | | | the border. Head to the hills...the hills back of San |
| Beach pier---California's longest. No matter when you | | | | Diego, that is. There you'll find perhaps the lovliest |
| go, you WILL find fishermen casting their lines...and | | | | outlet mall you've ever seen, the Native |
| surfers catchin' the waves in the ocean below.Further | | | | American-themed Las Viejas Outlet Center. If your |
| south, you'll discover Laguna Beach, home to an art | | | | family likes entertainment while they shop, head to |
| colony...and recently made famous by MTV. Then, | | | | the Ontario Mills Mall in Ontario, California, where you'll |
| head to San Diego where you can enjoy the rides of | | | | find a several entertainment venues, popular |
| Belmont Amusement Park along the boardwalk at | | | | restaurants, and even kid-pleasing "attractions," such |
| Mission Beach. And what will you find in between the | | | | as the popular Build A Bear Workshop. |
| beaches mentioned here? Why, still MORE great | | | | Theme 5: Island vacationWant to get "away from it |
| beaches, of course! | | | | all" without having to travel miles from the city? Visit |
| Theme 2: Theme park vacationDid you know that | | | | Catalina Island...only "26 miles across the sea," as the |
| there are 7 major theme parks in Southern California! | | | | golden oldie says, but a world away in "atmosphere." |
| (Wow!) They are (from north to south): Six Flags | | | | You can go boating, snorkeling or scuba diving. You |
| Magic Mountain, home to the wildest roller coasters | | | | can tour the sparsely-populated isle. Or, is Catalina |
| on the west coast...and maybe in the entire USA; | | | | Island not remote ENOUGH for you? For a more |
| Universal Studios Hollywood, where you'll tour filming | | | | isolated experience, visit one of the islands of the |
| sets, watch stunt and special effects shows, ride | | | | Channel Islands National Park. When you arrive on |
| exciting "movie themed" attractions, and enjoy the | | | | one of the Channel Islands, only your boat-mates...and |
| shopping/dining/clubbing district called Universal | | | | the native wildlife...will be there with you! |
| Studios CityWalk; Knott's Berry Farm theme park, | | | | Theme 6: History vacationVisit Olvera Street in |
| where the once-time berry field now hosts dozens | | | | downtown Los Angeles...where this city started! But, |
| of attractions, both mild AND wild; Disneyland Park, | | | | Mission San Diego de Alcala beats even Olvera Street |
| nostalgic home of 51 years of fun...AND the 2nd | | | | for age...being the first of the whole California Mission |
| most-visited theme park on the planet (after its own | | | | chain. (Other Spanish missions in Southern California |
| sister park, Walt Disney World); Disney's California | | | | include Mission San Luis Rey, Mission San Juan |
| Adventure, the newest Southern California theme | | | | Capistrano, Mission San Gabriel, Mission San Fernando, |
| park, where you can scream on the Twilight Zone | | | | Mission San Buenaventura, and Mission Santa Barbara. |
| Tower of Terror, view the Broadway-styled | | | | All are diffent, and all are worth paying a visit.) While |
| production "Aladdin, an Enchanted Musical," or enjoy | | | | you're in San Diego touring the mission, you'll enjoy |
| that all-time favorite, the Disney Electrical Parade; | | | | visiting Old Town, which was the Spanish core of the |
| Legoland California, where there's no "kiddie | | | | city. Nowadays, Old Town is a lively mix of historic |
| section"---the WHOLE PARK is for kids and their | | | | displays, shopping, and dining. San Diego's Gas Lamp |
| families; and SeaWorld San Diego adventure park, | | | | Quarter, another of San Diego's historic districts, is |
| home of Shamu the Killer Whale and scads of | | | | now a night life center...and home to the San Diego |
| delightful animal shows and attractions. | | | | Padre's baseball stadium, as well. San Diego's |
| Theme 3: Hollywood vacationsGaze at the | | | | waterfront Maritime Museum is a "can't miss" spot |
| Hollywood sign. Hunt for stars on the Hollywood Walk | | | | for enthusiasts of tall-masted sailing ships and the |
| of Fame. Enjoy a concert at the world-renowned | | | | history of the sea. (If you don't love maritime |
| Hollywood Bowl. Tour the still-new Kodak Theater, | | | | history, visit the waterfront anyway. You'll find tasty |
| now home to the Academy Awards' annual Oscar | | | | seafood restaurants, a gorgeous view of San Diego's |
| ceremony. Shop and dine at the outrageous, | | | | bay, and the quaint Seaport Village shopping and |
| "Babylon" themed Hollywood & Highland Center. Hear | | | | dining area.)By now, you've certainly gathered quite a |
| the restored Wurlitzer organ and take in a Disney | | | | list of Southern California attractions that your |
| movie at the historic El Capitan Theater, which was | | | | various family members will enjoy. Pick your favorites! |
| recently returned to its former glory following a | | | | But, if you can't choose, there's no problem, either. |
| lengthy, museum-quality restoration. Fit your feet into | | | | Just visit exciting Southern California again and |
| the famous footprints embedded in Grauman's | | | | again...and enjoy them all!Author Vicki Funes is a Los |
| Chinese Theater's courtyard. Attend a taping of your | | | | Angeles native and enthusiastic promoter of |
| favorite TV show, or tour a movie studio. Look at | | | | Southern California's family attractions. For more |
| movie stars' wax "doubles" in the Hollywood Wax | | | | fun-filled vacation ideas, visit her photo-filled website, |
| Museum." (You might not see any REAL movie stars | | | | "Family Vacation Getaways at Los Angeles Theme |
| while you're visiting Hollywood, California...but you | | | | Parks," where you'll find still dozens more ways that |
| WILL have a good time!)Theme 3: Mountain | | | | your family can enjoy themselves in California and |
| vacationTake a drive on the Angeles Crest Highway, | | | | the Southwest USA. Use the following handy link, and |
| where you won't believe you're not in the Colorado | | | | you'll be there! |
| Rocky Mountains. Visit nearby Big Bear, California's | | | | |