Finding Fall in San Diego County
If you have a hankering for autumn’s chill, it's closer than you think. Take your family on one of these festive day-trips, and celebrate the season.
Day Trips
Balboa Park1549 El Prado, San Dieg . . .
Visit Bryce Canyon National Park
Breathtaking Bryce Canyon National Park offers one of the planet’s most surreal landscapes. Within the park’s 56 square miles, the geological forces of weather and erosion have carved intense sa . . .
Visit Zion National Park in Utah
Photo by Lisa Pawlak
Breathtaking, colorful Zion National Park embraces towering cliffs, glimmering waterfalls, emerald-green pools, blue skies, red sandstone river canyons and massive multihued rock . . .
Discover California National Parks
These national parks in Southern and Central California are within a day’s drive of San Diego.Celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service with a visit to one (or more) of these sc . . .
Winter Family Fun in Big Bear
Ready to take your family on a winter getaway close to San Diego? Head to the mountains for a fun-filled winter vacation at Big Bear. Winter activities include skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing and . . .
Six Snow Play Destinations
photo credit- Big Bear Mountain Resort
Ready to play in the snow? The whole family can enjoy a snowy, active vacation with adventures like skiing, snowboarding, sledding, snow tubing, ice skating, sn . . .
Ski Mammoth Mountain
Take the kids to “shred some pow” at Mammoth Mountain, one of California’s premier winter sports recreational resorts. Families wanting a fun, wintery escape will fulfill mammoth-sized dreams . . .
Family Getaways in Southern California
Southern California resorts and hotels that families love! Looking for a family getaway where there’s relaxation for adults and fun for the kids? These SoCal resorts offer plenty of ameniti . . .
Family Fun in Oxnard, CA
Oxnard—one of Southern California’s best kept secrets—offers miles of pristine beaches, sand dunes, flat walking and biking paths and a huge harbor to explore by kayak, paddleboard or electric . . .
Family Fun in Lake Arrowhead
Escape to Lake Arrowhead, nestled in the tree-covered mountains of San Bernardino National Forest, for a relaxing getaway immersed in nature and outdoor fun. It takes just a couple hours to drive fr . . .
Family Road Trip: 6 Fun Stops Along California's Central Coast
The secret is out: San Diego is amazing. In fact, it’s a top U.S. vacation destination. So while the rest of the country is descending upon San Diego this summer, consider venturing away from the . . .
All Aboard! Where to Ride the Rails in California
Experiencing both the Skunk Train and world-famous Rail Bikes in Mendocino County inspired me to explore what other fun railways exist in California. Thanks to tips from train-fanatic friends, I found . . .
Take the Family Glamping in Buellton, California
So, what is glamping? Glamping is like camping—but not. Combining the words glamorous and camping, glamping includes amenities and comforts of home (beds, electricity, indoor plumbing). None of th . . .
Weekend Getaway to Long Beach
Want to get away for a fun weekend? Just a couple hours north of San Diego is the pet-friendly coastal city of Long Beach, which offers water activities, popular attractions and a lively night scene . . .
Family Camping Fun: Activities, Recipes and Ideas
Grab your camping gear and get ready for a great outdoor adventure (even if it's only in the backyard). Here are activities, crafts, recipes and tips that make fabulous family camping me . . .
SoCal’s Best Beach Camping
Southern California beaches are a popular destination year round, so why not spend a few days at a beachfront or bayfront campground?
“Southern California has some of the best ocean-front campgro . . .
Fun Things to Do with Kids in the Bay Area
Planning a road trip to the San Francisco Bay Area? Here are five kid-friendly stops from Gilroy (south of San Francisco) to Fairfield (north of San Francisco). Each super fun spot will entertain, e . . .
Visiting the Mendocino Coast with Kids
When I was a kid, my parents went to the coastal town of Mendocino to take a break from—well, me. So, I always assumed there was nothing to do there with kids. Boy, was I wrong. The Mendocino Coas . . .
Road Trip Bingo
Planning to take a road trip with kids or be in the car for an extended period of time? Schedule a break from screens with this fun game that encourages kids to look out the car window and discover th . . .
Get to Know Lake Gregory in Crestline, CA
I had never even heard of Lake Gregory in California’s San Bernardino Mountains until a couple months ago. But now the secret is out! Bustling with fun lake activities for families, it’s a perfe . . .
Plan a Family Adventure to Catalina Island
What do wild bison, an awesome zipline, a casino and walking on the ocean floor have in common? Catalina Island, of course.Looking for a fun family day or weekend trip? I’ll let you in on a little . . .
Best Family Camping in San Diego
Ready to embark on a San Diego family camping adventure? Help your kids experience the great outdoors at one of the many family campgrounds in San Diego County! First-time campers? Consider pra . . .
Family Travel to Arches National Park
Arches National Park, located in southeast Utah, offers an abundance of geological wonders waiting to be discovered by visiting families. The park’s scenic, red rock landscape is home to more than . . .
Make Traveling with Kids a Lifelong Adventure
Travel is loaded with benefits for families. It awakens curiosity and helps kids and parents feel more at home in the world while creating strong bonds and lasting memories. As kids grow, the fun of . . .
Get started with RV Camping
Take Your Family on the Road, RV Style!
During a recent email session with an old friend about our summer plans, I mentioned that our family planned on taking our annual four-week road trip in our . . .