If you're a kid, you don't want
to miss out on California kids
vacations
California kids vacations are
like ocean waves filled
with opportunity.
They are exciting, unpredictable
and beautiful to feel, watch and
enjoy. They offer
learning experiences and bonding
opportunities for Kids traveling with
mom, dad, grandma, grandpa,
relatives and family friends.
What do kids want in a vacation? California theme
parks such as Disneyland, SeaWorld, San Diego Zoo,
Legoland, Six Flags (2 of them),
Knotts Berry Farm, San Diego
Wild Animal Park and attractions
are a few of the vacations kids clamor for. Impressing
less jaded youth on a vacation
is sometimes as simple as a
visit to a sandy beach with a
shovel and pail, however. Low key
California kid vacations
also allows adults to soak up
some California sun, unwind and
experience the 1000 miles of
great beaches (note: the best
sunbathing beaches are located
in a region stretching from from
San Diego to Santa Cruz.)
It's not difficult to come up
with family getaway or weekend
escape ideas. But to look at the
picture as if children lived in
bubbles would be unrealistic.
First, over 50% of children live
in families of divorce, and
vacations take on new meaning
when you factor the element of
children flying from one city to
the next to
see parents on weekends. Add
to that the overzealous mom, dad
or step-parent trying to please
and gain acceptance from kids,
and your California kids
vacations can spin out of
control. Many savvy children fly
more than their parents from one
city to the next. Their idea of
vacations can be totally
different than the adult's
perception. And what kids tell
the travel experts time and
again is that they want quality
time with parents. You don't
have to give them candy, ship
them on an amusement ride or
hire a band to perform for their
birthday. Just give them love
and attention.
Another issue is
travel with disabled children.
It's an issue that can't be
ignored, and is on the rise with
an alarming increase in autism
and disabilities among the
population. Traditional ideas of
travel don't always fit the
needs of special kids and their
families.
 It isn't easy packing all the great travel
opportunities into a youth's
busy schedule. Allowing children
to see and explore the world
that surrounds them is one of
the greatest gifts you can give
a kid. So the next time you are
tempted to get away minus the
children, try to remember that
they'll be grown up and gone
sooner than you'll realize and
they won't have time for you.
If you heed our advice, maybe
you shouldn't read the issues surrounding
travel with kids on flights.
Below are some thumbnail images
and links to great kids vacation
ideas. We have so many on this
site, that we had to split them
up into two sections. On this
page you'll find the generic
state-wide opportunities ranging
from the California theme parks,
aquariums and zoos to free
activities such as beach swings,
playgrounds, beach bonfires,
free public pier fishing,
skateboarding, frisbee golf,
volleyball and even surfing. We
have something fun and new, too.
The Kid Videos include five
Disneyland ride videos and other
great California kids vacations
to watch and enjoy.
Kids vacations also
include Catalina
Island, San Diego,
Jelly Belly Factory,
an ostrich farm in
Buellton and many
other local ideas in
regions throughout
the state. The
holidays bring out
the best in families
traveling with
children, which is
why we came up with
a
guide for traveling
with kids on
Valentine's Day.
OK, it's not going
to be well-received
for all the parents
out there.
Theme park
amusements,
attractions, beaches
and zoos, kiddie
rides, thrills, and
tactile experiences
are plentiful in
California.
Oftentimes you'll
muse that your child
likes putting money
in a hotel soda
machine more than
anything but don't
ignore hotel
swimming pools and
swing sets at a
beach or in a park,
proven pleasers to
assure a successful
kids vacation. In an
effort to maintain
the interests of
older kids and
adults on vacation,
most California
theme parks have
sections and
amenities geared for
all ages. Some
possible suggestions
for a California
Kids Vacation can
include the
Disneyland theme
park vacation
combined with other
experiences such as
Hollywood, the
beach, San Diego
SeaWorld or even Las
Vegas. Here's
something of
interest from a
recent study about
what children want
to do most on
vacation with their
folks. Kids' top
activity for a
vacation is to sit
down with their
parents and share a
meal, according to
Peter Yesawich of
Yesawich, Pepperdine,
Brown & Russell.
Parents,
grandparents, aunts,
uncles and family
members looking for
some fresh ideas to
entertain the kids
simply need to look
to the California
beaches. Look at the
museums. Visit the
theme parks, the
zoos, aquariums and
enjoy all the
wonderful things
California has for
kids to explore.
As we travel the
California coast, we
find kids'
activities in nearly
every city. And
something that was
right in front of
our faces, but we
totally forget was
the shopping mall
with kids carousels
and play stations.
So many are
discovering that
moms have time
during the day to
shop and keep the
kids entertained,
why not combine the
two interests in
family-friendly mall
places?
Fashion Island in
Newport Beach is one
special outdoor mall
with splash
fountains for
children (one they
can walk in), a
carousel and koi
pond with beautiful,
big fish.
Holidays lend
themselves to
California travel
with kids.
Halloween is a
favorite season to
show children farms,
barns, hay rides and
festivals
celebrating
harvests. The
easiest holiday to
provide this fun
experience is
Halloween.
What is Halloween
without children?
The city offers
numerous commercial
events and
activities, but for
some real fun, get
out and explore
California's
agricultural
heritage.
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