Expert: Steve Summers - 6/26/2002

Question
I intend to take my 6 1/2 year old daughter to California for vacation.  What would be the best time of year to take her and what would be some highlights or hotspots that we could enjoy together?

Answer
I believe the best time of year is the spring, since the weather is so nice. Summertime, especially July and August, can get pretty hot, and all the fun spots are FULL of tourists. If you can't come in spring, then come in September or early October. Most of the tourists are gone by then, and the weather is still warm so that you can enjoy a day at the beach.

There are so many fun things to do here for kids, I hardly know where to begin:

Disneyland: Definitely avoid summer, ESPECIALLY weekends. Midweek is definitely the best, regardless of season. Arrive early, pace yourself, and plan to spend the day. Try to reserve a character breakfast at Disneyland or make a reservation at Goofy's Kitchen in the Disneyland Hotel. We had a birthday dinner for my son's 8th birthday at Goofy's Kitchen. We all had a GREAT time, and the pictures of him playing with Eeyore and Tigger were priceless. Check out www.disneyland.com for details. (Note: California Adventure is an option, but I would only go if you have an extra day and extra $$. They still need to do some fine-tuning before CA is worth the money).

Legoland: Your daughter is in the target age group for Legoland, since older kids don't really get into it. Legoland is near Carlsbad, in San Diego County. www.legoland.com.

Sea World, San Diego: Kids love the whales, dolphins, and other sea life. They have a lot of nifty things now that they didn't have when I was a kid, especially the "Dine with Shamu" and "Meet the Dolphins", although the latter is quite expensive ($135), and your child must be 44" tall. www.seaworld.com.

San Diego Zoo and Wild Anmimal Park: World-renowned zoo, giant pandas, and a wild animal reserve. Check it out at www.sandiegozoo.com.

Universal Studios: May not be as geared for young kids, but could still be quite an adventure. Learn and see how movies are made. Go to the adjacent City Walk for lunch or dinner, or just to play in the fountain. Don't forget a change of clothes for your daughter. www.universalstudios.com.

Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey: Absolutely fabulous aquarium. This is really done right. Right on Historic Cannery Row. Have some clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl. (My friend's daughter tried "white soup" for the first time on this trip, and loved it!)www.mbayaq.org.

Yosemite: Your daughter may not be able to fully appreciate the grandeur that is Yosemite, but take a lot of pictures and I'm sure she will remember the huge waterfalls. Late spring/early summer is the best time to see the waterfalls. If you stay more than a day, I can almost guarantee you will see a bear. They are everywhere. Rent a rustic cabin in Curry Village, if you can. Check out www.yosemitepark.com. The trick is to call 3 weeks or less before your travel date and ask to see if there were any cancellations. Plenty of fun activities in Yosemite Valley. If you cannot get reservations in the Valley, try the Wawona Hotel. If not there, then try Fish Camp or Oakhurst. I like the Best Western and Shiloh Inn in Oakhurst.

Hearst Castle/San Simeon: Not really for young kids, who may find it a little boring. www.hearstcastle.com. However, just north of Hearst Castle, there is a colony of elephant seals that you can see up close for free! Check out the details at www.elephantseals.org.

Now that we've covered the expensive stuff, it's on to the cheap and free stuff!

Griffith Park- Travel Town, playgrounds, train and pony rides, Observatory: This is located just north of downtown LA. Travel Town is a railway museum that has really old trains that the kids can climb on. There are also playgrounds in the park, a minuature train and pony rides, as well as the Observatory. Skip the LA Zoo if you are going to the SD Zoo, as it pales in comparison. Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum is good for older kids and adults.

Santa Monica Pier- Probably the most to offer of any pier in Socal, this has rides, games, and places to eat. See www.pacpark.com. Nearby is also the 3rd Street promenade, which has a lot of activities (for kids) as well as LOTS of shops (for mom). See www.downtownsm.com.

Beaches- I can give advise on SoCal Beaches: My favorites are organized by county: Orange County - Balboa, Newport, Bolsa Chica, and Laguna are all nice. LA County- Redondo, Manhattan, Hermosa, Santa Monica, and Zuma. Venice Beach and Boardwalk is VERY interesting with street performers, but your daughter might be more interested in playing in the sand than watching the chainsaw juggler. Avoid Long Beach (dirty), Dockweiler Beach (adjacent to airport), and Huntington Beach (high bacteria levels). San Diego County- La Jolla, Carlsbad, and Leucadia have very nice beaches. Santa Barbara County- Carpinteria (the BEST), Santa Barbara City Beach, Shoreline Park, Avila State Beach. If you go to Carpinteria, have a "Special Quesadilla" (Kes-a-DEE-ya) at a place called "The Spot", just a block from the beach. Tostada and burgers also very good.

Santa Cruz Boardwalk: This is the Northern California equivalent of Santa Monica Pier, only it's more famous. Since it's in Santa Cruz, it's also colder and wetter. www.beachboardwalk.com

Exploratorium, San Francisco: Very cool hands-on museum, located near Golden Gate Bridge in Palace of Fine Arts. www.exploratorium.com

Fisherman's Wharf/Pier 39, San Francisco: No other place like it. Visit the Boudin Bakery for clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl.

Ghirardelli Square, San Francisco: Every time I take my family, we MUST have a hot fudge sundae here. I don't know why it's the best here, but it is. www.ghirardellisq.com.

Golden Gate Park, San Francisco: Like Griffith Park in LA, only a lot greener. Museums, aquariums, and lots of places to play.

I'm sure I'm missing some, but that should keep you busy!

Have fun,

Steve