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Also, kids are more likely to be engaged if they can help choose the activities. Offer them choices of sights and activities you think would be suitable.

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For short car trips, snacks, books and toys are always a good idea; for long trips, they’re essential. From LA to all but the most remote destinations in our book, travel time should be within about two hours (plus traffic, of course). Drugstores everywhere sell inexpensive books and toys to constantly keep the kids amused. An MP3 player loaded with their favorite music will help control fidgeting. Some families travel with DVD players and many public libraries have extensive kids’ collections; see regional chapters for library listings and inquire directly as to lending requirements (some lend only to local residents).

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JET LAG

Jet lag can be trying for adults, and that’s multiplied with children. For example, if you’re coming from the eastern US and your kids’ bedtime is 8pm at home, that means 5pm in SoCal. To avoid meltdown, you’ll probably dispense with dinner, baths, stories and ‘Moooommyyyyyy…!’ before most locals sit down for dinner. Click here for info on babysitting services.

It may also mean waking up three hours earlier. If you’re at a hotel, check the hours of nearby restaurants or prepare early-morning snacks – many hotels, particularly in outlying areas, have refrigerators just for this purpose.

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Baby food, infant formulas, soy and cow’s milk, disposable diapers (nappies) and other necessities are all widely available in drugstores and supermarkets. Breast-feeding in public is legal, although most women are discreet about it. Public toilets – in airports, stores, shopping malls, cinemas etc – usually have diaper-changing tables.

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A good general resource is www.travelwithyourkids.com, which has advice on how to prepare for a trip and handle oneself on the road, although there’s nothing specific to SoCal.

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Important note: always check the weather before setting out. Winter (basically November to March) can be rainy and temperatures unpredictable. All but the heartiest, wet-suited surfers avoid the beach then. Desert winter nights can be near freezing, and even clear winter days won’t necessarily be swimming weather.

Still bring the sunscreen though.

Flying

Airlines usually allow infants (up to the age of two) to fly for free, while older children requiring a seat of their own may qualify for reduced fares. You may want to bring your child’s passport or birth certificate copy as proof of age. Generally good weather means good on-time performance at SoCal airports, but the same cannot necessarily be said for other airports on your route, so bring plenty of amusements and snacks. If traveling from overseas, order special kids’ meals in advance.

Most airlines ‘preboard’ passengers traveling with small children. On Southwest Airlines (which has no assigned seating) you can snag seats together and other passengers tend to avoid sitting near the little ones.

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The Traveling Baby Company ( 800-304-4866; www.travelingbabyco.com) rents equipment, with delivery to Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Orange and San Diego Counties. Figure on $8/35 per day/week for a Pack ‘n’ Play or car seat; weekly multiequipment packages are available from $109.

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Driving

California law requires all passengers in private cars to wear seat belts, and children under the age of six or weighing less than 60lbs must be restrained in a child-safety or booster seat. If you’re not traveling with your own car seats, most car-rental firms rent them for about $5 per day, but it is essential that you book them in advance.

See What to Bring (opposite) for tips on keeping the kids amused while on the road. Rest stops on SoCal freeways are few and far between, and we wouldn’t recommend gas-station rest rooms for bathroom breaks as maintenance tends to be shoddy. However, you’re never very far from a shopping mall, which generally