Los Angeles & Southern California - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [53]
GETTING IN
Children receive a wide range of discounts for everything from museum admissions to bus fares and motel stays. The definition of a ‘child’ varies – in some places anyone under 18 is eligible, while others put the cut-off at age six. Note that many amusement park rides have minimum height requirements.
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And who doesn’t love the beach? OC standouts include Huntington Beach for surf culture and Newport Beach for its piers, amusement park and upscale vibe, particularly on Balboa Island.
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SAN DIEGO COUNTY
Do the zoo Click here. It’s everything they say, and while you’re there spend another day enjoying the rest of Balboa Park, one of the nation’s best collections of museums. The Reuben H Fleet Science Center, the Model Railroad Museum and the Natural History Museum are all tailor-made for kids, and the plazas, fountains and gardens offer plenty of space for them to let off steam.
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On San Diego’s buses and trolleys, each fare-paying adult can take up to two children (18 and under) aboard for free on Saturdays and Sundays.
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Kids elementary-school age and older will appreciate Old Town State Historic Park and the Mexican restaurants nearby.
Along the coast, SeaWorld is another national landmark (look for specials and combo tickets to keep costs down). Coronado is a calming getaway, featuring the Hotel del Coronado and the kid-friendly public library. Views from Cabrillo National Monument inspire awe, and its museum tells the story of the Spanish explorers who were central to local history.
Teens will be in their element among the surfers, bikers and bladers in Mission and Pacific Beaches, while up the coast in La Jolla the Birch Aquarium entertains as it teaches. More active kids can go snorkeling Click here off La Jolla Cove. The Wild Animal Park is North County’s must-see.
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PALM SPRINGS & THE DESERTS
Base yourself in Palm Springs, with its large assortment of casual restaurants and hotels in a range of prices, all within close proximity. Down Valley resorts are also fun for kids, with swimming, tennis and, for older kids, golf.
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When Bugs Bunny said that he knew he should have made a left turn at Albuquerque, he was trying to reach the carrot festival in the Coachella Valley. There is no carrot festival there these days.
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Kids of all ages love the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, whose cars rotate ever so slowly as they ascend nearly 6000 vertical feet up the San Jacinto Mountains. Temperatures at the top are up to 40°F lower than on the desert floor; in cooler months, bring warm clothing and snow gear (the latter can be rented).
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TOP FIVE PIERS IN SOCAL FOR KIDS
Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara – the west coast’s oldest continuously operating pier features the engaging Ty Warner Sea Center.
Santa Monica Pier – the granddaddy of them all, built in 1908, has its own amusement park on top, an aquarium underneath and dance concerts on Thursdays in summer.
Balboa Island, Newport Beach – it’s not one but two piers, plus a reasonably priced amusement park made famous on TV’s The OC.
Crystal Pier, Pacific Beach – if you stay at the Crystal Pier Hotel, the waves lapping beneath your bungalow on the pier are a natural sleep-aid.
Paradise Pier, Disneyland – granted, it’s not technically a pier (it’s nowhere near the ocean), but who cares when the rides are so good?
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Palm Desert’s Living Desert Zoo is a fascinating desert museum. Older kids will enjoy hiking Indian and Tahquitz Canyon, while Mane St in Pioneertown takes you back to the Old West (via an Old West movie set). At the center of it all is Joshua Tree National Park : the desert, clear and blue, makes for glorious hiking, light climbing and nature-watching.
Water-seekers should visit Knott’s Soak City or your hotel swimming pool.
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SANTA BARBARA
Pride of place belongs to Stearns Wharf, the pier in central Santa Barbara, and nearby West Beach attracts many families. The city’s