Family Weekend Getaways

Even in a state enviable for a laid-back culture and countless natural and culinary assets, San Diego is a place apart. The sprawling, sun-drenched city has a paradisaical feel, with a number of attractions (including zoos and beaches) that often rank among the very top in the nation. Indeed, California’s southernmost city offers so much it would be impossible to see it all in one weekend, but we’ve outlined the nuts and

Kids or no kids, there’s something, well, magical, about the Magic Kingdom. From the old-fashioned charms of the Happiest Place on Earth to the newfangled thrills of the updated California Adventure Park, the Disneyland Resort offers up diversion, delight, and then some. And the pleasure is all the richer when you don’t have to contend with lines, hassles, and high temps. Enter, “off-season.” While Disneyland technically does not have such

Oxnard is a “little bit country, little bit rock-and-roll” kind of place. It sits halfway between bigger (and better known) cities, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, and although it’s Ventura County’s largest city, it maintains a cozy, small-town feel. Here, home-style salsa and strawberry festivals peacefully coexist with the famous Hollywood Beach (a past getaway spot for the likes of Charlie Chaplin and Clark Gable). Whether you choose to kayak

With family ties to Midwestern farming culture, I occasionally feel like something is missing from my metropolitan life in the East Bay. “Where are the endless rows of corn, larger-than-life skies and barn dancing parties?” I ask myself at the end of another evening at a crowded, expensive bar. One day, after spending an hour Googling the nearest line-dancing venues in the Bay Area, I decided that it was high

The O.C. might be known for its beach culture and “real” housewives, but it’s also a great place for a family getaway (hold the sigh—we’re not talking Disneyland). Rich in agricultural history (“Orange County” comes from the acres of orange trees that once grew here) and teeming with marine life, the area is a “magic kingdom” in its own right, with myriad family-approved activities, from farm tours to pirate ships,

A familiar road sign stands guard at the start of the Santa Monica Pier, signifying that this beach playground is the final spot to “Get your kicks on Route 66.” But the town known for being the terminus of the famous American roadway also happens to be incredibly easy to navigate without a car. Plus, it’s hard to beat a place with more than 300 sunny days a year. Here,

You know that vivacious beach town you dream about on dreary afternoons? Well, it does exist, and the locals call it “Newps.” In Newport Beach, people ride bikes down the boardwalks (with surfboards in hand), and you can hear the waves breaking in the night from nearly anywhere in town. And there is no need for a white Christmas when you have  lights and decorations on all the boats in