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Every year the number of traditions that my son institutes seems to grow exponentially. It’s tough to keep up with all the things he wants to do each year to signify and celebrate the coming Halloween holiday. For him it’s not just the one day of trick or treating, rather it’s the build up that is […]

Most southern Californian residents know Long Beach either for it’s spectacular aquarium or as the home of the famous Queen Mary. Situated on the coast, only 30 minutes from LAX or Downtown Los Angeles, Long Beach is an easy day trip destination for most SoCal families. However, as we recently found out, this cute harbor town […]

California is home to 28 national parks and sites scattered throughout the state. From the iconic Half Dome in Yosemite, to the desolate in Death Valley and the big trees in the North at the Redwoods, there is no shortage of vast beauty in California’s parks. One of the last few remaining parks that we […]

The last thing I wanted to do after finding my car broken into was drive 80 miles south of Los Angeles to Oceanside for a planned weekend getaway. Turns out, it’s exactly what I needed. Packed up and ready to head out for a mother-son weekend, we had one last stop to make at my son’s […]

The holiday season is upon us which means an overload of things to do in Los Angeles. Even though we don’t get the snowy cold weather, this city knows how to celebrate for the holidays! Parades, neighborhood Christmas light extravaganzas, Santa photo ops and of course classically southern California winter fun – sand sledding! If […]

Even though we live only 90 minutes away from Legoland in Carlsbad, it has taken us years to finally get there. My son isn’t a lego fanatic, so we weren’t pushed to make the trip. I regret now that it took us so long to get there. Being annual passport holders at Disney just up […]

Visitors flock to Southern California for vacation looking to fill their days and nights with as much fun as they can afford! If you are visiting Buena Park or nearby Anaheim you probably have on your itinerary to attend an interactive family dinner. The decision is which one to attend – Medieval Times or the Pirate’s Dinner […]

One of the best places in Southern California for star gazing is in and around Joshua Tree. We have been out several times specifically to do this, but only recently learned about the Sky’s the Limit Observatory in 29 Palms. On our last visit to the northern part of Joshua Tree we noticed the observatory’s white […]

I have been to Joshua Tree many times, and while there is still a ton to explore on my own, I was excited to get off the beaten path with Joshua Tree Excursions during my last visit. Joshua Tree Excursions is a locally owned company providing privately guided off-trail experiences with the thought that life is about the journey […]

Touch-a-truck events are becoming the spring and summer thing to do. Some are fundraisers for public schools or charity organizations and some are just free community events. The Touch-a-Truck day in Thousand Oaks is our favorite of all the ones on offer throughout Southern California. (more…)

There isn’t always time or money to take elaborate vacations out of town, but that’s where staycations come in handy.  We are so lucky to live in Southern California where there is an abundance to do locally no matter the season. For my son’s spring break, we decided to do a staycation exploring our local […]

There are several important events in the year according to my 5.5 yr old. Christmas and Easter are two, but right up there with national holidays are the open house days for the sanitation department and the fire stations! The second Saturday of May is designated as Fire Service Recognition Day in Los Angeles (and […]

It’s almost that time of year again! The day little boys (and girls) look forward to all year long – trash truck open house! My son equates spring and summer with several things and the opening day to summer in his mind is the LA Sanitation Department’s open house.  Sadly for him, we have had absolutely […]

When most people think of Southern California, the image that comes to mind is of golden sand beaches running for miles, beautiful sunsets and surfers galore. This is exactly what is waiting to greet you in Huntington Beach! From relaxing on the beach, to adventure sports and delicious restaurants, Huntington Beach offers something for everyone, making […]

You managed to pack up the car, bundle up the kids and hit the road for snow tubing at Mountain High. Whew! Congrats. Oh but wait, now you have arrived only to discover that it’s either sold out for the day or that your time slot isn’t until late in the afternoon. Now what do you […]

Update Jan 2016: The polar bear exhibit has now been changed to an oceans exhibit. I hear it is just as spectacular. Looking for a free afternoon adventure? Bundle up and head out on a polar bear hunt at the Annenberg Space for Photography. Pearls of the Planet, a state of the art exhibit at Skylight Studios, […]

Even though we live here, as soon as someone says they are coming for a visit we freeze – what are we going to do with them!? Since moving to LA, I have become very aware of the image people have of Los Angeles – obscene traffic, out of control botoxed people, gang violence and ugly […]

One of the beauties of living in a large metropolis like Los Angeles is having access to everything from cultural events, museums, nightlife, and of course the amazing nature opportunities. Unknown to many outside of the city, but Los Angeles is blessed with a great outdoor space within minutes of most any place in the city. […]

Joshua Tree has become one of our favorite go-to trips – either as a day trip or for a last minute weekend getaway. Through our many visits, we have found a few trails that we return to again and again. Below are our favorite family friendly hikes at Joshua Tree. These hikes can be completed by […]

Every month Charles Fleming, the author of the popular Secret Stairs: A Walking Guide to the Historic Staircases of Los Angeles and Secret Walks: A Walking Guide to the Hidden Trails of Los Angeles hosts a walk somewhere in Los Angeles. Some walks are in the adjacent mountains of the Sierra Madre or on the meandering coastline, while others […]