One of the biggest attractions for visitors to Alaska is to see wildlife in their natural habitat. This can be achieved almost everywhere in Alaska from seeing a bald eagle fly overhead in Anchorage to hiking with moose at Flattop Mountain. However, it is the bear that is perhaps the ultimate symbol of Alaskan wildlife. Seeing one of these strong, unbridled creatures on their home turf, for even a fleeting moment, is a magical experience.
During our visit to Alaska, we were lucky enough to see 5 grizzly bears in Denali National Park as well as the resident bears at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center in Portage, but it just wasn’t enough. It wasn’t the vision I had created in my mind after years of watching the live webcam feed of bears catching salmon at Brooks Falls or of bears clamming on mudflats in Lake Clark National Park. I couldn’t leave Alaska without trying to realize that dream. So, we decided to splurge for a “once in a lifetime experience” on a flight tour with the goal of seeing bears up close and personal, hunting, playing and sleeping.
If you know me, you know how obsessed I am with my son learning other languages. My dreams of him attending a language immersion school were dashed a few years ago, so I’m constantly on the lookout for other opportunities to get language exposure. Taking after school classes and practicing Duolingo together isn’t quite enough so now I’m on the hunt for immersive learning family vacations!
We set out on a foggy overcast day for the mountain town of Skyforest, just outside of Lake Arrowhead and about 30 miles from Big Bear Lake, in search of winter fun at Santa’s Village. As we weaved through light traffic on the 210 freeway, the entire mountain range of the San Bernardino National Forest was shrouded in clouds. We weren’t sure what would be waiting for us up the mountain – rain, snow or sun! Anticipation began to grow as we climbed our way up the mountainside making our way through the clouds, soon revealing a crisp sunny day ahead. Woo hoo!
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 also makes a great base for a staycation weekend of exploration. It is a hub for all kinds of outdoor activities making it perfect for outdoor families like ours.
Living in Los Angeles means pretty great weather most of the year.. except for a few months during the summer where temperatures regularly soar into the high 90s and 100s. It is during these times that we look to get away even if it’s not very far. One of the best places we have found to escape the soaring temperatures (or at any time of year!) is just an hour away on the Ventura County Coast. Not only does Ventura County have pretty great weather all year, it is also quite economical.
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.
If you know us in real life or have followed us for a while you probably know that my husband doesn’t drive. Yep. That’s right. We live in Los Angeles and my husband doesn’t drive! As you can imagine this is no easy feat. With public transportation that runs few and far between, it means that when I want a break, my husband and son have to take Uber or Lyft.
Growing up in Texas, my summers were spent at the local pool or the water park, so I was super excited to finally take my son to his first water park. With hot summers, Southern California has a great selection of water parks to experience, but they are not all ideal for young swimmers. My research led me to Legoland’s Water Park as the perfect place for a first water park adventure. It is perfectly geared towards young kids who are all over the spectrum in swimming abilities. My son loves to play in water, but is still getting his confidence in deep water. Legoland’s Water Park looked to be the best place that would allow him to safely play on his own, while also providing opportunities to challenge himself.