California
California is one of your favorite travel destinations and a place that has my heart, and that of the kids. All our trips here have been a real full immersion into California culture and lifestyle thanks to the wonderful system that is home swapping. Thanks to this system, we were able to stay very long each time we went and had the change to get the insider tips of the wonderful people who gave us their home (while staying at ours!). Below, you will find our travel guides to California based on our own travels and experiences.
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8 incredible family beaches in Los Angeles for a day out or a fun California getaway with the kids
Our selection of the best family beaches in Los Angeles for a perfect California family getaway. Best family LA beaches for kids’ swimming, bodyboarding, surfing and tide pooling. Los Angeles beaches are one of the many reasons why we adore going on vacation to Los Angeles with our kids. Depending on where you go, in LA you find large beaches with soft sand and beautiful piers, pretty coves with stunning rocks and secluded sandy patches and more exposed beaches where you can surf or lay in the sun while watching the professionals! After several summers in LA and a lot of fun beach hopping, these are our favorite family beaches…
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10 Fantastic San Diego beaches for families with kids
A handpicked selection of the best beaches in San Diego for families: kid-friendly beaches in San Diego and surrounding area to swim, surf and family fun in the sun. San Diego has wonderful family beaches and is one of the best places in California for a sea and sun vacation with the kids. Laying on the Southernmost coastal stretch of California, right before the border with Mexico, San Diego is blessed with beautiful sandy beaches, swaying palm trees and, in many areas, shallow ocean waters that are great for beginner swimmers. However, San Diego is also an area of rugged coastline and dynamic nightlife so if you are visiting San…
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Visiting Laguna Beach with kids: why we love Laguna CA for a family beach getaway
Tips for visiting Laguna Beach with kids and plan a perfect family beach getaway in this stunning California coastal town. Laguna Beach is a wonderful coastal town in Orange County, Southern California. It is located on a stunning stretch of coastline, where small coves and sandy beaches meet the blue waters of the Pacific Ocean and it is a beautiful town with an upscale and arty feel. I first decided to visit Laguna with the kids on the base of beautiful images of its beaches and the whimsical photos of the Laguna Pirate tower and when I hear the town was also known for its art scene, the decision was…
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Coronado with kids: why you will love a family beach getaway on Coronado Island
Tips for a perfect stay in Coronado with kids: why we love this family-friendly beach destination in California. Coronado Island is a wonderful beach destination for families and one of our favorite places in Southern California for kids. Blessed with a wonderful sandy beach perfect for small kids, it is easy to reach, full of things to do and it is also home to the famous Hotel Del Coronado, the iconic hotel many parents will recognize from ‘Some Like it Hot!’ Coronado is a beautiful, pleasant and well served community and you can easily spend an afternoon here, or even call it home for a weekend or more. The beach…
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Visiting Carlsbad with kids: why Carlsbad California is perfect for a family vacation
All you need to know to plan a family vacation in Carlsbad California: best things to do in Carlsbad with kids, Carlsbad hotels for families, travel tips. One of our favorite beach destinations for families in California is the delightful city of Carlsbad. A laid-back village on the fabulous Pacific Coast, Carlsbad is located just to the north of San Diego. It is a chilled out, pretty town and with plenty to do for kids, a wonderful sandy beach, tons of family-friendly hotels and restaurants and something kids will adore: Legoland and Legoland Water Park! We were able to experience Carlsbad fully thanks to a home exchange here that allowed…
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Fantastic family road trips we loved (and how you can plan them too!)
Epic family road trip ideas: best road tips with kids in Europe and the US we loved! Updated October 2023. Family road trips are my favorite type of family vacation. I love being in the car while the landscape flows around me and the car is filled by chats of the kids in the back and the mud from the radio. I love the sense of purpose of being on the road to a destination, the freedom to stop when you wish and the excitement of reading on the maps and road signs new, promising and exotic names. Our kids share this love. As much as they like to hop…
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Fun facts about Joshua Tree for kids (and curious adults)
Interesting and fun facts about Joshua Tree National Park for kids, perfect for homeschooling, travel planning, family trivia nights. Joshua Tree is a beautiful National Park in Southern California, USA. People often describe is a place’ out of this world’, ‘unique’ or ‘like a different planet’ and, indeed, it is a place like no other. But what makes Joshua Tree NP unique? Let’s find out with these fun facts about Joshua Tree National Park! Pin this! Fun facts about Joshua Tree National Park, California Joshua Tree is in Southern California, close to Los Angeles and Palm Springs. Joshua Tree is special as it is a place where two different desert…
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Stunning family friendly places in California we loved – our California Bucket List
California bucket list: the most beautiful places in California and the best destination in California to add to your California travel bucket list
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How to spend a perfect day in Malibu, California, with kids
One day in Malibu: the best things to do, scenic ways to get there, great beaches to explore and kid-friendly spots. California has been at the center of my travel dreams since I was a teenager, the name of many of its silver-screen famous places so evocative to me to rise to almost mythical proportions. Malibu is one of these places. I am not sure what show or movie first put it on my radar. However, I know that any time that gorgeous stretch of California coastline comes on TV, it fills my heart with a desired to be there so strong to be almost painful. Beauty does that to…
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The best things to do in Los Angeles with kids: 25 ideas!
Our list of the best things to do in Los Angeles with kids on a family vacation
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The best things to do in Hermosa Beach, perfect California getaway for family
Our guide to the best things to do in Hermosa beach, California and the many reasons you should visit this picture perfect beach town.
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One day at Disneyland: practical guide for a truly magical experience
All you need to know to plan one day at Disneyland California: first hand tips on how to escape the crowds, how to book and what to do for a truly magical stay at the ‘Happiest place on earth’. It has taken me 4 years to take the plunge and get tickets for one day at Disneyland for our family. I knew it would be magical, I knew both the kids and us would love it, I even felt guilty when I dragged the kids across the world to Southern California without including a Disney stop. However, for the longest time, I couldn’t book because reading about it on the…
