Los Angeles — The Vacation Gals

Prader-Willi Syndrome Walkathon in Los Angeles and Travel Thoughts

May 2, 2010 | Author: SoCalGal

Yes, this is about Prader-Willi Syndrome, but give me a minute here. First, there are many great, important reasons to travel – to relax and take a break from workaday life, to explore natural wonders, to delve into different cultures near and far. I like my children to learn about the different ways people live in this world – and to know that there’s not just one “right” way to be. World travel isn’t the only thing that helps kids learn tolerance and acceptance, though. Sometimes, encouraging friendship with neighbors is all it takes.

A family very near us has a daughter my younger daughter’s age, and this cute, friendly girl has Prader-Willi Syndrome. This is a rare, complicated genetic disorder. She has a hard time learning new things. She is also kind and so sweet, absolutely outgoing and only thinks the best of people. My own kid’s friendship with her is pure — they play, annoy the family pets, and forget to clean up their toys. All the regular playdate stuff. We adore our neighboring family’s children (all of them) but know that this friendship is special in ways that are hard to define without getting too mushy.

This year, the Prader-Willi California Foundation’s annual Los Angeles Walkathon is today, in Van Nuys. The Vacation Gals are happy to contribute $100 to PWCF: The funds get put to crisis support, research, and education for families and healthcare practitioners.

Travel expands our children’s minds, yes. But knowing that other people grow up and move through the world with challenges that our kids don’t face, also expands their minds. My daughter is lucky to have a friend like our neighbors’ daughter, and we’re lucky, too. The Vacation Gals encourage you to learn about Prader-Willi Syndrome. It’s rare, but there may be a Foundation chapter near you as well.

Posted in: Family Travel | 2 comments

Santa Monica Pier’s Amusement Park Package: Family Fun in Los Angeles

April 15, 2010 | Author: SoCalGal

The Santa Monica Pier is one of the best Los Angeles spots for an easy family day trip. Every summer, lots of families take their vacations in Los Angeles. Now, there are plenty of fun, cheap and free things to do in Los Angeles, California. Disneyland, Universal Studios, some terrific cultural experiences and hands-on museums all make Los Angeles a great place for family travel. But theme parks can be pricey; as much as children love them, a theme park vacation can really bust our travel budgets. The Santa Monica Pier’s Pacific Park is an old fashioned amusement park, with some rides, games, and the standard cotton candy/hot dog carnival type amusement park fare. My kids love it, and for a family looking to save money on a Los Angeles vacation, it’s a cheap option compared to the big theme parks.

Pacific Park, the family amusement park on the Santa Monica Pier, has 12 amusement rides (roller coasters and such), 21 games, and a separate area for younger children. My kids especially love the “Sea Dragon” ride which swings back and forth like a pendulum. Admission is free, and parents can decide whether to pay for each ride or buy wristbands. While Pacific Park is open from 11:00AM to 11:00PM (12:30PM on weekends), I’d recommend that families leave before it gets too late; a rowdier crowd frequents the Santa Monica Pier at night, particularly during the summer travel season.

For amusement park loving families that live in Southern California, the new “Inkie’s VIP Pass” package can save even more money. The amusement park package provides unlimited rides throughout the year – valid an a renewable, yearly basis – and can be bought online. Inkie’s VIP Pass package, just introduced this year, includes:

Unlimited rides wristband with no black out days
Two free “Family or Friend” wristband vouchers
$20 in game vouchers for any of the midway games
Four meal vouchers for Pacific Park’s newly cleaned up oceanfront food plaza
20% off any other meals at the food plaza (there are some “real food” options here)
Two additional free ride tickets at the Santa Monica Pier Carousel
20% off any merchandise bought at the Pier Gear store
15% off a birthday party package at Pacific Park

The VIP Pass at California’s only family amusement park on a pier is currently $125 for children ages 7 and under, or $175 for older kids and adults. While a family vacationing in Los Angeles from out of state should buy the one-day wristbands, those of us who live closer to the Santa Monica Pier year round can save a lot of money on this incredibly popular kids’ activity. I recommend it!

Posted in: Budget Travel, Destinations, Family Travel, Travel Tips | no comments

Malibu, California and a Perfect Day’s Vacation

February 22, 2010 | Author: SoCalGal

Many towns in Southern California have certain reputations, and these stereotypes often inform Los Angeles-area travel plans. For those of us who live here, of course, the picture is often totally different. My tween didn’t have school this past week, but since my younger kid did, we couldn’t take too grand an adventure (apparently, the school system frowns upon parents not picking their children up from school). My daughter and I drove up for a day trip to Malibu, and did several activities before returning home.

Malibu is considered the first real surfing destination in the Los Angeles area – it’s no Half Moon Bay, of course, but it’s pretty good for Southern California. We went to Zuma Beach, and there we saw one solitary, sad little surfer. Maybe the waves weren’t rad this particular day! My tween took most of these photographs, by the way, and she was more interested in the cute sandpipers busily running up and down the shore than she was that surfer dude.

Malibu has that mellow surfer culture in spades, of course, but there’s also a seriously swanky side to this beachy community. Lots of media moguls live here, and where there’s money, the luxury shops shall follow. There are a bunch of high-end stores in the Malibu Country Mart and beyond. In fact, one of my favorite sushi restaurants, Nobu Malibu, is in this shopping area. No, we did NOT go there for lunch! We did, however, indulge in a little mother-daughter shopping splurge.

We went to Duke’s for lunch. There are Duke’s in Maui and Kauai, so it was fun to come to this one and compare. My tween thought the coconut shrimp was exactly the same, but I felt that the Hawaii style dresses and uniforms seemed out of place. It is winter now, so the whales are goofing off around Hawaii, but the windows in Duke’s in Malibu give great views of the humpbacks as they migrate to and from the South Pacific.

The northern coastal tip of Malibu has one of those perfect beaches for exploring; Leo Carrillo State Park Beach is rocky, with small caves that can only be accessed during low tide. My kid and I had the best time wandering along the coast here. As an aside, when I was a child myself, my whole family was in a commercial for Tang that was filmed at Leo Carrillo State Park Beach. Little did I know then, that I’d be living within driving distance of it as a parent.

My daughter found one of the largest limpets I’ve seen outside of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington. We’d bought a fancy hair clip for her at the Malibu Country Mart, and I’d spent more on a pair of sunglasses there than I usually do – but this limpet, maybe 6 inches long, sun-bleached and almost alien-looking, was hands down the best find of the day.

In fact, she made a necklace out of it when we came home, and wears it still, today. Rather than rush through our day trip and also see the Getty Villa, horse stables and pretty Malibu Gardens (it’s a nursery that looks like a luscious backyard), we took it slow. Enjoying each others’ company, strolling on a beach together, and discussing how a found shell can be more exciting, memorable and valuable than a bought hair accessory – these are the details that make up a perfect day’s vacation in Southern California.

Posted in: Budget Travel, Destinations, Family Travel | 16 comments

Los Angeles Meet-up for Bloggers

February 8, 2010 | Author: SoCalGal

The Vacation Gals love collaboration nearly as much as we love exploring the world’s great travel destinations. We’re so excited to co-host a Los Angeles bloggers’ meet-up with Uptake and our friend Kim Tracy Prince. The Huntley, a lovely, sophisticated hotel a block from the ocean in Santa Monica, is opening its doors to bloggers, travel-oriented or not, on February 28, 2010. Any Los Angeles area bloggers interested in learning how to increase their blog traffic are welcome (please RSVP)! Uptake, one of the fastest growing travel sites, is running the Blog Traffic Seminar from 3:00 to 4:00PM, with hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and networking to follow.

I attended a Washington State Tourism media luncheon at The Huntley a little while back, and I thought the hotel was fantastic. The food was fresh and delicious, and the Pacific Ocean views downright distracting. I chose the Huntley Hotel to base this meet-up in after being impressed by that beautiful view, accessible floor plan, and the friendliness of the staff. So, Angelenos! If you want to meet some smart, friendly people, enjoy some food and drinks, and take in the best view in Santa Monica CA, come on to the Los Angeles Blogger Meet-up! Uptake, The Vacation Gals (well, one of us, anyway), and Kim look forward to seeing you.

Posted in: Travel News, Travel Tips | 8 comments

Rainbows, Clear Skies, and Los Angeles

December 8, 2009 | Author: SoCalGal

People taking early December vacations in Los Angeles have likely been disappointed with our purported land of perpetual sunshine. It’s been really cold for us out here in Southern California – 41 degrees is NOT something we take kindly to – with a mix of clouds and rain. What people who travel to Los Angeles might not know, though, is how rare rainbows are here. Yesterday it poured steadily until around 3PM, and when I was picking up my younger daughter from school, I saw one. It was pretty exciting; not only did it mean the weather was clearing up, but obviously rainbows are lovely to see.

Rainbow in West Los Angeles Rainbow in Beverly Hills

After I took a photo of the rainbow, I noticed that a lot of other parents and babysitters were, too. We all smiled at each other. This isn’t Kauai, land of a thousand rainbows, after all. It felt special. So special, in fact, that I couldn’t wait to share my photo with my husband. When he got home, though, he burst through the door and said “Guess what I saw today near my office?” Yep, you guessed it: A rainbow, right in Beverly Hills. We marveled at the idea that we were possibly taking photographs opposite ends of the same rainbow simultaneously.

In our lives, as well as our travels, rain sometimes happens. Gloomy weather doesn’t have to ruin a vacation, or even our moods, though. Sometimes the simple lesson of the rainbow is needed, to remember that grey days always pass. And when they do, the skies are at their clearest.

Pacific Ocean View in Los Angeles

Posted in: Budget Travel, Destinations, Travel News | 2 comments

Jonas Brothers at Madame Tussauds Hollywood

October 22, 2009 | Author: SoCalGal

A lot of us have heard of Madame Tussauds Wax Museums. Famous for its wax replicas of famous people, Madame Tussauds is a popular tourist attraction. Believe me; when the real celebrities come out to get a first look at their duplicates, it’s quite a scene. Now, the original Madame Tussauds is in London, but today there are several in the United States: Las Vegas, Washington DC, and New York have had their wax museums for a while now, and this past summer one opened in the epicenter of celebrity worship, Los Angeles. What better place to celebrate plastic (okay, wax) people than Hollywood, California? Madame Tussauds Hollywood highlights the glamour of show business, without focusing of the seedy side: This makes it a great stop for a family vacation in Los Angeles, California.

Jonas Brothers at Madame Tussauds Hollywood Tweens may not always be thrilled about visiting a museum, wax or otherwise. However, the Jonas Brothers wax figures are at Madame Tussauds Hollywood now through November 10th. Further, from now until December 31, 2009, the museum is offering kids free admission with a paid adult. What seems like campy good fun – taking a photograph with the wax Jonas Brothers – may be just what a family needs to get their tween excited about museums. There are plenty of museums in Los Angeles for the culture-minded, of course, but pop culture has its appeals too.

To get the complimentary children’s admission to Madame Tussauds Hollywood, print out this document.

Posted in: Destinations, Family Travel, Travel News | 7 comments

Legally Blonde in Los Angeles, CA

August 18, 2009 | Author: SoCalGal

Los Angeles is a very popular vacation town year-round, but in summer it especially seems to be crawling with tourists from all over the world. For all those August family travelers to Southern California who are wondering what else to do besides go to the beach and Disneyland, here’s a pretty good tidbit. Legally Blonde The Musical is playing at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood, from August 12 to September 6th. This end-of-summer limited run show is plenty of fun (remember the movie?) and adds a bit of culture to a Los Angeles family vacation. Hey, it’s the theater! Sounds cultural to me, anyway.

If you’re in Los Angeles now, and thinking about going, Broadway LA is offering $20 savings on selected seats until August 22. Are you here? Enjoy the rest of your Southern California summer vacation!

Posted in: Destinations, Family Travel, Travel Tips | no comments

A Best Mother’s Day Brunch in Venice, Los Angeles

May 14, 2009 | Author: SoCalGal

Abbott Kinney Blvd Venice is a fun and funky part of Los Angeles, with many of the best little stores, unique restaurants, a thriving artists community, and a boardwalk made for people watching (and roller blading, and buying local crafts, and even more people watching. The ’70s still lives on the Venice Beach boardwalk). The artsiest part of Venice, itself arguably the artsiest part of Los Angeles, is Abbot Kinney Blvd. This long boulevard stretches in the California sun, full of fun restaurants, boutique shops, and hip young people. A restaurant that perfectly encapsulates the Venice sub-culture of Los Angeles is Hal’s Bar & Grill. It’s fun, hip, and trendy, with that relaxed, casual Southern California ambience throughout.

A Grandmother, Mother and Daughter out for Brunch

We had a memorable, multigenerational Mother’s Day brunch at Hal’s Bar & Grill. Because of the holiday, the restaurant was pretty crowded with family groups. The waiters kept their cool, though, and we were led upstairs to the quieter level. Just as well; along with my kids, we were with their grandmother AND their great-grandfather. He is in his 90′s, and hard of hearing. The more sedate upstairs area was best for us, as it was nice to not have to shout to be heard. There is plenty of room to move around at Hal’s, which is useful with four generations all together like that! It’s so rare that all the living generations of our family can come together like this (Great Grandpa lives 3,000 miles away), and we wanted a special place to celebrate this memorable event.

Most Memorable Mother's Day Brunch

My mother-in-law is about as hip and youthful as a grandma should be allowed to be, and the Abbot Kinney neighborhood of Venice suits her perfectly. We were so happy to share this fun part of Los Angeles with her and her elderly father; we were certain they’d love it, and we were right. Brunch was great. We shared everything we ate with each other, moving plates around and laughing.

The southwest scramble was probably the big winner at the table. Great Grandpa ordered this favorite brunch dish – I suppose it’s true when they say that “with age comes wisdom,” so his grandson – my husband – ordered a second Southwest scramble to ensure there would be enough for everyone. The smokey cheddar, grilled corn, black beans and mild spices blended together to make this a very tasty egg dish. The huevos rancheros with chili relleno and fresh salsa was also a popular egg dish at our table. My own favorite, however, was the lobster scramble, made with egg whites. It felt almost decadent to be eating lobster for brunch, but hey: It was Mother’s Day, and I was one of the mothers! Enjoying great food, and great family time, is what this day is all about for a foodie mom like me.

There are many sandwiches and salads on the brunch menu at Hal’s, along with pancakes and french toast. It’s a terrific brunch menu with something for everyone.The restaurant clientele is as diverse as Venice Beach itself, and I loved it. For a hip, fun Los Angeles restaurant with fresh takes on traditional dishes, I recommend Hal’s Bar & Grill. Especially for a most memorable multigenerational Mother’s Day Brunch!

Posted in: Destinations, Family Travel | 3 comments

Best Free or Cheap Things to Do in Los Angeles

May 11, 2009 | Author: SoCalGal

Los Angeles is a popular travel destination all year round; there are plenty of things to do and the weather’s never too cruddy (air quality be damned). With the ever-growing list of fantastic restaurants and cultural experiences, LA is no longer just a place to see famous people getting into bar fights, either. The fun child-friendly activities make LA great for a centrally-located family vacation too: Disneyland to the south, Knott’s Berry Farm and Malibu to the north, plus plenty to do right here too. But it’s the best cheap or free activities that help stretch our vacation budgets. What to do when your travel budget is smaller than you’d like? Go cheap, but still have fun. Here are my top five cheap and free things to do in Los Angeles, California.

See the Santa Monica Pier Durng Your Los Angeles Vacation

See the Santa Monica Pier During Your Los Angeles Vacation

Top 5 Best Free or Cheap Activities in LA, California

The Santa Monica Pier has a fun, old-timey carousel and small amusement park, making it a great spot for families to take their young kids. An all-day wristband for the Pacific Park on the pier is available there or cheaper online, though you can walk around the amusement park without going on any rides (yeah, right!) for free. Under the Santa Monica Pier is a no-frills touch tank style aquarium, run by the nonprofit Heal the Bay. Local marine life are featured here, and donations are appreciated.

The beach is, needless to say, really crowed in the summer right around the pier, but walk a little bit north or south of it, and the crowds thin out quickly. Parking is free on some streets, and there’s a fee (varies, but around 10 bucks) for beach lot parking. Venice Beach is a healthy walk south, and the best for people-watching. The Will Rogers State Beach is just a couple miles north of Santa Monica, and a lot less crowded. Drive north a few more miles, and you’re in Malibu. Goggling at surfers is free, though the beach equipment rentals will cost you a few bucks.

He's Sure an Iconic Hollywood Star

Hollywood Walk of Fame is free to walk around, and plenty of those stores have cheap touristy stuff for sale too. There are over 2,300 stars’ names inlaid along the walk here, and all sorts of characters strolling around for photo ops. (If you pose with one of them, it’s nice to give a tip.) The Walk of Fame is along Hollywood and Vine, itself an iconic intersection. There are fictional stars with stars on the Walk of Fame too; my kids got a kick out of finding The Simpsons’ star.

Grauman’s Chinese Theater is a landmark that tourists like to see; it’s right on the Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard. The large red pagoda, Chinese dragon across the front, makes this an unmistakable spot: The footprints and handprints in front of Grauman’s are a fun place to take photos too. The oldest handprints include Mary Pickford’s in 1927, and more recent ones include Will Smith and Hugh Jackman. Anyone who wants to see a movie while on a Southern California vacation can see one here, though many grouse that ticket prices aren’t so cheap!

Television show tapings often need people to fill up the seats, especially talk shows and game shows. Grauman’s Theater is a good place to get free tickets to TV shows; other places to score free tickets to TV shows are the Glendale Galleria and Universal Studios Hollywood. Where else, besides New York City, can people on vacation have a chance to see some of their favorite TV personalities live at work? If you’re planning a trip to LA and really don’t want to leave this to chance, call Paramount Television Audience Show Guest Relations (323) 956-1777, Audience Associates (323) 467-4697, or Fox Television’s Audience Unlimited (818) 506-0043.

Griffith Observatory

Griffith Park is the biggest city park in the United States. It’s probably most famous for the Griffith Observatory, and admission to the Observatory is free. There’s a fee to get into the planetarium, but this is also pretty cheap. Griffith Park as a whole is over 4,000 acres of trails and parkland, so obviously there’s lots to do. There are hiking paths and bridle trails, picnic areas and canyons. It’s a great place to take kids during a family vacation; the LA Zoo is here, as well as the Autry Center (for cowboy lovin’ kids), pony rides and “Travel Town.” The Greek Theater is also right in Griffith Park – this outdoor theater hosts year-round concerts.

Needless to say, these are just my picks for the top 5 free or cheap things to do in Los Angeles, California. What’s best for one vacationing couple or family may not be the top activity chosen by another. Have your own favorite cheap or free Los Angeles activities? I’d love to hear them – leave your comments below.

Posted in: Budget Travel, Destinations, Family Travel, Travel Tips | 2 comments

The Ray Garcia Fig and Vacation Gals Tweetup

April 29, 2009 | Author: SoCalGal

The Fig is California Casual

Vacation lovers, parents, and travel PR folk have been using Twitter to have brief interactions with each other about trips with children, favorite vacation destinations, travel deals and more. The Vacation Gals have a presence on the social-media site, of course. But an especially interesting phenomena is the “tweetup.” Tweetups are organized by groups of twitter users who are geographically close, to get together IRL (that’s, “in real life,” Mom). And, in partnership with Fairmont, the Vacation Gals site is hosting a Los Angeles tweetup on May 18, at the Fairmont Miramar in Santa Monica! The restaurant in the Fairmont Miramar hotel, The Fig, is usually closed on Mondays, but it will be opened on May 18 just for this fun experience.

The Vacation Gals love the Fairmont brand of hotels and resorts for many reasons; the imprimatur indicates luxury and class, as well as a guiding philosophy of respect for the hotel’s natural surroundings. All three of these are easily found at the Fairmont Miramar, in Santa Monica, California. The restaurant in the hotel, The Fig, is designed perfectly to provide the casual California setting for a great dinner. Chef Ray Garcia uses the best, freshest, most sustainably harvested ingredients to create delicious, memorable meals. Most fruits and vegetables are purchased at the bi-weekly Santa Monica Farmers’ Market. That explains the rave reviews! A terrific dinner is an important part of a Los Angeles vacation, and hungry travelers are wise to make reservations at The Fig in the Fairmont Miramar.

: The Fig in Fairmont Miramar

The Ray Garcia Fig and The Vacation Gals Tweetup is, again, May 18. There is a cover charge of $20, but that means that all the delicious menu items – and the talented mixologist at the bar – are at our disposal. That’s right, food and drinks. It will be a FUN night! Please bring cash to simplify and expedite the process of getting in. Doors open at 6 pm, so come hungry! The only thing you need to bring besides cash is your Twitter handle (for example, I’m @JenniferMiner) so that your online friends will know who you are. You don’t have to live in Los Angeles to come (I know someone who is jetting down from San Francisco) but watch out; the Miramar is a popular hotel with ocean views. Those ocean view rooms might fill up fast! Any twitterer who’s been considering a mid-May Southern California vacation, should also considering stopping by The Fig and saying hi. I’ll be happy to meet you!

Posted in: Destinations, Girlfriend Getaways, Travel News | no comments

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