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Family Travel Files Ezine Family Vacations Resource
Southern California: Spring Break Family Vacation Ideas – Sun, Fun, and Discoveries. In "SoCal” it is easy to create family vacations that include fun and learning. Kayak along the coast or fly a kite on the beach. Rent bicycles to explore the oceanfront boardwalk or go whale watching off Dana Point. Make time to enjoy a sunset with your kids. Anza-Borrego Cactus Discovery

I have assembled a few of the best family vacation ideas for your perusal and there are many more in our family Spring Breaks folder. 

San Diego North: Anza-Borrego high desert adventures. Spring is one the very best times to visit Anza-Borrego Desert State Park - one of the richest living museums in the country because of the comfortable temperatures and array of wild flowers and glamorous ocotillo in bloom. It is the place to see roadrunners, golden eagles, kit foxes, mule deer, bighorn sheep, desert iguanas, chuckwallas, and several species of rattlesnake – from a distance of course. It is the largest state park in California offering 500 hundred miles of dirt roads, 12 wilderness areas and many miles of hiking trails provide visitors with an unparalleled opportunity to share discoveries in the California Desert. Bonus points: It is possible to arrange for a jeep tour along remote trails through canyons and over desert meadows to glimpse the awesome metal sculptures, indigenous wild life and gorgeous desert skies. (200 Palm Canyon Drive Borrego Springs, CA 92004. (760) 767-5311 or www.borregojeepphototours.com) Wait for it! Add to the desert discoveries at Anza-Borrego a wildlife adventure at Safari Park in Escondido. The park spans 1,800 acres creating and creating countless possibilities to view animals in almost native environment as well as a super-cool treetop safari trek. (15500 San Pasqual Valley Rd. Escondido, CA 92027. (760) 747-8702 or www.sdzsafaripark.org)

Long Beach: Shark Lagoon Nights and kayaks. Long Beach offers families an unhurried pace with space to “chill-ax” and connect with the sea.  It is home to Aquarium of the Pacific – an awesome wet place which is home to more than 12,000 creatures, including sharks, sea lions, eels, and friends. This is the place to have fun and learn together. Unique experiences include the opportunity to touch sharks in Shark Lagoon; feed and chat with lorikeet birds; join a behind-the-scenes tour. Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific Octopus. Bonus points: Three separate animal encounters, allow families to interact with sea otters, seals and sea lions, or even sharks. Wait for it! The public is invited to free Friday night shark encounters during Shark Lagoon Nights. Participants will have the opportunity to touch bamboo sharks and watch the activities of large sharks as well as rays in the Aquarium’s Shark Lagoon (100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach 90802. (562) 590-3100 or www.aquariumofpacific.org). Eating out!  Just how often is it possible to kayak to lunch? Kayaks on the Water, located in the marina at Alamitos Bay, rents kayaks for comfy sea adventures and provides directions to waterside eating spots. (Kayaks on the Water 5411 East Ocean Boulevard, Long Beach 90802. (562) 434-0999 or www.kayakrentals.net) 

San Diego: Zoo encounters and “Polar Bear Plunge”. The San Diego Zoo is always a rewarding spot to share with kids. The possibilities for fun and learning could fill an entire family vacation beginning with encounters with the Zoo’s animal ambassadors and their trainers where visitors are invited to get up close with critters and even help train. Some behind-the-scenes encounters include photos with the animals and a chance to learn animal-speak so that the animals talk back. The Plunge features 130,000 gallons (494,000 liters) of water cooled to 58 degrees Fahrenheit (14 degrees Celsius). An underwater viewing room makes it easy to observe the agile and playful the polar bears and topside views simulate their natural habitat. Bonus points: The new Experience Wall allows keepers to interact with a polar bear through a mesh barrier as visitors stand just feet away. Wait for it! Share the zoo at night with an educator-led walk that highlights the lifestyle of nocturnal animals and provides the opportunity to learn inside information, hear personal stories from the educators, and ask questions. The theme varies each month, and dessert and hot drinks are served. (San Diego Zoo 2920 Zoo Drive San Diego, CA 92101. (619) 231-1515 or San Diego Zoo) 

Los Angeles: Griffith Park for stargazing and western music.  Search the heavens. The 1930s art deco Griffith Observatory is an extraordinary spot to share with kids of all ages. It features a public space with a modest display of astronomy exhibits, and innovative planetarium theater which questions life beyond Earth, and the wonder of the northern Lights. There’s a telescope set to view the moon and planets at night and they still host public star nights with a free public telescope pointed toward the moon and planets. (Griffith Observatory Satellite, 4800 Western Heritage Way Los Angeles, 90027. (323) 664-1181 or www.GriffithObs.org). In the same park the Autry Museum of Western Heritage offers programs, and educational offerings ideal for families. They connect the past to the present and showcase the history of the region west of the Mississippi River. Bonus points: Checkout the hands-on Family Discovery Gallery installed for families learn about history through games (panning for gold) and exploration. Wait for it! The third Sunday of every month join the Western Heritage Music jam session and Family Day. Here’s the deal: Every second Tuesday of the month admission is free. (4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles, 90027-1462. (323) 667-2000 or http://theautry.org)

Content researched and written by Nancy Nelson-Duac, Editor FTF. Images from FTF and San Diego North. Copyright 3013.
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