California - Pitstops for Kids

A stay at the Morgan Hotel, San Simeon CA

June 5, 2012 By Amy Hagstrom

I discovered the wonderful value for families at Broughton Hospitality boutique hotels during our stay at Mill Valley CA’s The Acqua, and our experience was equally positive at The Morgan Hotel, a San Simeon hotel for families.

The Morgan can be found just five minutes from Hearst Castle and the Elephant Seal Rookery in San Simeon, and is only 45 minutes from the California wine country near Paso Robles, but the appeal for families is in its amenities, not its location (as there are plenty of motel choices in the area, some with better beach access). Like other Broughton hotels, the Morgan is the perfect hybrid between a economy motel and a boutique hotel: it looks pretty standard from the outside, but inside, it’s clear that this is no run-of-the-mill motel.

The lobby is very well decorated, with soft couches and an oversized checker board, and features a sunken dining area for the morning breakfast buffet (more on that later). The rooms are oversized (deluxe fireplace rooms are only marginally more per night) and nicely decorated, and free wifi is included throughout the hotel, including in guest rooms. Parking is free, as is the breakfast buffet, which was pretty standard (cereal, oatmeal, packaged pastries, and a variety of toast and bagels) but perfectly adequate. The real draw for kids is the lovely outdoor heated pool. It’s located in a walled courtyard behind the lobby, and best of all, it’s protected from the wind off the ocean. (If you want beach access, it’s only a few blocks away, behind the Best Western. We found fun tide pools there in addition to a nice, wide flat beach to play on.)

Our only complaint about the Morgan was that it’s showing its wear here and there: some of the bathroom fixtures were less than sparkling (due to age), and dust did accumulate behind dressers and the like. It takes a lot to bother me in this regard, so I was content, but pickier families might take issue. (Of course, for me, free wifi beats out almost anything!) There’s a decent Mexican restaurant located next door, but we drove three miles to Cambria, CA, where we had a nice pizza and burger dinner at J B J’s Round-Up Pizza.

Date last visited:

May 2012

Distance from the interstate:

Right off Highway 1.

Room rates:

Standard rooms (double or king) were listed at $109 at the time of our visit, while deluxe rooms (large, with canopy beds and fireplaces) were listed at $119. We found either rate to be a very good value for the amenities offered. Add ons can be made at the time of reservation, like wine selections, cookies and milk delivered, or an in-room massage by certified massage artist.

Directions:

The Morgan is located at 9135 Hearst Drive. From Highway 1, turn onto Vista Del Mar to hotel.

As I disclose whenever applicable, the Morgan hosted our family at no cost, for the purpose of review. While we appreciate this hospitality as it allows us to bring relevant information to readers, it came with no expectation of a positive review.

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve

May 31, 2012 By Amy Hagstrom

Families looking for things to do in Monterey, CA or en route along Highway 1 to Big Sur should definitely stop at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve. Located just a few miles outside Monterey on Highway 1, Point Lobos offers great hiking with kids in Monterey, with miles of hiking trails, scenic vistas, hisorical sites, and picnic grounds in some of the most beautiful acreage I’ve ever seen. We started at Whaler’s Cove, where a posted sign instructed us to speak in quiet voices…the seals were using the nearby beach as a pup rookery. We could see the mother seals and babies from the parking lot. Nearby, families can view the historic Whaler’s Cabin, and a steep staircase takes you to the bluff overlooking the bay and the network of hiking trails.

The trails are easily navigated, though parents will want to remind kids to stay on the trail. There are steep areas, and during certain seasons, poison oak is in bloom. (We saw a lot when we visited in May.) We opted to take the 1.4 mile North Shore Trail, which connects with the Seal Point parking area and trailhead. Along the North Shore Trail are numerous overlooks where seals, otters, and even whales can be spotted, and at Seal Point, tide pools are visible in low tide. The nearby Cypress Grove Trail tours the oldest Monterey Cypress grove in the world, and is a great option for famlies not quite up for the longer hikes. Guided walks and nature talks are also scheduled throughout each week.

Note: Dogs are not permitted in the reserve, even if they stay in the vehicle.

Date last visited:

May 2012

Distance from the interstate:

Right on Highway 1.

Admission price:

Admission the the reserve is $10 per car. You’re buying a state park pass, so if you’re visiting any other state parks on your trip, it will be good for those, too!

Hours of operation:

8 am to 7 pm during Daylight Savings, and from 8 am until 1/2 hour after sunset in winter.

Food services:

None, but picnicking areas are throughout the park.

Directions:

From Monterey, head out Highway 1 three miles south. Look for the posted signs.

A stay at Monterey’s Portola Hotel and Spa

May 29, 2012 By Amy Hagstrom

Stepping into the spacious lobby of Monterey CA’s Portola Hotel and Spa, you just might think you’ve taken a wrong turn and stepped back outside instead. The wide, open space is canopied with lush, live trees giving way to bright skylights, and the front desk staff is equally sunny. Upon arrival, my kids (and the adults!) were offered warm chocolate chip cookies, and the kids were ushered into the Portola Pirate Program, a fun and inventive perk including a goodie bag of pirate treasure and an interactive scavenger hunt around the hotel grounds. The boys immediately departed to scour the lobby for their first clue (an impressive pirate ship model), while my husband and I left the car with the valet service and trailed after them.

The Pirate Program serves a duel purpose that parents can appreciate: it gets the kids moving after time in the car, introduces parents to the amenities of the resort (the treasure hunt includes stops at the hotel’s two restaurants and adjacent candy shop), and emphasizes the hotel’s policy of valuing kids and family. We really appreciated how welcome our boys were to literally have the run of the place.

After settling into our courtyard-view room (which was very nicely decorated, and included welcome, if not fairly standard) amenities like a mini-fridge, ample closet space, and spa robes as well as extra touches like slatted blinds and chic decor, we checked out the outdoor heated pool (adjacent to the spa, which sadly, I didn’t have opportunity to try out). We did enjoy taking a glass of wine to the hot tub while the kids splashed in the pool before dinner. We were tempted by the outdoor fire pit and fresh California cuisine at the hotel’s Peter B’s Brew Pub, but in the end, the kid-friendly offerings on Fisherman’s Wharf (only steps away) won out. Note: Jack’s, the hotel’s main restaurant, looked a bit too dark and stuffy for our taste, decorated more like an old-school nautical club, though the staff was friendly and kid-welcoming.

We ate in our room in the morning (easy with the mini-fridge and plenty of counter space), but plenty of coffee and cafe-style breakfast spots are in walking distance (including a coffee shop right at the hotel). Also on-site: a candy store, a great bike and outdoor equipment rental shop, Adventures by the Sea, and a fitness center. I loved how close Monterey’s Historic Walking Tour was (the historic custom house was right outside the resort), and how easily families could connect with the many bike and walking paths. We could easily walk to the Coast Guard Pier to see the seals, and all the way to Cannery Row, should we desire. Point Lobos State Natural Reserve and Carmel’s 17 Mile Drive are only minutes away by car. All in all, the Portola is a great home base for visiting Monterey with kids.

Distance from the interstate:

Five minutes from Highway 1.

Room rates:

Rates at the time of our visit varied from $225 for a standard (courtyard view) double room to $309 for a harbor-view room. We experienced a courtyard view, which was still lovely…upgrading is not necessary for a peaceful, pretty view. The Portola offers valet parking for $20 a night or self parking for $17.

Included amenities:

The Portola’s nightly rate does not include a complimentary breakfast, but does include a heated outdoor pool and spa, fitness room, and kids’ Portola Pirate Program. Free wifi is available in the spacious (and comfortable) lobby area, and available in-room for an additional fee. Room service is also available.

Directions:

The Portola Hotel and Spa is located at 2 Portola Plaza, Monterey, CA. From downtown Monterey, it’s an easy few blocks to the hotel (right outside the busy Cannery Row area and adjacent to the Historic Fisherman’s Wharf.

As I disclose whenever applicable, we experienced the Portola Hotel and Spa as guests of the hotel and Monterey County. Though their hositality is appreciated, as it allows us to review amenities for traveling families, this compensation came with no expectation of a positive review.

The Acqua Hotel: kid-friendly boutique hotel in California’s Bay Area

May 24, 2012 By Amy Hagstrom

I’m pleased to announce I’ve found a new (to me) hotel brand favorite for traveling families: Broughton Hospitality’s boutique hotel collection, with properties across the west. On our recent California road trip with kids, we had the pleasure of spending a night outside San Francisco at Mill Valley’s Acqua Hotel, which served our family’s needs perfectly.

What made the Acqua, and the other Broughton hotels we’ve experienced, so well suited? These boutique hotels fall right in-between the price point of a economic motel and a high-end luxury hotel, while including a host of hotel amenities families need. The Acqua, perfect for bay area travel, is priced only marginally higher than a standard motel, and yet offers large rooms, plenty of outdoor space to play, adjacent biking and walking paths, an ideal location to Sausalito and Muir Woods National Monument, a full breakfast, free parking, and wifi. The value for amenities cannot be beat.

We checked into the Acqua Hotel just in time for their complimentary wine and cheese reception hour (from 5 pm to 6 pm), which we enjoyed in the sunshine on the expanse of lawn overlooking the bay. The kids played touch football on the grass while we sipped a nice pinot noir, and we all snacked on grapes, cheese, and crackers…perfect to fend of hunger pre-dinner. We were minutes away from Mill Valley, where we ate a fun dinner at Joe’s Taco Lounge (recommended by the hotel staff), and once we returned to our room, we had enough space to stretch out for a family movie night. Our corner room (a junior suite) boasted a nice view with patio (though sizes vary), and slept five very comfortably, and the style was chic, fresh, and modern. The bathroom was very large with a huge tub and shower, and the hotel’s unique, airy layout makes you feel like you’re always outside.

The following morning, we ate our fill at the far-above-average complimentary hotel breakfast buffet, laid out in the Acqua’s second floor breakfast room with outdoor patio overlooking the back bay. “Finally, a hotel breakfast buffet with enough seating,” my husband noted, and he was right: there was more than enough room…no jockeying for a table in the morning rush. The buffet featured highly decent coffee and tea options, fresh sliced fruit, gourmet danishes (nothing out of the package here), cereals and oatmeal, and your standard breads and bagels (topped with artisan jams and jellies). We were very impressed (and trust me, we’ve seen our share of free hotel buffets).

For what you get, I can’t stress the Acqua’s value for families enough: it’s perfect for exploring the Bay Area, and close enough to the city (five miles or so from the Golden Gate Bridge) to make for a good home base for city excursions (though note: you’ll pay for tolls and parking in the city). The hotel does boast free bike borrowing (for use on the nearby bike paths), but at the time of our visit, they only had two adult-sized bikes. My single recommendation for the Acqua is to offer child-sized bikes as well, so a family could enjoy this amenity.

Distance from the interstate:

Right off Highway 101 (though we couldn’t hear street noise at night).

Room rates:

Our junior suite was listed at $169.00 a night, and deluxe king and double rooms are generally under $150 a night. Check with Acqua’s reservation system for exact rates, of course.

Included amenities:

In-room wifi, parking, breakfast, wine reception, all-day coffee and tea service, plenty of outdoor space for kids.

Directions:

The Acqua is located at 555 Redwood Highway. From the San Francisco Airport, take Hwy. 101 North/I-380 West ramp en route for I-280 North toward San Francisco. Continue on I-280 North, and stay to the left as it turns into 19th Ave. Exit. Follow 19th Ave. all the way to and over the Golden Gate Bridge (approximately 7 miles), then continue on the 101 North. Take the Seminary Dr. exit, and turn right at the first light at the bottom of the exit, which is Seminary Drive/ Redwood Highway.

As I disclose whenever applicable, we experienced the Acqua as guests of Broughton Hospitality. While we appreciate this opportunity to review the property for our readers, all opinions are our own, and I was under no obligation to write in a particular view point.
—

The Solar Living Institute

May 14, 2012 By Sharlene Earnshaw

The following pit stop is submitted by guest reviewer Barbara Zaragoza. Barbara blogs about off-beat adventures in California at California Notebook.

Everyone wants to save the earth these days, but do we really know how to do it? The Solar Living Institute in Hopland, California gives visitors a wealth of eco-living tips. A tour of their rustic property is free and plaques everywhere describe innovative technology that can save our planet.

The property boasts the largest number of solar panels in the state of California, hooked up to the deregulated electricity grid. They also have a hands-on display of a solar oven as well as a solar water pump that takes water from a pond to irrigate their organic farm.

Beyond solar energy, The Solar Living Institute makes sure that everything on the property is earth friendly. There’s a ‘Sun Frost’ refrigerator that uses Krypton gas. The parking lot has a biodiesel fueling station and electric vehicle charging stations. Several small buildings are made of cob: a mixture of straw bales, clay, and strew infill, which are considered low-impact materials that replace wood or concrete.

Kids will especially love this place thanks to the solar powered ferris wheel during the summer, the bamboo pyramid pruned in the shape of Egypt’s Cheops pyramid, a rotunda that touts a Mayan solar calendar, a tree house, and a sundial. Through some brush they’ll find 1950’s automobiles that have been turned into planters for large trees. Finally, kids can ride on the pedal power bike generators to see how much electricity they are able to generate through exercise.

The Solar Living Institute holds workshops throughout the year and, most importantly, takes any visitor into a world that is possible.

Closest interstate:

Highway 101

Cost of admission:

Free!

Hours of operation:

Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week for self-guided tours.

Driving directions:

The Solar Living Institute is located at 13771 S Highway 101, Hopland, CA.

3 things to do with kids in Paso Robles CA

April 30, 2012 By Sharlene Earnshaw

The following pit stop was submitted by Bay Area blogger and mom Whitney Moss of 510Families.

Located exactly halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, Paso Robles, California is an excellent pit stop if you want to get out of the car and feel like you’ve arrived somewhere special. (Pro tip: locals pronounce the town name Paso Robuls, not Paso Roblase.) Here are three things to do with kids in Paso Robles:

Powell’s Sweet Shoppe

Did you say CANDY? The downtown of Paso Robles is set up around a traditional town square, similar to Sonoma if you’ve been there, or the town in Back to the Future with the clock tower on one side and the soda shop on the other side. The square itself is a sufficient park for running around with playground equipment. Parents can take turns manning the playground usage while the other roams around the shops on the perimeter. Powell’s Sweet Shoppe is a super fun vintage candy store which is actually a chain, but maintains a unique small town feel. Find it at 840 11th Street.

Paso Robles Children’s Museum

A short distance from the square is the Paso Robles Children’s Museum. Best for kids 2-7, it has art projects, dress-up, a real fire truck to climb on, and a mini-ball pit for toddlers with a wine barrel theme. There’s lots of amusement packed into this relatively small building, the most noteworthy of which is a netted area that features a complex system of ball chutes and blasters. If you have child whose first word was BALL, you should maybe drive straight there this instant. The museum located at 623 13th Street and is closed on Monday and Tuesday.

Barney Schwartz Park

Out a little further from the town (10 minutes) sits our favorite park, Barney Schwartz. The equipment is pretty novel and the setting can’t be beat. Well maybe in Kauai, but it’s like nothing you’ll find in LA or San Francisco — the view is pure Paso Robles. Find it at 2970 Union Road, Paso Robles.

Bonus: wine country:

Paso Robles is wine country. Not a great fit for a day on the road, but I would be remiss to leave out this fact and even downtown, you’ll see tasting opportunities. To really appreciate where the grapes are coming from, head out to winery on one of the nearby highways. I can’t promise that the tasting room won’t have a gift shop full of breakables, but there are certainly several with picnic areas ideal for running around. Bianchi has automated toy sailboats; Castoro has a pot-bellied pig as the house pet; and, Sylvester features vintage train cars in front of the picnic grounds.

Note: Paso Robles has kid-friendly dining listed on Kidscore. Learn more about Kidscore.

Distance from the interstate:

Minutes from HWY 101 (and CA-46)

Cost of admission and hours:

The children’s museum admission is $7 for adults and $6 for kids 1-13.

Headed to the San Francisco Bay Area? Find more pit stops, family outings, and recommendations at PasoKids and 510Families!

Donner Memorial State Park and Emigrant Trail Museum

December 28, 2011 By Amy Hagstrom

As Northern California natives and Oregon residents, we’re well-versed in Oregon Trail pioneering history, and specifically, the Donner Party. We’ve taken the kids to Sutter’s Fort State Park in Sacramento, CA, where they first learned about the ill-fated party, and when we found ourselves on Interstate 80 at the beautiful Donner Summit during our Thanksgiving break travels, we just had to make a pit stop at Donner Memorial State Park and Emigrant Trail Museum in Truckee.

In warm-weather months, the park features lakeside access, well-tended picnic grounds, and hiking trails, but it’s still very worthy of a visit in winter. The Emigrant Trail Museum features extensive displays depicting the Donner Party ordeal, and includes exhibits describing general pioneering ways: wagons, tools, maps of established trails, and the like. Most interesting is the video (shown on the hour) and the short walk (accessible even in early winter) to the site of one of the Donner Party cabins. The kids found it fascinating that it was still possible to see the discoloration on the granite slab that served as a cabin wall, caused by chimney smoke. The nearby Donner memorial statue is also worth a look: the pedestal (base) of the memorial illustrates the height of the snowfall during the winter the Donners spent below the summit.

Tip! If you’re visiting in winter, you might want to consider stopping to sled or snowshoe near the state park at the sno-park by Boreal (a few miles south on I-80).

Date last visited: November 2011

Distance from the interstate: Directly off I-80.

Admission costs: $8 per vehicle, payable at a self-pay station or within the museum. Note: cash only!

Hours of operation: The museum is open 9 am to 4 pm, year round. State park grounds are open sunrise to sunset.

Directions: The park is 100 miles east of Sacramento via Interstate 80, and is within the town of Truckee, just west of downtown on the south side of the freeway.

Legoland California’s Star Wars miniland and water park

August 22, 2011 By Amy Hagstrom

While we were in Southern California last week, I had the opportunity to stop by one of our favorite theme parks for the younger set: Legoland California.

We love Legoland for their whimsical, primarily-colored theme, their young kid-friendly rides, and ample activities for the toddler and preschool set, but most exciting on this most recent visit was the showcasing of their new Star Wars Miniland! Yes, we’re a family of Star Wars-loving geeks, but even if you’re not, you’ll be floored by the attention to detail present in this multi-section display. I could have stood and looked for hours!

Of course, Star Wars in miniature is not the only new draw to Legoland California. The Legoland Waterpark features a 45-foot tower featuring slides and cascading, dumping water, two sandy beaches, and my favorite: the ‘build-a-raft’ river where kids create their own floatation devices. One word of warning: if you’re planning to enter the park later in the day, beware that the water park does fill to capacity. When it does so, water park passes may not be purchased at the main gate until enough guests have exited the area. It’s best to go early, or purchase a regular ticket that can be upgraded should the water park open up.

One thing I love about Legoland is that while it has certainly grown, deals can still be had. Did you know kids eat free from 5 to 7 pm? Or that the park offers free admission in its last hour before closing? Be sure not to buy more ticket than you need: if you’re not planning to visit the aquarium or water park, you don’t have to pay for it!

Plus! Did you know Legoland Florida is slated to open in October of 2011?! Autumn is a great time for families to visit Central Florida: the crowds have thinned, the weather has cooled, and room rates throughout the region have lowered. This park will certainly be on our list the next time we’re in the state!

San Diego on Dwellable

San Diego Marriott Marquis and Marina

August 19, 2011 By Amy Hagstrom

The Marriott Marquis and Marina is located in the heart of San Diego, California’s Gaslamp Quarter, situated directly on the bay. It does not include beach access, but the water is in easy reach via the harbor, where kids can watch the boats and parents will appreciate the family-friendly dining.

A major convention hotel, families can count on plenty of business and conference traffic during their stay, but the hotel is large enough that it won’t matter. My stay was during the 3,000+ person BlogHer conference (for which I was an attendee), and the public spaces didn’t even feel crowded. Located within the hotel is a Starbucks, a large gift and necessity shop, a UPS store, pool and lobby bars, and full room service. The outdoor pool is large and kid-friendly, and opens out onto the marina. Within walking distance are Gaslamp District eateries and shopping, and within minutes by car is SeaWorld San Diego, the San Diego Zoo, and the Wild Animal Park.

Rooms are fairly spacious, but be aware that standard room beds are on the narrow side! If you’re sharing them with kids, you may prefer to order a roll-away bed. Wireless internet is free in all public areas, but guests are charged $12 a day for in-room wireless. As is standard in most downtown city hotels, parking is $26 a day for guests with cars, and unfortunately, in San Diego, you’ll probably need one.

Date last visited: August 2011

Distance from the interstate: Five minutes off I-5.

Room rates: Standard rates are between $215-240 per night.

Directions: The Marriott Marquis is located at 333 West Harbor. From I-5, take the Front Street exit straight to the hotel entrance.

Downtown on Dwellable

Disney done right: how to survive (and thrive!) in summer crowds

August 12, 2011 By Amy Hagstrom

The first advice I offer any family asking how to get the most from their Disney theme park experience is to visit in the off-season. Of course, such a plan isn’t always realistic. If your only option is to visit Walt Disney World or the Disneyland Resort in the summer season, take heart! It is possible to best the crowds and the heat and have a fabulous time.

During our three-day visit to the Disneyland Resort in August, we experienced every attraction we wanted, had time for relaxation, and never waited longer than 15 minutes in any line. Below you’ll find our top suggestions on maximizing your peak summer Disney experience:

1. Arrive at parks at ‘rope drop’. It sounds simplistic, but aside from utilizing FastPass (more on that below), arriving at park opening is the best way to beat crowds. Imagine theme park crowds as a breaking wave: get there first, and you’ll remain at the forefront of that wave all day long. We noted the difference during our August trip: at 8:15 am (with a general population park opening of 8 am) the standby wait time for the hugely popular Star Tours was under 15 minutes. Nearby, Space Mountain’s standby time was 10 minutes, and the new Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage was 5 minutes. By 9 am, we’d done all three and had snagged FastPasses for later in the day, while Star Tours’ standby line had increased to 60 minutes, Space Mountain’s to 45 minutes, and Nemo’s to 30 minutes. The FastPasses for Star Tours were listing return times after 7 pm. We moved on, riding that wave.

2. Use FastPass in an organized, deliberate manner. Most park visitors now know to utilize Disney’s ingenious FastPass system, but many still neglect to make the most of it. When crowd levels are high, fast passes for key attractions will run out by as early as mid-morning, so plan to gather the ones you want most as close to park opening as possible. We always send a Fast Pass ‘scout’ to obtain our FastPasses for our first attraction while the rest of our party jumps in the standby line for another ride directly following rope drop….this is often the only standby line we stand in all day. Remember that a new FastPass can be obtained as early as the first time listed on your current FastPass, and that FastPasses for water rides such as Grizzly Run in California Adventure and Splash Mountain in Disneyland won’t run out until later in the day (when people get hot); plan to snag those by mid-morning to ride in the heat of the day. (Or ride early morning to avoid any line at all!)

3. Seek out quiet park areas to escape the crush of the crowds: In Disneyland, nothing beats Tom Sawyer’s Island for some R&R. Kids can run and play without standing in lines, and adults can find a shady bench to decompress. If you all want to sit down for a bit, consider taking a ride on the nearby Dixie Queen steamboat. Even in peak season, seats are available, and it’s always shaded. If your food budget allows for it, make a reservation for the quiet, darkened Blue Bayou Restaurant, located inside Pirates of the Caribbean. You’ll enjoy the ambiance, and escape the heat. In California Adventure, enter the Redwood Challenge Trail play area, where kids will climb ropes and cross bridges and zip down zip lines and adults, again, can blissfully sit. Bear in mind that neither Tom Sawyer’s Island or Redwood Challenge have food vendors; bring in a snack or water bottles.

4. Stay on-site. I’m a firm believer in staying at a Disney resort. While they’re often more expensive nightly than other area hotels and motels, they pay for themselves in the perks. During our August trip, we stayed at the Disneyland Hotel, where guests are given two extra FastPasses per guest per night which my kids called ‘magic FastPasses’ (as you can use them for any ride, at any time). Guests also enjoy extra park hours, and fun Disney touches in their rooms (my kids loved the musical headboards on the beds and their Mickey wake-up calls). The best perk of all, however, is simply logistical: staying at a Disney resort, you can easily take park breaks and won’t have to pay theme park parking fees. Each afternoon of our stay, we exited the parks and enjoyed a few hours in the Disneyland Hotel pools.

5. Eat at off-peak times and skip beverage lines. By the time lunch or dinner rolls around, the last thing anyone wants to do is stand in another line. To beat crowds, plan your meals during off-peak times. We always each lunch right at 11 am and dinner at 4 pm, adding a later evening snack. Many lunch venues are just opening at 11, giving us our pick of seating. Carry water bottles and powdered drink mix (to make drinking fountain refills taste better) to always have drinks on-hand, saving you time and money.

Every family’s schedule, budget, and preferences are different, but even if you can only take advantage of 3-5 of these tips, you’ll have a more relaxing, fun, and cost-effective theme park experience during peak season. Will you still become worn down by crowds and feel the heat? Sure, at times, and at the end of each day, you may still say, ‘Next time, let’s come back in January’, but at least you’ll be smiling as you say it.

To maximize our visit, our family used Southern California CityPasses during our three days at Disneyland Resort. As I disclose whenever applicable, these passes were provided free of charge, but came with no expectation of a positive review.