Mendocino Coast: Little River Inn review

The Mendocino coastal area offers stunning natural beauty, warm hospitality, quaint, unpretentious towns, and outdoor exploration galore! It's a great region in which to base your California northern coastal road trip, and a stay at Little River Inn is a must! Tip: We tacked a trip to the Mendocino coast onto our Grown-Up Getaway to Sonoma, and the two destinations paired beautifully, but … [Read more...]

Five favorite coastal campgrounds for families

Families wanting to make the most of the camping season need to head to coastal, temperate zones to avoid temperature extremes (bonus if they can find yurts or cabins at the campground). Family camping is economical, easy to plan, and often close to home! We've compiled a list of our favorite coastal campgrounds for families in the Pacific Northwest and California. At each of the following state … [Read more...]

A stay at Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel with kids

Parents might assume a Ritz Carlton hotel is too, well, ritzy for a family vacation. In fact, the family-friendly offerings at Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel make the acclaimed resort a smart choice for families looking for great vacation value. Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel with kids: The Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel is located right on the Pacific Coast between the beach towns of Laguna Beach and … [Read more...]

Hearst Castle State Park

Families traveling on a California Highway 1 road trip will want to stop at Hearst Castle State Park, especially if their car-load comprises of school-aged kids, tween, and teens. Visible (and impressive!) even from the highway, Hearst Castle is a half-day stop right outside San Simeon, CA. From the visitor's center located near the coastline, guests can choose from several tour options before … [Read more...]

Three Highway 1 beach pit stops from Monterey to San Simeon, CA

Some of the most beautiful coastline in the world exists on California's Highway 1 between Monterey, CA and San Simeon, CA. Directly after Point Lobos State Natural Reserve in Monterey (definitely stop there before beginning your day), the way is windy and slow, but never fear: the California Highway 1 road trip is made to be savored with frequent pit stops, so even young passengers can handle the … [Read more...]

A stay at the Morgan Hotel, San Simeon CA

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 … [Read more...]

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve

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 … [Read more...]

A stay at Monterey’s Portola Hotel and Spa

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 … [Read more...]