Shout “Eureka!” Discover a Goldmine of California Family Adventures

By Cassaundra Brooks
Photo credits: Photos courtesy the Hotel del Coronado
Photos courtesy the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel
“Are we there yet?” What family vacation would be complete without this quintessential question? Sometimes, getting to a vacation destination seems to take forever, but Arizonans don’t need to travel far for a fun, family-friendly trip. With slightly cooler temperatures, a change of scenery, and a name that has long been synonymous with summer fun, California offers some great vacation incentives for us desert dwellers. Luxurious beachside resorts and magical theme parks beckon, and this summer, you may wish to consider a short jog west with the family in tow.

SANTA MONICA

It may just have the most entertaining pier on the West Coast; it certainly has some of the most entertaining people. Santa Monica is also great for outdoor activities and artistic inspiration. Biking, skateboarding, rollerblading, dog walking, jogging, sunbathing, swimming, shopping, and snacking are a fraction of beachfront activities. Browse art booths, get a henna tattoo, or stop to watch various street entertainers as you mosey along the walk. Head to the Santa Monica Pier for a ride on the Ferris wheel, tasty treats, and family-friendly fun and games. Downtown, the pedestrian-friendly Third Street Promenade features thirty blocks of retail stores, dining, and entertainment. Check out the farmers’ market, brand-name shops, big-name chains, and unique boutiques. Find fresh cuisine, spas, bars, clubs, live theater, and a variety of organic entertainment, all overlooking Santa Monica Bay and blocks away from the beach, Palisades Park, and the renowned pier. There are seven public parking garages and metered street spaces for parking. Visitors may opt to use the Tide Shuttle for transportation in the Main Street district.

STAY

Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel The eight-storey city resort, bounded by the Pacific Ocean and the vibrant city of Santa Monica, boasts a Four Diamond rating, award-winning dining, an inspiring fitness center, and a newly renovated spa. The hotel caters to executives with one-bedroom suites and guest rooms that feature work desks and high-speed Internet but offers wonderful family accommodations and a slew of activities.

DINE

Ocean and Vine is a sophisticated retro lounge specializing in locally caught seafood delights and produce procured from Santa Monica’s farmers’ markets. Enjoy views of the Pacific and the Santa Monica pier as you dive into Chef Gregory Foos’s exciting California cuisine. Enjoy poolside service with full-service cabana Blue Streak and its selection of drinks, snacks, smoothies, and main dishes. Then, spend a relaxing evening in the Papillion Bar and Fireside Lounge.

PAMPER

Indulge in massages, facials, and an assortment of body treatments in the hotel’s Ocean Spa. A full-service beauty salon pampers the outer layer for that special evening or looking your everyday best. Keep up your fitness regimen in their fitness studio equipped with high-quality equipment, bikes, free weights, and more. A Group Fitness Studio offers classes in yoga, spinning, dance, mat Pilates, and body sculpting, among others.

ATTRACTIONS

The Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel is located steps from the famous beachside fitness paths and outdoor parks, a block from the Santa Monica Place Shopping Center, two blocks from the Santa Monica Pier, and three blocks from the Third Street Promenade. Less than an hour away by car are Knott’s Berry Farm, Disneyland, and Magic Mountain.

Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel
1700 Ocean Avenue
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 458-6700
loewshotels.com

Loews also has a San Diego location:
Loews Coronado Bay Resort
4000 Loews Coronado Bay Road
Coronado, CA 92118
(619) 424-4000 or (800) 815-6397

SAN DIEGO

Take a break from the desert heat with cool ocean breezes and an average daytime temperature of a heavenly 70 degrees Fahrenheit in this beautiful beach city. Animal lovers and kids of all ages will love the world-famous San Diego Zoo, where carnivores and herbivores cohabitate (with the help of fences), and you can find birds, reptiles, and beasts, jungle, desert, and marine life all in one park. The famous Sea World is a world of wonder for your little future marine biologists and aquatic enthusiasts. Your favorite sea creatures will present dazzling displays of talent and training, and you can walk through an aquarium tunnel and feed select critters. With interactive activities, well-constructed shows, and an element of education, Sea World makes for a great family experience, complete with splash zones and a barrage of souvenirs. Of course, San Diego can get you up close and personal with man’s favorite “vacation nature”—the beach. A clean, family-friendly beach has its own set of activities: bicycling on a 15-mile bike path, tennis, boating, fishing, yachting, swimming, sunbathing, scuba diving, snorkeling, water-skiing, windsurfing, hiking, hang gliding, hot air ballooning, and seasonal whale watching. San Diego houses over seventy golf courses, including an 18-hole championship golf course. There are miles of beautiful sand beaches and sparkling ocean. Just don’t forget the sunblock.

The greater San Diego area boasts a number of other attractions, including Legoland, the San Diego Wild Animal Park, Old Town, and Seaport Village. A number of theaters, including the Tony Award-winning Old Globe Theater, the San Diego Repertory Theater, and the historic Coronado Theater, host a variety of spectacular entertainment, and the city’s symphony and opera offer a season of international-artist performances. San Diego has approximately ninety museums.

STAY

You and the family don’t even need to leave your hotel in order to have a smashing time if you stay at The Hotel del Coronado, a luxurious, sprawling oceanfront palace with an unmistakable red roof and breathtaking ocean views. The Del (as it is affectionately called) first opened its doors to travel-weary customers in 1888 as a luxurious railroad resort that served the rich, famous, and privileged. One of the first hotels to offer a wealth of diverse activities and the latest in electricity and other modern luxuries, the resort continues its precedent-setting ways today. Having survived a century of wars and economic downtimes, The Hotel del Coronado is weathering the current economic storm while maintaining its rich history and glamorous status, which have won it many accolades and awards over the years. 2007 marked the completion of a stunning $150 million transformation with the addition of Beach Village, a set of oceanfront cottages and villas that offer dining and living spaces, with fully equipped kitchens and gourmet-quality appliances, cozy fireplaces, plush bedding, spa-style baths, and private ocean-view balconies and terraces.

SPA

The award-winning Spa at the Del opened in 2007 and features twenty-one treatment rooms as well as Jacuzzis, steam rooms, a beachfront relaxation terrace with a vanishing-edge pool, and special ocean-inspired treatments.

DINE

May 2006 brought the opening of The Del’s 1500 Ocean restaurant, with ocean views, a regional cuisine under the direction of Chef de Cuisine Brian Sinnott, and an inviting atmosphere of warm lighting and dark-wood accents. Inside and outside bars, a working pantry that doubles as venue for special tastings and events, and indoor and outdoor seating make it a special dining experience right on site.

Sheerwater boasts expansive outdoor dining terraces overlooking the Pacific, a menu chock full of fresh California cuisine, and a healthy and fun kids’ menu. Dining options include breakfast, lunch, afternoon light fare, cocktails, and dinner. The Crown Room has served up some savory social and culinary memories for the past century and enjoys a rich history of big-name visits and celebrations. Its elegant Sunday brunch features several scrumptious food stations and a fun zone for kids.

The Babcock & Story Bar (B&S) was named after the hotel’s two founders. It offers signature margaritas, blended tropical drinks, California premier wines, espressos, light fare, a sushi bar, and seasonal entertainment. Dubbed a wine, cheese, and chocolate sensation, Eno opened at the Hotel del Coronado in February 2008. Its tasting room features built-in cheese and chocolate cases and a floor-to-ceiling glass wine tower. Wine attendants help guests choose wines, cheese, and chocolates according to personal preferences.

ATTRACTIONS AND ACTIVITIES

Nearby attractions include Silver Strand Beach, Coronado Museum of History and Art, and tours of the Naval Air Station at North Island. Coronado Beach ranks high among the nation’s top beaches and is comprised of eighteen miles of white sand. The Del’s fitness instructors teach fun fitness classes, and holidays are especially fun. The Fourth of July brings a parade, outdoor concerts, a grand firework display, an array of kids’ activities, and more. Of course, you could just keep your eyes and ears out for the hotel’s resident ghost, Kate Morgan, who is said to make occasional appearances.

The family-oriented hotel is quite the fun factory for little ones. A full-time recreation department helps plan your children’s activities, which may include a dip in one of two pools, visiting the nearby marina, or strolling the lush gardens. Tent City Kids’ Camp, for children ages 4 through 12, offers afternoon and evening activities like bonfires, s’mores roasts, seashore scavenger hunts, sandcastle competitions, beach games, arts and crafts, and kite flying. The Del also offers several recreational and educational activities, including surfing, kayaking, and special programs. The Gnarly Neal offers surfing lessons year-round and a four-hour summer surf camp for kids ages 9 through 16. Specialty shops cater to kids, and the Coast Club Teen Lounge gives teens a place to mix and mingle, with video games, foosball, food and drinks, music, TVs, and computers. The Del offers a variety of activities and rentals, and Coronado Island provides a number of shops and amusements.

Hotel del Coronado
(619) 435-6611 or (800) 468-3533
hoteldel.com

Beach Village at the Del
(619) 522-8811 or (866) 433-3030
delbeachvillage.com

Disneyland/California Adventures

Disney’s iconic rodent never goes out of style, and few words can immediately light up a child’s eyes like “Disneyland!” It’s the one place you can get Ariel’s autograph, scream your way down a large waterfall, visit Never Never Land, go on a space mission, and act like a kid—no matter your real age—all within a few hours. A perfect day’s destination for families of all ages and sizes, it’ll have you believing in magic again just like your wide-eyed, giddy children. One of the best ways to enjoy Disneyland is to buy a park-hopper pass, which means you have access to both the Mouse’s park and next door’s California Adventures. California Adventures showcases California’s colorful history with attractions and entertainment covering historic periods like the gold rush and Hollywood’s golden era and current draws like the beach. If you plan to stay in Anaheim close to the theme parks, enrich your Disney experience by staying at the Disneyland Resort Hotel, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, or the Paradise Pier Hotel.

disneyland.disney.go.com

This summer, create your own California adventure!