Summer Family Vacations – Los Angeles, California

A buddy of mine earned a free trip to L.A. through his work about a month back, and you can bet he and his wife did it all: Hollywood, Universal Studios, Disneyland – all the biggies. We went to dinner when they got back, and they wouldn’t shut up! This was awesome, and that was more awesome, but this was the most mega-awesomest of all!

“I know,” I said, “I’m a travel writer.”

Oh, but you didn’t see this!

Well, when you’re right, you’re right! Los Angeles really is one of the top summer vacation destinations, and it’s no challenge accounting why. Incredible history, one-of-a-kind sights, iconic landmarks, world-class amusements parks, museums, restaurants and hotels and, of course, the beach. That’s a lot for one destination to offer.

Let’s take a closer look at some fun summer vacation spots in Los Angeles: 

• Universal Studios Hollywood – The original rendition of our #7 Amusement Park in America, Universal Studios Hollywood dazzles young and old alike with the magic of the movies. While the park now has many theme rides (I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: The Simpsons Ride^TM is killer!), our favorite attraction is still the back lot tram tour.
• Hollywood – Footin’ it down the Hollywood Walk of Fame is like a pop culture rite of passage. Plus, there’s tons to do during your tour. Head by Grauman’s Chinese Theatre to see the concrete hands, take a studio tour and don’t forget the famous Hollywood Wax Museum. Speaking of which…
• Hollywood Wax Museum – Located in the heart of Hollywood (if you’re walking the stars, you can’t miss it), the original Hollywood Wax Museum houses nearly 200 startlingly lifelike wax figurines of the biggest faces in show business. Kids love it!
• Disneyland – Naturally, kids also love this! Our #5 Amusement Park in America, Disneyland offers days of entertainment for couples and families of any size. You could plan your entire vacation around this place alone. What need be said about it? It’s an icon, from the buildings to the rides to the characters, the whole place is like a warm blanket. For first-timers, we recommend the Park Hopper tickets.
• Los Angeles Zoo – Humongous in scale, diverse in exhibits, the Los Angeles Zoo is a family-favorite and fabulous opportunity to add a little affordability to your Los Angeles family getaway. If you take the time to do it all, you’ll see more than 1,100 animals. (Conveniently, the Los Angeles Zoo is located in Griffith Park, offering as good a view of the Hollywood Sign as you can get).
• Knott’s Berry Farm – A little bit of a trip, but well worth it, Knott’s Berry Farm advertises itself as “America’s 1^st Theme Park”, and while the historian in me might protest, the park-enthusiast in me says it’s all good. No longer a berry farm at all, this ride-packed amusement park in Buena Park, CA buzzes with historic ambiance and kid-friendly vibes.

There’s lots more: Aquarium of the Pacific, Venice Beach, Redondo Beach, Malibu, Santa Monica Pier, Natural History Museum, Beverly Hills, the Getty Museum, Catalina Island, California Science Center, Warner Bros. Studio.

Plan it right, and you can score some ridiculous savings with a Go Los Angeles Card. Just make sure you examine the list of attractions thoroughly. We’ve all bought discount cards that we ended up not really using before. Let’s not make that mistake on vacation.

Finally, hotels! We’re talking about such a large geographic area than one simply won’t do. How about a blowout of our favorites? All of these properties have been recommended in the past by USA Travel Guide. 

• Holiday Inn Los Angeles International Airport, 1-800-624-0025
• Kyoto Grand Hotel and Gardens, 1-888-354-0831
• Crowne Plaza Redondo Beach and Marina, 1-310-318-888
• Holiday Inn Santa Barbara-Goleta, 1-805-964-6241
• Holiday Inn Santa Monica – at the Pier, 1-310-451-0676
• Holiday Inn Express Costa Mesa, 1-949-631-6000
• Radisson Suites Hotel Covina, 1-800-395-7046 

Have a fun summer family vacation in Los Angeles, California.

Looking for more family vacation ideas for summer 2009? Head over to our Summer Family Vacation Guide.

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