A stream runs through it.

Ah, the water and the sunshine and the barefeet. It’s good stuff.

Finally, winter is going away (kicking and fighting, but still going away) and as such we can once again return to the great outdoors for all of our daytrip needs. Whether you’re a fan of hiking, boating, rafting, biking, or pretty much anything this side of snow activities, it’s a great time to dust off the old waistline and get back in the saddle (or whatever you sit on for your preferred activity).

Don’t forget, as we get closer to summer the State and National Parks (and other assorted campgrounds) will be filling up fast. Many of them take reservations for campsites and RV spaces (and have already started to do so). You may want to start planning your getaways now (or wait and complain about it being full like I usually do).

Goodbye, Winter. Don’t let the door hit you.

For more family-friendly travel photos visit DeliciousBaby’s Photo Fridays.
Photo by Muffet via Flickr.

or “Reserve America Saves the Day”

Starting with our first family tent-camping trip last year at Pismo Beach, we decided that camping would be the default vacation for us.  Southern California has so many beautiful places to go, and Leo Carillo State Beach is close by and has all of the amenities we desire.  However, most if not all the local beach campgrounds fill up with reservations far, far in advance.

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Cades Cove at Sunset

Like most gems you’ll find in the Great Smoky Mountains, Cades Cove is located quite a bit off the beaten path in a secluded area of Eastern Tennessee. The scenic Great Smoky Mountains attraction is miles from what many would call “civilization”, yet millions of tourists make the trek to take in the beauty the scenic valley and historic district offers. Read More »

What’s the first thing you think of when you imagine a vacation in Los Angeles?  Disneyland.  Okay, yeah, that’s been covered here already, so what’s the second thing?  The beach, of course!  If you live in Wisconsin and you’re planning to visit Southern California, you’re not coming here for the art museums.

Santa Monica on Veterans' Day

The obvious beach destinations are the Santa Monica Pier and Venice Beach, both places that are good for classic photo opportunities.  But if you’re the kind of beach lover who wants to see more beach than people, head north.  Once you pass Sunset Boulevard you leave the tourist traps behind in favor of some of the most beautiful beach spots in the area.  If you have the time and enjoy a beautiful drive, keep going even farther than the vast stretches of Zuma Beach, itself a great destination for a quick two-hour out-of-town getaway.

Family fun at Zuma Beach

The steep terrain that drops off away from Pacific Coast Highway makes some of these beaches a little bit more difficult to access, but that’s what keeps the crowds away, and almost guarantees that you will have a pristine view once you get down there.  Nicholas Canyon and El Matador are two beautiful less populated spots.  Look closely for the brown signs directing you to the turnoffs – they’re easy to miss.  Parking here is paid for at a machine, then you display your ticket in your window.  Solidly constructed staircases get you down to the sand, but there are a LOT of stairs, so make sure you pack lightly.

El Matador

Just up the coast, Leo Carillo State Beach has a campground to the east of the highway, and plenty of parking along the sand if you take the turnoff to the west.  There’s also a stretch of beach there that allows dogs.  Not just for sunbathing, you can watch surfers, windsurfers, and parasailors, or poke around in the tidepools at low tide.  Parking is $10 a day, so make sure you’ll be there long enough to make your visit worth the cost.

The last chance beach in Los Angeles county is called County Line.  No longer the true line that ends the county, this is a local surfing spot famous for its dual breaks, perfect for long- and shortboarders alike.   You’ll know you’re there when you see the turnoff for parking on the west side of the highway, right across from from Neptune’s Net, an old-school beach shack that attracts local color as well as beach visitors for bottled drinks, grilled meats, and steamed seafood.  (Warning – there are only portable toilets at this beach and restaurant, so leave your daintiness back at Leo Carillo’s flush toilets.)  It’s a perfect destination for your drive – sit on the porch and have a snack and drink while you watch the surfers, then head back south to that turnoff that you missed on the way up.