What is the good place in California to spend vacation with your family ?

I was just thinking about this myself. If you have little ones, I would say Disneyland. You can spend two or three days down there and they love it.

I personally can't stand Disneyland. You already know how I feel about LA in general--but I got dragged by Momma Flowere to D-land when I was about 12 or 13 and I just hated it.

That's because you're a single girl, Flowergirl. If you had small children--say under 12 like I do--you would really come to appreciate their joy for it.

Fair enough. Except that even as a little kid, I don't remember liking it that much. All I remember is lot of waiting in lines in the heat with bad food and everyone being grumpy. It was definetly not the happiest place on earth for me.

For me personally, I'm not a big fan, but I know my kids love it.

I got sick of it when I was about 12. I grew in SoCal so we used to go every time some one would come to visit. I used to go at least twice a year. By the time I got into my teens, I started to bring books with me so that I could read while I was in line (since you are right, this is what you spend the majority of your time doing).

Who can afford to go on trip like that these days anyway? I can't imagine what that would cost with a big family.

I feel you, but there are ways. My wife recently took the kids down while I stayed with the toddler. The main thing that costs money is the tickets. If you are careful about what package you get you can really avoid the major costs.

But the hotel stay alone, even if you get a room at a Motel Six or something has got to a good two hundred dollers right there.

Well, we used to live there so we still know some people. My wife stayed with some friends so she saved on the hotel costs.

Wow, with all your kids that must have been some pretty understanding friends.

Yeah, they were--although I'm sure his neighbors were more than ready for my wife to be off when they left.

I bet.

The other thing that you can do to save on costs is to bring sandwiches instead of eating at the park. That is a major part of the cost.

That also give you the added benefit of not having eat the overpriced cafeteria food that you get there.

That reminds me. We once went and ate at that restaurant that you see when you are on the Pirate's ride, you know the one in the dark Bayou like setting. I always wanted to eat at that place, so I finally got to go. I remember I had either crab or lobster and it was expensive as all heck, but when we got it was barely luke warm. It really was a better in my imagination than in reality.

That sucks!

Hi, just thought I would add my 2 cruzados to the conversation. I grew up in Redondo Beach in a Brasilian family and we always had realtives staying with us (half the time I could not really draw out for you how these "aunts' and "cousins" were related to me--failry typical in Brazilian and south American families I think) so I had to go to Disneyland every year when we were growing up. The key is to just let go of worries and just enjoy it. Enjoy hangin out with friends and joking and having a good time. Not thinking about work and all that. Maybe its because I can look at it from a foreigner's perspective--I don't know.

What about the Redwoods in the far North? I can imagine that it would be pretty amazing for kids to experience those old trees--some of them are more than a thousand years old and they are as tall as giants.

@IpanemaGirl: That is definetaly the right attitude to take towards D-Land, I think. Afterall, when you are with family not everybody is going to enjoy it equally. You just got try to make it as enjoyable as possible for those that do and not take it all so seriously.

@ DocFrankenstein: That's a great idea. I remember going there as a kid and driving through one of those trees. It's one of the great memories of my childhood.

I am embarassed to say that even though I have lived here my whole life, I never have made it up to the Redwoods.

Of course there is also Big Bear--that's a great place to go camping. And Tahoe as well.

Here's an interesting one - how about the Sierra Foothills, on the highway 50 corridor? It's completely off the map but offers some of the best, most family-friendly whitewater rafting in the country. It's not a resort, but it is far more affordable than a few days at Disneyland, at around $100/day per person, and comparable pricing for overnight trips. There is also caving nearby, and the area is seeping with Gold Country history. Something to consider in the summertime.

@StephSF: That does sound good. I also think that anything along the coast is could make for a great little vacation. Hearst Castle, Carmel, Santa Barbara and Monterey can all make for great vaction spots.

I was JUST going to add the Central Coast. The Monterey/Carmel stretch is pretty pishposh, especially near Pebble Beach and Spanish Bay, but there is some great coastal biking in there, and the town of Monterey in particular has the aquarium and Cannery Row (basically, Fisherman's Wharf of Monterey County, but very kid-friendly). Big Sur has some great state parks and fantastic ocean views, Hearst Castle is supposed to be nice, Carmel is cute, and I hear that Hearst Castle is nice, although I haven't been. Santa Barbara is cool too but a little far.

@StephSF: I love the moon jellys at the Monterey aquarium. I could litterally get lost in meditation staring at them. The best aquirium I have ever been to.