biking Archives - L.A. Parent

Labor Day Getaways

Published August 21, 2019

By Rachael Harrison

westdrift Manhattan Beach’s poolside cabanas are a perfect place to escape.
PHOTO COURTESY WESTDRIFT MANHATTAN BEACH

As summer draws to a close, many of us (kids and parents alike) have difficulty stepping into a routine once again. Luckily, there’s one saving grace for those of us who want to experience summer fun before it’s gone for good: Labor Day weekend.

“Labor Day weekend is always a great time to snag deals on everything from hotels to vacations around the world as companies slash prices leading up to the holiday, so you will need to start setting alerts now,” says travel expert Francesca Page of www.misstravelguru.com.

Here, we’ve rounded up some nearby last-minute staycation spots – and destination further away – to escape to before the realities of fall start to creep in:

westdrift Manhattan Beach (Manhattan Beach)

For an endless Cali summer vibe, the westdrift Manhattan Beach hotel delivers. Their newest addition, the westdrift Beach Club, features many family-friendly events every Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., including glo-golf, sunset bike rides, movie nights and more. The highlight of the beach club, however, is being able to relax on the beach without the fuss of carrying around bulky supplies. From umbrellas and chairs to beach toys, the beach club will deliver your beach essentials to the shore and have them waiting for you when you get there! With plenty of fun activities around Manhattan Beach, this spot will leave you wishing you had an extra day.

Hotel Casa del Mar (Santa Monica)

Hotel Casa Del Mar in Santa Monica provides an oceanside experience.
PHOTO COURTESY HOTEL CASA DEL MAR

Looking to experience L.A. the way it’s seen in movies? Hotel Casa del Mar is the right place for you. With its Mediterranean-style beach side hotel, complete with luxury dining on the oceanfront, you might forget you’re not in a movie scene yourself. Hotel Casa Del Mar also offers exciting experiences beyond the beach involving scenic drives along Mulholland Canyon, kite flying along the shore, visits to contemporary art galleries around Santa Monica and even the opportunity to hang glide over the Pacific. Round out your stay with surf lessons and bike rides along the coast.

Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa (Huntington Beach)

For another home-away-from-home experience, check out the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa. Direct beach access, cabana rentals and beach bonfires are among the many activities ready and waiting for your family to enjoy oceanfront shopping and dining less than a mile away in Pacific City. Your kids will be sure to have a blast with activities like building sandcastles with a professional and swimming with mermaids. However, no true California vacation, or staycation, is complete without surfing or bicycling along the picturesque beaches, and with the help of surf brand Toes on the Nose, you’ll be sure to experience it all.

The Beverly Hilton (Beverly Hills)

At Carmel Valley Ranch, your family can explore the bountiful 3-acre organic garden, complete with herb-picking, chicken feeding and butterfly chasing.
PHOTO COURTESY CARMEL VALLEY RANCH

If the beach isn’t quite your thing, but you’re still looking for that perfect getaway, the Beverly Hilton might be more palatable. Visit classic landmarks like Rodeo Drive and the Chinese Theater, or stay in and relax by the Aqua Star Pool in a private daybed. Have the ultimate staycation with the Suite Night, which offers board games, movies and breakfast without the hassle. Or, experience all the fun L.A. has to offer with the California Road Trip, and you’ll get exclusive access to Disneyland tickets, at Eataly and the House of Blues. Dining, shopping and exploring is at your fingertips at the Beverly Hilton for an experience you get to tailor to your fancy.

Carmel Valley Ranch (Carmel-by-the-Sea)

Now that summer’s nearly over, you may be mourning that camping trip you never got to take with your family. Not to worry! The Carmel Valley Ranch, boasting 500 acres of land perfect for fun activities and beautiful views, offers the bonding experience you desire without the fuss. Limitless opportunities for fun are around every corner, including scenic hikes throughout the ranch, candle making, cupcake decorating, archery, beekeeping and, yes, even hatchet throwing! With so many family-friendly activities to choose from, you won’t have to worry about hearing the dreaded phrase, “Mom, I’m bored!” The ranch even offers a Labor Day weekend barbeque that features live music, face painting and other fun to top off the perfect weekend getaway.

Quiet Ojai Offers Laid-Back Fun Kids Will Love

Published February 25, 2014

Let’s Go columnist Mimi Slawoff offers a guide to this quaint town that’s just a short-and-pleasant drive away.

by Mimi Slawoff

Tucked away in a valley 65 miles northwest of Los Angeles, Ojai is easy to miss unless you know about it. With its farms, mom-and-pop boutiques, restaurants and inns – no two alike – this laid-back, picturesque town (population about 7,500) is well worth the pleasant drive. Downtown consists primarily of art galleries, one-of-a-kind shops and locally owned eateries along the main street called the Arcade.

Bocali’s Pizza and Pasta. PHOTO BY MIMI SLAWOFF

Eat
Ojai has many dining options, but among the most kid-friendly is Boccali’s Pizza and Pasta (3277 Ojai-Santa Paula Road; 805-646-6116805-646-6116; www.boccalis.com), a family-owned diner at the edge of town. The menu, built around fresh produce from the owners’ Ojai farm, includes hand-tossed pizzas, pasta and numerous salads. Meat and vegetarian versions of most entrees are available. The children’s menu features smaller portions of spaghetti, ravioli, pizza and pasta. The recipes are handed down from DeWayne Boccali’s grandfather, who moved to California from Lucca, Italy, in 1898. Portions are big and prices are family-friendly. Save room for the delicious strawberry shortcake.

Specialty grocery stores are a good option when planning a picnic to bring on a hike. You can buy meats and cheeses from Westridge Market & Fine Foods (802 E. Ojai Ave.; www.westridgemarket.com) or order sandwiches to go from the deli.

Blue Iguana Inn. PHOTO COURTESY BLUE IGUANA INN

Stay
The southwest/hacienda-style Blue Iguana Inn (11794 N. Ventura Ave.; 805-646-5277805-646-5277; www.blueiguanainn.com) offers comfortable guest rooms and family-size bungalows a few minutes from historic downtown. Unit six is a spacious two-bedroom bungalow with one and one- half baths, a living room, kitchen and private patio. There’s an onsite pool and Jacuzzi, and stays include continental breakfast of bagels, scones, hardboiled eggs, fruit, yogurt, cheese and juice served in the small front office.

If you’re planning a getaway without the kids, consider staying in town at the Su Nido Inn (301 N. Montgomery St.; 805-646-7080805-646-7080; www.sunidoinn.com), walking distance to boutiques, wine bars and restaurants.

Ojai Bike Trail. PHOTO BY MICHAEL MCFADDEN

Play
Ojai is known for its citrus, so take the kids to family-owned Friend’s Ranch (15150 Maricopa Hwy.; 805-646-2871805-646-2871; www.friendsranches.com), where they can pick and sample sweet tangerines, oranges and mandarins. The family lives on the sprawling farm near the Ventura River, surrounded by Los Padres National Forest. The orchard’s season of public tours and special events begins in February. In the packing house, visitors can buy honey, citrus and other fruit grown on the ranch.

A family bike ride along Ojai’s quiet streets or trails is a great way to explore the area. Traditional and electric bikes, kids’ trailers and trail-a-bikes are available to rent from The Mob Shop (110 W. Ojai Ave.; 805-272-8102805-272-8102; www.themobshop.com). Electric bikes are fun because you only use the power boost when needed, like when peddling uphill. Hit the trails on your own or join one of the shop’s guided tours.

Popular hiking trails include the Shelf Road Trail (begins at 1780 Gridley Rd., pick up a map at the Ojai Visitor’s Bureau, 206 N. Signal St.), an easy to moderate path with pretty valley and mountain views.

Let’s Go columnist Mimi Slawoff is a mother of three who writes about family fun.

Hidden Beaches, History and Family Fun in Oxnard and Ventura

Published August 5, 2013

Plan a day trip or weekend getaway filled with beaches, music, museums and sports the kids will love.

Published: 08/05/2013

by Mimi Slawoff

Situated between sultry Malibu and posh Santa Barbara, Ventura County is a rather underrated coastal and cultural destination. But sandy beaches, a plethora of recreational activities, year-round festivals and historic districts make Oxnard and Ventura an ideal family day trip or weekend getaway. Ventura is also the gateway to Channel Islands National Park, accessible from Channel Islands Harbor via Island Packers.

Both Oxnard and Ventura offer lovely opportunities for beachside biking as a family. PHOTO COURTESY MIMI SLAWOFF

Oxnard

Once a retreat for actors such as Clark Gable, Charlie Chaplin and John Wayne, Oxnard today is popular for the California Strawberry Festival in May. This unique coastal city is steeped in agricultural roots and home to a diverse ethnic population. That translates to an array of culinary options, bountiful farmers’ markets, multicultural festivals and seasonal events.

Perhaps it’s because the ocean is not visible from the freeway here, but Oxnard’s seven miles of pristine, white sand beaches are surprisingly un-crowded. Don’t spread the word, but locals favor Hollywood Beach, a former celebrity playground. Lifeguards are on duty in summer, and amenities include free street parking, volleyball courts and restrooms. Locals claim Mrs. Olson’s Coffee Hut (117 Los Altos St.) serves the best breakfast potatoes, pumpkin pancakes and crab cakes in town.

Football fans can cheer on players and get tips at the annual Dallas Cowboys Training Camp (www.visitoxnard.com/cowboys) through mid-August. Admission for practice sessions, Kids Zone and activities is free. Parking costs $5.

Other rocking activities include free Concerts by the Sea from 4-6 p.m. Saturdays through Aug. 31 at Channel Islands Harbor. Bring a picnic, chairs and blanket. Find more free music at The Heritage Square Summer Concerts (lawn seating is free). Arrive early to stroll through Heritage Square’s early 20^th century homes now repurposed into thriving businesses.

Worth a visit is the nearby Carnegie Art Museum (www.carnegieam.org), established in 1906 as the city’s first library by steel magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. A short walk away is the Gull Wings Children’s Museum (www.gullwings.org), which presents storytelling, art, music and science programs for kids ages 2-12.

Looking for something more active? Be a trendsetter with FootGolf, a sport new to the U.S. and available at the River Ridge Golf Club (www.riverridge-golfclub.com; $10 adults, $5 children), where players kick a soccer ball around a nine- or 18-hole course. Or explore protected coastal wetlands and dunes on bi-monthly hikes with the Nature Conservancy (www.nature.org).

Stay at Embassy Suites Mandalay Bay on Oxnard Beach (805-984-2500), where two-room suites include free breakfast, and you can rent bikes or surreys to ride along a pathway. Or try The Residence Inn Oxnard River Ridge (www.marriott.com/hotels), with full kitchens and complimentary breakfast and afternoon snacks.

While Ventura is a laid-back beach community, it’s also a historic city with cozy shops and a vibrant arts and cultural center. Dining options range from flip-flop-friendly eateries to elegant restaurants. There’s something for every palate and wallet. Getting around town is easier than ever with the free Downtown-Harbor Trolley (www.venturatrolley.com), which began running earlier this summer and travels between the historic downtown and the Ventura Harbor Village, making stops along the way. Catch the trolley from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday during summer. The trolley also transports visitors to the Ventura County Fair in Seaside Park (www.venturacountyfair.org; $11 adults, $8 ages 12 and younger and seniors), an annual event since 1875. This year’s event, themed “Boots, Barns & Banjos,” features carnival rides, entertainment and food through Aug. 11.

Soak up the cool and quirky beach town vibes in Downtown Ventura. PHOTO BY JENNIFER LIVIA

For a Ventura day trip, park your car at Ventura Harbor Village (www.venturaharborvillage.com), the hub of beachside fun with boutiques, restaurants, a carousel and paddle boats. Swim, play and watch boats sail by from Harbor Cove Beach, a scenic spot with small waves and windblown sand dunes. At the Channel Islands National Park Visitors Center, kids can look through a telescope, examine tide pools and learn about the islands’ natural and cultural resources.

Next, hop on the trolley to downtown for a walking tour of Mission San Buenaventura, California’s ninth mission, founded in 1782. Across the street, check out art and artifacts at the Museum of Ventura County (www.venturamuseum.org), where admission is free the first Sunday of each month.

With hungry kids in tow, grab a bite to eat at the downtown Busy Bee Café-Diner (www.busybeecafe.biz), a 1950s-style diner serving burgers, shakes and other kid-pleasing items. Or cap off the day by watching a spectacular California sunset from the 1,620-foot Ventura Pier, built in 1872. A snack bar and full-service seafood restaurant are located there.

If you’re staying over, try the Ventura Beach Marriott (www.marriott.com/hotels), steps from the beach and a coastal walking path.

Let’s Go columnist Mimi Slawoff is a mother of three who writes about family fun.