Kid -Friendly Vacations to Excite the Entire Family
By Denise Gula
What could be better than a week or a weekend of family rejuvenation, especially when it’s practically in your own backyard?
Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa: “A Breath of Fresh Air”
Imagine a place that is heaven on earth, only a two-hour drive from Ventura County and offers a healthy vacation for the entire family. The newly renovated Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa features many kid-friendly activities, including a private beach, fishing from the resort’s private pier, and the perpetually heated outdoor swimming pool.
The jewel of Lake Arrowhead includes a glistening lake and the natural beauty surrounding it. Children love jumping off the docks, swimming, and catching an occasional wave from the boats towing water-skiers nearby. For families who enjoy spending time together in nature, you can make a picnic basket and explore one of the many hiking and biking trails in the breathtaking San Bernardino National Forest.
Stargazing is also a favorite activity among guests. With an advance reservation, you can partake in a tour of the stars led by an astronomer using the resort’s computerized telescope. See views of the celestial night sky rarely seen amid the glow of city lights. A trip to Lake Arrowhead is not complete unless you visit Captain Bill Smith aboard the Arrowhead Queen Riverboat. Take a one-hour tour around the lake and learn about its history as well as the famous residents who live there.
Guests who are at least 16 years old can unwind and be nurtured at Spa of the Pines. The spa’s philosophy is to help you “relax in a majestic alpine setting, reconnect with nature, awaken your senses, and rid your mind of stress.” Natural elements from the local surrounding earth are incorporated into specialized healing techniques, including aromatherapy massage and facials. The steam room and indoor Jacuzzi also invite you to heighten your relaxation experience.
For an idyllic lakeside dining experience, have breakfast, lunch, or dinner at Bin 189. Breathtaking views of Lake Arrowhead are sure to sustain the spirit while you enjoy your meal on the outdoor patio, or immerse yourself in the elegantly sophisticated décor of the main room where tables sit before a huge stone fireplace. California cuisine is served along with an extensive wine list and a children’s menu. Family cultural activities are also abundant at the Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa and within the surrounding community.
For more information, contact Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa 800-800-6792, or visit www.laresort.com.
La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club: “Best Family Recreation Club”
This unique destination in San Diego County boasts 2,200 feet of private coastline between La Jolla Cove and Torrey Pines Reserves. Stay in a comfortable beachfront hotel room or in a two- or three-bedroom oceanfront cottage, complete with kitchen, living room, and all the other amenities of home. At night your private butler will supply the ingredients for s’mores at your very own bonfire on the beach! Beach accessories, including towels, chairs, table, windbreakers, and more are provided to guests free of charge.
Many recreational activities are offered for children at the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club, including 12 hard-surface tennis courts, sand croquet, table tennis, a 75-foot-long heated swimming pool, two children’s wading pools, and a children’s playground. Adults can enjoy tennis, beach volleyball, and a fitness center on the property.
La Jolla and its surrounding area are rich with sightseeing opportunities. The Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Birch Aquarium at Scripps are just minutes from the resort. Whale-watching trips and hot-air balloon rides are available through local tour operators. The hotel concierge will gladly arrange enjoyable family excursions.
Next to the resort are La Jolla Shores Hotel and The Shores steak and seafood restaurant, offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. Also dine in the casual oceanfront Club Dining, or enjoy a kid-free evening at the Marine Room. This elegant restaurant is a landmark in La Jolla and also offers waterfront dining. Although it is hard to leave the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club after a blissful vacation, the memory lingers on as you recall the serenity of nature and enjoyable activities you’ve had on your family retreat.
For more information, contact La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club 858-454-7126, or visit www.ljbtc.com.
Ojai Valley Inn & Spa: “A Gathering Place for Families”
This local resort is one of the most luxurious spiritual sanctuaries Southern California has to offer with its unique view of the Topa Topa Mountains, Meditation Mount, and the charming historic Spanish-style town of Ojai. Today, the Ojai Valley is a haven for artists, writers, and movie stars who find inspiration in Ojai’s serene beauty. The Ojai Valley Inn & Spa is a AAA Five Diamond resort that just went through a $90 million renovation and expansion. The architecture is charming Spanish Colonial and California style with colorful Moroccan accents and extensive lush gardens.
Each season offers something fun for the children at this locale. Camp Ojai offers supervised indoor and outdoor activities on a full- or half-day basis. Themed activities keep each day fresh and exciting and may even include a visit to the Inn’s Ranch, complete with a small animal farm and pony rides. Children are welcome to play golf on both the driving range and putting green. Take advantage of the junior rate with a golf pro that teaches etiquette and the rules of the game. In addition, many excursions are available for families, including guided hikes, bird-watching tours, artist studio tours, and horseback riding.
While the children are off having fun, parents can enjoy the luxurious 31,000-square-foot Spa Ojai. Kuyam is a Chumash word meaning “a place to rest together” and is also the name of the spa’s signature treatment. The treatment combines mud therapy, dry heat, inhalation therapy, and guided meditation for groups of up to eight men or women. This treatment is a true favorite that brings guests back again and again.
Spa Ojai also offers mind and body classes for adults, including yoga, spinning, and walking meditations in the garden labyrinth—a complimentary favorite among guests. Short courses such as “Tasting Wine like a Pro,” “Golf, the Name of the Game,” and “Aromatherapy: Essential Oils from A to Z” are also available.
Return to your guest room, most with fireplaces, terraces, and spectacular mountain and golf course views, rejuvenated and ready for your next adventure. Your family can enjoy a dip in the pool, take a bike tour of the property, or hike into town to enjoy shopping.
A variety of dining experiences also await you here, from the elegant Maravilla for dinner, to the more casual Oak Grill, serving three meals a day with outdoor patio seating. If you prefer a “night-life” atmosphere, then visit Jimmy’s—a casual pub with a wide selection of beers and wines by the glass, plasma TVs, and their famous New York style pizza. With so many fun-filled activities for you and your family, the Ojai Valley Inn is a great place to create a special weekend getaway or a week-long retreat.
For more information, contact the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa 805-646-1111, or visit www.ojairesort.com.
Denise Gula is a freelance travel and wine writer specializing in spa and resort destinations, while including her two young children who love the “Kids Camps” offered at many resorts.
