Homeschool.com`s Family- Friendly Travel Guide

HOMESCHOOL.COM!
JULY 2, 2012
Homeschool.com’s FamilyFriendly Travel Guide
Los Angeles Edition:
Packing Tips
Welcome to Southern California!
1. If you are planning to
visit any theme parks or
plan to do a lot of
walking, remember to
bring good walking
shoes. If you take
sandals and flip-flops for
the whole trip, you will
regret it.
2. Plan on bringing summer
clothes, as L.A. is warm,
but also plan on bringing
a light jacket or sweater
wherever you go, as it
can get pretty breezy.
Los Angeles is a city with a ton
of star power. Most of us
immediately think of celebrity
sightings and glamour when we
think of L.A., but we’re here to
show you all of the fun, educational
adventures you can have in the city
of Angels. Los Angeles stretches
over 467 miles of desert, canyons
and coastline. It’s home to more
than 3.5 million people. Climate in
Los Angeles can range from hot
afternoons to cool nights, with even
some fog in July and August. In
addition to the great weather it has
countless educational opportunities.
3. Don’t forget your beach
towels and sunglasses
either!
FAMILY FRIENDLY VACATIONING
Homeschool.com’s staff set off to Los
Angeles to put together this FamilyFriendly Travel Guide, just for YOU. We’ve
played, tasted and learned our way through
L.A., just so that we can recommend the
best places to take your kids. These places
are educational, family-friendly, and just
plain fun.
!
Planning a fun family vacation can be
tiring, so Homeschool.com has done all the
work for you! Take this travel guide and
plan a wonderfully adventurous trip for the
whole family.
Where should we go next? Let us
know by Emailing us!
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PAGE 1
HOMESCHOOL.COM!
JULY 2, 2012
SITES TO SEE & THINGS TO DO:
1. J. Paul Getty Center
- 1200 Getty Center Drive (310)440-7300
2. Griffith Park Observatory
12. Museum of Contemporary Art
- 8687 Melrose Ave (310)289-5223
- 2800 E. Observatory Rd. (213) 473-0800
3. Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits
13. Olvera Street Plaza
- Olvera St & Cesar Chavez Ave.
- 5801 Wilshire Blvd. (323)934-7243
14. Knotts Berry Farm
4. Hollywood Sign - Viewable throughout L.A
- Canyon Lake Drive
- 8039 Beach Blvd, Buena Park (714)220-5200
15. Queen Mary
5. Universal Studios Hollywood
- 1126 Queen’s Hwy, Long Beach (877)342-0738
- 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City
6. Simon Wiesenthal Center Museum of Tolerance
- 9786 West Pico Blvd (310)553-8403
16. Petersen Automotive Museum
- 6060 Wilshire Blvd. (323)930-2277
17. Capt. Dave's Dolphin & Whale Safari
7. Disneyland
- 24440 Dana Point Harbor Dr. Dana Point
- 1313 Harbor Blvd, Anaheim (714)781-4565
8. Santa Monica Pier
18. Catalina Island
19. Hollywood Blvd.
- Ocean & Colorado Ave (310)458-8900
9. Venice Beach
20. Sunset Blvd
21. Runyon Canyon Park
- Ocean Front Walk, Venice
22. Hollywood Wax Museum
11. California Science Center
- 6767 Hollywood Blvd
- 700 State Dr. (213)744-7400
J. PAUL GETTY CENTER
The J. Paul Getty Center is
probably our favorite thing to do in
the Los Angeles area. It’s free
(except for parking, which is $15
per car) and such a great
educational experience for the
whole family. You’ll be impressed
by all of their fantastic art,
antiquities and their beautiful
gardens. Grab lunch at the Cafe
and take a seat overlooking their
beautiful gardens or looking out
over all of Los Angeles. The views
here are amazing, and on a clear
(non-smoggy/foggy) day you can
see all of L.A--even out to the
ocean. You can also eat at their
restaurant (if going on a weekend,
you’ll need to make reservations).
In addition to all of the great art,
!
architecture and natural beauty at
the Getty, there are also great
children’s activities available.
Check out the Gamily Room,
where kids can spy art in the
treasure hunt walls, decorate an
oversized manuscript, build a
giant sculpture, relax in bed like
an 18th century king or queen,
and much more. For junior
detectives, there are free artdetective cards that you can use
with your kids to find art and
solve mysteries. They also have a
family audio player to learn
more about the art--jazzed up
with music, sound effects and
more. The Getty Center has free
family events year-around, so
visit their website to find out
when the next event is. They even
have a Homeschool day, which
gives you a free parking coupon!
The Getty Center is just one of the
best places to see and learn in Los
Angeles.
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JULY 2, 2012
GRIFFITH PARK OBSERVATORY
PAGE MUSEUM AT THE LA BREA TAR PITS
The La Brea Tar Pits are one of the coolest things to
see in Los Angeles. Who doesn’t want go to see
Saber-tooth tigers, wholly mammoths, mastodons,
giant sloths, extinct camels, american lions, dire
wolves and short-faces bears? Of course, there are
many more that I haven’t named, but this place is
just an all-around educational adventure.
Things To Know: Parking is $7 behind the
museum. We recommend parking in their specified
lot because parking on the street can be tricky, with
restrictions on hours and even cars being towed away.
Keep it safe, and pay the $7.
Griffith Park Observatory is a great way to see
the views of L.A. while learning about the stars and
the galaxy. This place is a must-see while in L.A.,
especially if you have a child who loves astronomy.
Visiting and parking is free, but the shows, which are
highly recommended, are $7 for adults and $5 for
students.
Things To Know: Shows at the Planetarium are not
meant for children under the age of 5.
SANTA MONICA PIER
The pier is a great way to have an all-around fun
day with the kids. In addition to the fun you can
have at at the beach and on the rides, the pier
also boasts an aquarium. Spend the morning at
the aquarium and then finish off the day with
rides at the pier.
Things To Know: The aquarium features
numerous exhibits featuring marine life native to
the Santa Monica Bay.
!
VENICE BEACH
One of the most well-known beaches in L.A.,
mostly because it’s known as “muscle-beach.” But,
aside from that, it’s a great place to take the kids
for a day of exercise. Rent bikes or rollerblades and
head down the 3-miles of gorgeous beach. In
addition, there are basketball courts available and a
children’s playground at the edge of the beach.
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JULY 2, 2012
MUSEUM OF TOLERANCE
The Simon Wiesenthal Center Museum of Tolerance is a
unique experiential Museum dedicated to preserving the
memory of the Holocaust and to fostering tolerance through
educational outreach, community involvement and social
action. A MUST see for any homeschool family, homeschool
group, or for that matter, any living being on the earth today!
This is truly an experience that will move you. It is an
experience that will stay with you. It is an experience that will
impact your life. How often can you say that?
Information regarding youth programs sponsored by the
Museum of Tolerance can be found at http://www.museumoftolerance.com/site/c.tmL6KfNVLtH/b.
4866091/k.A488/Youth_Programs.htm.
Some of the youth programs available at the museum include---Finding Our Families, Finding Ourselves Program
Appropriate for 3rd grade and above, this program and downloadable curriculum connect your students with
their family heritage and community.
--Steps to Tolerance
Developed for 5th and 6th graders, the program is an age-appropriate introduction to museums, Holocaust
history, and contemporary issues of tolerance and respect.
--Tools for Tolerance® for Teens
A full-day customized experience including special speakers, facilitated dialogue, and workshops that
educate and empower.
As a group from Homeschool.com, we went through the Tolerance exhibit and then went on to the
Holocaust exhibit. There are other exhibits—but these two should NOT be missed. We learned that there
are four categories of individuals—victims, bystanders, heroes, and perpetrators/bullies (bullying being a
topic in the Tolerance exhibit). We saw how today’s events are related to those in our past history.
Before attending, we thought the exhibits might leave us in a depressed mood. It was certainly a somber
experience—but surprisingly, not depressing. The Holocaust exhibit ends with information about those
that risked and lost their lives trying to make a difference….so our experience at the Museum ended by
focusing on the heroes, not on the actual atrocities.
The Museum administrators and the docent were especially
knowledgeable and kind. There is a New York Tolerance
Center as well, for those of you who may not make it to Los
Angeles. This is an experience that will have a huge impact
on your life and the lives of your children. We can’t
recommend it strongly enough.
Things To Know:
It is open on weekdays from 10 am—5 pm and Sunday 11 am
—5 pm. It is closed on Saturdays.
Admission--$11--$15
Parking is free--under the Museum.
www.museumoftolerance.com
!
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HOMESCHOOL.COM!
Travel Tips
1. Make sure to download
a Homeschool.com
Student-Id so that you
can receive student
discounts when entering
museums or other
attractions. It will save a
lot on the trip.
2. Plan on bringing a small
digital camera that you
can easily fit into your
pocket. You want to
make sure you capture
those precious moments
of your trip.
3. Bringing a portable GPS
system will help you greatly
in navigating your way
through Los Angeles. It is
an expansive city and you
will definitely be driving. It
will also help you bypass
some of the heavy traffic
that is rampant in the area.
JULY 2, 2012
CALIFORNIA SCIENCE CENTER
Children love science museums.
They’re filled with wonder and
exploration. The California Science
Center has free admission, with
parking at $7. In addition to being a
great place to take the kids and let
them run around, it’s also very close
to the Exposition Park Rose
Garden, which is beautiful. It’s just
an overall fun day for the kids to
learn and explore.
OLVERA STREET PLAZA
Olvera Street is definitely a way to teach the
kids about the mexican culture. From the
"fancy" restaurants to the taco stands. It's
always fun to rummage through the souvenir
shops. Going for an hour or two is definitely a
fun time for all. If you want to get into the
history of Olvera Street, there is a standardsbased curriculum guide for grades K-5 is
available here.
Things To Know: Park nearby on Alameda in the beautifully restored Union
Rail Station, an art deco masterpiece built in the 1930s.
* Free docent-led tours are offered Tuesday through Saturday at 10am, 11am and
noon. Reservations aren't required but are recommended. Call the visitors'
center at (213) 628-1274.
CAPT. DAVE’S DOLPHIN & WHALE SAFARI
The best part of our entire trip was the dolphin
and whale safari. What we especially liked about this
is that the boat used was a catamaran, which is much
easier to get up close and personal with the animals
than a larger fishing vessel. In addition, Capt. Dave
and his wife homeschool their children. We always like
supporting local homeschooling families so once we
knew that, we booked our trip right away and found
ourselves aboard an amazing ship with an underwater
viewing pod! On our trip we saw a blue whale and
hundreds of dolphins swimming and playing with the
boat. It was so much fun. Capt. Dave’s is located
about a 45 minute drive south of L.A. but completely
worth the drive.
Parents--kids absolutely love the viewing pod, but
more than one parent got sea-sick after going down
to the pod. I would recommend letting the kids go
down on their own (if they are old enough). None of
the kids got sick--just the adults.
You get yummy triple fudge brownies after the trip.
They are so delicious!
Things To Know: They have three eye-spy nets for
the kids as well that let you look down into the water
where the dolphins are swimming--it lets you get an
up-close encounter with the dolphins. Be prepared to
get wet! It is so much fun.
!
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JULY 2, 2012
FAMILY-FRIENDLY PLACES TO EAT
1. Langer’s Delicatessen
8. BLD
- 704 South Alvarado Street (213)483-8050
2. The Milk Shop
- 7450 Beverly Blvd (323)930-9744
9. Giggles ‘N’ Hugs
- 7290 Beverly Blvd (323)939 6455
- 11701 Wilshire Blvd Ste11 (310)478-4847
3. Sharky’s Grill
10. La Grande Orange Cafe
- Many locations across LA and Southern Ca.
4. Veggie Grill
- 260 S. Raymond Avenue Pasadena (626)356-4444
11. Getty Center Restaurant
- Multiple locations in LA and Southern Ca.
5. Kay ‘N Dave’s Cantina
- 1200 Getty Center Drive
12.Loteria Grill
- 3 locations across the LA area
- Locations in Hollywood & Studio City
6. Yogurtland
- Many locations across LA and Southern Ca.
7. In-N-Out Burger
- Many locations across LA and Southern Ca.
LANGER’S DELICATESSEN
704 South Alvarado Street
Los Angeles, CA 90057-4020
(213) 483-8050
www.langersdeli.com
Langer’s was our favorite spot to
eat on our trip to L.A. The
neighborhood has seen better
days, but the delicatessen itself is
a 70’s style diner/deli with the
most amazing sandwiches I’ve
ever eaten. Their reuben’s are
great and the #19, their most
popular sandwich (pictured here)
is delicious. This is the only
restaurant in which the
sandwiches look exactly like the
pictures. What you see is what
you get. Langer’s is one of the
city’s most beloved deli’s and it’s
an L.A. landmark that has been
going strong since 1947.
!
Things To Know:
* They are only open from
8am-4pm M-Sa. They are
closed on Sundays.
* If you are planning on
going for lunch, get there
before 12:15 or after 1:30-otherwise you’ll be waiting
in a line out the door and
around the corner. (It’s that
good!)
*For motorists who don't want to
stick around, there is curbside
pick-up service upon request.
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JULY 2, 2012
THE MILK SHOP
bake shop desserts, and so
much more! Adult and child
menus--the entrees on the
kids menu are really delicious
—including the best grilled
cheese I’ve ever had.
The menu includes
totally unique and
delicious desserts. I would
have enjoyed ordering one of
everything. Unfortunately,
my eyes were bigger than my
stomach. A totally yummy
7290 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles,
CA 90036; 323-939-6455;
www.themilkshop.com
Sandwiches, soups, salads, ice
cream desserts, shakes, specialty
experience that all will enjoy.
Small/cozy, indoor and outdoor
seating. Your kids will love it. I’m
still thinking about the BLUE
velvet cake!
SHARKY’S WOOD FIRED MEXICAN GRILL
Over 20 Southern California
a lot across the street—parking was pizza you might think of—I have
locations
a breeze.
never had anything like it before.
www.Sharkys.com
It’s always fun to eat something
We ordered at the counter and
that tastes new and unique. We
then helped ourselves to the salsa
also had a vegetarian tostada salad
bar and the drink station. Kids
and chicken lettuce wraps. As I
will like the self serve aspect and
said earlier—I don’t recall ever
the casual feel of the place, after a
eating healthier food in a
long day of sightseeing. As a
restaurant! It tasted as though the
parent, you will appreciate the
veggies had just been picked. My
healthy aspect of the food as well
new goal is to now feed my family
as the prices—VERY reasonable— as healthy as Sharky’s does! One of
I don’t believe I have ever been in a
and actually, the food choices are
Sharky’s mottos is ” Always
restaurant that serves healthier
quite sophisticated.
natural, Always fresh”, and they
food! No wonder this restaurant is
live up to it.
so popular! The restaurant we went We ordered a cheese pizza for an
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to had metered street parking and
appetizer—not the traditional
MARIE CALLENDER’S
Locations across all of CA. They
they offer. Family style comfort
also have locations in WA, OR, NV, foods like pot roasts, pot pies, along
AZ, UT, CO, OK, TX.
with tri-tip and potatoes and even
www.mariecallenders.com/
ribs are a yummy treat. The
Down-home, Midwest-style cooking
and a great family-friendly menu
will please the entire family. Most of
us know of Marie Callender's
because of their exceptional pies,
but now, pie is only a slice of what
!
restaurant is extremely familyfriendly, with a kid-menu and their
more than 31 freshly-baked pies.
In addition, right now, kids 12 and
under eat free on Tuesdays and
Saturdays.
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JULY 2, 2012
VEGGIE GRILL
Four Southern California locations
www.theveggiegrill.com
The Veggie Grill is a delight for vegetarians and non
vegetarians alike. And judging by the number of
people at the restaurant—it’s very popular. They
have four southern CA locations—in the LA area
and in Orange county (so convenient after a day of
whale watching). You can eat in or get food on the
go.
food that is appealing to both adults and to children
(their sweet potato fries are a big hit), and their
desserts are free of dairy and refined sugar—which is
amazing because one of their desserts is chocolate
pudding!
Our meals were a palatable delight with unusual/
enjoyable taste sensations. Not the same old/same
old here. This food is unique—and very tasty too.
Their menu is full of delicious specialties that are
rich in protein and other nutrients; and free of
cholesterol, animal fat, trans fat and high-fructose
corn syrup. They make homemade soup daily, serve
KAY ‘N DAVE’S CANTINA
Three neighborhood Mexican can0nas (Culver City, 310-­‐558-­‐8100; Brentwood, 310-­‐260-­‐1355; Pacific Palisades 310-­‐459-­‐8118; hIp://www.kayndaves.com Appe0zers, soups, salads, entrees, desserts, etc. Fresh ingredients and vegetarian choices. You can eat healthy here. Burgers and sandwiches for those who don’t care for Mexican food. The kids menu features seven choices including Mexican dishes, a grilled cheese sandwich and a grilled chicken plate. Kids coloring/art work lines the walls—the restaurant has a YOGURT LAND
very comfortable feeling and the loca0ons are in very nice areas of town. Most importantly, the food is good and healthy.
Many locations throughout California; www.yogurt-land.com
What a fun, friendly and delicious dessert experience! So many flavors and toppings
to choose from --and totally guilt free! You can make healthy choices—there are
many sugar free flavors and fresh fruit toppings. We went to the Yogurtland in Dana
Point, following our whale watching experience. We weren’t sure we were even
hungry but everyone in our party commented that they were glad they went. As I
write this, I can almost taste tart vanilla yogurt (it was superb) and fresh raspberries!
!
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JULY 2, 2012
WHERE TO STAY
1. Hollywood Stars Bungalow
3. Los Feliz Lodge
- 6427 Dix St. Los Angeles
- 1507 North Hoover St. Los Angeles 90027
- [email protected]
2. Renaissance Hollywood Hotel
- 1755 N. Highland Ave.
Hollywood, CA 90028
HOLLYWOOD STARS BUNGALOW
If you’re looking for a place where the whole family can relax in the
hustle and bustle of the city, this is the place! A quaint little
bungalow in Hollywood, about 5 minutes from Universal Studios
and many of the other major tourist attractions, such as the walk of
fame. We stayed here during our week-long trip and couldn’t have
been happier. The owners, Lynn & Winston, have thought of
everything! From the gorgeous decor, to the soft linens...this place
was our home away from home. To top it all off, this little bungalow
sleeps 5, has a great kitchen, laundry, free parking, plus it’s
extremely affordable!
Things To Know:
* There is a keypad to get into the home--so you
never have to worry about losing your keys.
*Lynn & Winston live close by in case you need
anything.
* One of the only homes we’ve rented that doesn’t require a security deposit.
(Great for families who are on a budget or worried about having to come up with
an extra $500-$1000 for deposits).
* It has wifi, for anyone needing to connect to the internet while they are away
from home.
* We absolutely loved it here. We will definitely be going again.
!
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JULY 2, 2012
RENAISSANCE HOLLYWOOD HOTEL
If you are looking to stay in a hotel, instead of renting a house,
then the Renaissance Hollywood is it. It’s located in the hustle
and bustle of tourist attractions. Steps away from the Walk of
Fame, shopping, and tourist attractions. The views are incredible
and you’ll feel like a star when staying here.
Things To Know:
* Parking is extra, $29 per night
LOS FELIZ LODGE
Although these bungalows only ideally sleep 2, many families choose to stay
here because they feel like a home away from home. They supply air beds for all
of their bungalows if more than 2 people will be staying. In addition, the family
that owns this property used to homeschool! They’re all grown up now, but we
always like to support local homeschoolers.
We hope that you’ve enjoyed our first Homeschool.com Family Friendly Travel Guide. Planning a fun family
vacation can be tiring, so Homeschool.com wants to do all the work for you. Where should we go next? Let us
know by Emailing us!
Written by Katherine Whiting & Ann Simpson
!
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PAGE 10
WHERE TO STAY
1.HomeAway.com
2.VRBO.com
3.VacationRentals.com
HomeAway.com
VACATIONAL RENTALS
The best decision we made when planning our
vacation was to use a vacational rental website
such as HomeAway or VRBO. A way to save
money on traveling is to rent a home - that way
you don’t need to eat out every day or night.
Furthermore, you’re helping out a family by
renting their vacation home. Owners usually have
great recommendations for excursions or things to
do in the area. our homeowners recommended
companies to use for kayaking, and even gave us
information about what grocery store to use.
Things To Know:
Not every home is a good deal - you have to do
your shopping and look at the reviews left by
other renters.
Most homeowners live near by, being easy to
contact if anything goes wrong.
Bring your own paper goods - such as paper
towels and toilet paper. Sometimes homes provide
them - sometimes they do not. It’s best to check
before you fly/drive to the home.
Look up the location on a map. DC isn’t huge,
but it takes a long time to travel from place to
place. Make sure you’re in a central location!
HomeAway.com