Family vacation resort between the Bay Area and Los Angeles?

Location: Between Los Angeles and Bay Area

I'm looking for a resort that will be a good place to stay with kids. We're meeting friends (with kids) who will be driving up from L.A., and we will be driving (with our kids) down from the Bay Area.

Ideally, we'd like easy access to prepared food on site. And fun things to do for kids from ages 2.5 to 8 years.

Thanks!

—

asked on Sep 22, 2008

Sign up or Sign in

comments and reviews

The midway spot to meet up is in/around San Luis Obispo (about 3.5 for both of you). Consider Avila Beach (just south of SLO). There isn't a resort per se, but several family friendly motels, restaurants, etc. Plus a really cool playground at the beach. Good luck!

#1 - posted on Sep 23, 2008 (9:05 pm)

Thanks - I'll take a look!

#2 (reply to #1) - posted on Sep 23, 2008 (9:37 pm)

We enjoyed Santa Barbara one time, but don't remember where we stayed. A good activity for the older kids is to rent bikes (there are good bike paths in Santa Barbara if I remember correctly), and maybe you could bring Keitan a push truck or something so he can "ride" too.

#3 - posted on Sep 24, 2008 (6:39 pm)

Sounds like a good idea - thanks, Debby.

#4 (reply to #3) - posted on Sep 24, 2008 (9:50 pm)

we go here every year right before school starts: http://www.cliffsresort.com/

It's in Shell Beach, right in the San Luis Obispo-Avila Beach-Pismo Beach area. There's a beach with tide pools & lots of sea life (seals, sea otters, dolphins), a heated swimming pool, and they're very kid friendly. Case in point: this past summer we ate smores by their fire pit near the swimming pool while we watched Finding Nemo on a big screen, all prepared by the hotel.

If you have a dog like we do it's even better....for a little extra you can take him/her if you stay on one of the ground floor rooms. There aren't many dog-friendly hotels out there, and I can't think of any that are actually nice little resorts.

#5 - posted on Sep 28, 2008 (8:50 pm)

Sounds perfect! We'll have to check it out.

#6 (reply to #5) - posted on Sep 29, 2008 (12:11 pm)

Sounds great- thanks!

#7 (reply to #5) - posted on Sep 29, 2008 (8:59 pm)

Thanks! We ended up staying nearby and went to Avila Beach to have lunch and play. The pier was nice, as was the boardwalk.

#8 (reply to #1) - posted on Nov 23, 2008 (10:24 pm)

We ended up staying at this place with our friends from Los Angeles. It worked out great - we enjoyed the tide pools nearby, and the hotel was pretty nice, too. Thanks!

#9 (reply to #5) - posted on Nov 23, 2008 (10:26 pm)

Sign up or Sign in