If you have enough trouble getting your kids out of the house in the morning, dragging them thousands of miles away may seem like an insurmountable challenge. But family travel can be immensely rewarding, giving you new ways of seeing the world through smaller pairs of eyes.
To make things easier for families vacationing in L.A., I've included three family-friendly sidebars that highlight the best hotels, restaurants, and attractions for parents and kids. Also watch for the "Kids" icon throughout this guide.
Recommended family travel websites include Family Travel Forum (www.familytravelforum.com), a comprehensive site that offers customized trip planning; Family Travel Network (www.familytravelnetwork.com), an online magazine providing travel tips; and TravelWithYourKids.com (www.travelwithyourkids.com), a comprehensive site written by parents for parents offering sound advice for long-distance and international travel with children.
Babyland rents strollers, cribs, car seats, and the like from its store located at 7134 Topanga Canyon Blvd. (tel. 310/836-2222). Rates vary; expect to spend around $35 per week for strollers and $72 per week (plus a deposit) for a crib. If you need a babysitter in L.A., contact the Baby-Sitters Guild (tel. 818/552-2229 or 310/837-1800), named the city's best by Los Angeles magazine. The concierge at larger hotels can also often recommend a reliable sitter.
