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| Photo: Courtesy of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts |
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Travel With Your Grandkids
Page << Previous 1 - 2 - 3 | Next >> If your trip includes the two-hour drive from San Diego to Los Angeles, you can enjoy breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and a brief visit at the world-famous Mission San Juan Capistrano. Here tradition has it that the swallows return each spring on the feast of St. Joseph. The mission, just a short detour off the freeway, is a marvel. Hear the bells ringing from atop the old wall, and visit cloisters, chapel, and a monastery surrounded by beautiful gardens. The town of San Juan Capistrano is a quaint ocean-side village built around the mission, which lies halfway between San Diego and Los Angeles. It makes a perfect place to stop, stretch the legs, and have a snack before continuing the drive. Los Angeles is the second largest city in the nation, a sprawling expanse of suburbs bounded by mountains, deserts, and the Pacific Ocean. The grandkids will no doubt want to see Hollywood, shop on famous Rodeo Drive, and people-watch along the funky boardwalk in Venice. But leave room in your schedule for Olvera Street, the Birthplace of Los Angeles. Twenty-seven historic buildings surrounding a central plaza in the center of downtown mark the place where the original pueblo dedicated to Our Lady Queen of the Angels was founded in 1781. Now a vibrant Mexican marketplace with live music, shops, and restaurants, the grandkids will love running around the artisans' stalls, looking for inexpensive souvenirs for friends back home.
Of course for grandchildren of all ages, the only destination in Southern California that matters is Disneyland. The "granddaddy" of amusement parks has brought smiles to grandkids for almost 50 years. The original Disneyland now has a companion park called Disney's California Adventure. It celebrates the multicultural diversity of California, the so-called Golden State. Make sure to see Golden Dreams, a film presentation that praises Hispanic contributions to California, from the early Spanish padres to Cesar Chavez. There's even a Mission Tortilla Factory with the world's largest tortilla-making machine, and free samples for all! But even the Magic Kingdom of Disneyland pales in comparison to the Land of Enchantment. Perhaps no where in the United States does the Native and Hispanic heritage of the Southwest seem so deeply rooted, so natural, so much a part of the landscape itself, as in New Mexico. Franciscan padres from Spain reached New Mexico at the end of the 16th century, founding Santa Fe decades before the pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. If your grandchildren are growing up outside the Southwest, that's probably a fact they won't learn in school. Renowned for its art galleries, museums, fine restaurants, and spiritual tranquility, the city also comes alive during the summer with arts and music festivals. The town boasts many fine bed and breakfast establishments operated by locals, as well as numerous luxurious resorts and spas. Mountain breezes cool the town, where countless shops display unique New Mexico-style Hispanic art such as santos, textiles, pottery, painting, metalwork, and sculpture. Granddaughters are sure to love the endless variations of turquoise jewelry and delicate charm necklaces, popular with Hollywood celebrities right now. More adventurous shoppers may want to drive to nearby Native American communities, where authentic Native American crafts and artwork may be purchased. If your grandkids are a little older, maybe you'd like a destination that could give you a chance to explain how there are two sides to every story, and do not believe everything you see in movies. Take your grandkids to San Antonio, where they can see the real thing. The Old Spanish Mission where 189 Texas "defenders" fell to the forces of Mexican general Santa Anna in 1836 is the most famous spot in Texas. And while in San Antonio, don't miss River Walk, the lovely riverside promenade lined with restaurants and shops that cuts a graceful swath through the heart of the city.
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