https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 27 Apr 2026 05:58:56 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/things-to-do-with-small-kids-to-la-area#post-2807286 Fri, 02 Mar 2018 16:38:24 +0000 AB810 2807286@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went to LA last year with my two kids who were 1.5 and 3.5 at the time. They both loved Travel Town (<a href="https://www.traveltown.org/" rel="nofollow">https://www.traveltown.org/</a>) which is a train museum (free!) and the Kidspace Museum (<a href="http://www.kidspacemuseum.org/" rel="nofollow">http://www.kidspacemuseum.org/</a>). My oldest still talks about both! We also explored Griffith Park which was really nice. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/things-to-do-with-small-kids-to-la-area#post-2807060 Thu, 01 Mar 2018 18:40:18 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 2807060@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@agold: Lol oh I love Palm Springs in the winter! We've gone the last 3 years in a row over winter break - the airbnb's are super cheap, modern, and beautiful with heated pools so we spend our days swimming and lounging. And my kids love going up the tram to San Jacinto Mtn. We went to The Living Desert this past December and the kids loved feeding giraffes and riding the camels. Palm Springs is easily a family favorite.. when the conditions are right. ;) I'm just a weaksauce with hot weather!</p> <p>Ok ok so sorry for derailing the thread with all the Palm Springs talk!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/things-to-do-with-small-kids-to-la-area#post-2807058 Thu, 01 Mar 2018 18:33:27 +0000 agold 2807058@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@birdofafeather: @Mrs. High Heels: I'm laughing over here because maybe I'm just the cheapest person in the world. But I love Palm Springs in the winter. (I will admit the one time I went while I was pregnant, I went in May as opposed to July when I normally go.) We spend all day in the pool and the evenings are great!</p> <p>ETA: I will agree that an outdoor summer wedding in palm springs with no shade is brutal! But its just too expensive to stay there at the nice places or even the nicer VRBOs during the high season. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/things-to-do-with-small-kids-to-la-area#post-2807056 Thu, 01 Mar 2018 18:30:51 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 2807056@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JennyPenny: Here's a great post Mrs. Schoolbus wrote awhile back about things to do in The OC! <a href="http://www.hellobee.com/2015/06/16/vacationing-in-the-oc/" rel="nofollow">http://www.hellobee.com/2015/06/16/vacationing-in-the-oc/</a></p> <p>Seriously, tons of options and very family friendly here. Have fun and enjoy the sun! July is a great time to come... I'd say our hottest months are actually Sept/Oct so it's not even that hot then unless there's a fluke heat wave going on or something! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/things-to-do-with-small-kids-to-la-area#post-2807055 Thu, 01 Mar 2018 18:27:17 +0000 birdofafeather 2807055@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. High Heels: i've photographed weddings there in september and wanted to die. </p> <p>late Oct-April is the best time for Palm Springs! sorry for the derailment of the thread! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/things-to-do-with-small-kids-to-la-area#post-2807053 Thu, 01 Mar 2018 18:24:28 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 2807053@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@birdofafeather: Palm springs in July is a no for me too. I went one year in June for a conference, and even the water in our swimming pool was hot. Couldn't even cool down. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/things-to-do-with-small-kids-to-la-area#post-2807050 Thu, 01 Mar 2018 18:17:43 +0000 birdofafeather 2807050@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. High Heels: yes, the drive from LAX to San Bernardino would be brutal! maybe even fly into ontario and out of john wayne?</p> <p>i would not go to palm springs in july. SO HOT!!</p> <p>i would definitely stick to close to the beach in orange county: huntington, newport, laguna. you can get an airbnb that would suit your family.</p> <p>probably disneyland, a baseball game at angel stadium? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/things-to-do-with-small-kids-to-la-area#post-2807022 Thu, 01 Mar 2018 15:27:59 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 2807022@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LAX to San Bernardino is a pretty far drive. Maybe you can look into flights into John Wayne or Ontario or even Long Beach (LB would be ideal if you want to explore the heart of LA and you have to be in SB because it's most in-between) and see if they're price competitive? San Bernardino isn't too far from Orange County and there is tons of things for families in Orange County!</p> <p>- Discovery Cube<br /> - Disneyland<br /> - Lots of indoor play spaces<br /> - Lots of parks<br /> - Great beaches (Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Corona del Mar, Huntington Beach, etc.)</p> <p>More towards LA:<br /> - Santa Monica Pier and 3rd street promenade<br /> - Redondo Beach and Pier<br /> - La Brea Tar Pits<br /> - Griffith Observatory </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/things-to-do-with-small-kids-to-la-area#post-2807018 Thu, 01 Mar 2018 15:15:25 +0000 agold 2807018@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JennyPenny: I love Palm Springs in the summer! Pretty cheap, great pools. Dry heat. There is a gondola up to a mountain that is fun. There is the "living desert" zoo that is amazing. The iconic two giant dinosaurs. And if you stay some where on a golf course, its great to let kids run around the golf course at dusk when there are no more golfers if you can walk to a fairway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/things-to-do-with-small-kids-to-la-area#post-2806996 Thu, 01 Mar 2018 14:24:50 +0000 JennyPenny 2806996@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're also up for ideas on where to even stay. I had thought maybe a few days in Palm Springs but it sounds like that will be way too hot. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/things-to-do-with-small-kids-to-la-area#post-2806982 Thu, 01 Mar 2018 14:03:44 +0000 Autumnmama79 2806982@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There are some great beaches just outside of LA. We especially liked renting a family cruiser bike thing in Santa Monica! Lovely beach, clean and beautiful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/things-to-do-with-small-kids-to-la-area#post-2806971 Thu, 01 Mar 2018 13:46:23 +0000 agold 2806971@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sounds like a fun trip! A lot of people I know have been going to the "Museum of Ice Cream". Check it out on instagram. Looks fun. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/things-to-do-with-small-kids-to-la-area#post-2806968 Thu, 01 Mar 2018 13:43:46 +0000 JennyPenny 2806968@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're planning on attending a wedding in the Redlands, San Bernardino area of California in July. We're flying from the east coast with our kids who will be 15 months and just about to turn 4 at the time of the trip. Since its a big trip we were thinking of adding a few days but we're not sure what we should consider doing in that area with the ages of our kids. We plan on flying in and out of LAX and getting a rental car. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/afternoon-in-san-francisco-travel-tips#post-2569129 Thu, 16 Jun 2016 16:26:06 +0000 sunny 2569129@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I loved visiting the Ferry building when I was there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/afternoon-in-san-francisco-travel-tips#post-2569065 Thu, 16 Jun 2016 14:53:53 +0000 stratosphere 2569065@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JennyPenny: No problem! If it's a nice/warm day the day you head up to Muir Woods, my favorite spot for pics of/with the Golden Gate Bridge is Crissy Field. It is gorgeous, has TONS of free parking, and a super long beach with awesome views of the bridge (and Marin across the bay). It's got a fantastic walking/biking trail that runs the length of the beach all the way up to Ft Point (a historic fort just under the GG Bridge) and past The Warming Hut, a National Parks Service-run cafe/bookstore that I LOVE. On super foggy/windy days, Crissy Field can be COOOLD but on those awesome sunny SF days the beach is heaven there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/afternoon-in-san-francisco-travel-tips#post-2569061 Thu, 16 Jun 2016 14:49:17 +0000 snowjewelz 2569061@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JennyPenny: Haha yes! Take a nice leisurely nap for me pls! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/afternoon-in-san-francisco-travel-tips#post-2569060 Thu, 16 Jun 2016 14:44:00 +0000 JennyPenny 2569060@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@stratosphere: Oh man, that food/shopping walk sounds awesome! I've got plans to do Muir Woods with DH and we've both done Alcatraz, but what you described sounds like exactly what I was looking for - with tips for specific spots. Thanks!<br /> @snowjewelz: Confirmed - Ferry Building! Maybe a nap first ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/afternoon-in-san-francisco-travel-tips#post-2569026 Thu, 16 Jun 2016 14:14:28 +0000 snowjewelz 2569026@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would've taken a nice long shower and a nap, hahaha! </p> <p>Given I want to go out, I'd probably grab a treat at Ferry Building and browse, then pick a spot to sit out overlooking the water. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/afternoon-in-san-francisco-travel-tips#post-2569017 Thu, 16 Jun 2016 13:52:02 +0000 stratosphere 2569017@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For a fun food/shopping crawl that will also show you the "real"/hipster SF, you could start at the Ferry Building (near your hotel) and browse/shop/eat there and then take BART from the Embarcadero Station nearby a few stops south to 24th/Mission. From there you'd walk a block over to Valencia Street and just stroll up that super hipster shopping/coffee/restaurant street (with a detour on 18th St over toward Guerrero to check out rightfully famous Tartine Bakery, which often has a long line, but it moves pretty quickly, and perhaps get a cone at BiRite Creamery--the salted caramel there is divine). If it's a gorgeous day you could stop at nearby Dolores Park (just beyond BiRite Creamery) and walk up to "top" of the park where there are amazing city views. On the weekends Dolores Park is packed with beautiful young hipsters parading around in their festival finest or having PBR picnics--people-watching at its finest.</p> <p>Continue your stroll up Valencia Street and then, if you're up for a little more walking, stroll on up to Hayes Street, another great shopping/retail street with cool boutiques and restaurants/bars, etc. If you didn't already get your ice cream fill at BiRite Creamery (on 18th) you have another chance to sample a local cult ice cream favorite, Smitten (on Octavia near Hayes), with super yummy seasonal flavors. After you're done on Hayes I'd just grab an Uber back to your hotel. Parking within SF is a royal pain, so I'd leave your car. </p> <p>But if you're a nature lover and especially if it's a weekday, another option is to drive over the Golden Gate bridge and head to Muir Woods (part of the National Parks system, and full of AMAZING old growth redwood trees yet only 30-40 min drive from downtown SF). It is my happy place (first date with DH was a hike there, we got engaged there, I told him I was expecting LO there...it's a magic place). But it gets super packed on Sat/Sun when it becomes kind of a hassle to visit with lack of parking/needing to take a shuttle, etc. so I recommend it for a weekday. But you might not have enough time for that before your husband arrives unless you can start the drive up there by noon or 1pm.</p> <p>If you haven't been to Alcatraz, it is my favorite thing to do with visitors. Fun ferry ride from the Embarcadero to get there, and great views of the city and Golden Gate, plus an amazing audio tour of the Rock itself (don't skip the audio tour!). Your DH might be jealous if he's never been though...</p> <p>Have fun!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/afternoon-in-san-francisco-travel-tips#post-2568934 Thu, 16 Jun 2016 12:35:52 +0000 JennyPenny 2568934@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've got an afternoon to myself in SF coming up and I have no idea what to do with my time. I've been before so I've seen a lot of the major touristy things. My husband will be joining up with me at 6pm so I also don't want to do anything he'd feel really bummed about missing or that would be better to do with him. I'm staying near the Embarcadero Center. I'll have a car, but also love walking and am comfortable walking long distances. Any fun ideas? </p> <p>Thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-dont-qualify-for-fmla-or-cfra#post-2106874 Thu, 12 Mar 2015 23:30:30 +0000 birdofafeather 2106874@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Warbler: Yep. Not sure of my company's obligation but they kept me position for me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-dont-qualify-for-fmla-or-cfra#post-2106366 Thu, 12 Mar 2015 16:47:24 +0000 pinkcupcake 2106366@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah, the laws are super confusing. </p> <p>I'm sorry you are stressed. Hopefully your job will be safe, but even if it's not...They don't sound like a very good company to work for :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-dont-qualify-for-fmla-or-cfra#post-2106303 Thu, 12 Mar 2015 15:53:09 +0000 Warbler 2106303@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@birdofafeather: Wait, so you were still able to use FMLA?</p> <p>@stratosphere: Ah, thank you. That is super helpful! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-dont-qualify-for-fmla-or-cfra#post-2106252 Thu, 12 Mar 2015 15:18:52 +0000 stratosphere 2106252@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Warbler: Yes, it is so confusing, but I believe that the period you are actually disabled by pregnancy is job-protected. In fact, it turns out it is up to 4 months, if you are actually disabled for that long (and this could be both before and after delivery) and your doc certifies that.<br /> This is a useful discussion:<br /> <a href="http://www.thearmstronglawfirm.com/Articles/Women-s-Rights-Under-California-s-Pregnancy-Disability-Leave-Law.shtml" rel="nofollow">http://www.thearmstronglawfirm.com/Articles/Women-s-Rights-Under-California-s-Pregnancy-Disability-Leave-Law.shtml</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-dont-qualify-for-fmla-or-cfra#post-2106240 Thu, 12 Mar 2015 15:14:50 +0000 birdofafeather 2106240@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Warbler: Check Ca state laws. I was under 50 employees but still got 12 weeks off after and 3 weeks before. Unpaid by my company except through CA disability and family leave pay. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-dont-qualify-for-fmla-or-cfra#post-2106222 Thu, 12 Mar 2015 15:06:25 +0000 Warbler 2106222@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@josina: Wow! How shady! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-dont-qualify-for-fmla-or-cfra#post-2106220 Thu, 12 Mar 2015 15:05:21 +0000 Warbler 2106220@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@stratosphere: Oh, really? I didn't know PDL was job-protected leave. That was nice of your employer to give you 12 weeks off. How sad is it though, we consider 12 weeks unpaid to be generous :sad: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-dont-qualify-for-fmla-or-cfra#post-2106210 Thu, 12 Mar 2015 15:01:49 +0000 Warbler 2106210@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jedeve: Yes, that or force me out like they did my old manager. Also, I was hopeful that I could take more than the standard 12 weeks. If I did qualify, I believe I could take 18 - 20 weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-dont-qualify-for-fmla-or-cfra#post-2106202 Thu, 12 Mar 2015 14:58:24 +0000 josina 2106202@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My company doesn't qualify for FMLA either... don't know the laws but we are given 6 weeks unpaid...<br /> I had actually asked what our maternity policy after getting married, and my boss said '6 weeks paid as long as you check in on work'... Fast forward to 2 months prior to me taking maternity leave and he denied saying that!! I was able to get it paid since it was so short notice (I would've gotten short term disability had I known) but going forward we will not get paid...<br /> Whatever it ends up being for you, make sure it is in writing!! Especially if any part of it will be paid. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-dont-qualify-for-fmla-or-cfra#post-2106200 Thu, 12 Mar 2015 14:57:47 +0000 Warbler 2106200@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs.Pinecone316: From what I have read, the requirements for CFRA are identical to those for FMLA :sad: </p>