Enjoying Los Angeles with Kids

Hollywood Sign, Los Angeles

A vacation that fulfills fantasies and invites thrills of stardom awaits you in Los Angeles. Start your journey in Hollywood with the Walk of Fame at Mann’s Chinese Theatre — where you can imagine touching your favorite stars by joining handprints or standing in their foot steps. But other than the Hollywood stars and a distant peak at the infamous Hollywood sign on the hill — after you walk around the adjoining blocks on the gold stars between Sunset and Hollywood Boulevard — you’ll have to get out of Hollywood to find the true glamour. The Tinsel Town glitter is to be found in other parts of L.A. county like the Sunset Strip, Burbank and of course, Beverly Hills.  Grab a map just about anywhere and take a tour of the celebrity homes, or see a live television show being taped (by calling Audiences Unlimited for tickets). 

But after a day or two of being starstruck, the kids will be ready for more important priorities — amusement parks. Don’t be fooled by the name, Knott’s Berry Farm. It’s not as hokie as it sounds. In fact, about an hour south of L.A., passengers are propelled into one of the longest roller coaster experiences in the world with the thrill ride, “Jaguar!” But if that doesn’t devour them, they’ll be blown away with America’s first dual-track steel racing coaster where passengers race on tracks side by side and experience G-forces reaching 3.4 in the new Windjammer ride that is part of the parks ocean-themed boardwalk. The charm of Knott’s Berry Farm is that kids can spend the day riding upside-down and doing loop-de-loops or take a much easier route around the park to visit Snoopy, the Peanuts gang and plenty of cute farm animals.  The wild west is just one of the themes that invites you in this non-extravagant, yet charming theme park.

Six Flags Magic Mountain, a good drive north of Los Angeles, is keeping up with rollercoaster madness with ‘Batman the Ride’ and six other screamers, plus not forgetting ’Superman the Escape’ — the tallest, fastest and most technologically advanced thrill ride around — it’s the first ride to break the 100 mph speed barrier, tower 41 stories into the sky and deliver 6.5 seconds of weightlessness. With a track that spans more than three football fields, it is hailed as the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Next to the Six Flags theme park is the Six Flags Hurricane Harbor themed water park with shipwrecks, coves and geysers — not to mention the open flume high speed body slides, six lane racing slides and the tallest enclosed speed slides in Southern California — this is a water park not to be missed by brave youngsters. Gentle rafting rivers and a lagoon for sunbathing are also part of the day, and a water play area just for kids, features sea creatures, slides and swings.

At Disneyland in Anaheim, more than an hour south of L.A., one ride not found at their Orlando park is the “Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye.” The fast-paced, high-tech ride claims to offer a different experience with every ride. Although the Disneyland Hotel seems a fun place to stay, you’re better off staying in the Los Angeles area, as a central point to all of other attractions.

Universal Studios, slightly north of L.A., offers the best in indoor rollercoaster technology with a ride that dates back a few years, “Back to the Future,” identical to their Florida theme park counterpart. However, what sets Universal Studios Hollywood apart from Florida is the historic movie and television sets at the studio backstage tour which have a more authentic feel because they’re not only older, but because they’re in Hollywood! Kids today won’t relate much to “Beetlejuice’s” pyrotechnic performance, but young pyromaniacs will appreciate the live water show based on the action from the movie “Water World,” and dinosaur lovers will get a stomp out of “Jurassic Park, the Ride.” Universal City, outside the park’s main gate, offers some eating selections, like the Country Star restaurant shaped like a huge juke box, featuring the best in country music and memorabilia. For those who can stomach country music while eating, the atmosphere makes a better choice than the popular Hard Rock Cafe down the way.

Across the street from the entrance to Universal Studios is the Sheraton Universal Hotel with sweeping views of the valley enclosed within the Hollywood hills. The hotel offers a steal with their “Easy Reach” package including two adult passes to Universal Studios for three days, a deluxe room accomodating up to four people, and free parking. Two free children’s dinners are also included for kids ages 3-11 at the hotel’s cozy Californias restaurant, which has a tasty menu that is as good, if not better than the restaurants on the Universal City strip across the street. An outdoor swimming pool keeps kids happy and rooms are comfortable in the conservative Sheraton style.

For a casual setting on the beach, try the Loew’s Santa Monica Beach Hotel where families can splash in the pool or play on the wide expanse of sandy beach outside the back door. Playgrounds, bike paths and the famous Santa Monica Pier are part of the fun on this popular but spacious beach. A ride on the ferris wheel puts a coastline that ranges from discount clothing vendors to cliffside mansions into perspective. The Loew’s offers a Splash Club during the summer to keep kids active if you want time to yourself. It’s not a quiet hotel at night, with parties in the beautiful atrium lobby featuring live instrumental bands, that at their best, will lull your children to sleep. Rates start at $199 per night with kids under 18 free and two full breakfasts for one included.

Venice Beach

Too many traveler’s who visit Los Angeles don’t make time for a trip to the beach. And oh, what a beach Venice Beach is! It’s wide, soft and seemingly endless. The most beautiful bodies walk it, run it, rollerblade it, bike it, lie on it and pump on it.  If you follow its path long enough, you’re bound to run into a production crew or models on location.

A car in L.A. is a must, but that means, directions are too. Without them, you’ll spend half of your day getting lost. Whenever you leave a hotel, ask for directions because getting lost in L.A. is not part of the fun. But be prepared — in Los Angeles, a thrill awaits you and your kids around every corner.

Best Cities‘ (from 100BestEverything) rating : Art: 2 stars out of 5, Architecture 2 stars out of 5, Uniqueness 4 stars out of 5.

Salt Lake City

Aerial View of Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City is a small compact city that lies between the Great Salt Lake to the north-west, and the Wasatch mountain range to the south-east. 

The founding of the city is makes for fascinating history.  The Mormon church was started by Joseph Smith in 1830.  The early years of the church (properly termed the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) were difficult because the followers of the faith were hounded on account of their religious beliefs.  To avoid persecution the Mormons (or Saints) set up their own town of Nauvoo in Illinois.  But this didn’t provide a haven for long because soon the mobs were rampaging through the town itself.  Their leader Joseph Smith was shot to death by a large group of armed men while waiting in Carthage jail to be tried for treason (he had  declared martial law in Nauvoo to protect it).  After a power-struggle amongst the leadership, Brigham Young emerged as the new head of the Church.   Determined to escape the persecution he determined to find a new home for the Saints.  He selected the Great Salt Lake valley using the reasoning that since nobody else wanted the land (it was a desolate, dry valley), the Church’s followers would be safe there.

When the Missouri government started issuing so-called extermination orders against the Mormons, driving them out of their property and land, Brigham Young decided it was time to act.  He led a small wagon-train west to recce the valley.  After a testing trip of 3 months, they reached the Great Salt Lake valley. On observing the vista laid out before him, Young said he was satisfied with his choice.  On the 28th of July 1847 he presented a blueprint for the new city, marking the central positon for Salt Lake Temple. He planned to overcome the water-supply problems with extensive irrigation channels fed by the streams running of the surrounding mountains (Great Salt Lake water is not potable).

Salt Lake City now stands much as first planned by Brigham Young.  The streets are all laid out in a grid, with the Temple serving as the reference point for North-South, East-West road numbers.  The Salt Lake Temple stands proudly at the center of the city, and is the most popular tourist destination in Utah.

Work on constructing the Temple began in 1853, and it was not until 40 years later, in 1893 that the building was completed.  It is made from stone blocks taked from stone quarries which lie at the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon.  4 days were needed by an oxen team to bring a block from the quarry to the construction site.  Little Cottonwood Canyon is now famous for its world class ski resorts Snowbird and Alta).  It’s dissappointing to find out that access to the Temple interior is reserved to Church members only; tourists are restricted to admiring the magnificent building from outside.

Just across from the Temple,  Assembly Hall is another important Mormon building.  It was constructed in 1877, to provide a place for meetings and discussions.  The seagull monument outside is a tribute to the flock of seagulls that cleared locusts from the first ever crops in the spring of 1848.  The seagull is now the state bird of Utah.

To get that real pioneer feeling, visit the Duel Pioneer Log Home, also sited on Temple Square.  This is a true recreation of an early homested, with stove, kitchen, table and bed furnishings.

Between State Street and South Temple you’ll find Beehive House and Lion House, built for Brigham Young and his many wives and children.  The layout of the houses is especially interesting, as they are designed for a plural marriage, with each wife plus children having their own room.

Apart from Temple Square, Salt Lake City has much else of interest to offer the visitor.  If you love shopping, be sure to visit the extensive mall and shops at Trolley Square.  To get away from it all go to Liberty Park, a beautiful green refuge from the city concrete.

Best Cities‘ (from 100BestEverything) rating : Art: 2 stars out of 5, Architecture 3 stars out of 5, Uniqueness 5 stars out of 5.

Berlin

Berlin began as a small medieval town in the heart of Europe. Strategically situated at the heart of a large area of commerce, the town grew into a large city, developing into the capital of Prussia in 1701, the German empire from 1871, and the Weimar Republic in 1919.   In 1933, the Third Reich overtook the Republic, keeping Berlin as its capital. At the end of the second world war, the city became divided. The Russians took over East Berlin, declaring it the capital of East Germany.  West Berlin was kept by the British and Americans, and stayed a part of West Germany.  It was completely surrounded by Russian-held territory, and for the best part of a year, West Berlin had to be supplied by air.  In 1961, the East Germans began the construction of the Berlin Wall, which was to completely encompassed West Berlin.   The wall survived for 29 years, until in a popular uprising by Germans on both sides of the division, the Berlin Wall was demolished (to start with by hand).  Eventually all the 100 streets cut by the wall were reconnected. The reunification of Germany followed, and once more the city was Germany’s capital.

Today, the roots of Berlin’s identity herald from those destructive 20th century times.   Visit the East Side Gallery, the longest part of the Berlin Wall still standing.   The wall was actually built by the East German government to stop their own citizens moving into West Berlin – almost a quarter of a million had fled before the wall was erected.  Second visit the Haus der Wannsee, where the Nazi regime decided upon the extermination of the Jewish people.  It’s a long way from the extermination camps, but nonetheless offers a unique (and disturbing) insight into the mentality of the regime leaders.

Best Cities‘ rating : Art: 3 stars out of 5, Architecture 3 stars out of 5, Uniqueness 4 stars out of 5.

Venice

The islands of the Venice lagoon were populated from around the 4th century. By the 14th century Venice was one of the greatest cities of Europe. The best craftsmen and artisans in Europe were employed to build splendid palaces, and the greatest artists of the time were commissioned to decorate them.

The most famous of Venice’s buildings are those around St Marks Square – the Basilica, the Doge’s Palace, and the Campanile. All three were started in the late 10th century, and in the next 300 years the buildings underwent numerous improvements and redevelopments.

In the Basilica, you can find the famous Pala d’Oro, an alterpiece of solid gold encrusted with precious gems. It was made by Byzantine goldsmiths as long ago as 976.

Move onto a visit of the Doge’s palace. Wonder at the great Council Hall, and the friezes of the first 76 Doges (except Doge number 55 whose painting was erased, for plotting a coup). Also don’t miss the soulful Bridge of Sighs, the crossing-place for criminals from the palace into the prison cells (and often onto execution).

The third great building is the Campanile, built in 912. (The original building actually collapsed unexpectedly in 1902, but the rebuild incorporated most of the old building materials). From the top there are magnificent views across the city.

Best Cities‘ rating : Art: 5 stars out of 5, Architecture 5 stars out of 5, Uniqueness 5 stars out of 5.

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history of venice

Florence

Florence (Firenze in Italian) was founded in the first century AD by the Roman Emperor Julius Caesar, on the major road leading North from Rome.  Centuries past, and Florence slowly grew as a trading marketplace.  By the middle ages, the city was thriving on the buying and selling of wool and silk.   The traders always needed finance, and so the banking sector of the city’s economy also grew quickly.  The famous Florentine family the Medicis made their fortunes in banking.  The monied families of Florence shared the common desire to enrichen their lifes with fine buildings, possessions and clothes and spent their webridgealth on fabulous buildings, decorated with fine furniture and stylish art.

The most popular place to visit in Florence is the impressive Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore. Its impressively massive octagonal cupola is actually 2 domes, one inside the other.  Next to the the Basilica is the Baptistery – its impressive double doors are faced with an intricately detailed bronze relief.

The characterful Ponte Vecchio over the River Arno is possible the most photographed bridge in Europe – it was originally constructed in Roman times.  Modern trinket shops fill the ancient buildings on either side of the bridge.

To escape all the sunshine, consider a trip to the Boboli gardens with its beautifully cool tree-arched walkways.

Best Cities‘ rating : Art: 5 stars out of 5, Architecture 5 stars out of 5, Uniqueness 5 stars out of 5.