Family Vacation.. - Valencia,CA

We love the Redwood Cabinsin Yosemite. We also go to Kings Canyon since it's as beautiful but less crowded than Yosemite. For shorter trips We go to Big Bear any time if year and the cabin rentals are cheap. I usually use vrbo.com to find cabin rentals. They are the largest and most extensive resource for private rentals that I know of.

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Here in Texas we have state and national parks. They have cabins, Tent spots and RV hook ups.. They are very reasonably priced. Some of them are a short distance from small towns and some are right on the edge of big sites so if you want to do it all, there is a lot available..

Look for festivals that are held each month and see if you can find accommodations.. Through these parks..

http://www.parks.ca.gov/parkindex/results.asp
http://www.nps.gov/applications/parksearch/state.cfm?st=c...:

http://www.californiafairsandfestivals.com/

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Bishop, CA. Beautiful, affordable, woodsy cabins, breathtaking views, lots of outdoor activities.

Have fun!!

Check out Idyllwild. It is in the San Jacinto Mountains about two hours east of Los Angeles on the way to Palm Springs. Actually the Palm Springs Airway goes up to a park on this mountain range. It has a Lake though officially not for swimming in, it is wonderful to walk around it. There are lots of hiking trails form easy to serious, there is a charming town with lots of local artists. There is a paint your own pottery place and nice craftsy stores in town, a very sweet one-movie movie theater that also serves as the local video rental store, and delicious restaurants, some with musical entertainment. A lot of folks rent out their cabins so you can cook meals, pack picnics and eat out for dinner, hang out, play games, go for walks, do nature crafts. The Nature Center is a wonderful day, there is a small museum display about what grows and lives in the area, they have kids activities that are engaging and educational, and there are several different hikes of different skill levels. Idyllwild is one of the blessed places in the world and not too touristy that you feel overrun with other visitors and there are no (or very, very few) chain stores, all locally owned.

We have spent lots of time there so if you choose Idyllwild as your destination you can send me a personal message and I'd be glad to make suggestions on how to fill-up your time there.

http://www.idyllwild.com/

A nice Inn where we've stayed http://www.thelodgeatpinecove.com/

I'm jealous of anyone just dreaming about going to Idyllwild. It has a very restorative quality about it and we all love it when we can get there.

Have a great trip with quality together time.

P.S. For another trip I would check out is Julian near San Diego. Also charming and known for their Apples, Apple Pie, Cider, etc.

Here is a place in Yosemite that is recommended.
http://www.bigbluetrunk.com/reviews/325

Bass Lake. Roughly 5 hours north of LA, maybe 4 hours from San Fran. Really nice, quiet, clean. Just outside of Yosemite. Stay at The Pines www.basslake.com and they have these great chalets that are self-contained cabins where you can have bedrooms/loft for the kids plus a full kitchen so you can cook your own meals if you'd like. Our family loved it.

I'm from Cali too. My family loves to go up to Tahoe (i know it's a bit of a drive from Valencia though). If its summer they have beautiful lakes, when its fall/winter they have snow. Cabin rentals can be afordable if you book a head of time. It's such a lovely place to go, they also have all sorts of areas to hike, horseback ride, etc. Good Luck!