San Diego is always a great destination for family vacations. In addition to its natural beauty with the beaches, there are a handful of excellent theme parks, like the San Diego Zoo, the Safari Park, and Legoland. However, unlike other destinations that are defined by their amusement parks, San Diego is simply enhanced by them.

This last trip we explored SeaWorld; this park is always a favorite of mine as they successfully combine marine education and unique entertainment for all ages.

When you think of the Northern California Wine country, chances are you think of wine. Maybe even grapes. But not kids and not Segways. Things are changing in wine country. Visitors of all ages are welcome.

Gone are the days of leaving the kids at home. Families are on a roll and sipping their way through adventures worth bragging about to family and friends.

If you haven’t been to Fort Lauderdale in awhile you may have visions of bikini clad spring breakers blanketing the beaches. That scene has come and gone …

With average winter temperatures in the high 70’s, Fort Lauderdale still sees some college students during spring break but in the last 20 years, the entire beach has undergone a renovation and rebirth.

If you want your kids to learn to ski, you can teach them yourself (good luck with that!) or send them to ski school. A comprehensive program run by a thoughtful expert makes all the difference in the world.

A model for this is Mammoth Mountain Ski Area’s Ski & Snowboard School in Califorinia. Craig Albright is the Managing Director of their program. I recently e-interviewed him for his insight on kids’ ski school best practices.

Every parent knows that once their children reach a certain age the demands for a trip to Disney World soon follow. Do not attempt to ignore these requests. Your children have been sold on this trip from a very early age with every Disney film they watch and every magical commercial they have seen, and their pleas will only increase in volume and frequency until you inevitably cave in.

So save yourself and your spouse from the days, weeks and years of begging and pleading by making your next family trip to Disney.

As my kids get older, our vacations are changing. Though my tween and teen are always up for a good adventure, time to relax and just hang out as a family is inching higher up on the wish list. The trick then becomes getting just the right balance. Too much down time can quickly turn into boredom.

As a family of four, we’re by no means a big family, but now that my girls are close to full grown size, being packed into a standard hotel room doesn’t quite hold the allure it once did. Necessary hotel accommodations can also be tough on a family budget.

I’ve enjoyed some of the world’s most incredible islands including Mauritius, Bora Bora in Tahiti, and Bali. All are fantastic in one way or another, but Hawaii remains at the top of my list for the ultimate tropical escape with kids.

The Hawaiian Islands have the exotic elements of a foreign locale and none of the hassle; you don’t need a passport, everyone speaks English, and you can eat and drink worry-free.

For many families, a trip to a children’s museum while on vacation is typically a compromise of sorts. Mom and Dad sacrifice an afternoon to entertain the kids, when secretly there are other places they’d rather be exploring.

Factor in children that range in age from toddler to teen and the family dynamic gets even more complicated. In other words, it’s really hard to make everyone happy. Hard, but not impossible, for families who include the California Academy of Sciences in their San Francisco itinerary.

When you plan a golfing trip, you’ve got to keep your kids’ interests in mind. To have the best family vacation, you need to visit a place that caters to the needs of everyone — a golf course for you, and something exciting for the spouse and kids.

Some of the most wonderful golf resorts now have open arms policies for their tracks. They even offer lessons to kids. Who knows, your kids might be the next champion tour players! Let’s look at some child-friendly golf courses where you can have fun with your little ones.

Recently named the number one resort in the United States by Condé Nast Traveler readers, The Resort at Pelican Hill is a unique destination. It’s located on the Newport Coast, between Laguna Beach and Newport Beach in Orange County, California on a gorgeous strip of hilly coastline.

While not directly on the beach, the resort sits on a hillside that offers spectacular views of the ocean and Catalina Island.