Hi all,

I'm looking for ideas for a nice city/town in (probably southern) California for a relaxing vacation. Looking for places with a some restaurant selections and will be probably staying in airbnb with wife, 2 kids under 3, and dog. We've been to LA and love it but want something a bit more laid back this time, but still access to good food and some things to do for kids (museums, parks). We're driving down from the Bay Area.

Thanks.

San Diego would be great.

Or if you want smaller - maybe Ojai.

How many days in SoCal? What time of year?

Do you have any thoughts at all on where? City, beach, mountains? Any specific things you might want to do/see, like LEGOLAND or the San Diego Zoo.

I have no experience traveling with a dog, but you might start looking around to see if that will limit your options. FYI, short-term rentals are not legal everywhere.

You don't mention a budget, but dog-friendly Terranea Resort on the Palos Verdes Peninsula offers bungalows, casitas and villas in addition to standard rooms.

http://www.terranea.com/palos-verdes-hotels

San Diego might be too much driving for us. We don't care about terrain but something with at least a small town with 10+ restaurants is great. We are not interested in zoos or amusement parks (except natural animal reserves for the kids). We are going during the week of Thanksgiving.

There are fair number of pet-friendly hotels in Manhattan Beach, CA. Airbnb has been banned in a number of coastal cities and neighborhoods. Even if you see listings offered, do some due diligence.

Thanksgiving 2016?

I think you need at least to formulate some geographic parameters and start looking for dog-friendly lodging ASAP. Do you know how far you want to drive considering the number of days you have? Will you be driving back to the Bay Area?

Not 'southern California' but what about Santa Cruz? for a shorter drive time and beautiful beach.

Since you are driving from the Bay Area I'd maybe look at Pismo Beach, Cambria, Morro Bay . . . or Ojai if you want to drive that far.

But it is getting very late to be lining up rentals for this Thanksgiving, so it might be a matter of finding a place and then modifying your 'criteria' to where you can get . . .

Since you originally said probably southern California, San Diego is only a two hour drive south of LA and 6 to 8 hours from Northrrn California.

If you change your mind, Coronado is a perfect family, residential area. Everyone bicycles (it is flat) everywhere. There are wonderful city public sevices like parks, library, municipal pool, lovely beach, tennis courts, golf course, a little bay (Glorietta Bay) for sailing and paddle boaarding and it is peaceful and quiet. It has a small island feel.