I am planning a trip with my husband and 2 year old for February or March 2010. We've decided on California, because we're thinking the weather will be nice (don't want to do a winter / ski trip with our toddler in tow), and well, it's gorgeous out there in general! Keep in mind we are from Atlanta.

So, I know this is a totally broad request, but I would love help with California vacation ideas with the following in mind:

1. We like "off the beaten path" type stuff, and not super-touristy places (like touring Bel-Air, for example).
2. We need to go somewhere that will entertain a 2 year old, so some child-friendliness would help. This probably won't be a winery tour type trip, but it doesn't have to involve DisneyLand, either
3. We LOVE the outdoors: beach, easy hiking, drives, playgrounds, markets, picnics, scenery.
4. Open to smaller-ish towns, as well as a big city.
5. This magical place would entertain us for up to a week's time. But day trips would be welcome!

Thank you, thank you in advance! We need this vacation!

California is a large state, so there are several ways you can organize your trip. You could stay in Southern California and see the Los Angeles and San Diego areas (Disneyland and the San Diego Zoo would be fun for a toddler).
Or you could concentrate on Northern California, the Monterey Bay (aquarium), San Francisco and the wine country north of there, or fly into San Francisco and drive out the Lake Tahoe and Yosemite.

Or you could fly into either San Diego or San Francisco and drive up the coast staying in the large cities along the way.
San Diego, LA, Santa Barbara, Monterey, San Francisco.

Hello, scowely, I sure wouldn't count on Northern California having nice or great weather during February and March. You could but you could also experience a lot of rain storms and real winter type weather.

Anywhere in California, for that matter, could have very rainy weather. Winter is our rainy season. Just keep that in mind.

I second So Cal. San Diego would be great to visit Legoland, SD Zoo, Seaworld.

Good luck.

MY

My husband and I fly from Boston to LA fairly frequently. I am thinking that your 2 year old must be an amazing traveler b/c the flt from the East Coast is a full 6 hours of flying time, not to mention all the on the plane but not flying parts! The flt back is almost an hour shorter, b/c of winds.

No help to offer, sorry to say, just in awe of the fact that you can plan something like this. When our son was 2, a trip to the library in the next town often had to be cut short, b/c of meltdowns!

San Diego would be great. Zoo is great, but we liked the Wild Animal Park even more(zoo owns it also). Tons of things to do in SD

Also like San Francisco. Might consider spending a couple of days in Pt Reyes. Another option would be Death Valley. We didn't expect much but found plenty to do there for three days.

OK - CA is massive - nearly 160,000 square miles w/ just about EVERY climate imaginable. The coldest place in the lower 48 is often in/near Truckee and a few hundred miles south is Death Valley and the Mohave desert which are often the hottest place. Northern CA and major parts of SoCal could have really rainy weather in Feb/March. And this being an el Nino year, all bets are off.

For the best chance of weather - I'd choose San Diego. Beaches, dessert close by, the zoo/animal park, LegoLand, Sea World, etc etc. It won't be hot but should be pleasant. (Wouldn't normally be my choice for a first trip out, but in Feb/Mar that's where I'd go).

Thank you for your responses so far, this is great! Looks like San Diego could be a big possibility, and I had thought about that already. I had no idea about the rainy season, so I'm really glad to know about it.

I've actually been out to California (most northern) several times, and love it (and San Diego once as a child). Beyond the zoo, seaworld, Balboa Park etc., is there lots to see? Like I mentioned, we love scenic, charming areas, and don't want to spend the whole week doing "attractions". Beaches and desert sound great, like janisj mentioned. We like to hang out and soak up the feel of a new place!

And- socialworker, I know all about meltdowns! I'm sure the plane flight will be a big challenge, but beyond that he'll do fairly well. I hope.

Well, one thing I *can* add is that La Jolla is a wonderful place for hanging out and soaking up the feel of a place! There are several truly lovely hotels there as well as wonderful hiking areas nearby---Torrey Pines. Gorgeous beaches and a wonderful downtown. There is even (if still there) a wonderful childrens' book store where we saw the author Tomie De Paola---don't know if your little one may still be too young for his books--as a guest-speaking author who was on a book tour at the time. We spent a month there when our son was 7 yrs old and we all still remember that time w/great fondness.

PS in case you are not familiar w/the area, La Jolla is just ~10 (?) or so miles north of SD, so all the SD places are an easy trip from there.

Please come to San Diego. We live here in Point Loma, Shelter Island and are pleased with the proximity to lots of things to do.

Sea World is always a great place to go to as they are very family/kid friendly as well as LegoLand. (In March the Carlsbad Flower Fields are in blloom near Legoland too w/tours.)

I recommend a moderate price hotel on Shelter Island shelterislandhotels.com Families that have stayed near us like Kona Kai the best as it is at the ocean view end and you want an ocean view end room, is in a grassy Bay/Ocean view tropical park like setting, with views of downtown, small playground areas for the kids, picnic tables, and great ship/plane watching, water side walking/jogging path small sandy Bay beach area across from BAy Club Hotel, Humphreys has a great Sunday Brunch.
Can take day trips thru Fort Rosecrans to Cabrillo National park, see the park headquaters, fabulous birds eyae view of San Diego, play in the tidepools and just take in the ocean (maybe a whale too.)
Or go to Junipero Mission above Old Town.
Grocery drugstore nearby at old NAvy Training center now very nice neighborhood area Liberty Station, with open grassy areas and restaurants...
Close to Seaworld, downtown, trip over to Coronado town, beaches easy, ocean beaches at LA Jolla nice close day trip. Great little family restaurants (most w/take out) on Shelter Island or in Point Loma too.
For staying on the beach, the best place is of course Hotel Del in Coronado, more expensive but best walk out the door beach and Coronado is the cutest beach town.
La Jolla has a few hotels on the ocean beach, La Jolla Shores but reports lately indicate due to the economy is declining.
Some families also like the Mission Bay area. LA Jolla itself is mostly a shopping town with not much for kids.

San Diego has lots to see and do, as others have said. The weather may be rainy. There is a strengthening El Nino that usually brings us a lot of rain.

Daughter just flew with her 2 year old to San Diego to visit our son; she also flew out when little one was 1 1/2: no problems at all. You need a portable DVD player and a bag full of new treasures to discover every half hour. Legoland is great for the younger ones; Seaworld is a full day, and 2 is rather young for Disneyland. You might get a day at the beach but in this season, dont count on it. We just got back and days are usually in the 60s with nights dipping to 50. But Thanksgiving was in mid-80s. Seal Beach at La Jolla is worthwhile (but perhaps only for an hour), there is a nice park to run off steam. Staying on Mission Bay (check the Catamaran) would be convenient, not as much wind as you would havon the ocean, sand is usually always intriguing to a 2-yr old. You can rent bikes and go some miles around the bay on a safe sidewalk. LA always involves constant driving/traffic, I would not stay there. There is a great petting zoo in San Clemente near the mission which can be accessed by car or via the Coaster train; check accommodations in north county San Diego, say Encinitas or Carlsbad. As family towns,Encinitas has two great parks near the beach: Cottonwood Creek and Moonlight Beach (oceanfront).February may be officially the rainiest but infrequently is, so dont worry.