Hello everyone-

We are a family with one son, age 12, soon to be thirteen. We live in Connecticut and have been vacationing in New England, the Delaware shore, the Hamptons and Bermuda (to give you an idea) for the past 10 years. This summer, I would to consider southern California. I'm looking for suggestions on resorts that would be kid-friendly, specifically for a 13 year old. Oftentimes when hotels say they are kid-friendly, they are referring to a much younger crowd. Game rooms, with pool, ping-pong, video games seem to be more teen-friendly. We are tennis players and love the water.. Initially, I was focussing on San Diego but would consider other locations in Southern California with either San Diego or Los Angeles as a base. Does anyone have any recommendations?

I can't tell whether you're planning to do any sightseeing or just want to stay at a full-service resort with both adult and teen activities and an emphasis on tennis. If the latter, look at La Costa in Carlsbad.

http://www.lacosta.com/

If you just want a resort-type hotel that happens to have tennis courts, you'll find them throughout Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego Counties.

FYI, the men's ATP tournament at UCLA is in late July. The women's WTA tournament at Home Depot Center (L.A. County) is in early August. The women's tour used to include a tournament at La Costa.

Loews Coronado Bay should be the ticket. La Costa is a nice resort, but its isolated and has an older crowd...and I do mean older

Wherever you choose in southern California shoot for the last half of summer vs the first half to avoid possible fog and to give the water time to warm up. OK, warm up is a relative term, late summer it will still be cold vs the east coast but at least somewhat easier to get into.

Thank you for your responses everyone. FrankS, do you mean the Hotel Del or is Loews a different hotel? If so, how is it different from the Del? Jean, we do want the option to do some sightseeing, sights that are unique to SoCal. We've been to Universal and SeaWorld in Orlando, and we're a little too old for Legoland. I'm thinking of activities or sights unique to California -- zoos, wild animal farm, old California towns. We would love to be able to stay somewhere on the beach, with tennis. Barblab, we are considering August for vacation.
Some thoughts: the Ritz Laguna Niguel looks beautiful, but does it have an older crowd? Is it a fun spot? Any families? Ditto, the Four Seasons in Carlsbad -- is it too isolated? Are there any advantages to its location? Is the Hotel Del too big and overwhelming? Has anyone stayed at the beach villas there? Look forward to hearing from you!

FrankS - I have stayed at LaCosta a few times in the past few years and it had a pretty young crowd these days... they redid it and there is a large water slide and my 12 year old loves it.

Four Seasons in Carlsbad is nice - off the beach like La Costa as well.

Ritz Laguna is HIGH up on a cliff - they take you in a golf cart down to the water - salt creek beach is right there - a happening "kid" beach (not little ones but teens like to hang there).

Hotel Del is wonderful - I prefer the beach there to the one at Salt Creek. (Ritz)

I am trying to think of something ON the beach (it is rare in S. Ca) with tennis -

There is also the Montage (see: VERY pricey) not sure if they have tennis courts and the St. Regis - where they will also take you on a cart to the beach - I stayed there and think that they have tennis courts - not really a young or old crowd from my memory - it is a starwood property if you use points. I find it over priced in general.

Something in Laguna Beach might be fun - or up in Santa Monica -

Just to clarify something in my post - The Four Seasons in Carlsbad is on the east side of the 5 freeway, which means it is not "on" the beach - saying it was 'off" the beach was confusing imo. Same with La Costa - both properties are a short drive to the beach.

Lucky,
(IMO)Del Coronado is nice but it can be very busy as it doubles as a tourist attraction. The Loews Coronado Bay is quieter, but still close to all the action.

Ritz Laguna/Niguel- Great for meetings or golfers, but their tennis area and pool leave something to be desired for such an expensive place. If I remember the tennis courts are tucked in the back over a parking garage.(somebody correct me if Im wrong or the place has been updated in the last 8 yrs) The beach there is a favorite of local kids, especially the 14-20 age group.

MomDD- every time I go to Lacosta its a reunion of the Sopranos and their grandparents

Stayed at La Costa resort during the fires a couple years back..we had a lovely suite and the crowd though, it was the 'fire crowd' they were marketing to families with lots of kids..seemed to separate the two from Deepak Chopra spa crowd on the newer side and the older side was the family.

We had a good time but the new gorgeous resort in SD that is lovely is the Grand Del Mar resort in Del Mar..
Also, L'Auberge Del Mar, Hotel Del, Loew's in Coronado and the Four Seasons Aviara are all wonderful resorts..

The Hotel Del is voted in the top ten beaches..they have new villas that are wonderful but pricey..we get e-mails for deals at the Del and the villas..love Coronado..quaint town and you can take the water taxi over to the Gaslamp/Downtown

www.granddelmar.com

Frank - that is funny! When I have gone - it was for an event at one point - and the event brought a huge hip crowd..James Blunt and Jason Marz <sp> (He lives in Oceanside) and Colbie Kalgheih <sp>... and the other times was with my cousin who does those events so we got comp'd and treated very well. Dh took our dd there for a tennis tournament and stayed the night - there were a ton of kids - they open up the pool to the community if they pay a monthly dues.

I actually do not care for the Lowes property in Coranado - stayed there for a weekend and it seemed "out of it" ...but I know it gets good reviews.

The beach by the Ritz is very popular with the teens... me? not so much

My personal opinion of the Lowes Coronado is that it is a bit isolated. We stayed there once and have no major complaints but really didn't like being away from everything. I would much prefer the Hotel Del if staying on Coronado. they have a great beach there too. We have stayed at the Ritz Carlton in Laguna Niguel and loved it but we didn't go to the beach at all. Also stayed at Montage (in Laguna Beach) once and it is fabulous - but very, very pricey. I really like to stay right downtown San Diego and enjoy all the activities that are right around that area and then we can go to any of the other places. Of course that means we are not right on the beach. The Hyatt Regency and Hilton Waterfront are both right across from the beach in Huntington Beach and they are nice hotels and great beaches, and lots of young people there so maybe your 13 year old would like that.AS MomDDT noted the beach below Ritz Carlton is also filled with young people so possibly your 13 year old would like that beach too, Hope you have a great time wherever you decide.

I love everyone's comments, makes for interesting Sunday night reading!

Loews Coronado is not appealing to me, seems out of the way and "out of it" (thanks MomDDTravel). Have to check the rates for the new villas at the Hotel Del, although I can't decide if it's too touristy. It does sound like it has a lot going on and is a better location than Loews. MomDD, you mentioned Laguna or Santa Monica, any ideas there? I looked at the Grand Del Mar resort's website. It looks fresh and new but a little over the top. I could not figure out where it is located. Is the Four Seasons in the middle of nowhere? They say they provide a "beach butler" to take you to the beach. I guess that means no evening strolls after dinner.

If you were traveliing with a 13 year old boy (likes tennis, sports, XBox live, South Park, etc.), where would you go? Seems most critical to keep him happy for our sake.

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We also have stayed at the Hyatt Recency in Huntington Beach and really liked it a lot. Great service.

I really like the Hotel Del Coronado - although it can be crowded because people come just to see the hotel, it is a fun place. I also like that you can walk to restaurants and things on Coronado, and if you don't mind a 15 minute walk or so, you can walk to the water taxi and take that downtown. From the Lowes, you would basically need to drive everywhere.

Count me as another who was not impressed with LaCosta. I haven't stayed in the Loew's Coronado Hotel, but was a guest on a yacht in their Marina, and I agree that it is "out there". I don't see the L'Auberge del Mar as being kid friendly. (Although when I was there last, Rob Lowe was staying there with his kids.)

I read somewhere that the St.Regis Monarch Beach offers a "surf butler" who will teach your family to surf. www.stregismb.com

There are a couple of new luxury villa resorts, one along the Newport Coast www.pelicanhill.com and one in Palos Verdes www.terranea.com (opening in June, but also "out there") which offer kid/teen programs, but I'm not sure about the tennis. The Marriott Newport Coast is a timeshare resort that also has villas for rent.

You might also take a look at Bacara www.bacararesort.com, near Santa Barbara.

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We are staying here in August for a few nights - too late to report back...

First of all many thanks on all your wonderful posts! I've deduced the following:
-Loew's Coronado is too isolated, though nice
-Hotel Del is in a better location, nice beach, accomodations iffy unless you're in the newer section
-Ritz Laguna is beautiful with a teen-popular beach. Fodorites like it.
-Four Seasons Aviara-looks nice. Stilll wondering if you need to drive far for some action if you want to leave the resort. For some reason, it strikes me as a more sedate crowd.
-L'Auberge Del Mar is beautiful but too chic for families
-Grand del Mar actually looks ostentatious to me and I can't figure out where it is. Where is Del Mar? Can't remember the name of the HBO show about the nutty surfer family. Didn't last long but I think it was in Huntington Beach.
-Bacara - will investigate although it's Santa Barbara. I would go in a heartbeat. Not sure that it's a kid-friendly location. I'm aware of the wineries.
Although I'm an East Coast person, I have fond memories of travel to SoCal for SEVENTEEN and GLAMOUR magazines 25 - 30 years ago. Seeing the Pacific Ocean for the first time is breathtaking - love the climate and foliage. Would like my family to be as taken with it as I am.

Del Mar is in San Diego - it is south of the Four Seasons Aviara which is in Carlsbad and a little north of la Jolla...

Just know that the Ritz in Laguna is high up on a cliff and you take a golf cart down to the beach or walk (It is a hike for those going to Salt Creek Beach) the property is a little dated imo - I have stayed there. But nice. I am sure your family would enjoy it.

I think based on what you have shared I would most likely pick the Hotel Del - depending on rates etc.

I love Southern California - have lived here for most of my life. I hope you all enjoy it as well!

And the Grand isn't actually IN Del Mar, although it is lovely. It's not even on the ocean side of I-5! But it's close.

Rancho Valencia is a fabulous tennis resort, but I'm not sure how child-friendly it is. It's also not very close to to beach, although the closest beach would be Del Mar!

http://www.ranchovalencia.com/

Have you considered La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club and the La Jolla Shores Hotel? They are adjacent to each other on the beach at La Jolla Shores. They're usually pretty busy in August, though.

www.ljbtc.com

Barbara...I have never stayed at Rancho Valenica - but have a wonderful memory of going there almost exactly 15 years ago - Dh was my bf and it was our first Mother's Day together - he and my ds took me there..ds was about 6