Mammoth Lakes
Travel across the Sierra Nevada mountain range to the town of Mammoth Lakes. Located in Mono County, this is an ideal place to introduce children to the natural world. Situated at 2,400 m, Mammoth rests along the edge of one of the largest geological sites of its kind in the world, the Long Valley Caldera. Natural hot springs, pyroclastic rock, steam vents and the tall, rectangular columns of Devil's Postpile National Monument are all worth exploring. Just on the outskirts of town sits Mammoth Mountain, which is popular with skiers and itself a part of the geological composition of the caldera. Especially rugged and scenic camping, hiking and backpacking under the shadow of young, sharp peaks is a big plus here. Lastly, when in town don't forget to stop by The Stove, a local eatery known for its country-style breakfasts.
Mammoth Lakes Visitors Bureau
P.O. Box 48
Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546
(760) 934-2712
http://www.visitmammoth.com/
The Stove Restaurant
644 Old Mammoth Road
Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546
(760) 934-2821
Family Vacation Center
Spend a vacation along the coast in Santa Barbara. The Family Vacation Center is a resort offering families one of the better priced options in the area. Located on the campus of the University of California at Santa Barbara, university facilities are utilized and activities are largely run by carefully selected UCSB students. Activities are offered for infants all the way up to teenagers and include surf lessons, a family carnival, beach barbecues, talent shows, arts and crafts as well as lessons in tennis, kayaking, swimming, diving and racquetball. Older kids are taken on hiking trips in the mountains bordering the coast. Additionally, mom and dad are kept happy too, via numerous adult activities. Lastly, Santa Barbara itself is a nice town to stroll through and offers a mission, museums and restaurants to explore.
Family Vacation Center
UCSB Alumni Association
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-1120
(805) 893-3123
http://familyvacationcenter.com/index.html
Lava Beds National Monument
Teach the kids about early U.S. history during a visit to Lava Beds National Monument. Located close to the Oregon border, this isolated park makes for an appropriate place to combine education with outdoor exploration. The site of the Native American Moduc War of 1872-1873, a small band of warriors fought U.S. cavalry in a fierce guerilla campaign. There are no hotels in the park, so campers will find this area generally free of the crowds that are associated with other tourist destinations. Wildlife, as a result, is plentiful, and visitors might spot a curious pika, kangaroo rat, hoary bat, pacific tree frog, badger, black-tailed jack rabbit, mule deer, bobcat or mountain lion. Also of note in the park are numerous caves that are open for the public to explore.
Lava Beds National Monument
1 Indian Well Hqtrs.
Tulelake, CA 96134
(530) 667-8100
http://www.nps.gov/labe/index.htm
