Last updated on May 22nd, 2026

Welcome to San Diego Family Travel!

I’m Gwen – travel writer, wife, mom, and Southern California local passionate about helping families plan unforgettable vacations throughout Southern California. I created this website with the goal of sharing all the best hotels, attractions, and other helpful insight to inspire and help you make the most of your trip – whether you’re visiting San Diego, Disneyland, Los Angeles, Palm Springs, or beyond.

With more than 20 years of travel writing experience and countless firsthand visits to Southern California destinations, I share honest hotel reviews, practical planning tips, local insights, and family-friendly guides designed to help you save time, avoid stress, and make the most of your vacation.

I’ve lived in the San Diego area for 25 years – close enough to make the short drive often but far enough away so it always feels like a new adventure when we visit the city’s main attractions. I love staying at hotels and experiencing this amazing destination through the eyes of a tourist. We are constantly exploring and trying new things. You won’t find any AI content on this site; everything you read here is based on personal experience, solid first-hand knowledge, and maybe even some mistakes I’ve learned from so you don’t have to!

Along with my little family, I’m on a mission to cover every attraction, theme park, hotel, and adventure waiting to be had. We are excited to share those insights with you, to help you plan an amazing vacation in Southern California, too.

Whether you’re planning your first Disneyland trip, searching for the best family resorts in San Diego, or looking for fun things to do with kids in Southern California, you’ll find real-world advice based on personal experience and local expertise.

What makes me a travel expert?

I’ve been a travel writer since before blogs existed. In addition to my travel blogs, some of my other travel articles and advice have appeared in many publications and websites, including San Diego Family Magazine, Sunset Magazine, MSN, Cat Fancy, Huntington Beach Magazine, the Catalina Islander, LA Times, iGolf.com, and I am a regular contributor to the family travel website shebuystravel.com (formerly travelingmom.com).

In addition, I have written two novels published by The Wild Rose Press, and I was a contributing author to Explorer Publishing’s guidebook, Los Angeles: The Complete Resident’s Guide.

Along with my many years of traveling and writing professionally, I have also earned the Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) from PRSA. I spent more than six years as Director of Communications for the Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau, and served on committees for the California Travel Association.

Where We’ve Been Featured

I take a lot of pride in collaborations. Here are just a few of the travel articles I have written and places we’ve been featured over the years:

► See Monterey – Top 5 Things to Do in Monterey with Teens

► San Diego Family Magazine – Flying High: Ten Tips for Moms and Dads Flying Solo with Baby

► Wealth of Geeks – 6 Forms of Solo Travel To Explore The World and Not Feel Alone

► MSN Travel – 6 Forms of Solo Travel To Explore The World and Not Feel Alone

► She Buys Travel – Fun Things to Do in San Francisco

► Lake Arrowhead Magazine – A Vacation Homeowner’s Paradise

► Arizona Daily Star – California Charmer

► Be My Travel Muse – 9 Most Romantic Hotels in California

► Miami Herald – 25+ Best Hotels Close to Disneyland that Bring the Magic

► Sacramento Bee – 10 Best Things to Do in Redlands, a Fun SoCal Road Trip Detour

► Homeroom Travel – The Best Places to Visit in California in December

► BRB Travel Blog – Best Countries to Visit in June

► PhotoJeepers – Southern California Vacation Ideas

Feel free to contact me at gwen@californiafamilytravel.com. I love hearing from readers and answering travel questions! Be sure to follow California Family Travel on your favorite social platform, too.

Wishing you happy & healthy travels!