Postcard from Los Angeles

My sister-in-law and her family live in Los Angeles, so every couple of years we pack up our daughters (ages five and three) for a trip. Visiting LA is fun — the weather is beautiful and it’s surprisingly family-friendly. Long stays in hotels are expensive, so we often rent an apartment in the Valley (try airbnb.com or vrbo.com). Spending time with our nephews (a.k.a. “the cousins”) is a priority, so we avoid the more touristy spots and try to fit in with the locals. Though we’ve done our share of big theme parks and wax museums, our favourite memories are those that are a bit more off the beaten path.

A version of this article appeared in our December 2012 issue with the headline "Los Angeles", p. 26.