With summer travels on the horizon, it's time to prepare for the inevitable chaos! Pack smart and accept that not everything will go perfectly-but that's when the best memories are made.
Read the full family travel survival guide including tips for road trips vs flying and screen-free fun for the ride, in the May/June L.A. Parent at the link in bio or in print around L.A.!
We’re dreaming about beach days, concerts in the park, road trips, sunset sailing, ice cream on a warm night and, most of all, making family memories together! The May/June Summer Travel Magazine is live and in stands this week- filled with summer adventures, travel tips and family getaway inspiration both near and far. Read it at the link in bio😎
Inside the issue:
-A taste of Little Tokyo
-A family’s last-minute staycation
-A fun product roundup for kids and families
-Community stories on a camp that builds courage, aeronautics innovation in Long Beach and students who lead with service
-Flying when pregnant
-A family travel survival guide
-A look at Kauai’s three sides
-A 48-hour reset in Carlsbad
-Family road trip to Central Oregon
-How to Be a Tourist in L.A.
-Cultural summer camps
-Dozens of summer events
On the Cover
This month’s cover models are Mizuho Ihara Nagasaka and her twins, Issei and Tao. Frank Ishman photographed the family in Little Tokyo. Learn more about Frank’s work at frankishman.com and on socials frankishman.
We have another item to add to the spring bucket list: explore a new playground!
Do you have a favorite whimsical playground we missed? Let us know in the comments!
Planning a big vacation-especially with little kids- can sometimes be more trouble than it’s worth. Finding activities and food that everyone will enjoy, keeping everyone in a good mood and avoiding meltdowns when you’re off the normal schedule and away from the comforts of home can turn what was supposed to be a relaxing family vacation into a high-stakes planning nightmare.
Sometimes one quick weekend getaway is the perfect amount of time to explore a new place, make some beautiful memories together, and be back in your own bed before anyone can even begin to get tired or cranky. Our family did just that and took a short trip to Dana Point last year. It was the perfect balance of adventure and relaxation, read all about how we made the most of our time and navigated vacation with two young kids in the Beyond L.A. magazine at the link in bio!
Summer is nearly here, and with freer schedules, it's the perfect opportunity to foster cultural curiosity. When our children explore cultures through food, art, language and community, they begin to see the world with wider eyes.
Jalpa Vaidya Patel, LCSW, PPSC, is a mother, school social worker, adjunct professor and author of the forthcoming children’s picture book, “Wizzy the Worldly Tree.” Follow her work on Instagram @wizzysways .
Happy Mother's Day! It's the hardest job in the world but gosh is it the best. We hope you get some time to relax and enjoy time alone or with your loved ones. You deserve the world mamas!
For the last few years, I’ve had a Mother’s Day solo staycation ritual. I find some sweet, local hotel and “clock out” of my mothering duties for 24 hours. But this year, life has been so busy much because I am a mother, that the thought of leaving home for a day itself felt incredibly stressful.
When Momcozy invited me to a Mother’s Day Mini Wellness Retreat, I thought this is the perfect way to get a little “me” time without missing anyone’s bedtime.
It's teacher appreciation week, and we want to give the biggest shout out to everyone who plays a role in caring for our children and empowering the next generation. Teaching is one of the hardest and often most thankless jobs, but a good teacher can truly make a world of a difference in a student's life. Few things are as powerful as education, and we're endlessly grateful for the teachers, counselors, coaches, cafeteria works, janitors, and staff that raise up L.A. youth each day!
Have you had a teacher that had a special impact in you or your child's life? Share the story in the comments!
🚨Giveaway Alert!🚨
L.A. Parent is giving away a family 4-pack and an additional pair of tickets to the annual
California Strawberry Festival🍓 We will pick a winner May 8th at noon, so there's no time to waste!
To Enter:
- Follow @laparentmag
- Like and share this post
- Tag two friends in the comments and share your favorite way to enjoy strawberries!
The California Strawberry Festival is back at the Ventura County Fairgrounds on May 16-17, 2026! Join us for the ultimate summer kickoff while supporting the community in a BIG way. Indulge in your favorite strawberry treats like build-your-own shortcakes, chocolate-covered delights, and refreshing strawberry beer. With over 40 food vendors, live music, and a plethora of arts and crafts booths, there's something for everyone. Don't miss out on this unforgettable experience in 2026!
At last week's COSM + Warner Bros. event, L.A. Parent was immersed in the universe of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.” Can you believe this is the movie’s 25th anniversary?
Inside the COSM theater, the floors, walls and ceilings came alive with flying owls and Quidditch brooms, bountiful tables of food in Hogwarts’ dining hall, dusty ancient books full of magical secrets and more. We guzzled Butterbeer, sipped on cocktails named after the Hogwarts houses and noshed on Sheperd’s pie, soft pretzels and a chocolate frog. This magical experience opens to the public on May 7!
“The ‘most laid-back’ decision I made during pregnancy was actually the smartest.” 🤯
DOULAS by the BAY shared this REAL STORY from a parent with us. Swipe to find out why. ➡️
I was 24 weeks pregnant when I hired my postpartum doula. My friends thought I was planning too early. “You don’t even know what you’ll need yet!” But here’s what I knew: The hardest time to make decisions is when you’re postpartum. When you’re running on 2 hours of broken sleep. When your body is healing. When your hormones are all over the place. When you have a tiny human who needs you every 90 minutes. THAT is when you’re supposed to: → Research lactation consultants? → Interview postpartum doulas? → Set up meal trains? → Figure out who can help with overnight support? No. Absolutely not.
So I did the “most laid-back” thing. I planned it all BEFORE the baby arrived. ✔️ Postpartum doula: Booked at 24 weeks ✔️ Lactation consultant: Number saved in my phone ✔️ Meal train: Contacts ready to activate ✔️ Overnight help: Family scheduled in advance The “most laid-back” choice saved me. And honestly?
It might save you too. 📲 Book your free doula consultation before your due date at doulasbythebay.com/discovery
@doulasbythebay
When we planned our family vacation to Carlsbad, we had heard it was great for families, but we were pleasantly shocked with how truly kid-friendly it was.
We shared our experience and how you can have the best family vacation too in the May/June issue of L.A. Parent. Read it at the link in bio!
