| Are you looking for a fun family vacation
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| | then behold a spectacular view by driving
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| that all members of your family will
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| | the Rim of the World Highway. Enjoy the
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| enjoy? Travel to sunny Southern
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| | "great outdoors" by boating and camping
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| California, where you can choose from a
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| | at Lake Arrowhead, nestled in the
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| variety of vacations...or mix 'n' match
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| | mountains behind San Bernadino, CA. Ride
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| between them to savor a smorgasbord of
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| | the alm Springs Aerial Tramway to the top
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| California fun!Theme 1: Beach
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| | of a HUGE mountain, where you'll drink in
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| vacationsSwim at one of the many Malibu
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| | a panoramic view below.
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| beaches you'll find along its 27 miles of
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| | Theme 4: Shopping vacationFor a
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| coastline. Stroll along the Santa Monica
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| | high-end shopping experience while
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| pier---a famous Los Angeles attraction
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| | visiting greater Los Angeles, head to
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| that you WILL be seeing in TV shows and
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| | Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills---need I say
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| ads. (When you see it on your screen,
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| | more? Not your style? You can bag some
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| you'll be able to say, "Hey, I've been
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| | direct-from-the-manufacturer bargains by
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| there!) For a spectacular view, take a
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| | visiting downtown LA's Jewelry and
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| ride on the pier's tall ferris wheel.
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| | Fashion districts! For more bargain
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| Or, for some super-screamin' fun, ride on
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| | shopping, explore the Mexican market
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| the pier's roller coaster...the only
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| | mecca of Tijuana, Mexico. (Except for a
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| coaster you may ever ride that's built
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| | fence marking the international border,
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| OVER the ocean!Visit wild and wacky
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| | Tijuana is actually a part of the
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| Venice Beach...whose mural-enshrouded
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| | "continuous city" which makes up Southern
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| walls are seemingly stuck in a '60's
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| | California.)If you enjoy outlet shopping,
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| "flower power" time warp! Try Manhattan
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| | you'll quickly note that greater LA has
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| and Hermosa Beaches, which are the sport
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| | MANY outlet malls. While you're visiting
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| of beach volleyball's "tournament
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| | Tijuana, check out the still-new "Shops
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| central."Head to Huntington Beach, where
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| | at Las Americas" outlet on the USA side
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| you can "do it all." Your family can
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| | of the border. Head to the hills...the
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| skate, bike, jog or stroll along
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| | hills back of San Diego, that is. There
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| Huntington's miles-long bike path.
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| | you'll find perhaps the lovliest outlet
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| Saunter out onto the Huntington Beach
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| | mall you've ever seen, the Native
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| pier---California's longest. No matter
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| | American-themed Las Viejas Outlet Center.
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| when you go, you WILL find fishermen
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| | If your family likes entertainment while
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| casting their lines...and surfers
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| | they shop, head to the Ontario Mills Mall
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| catchin' the waves in the ocean
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| | in Ontario, California, where you'll find
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| below.Further south, you'll discover
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| | a several entertainment venues, popular
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| Laguna Beach, home to an art colony...and
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| | restaurants, and even kid-pleasing
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| recently made famous by MTV. Then, head
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| | "attractions," such as the popular Build
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| to San Diego where you can enjoy the
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| | A Bear Workshop.
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| rides of Belmont Amusement Park along the
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| | Theme 5: Island vacationWant to get
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| boardwalk at Mission Beach. And what
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| | "away from it all" without having to
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| will you find in between the beaches
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| | travel miles from the city? Visit
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| mentioned here? Why, still MORE great
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| | Catalina Island...only "26 miles across
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| beaches, of course!
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| | the sea," as the golden oldie says, but a
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| Theme 2: Theme park vacationDid you know
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| | world away in "atmosphere." You can go
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| that there are 7 major theme parks in
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| | boating, snorkeling or scuba diving. You
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| Southern California! (Wow!) They are
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| | can tour the sparsely-populated isle.
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| (from north to south): Six Flags Magic
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| | Or, is Catalina Island not remote ENOUGH
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| Mountain, home to the wildest roller
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| | for you? For a more isolated experience,
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| coasters on the west coast...and maybe in
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| | visit one of the islands of the Channel
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| the entire USA; Universal Studios
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| | Islands National Park. When you arrive
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| Hollywood, where you'll tour filming
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| | on one of the Channel Islands, only your
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| sets, watch stunt and special effects
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| | boat-mates...and the native
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| shows, ride exciting "movie themed"
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| | wildlife...will be there with you!
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| attractions, and enjoy the shopping
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| | Theme 6: History vacationVisit Olvera
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| dining/clubbing district called Universal
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| | Street in downtown Los Angeles...where
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| Studios CityWalk; Knott's Berry Farm
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| | this city started! But, Mission San
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| theme park, where the once-time berry
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| | Diego de Alcala beats even Olvera Street
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| field now hosts dozens of attractions,
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| | for age...being the first of the whole
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| both mild AND wild; Disneyland Park,
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| | California Mission chain. (Other Spanish
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| nostalgic home of 51 years of fun...AND
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| | missions in Southern California include
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| the 2nd most-visited theme park on the
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| | Mission San Luis Rey, Mission San Juan
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| planet (after its own sister park, Walt
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| | Capistrano, Mission San Gabriel, Mission
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| Disney World); Disney's California
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| | San Fernando, Mission San Buenaventura,
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| Adventure, the newest Southern California
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| | and Mission Santa Barbara. All are
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| theme park, where you can scream on the
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| | diffent, and all are worth paying a
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| Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, view the
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| | visit.) While you're in San Diego
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| Broadway-styled production "Aladdin, an
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| | touring the mission, you'll enjoy
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| Enchanted Musical," or enjoy that
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| | visiting Old Town, which was the Spanish
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| all-time favorite, the Disney Electrical
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| | core of the city. Nowadays, Old Town is
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| Parade; Legoland California, where
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| | a lively mix of historic displays,
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| there's no "kiddie section"---the WHOLE
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| | shopping, and dining. San Diego's Gas
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| PARK is for kids and their families; and
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| | Lamp Quarter, another of San Diego's
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| SeaWorld San Diego adventure park, home
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| | historic districts, is now a night life
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| of Shamu the Killer Whale and scads of
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| | center...and home to the San Diego
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| delightful animal shows and attractions.
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| | Padre's baseball stadium, as well. San
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| Theme 3: Hollywood vacationsGaze at the
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| | Diego's waterfront Maritime Museum is a
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| Hollywood sign. Hunt for stars on the
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| | "can't miss" spot for enthusiasts of
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| Hollywood Walk of Fame. Enjoy a concert
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| | tall-masted sailing ships and the history
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| at the world-renowned Hollywood Bowl.
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| | of the sea. (If you don't love maritime
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| Tour the still-new Kodak Theater, now
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| | history, visit the waterfront anyway.
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| home to the Academy Awards' annual Oscar
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| | You'll find tasty seafood restaurants, a
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| ceremony. Shop and dine at the
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| | gorgeous view of San Diego's bay, and the
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| outrageous, "Babylon" themed Hollywood &
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| | quaint Seaport Village shopping and
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| Highland Center. Hear the restored
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| | dining area.)By now, you've certainly
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| Wurlitzer organ and take in a Disney
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| | gathered quite a list of Southern
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| movie at the historic El Capitan Theater,
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| | California attractions that your various
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| which was recently returned to its former
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| | family members will enjoy. Pick your
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| glory following a lengthy, museum-quality
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| | favorites! But, if you can't choose,
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| restoration. Fit your feet into the
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| | there's no problem, either. Just visit
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| famous footprints embedded in Grauman's
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| | exciting Southern California again and
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| Chinese Theater's courtyard. Attend a
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| | again...and enjoy them all!Author Vicki
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| taping of your favorite TV show, or tour
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| | Funes is a Los Angeles native and
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| a movie studio. Look at movie stars' wax
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| | enthusiastic promoter of Southern
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| "doubles" in the Hollywood Wax Museum."
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| | California's family attractions. For
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| (You might not see any REAL movie stars
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| | more fun-filled vacation ideas, visit her
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| while you're visiting Hollywood,
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| | photo-filled website, "Family Vacation
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| California...but you WILL have a good
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| | Getaways at Los Angeles Theme Parks,"
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| time!)Theme 3: Mountain vacationTake a
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| | where you'll find still dozens more ways
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| drive on the Angeles Crest Highway, where
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| | that your family can enjoy themselves in
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| you won't believe you're not in the
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| | California and the Southwest USA. Use
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| Colorado Rocky Mountains. Visit nearby
| |
| | the following handy link, and you'll be
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| Big Bear, California's lake and village,
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| | there!
|
