A rare treat, the Elliott family gets a guided tour of the Ballona Wetlands. This section of the park is currently being rehabilitated. We met up with a troop of boy scouts clearing some exotic grasses to make way for more native plants. Can you believe this is so close to Los Angeles?

It may be in the 100s in the valley but up top the temperature is a crisp 72 degrees. This is how the Elliott kids kept their cool on a recent visit to Palm Springs, California.

Here’s a real California adventure: A trip to the Channel Islands, just off the coast of Ventura.

The boys go hiking in the Channel Islands, off he coast of California. It was a picture-perfect day and they saw foxes, lizards and sea lions.

Aren is ready to take the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway to the peak of San Jacinto.

Winter Springs, Fla.

They added a new splash pool in Trottwood Park. Iden checked it out.

Lake Kissimmee, Fla.

The year is still 1870 on the banks of Florida’s Lake Kissimmee. Aren, Iden and Erysse experience what life was like more than a century ago — and they see lots of cows!

Our budget for this adventure:

Admission to 1870′s Cow Camp: $4 per car.