PHOTOS COURTESY SHEMESH FARMS When Shemesh Farms in Malibu opened in 2013 at Shalom Institute, it was with an aspiration to create a social enterprise that would provide purposeful work and community to young adults with cognitive and physical disabilities. With seed money from the Jewish Federation Los Angeles, which continues to support their venture, 11 years later it’s rolling along, putting smiles on faces and bringing purpose to the lives of young adults in its Farm Fellows program that provides employment, programming and community to more than 100 adults with divers ..read more

Take advantage of the unrelentingly light hours of summer by visiting L.A.’s night markets! This roundup includes our selection of family-friendly night markets, guaranteeing a variety of foods, unique vendors, live DJs, games, photo ops and more. 626 Night Market Santa Anita Park, Arcadia July 5-Sept. 1, Friday-Sunday, 4 p.m.-11 p.m. Inspired by the open-air night markets found throughout Asia, 626 Night Market features more than 300 food, merchandise, crafts, arts, games, music and entertainment attractions and vendors. This large-scale market is named after San Gabriel Valley’s 626 area cod ..read more

Sandos Finisterra is an all-inclusive resort in Cabo San Lucas. PHOTO COURTESY SANDOS FINISTERRA The last time my sister Hana and I traveled together just the two of us, was a 48-hour whirlwind journey to Japan for our grandfather’s funeral in 2015. We’ve been long overdue for a sisters’ trip, especially as overtired moms of preschoolers and toddlers. When the opportunity arose to visit Sandos Finesterra Los Cabos, a historic all-inclusive resort in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, I figured a (much needed) escape was out of the question. My wanderlust mom happened to be in town when I got the invite ..read more

Museums are the perfect place to keep kids entertained, while serving as an indoor oasis from Southern California’s heated summers. Read along for our roundup of local L.A. museums for kids and families! To stir the kids’ imaginations and help geographical history come alive, take a trip to The Autry Museum in Griffith Park. The Autry is dedicated to telling the stories of the American West and how it was won, and it offers a family play space with free entry days once a month. Family playing games. PHOTO COURTESY AUTRY MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN WEST The Getty in West L.A. offers several family c ..read more

Play outside, too, at the Children’s Museum of Sonoma County. PHOTO COURTESY CMOSC Although I was born and raised in L.A., I have a soft spot for the Bay Area. After all, it’s where I met my husband, and now it’s where we frequently visit with our kids. Figuring out where to go and what to do in Sonoma, where my in-laws reside, is a little different as parents of little ones than as the carefree 20-somethings we once were. Of course, there’s no shortage of things to do in Sonoma County and beyond, but a multi-generational excursion requires a little more brainstorming. In past trips, we’ve vis ..read more

Our public libraries are always welcoming, but if you’re looking for a quaint bookstore to read and relax in, L.A. County has some must-try gems. In Pasadena, the hometown of the late science fiction novelist Octavia Butler, visit the bookstore named in her honor: Octavia’s Bookshelf. This cozy and beautifully designed literary space is sure to inspire hours of reading. A young reader at Octavia’s Bookshelf enjoys the reading nook. PHOTO BY CHERIE COFER With three floors of books, games and gadgets,  Barnes & Noble at the Grove is another favorite family hangout, and the bookstore has ..read more

Beat the sweltering heat whilst embracing warm summer nights at these family-friendly breweries (and a winery!) throughout L.A. Each of the spots featured in our roundup include kid-friendly entertainment, along with food, drinks and a relaxing atmosphere so parents can sit back with ease. The whole family can engage in games at Campsite Brewing. PHOTO BY MYRIAM SANCHEZ/CAMPSITE BREWING For some Downtown L.A. suds and fun, check out Boomtown Brewery in the Arts District, which has beers on tap for the adults and lemonade and soda for the little ones. Boomtown also hosts some family-themed nigh ..read more

Presented by SSA Public Relations Parents shoulder a large set of responsibilities as they raise their children. At the same time, many begin to recognize that it’s becoming important to also focus their attention on other loved ones – namely their own parents. For adult children, parental caregiving oftentimes begins with their parents experiencing cognitive decline. We come into the world viewing our parents as virtually indestructible. As we grow, and we watch our parents age, we come to terms with reality: our parents’ gait slows, hearing weakens and, perhaps most important of all, m ..read more

An RZR from Canopy River. PHOTO BY KARA THOMPSON As I gripped the handlebars of the RZR, a red-and-black sports UTV built for off-road driving, I could feel my heart knocking in my chest. A glossy red helmet covered my head, goggles protected my eyes and a green bandana wrapped my nose and mouth. I was ready, but I threw a glance full of glee and panic over at Kara, my fellow passenger. “What are we doing?”  Off-Road Mountain Driving The Jurillo Bridge. PHOTOS BY CASSANDRA LANE But there was no turning back, so I yelled “Yahooooo!” through the thick layers of fabric covering my mouth and ..read more

As I gripped the handlebars of the RZR, a red-and-black sport UTV built for off-the-road driving, I could feel my heart knocking in my chest. A glossy red helmet covered my head, goggles protected my eyes and a green bandana wrapped my nose and mouth. I was ready, but I threw a glance full of glee and panic over at Kara, my fellow passenger. “What are we doing?”  Off-Road Mountain Driving But there was no turning back, so I yelled “Yahooooo” through the thick layers of fabric and pressed my foot on the pedal in pursuit of our Canopy River guide, who sped away on his ATV, leadin ..read more