Good spot for a picnic by the water, and you can even see an occasional seal or sea lion. The play structure will keep the younger kids busy for a while. If you have your bikes you can ride down to the Embarcadero and do some shopping or have some local seafood. Kids love the nearby Seashell Shop for a souvenir.

We were in Lake Tahoe for my birthday this summer and I just had to treat myself to an ooey gooey brownie sundae at the Nestle's Cafe in Heavenly Village. There were almost a dozen cookie flavors and almost as many ice cream flavors for custom-made ice cream sandwiches. They also offer several varieties of brownies. The cookies came in extra-large or "mini" (a normal size cookie like you'd make at home). They serve a wide variety of sundaes, smoothies, hot coffee drinks and chillers. They can also make you a giant cookie cake decorated just the way you want it. You can sit inside or walk around Heavenly Village and browse the shops. We all went home with a tummy full of Nestle's goodness.

For me, it was just like getting back on a bike after a very, very long time! The friendly folks at Anderson's Bike Rentals in South Lake Tahoe fitted me for a comfortable hybrid bike, and explained how to use the hand brakes and gears. Did I mention that it's been quite a while since I rode a bike? I felt that the bikes were reasonably priced--$9 an hour for adults and $7 an hour for kids. They are located right next to the paved, flat trail through the National Forest. They have a lot of bikes and bike trailers to choose from, and of course helmets too. My son enjoyed tagging along with dad on a trail-a-bike for the first time. We rode down to Pope Beach and put our feet in the icy water of the beautiful blue lake. Then we continued on down the trail to Valhalla, where we took in the art exhibit that was on display. At Camp Richardson we stopped for lunch at the deli in the general store. You can ride at your own pace with lots of pitstops along the way. For about a half day of riding our family of four spent about $100 with lunch. Not bad for an activity in Tahoe, where everything is pretty pricey.

Our family visits Los Alamitos because of family nearby, and we always book our rooms at this Best Western. We lucked out and got a really nice suite in June. They have upgraded to flat screen TV's and the decor is always in good shape and nicely done. The free Wi-fi is a plus because it's so helpful when looking up restaurants or attractions (and searching on Trekaroo!). We enjoy the complimentary breakfast too. We met up with my parents so the kiddos got to have breakfast with Grandma and Grandpa in the little breakfast area. Breakfast offerings are pretty balanced--not all junk food. I had raisin bran with wheat toast and coffee, while the kids found muffins and rolls to suit their tastes. The pool and hot tub are kept up, and nice to have if it gets hot. Overall, we have found the rooms to be spacious, clean and well-maintained. The front desk staff have always been courteous and helpful. We will continue to stay at the Best Western in Los Alamitos when we visit our family or visit other Southern CA attractions.

Pros:
*pretty close to Lego Land, Carlsbad Premium Outlets, and several restaurants
*the housekeeping staff worked hard and kept it as clean as possible
*breakfast included, hospitality staff kept the food well-stocked
*nice pool and hot tub
*free wi-fi at a pretty good speed (unlike some hotels we've stayed at)
*small kitchen with sink, mini-fridge, counter and microwave

Cons
*really bad musty smell that permeated all of our luggage and clothes
*the room was in need of remodeling, even the furniture was damaged
*not worth what we paid for ($130/night for 2 tiny double beds)
*not many healthy options at breakfast (overripe bananas, wheat toast, yogurt)
*breakfast area was not laid out well, not conducive to quickly getting the family's food ready quickly

I was surprised to see an air conditioner on wheels in the bedroom with a placard about how we were supposed to empty the water tray--no thanks! That may have been the source of the musty odor even though we didn't use it. I realize that areas near the beach may be prone to mildew, but this was too much. We're not likely to visit a Ramada again.