Who would have guessed that we have our own little tropic "island" nest, right here in LA? Connected Family Fun, LA; Malibu Lagoon does! Let's take a tour. It might take three hours.
As your family travels to the coast, you will find Malibu Lagoon State Beach just north of the Malibu Pier, along Pacific Coast Highway. Malibu Creek meets the Pacific Ocean at this magical spot to create a unique saltwater marsh and shallow water estuary. http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=835.
Castaways at Malibu Lagoon
When your passengers and crew become castaways at Malibu Lagoon, they certainly won't be without luxury.
This state park, which is part of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, is full of family-friendly activities for your Connected Family Fun, LA; Malibu Lagoon adventure.
Let's Dive In For......
- Guided tours of the remarkable Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve. http://www.santamonicabay.org/explore/wetlands-rivers-streams/malibu-lagoon/
- Picnic tables and a nature area west of Malibu Creek Bridge. http://www.lamountains.com/parks.asp?parkid=154
- Flower gardens and native plants. https://www.outdoorproject.com/adventures/california/beaches/malibu-lagoon-state-beach-surfrider-beach
- A sandy beach for swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving. https://local.yahoo.com/info-212926179-malibu-lagoon-state-beach-malibu?stx=malibu%20lagoon%20beach&csz=Brea,%20CA%2092821&fr=lsrp
- A premier surfing/windsurfing beach, Surfrider Beach. http://beaches.lacounty.gov/malibu-surfrider-beach/, adjacent to the Malibu Lagoon.
- Over 200 species of birds for the avid bird watchers https://www.birdwatchingdaily.com/hotspots/64-malibu-lagoon-state-beach-malibu-california/ including Snowy Plovers that nest on the beach. http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-ln-snowy-plovers-20170508-story.html
- Tidepools for curious eyes and eyes only! http://redtri.com/los-angeles/malibu-lagoon-state-beach/
- Hiking trails galore. https://modernhiker.com/hike/hiking-malibu-lagoon-state-beach/.
- Saltwater fishing off Malibu Pier. http://malibupier.com/sport-fishing/
- Malibu Farm Restaurant (a great location to spot celebrities). http://malibupier.com/mf-restaurant/
- Whale, butterfly and grunion watching.
- Malibu Lagoon Museum where kids can learn about the Native American Chumash Tribe of California. http://www.adamsonhouse.org/visit.php
Let's Connect
The Adamson House:
The Adamson House is a destination all by itself and is a fun addition to your family's staycation. You can learn all about the history of this Malibu Lagoon treasure by visiting the official website: http://www.adamsonhouse.org/main.php I suggest taking the time with your children to casually stroll around the outside of the home.
The garden areas outside are dotted with information signs, enlightening visitors to tidbits of history and quaint stories.
To connect with your little ones, encourage them to read the signs to you. As a parent, this gives you a great opportunity to build up your child's self-confidence in reading out loud.
As someone who is severely dyslexic and struggled with reading growing up, reading out loud was a nightmare. I wish I had been encouraged to practice doing so more as a child. Reading these self-guided tour signs is a beautiful opportunity to praise and encourage your child, 
which will help to fill your trust bank.
Check out my blog describing my adventure to Topanga Canyon to learn more about your trust bank with your child. Building trust builds connections!
Countdown to School:
Since I have touched on academic life, I have a few suggestions to help children feel confident and connected to parents and family as they head back to school.
In many families, saying goodbye can trigger all sorts of unhappiness and anxiety. For families with foster or adopted children, saying goodbye can be even more difficult, due to traumatic separations in the past.
- PRACTICE GOODBYES:
You can practice saying goodbye while you are on your Connected Family Fun; Malibu Lagoon adventure. Tell your little ones that
you are going to practice saying goodbye to get ready for the first day of school. As you move from sign to sign at the Adamson House, develop a goodbye routine that you can repeat on school days. It may start with a hug saying something like, " I love you so much and I know you love me. Have a wonderful day and I will see you at 3:00."
- TRANSITIONAL OBJECT:
While walking along Surfrider Beach, next to Malibu Lagoon, look for a seashell or small rock to collect. You can use it as a reminder of your time together. Give your child the treasure in the 
morning, then collect it upon their return from school. I also suggest keeping a picture of your family in your child's backpack as a reminder that you will be together again.
- KEEP POSITIVE:
While you are picnicking at Malibu Lagoon's Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve, share some of the stories that you loved about going to school. Of course, your child might express worries about the 
new school year. It will be helpful to let them know this is normal for all kids.
Make sure your child know how they can reach you if necessary. Most importantly, remind them that even though they cannot see you, your love for them is always with them, no matter where they go and especially at school.
These reassuring steps will help make the transition back to school a more calm and connected transition for you and your children.
Contact Abby
Helping families feel connected is at the core of my Family Therapy practice. Should you feel like your family might benefit from family counseling to increase your family connections and decrease family conflicts, I invite you to contact me.
You can learn more about Me, my Family Therapy Practice, my Credentials, Services, and Rates on my website. I have a sub-specialty in Post-Adoption Family Therapy and offer an option for In-Home Family Therapy.
Click here, to contact me via email, or feel free to give me a call at (626) 755-4059. I offer a FREE 20-minute, Initial Phone Consultation. Let's connect!
Awesome blog, Abby. So important to practice goodbyes. I never really thought about that. It was fun to spend the day here with you on the desert isle.