Getting away doesn’t always mean traveling far away

When you're planning your perfect getaway, would it make things easier knowing that you could get everything you envision - great food, live entertainment, relaxing nature hikes, a tropical drink by the pool - all in one place? For many folks, vacation means a time to relax and try new things they don't get to normally experience at home. But many are finding that you don't have to venture off to a faraway land to find this type of vacation.

Picking one convenient destination that has it all can maximize your fun and relaxation during your time off, reducing the time you spend traveling and fretting over logistics. Destinations like Terranea Resort, located on Los Angeles's beautiful oceanfront, aim to give visitors the experience of visiting a land far away without the travel required to get there. Billing itself as "A Land Not Far Away," Terranea offers countless activities like whale watching and scuba diving on its property, with world-class dining and live entertainment all in one place.

Here are a few things to look for as you search for a vacation that will take you to a different place without the travel required to get there:

* Activities for the entire family to enjoy. This is important not only to make everyone feel included in the vacation plans, but to allow both parents and kids alike to have some time to themselves to explore. By choosing a resort that offers fun activities aimed at both children and adults, you'll be sure everyone leaves happy.

* One-of-a-kind activities that you wouldn't get to partake in at home. When you choose a resort with the range of unique activities as those offered at Terranea, you'll feel like you truly are visiting a new and exciting land. For example, guests at Terranea can take in a falcon exhibition by a naturalist and kids can get hands-on demonstrations on video game creation as part of its summer camp programming, making it an ideal destination for Los Angeles family vacations.

* Plenty of room to relax and have much-needed downtime. Isn't the point of getting away to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life? The resort you choose should give you access to amenities like quiet hiking trails or a restorative spa so you can find the peace and quiet you are looking for.

* Attractive and exotic food options on site. For many folks, vacation is a time to indulge and try a lot of different food they wouldn't normally eat. If a resort offers exciting dining opportunities as well, you don't have to spend time trying to plan your meals and coordinating the travel it takes to get there. Enliven the senses with Terranea's exceptional dining venues. From fine dining at mar'sel, the resort's signature restaurant serving modern California cuisine, to the remarkable Nelson's and it's menu of SoCal wines and favorites, to the enticing blend of California and the Mediterranean at Catalina Kitchen, there's a dish for every taste at Terranea. A number of smaller venues - from coffee and juice bars to poolside fare - are situated throughout the resort for convenience.

If your family needs simply to get away, it's important to keep in mind that you don't need to schedule an exotic vacation to accomplish your goals of relaxing and experiencing something new. Sometimes a week, or even a long weekend, at a destination that offers all of these amenities in one place is exactly what you need.