Oh, summer! Sweet, sweet, summer!

In Southern California, it seems like any given season is just a variation of hot, hotter and hottest — but my time in snow country taught me how gloomy and grey winter could get. (And yes, it’s much worse than June Gloom.) The sunless days were endless, the kids were inside fighting, and I was always left dreaming of So Cal and vacations. But before the kids could even ask “Are we there yet?”, I had to figure out —

Where exactly are we going?
Where will we stay?
Are there any good reviews of this place?
What does it look like?
Is it safe and clean?
What’s nearby?
Is there anything for the kids to do?
Will there be enough space for us all to sleep?

I don’t know about you, but traveling with kids is complicated and time consuming enough. If I can simplify at all, it’s a huge plus — and that’s why we always simplify our vacation planning by staying at a Kid & Coe house.

Kid & Coe is run by parents — just like you and I — which means they understand what families need, and they know first-hand the importance of providing family-friendly accommodations

For our last getaway, we stayed in The La Mesa Avenue Residence located in Encinitas, San Diego, which was just a few blocks from the beach.  The rooms were nice and big, and the host provided almost anything we could ever want from a home away from home: toys, board games, boogie boards, surfboards, sippy cups and more were already there.

With two queen beds, 2 twin beds, a toddler bed and a crib, the the La Mesa Avenue Residence in Encinitas, San Diego sleeps up to 8 people and rates start at $400 per night. You can book via  kidandcoe.com

Here is a look at a few of our favorite things about this house:

The natural beach elements throughout the La Mesa Avenue Residence made us feel like we were right on the beach! We absolutely loved the modern, laid-back beachy feel, which started the minute we stepped into the entrance room full of books, toys and comfy chairs. What a great place to sit and enjoy a book, or to talk about our seaside adventures!
How pretty are these local shells gathered just a block away?

Encinitas is a beautiful beach town — one of the last authentic surf hangouts — and actually it’s a spot I visited often when I was growing up. My father lived in LA, close to the beach, and after moving to San Diego he fell in love with the nature the laidback Encinitas vibe.
This time, returning with my own boys, I was thrilled to watch as my kids discovered the Encinitas spirit that was so much a part of my childhood. The kids explored for hours, picked up different rocks and discovered new shells and ocean creatures — such a wonderful learning experience! And as many times as I’ve been there, I was surprised at how aqua blue the ocean was. It was breathtaking.

When we weren’t at the beach, my boys and @artfullyuncommon’s girls enjoyed exporing the La Mesa Avenue Residence, and the two bathrroms and three charming bedroms made sure everyone had plenty of space. How pretty is this set up with the rattan headboard?

And I can’t say enough about the the outside of the residence — it was my FAVORITE part! Tons of plants and succulents, a jacuzzi for those late night convos for after the kiddos are in bed, and those twinkly lights!!!!

Okay, how cool is this idea to bring the chalkboard OUTSIDE, especially in a climate as perfect as San Diego’s? My kids enjoyed drawing, playing hangman and playing a lot of games of tic-tac-toe.
One thing I really appreciate about Kid and Coe, though, is not just their ability to offer short-term rental homes — but their knack at providing beautiful homes which are kid-friendly without sacrificing any aesthetics or comfort. I mean, how amazing is it to arrive to your vacation lodgings and see familiar toys just like you have at home?

I was a bit obsessed with the pink flower plant they had in their backyard (I can’t stop talking about the exterior of the house). It was absolutely gorgeous, and now I’m determined to figure out what plant it is so I can also get one for my home.

Encinitas is such a great place to explore. There are so many tucked away places to eat and shop, and each one has its own unique personality. We loved this vibrant octopus wall at a local coffee stand. And the BBQ! We are Brasilian, so being outside — especially when you’re so near the beach — always has us wishing there was a barbecue nearby. So of course I loved that the The La Mesa Avenue Residence had one for us to use. We went to the local Whole Foods Store (only a couple minutes away — how convenient!) and got delicious coconut chicken, baked potatoes and fresh organic salad.

The La Mesa Avenue Residence also had a good selection of herbs growing in their backyard, and the most amazing citrus trees in the front. Look at the size of those lemons!

The host was gracious enough to also provide some luxurious blankets from Bella Bundles for us to use during our stay. Little Cruz was especially enamored with the grey damask one, and asked for it while he ate breakfast or watched tv.

The super unique Blanket on the Go by Bella Bundles was also a must as we strolled to the beach. The blanket conveniently snaps onto any carrier or stroller, so I didn’t have to worry about having the blanket falling off during our walk to and from the beach. (Anyone else leave a trail of stuff behind them? No? Only me?) There are so many uses for a Blanket on the Go — nursing mamas, they make a great nursing cover, too!

One of my very FAVORITE Bella Bundles items, though, was the ultra-cozy towel hoodie. Super cute and so soft! Cruz often snuggled into one of these after his shower. Made of 100% cotton shell, a plush terry cloth lining and adorable hood lined in velour, these were perfect for beach-side use, too. This lime chevron hooded towel is so fun, right?

Learn more about all the Bella Bundles products here, and browse the Kid + Coe locations (all over the world!) here.