La Quinta in Palm Springs is a pretty resort- it’s massive with a lot to do and not the same price as LA hotels that are similar

we did sedona and L.A. one spring break. you could also do grand canyon and L.A.. The drive is easy.

Wb studio tour was awesome. We love theme parks and I’d definitely at least do a day at universal. Could also get park hopper tickets and do a day at Disneyland. The Getty center is lovely if kids like art.

We did rappelling and scrambling with Mojave guides in Joshua tree. I highly recommend! It’s about 2 hours from LA, so you might want to stay a night or two nearby, but it was worth it.

If old enough I’d incorporate college visits - LMU, UCLA, USC, UCSD, Chapman, Occidental, Cal Tech, Claremont Colleges, University of San Diego. I personally think a day at Universal Studios with teens is fun and I’d go to Newport Beach/Balboa Island if venturing out of Los Angeles.

Warner Brothers tour

Drive to Santa Barbara. You can go there and back in a day and it’s a beautiful drive.