California, Here We Come

We're leaving soon on our vacation to Southern California.  My husband is an expert trip planner, but I think even he would admit that this one snuck up on him.  I know, it should technically be "sneaked up on him".  But "sneaked" sounds awkward, and so I say "snuck", but I have to clarify that I use it knowingly in case I die in a California earthquake and one of my last blog posts on record contained an improperly conjugated verb, because I cannot leave that kind of legacy.

(Last-minute trip planning drives me to extreme caffeine consumption, can you tell?)

But back to my point: this trip came out of nowhere.  We've had it on our calendar for months, but life has been unusually fast-paced lately.  I'm not feeling as prepared as I normally do when we forge ahead on a big trip.  Also, all our other big vacations have been in parts of the country we know.  We don't know a thing about California.  We red-staters tend to think of California as That Big Giant Place With The Earthquakes And All The Blondes And Smog And Crazy Real Estate Prices And Movies Which Chip Away At Our Nation's Moral Fabric.  It's a bit of a mystery. 

Here's what I do know:

We're driving from Oklahoma to Los Angeles.  It's a long drive (about 21 hours each way), but it's a simple one:

1.  Get on I-40.
2.  Turn right.
3.  At the Pacific Ocean, stop.

Even I can't mess up that.

We'll need to make excellent time on our way out there (the fact that I just wrote that sentence means that we are now certain to face motion sickness, bladder issues, and car trouble).  We're attending a specific sporting event that has my husband and sons enthralled to the point of packing face paint.  We'll be moving quickly on the way out there, but once we arrive, we plan to slow our pace.  We'll go watch the mega sporting event, and then we'll spend a day or two relaxing on the beach.  We won't even try to resist the gravitational pull of Disneyland, spending a couple of days there in the middle in our trip.  I suspect that the day my four-year-old daughter meets Sleeping Beauty may henceforth be known in family lore as The Shriek Heard 'Round the World. 

We plan to do the Hollywood thing, visiting Grauman's Chinese Theatre, the Walk of Fame and maybe a studio tour.   And we'll do it all while dodging all the collapsing buildings, a result of The Big One, which, it appears, shall surely occur during the week my family visits the West Coast. 

(Have I mentioned my irrational fear of earthquakes?  It's crazy, I know, especially considering that I've been known to stand on the front porch during a tornado.  But I'd rather face swirly, deathly clouds over swirly, deathly soil any day.  I'm afraid I may have seen too many bad 1970's disaster flicks.  As a result, I'd prefer not to sleep anywhere near the San Andreas Fault, nor will I board a giant ship with Shelly Winters.)

And now, ten paragraphs later, the point of this post.  While we have the general skeleton of the trip planned, we may be winging it on a few details.  I'm hoping there's a SoCal expert or two out there who might be willing to weigh in on a few questions I still have.  Namely:

1.  Is two days enough for Disneyland and California Adventure?  What are your favorite, can't-miss rides and attractions there?

2.  In an effort not to squeeze in too much, we're skipping San Diego.  Is that foolish?  Is San Diego so excellent that it's worth a little calendar-squeezing?

3.  What's your favorite LA-area beach for a family to visit?

4.  Are any of the Hollywood studio tours especially great for kids?  Most of the ones we've found don't allow kids under age 8, which rules us out.  Are you aware of any exceptions?

Any expert advice you could give would be much appreciated.  In the meantime, I'll be waiting right here, making my list for the house-sitters, finishing up the laundry, and shopping for earthquake-resistant helmets for the kids.

Comments

[Cathy]

Oh my goodness, I forgot to mention that you HAVE to have a Dole Whip (yummy pineapple concoction) from the stand that is near the entrance to Adventure land and TikiBird Show. It's my favorite treat!

[Elizabeth Esther]

SoCal native, here.

Agreed that you want to skip LA and do San Diego. LA is not really that fun for kids. It's dirty, congested and crowded this time of year. LA beaches are not that great, either.

Spend more time in The OC and San Diego. I say 2 days for Disneyland. California Adventure can be done in 1/2 day, imo.

Best OC beaches: Laguna Beach (tidepools, art galleries and fun places to eat); Huntington Beach (great waves, classic pier, fun surf shops).

Have fun!

[Crystal]

Okay - we just hit Disneyland with the kids a few months back, and I learned an important lesson, which applies if you have a princess-loving daughter. Apparently you won't just 'run' into them in the park any longer. There is a princess area, which is cute, but to wait in line to meet one (and you don't know which one it will be) wasn't my cup of tea - if she didn't get to meet Ariel she might has well not have met any. So, at California Adventure there's a restaurant called Ariel's Grotto. It's not cheap - we decided to just have it be me and my little princess for lunch - but you're guaranteed to meet Ariel, and 5 other princesses come around while you're eating so you have the chance to talk with and take pictures with each one individually. SO worth it for her, at this point in life where it was so magical.

Good luck and HAVE FUN!!!

[lorrie @ my spot on the shore]

BORN and RAISED in Southern California...outside Santa Barbara. The parks are great and 2/3 days max is enough...but to get the beauty of California...you have to pick the right beaches...Sorry LA folks...There are NO decent beaches in LA proper. Your best best is North of LA or San Diego County. Of course since I'm outside of Malibu...I'll speak of my favs. Leo Carrillo Beach outside Malibu...the PCH (pacific Coast Highway) is a great drive and Leo Carrillo is AWESOME! Trust Me....It's worth the drive. If you have time to go to Santa Barbara....please don't miss it...it's gorgeous! (ok bias since I lived there for my undergrad). In LA...you don't want to miss In and Out Burgers if your family likes burgers, the Farmer's Market...if you like flowers...get up early and head downtown to the Flower Mart...it's just interesting to see. In terms of the touristy places in LA...You'll be more happy with going to San Diego or up north to our part of So. Cal. Also...in LA if you can splurge...eat at Crustaseans in Beverly Hills...something ritzy and any Taco stand in a bad part of town is worth the quick in and out...authentic Mexican tacos are the best. Drop me a line on my blog when your in town and if you need help...let me know...Also if you guys can get out towards Oxnard it's whales season (for the grey whales) returning from Mexico and the ocean boat ride is great. Also Catalina is awesome too! Just too much to do in Southern California. Have a great time...I love living in our paradise.
BTW...we normally don't have earthquakes in the summer...just doesn't happen much!

[lorrie @ my spot on the shore]

Oh I FORGOT TO SAY...WE DONT GO ANYWHERE towards LA, around LA or in and through LA between 3 and 7 p.m. It just doesn't make any sense.

[Lisa M.]

Hi Emily! CA now has Sonic too, in some limited locations. My daughter went to Baylor and got hooked on Sonic there, but I sure don't think it holds a candle to In 'n Out! Lisa

[Kristen]

I live in Orange County, too. I would definitely agree with all the feedback you have gotten about LA. You probably already have your hotel planned, but I wouldn't stay there if I were you. It really isn't aall that family friendly. A day-trip into Hollywood is more than enough to see anything there. The Chinese Mann's Theatre and Walk of Stars are fun, but every time we go, we are ready to leave within a few minutes. Not that much to see!

I may be biased, but I think the Newport/Huntington area is a really great place for families to visit! Someone mentioned it above, but by far my local fave for kids is the Dana Point Harbor "baby beach". There are no waves and you can rent kayaks and paddle boats there. Huntington's Main Street is fun, and the beaches there have firepits that are fun for roasting smores at night. They are free and first-come first-serve. Laguna Main is a popular beach but it is so crowded in the summer. I agree with a pp's rec of Crystal Cove.

Personally, I've always preferred Legoland to Disney. We have Disney passes but we usually go for quick trips and stick to California Adventure. I HATE the way all of the Disney rides have an "evil" or supernatural element. I'm really not that prudish, but it bugs me and my daughter was scared to sleep in the dark after our last visit. Even the children's rides are scary! Legoland is fun without any of that stuff, and it's on the way down to San Diego. I think 2 days would be all you want at Disney in the summer. You will probably all be sick of the crowds, the heat, and the prices after 2 days!

I agree about San Diego, it's a gorgeous city. Even walking around Balboa Park is fun, with lots of things to see and do. And Balboa Island in OC is really fun, too. If you are an Arrested Development fan, you need to hit the banana stands and ride the ferry!

If you are there over a weekend, check out Rock Harbor Church in Costa Mesa! :) www.rockharbor.org

If you need hotel recs in OC, email me at howertons @ hotmail.com.

Love your blog - not sure I've commented before but I lurk all the time!

[Mari]

i'm originally from ventura, california but moved to berkeley at 19, for college, and stayed there until 8 years ago.

disneyland: 5 days isn't enough time to do it all the way one would like to. we like space mountain the best.

beach: zuma is the best. it's the one i grew up hanging out on as a teenager when we'd venture off our fanstatic beach in ventura, where i learned to surf.

studio: universal is fun. cheesey as all get out, but fun.

enjoy your trip.

--mari

[nlynch]

Yes! We loved the park. We were there for 4th of July weekend and saw AWESOME fireworks at the game overlooking the bay! We have a friend that played for the Giants and he gave us the grand tour of the stadium and it was wonderful.
I knew it would be chilly but really didn't pack very well. Had cute new summer outfits that I never wore as jeans and sweatshirts were my usual daily attire!
Have fun in Texas...bring lots of shorts and t-shirts! It will be summer here until November at least!

[Eden]

I totally understood this post! We decided to drive from MO to So Cal for our vacation this year. And it started sneaking up on us - but then came to a screaching halt when we became unemployed 10 days prior to our planned departure.

I totally agree with the red stater's opinion of California. Fine to visit (please no earthquakes on my visit) but NEVER living there.

I've been twice before and can't get myself away from San Diego - I love it! (Again to visit but never to live.) Being from the country (and now living in a booming 100k+ city), I prefer to stay away from LA. San Diego traffic is doable - LA, no way.

Our trip plans included Coronado Island, Cabrillo National Monument, the beach (hadn't picked one yet), Legoland (in Oceanside), the beach, Seaport Village, and La Jolla to see the seals.

And definitely going to Legoland would be during the week, not Friday or Saturday.

Have a great trip!

[MemeGRL]

So much great advice to process on your 21 hour drive!
My caveat is this: I haven't been there in almost 20 years so it might be different now. BUT--on one of my trips to SoCal, three generations of our family went to Universal Studios and LOVED it. LOVED it. LOVED it. I have never seen the Florida one so I can't compare but if you want to get a glimpse of (and give lots of money to) one of the Places that Makes the Movies That Are Ruining America, it was a great theme park with a fun "studio tour." The "studio tour" was a combination "attraction" and tour of actual movie sets on the lot. There was also a faux earthquake and Jaws "attacked" the tour vehicle...stuff like that to keep with the theme park experience. But if I recall correctly, lots of the tour was past the actual places where movies everyone knows were filmed. And one of my fondest memories ever of my grandfather was his delight at the ET ride (which may not even exist anymore!). He just laughed and laughed with joy at the special effects of the ride. It's no "Soaring!" but it was really fun.
And...one more beach to consider...Laguna is GORGEOUS, especially if you decide to take PCH (Pacific Coast Hwy, Rte.1) down to San Diego since it's on the way. But Newport is also amazing.
But if you want real beaches? Come to New Jersey next year. Really. The beaches are worth the Jersey jokes.
Have FUN!!! What a great trip.

[Texas in Africa]

Two days at Disney/CA is a lot for a four-year-old. That said, Disneyland is a lot more manageable than Disney World. If it were me, I'd do one day at Disneyland and go to Knott's Berry Farm on the second.

Skip the Hollywood stuff (all the comments above about how nasty/trashy/unsafe/completely inappropriate for children is is are dead-on, although if you can find it, there's an okay park near the Hollywood sign), make the OC your halfway point while you're at Disney, and then go to the San Diego Zoo. You won't regret it. San Diego is SO much nicer than LA, cute little downtown area, fun beaches (Coronado Island is absolutely beautiful), and you'll generally feel much safer and cleaner there.

Closer to LA, your boys will be fascinated by the La Brea Tar Pits, especially if any of them are into dinosaurs and such. Newport is a decent beach. Plan twice as much time as you think you'll need to get to everything. The traffic is terrible.

[Kris B]

If you get to the SD area, I have heard/read great things about the tidal pools at Cabrillo National Monument. I read an article about them at Scribbit. They sound absolutely wonderful for children. Are on my top 10 things to see in SoCal. Enjoy your trip! Oh, and unless your family absolutely loves crowds and theme parks, two days at Disney is plenty.

[Shannon]

Yes, I know Marla!  That's a funny small world...

[Shannon]

Thanks!  We're actually planning to do lunch there, too, and I'm really excited about it!

[Shannon]

Thanks so much for the recommendations!

[Kristin]

If you are there on a Saturday or Sunday, I would suggest trying The Dream Center or Angelus Temple. (www.angelustemple.org) This is the church where Aimee Semple McPherson ministered. The Dream Center is the inner-city outreach of the church and they house hundreds of homeless and train them and rehab them for productive lives.

My husband and I visited LA a few years ago and spent one night at The Dream Center (it's an old hospital and there are dorm-style rooms for rent.) We walked away from there saying, "THIS is what Jesus with skin on looks like." Amazing place.

[Shelly]

2 or more days at Disney. The long line will prevent much of anything else. California Adventure is a waste of time and money. Do fastpasses at DL to save time. They check bags, but rent a locker and keep your food there. Come back to eat and save the money for not eating in the park. Ride the train and monorail to rest your weary feet.

Eat at In and Out as it is the BEST and so many have stated so.

Go to the beach and enjoy! See Hollywood, but don't be surprised if it scares you. It does me and I have lived here for over 20yrs.

Earthquakes don't happen as often as the storms you get in OK, so relax a bit. But know every shake will bother you.

San Diego is cool! Visit Old Town San Diego for a wonderful time. Lego land is too expensive and more for little kids. Sea World is awesome though.

If you have a chance, go over to Catalina Island for a day of fun. Just be at the pier on time or you will miss the ferry.

Come and enjoy! Coldwater Canyon park is a great place to see famous people besides to play in the stream.

[Diana (Ladybug Limited)]

I'm an OC native-- born and raised in Orange for 23 years. As a mom I lived in South County for 4 years before transplanting to Oregon a year ago. Here's my 2 cents worth:
1. Traffic will do you in before any earthquake! Honestly, most earthquakes happen without anyone noticing and they're a lot less frequent than tornadoes. In Southern California, miles don't matter when trying to figure out how long it will take to get somewhere-- it's all about the traffic and time of day.
2. As a parent of a 6 and almost-4 year old, I'd skip California Adventure and do 2 days at Disneyland-- you might not fit it all in, but more than 2 days would just become a battle of trying to ride every last ride and no one needs that kind of stress on vacation! Pick your must-rides and do those on Day One and be happy with the ones you discover after those. If you really want to have time to take in parades and character breakfasts or any of California Adventure, I'd go for a 3-day pass, though.
3. For beaches, we were fond of driving Laguna Canyon Road (you could pick up El Toro Road off of the I-5 and take it until it runs into Laguna Canyon Road) out to PCH to go to the Main Beach in Laguna Beach. It's not your typical megalopolis drive and you'll see a more pastoral side of OC that will surprise you. Our favorite time to go to the beach was about 4 pm -- crowds were gone and we could play for a couple of hours before grabbing dinner at Ruby's on PCH just south of town (= best milkshakes in OC & fun dining for kids -- they have a website.)
4. I would skip LA (OK, not totally because my sister lives there) and do San Diego. My 2 kiddos adore Legoland and the San Diego Wild Animal Park (not the same thing as the SD Zoo). The Wild Animal Park has a lot of cool features-- they love riding the train for the "safari" first thing when we get there. Legoland has lots of appeal for your kiddos various ages, I would say. Those 2 would make my list way before any sights in LA.

But, like I said, that's just my 2 cents worth :) Feel free to e-mail if you want more info on anything.

[Jill]

Our favorite Disneyland ride is at CA it's the Jumping Jellyfish. Can't tell you how many times a 7 year old and 4 year went on this, too many to count. I was pregnant and throwing up already so I sat it out.
We were at Disney 3 nights and 3 days- but one day was rainy so 2 days should get you in everywhere you want. We took in a show (Aladdin) it was great.
Universial Studios is great too.
If you had time Lego Land in SD is worth the time but you can always go again. We love San Diego, but we've mostly been just adults so I don't know about the kids except Lego.
Have a great trip.

[Nancy MG]

Los Angeles proper IS indeed kind of seedy, but it sounds like you're planning more for the "Greater Los Angeles Area." Anaheim (and Disneyland!) is actually in a different county altogether. DEFINITELY go for the Fast Passes, and a tip for Space Mountain is that if you're able to make it until evening, you can see the fireworks show from the line! (And, as a bonus, you won't be in the phenomenal crush of pedestrians, strollers, and little ones who really should have gone home an hour ago, but were coerced into staying through the show--it's awesome that they're sharing great memories, but enough is enough for a four-year-old!) Pirates of the Caribbean is a MUST! It's the longest ride at Disneyland (13 minutes and change) and the line is usually pretty quick!
Huntington COUNTY beach is fun and family-oriented, and there's a great restaurant called Ruby's on the pier; It's 50's themed, so expect great music!
San Diego is a wonderful city, but it's much more laid-back than your other suggestions... I'd finish up there, to wind up your trip in a way that's as relaxing as you can get with a large family :)

And don't worry too much about 'quakes: they usually occur more in Fall and Spring, and all you really need to do is stand in a doorway if one occurs--no closets or basements needed (in fact, I don't think I know one person who even HAS a basement, and I'm Southern California born & raised!)!

Have a safe trip, and a wonderful time!!!

[Miche@CoordinatedChaos]

Good luck on your trip! I have never been there before, so I can't offer any advice, but I just wanted to let you know your post had me laughing. I loved it.

Have fun!

[Kate]

I am a fellow Oklahoman... Disneyland / Adventure is best in three days. We a five year old and two yearold. First step into park go get the fast passes! Thank me later! There is a great historic Hotdog stop in Hollywood called Pinks. It's a must! Other than that Holloywood is a bust for most family's. Sprinkles Cupcake's in Beverliy Hills to DIE for. And YES, If you can San Diego will be well worht it. It's a fabulous drive along the coast. IF you can not make it Newport beach is a great stop too. Most important do not skip eating at In and Out Burger whenever you see one.

[Tiff]

You will have a blast! I wish I was going on vacation right now!! BOOOHOOO!!! :-( Oh well...no rest for the weary! Teehee!! Can't wait to hear about your trip!

[Julie From Inmates]

The only thing we did in San Diego was visit Sea World, but you can do that about anywhere.

The only studio tours we did were The Price Is Right and I'm pretty sure they require you to be 18 years old.

The only beach trip we did was in Malibu, not so much for the beach, becuase that's where a lot of the stars live.

So, no, not much help here.

Oh, and I totally laughed at the whole conjugated verb thing. I blog different from the way I talk too. My latest usage was strewn instead of strung out. ;)

[Cyndy]

Native Californian here...don't worry about the earthquakes...I'd take them over a tornado any day! ;-) Like someone mentioned before, the bigger deal is the traffic.

We just did a three day trip to Disneyland and the best $15 dollars of the trip was spent on this program http://www.ridemax.com/ Seriously, buy a 45 day subscription to this program and be a nerd and totally schedule out your whole day at Disneyland. I've been to Disneyland about 5 -6 times in my life and this was the best time we EVER had. Hardly any waiting in lines (and that's the big not so fun deal when you go to Disneyland, standing in lines I mean)and plenty of time to just take in your surroundings. Also make use of your FastPasses. Ask an employee to explain them to you...they are soooo worth it! Also when you are at D-land be sure to get Dole Whips at the little stand in front of the Tiki Room. Seriously yummy!

In California Adventure be sure to ride Soarin' Over California and be sure to ride Toy Story Mania. Those, in my opinion, were the best rides in that part of the park. California Screamin' was pretty good too. Your daughter will really like the Bug Land stuff. A little warning on the 3D shows. Our daughter, age 8, DID NOT like them. They were a little too realistic for her.

San Diego is beautiful. One of my favorite places there is Balboa Park. The San Diego Zoo is there as well as several excellent and kid friendly museums.

I hope you all have fun!

[Creative2xmom]

I'm just going to throw out my opinion so I hope it's not redundant.
All I can answer to is Disneyland...
we always get 3 day passes. You could spend a day in Ca Adventure if your kids are older. Mine are young so we didn't do much. They loved Bug's Land. For an older crowd, there is the big roller coaster, Soarin' over Ca (you have to do this one), and the stuff on the midway, Midway Madness is for adults and kids alike. My preschooler loved it and my mom and I laughed the whole time.
Disneyland is great. We went in the fall and there was a princess show on the stage near toon town. Face painting, story time, and shows with the princesses along with a monstrous line that gets you to see 3 princesses at once. Jasmine was there and left, but we met Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Princess Minnie. They switch out periodically, but you always see three.
Rides we love: Matterhorn, Indiana Jones, Pirates and Hauted House. My 4 year old loved the Buzz Lightyear Ride and it really was fun.
There's so many other little tips and tricks I could give you. Like getting filtered water at the Baby Changing Station on Main Street. But I'll try not to overwhelm you. Have a great time.

[Cyndy]

Oh, another little tip. If you plan on spending your big food bucks on dinner. Be sure and make dinner reservations in advance. We ate b-fast at our hotel, brought snack food for during the day and ate a nice dinner every evening. Downtown Disney has some great restaurants but I especially recommend Rainforest Cafe. Good food and the kids will love it!

[nicole]

I'm so jealous. I have family in SoCal and that is the only place my family ever vacationed. I love it. I can see that you have a ton of comments, probably full of good advice, so I'll refrain from repeating good advice. I am very curious about what mega sporting event you are attending though.

[the Senator's Wife]

I went to USC and was just in LA last month-with kids. We did Disneyland on a Sunday morning and I am convinced this is THE ONLY time to go in the summer. Be sure and get there right when it opens as well. If your kids have been to Disneyland (world) before, you can do this in one day. Trust me. If not, you will know if another day is necessary fairly quickly. The fast passes are the only way to do the rides you like-so get them and plan accordingly. There is a great princess area at this park. My daughter has past the princess phase, but I advise you to head straight back to this area first. It looked like an amazing place for a little girl to experience and the lines were long.

We skipped California adventure on the advice of my LA friends and were glad we did.

Santa Monica is the best beach spot. They have also just opened a new public beach area that is first rate. You can call ahead and make reservations and they will have chairs and umbrella's for you, I believe there is also food there and clean bathrooms. It was made possible through the Annenberg Foundation and I believe that is the name of this beach in Santa Monica.

Great restaurants in the Santa Monica area and shopping too if the weather is not cooperative.

However, I would definitely head to San Diego. The zoo is a must see, it is a world class zoo. Then there is lego land if you have lego lovers. San Diego is beautiful and much more relaxed than the craziness of Los Angeles. The traffic is a little better in San Diego as well.

Have a great trip-

[Anna]

I'm a Georgian who lived in San Diego for two years and I miss it terribly!! LA is certainly worth the visit but it is a very large city and not as glamerous as people expect. If at all possible - go to San Diego. It's 1 1/2 hours south, the Pacific Coast Highway is beautiful (once you pass the LA suberbs). You'll see Del Mar and La Jolla on your way into SD. Then there is Balboa Park, Coronado Island, Seal Beach, SD Zoo, LegoLand for your kids, etc., etc. Eat at George's on the Cove in La Jolla. It overlooks the Pacific Ocean and Seal Beach - beautiful...and now, I'm homesick.

[Joelle]

Haven't read all your comments, so forgive me if I'm being redundant, but here's my two cents...
I live between San Diego and LA and I have to say that we go to LA more often because it's closer, but San Diego is cleaner and maybe cooler. Sea World is worth visiting in San Diego, as well as Balboa Park and Coronado Island. And check out the San Diego Zoo and/or Wild Animal Park. Those are the BEST zoos. SO much fun. I love them!
We don't have kids, but in LA, we like going to the Hollywood Bowl for evening concerts. (Tickets are cheaper than the Disney Concert Hall.) You should also check out Griffith Park in LA (very close to Hollywood) which has a nice view of the city, and the ocean if it's not smoggy. There is also a nice planetarium at Griffith. As for LA beaches, we like Santa Monica and Malibu. We like the Mission beach in San Diego, which is near Sea World.
Oh, and I have to say that I-40 does not end in the ocean. You have to get on I-15 in the Cajon Pass, and TRY not to hit the end of weekend traffic or you'll be in line with everybody returning from Vegas. It can take forever to get through there.
If you want to do something in the mountains, I'd say you should go over near Palm Springs to the Mt. San Jacinto tramway. You can take a tram to the top of the mountain (8,000-some feet) and enjoy some mountain trails (pretty nice/ easy trails near mountain station). The air is beautiful up in the mountains, and it is generally cooler than the desert. (My DH proposed to me up there! But that's another story.)
Drop me an e-mail if you need any more info.

[Janet Burkenpas]

I have a 3,7,9 year olds. Two days at Disney/Ca adventure is NOT enough time. Sea world is very fun, but takes a day by itself. I was NOT impressed by the zoo. Unless the kids are asking for the LA trip, scrub it. There is also Knox berry farm. They have this wonderful knights dinner show which is awesome (and VERY expensive) Don't rush through disney, it's gonna be what they remember. Also legoland! Have fun

[Lisa]

As a so cal native, I would skip LA and do San Diego (i think everyone has told you that!). San Diego is much more kid friendly! Do the Zoo, go to Coronado or S.Carlsbad state beach (better than L.A. beaches!)Definetly hit up in-n-out for yummy (cheap-ish) burgers! If you end up on your way to S.D. via I-15 stop in Temecula at Rosa's Cantina (not Rosa's cafe) for the best mexican food IN LIFE. Enjoy!

[Sam]

I just got back from California a month ago. so I will share my experience of what we enjoyed the most. Go to Santa Monica Pier, it's so much fun and they have a few rides there. Don't go to the beach there. We went to the Manhattan Beach (after eating at Uncle Bill's Pancake house, which is also amazing and you should try). I would say that giving up a day in LA and going down to San Diego is totally worth it. We went to the Zoo and then to the beach, even though it was freezing. I really liked the beaches in San Diego, you could even stop in Laguna Beach on the way there, the beaches are supposed to be amazing. Go to Manns and the walk of fame, but I doubt the kids will think it's that exciting, but you can see the Hollywood sign from there. I don't know much about Disneyland, so no advice there, just thought I'd share what we really enjoyed on our vacation

[ET @ Titus2:3-5]

We just took our family of 7 to Disneyland (also driving) in March/April. Here are my answers...
#1 - no, two days is not enough; 1 day is good for CA Adventure, but you'll need 2 for sure in Disney (good news is they sell a 3 day hopper pass, lol)
#2 - Sea World was by far our family's favourite stop! We passed on the Wild Animal Park b/c we figured our kids had already been seated in vehicles long enough. But I hear it's pretty darn amazing! (more good news, there's actually a SoCal pass that includes: 3 day hopper, Universal, Sea World, and either the Zoo or Wild Animal park in SD --> our fam purchased it for the low, low price of *&%*#%%*@)
#3 - if they tell you that Newport Beach is a great family place to go, don't believe them; Venice Beach is way more fun!
#4 - we only did Universal, and it was pretty good. Best ride of our entire week was there - the Simpsons Ride. And we got to see so many characters while there! Plus they have a super fun get-soaked water park that kids of all ages enjoy.
But, I'm no expert. Been once, won't go again. (would to Universal and Sea World, but not Disney - sorry)
Have fun!

[edj]

From glancing briefly at your comments, sounds like you've got lots of good advice. I just want to emphasize getting fast passes at Disneyland. Our favs are Splash Mountain (boring mechanical animals so worth it for that moment of sheer, abject terror before you splash down! And try and get heavier people in the boat with you--better splashes that way!) and Indiana Jones. For the little ones, Toad's Wild Ride and Haunted House are fun. Thunder Mountain is good too; ride in the back for that one--more whippy action!
Donn says Dana Point might be a good beach. We always go to Huntington Beach for surfing, and there are plenty of families there too.
Maybe you will get a teeny tiny earthquake, emerge totally unscathed including all breakables, and have a great story to tell ;) You never know!
Have a great trip! SoCal is a great place to visit. I bet you'll have a blast!

[Sporty Mama]

I have visited San Diego and Los Angeles, and as a Southern girl, I prefer San Diego. Beautiful city, nice people, great food. Actually, I hated Los Angeles. Way too big, rude people, not into the HOLLYWOOD thing.

Have fun!

[Ginger]

I grew up and still live about 120 miles north of L.A. I'm as afraid of tornados as you are of earthquakes.
I'd take 2-3 days for Disney, skip Hollywood (esp because you have kids; if you do go there, don't be there after dark) and head for the San Diego Wild Animal Park (acutally in Escondido). We go at least twice a year and love it...its about the closest thing you'll get to a safarri w/out having to get all the shots. The S.D. zoo is great too, but I prefer the park which is the zoo's breeding facility. Be safe & have fun!

[Barbara]

We did this trip last summer and spent about half our time in SD and half in LA. In SD, our 7 yo boy LOVED Legoland even though he never played with Legos before that. He wants to go there on his honeymoon. We also had a great time at the Zoo -- best zoo trip ever -- and at Sea World.

In LA, we skipped Disney as we have been to DisneyWorld. The NBC studio tour allowed children under 8. It didn't get great online reviews, but we enjoyed it. If you've never been on a studio tour, then it would be worth it. Also, some of the stated age restrictions are not enforced, so you may want to check when you get there. The Santa Monica Pier was also fun. We walked around the Chinese Theater, etc and that was entertaining (during the day).

Bottom line, definitely go to San Diego! Have a great time!

[Pink Sun Drops]

Wow, you got some incredible suggestions on here! I'm bookmarking this for future reference!! I really have nothing to add to this, and what I would've said has already been said! I'll second that I heart Balboa, if they're talking about Balboa island. And the beaches around there are pretty fantastic, too!

[LarkLady]

I've lived in LA and Ventura counties all my life, except for college... I like to visit other places, but this is home!

Unless you want your whole vacation to be oriented around theme parks, 2 days at Disney should do it: 1/2 day or a little more at California Adventure (do NOT miss California Adventure!) and the rest of the time at Disneyland. The beach by the Santa Monica pier is nice, and you can spend some time in the water and some time on the pier; Bolsa Chica in Orange County is another nice beach... but there are plenty of beaches, so don't be afraid to explore. In-N-Out, definitely, if you like hamburgers... but if your kids, like mine, always opt for chicken choices at fast food places then they're going to be disappointed because In-N-Out has hamburgers and cheeseburgers... and great fries (try monster fries, sometimes called animal fries -- they aren't on the menu, by the way, but they have onions and thousand island dressing on top and one summer my older daughter nearly lived on them). Don't be afraid to visit Hollywood Boulevard -- see the Chinese Theatre and look at the stars in the sidewalk on the Walk of Fame.

The La Brea Tar Pits (redundant, I know: "the the tar tar pits") is unique and a lot of fun but not something that will consume an enormous amount of time; you might combine it with the Hollywood adventure, since they aren't far from each other.

Be sure to sample the variety of ethnic foods available -- not just Mexican and Chinese, but Thai and Vietnamese and Indian, along with Jewish delicatessens (Canters is near the tar pits)... we've got all that and more.

And your chances of experiencing an earthquake are slim and none... and if by chance -- a very infinitesimal chance -- there is one, think of the tale you'll take home!

San Diego is worth taking a separate trip for... and just north of there is Legoland, in Carlsbad, that's a lot of fun for the younger children but how much time do you want to spend in theme parks when there's so much else to do?!?

Universal Studios is less a studio tour than a theme park; try Warner Brothers in Burbank (I don't know about an age limit -- my 15-year-old loves it) -- I'm pretty sure they have the whole tour open again after a fire a while back.

Most of all, have a wonderful time! The weather right now is gorgeous -- so get outside and enjoy the California sun!

[Shannon H. (Spokane, WA)]

May I suggest and audio book for the drive? Treasure Island narrated by Neil Hunt (his narration is by far the best). It's perfect for a drive along the coast. Our family listened to it on a trip to the Oregon Coast recently and we loved it! Definitely worth borrowing from the library or buying!

[Becca Baughman]

Hi! I grew up in Southern California (San Diego growing up and LA for college and after) and am glad your family is coming for a visit! I'm sure many people have already said this, but skip a day in LA and go to San Diego. Coronado Island is my favorite place in the United States, and I've done a lot of traveling. It's perfect for a relaxing day at the HUGE beach by the Hotel Del Coronado. The quaint residential streets are perfect for bike riding (rentals on the main drag by the Del) and the houses are BEAUTIFUL! I drool over them every time I'm there. Miguel's Mexican food as the best affordable restaurant on the island. Also, if you're looking for a church to visit in either the LA or SD area, let me know and I can recommend some.

[Rachel]

We live in San Diego. I agree with another blogger. Skip some days in LA and head to San Diego. The beaches are great, the zoo is great, Balboa Park is interesting, and the pace of life is much slower and friendlier than LA. We avoid LA at all costs. In fact haven't been there in two years. San Diego mexican food is the best too!!! Hope you have a great time.

[Kelly]

I know NOTHING about California, but I hope you'll allow me to vicariously live your trip through photos. I've always wanted to drive up the Pacific Coast Hwy. I would ask Pioneer Woman - she lived out there in college. I'll bet she can hook you up! Also, I think Fiddledeedee lived out there. I'll bet you could have figured that out yourself, huh? Oh - I'd also want to take a trip down route 66.

[Pampered Chef Heather]

I would do less LA and include San Diego. The San Diego Zoo is an AMAZING zoo. Go to the wildlife park and have a blast- it's just an amazing zoo. Plus there's Sea World and so many other wonderful attractions in SD. Don't skip it! :)

[Jenni]

I know I blabbed on here already, but I'm not sure if anyone mentioned this - you can buy a 2-day park hopper, and at the end of the day if you decide you want to come back they will GRACIOUSLY take your money and let you upgrade to a 3-day. You just go to the main street bank (or guest relations at DCA) and pay the difference.

[Christina Baglivi Tinglof]

An Angelino here. The beach at the end of Ocean Park Boulevard in Santa Monica is very nice. Pretty clean, good parking. But personally, we love San Diego. Very laid back, peaceful. Our favorite beach is Torrey Pines State Beach. Nestled beneath limestone cliffs, it's beautiful. Have a great trip!

[amanda]

MUST DO SAN DEIGO ZOO. Best in the world! I could give more SD info but I'm reading late due to a short to Midwest and still havent caught up on my vaction no sleep, big fun, want to trow myself a fit bc were home now and low and behold the revolt over non vaction mode has me dizzy.

SD is a must. Mexican food GREAT! N. Parks amazing.

2 days is plenty at Disney 30 miles each day at least of walking, heat, lines and crakeyness. =BIG FUN

[Shannon]

That is actually *really* good to know.  Thank you!

[Christine]

As a SoCal resident I'll go ahead a weigh in here.

First, It's a little more complicated than that. 40 ends in Barstow, about 200 miles shy of the Pacific Ocean and officially the middle of nowhere, also, where I lived for 9 years before moving to the other side of the pass for school. Which brings up the next point...

When driving around here, carry gum. There are a lot of mountain ranges, and thus altitude changes, which wreak havoc on one's eardrums.

Two days is enough to get a sense of Disney and California Adventure provided you don't even try to see everything. That would take weeks. In California Adventure, make sure you see the Alladin show; it is pretty amazing and should entertain even the smallest once it gets going. Ride the roller coaster (California Screaming?); it has music that goes along with the ride and plays from a speaker behind your head. Go to Soarin' over California too; it's like IMAX but better and is exactly what the name implies. Wonder around and look at the sights too. You should be able to do all that in about half a day. Oh, I don't like it because I don't like freefalling, but if that is your cup'o'tea, Tower of Terror is pretty awesome.
At Disney, you must ride Space Mountain, Indiana Jones, and Pirates of the Caribbean. If they do Fantasmic, that is also a requirement. Star Tours is also fun. The rides in Fantasy Land are really cool; make sure to go there earlyish since they close that part of the park to do the fireworks.