Please comment on our California trip plans!

[KarenB]

Hi! This June DH, myself, and DS 17 will be heading to California. I was at DL in 1978 and DH and I drove through Southern California in 1985. We will be spending 5 nights at Grand Californian then 3 night at Coronado del Mar. Could you take a look at our plans so far and add any commnets or suggestions? DS is a great traveler and enjoys vacations. He is also very into film and movies and hiking. I LOVE the beach, surfing areas, and hiking. DH enjoys it all!

Saturday:fly into San Deigo, drive to DL, check into GC
Sunday-Thursday: 2 days at DL, one day at Universal, one day driving to Hollywood or Burbank area (not sure where is best)
Thursday-get up early and take our time driving along the beach to San Diego, check into Coronado del MAr
Friday and Saturday- no plans yet-any suggestions
Sunday-early return flight home

I know it will be a wonderful trip! I have heard a lot of negative comments about Hollywood but I feel we are so close we HAVE to at least drive there. Thanks for any suggestions or comments,
Karen

 

[amjt660]

Hi Karen
I have done the So Cal trip twice now (Aug 05 and 06). Both times did similar to what you are doing (except fly into LAX and out of SD).
Your plan looks great to me.
Last year we did the beach drive down the coast by starting at Long Beach. We toured the Queen Mary (expensive but cool) and drove part way down the PCH before jumping on the interstate.
Hollywood is not much of a day, just a quick walk around for me. Do not do it at night (the movie Pretty Women is very acurate from what I have been told)
Going through Beverly Hills and checking out a few stores on Rodeo drive was fun.
In San Diego the Zoo is world famous and I enjoyed it. Coming from a cold climate I enjoyed the way the animals live in open air "homes" and the koala's (sp?) are cute.
Last August I turned the big 40 and went to a SD Padres game on my Bday. They were playing the LA Dodgers so it was a charged up atmosphere and fun was had by all.
I have not done it yet but I bet your husband and son would love checking out the Aircraft carriers.
I know you will have a great time
Drew

 

[birkner]

Hi! This June DH, myself, and DS 17 will be heading to California. I was at DL in 1978 and DH and I drove through Southern California in 1985. We will be spending 5 nights at Grand Californian then 3 night at Coronado del Mar. Could you take a look at our plans so far and add any commnets or suggestions? DS is a great traveler and enjoys vacations. He is also very into film and movies and hiking. I LOVE the beach, surfing areas, and hiking. DH enjoys it all!

Saturday:fly into San Deigo, drive to DL, check into GC
Sunday-Thursday: 2 days at DL, one day at Universal, one day driving to Hollywood or Burbank area (not sure where is best)
Thursday-get up early and take our time driving along the beach to San Diego, check into Coronado del MAr
Friday and Saturday- no plans yet-any suggestions
Sunday-early return flight home

I know it will be a wonderful trip! I have heard a lot of negative comments about Hollywood but I feel we are so close we HAVE to at least drive there. Thanks for any suggestions or comments,
Karen

1. What to do in Hollywood:
Another poster had a great suggestion on what to do in Hollywood and it is the same thing we did when we brought our GK's to LA to go to Hollywood and Universal Studios.

If you are driving, park at the Hollywood & Highland Center. Take the elevators to the street level, and walk to the sidewalk. You're now on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Go right (west) about 200 feet. You're now in front of Grauman's Chinese Theatre. See celebrities' handprints and footprints.

Walk across the street. You're at the El Capitan theatre. See a movie and stage show if you have time. Go next store to the Disney Soda Fountain and have ice cream.

Return to the Hollywood & Highland Center. Buy something and get your parking validated (for a reduced rate). Go to an upper level for a view of the Hollywood sign.

2. From Hollywood to San Diego takes at least two hours. You could drive to Santa Monica from Hollywood which is about 16 miles. Depends on how much time you have, you could lunch in Santa Monica and walk the shopping streets. If you up to driving, you could drive a bit up the coast to Malibu. Malibu has some great beaches. Either way from Santa Monica or Malibu you can take the PCH alll the way to Laguna Beach. Mind you, this makes it an all day drive. If you didn't eat in Santa Monica, there is a great restaurant in Laguna Beach called Las Brisas right on the cliffs above the beach. http://www.lasbrisaslagunabeach.com/ After lunch, hop back on the 5 and drive to Coronado del Mar.

3. Friday, Saturday suggestions: If you are intersted in some of the attractions I mention below, check this site for discouts for both LA and San Diego : http://www.gosandiegocard.com/

Sea World http://www.seaworld.com/SWC/default.aspx

San Diego Zoo http://www.sandiegozoo.org/

Balboa Park and Museums http://www.balboapark.org/

Lunch at the Prado at Balboa Park http://www.balboapark.org/in-the-park/detail.php?OrgID=63

Walk around Old Town http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=663

Check out the shops in Old Town http://www.oldtownsandiegoguide.com/

Have dinner in Old Town at the La Pinata restaurant http://www.lapinataoldtown.com/

Visit the Gaslamp Quarter http://www.gaslamp.org/

Check out Belmont Park. This is in Mission Beach where they have a great beach and plenty of pickup volleyball games on the beach. Also has a great Giant Dipper rollercoaster which is a nostalgic 50 year old coaster.
http://www.giantdipper.com/

Hope this helps.

 

[Tink33]

Are you staying in Corona Del Mar in Orange County, CA; the Hotel del Coronado in Coronado, CA; or somewhere in Del Mar, CA?

 

[KarenB]

Thanks for the suggestions and the links! They helped a lot!

 

[woody73]

. . . Another poster had a great suggestion on what to do in Hollywood . . .

That was me. Happy to help.

Woody