What to do while in Southern California in addition to Disneyland??

[VallCopen]

So we have been to Disneyland several times but have not really ever ventured out other than the beach a few times - does anyone have any great ideas?? We have a 12 year old and a 2 year old and have thought about Universal Studios, San Diego Zoo, Sea World or touring Hollywood? We will be traveling in the fall. Are any of those better than the other or is there something even better. We are staying at Disneyland and are already booked so it needs to be a day trip but we have a couple days we can venture out. Thanks for any and all ideas.

 

[LavenderPeach]

I just posted a list for someone else a few days ago so I'll copy and paste it here for you. This is just what I thought of off the top of my head so it's not a complete list but it might give you some ideas. My advice would be to skip hollywood unless you really want to say you've seen it. There's not much to see. Anyway, here's my list:

San Diego - lots of things to do down there including of course the zoo and wild animal park. Also there is the USS Midway aircraft carrier, old town, la jolla, Balboa Park etc.

Long Beach - the Aquarium of the Pacific (not as good as the Monterey Bay Aquarium IMO but closer to DLR), the Queen Mary and there are lots of restaurants around that area.

Pasadena - Lots of shops and restaurants along Colorado Blvd (the street that they have the rose parade on), Huntington Library and Gardens, LA arboretum (not exactly in Pasaden but in that general area), Norton Simon Museum. And the Gamble House which is a great example of an Arts and Crafts style home which is the style the Grand Californian was built in. They have a great tour there.

LA - LA County Museum of Art, La Brea Tar Pits, Griffith Park, the Getty Center, Universal Studios, Studio Tours, television show tapings. I know there are a lot of other things in LA that I'm forgetting.

Palm Springs - It's hot out there but the Aerial Tramway is really interesting and takes you way up into the mountains where it is cooler. They also have lots of restaurants and of course golf.

Catalina Island - you get to take a ferry ride over and then there are shops and restaurants as well as tours (glass bottom boat and submarine tours for example) and I think you can also rent a golf cart to drive around the island. There are other things but I haven't been there in years.

Big Bear Lake and Lake Arrowhead - both are mountain communties with shops and restaurants. Both have lakes but Lake Arrowhead is a private lake so no swimming but you can take a boat tour. I believe Big Bear offers boat tours too.

Oak Glen - Small town in the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains with lots of apple orchards and apple related stuff to buy and taste. They often have entertainment on the weekends, especially in the fall during apple season but also other times of the year. Jullian is also an "apple town" closer to San Diego but I've never been there. There is also Forest Falls close to Oak Glen where you can go hiking in a mountain setting (not as high up as Big Bear but in the same general area).

Dana Point/Laguna Beach - Dana Point has a marina where you can look at the boats and they have shops and restaurants along the water. There's a path you can walk along to look at the water. You can also catch the ferry to Catalina there. Laguna Beach has a beach (obviously) as well as more shops and restaurants. A little further south is San Juan Capistrano which has one of the California Missions.

If you want to go further north there is Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Luis Obispo, Pismo Beach, Solvang (cute little dutch village right here in California!).

I know that was a lot but hopefully it will give you an idea of other things around here to do. And there are a lot more things that I didn't even mention! Whatever you decide to do, have a great time!

 

[VallCopen]

Thanks for all the info, I am kinda leaning towards San Diego (wild animal park & seeing the USS Midway) and then maybe a trip to Long Beach to see the Queen Mary and walk around some docks and look at peoples awesome Yachets (if they have any there).

If you can think of anything that is just a must do - I am all ears.

 

[LavenderPeach]

Thanks for all the info, I am kinda leaning towards San Diego (wild animal park & seeing the USS Midway) and then maybe a trip to Long Beach to see the Queen Mary and walk around some docks and look at peoples awesome Yachets (if they have any there).

If you can think of anything that is just a must do - I am all ears.

I can't think of anything that is a "must do" but if I think of any I'll let you know. Have a fun trip!

 

[VallCopen]

Thanks LavenderPeach!!! Disney trips are always a great time for us.

 

[Sherry E]

I would actually go out on a limb and say that Catalina Island is a must-do. (In fact, I just posted a bit about Catalina with some pictures on the last couple of pages of my Trip Report - see link in signature below.) You can get a very full day trip there and you can catch the Catalina Express out of Long Beach (right where the Queen Mary is). I have done many day trips there (as well as many weekend trips and even a full 8 days once!) and they are very rewarding. Dolphins are almost always spotted on the way to the Island, sometimes whales, and during this time of year there are lots of flying fish nearer to the Island. There is a Cruise to Seal Rocks as well as the Semi-Submersible, and on the Semi-Sub you can potentially see sharks (we did) as well as all kinds of fish (the Semi-Sub is way better than the glass bottom boat). You can take a tour to the interior of the island and see buffalo on the way. The Casino tour gives you a bit of history about the Island and the interior if the Casino is gorgeous. But the quintessential Catalina/Avalon activity is the golf cart rental - SOOOO much fun. You can get 3 hours for the price of 2 and zoom aorund the hills and stop to look out over the panoramic ocean and breathe in the sea air. I would recommend a day trip to Catalina over a day trip to the San Diego parks any day, really. It is both fun and relaxing at the same time.

So check out the last couple of pages of my TR for some stuff about Catalina, and if you like the pictures, I will add more to the TR (I am filling time until the next DLR trip in 2 weeks).

Also, here is the link to the website where you can order your FREE Catalina 2009 Visitors Guide/Vacation Planner (which is magazine-size and width) - I have already turned on several of our fellow DIS-ers to this site and they all ordered their free Guides as well:

http://catalinaislandcacoc.weblinkconnect.com/cwt/External/WCPagesNEW/WCWebInput/WebInputPage.aspx

In the box where it asks what month you are planning on visiting, just pick something soon so they will send the Guide out right away (they are usually pretty fast about it anyway, but they are faster if they think you are arriving soon). Don't be think that you have to stay at least a weekend or it is not worth it to go - you can definitely swing a day trip and get a lot done.

 

[VallCopen]

Catalina looks very fun and relaxing but do you think it is ok with kids? We have a 2 year old and a 12 year old. Can kids walk into the Casino or is it not that type of Casino? Are there lots of places to eat that are kids friendly? Thanks again.

 

[Sherry E]

Catalina looks very fun and relaxing but do you think it is ok with kids? We have a 2 year old and a 12 year old. Can kids walk into the Casino or is it not that type of Casino? Are there lots of places to eat that are kids friendly? Thanks again.

I don't know if you looked at that page of my TR yet (page 26, to be exact) with the Catalina pictures, but I actually added many more photos to that same page after I posted here yesterday, so there are several posts' worth of Catalina pictures. But if you looked in the evening then you probably saw everything.

The 'Casino' in Avalon is not that type of Casino. It is called that for historical and architectural purposes, but it is not an active Casino with gambling. In fact, in the Big Band days, Benny Goodman and all the big swing bands and singers in that genre played at the Avalon Ballroom. It is really pretty inside. Now it is basically a ballroom that is used for special shows and events. On the Casino tour, they walk you around and show you parts of the Casino that the general public cannot access and they give you history about the building itself and the Island in general. It is supposedly haunted, but who knows about that? It is a cool little tour to do.

I think the kids would like the golf cart - the best thing to do is take an early boat out from Long Beach and grab a bite to eat (there is a great place that used to be called the Pancake Cottage, but now is called the Cottage, and they make good breakfast food), then go to the golf cart rental place right near where the Catalina Express boat docks. That place usually has a rent a golf cart for 2 hours, get the third hour free deal. Even if you just get two hours, it is still fine. Then you get to drive all around up in the hills and down little side street, and get some great photo opportunies overlooking the ocean. You will see the Wrigley Memorial (yes, the chewing gum Wrigley family, who used to owed most of Catalina Island and the Cub practiced on the Island) and you can walk up to the Botanical Garden.

I also think the kids would really enjoy the Semi-Submersible (which is where my fish pictures came from) and if you stay until evening, which I recommend, they would probably love the Flying Fish Tour. If you have never seen a flying fish, that is worth it, as they come out by the hundreds at nighttime, when the tour boat shines a big light on them. The kids would also probably like the Cruise to Seal Rocks, which takes you out to a point where a lot of seals (sea lions mostly) congregate on these rocks in dozens. The Semi-Sub and the Seal Rock tours can be done in the daytime, as can the Casino tour, but the Flying Fish tour only runs in the evening, so I would suggest making a Catalina Express return time (back to Long Beach) for nighttime, after the Flying Fish tour.

Then, once you get back to Long Beach, it will take about 25 minutes to drive back to Anaheim.

There are also tours that take you into the interior of the Island where you can see buffalo (I posted one buffalo shot). Sometimes the buffalo ar right there along the side of the road and sometimes they are way up in the hills. But those inland/interior tours take a big chunk of the day, so those are better to do if you stay overnight or for a coulple of days rather than a one-day trip. But you can easily fit in a golf cart rental, and a few tours and a meal or two all in one day.

As for eating, yes, all the places are kid-friendly! There are walk-up/counter service places (Coney Island West has great chili burgers), there is a Coldstone Creamery, there is even a tiny KFC/Taco Bell (I assume it is still there). There is a small Vons supermarket. THen there are all kinds of good places to eat like Antonio's Pizzeria (great waterside dining and great menu), Busy Bee Cafe, Armstrongs Fish Market, the Cottage, and all kinds of other places. It is very kid-friendly.

I think you all would have a great time!

 

[VallCopen]

Awesome!! Thanks for all the tips.

 

[Sherry E]

Awesome!! Thanks for all the tips.

You're welcome! I see that Lulubelle just posted on another thread that she is going to Catalina on July 31st and staying at the Hotel Metropole (which I think is in a couple of the photos I posted in my TR), so hopefully we will have yet another positive review of Catalina from her once she gets back. Catalina is one of those places where it is hard to take a bad picture because everything is so scenic and beautiful, but I think a lot of people don't realize how great of a trip they can have there. I brought people there who didn't really know or care too much about Catalina beforhand and then they had a blast and were planning separate trips with their families to go back! So sometimes getting people to go there is a task, but once they make the trip they usually love it!

 

[lcasa]

with a 2 year old I have to recommend either the San Diego Zoo or the Wild Animal Park. The former is bigger and there are more things to do in the area ( it's in Balboa Park - there is a cool carousel and kiddie-sized train - and a model train museum , a science museum, an aerospace museum - more than can be done in a couple of days really). The Wild Animal park puts the animals in a more natural setting (no cages ) and is easier to do in less time - but it's isolated in Escondido ( on the way to San Diego ). It is closer to Anaheim.

If you do the zoo get bus tickets- you can get on and off. Otherwise it's a LOT of hilly walking.
There's not much for little ones IMHO at Universal. I've only been to Catalina once - and got sick on the high-speed catamaran, so you might want to use a slower boat with kids. But that definitely turned me off from it a bit.

Don't forget the beaches - lots of threads on that around here.

 

[Sherry E]

I would never have suggested Catalina so strongly if I thought the boat ride was a problem. I have taken that Express from Long Beach to Catalina and back many, many times and have never gotten sick. Some people get sick on boats, some do not. I have one friend who is prone to motion sickness, so she takes Dramamine - problem solved. Otherwise, none of my other friends have gotten sick and the boat is not that fast. They call it high speed because it gets you to the Island in about an hour and it is faster than the old Catalina Cruises boat was, but the Cruises boat (the slow boat) was actually much worse for people who get seasick because you could feel all the rocking due to how slow it was. The Express ride is fairly smooth and meant to be smooth. I also suggested Catalina because Long Beach - where the Express dock is - is much closer to Anaheim than San Diego is, so the drive to and fro will be easier.

San Diego is beautiful, but I really think you need more than one day to experience the Zoo and Sea World or the Wild Animal Park. You need at least a weekend. Much of Catalina can easily be done in a day, and it is very lovely.

 

[VallCopen]

To be honest my biggest concern with Catalina is the trip over. My husband hates water, can't swim (a lick), and does get motion sickness to some degree. We live on a Lake and never get to go out because of this (we don't even own a boat). I really want to see Catalina, it was the first trip my mother took anywhere, she has since past away (at 50) and so it kinda would be neat to go there for that reason all in itself.

I am really thinking of the zoo and beach too. My 2 year old is loving animals (love love loves) right now and so for her that would be a huge hit. I am so confused on what to do??? Well whatever we choose I know we will have fun. If we can't make a decision we will just stay at Disneyland and really take things slow and enjoy the resort, I guess we can't go wrong..

Thanks everyone for all the opinions.

 

[Sherry E]

To be honest my biggest concern with Catalina is the trip over. My husband hates water, can't swim (a lick), and does get motion sickness to some degree. We live on a Lake and never get to go out because of this (we don't even own a boat). I really want to see Catalina, it was the first trip my mother took anywhere, she has since past away (at 50) and so it kinda would be neat to go there for that reason all in itself.

I am really thinking of the zoo and beach too. My 2 year old is loving animals (love love loves) right now and so for her that would be a huge hit. I am so confused on what to do??? Well whatever we choose I know we will have fun. If we can't make a decision we will just stay at Disneyland and really take things slow and enjoy the resort, I guess we can't go wrong..

Thanks everyone for all the opinions.

I am not much of a swimmer either. You don't need to swim to go to Catalina! As for the boat, give DH some Dramamine and he will be fine. See, I was suggesting Catalina to you not even knowing about the tie-in with your mom, but now that you mention that, it tells me it is meant to be! BUT if you decide to go to San Diego, you will have fun. Just realize that driving there and back will take a BIG chunk of the day - this is why San Diego activities are really better done over a couple of days and not just one. It at least requires an overnight stay. Even going to the L.A. Zoo would take less time in driving than San Diego.

And if you decide to just stay at DLR for that extra day, that may be the best idea yet! Sometimes it can be too hectic to break away from one plan and get into the mode of another plan. There are always things to do at DLR even if you think you have done mostly everything! I never have enough time at DLR, and I always end up missing things.

 

[DizGirl20]

Hi! I have 2 girls, 9 & 11 yrs. Not sure if you have boys or girls (see shopping recommendations)...
We just got back from 10 days in SoCal. Here's a list of what we did:

San Diego (5 days)
Old Town Trolley Tours - stop and visit Old Town
SD Zoo
Gaslamp District - GREAT shopping and restaurants
USS Midway Aircraft Carrier (LOVED IT!)
Seaport Village (boutique shopping - they have a great kite store)

La Jolla (5 days)
Legoland
La Jolla Caves
La Jolla Shopping
Birch Aquarium
Point Loma (FANTASTIC VIEWS of SD)

Let me know if you have any questions. I never thought I would love someplace as much as WDW but our trip to SoCal was close! Enjoy!

 

[LavenderPeach]

I don't know if you looked at that page of my TR yet (page 26, to be exact) with the Catalina pictures, but I actually added many more photos to that same page after I posted here yesterday, so there are several posts' worth of Catalina pictures. But if you looked in the evening then you probably saw everything.

The 'Casino' in Avalon is not that type of Casino. It is called that for historical and architectural purposes, but it is not an active Casino with gambling. In fact, in the Big Band days, Benny Goodman and all the big swing bands and singers in that genre played at the Avalon Ballroom. It is really pretty inside. Now it is basically a ballroom that is used for special shows and events. On the Casino tour, they walk you around and show you parts of the Casino that the general public cannot access and they give you history about the building itself and the Island in general. It is supposedly haunted, but who knows about that? It is a cool little tour to do.

I think the kids would like the golf cart - the best thing to do is take an early boat out from Long Beach and grab a bite to eat (there is a great place that used to be called the Pancake Cottage, but now is called the Cottage, and they make good breakfast food), then go to the golf cart rental place right near where the Catalina Express boat docks. That place usually has a rent a golf cart for 2 hours, get the third hour free deal. Even if you just get two hours, it is still fine. Then you get to drive all around up in the hills and down little side street, and get some great photo opportunies overlooking the ocean. You will see the Wrigley Memorial (yes, the chewing gum Wrigley family, who used to owed most of Catalina Island and the Cub practiced on the Island) and you can walk up to the Botanical Garden.

I also think the kids would really enjoy the Semi-Submersible (which is where my fish pictures came from) and if you stay until evening, which I recommend, they would probably love the Flying Fish Tour. If you have never seen a flying fish, that is worth it, as they come out by the hundreds at nighttime, when the tour boat shines a big light on them. The kids would also probably like the Cruise to Seal Rocks, which takes you out to a point where a lot of seals (sea lions mostly) congregate on these rocks in dozens. The Semi-Sub and the Seal Rock tours can be done in the daytime, as can the Casino tour, but the Flying Fish tour only runs in the evening, so I would suggest making a Catalina Express return time (back to Long Beach) for nighttime, after the Flying Fish tour.

Then, once you get back to Long Beach, it will take about 25 minutes to drive back to Anaheim.

There are also tours that take you into the interior of the Island where you can see buffalo (I posted one buffalo shot). Sometimes the buffalo ar right there along the side of the road and sometimes they are way up in the hills. But those inland/interior tours take a big chunk of the day, so those are better to do if you stay overnight or for a coulple of days rather than a one-day trip. But you can easily fit in a golf cart rental, and a few tours and a meal or two all in one day.

As for eating, yes, all the places are kid-friendly! There are walk-up/counter service places (Coney Island West has great chili burgers), there is a Coldstone Creamery, there is even a tiny KFC/Taco Bell (I assume it is still there). There is a small Vons supermarket. THen there are all kinds of good places to eat like Antonio's Pizzeria (great waterside dining and great menu), Busy Bee Cafe, Armstrongs Fish Market, the Cottage, and all kinds of other places. It is very kid-friendly.

I think you all would have a great time!

Thanks Sherry for the detailed info on Catalina! I've only been over there once when I was in high school and we were staying at a camp on the other side of the island so although we took a trip to Avalon, it was different than if we were spending the whole time doing touristy things. I really want to go back sometime but the price of the boat ride over is what keeps me away. We'll have to put it on our list of places we want to go see.

 

[VallCopen]

Hi! I have 2 girls, 9 & 11 yrs. Not sure if you have boys or girls (see shopping recommendations)...
We just got back from 10 days in SoCal. Here's a list of what we did:

San Diego (5 days)
Old Town Trolley Tours - stop and visit Old Town
SD Zoo
Gaslamp District - GREAT shopping and restaurants
USS Midway Aircraft Carrier (LOVED IT!)
Seaport Village (boutique shopping - they have a great kite store)

La Jolla (5 days)
Legoland
La Jolla Caves
La Jolla Shopping
Birch Aquarium
Point Loma (FANTASTIC VIEWS of SD)

Let me know if you have any questions. I never thought I would love someplace as much as WDW but our trip to SoCal was close! Enjoy!

DizGirl20 looks like busy trip. I am about split on two trips right now - it is between Catalina and San Diego Zoo? My 12 year old daughter would like Catalina but our 2 year old daughter would love the zoo. (She would go nuts at the zoo) My husband is a big La Jolla fan (I think he likes to dream) and my older daughter is a shopaholic. How was the shopping in La Jolla? What is Point Loma? My biggest concern with SD zoo is being able to do it in a day with the drive from Anaheim? We are also starting to think we shouldn't do anything but Disney on this trip and then maybe plan a trip to the SD area another time when we can spend 4-5 days there.

I noticed you did not list Disneyland for your trip? Did you go at all? Have you been before? We have never done WDW and are excited to try it out but we will have to wait 3-5 years when are little one can fly that distance.
Thanks for all the information - sounds like you had a great trip.

 

[VallCopen]

Thanks Sherry for the detailed info on Catalina! I've only been over there once when I was in high school and we were staying at a camp on the other side of the island so although we took a trip to Avalon, it was different than if we were spending the whole time doing touristy things. I really want to go back sometime but the price of the boat ride over is what keeps me away. We'll have to put it on our list of places we want to go see.

LavenderPeach I was wondering what the boat ride did cost? Is that a round trip price? Thanks...

 

[LavenderPeach]

LavenderPeach I was wondering what the boat ride did cost? Is that a round trip price? Thanks...

I just looked it up again. The Catalina Express is $66.50 for a roundtrip ticket for adults and $51 for kids 2-11, except if you take it from Dana point it is $68.50 and $53 which is unfortunate that it is more expensive there since I like Dana Point (used to live near there) but that's Orange County for you.

 

[Sherry E]

As far as I know, unless it has changed, Dana Point and also the Newport Beach Catalina Flyer have very limited departures and arrivals. San Pedro and Long Beach have the most boat departures and arrivals throughout the day, which is why I always suggest those - there is more flexibility as to when to leave and when to come back. I wouldn't even bother with Dana Point, even if it were cheaper. Long Beach is the way to go from Anaheim, I think.