Posted on 12/27/2006 4:56:20 PM PST by Charles Henrickson
Friday morning (Dec. 29), my wife and I and our 11-year-old daughter fly out to Orange County, California, for eight days of vacation. We'll be staying in Santa Ana. I'm looking for some tips, ideas, suggestions on things to do and see.
The people we're staying with live about ten minutes from Disneyland, and they've got a year-round pass we can use. I understand there's a second Disney theme park there now, too--California Adventure?
Our 11-y.o. daughter loves animals and wants to be a marine biologist someday. So we're thinking a day or two in San Diego would be good: San Diego Zoo, Sea World, a harbor whale watch. Any suggestions on that?
Also, it looks like it's about 88 miles from Santa Ana to San Diego. Will traffic be a problem, or can I make it in less than an hour and a half? We're wondering about whether to drive back to Santa Ana or just spend one night at a motel in San Diego.
Sea World and the San Diego Zoo are both wonderful.
Also, take the AmTrak to San Diego, it's an awesome train ride along the beaches. Plus the train station is walking distance to the BBQ place that was in TopGun.
Is there a California, or Southern California, ping list you can ping?
Don't forget LegoLand!
We're staying at a friend's home in Santa Ana, which makes this trip affordable.
And I've got a rental car for a whole week for only $190!
With the good airfares we were able to get, that's the only way this poor parson could afford this trip.
Ping for suggestions for Charles.
Is Legoland something an 11-y.o. would still enjoy? Also, where exactly is it?
Stay in San Diego...that's a real push to go back and forth.
When/if you go to San Diego, take in the shore towns. Follow the Coast Highway (A1A ?)one way. (I-5 saves time but misses all the points of interest). Stop in LaJolla at the LaValencia Hotel, a treasure of Old California. Take the bridge from SD over to Coronado and see the magnificent Coronado Hotel (think Some Like it Hot and other movies were filmed there).
If you don't go to SD, do the closer beach towns, Newport Beach and Laguna Beach. Off of NB is Balboa Island, with a small (inexpensive) ferry that crosses the bay to the other side of NB. On the Coast Hwy is also Corona del Mar between NB and LB.
Of course, you could go in the other direction to Pasadena to watch the Parade of Roses early on New Year's Day, or into LA and do a film studio tour and maybe see the "Homes of the Stars" and/or Santa Monica beach.
It may SEEM warmer than home, but 62 in CA seems very chilly. Below that (which can happen) feels very cold. So pack a few warmer jackets (waterproof is good). Layers does best in CA, as the temp over the day can swing considerably. Look for foggy mornings and nights, so be careful on the roads in the evening/night .. the fog comes in quickly and is really thick.
Plenty to see there ... have a wonderful time.
If you have lots of time I would suggest it. It's a lot more fun than SeaWorld, IMO.
I think an 11 year old would like it.
It's located in Carlsbad (which is about 30 miles north of San Diego, right off I-5.
I second txroadkill's suggestion to take the coastal train to San Diego
(if time permits). It's a nice ride and ends at the old station in
San Diego (with connection to commuting lines around SD).
Only problem is you'd be without a car for a trip to Coronado Island.
Don't fail to stop and go take a look around the Hotel Del Coronado if
you get there; especially the great dining hall, a masterpiece of
wood construction.
I may be confusing that train with other commuter lines, but I think
you can jump on at a stop on the east side of the Anaheim Angeles field.
Also, it's most of day-trip, but try to get to Simi Valley for Ronald Reagan's
Presidential Library. I was there two years ago and it was very nice.
Now it's up a notch with the addition of an Air Force One.
Plus, you could make a quick stop and tour Santa Monica's pier and
promenade as part of a trip up to Simi Valley.
You can't do all of that in one day, so you'll need to stay at least one night in San Diego - the hotels in Hotel Circle aren't too expensive and are fairly close to everything. I'd recommend the Zoo, Coronado, and Seaport Village/USS Midway in that order - the other things are fine if you have time. Whale watching takes place off the coast and usually involves a 4-5 hour boat trip. I thought Sea World was mediocre at best - the Zoo is much better.
For Orange County, do the full Disneyland experience (2 or 3 days) of course, but also try to visit Newport Beach/Balboa Island. If you have time, get over there early and take the 8:00 am ferry to Catalina Island - a day trip that's well worth it.
Don't listen to the inevitable FR naysayers - SoCal is still a great vacation destination.
You also might want to check out the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. Its a nice aquarium and it is right across from the Queen Mary, on a nice day it is really beautiful. It is only about a 40 minute drive from Santa Ana. Go to http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/ for more info.
The San Diego Zoo is the largest Zoo and takes at least 2 days to see most everything.
In North San Diego is the Wild Animal Park which is like a safari in Africa.
Sea World has much to see.
The Beaches here in San Diego are great, La Jolla and Coronado are beautiful.
Whale watching is great this time of the year.
For the above I would give at least 5 days.
I could give you more on the list.
If you want to see and do, San Diego has far more than your other location.
Probably, we visited Legoland over Thanksgiving weekend and there are rides that an 11 year old would enjoy, imo.
There was some "sticker-shock" upon discovering the price of admission for adults, but we had a fun time (disclaimer: I haven't been to an amusement park since 2000).
http://www.legoland.com/California.htm
let me know how your vacation goes, I just moved to Nevada and am interested in visiting more places in California.
Isn't there a USD marine biology place on the USD campus ..?? I seem to remember something like that - but I can't remember the details.
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