Need Help (Info on visiting Reagan Library)

South40 | 11/2/05

[South40]

Am planning a Thanksgiving week trip to the Reagan Library with family visiting from Florida (I'm in San Diego) and would appreciate any help anyone could offer. Where to stay, what to do, what not to miss, that sort of thing.

Thanks!

[combat_boots]

The Getty museum. A drive by the natioinal forest north of Malibu. The mission at Santa Barbara.

[South40]

Thanks Boots! Is Santa Barbara close enough to the library to consider a stay there?

[Publius]

For four years in the mid-Nineties I lived across Madera Rd. from the library in the Wood Ranch section of Simi Valley.

I would recommend staying in Simi Valley or Thousand Oaks.

At the library, enjoy the view of the valley from where the piece of Berlin Wall is displayed. And say a prayer at the gravesite.

[South40]

Thanks Publius. The gravesite is our number 1 reason for going so will do.

[avital2]

don't forget that Reagan's Air Force One is there now and i understand the installation is something to see. don't miss it. i also would recommend staying in Westlake Village/Thousand Oaks just a few minutes away and very pleasant.

[South40]

Thanks! I'm wondering; is Santa Barbara too far of a drive to the library? Would like to stay near the ocean if possible.

[Ben Mugged]

We just went last Saturday and had a wonderful time. Take a digital camera but they will not allow flash inside the Museum or any sort of photography inside Air Force 1. The grounds and rose garden replica are a must see. Spend time in the oval office and do not rush through it. Do not get there right after opening or the lines for tickets will be long. They are shorter after they have been open for an hour or so. Use the Docents, they are very helpful. The upper parking lots fill up very fast and you end up having to park outside on a hill. The walk from there looks daunting. Don't plan to take large bags, portable seats, or backpacks inside. If the wind is coming from the ocean it can be rather cool.

[Who dat?]

http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/hours.html I recently traveled from Irvine station to San Diego (main Santa Fe station – not “Old Town”) via AMTRAK.

I liked the trip, but I like any trip where I can look around and not drive.

Problem is that it costs $16/per each way – so costs $64 for travel alone for two people round trip… plus parking is a b!tch at Irvine station. [Go to Tustin and ride MetroLink to Irvine, would be my solution, if you’re going that direction…]).

The link has the address and hours. You *can* get there via public trans, I understand. But it’ll be expensive and you might just want to bite the bullet and drive up. That’s just my opinion though.

[South40]

Thanks Ben!

You've been a great help. :-)

[Publius]

Ping.

Do Southern California FReepers have a network for people who want to visit the Reagan Library?

[Michael.SF.]

Santa Barbara is a good hour and half to two hours from the Library.

You would be in for a long day to start in San Diego, visit the library and then continue on to Santa Barbara.

You might also consider stopping at Nixon's Library, it is off the 57 and 91 about 6-8 miles from I-5.

As an alternative to SB, you could consider staying in Ventura (30 minutes from SB) at the PierPont. Close to the ocean (have to walk under freeway), and then go into SB the next day.

I do not know the area very well near the Reagan Library, sorry.

[Ben Mugged]

Santa Barbara is about 75 miles away. Traffic between Santa Barbara and Ventura can be very bad at times even on weekends.

[Who dat?]

Here's another link regarding public transportation and the Reagan Library:

http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/publictransit.htm

[South40]

Thanks Who!

The train sounds like a great trip but there will be 6 of us so we'll probably drive.

Thanks for the link!

[VOA]

A side trip to the town of Ventura is nice...small-town feel, you can
walk on the beach, see the lights of about 5-7 off-shore oil derricks after
sunset, even has a nice hotel on the beach (even if it's a bit pricey).
And it's the hometown of Earl Stanley Gardner, the lawyer who created
the character Perry Mason.
Ventura is just a nice, lowered blood pressure escape from the over-stimulation
of a place like Los Angeles.

[South40]

Thanks Michael. That answers one of my main questions regarding a stay in Santa Barbara. Perhaps we'll go there another day.

Having lived in Huntington Beach I have been to the Nixon library; in fact I've worked all over Yorba Linda and Orange County.

Thanks again!

[South40]

Thanks VOA! We'll consider Ventura. I like the low blood pressure part. :-)

[Fledermaus]

It sure is. I lived in Ventura and the surrounding area (Ojai, SB, Oxnard) when I was a boy in the 60's.

[kstewskis]

don't forget that Reagan's Air Force One is there now and i understand the installation is something to see. don't miss it.

Absolutely!

My friends were just at the Air Force One exibit last week, it's awesome! You can easily spend all day at that library.

You can stay in Ventura (right on the ocean) for a quite a bit less than Santa Barbara...it's about 30-45 min tops from the Reagan Library. Santa Barbara is about 30 minutes north on Ventura.

Have a great time!