The drive to San Diego via The San Diego Freeway, Interstate 405/5 is beautiful and it is direct, not back road. It would be quite a bit out of the way to try to go inland and IMHO might not as interesting for the boys. From most anywhere in the LA area it should be around a 2 hour drive via 405/5. Things to do that come to mind are the Zoo, Sea World, Old Town and perhaps Mission Beach/Mission Bay if it is warm enough. Ii depends how long many days you will have. The Zoo and Sea World are probably all day places.

It is about a 2 hour drive, except in rush hour. There's two places I can think of to stop at along the way -- the first being Legoland in Carlsbad or Mission San Juan Capistrano.

Here, children in the 4th grade (about 9 years) have their California history studies, and it inevitably involves taking the kids to at least one California mission. San Juan Capistrano is particularly kid friendly.

What part of LA are you going to?

Los Angeles is big. Please be more specific about the area that your going. We could help a lot more.

As noted, it's only a 2 hour drive. Leave San Diego about 8:30 in the morning and you shouldn't run into a lot of traffic.

The Zoo, Sea World, Old Town and Mission Bay are already in San Diego and the Zoo and Sea World are all day events.

I think Lego Land is pretty much an all day or at least 1/2 a day thing.

It's a freeway and that's as pretty as it gets. Just don't get caught in rush hour.



Good idea about the missions. I imagine if you are already leaving from SD, you've seen the beaches.

We typically drive straight through but we have stopped for lunch and a little walkabout in San Juan Capistrano a couple of times.

You can take the commuter lane - normlly fairly smooth sailing outside of commute hours - but if there is a big traffic tieup/accident, etc - on the 405 - (listen to AM 1070 for frequent traffic reports) - head inland on the 210 or 10 and down to SD via the 15 (usually smooth cruising - 10 mph faster on average).

When you get to Escondido (25 miles north of SD) you can go to Safari Park - formerly called Wild Animal park. You and the lads will love it.

There's no point in taking the 15 to LA if she's going to the Getty. Appropriate if she's going to the Tar Pits.

Sorry, I mis typed. The 15 isn't appropriate for going to the Tar Pits. Although that might make an interesting otbp for the kids.

Need coffee.

There isn't any easy bakc roads route all the way, but you could go Escondido, visit Safari Park, then into the gold mining and apple growing town of Julian on SR 78 then stay on it back to Temecula and all the way to Oceanside and cathc I-5 there.