Heavens

Have a long weekend. We usually do San Diego. LOVE San Diego but thought it might be fun to explore somewhere else. Any thoughts? We have two older teens. Might be our last 4th together for a while, OD is going off to college in Sept. We are open to different ways to spend two or three nights together.

hsv

Heavens,

as you love San Diego, I presume you like being by a beach with also some alternative activities on hand.
Thus, Santa Barbara might be worth looking into. There are a couple of nice enough beaches (though not as good as S.D., as there often is some tar on the beach that takes some effort to rub it off your skin), a lovely town and very relaxing hinterland with the Wine Country of Santa Ynez Valley being just a half hour drive away. The latter in itself would make for a lovely day's excursion tasting here and there and having a picknick or nice lunch somwhere around Los Olivos e.g.

Personally, I'd also consider L.A. as it offers a magnitude of choices - including beach life, world class museums and architecture, great dining options of all ethnicities and even options for exploring nature such as hiking or boating.

Trying to answer the question I start to realize how hard it is, as SoCal is such a beautiful region in itself that limiting the opportunities is almost impossible !
Have a happy Easter
hsv

Heavens

Yes, I was thinking about LA. Or even Newport Beach or Dana Point. Some kind of resort that isn't $400 a night would be nice. With a nice pool. Maybe there will be other ideas. Thanks.

Barbara

Heavens, come back to San Diego! Who will be here to watch the fireworks over the Bay if you don't come?

Heavens

You know, Barbara, it is tempting. We had such a great time last year staying downtown SD. It was perfect for 4th of July. We had the Gaslamp and all the shops (appealed to teens) and movie theaters, great restaurants, nice walking areas along the bay, the Marina, the Midway, and Petco Park. What more do you need. And we loved our hotel, the Marriott Marina. And of course watching four to five fireworks displays at one time. Will be hard to beat that.

BUT, I live for the new experience. Would really like to have a different 4th. We have good friends that do exactly the same thing when they travel, every year. Me, us, we like to explore new areas. Keeps life interesting, IMO.

But, if nothing better pops up, might show up in SD. It is cooler there than about any place I can think of that time of year. Might even be raining the way this year has gone for So Cal.

Barbara

But it's lovely today,Heavens. Real So. Cal weather. Blue skies, warm temps and NO RAIN! Just in time for our high school's annual track & field invitational.

mpf

If you decide on LA, be sure to include the July Fourth Fireworks Spectacular at the Hollywood Bowl in your plans - July 2, 3, and 4th. Not to be missed!

rjw_lgb_ca

With teens, how about watching fireworks from the beach in Huntington Beach? I think they also shoot them off in Laguna Beach. Lots to do before and after the shows.

I always watch them from the beach in my hometown (Long Beach) and, as they're going off from the decks of the Queen Mary, I can also see them being shot down in HB and somewhere the other side of the Palos Verde Peninsula. I love it.