kygirlintx

Will be coming in mid March into LAX. Getting rental and driving to San Diego. Will be leaving LAX around 11am so will have several hours to spare. Any must see's I should see on the drive down?

dbdurand

You could head down the 405 past Long Beach, then route yourself down to the coast at Seal Beach and take the coast road to Laguna Beach where you could stop for lunch, maybe at a restaurant with a nice ocean view. (Come back to the boards for recommendations by others if you want to do something like that.)

Then continue down the coast a little further and cut inland to visit the Mission in San Juan Capistrano. That's the famous one with the song about the swallows. No swallows to speak of anymore, but a good mission to visit.

Then down to San Diego on the 5. Should get there between 4 and 5.

POlson

You could stop in Long Beach and see the Queen Mary and go to the Aquarium of the Pacific. We've also done San Juan Capistrano on drives south and it makes for a nice little visit.

mlgb

San Juan Capistrano, and there is more to the old town sector than just the Mission

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...via-amtrak.cfm

Surfergirl

Definitely San Juan Capistrano -- you'll be there during the month in which the swallows return to the mission. In fact, the swallow return celebration takes place this year on March 19th, so if you happen to be heading down that day, you can join in the festivities!

SeeHag

I had the same thought of lunch in Laguna Beach. I live in Orange County and my husband and I enjoy taking a drive to Laguna on the weekends in the winter even on rainy, cloudy days.

mlgb

The swallows don't come back anymore. There is a freeway bridge that they prefer, apparently (quieter).