Los Angeles Museums & OC beaches
Jun 1st, 2008, 09:52 PM
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Los Angeles Museums & OC beaches
We will be visiting Southern California in two weeks; our kids are 12, 10 and 7.
The primary purpose of the trip is Disneyland etc, but I have built enough time in to do some other activities. I had planned on a day to LaBrea and also the Natural History Museum near USC.
Apparently the dinosaur exhibit at NHM is closed for expansion, although you can watch scientists working on a recently discovered T Rex. Has anyone been there recently and can you see very much in this working lab? My daughter especially is very interested in paleontology.
Alternatively, I was thinking about doing LaBrea and the Griffith Observatory... How is that since their big remodel? And how hard is it to park at Griffith?
Finally, we were thinking of taking them to a beach for an afternoon. Since we'll be staying in Anaheim, I am thinking of an Orange County beach, but am less familiar with those. We went to Huntington once and really liked it. Any other recommendations?
Thank you for any and all advice!
The primary purpose of the trip is Disneyland etc, but I have built enough time in to do some other activities. I had planned on a day to LaBrea and also the Natural History Museum near USC.
Apparently the dinosaur exhibit at NHM is closed for expansion, although you can watch scientists working on a recently discovered T Rex. Has anyone been there recently and can you see very much in this working lab? My daughter especially is very interested in paleontology.
Alternatively, I was thinking about doing LaBrea and the Griffith Observatory... How is that since their big remodel? And how hard is it to park at Griffith?
Finally, we were thinking of taking them to a beach for an afternoon. Since we'll be staying in Anaheim, I am thinking of an Orange County beach, but am less familiar with those. We went to Huntington once and really liked it. Any other recommendations?
Thank you for any and all advice!
Jun 2nd, 2008, 02:08 AM
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When my kids were that age, they liked the beach at Corona Del Mar. I also remember a beach we used to call "little corona" off of Pacific Highway just past MacArthur Blvd. My sister always takes my nephew down there. If you want to do something fun, you might think of giving them surf lessons. I always arrange that for my out of town guests. My nephew takes them in corona del mar from a place called "Corkys".
I haven't been to the La Brea in about 5 years but my kids used to like it. Something special going on now in Orange County which your kids and you might enjoy is the exhibit of the Terra Cotta Warriors from China at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana (very near D-land).It just opened up about 10 days ago and is considered the largest showing ever of the Warriors in the US. If your daughter's love of paleontology has an archeology component, she might be fascinated by the exhibit. Everyone gets an audiotour which I liked alot when I saw it last week. The Discovery Science Center is just down the street and my kids love that museum so you could combine the two. The biggest thing is you don't want to spend a lot of time on the freeways so staying in OC might be a little bit more relaxing.
Although you didn't mention it, Legoland is one of my kids' favorites and is about an hour away from D-land. They just opened a Pirate Section which my daughter loved last week. Both the Warriors and Legoland are something you can't see anywhere else in the US.
I haven't been to the La Brea in about 5 years but my kids used to like it. Something special going on now in Orange County which your kids and you might enjoy is the exhibit of the Terra Cotta Warriors from China at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana (very near D-land).It just opened up about 10 days ago and is considered the largest showing ever of the Warriors in the US. If your daughter's love of paleontology has an archeology component, she might be fascinated by the exhibit. Everyone gets an audiotour which I liked alot when I saw it last week. The Discovery Science Center is just down the street and my kids love that museum so you could combine the two. The biggest thing is you don't want to spend a lot of time on the freeways so staying in OC might be a little bit more relaxing.
Although you didn't mention it, Legoland is one of my kids' favorites and is about an hour away from D-land. They just opened a Pirate Section which my daughter loved last week. Both the Warriors and Legoland are something you can't see anywhere else in the US.
Jun 2nd, 2008, 08:25 AM
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If you buy a family membership to the NHM, it also gets you admission to the Page Museum/La Brea Tarpits. This might be the more economical way to go. I haven't see the T-Rex lab, so I can't help you there.
Also in Exposition Park is the California Science Center, which has lots of hands-on exhibits for kids, and an IMAX theatre. www.californiasciencecenter.org/
We like the Griffith Observatory for the views of L.A. If your kids are interested in astronomy, it will be great for them. I haven't tried to park there. We went when the mandatory shuttles were still in use. Also in Griffith Park is the L.A. Zoo, and the Autry Museum of Western Heritage. www.autry-museum.org/
Also of interest on another day might be the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. www.aquariumofpacific.org/
You could do the Tar Pits/NHM during the day, and plan your visit to the observatory around sunset. This way you can see the views of L.A. during the day, at sunset, and the twinkling lights at night. The best part will be that the traffic getting back down to Anaheim will be much lighter after dark.
Also in Exposition Park is the California Science Center, which has lots of hands-on exhibits for kids, and an IMAX theatre. www.californiasciencecenter.org/
We like the Griffith Observatory for the views of L.A. If your kids are interested in astronomy, it will be great for them. I haven't tried to park there. We went when the mandatory shuttles were still in use. Also in Griffith Park is the L.A. Zoo, and the Autry Museum of Western Heritage. www.autry-museum.org/
Also of interest on another day might be the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. www.aquariumofpacific.org/
You could do the Tar Pits/NHM during the day, and plan your visit to the observatory around sunset. This way you can see the views of L.A. during the day, at sunset, and the twinkling lights at night. The best part will be that the traffic getting back down to Anaheim will be much lighter after dark.
Jun 2nd, 2008, 02:30 PM
#5
Pretty much what lvk said. The warriors is quite a pricey ticket and I'm not sure everyone that age will appreciate it.
BTW, not a real museum, but the Cerritos Library has a life size (replica) of a T Rex skeleton in the children's library. Also a full-height salt water aquarium when I enter. And over 100 PC terminals for the internet (free to public). It isn't that hard to get there from Anaheim, either.
http://www.ci.cerritos.ca.us/library/library.html
BTW, not a real museum, but the Cerritos Library has a life size (replica) of a T Rex skeleton in the children's library. Also a full-height salt water aquarium when I enter. And over 100 PC terminals for the internet (free to public). It isn't that hard to get there from Anaheim, either.
http://www.ci.cerritos.ca.us/library/library.html
Jun 3rd, 2008, 10:19 PM
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Wow, there are a lot of good ideas here.
itsv--
The terra cotta warriors do sound cool, I will have a look. Does Corona del Mar have some beachy little cafes nearby? If not, is there a public bathroom?
El Swainer, the same questions for Newport Beach?
itsv, I want to go back up to Los Angeles because we did live there for a couple of years and I really enjoyed taking people to LaBrea...you're right though, it is a trek and we don't want to do it everyday. We're thinking of at least one day up to Los Angeles being Saturday since there wouldn't be the daily commute traffic.
Legoland is kind of a disagreement. We went for two days last time and really liked it, when the kids were 8, 5 and 4. But my oldest is now 12 and very not interested. Also, we have a 5 day-pass to Disneyland so in my mind that's more amusement park than a child could need. But my youngest is begging and my husband is caving. We're thinking of maybe splitting up for a day. I guess my pre-teen and I could spend the day at California Adventure.
lvk, thanks for the timing ideas on LaBrea and the observatory. I didn't really think about going in the evening, since most planetariums I've been to were just inside shows. I also didn't know about the aquarium.
Thanks, everyone!
itsv--
The terra cotta warriors do sound cool, I will have a look. Does Corona del Mar have some beachy little cafes nearby? If not, is there a public bathroom?
El Swainer, the same questions for Newport Beach?
itsv, I want to go back up to Los Angeles because we did live there for a couple of years and I really enjoyed taking people to LaBrea...you're right though, it is a trek and we don't want to do it everyday. We're thinking of at least one day up to Los Angeles being Saturday since there wouldn't be the daily commute traffic.
Legoland is kind of a disagreement. We went for two days last time and really liked it, when the kids were 8, 5 and 4. But my oldest is now 12 and very not interested. Also, we have a 5 day-pass to Disneyland so in my mind that's more amusement park than a child could need. But my youngest is begging and my husband is caving. We're thinking of maybe splitting up for a day. I guess my pre-teen and I could spend the day at California Adventure.
lvk, thanks for the timing ideas on LaBrea and the observatory. I didn't really think about going in the evening, since most planetariums I've been to were just inside shows. I also didn't know about the aquarium.
Thanks, everyone!
Jun 6th, 2008, 07:03 AM
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5alive,
I'll ask my sister about Corona since she goes there alot. My soon to be 12 year old just went to a bday party at Legoland and loved it. They have opened a lot of new rides and exhibits lately geared I think to the 10-13 yr. old child. It will never be Disneyland, but I like that fact about Legoland the short lines. With your children the ages that they are, they might like the surf lessons. It is something I always arrange for out of town guests. You could take your 12 year to Laguana Beach (never can spell it right) There are lots of shops etc she/he might like. With the pass, it does make sense to do California Adventure.
I'll ask my sister about Corona since she goes there alot. My soon to be 12 year old just went to a bday party at Legoland and loved it. They have opened a lot of new rides and exhibits lately geared I think to the 10-13 yr. old child. It will never be Disneyland, but I like that fact about Legoland the short lines. With your children the ages that they are, they might like the surf lessons. It is something I always arrange for out of town guests. You could take your 12 year to Laguana Beach (never can spell it right) There are lots of shops etc she/he might like. With the pass, it does make sense to do California Adventure.
Jun 6th, 2008, 10:18 PM
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Hey, I did some looking at all the beaches here. The pictures of Corona del Mar were gorgeous, as were Newport.
With many of these beaches, I'm not always sure which one you all went to. Multiple beaches are listed for Corona del Mar. Newport Beach also includes Balboa on some websites.
On another note, the zoetrope looks very, very cool. We did see Aladdin 4 years ago but may see it again.
With many of these beaches, I'm not always sure which one you all went to. Multiple beaches are listed for Corona del Mar. Newport Beach also includes Balboa on some websites.
On another note, the zoetrope looks very, very cool. We did see Aladdin 4 years ago but may see it again.
Jun 9th, 2008, 08:33 AM
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We went to the Natural History Museum last Friday. There is a bit of remodeling going on and with the dinosaur part closed not quite as great. But, my son still loves it. They have revamped the children's area. If you decide to go, check out the website and see if you can do any of their special programs. I might combine with the Science Center next door.
Jun 9th, 2008, 08:58 AM
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For a beach in OC, check out the Historic District at Crystal Cove State Park located between Newport Beach and Laguna,
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=644. There's a little beachside cafe (typically packed) and parking across the highway at the Los Trancos lot. You can either walk under the highway or take the Beachcomber shuttle ($).
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=644. There's a little beachside cafe (typically packed) and parking across the highway at the Los Trancos lot. You can either walk under the highway or take the Beachcomber shuttle ($).
Jun 18th, 2008, 12:34 PM
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Thank you all so much....we had a great trip and I am starting my trip report at: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=35138240
One thing I did decide from all your input is that there are a lot of great beaches in Orange County and I'm sorry I didn't go to more of them when I lived there. We might try to go to San Diego in the next few years, and if so will include Laguna then.
One thing I did decide from all your input is that there are a lot of great beaches in Orange County and I'm sorry I didn't go to more of them when I lived there. We might try to go to San Diego in the next few years, and if so will include Laguna then.
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