Paula....we've already booked the first 3 nights at the catamaran (sp?) hotel in SD. Should we stop in Newport along the way...then what to do the first day we get to SD? We arrive at LAX at 9:00 am. May have to skip burbank although I really wanted to meet the cast of "chuck"

Well as others have said by the time you collect your luggage and get to the car rental it will be between 10:00-10:30. This is assuming everything is on time. Driving LAX to Newport Beach will take about an hour which will get you there for lunch. After lunch continue on down Balboa penninsula to the Fun Zone which your kids would enjoy. You can also take the ferry across to Balboa Island, either with or without the car. Try to leave Newport around 2:30 as Clarkgriswold suggested and head to San Diego. That will take you about 2 hours with moderate traffic. This puts you into your hotel at 4:30 and after checking in, I would just explore Mission Bay. I am sure your kids will be tired after a day of travel and the time change.

If you decide you just want to have lunch in Newport and head to San Diego, you still won't get there until around 3:00. I would just spend the afternoon exploring the beaches and area around Mission Bay. Other options are stopping in Carlsbad to check out the beach there or go down to downtown La Jolla to the cove so your kids can see the seals. Getting in and out of La Jolla can be difficult during rush hour so you could always have dinner there. I think your family will be ready to go to bed early after a day of travel and the fact that you'll be hitting Legoland and Seaworld the next two days.

The only reason I mentioned Carlsbad hotels is because others had mentioned staying there the first night and you seemed interested in that.

I have to disagree with needing to spend two days at Disney. So what if you can't see everything. Go meet the cast of "Chuck" and spend time with your cousin. You can do Disney any time.

It's really important to plan some down time with kids that age. Even thought the water is cold, I can't keep my boys and husband out of it. Lots of people enjoy the CA beaches and water even though it's cold. Skip the Crabcooker and Newport (the kids won't care about the Crabcooker) and head to San Diego, check in to your hotel and spend time exploring San Diego. Explore the tide pools and seals in LaJolla or build sand castles and dig for hermit crabs on Coronado Island.

I do agree with Barbara that you don't have to do two days at Disney. If you get to Disney early, you can see most of it in a day even if it's a long day. If you have the opportunity to meet the cast of "Chuck", I'd take advantage of that.

As far as stopping in Newport, I do think the kids would enjoy the fun zone and I always get a kick out of riding the little ferry across to Balboa. Either way, I wouldn't plan much that first day. Either stop in Newport for a little and then head to San Diego and relax or get to San Diego and explore there.

I think Clark Griswold has the plan and everybody else who agreed with him.....Newport and fun zone the first day. When I was 12 back in 1977, we did only one day at disney and that was plenty I thought.

"<i>When I was 12 back in 1977, we did only one day at disney and that was plenty I thought.</i>"

But back then there was only one park, and it was smaller. Now there is an expanded Disneyland, plus California Adventure (and Downtown Disney which isn't really a must)

Hmmmm.....maybe should do a half day there saturday and a full day sunday? I think monday will be a good R and R day before we come home!

Also the magician shop I want to go to is in glendale....is that a nice area?

Glendale is nice, and an easy drive from Glendora. It's next door to Burbank if you're going to WB. Americana at Brand in Glendale is a lovely mall worth a stop, for shopping or just for lunch.

A drive out to Big Bear Lake might be nice if you have time.

Americana is just a mile or so from the magican I want to visit...thanks!!

Americana is just a mile or so from the magican I want to visit...thanks!!

Any good restaurants around the Catamarren? How about a grocery store or wal-mart? We prefer places to eat within walking distance....thanks everybody for the help....looking forward to writing a good report!

The Catamaran is one the imaginary boundary between Pacific Beach and Mission Beach on Mission Blvd.

Mission Beach is a typical hippy type beach town (one long strip where all the mom & pop shops are) and Pacific Beach which has more variety. About a half mile north from the Catamaran on Mission Blvd, is a Long's Pharmacy and a Ralph's Grocery Store. There are tons of restaurants both and south of the Catamaran. My favorites are the

Green Flash http://www.greenflashrestaurant.com/ and

Kono's Cafe
704 Garnet Avenue San Diego, CA 92109 - (858) 483-1669

Avoid Gringo's Mexican. For better Mexican I would recommend
http://www.verdeselranchero.com/
which is up the road (La Jolla Blvd) about 10 minutes north in La Jolla.

The best fish tacos are at El Pescador (actually a fish market which is extremely popular) located at 627 Pearl Street
(858) 456-2526.

The best coffee is Bird Rock Roasters - 5627 La Jolla Blvd. (everything is organic - the coffee & milk). They are across the street from Starbucks and BR Roasters does twice the business!!

sounds good. We will be eating a light breakfast in our room then dine out for lunch and dinner. The time change really messed with me last time...I will be waking up at 4 a.m. (6 my time)....and nothing is ever open!

Oops...slight problem. Found out this morning we didn't have ticket for wife...had to change fligts and will now be arriving at LAX at 4:30 p.m. Will prob be 5:30 before I get rental car?? Whats traffic going to be like from LA to SD at 5:30? Should we just stay the night in LA or half way to SD?

Correction again....arrive at LAX at 5:30 p.m. I'll never order tix on SW airlines over the internet again....and their boarding passes are a joke!!! Or maybe I don't know what the H i'm doing!?

By the time you get your car and get going, it'll be 6:30 or so, so the rush hour will begin to be tapering off. You could have dinner somewhere near the airport (I suggest The Proud Bird) and then hit the 405 toward SD.

Tonight, check out the traffic at this site to get an idea of what it will look like on the 16th.

http://www.sigalert.com/Map.asp?lat=...-118.22335&z=2

What's the news on radiation hitting CA?? Family is asking a million questions about it....now i'm a bit concerned!

Manhattan Beach is just south of the airport (ask at car rental for directions to Sepulveda Boulevard southbound). It will be 7:30pm your stomach's time so you will probably want to stop and grab a bite, tons of choices right down Sepulveda including Islands which is a good family burger/fries sit-down joint at 3200 Sepulveda. There's also a Chipotle on Sepulveda and a Rubio's fish tacos plus many others. From there get directions to the freeway southbound which should start to clear up a bit around 7:30pm.

It will be a long drive down to San Diego but it's a good time of day to do the drive if you can make it. Perhaps you can nap on the plane? As long as you're up for the drive, do it, you'll be better off staying up as late as you can that first night anyway to get yourself used to the time change.

The radiation is being measured in Hawaii and it will hit there long before the mainland, so if there is anything to worry about you will have a few days notice.

Looks like The Catamaran has a 48 hour cancellation policy anyway, so drink a cup of coffee and head south, good luck and we will be waiting for your reports.