Holiday fun in Long Beach/Orange/Downtow LA
Nov 8th, 2008, 07:21 PM
#1
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Holiday fun in Long Beach/Orange/Downtow LA
Hi, I will be entertaining 2 eight year old boys during the week of 12-8.
We will be based near Los Alamitos and are looking for day trips. Disneyland is an obvious one but 1 day is it.
Are there particularly amazing decorations in any particular place such as a certain mall, city area, park etc. Is it too early for whale watching by the way?
Many thanks.
We will be based near Los Alamitos and are looking for day trips. Disneyland is an obvious one but 1 day is it.
Are there particularly amazing decorations in any particular place such as a certain mall, city area, park etc. Is it too early for whale watching by the way?
Many thanks.
Nov 8th, 2008, 07:41 PM
#3
I'm no expert on 8 year old boys but I'm guessing they would like Griffith Park Observatory and Travel Town (trains) in Griffith Park.
Yes, it is early for gray whales, but you could go by the Pt. Vicente Center (RPV) and the Cabrillo Marine Museum (San Pedro) which are worthwhile. I'm not sure I'd spring for a whale watching cruise.
How about a cheap Harbor Cruise in Port of LB? They could tell you if any whales had been seen yet.
http://harbor-cruises.com/
Yes, it is early for gray whales, but you could go by the Pt. Vicente Center (RPV) and the Cabrillo Marine Museum (San Pedro) which are worthwhile. I'm not sure I'd spring for a whale watching cruise.
How about a cheap Harbor Cruise in Port of LB? They could tell you if any whales had been seen yet.
http://harbor-cruises.com/
Nov 8th, 2008, 09:25 PM
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This has been some years, but a friend encouraged us to go see the outdoors displays, including a large Nativity, at the Mormon Temple in Los Angeles. They were very nice and you do not need to be Mormon. You probably should doublecheck that they still do that.
Nov 8th, 2008, 10:17 PM
#6
Newport Beach
http://www.christmasboatparade.com/
Naples (Long Beach)
http://www.naplesca.org/About/Parade.html
Have never been to either...too much traffic!
http://www.christmasboatparade.com/
Naples (Long Beach)
http://www.naplesca.org/About/Parade.html
Have never been to either...too much traffic!
Nov 8th, 2008, 11:27 PM
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Naples Island in Long Beach is a great place to visit. Haven't been to the boat parade, but I hear it is very crowded, so arrive early if you attend. (One web site says the parade attracts 60,000 people!)
If you don't do the parade, go to Naples anyway (maybe around sunset). It's a picturesque area with expensive houses lavishly decorated during the holidays. Kids usually love walking around the canals, going over the bridges, and playing in the fountain at the center of Naples.
You can also reserve a gondola ride (call now), on which you'll eat crackers & cheese while touring thru the canals. The co. is Gondola Getaway, and they operate 7 days a week. Their site has a mini photo tour of Naples http://www.gondolagetawayinc.com/index02.html
Adjacent to Naples is a small friendly commercial area with many shops and restaurants. Or venture slightly farther & eat at Naples Ribs, which is a good family restaurant.
If you don't do the parade, go to Naples anyway (maybe around sunset). It's a picturesque area with expensive houses lavishly decorated during the holidays. Kids usually love walking around the canals, going over the bridges, and playing in the fountain at the center of Naples.
You can also reserve a gondola ride (call now), on which you'll eat crackers & cheese while touring thru the canals. The co. is Gondola Getaway, and they operate 7 days a week. Their site has a mini photo tour of Naples http://www.gondolagetawayinc.com/index02.html
Adjacent to Naples is a small friendly commercial area with many shops and restaurants. Or venture slightly farther & eat at Naples Ribs, which is a good family restaurant.
Nov 8th, 2008, 11:48 PM
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The Glory of Christmas is a live Christmas pageant at the Crystal Cathedral (an architectural landmark) in Garden Grove, just a few miles from Disneyland. The show includes live animals (camels, donkeys) and angels that fly over the audience. Probably sells out fairly early, so don't wait. Here's the link: http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache...gl=us&ie=UTF-8
Nov 9th, 2008, 10:25 AM
#9
Are they still here on December 14? In Long Beach, Rancho Los Cerritos (an 1844 historic adobe) has their annual Christmas Open House. Details
http://www.experiencela.com/Calendar....asp?key=20374
You can also browse the experiencela.com website,although it isn't comprehensive.
There's also the Pershing Square Ice Rink in Downtown LA. A lot of the office and hotels have good holiday decor. The Bonaventure used to have a big gingerbread house display (I have'nt worked downtown for a few years, so I'm not current). I find that traffic from the Long Beach area to downtown LA is fairly light in December.
http://www.experiencela.com/Calendar....asp?key=20374
You can also browse the experiencela.com website,although it isn't comprehensive.
There's also the Pershing Square Ice Rink in Downtown LA. A lot of the office and hotels have good holiday decor. The Bonaventure used to have a big gingerbread house display (I have'nt worked downtown for a few years, so I'm not current). I find that traffic from the Long Beach area to downtown LA is fairly light in December.
