jeannedarc2

My husband and I will be flying to LA March 11 and plan to visit LA for a few days and then will end up in San Diego where we fly home (Detroit) the following Friday. Are there any interesting sites that we should check out outside of LA and along our drive to San Diego? Any info would be much appreciated. This is our first time visiting California.

bon_voyage

The Nixon Library in Yorba Linda:
http://nixon.archives.gov

mlgb

Mission San Juan Capistrano (and the old town center)
http://www.missionsjc.com/

Carlsbad Flower Fields (you don't actually need to stop, just drive along Armada Drive above for a nice view).
http://www.theflowerfields.com/info.html

jeannedarc2

Thank you for the info. We will definitely visit those areas.

europeannovice

Closer to LA in San Marino near Pasadena is the Huntington Library and Gardens. Their gardens are some of the best I have ever scene anywhere especially the Chinese Garden which is fairly new and the desert garden. They separate the gardens into themes.

The House contains some magnificent artwork to by Gainsborough.

boom_boom

Better suited for kids, but Legoland is en route to SD. Second a visit to the Mission at San Juan Capistrano. Also the mission in San Diego and Old Town there.
A few miles west of I-5 near Escondido is the Wild Animal Park affiliated with the San Diego Zoo.
The coastline at places such as San Clemente, Del Mar and La Jolla.

1JAR

Hwy 1 or Coast hwy is the "surfer hwy" and great views of the Pacific coast, ocean

Queen MAry in Long Beach is a favorite

Laguna Bch has great art, shopping & restaurants, some ocean park/beaches right in town... be sure to have the In & Out Burger and shake for ore California "Burger surfin fun"

LA Jolla and the childrens pool that now has resident seals..lunch or dinner at sunset at either Gearges at teh Cove in LA jolla or teh MArine room in Ka jolla would be wonderful ocean views & great Califonia cusine.

bigtyke

In Laguna Beach you can often see sea lions on the rocks,
There is also Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside.
Best part to see the ocean is from Carlsbad south to Torrey Pines.

Barbara

A small FYI, the Wild Animal Park is now called the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. It has never been merely "affiliated" with the San Diego Zoo, but has always been part of the Zoo.

http://www.sandiegozoo.org/park/index2010

It's not "along the drive" to San Diego from LA though. Neither is the Huntington Library, although it's well worth a visit.

jeannedarc2

Wow! Thank you so much for all of the great ideas. My husband and I love the ocean, history, museums, scenic drives and Mexican food. We really are looking forward to our trip. I wonder if we should spend one night somewhere along the coast such as Carlsbad or Oceanside or should we stay in one spot in LA and one spot in San Diego? Would appreciate your suggestions. Thanks so much.

1JAR

I'd stay 1 night in Laguna because there is a lot to do and h downtown is very walkable w/loads of really good restaurants..then San Diego.
Definately don't stay in Oceanside and La JO;;a is very doable drive down and too close to San Diego.

jeannedarc2

Thank you 1JAR. We will take your advice.

FrankS

There is a lot to do between LA and San Diego, so pick your must dos and pick somethings around them for that day.
Example, If you do the Queen Mary, go to the Long Beach Aquarium then drive down the coast to Laguna. Along the way there is a trendy Mexican place Javiars in Newport Coast.

If you take in the San Juan Cap Mission, have dinner at El Adobe(Mexican Restaraunt) an evening they have Mariachis.

You might consider the desert too if you wanted to do the Wild Animal Park. There should be a nice wild flower bloom this year, and Palm Springs and the Tramway should be spectaular.

iowamom

Ditto the recommendation for Laguna Beach. Other places that makes for a fun stop for a few hours is Cedros Avenue in Solano Beach http://cedrosavenue.com/ or Huntington Beach or Balboa Island.

volleydad

We are planning the same trip but in reverse in august. (San Diego to LA) and we were wondering what things were worth the visit and what was not. We plan on hitting a few beaches along the way (our 8 y/o can't wait to see the waves), La Jolla and SD zoo. Jeannedarc2 we are also from the Detroit area. Any other recommendations would be great.

nanabee

If you have an 8 year old you might like the La Jolla Shores beach - it's got small but surfable waves so it's very safe (and it has lots of lifeguards). It also has a large parking lot so you don't have to worry about finding street parking (which you can forget) and it has a large grassy area good for picknicks and a kids play structure.

You can check out the local dive shops about a block away for snorkling, kayaking, etc.

La Jolla Cove is nice but unfortunately it has a serious smell problem with the sea lions and birds that have made a problem in that regard. I love the Cove though and think it is worth visiting anyway.

mlgb

Torrey Pines Reserve and Beach just south of Del Mar. Pay lots, or free parking along Torrey Pines Road near the beach if lucky, if not park around Del Mar Scenic Parkway and Camino del Mar, and walk under the railroad bridge and then over the creek crossing along Torrey Pines rd. It's a nice hike along the beach and up to the Reserve, you can do it as a loop in an hour or two, coming back down along the beach. There are some displays in the visitor center at the top Reserve as well as other trails.

Tabernash2

"My husband and I love the ocean, history, museums, scenic drives and Mexican food."

You are going to the right place, then! Southern CA will not disappoint.

We love Laguna Beach, and can recommend the Pacifica property there (great chain of small hotels): Laguna Cliffs Inn
http://www.pacificahotels.com/lagunacliffsinn/location

We also like their properties elsewhere, like the Jamaica Bay Inn, in Marina del Rey.

Have a wonderful time in CA!

mlgb

I forgot to mention El Pueblo, my favorite stop for fish tacos which I discovered on a recent trip. Very convenient exit just off the Freeway as you are heading north to LA.

And you can top off with some gas while there!

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...alifornia.html