LA, Las Vegas, San Diego
 

We are flying into LA on a Friday. We arrive in the a.m. We plan to spend time in the LA and/or San Diego areas. We may go to 2 or 3 of the following: LegoLand, Universal Studios, and/or Knotts Berry Farms. We have a 5 and 7 year old? Any suggestions on which once they would enjoy the most.

After a few days in LA we plan to drive to Las Vegas. Is the Helicopter trip to the Grand Canyon worth it for children? We heard from some that due to the elevation change a lot of people get sick doing this. Is this true?

On the way back we plan to CA we plan to stop at some time of nature area. Possibly Death Valley. What do you think of this as a stop? We enjoy amusement parks, but also really like to go hiking/exploring. We could also do this near LA (if there is a place). Suggestions>

Also, any suggestions of kid activities near Los Angeles or San Diego (keeping in mind that we have 5 and 7 year old). We are unsure if we will make it up to San Diego or just stay in LA area. Any kid friendly towns or even beach towns that you would recommend?

We've been on all the movie studio tours and we prefer the one at Warner Brothers--it is much more intimate than Universal Studios and it gives a better chance to walk around on actual movie sets. (That said, Universal Studios is wildly popular.)

In LA the Getty Museum is very family friendly and the amazing place is free!

Santa Monica is a fun place to explore--the Third Street Promenade and the Pier. Free parking is available if you look closely.

Not far away in Venice Beach--a very colorful place for a people watching.

I've never been to LegoLand but reports are that children love the place.

Knotts Berry Farm strikes me as tired and I wouldn't have it on my list of things to do.

Death Valley is a great idea. Furnace Creek Ranch is a good place for a family to stay there.

On the way to or from Las Vegas, your family may enjoy Calico Ghost Town in Barstow, California.

San Diego has one of the best zoos in the country and SeaWorld is a lot of fun for everybody.

Have a wonderful trip.

HTTY

come straight down the 405 south to Carlsbad and check in at the Grand Pacific resort next door to Legoland.
This is a HUGE hit with children your age.
Carlsbad is a lovely coastal town and with the HOV lanes you can make it from LAX in less than 2 hours.
Knotts Berry Farm is good for the LA/OC area.
There are height limitations on a lot of rides like Disney, Knotts, Universal, so be wary.

San Diego is one of the best places to spend with children.
SD Zoo, SD Wild Animal Park and Sea World.

WHEN? Death Valley is <B>not</b> a place to go hiking in the summer -- and very very especially not for 5 and 7 year olds.

good catch on that janisf..
Death Valley is NOT a place after March..
One of the hottest places on earth..within minutes you are toast!

We changed trip a bit and will spend most of the time in LA area? Can you recommend any beach towns for kids, or hiking type places/entertainment other than amusement parks in that area?

Is Barstow worth a visit?

Barstow?

"<i>Is Barstow worth a visit?</i>"

No - and HELL no :) (even for the folks who live there)

LOL janisj!

I suggest you peruse this LA city guide (all 7 pages of it) to get an overview of all the things you can see and do.
http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/l...city-guide.htm

A popular beach for kids and adults is Santa Monica beach. It's a wide beach and there is a pier there with an amusement park. Just google it for more info.

Los Angeles is a hiker's paradise. Immediately to the north and abutting the city are the San Gabriel Mountains/Angeles National Forest with many miles of trails. (I have a little book titled "100 Hikes in the San Gabriels"). The Santa Monica Mountains are directly west of LA up the coast and are also laced with trails. And then there is Griffith Park, the largest urban park in the US. There are some developed areas within the park (picnic areas, the Zoo, a golf course, and the Observatory for example), but most of it is hilly "wilderness" with miles of hiking and bridle trails. IMO, Griffith Park would be ideal for your family hikes. Just Google Griffith Park Hiking.