thanks for the info Mambo. We are going to tour the WB studio, the kids want to see the set of Gilmore Girls. I just found a website for free tickets to watch shows taped.(www.tvtickets.com) I need to talk to the rest of the family to see if that is what we would like to do but it sounds fun to me. I'm going to look on priceline for Marina Del Ray and Manhattan beach for rooms.

You can wade in our ocean but nobody swims in it, it's too cold! Just sit on the beach with a blanket. After all, it will be June when you're here and it's cold in June. Isn't it cold in June, everywhere? ((H))

Sara....have you ever been to Cape Cod? If so, then you know that there is no comparison between Lake MI water and the Atlantic. Well, the Pacific is much colder even than the Atlantic! Additionally the total lack of humidity there makes the evaporational cooling feel like you are coming out of the water into 30 degree air, no matter how high the air temp is. Just a heads up... :)

If your kids like the Gilmore Girls, they will LOVE the WB tour. My DD joked that they should have named it the Gilmore Girls tour. Maybe it was because we had 4 teen girls on our tram, but our tour guide had an encyclopedic knowledge of every episode, and pointed out every little tree, sidewalk, lamp post, etc. that was used in the show, in addition to showing us several of the sets. I really don't watch the show, so most of it was lost on me, but the girls seemed to enjoy it.

The TV tickets site will give you the minimum age requirements. Unfortunately for your kids, most of have minimum age requirement of 18. Occasionally, they'll be a Disney Channel show taping where the minimum age is as low as 10. Just keep checking that schedule and www.tvtix.com.

Not sure what your budget is, or how close to the beach you want to be, but the Manhattan Beach area has several suite-type hotels that are good for families. Most have small kitchenettes and some serve complimentary breakfasts.

A couple popular places for families in Manhattan Beach, are the Sea View Inn. It's a complex of 5 buildings a couple blocks up from the beach. Some rooms and suites have ocean views.
http://www.seaview-inn.com/index.htm

The other place people like, is the Marriott Residence Inn, a mile back from the beach, but breakfast and snack time are included.

http://www.residenceinn.com/dpp/PropertyPage.asp?MarshaCode=LAXMH&checked=True &Marriott_BD={B85CFE50-0AB4-4D6C-AEB9-079269A42780}