I am planning a trip to Santa Monica with my hubby and 3 kids (6, 14 & 15). I want to go in October. Is this still a good time to swim? To go to Disneyland?? Any info is APRRECIATED!!

A bit of help...when you post a question it's always best to include your location in the title.

It will help Fodorites knowledgeable about your question zero in on your thread, and it will save you from getting flamed by every annoyed person who opens your post and doesn't have a clue about Santa Monica or Disneyland.

Although you can sort threads by state, there's only one big board for the US and all the threads are in here together.

Good luck.

Some Octobers are blazingly hot. Others are cool and drizzly. If I had to guess, it will be warm. The ocean water will be too cool for swimming, but if your hotel has a pool (and which hotel will it be?), hopefully it will still be heated.

It's always a good time to go to Disneyland. Especially during its 50th anniversary celebration. I'd check out their website for special events and just go. There will be more people on weekends, obviously, but there you go. And while you're down in OC, do head to the coast and check out some of the beautiful beach communities down there.

Thanks for the info. When WOULD be the best months for swimming?

When we lived in southern California, we loved Sep/Oct, because the tourists and the fog were gone. We now live on the central coast and I would say autumn is still our best weather.

For swimming? That depends on your point of origin. I grew up swimming and surfing at Pismo Beach (central coast) long before wet-suits were popular. We got in, turned purple and numb and acclimated ourselves that way. They still do a polar bear swim every New Year’s here. I recall many summers swimming at Santa Monica, Huntington and Malibu and the water seemed warmer to me because of what I was used to. If you’re from the east coast or the gulf coast, and used to the gulf-stream that warms the waters there, then you may be disappointed.

The only good thing about the cold water is it’s a welcome relief to baking in the sun which we have plenty of. Many people go in briefly to cool off then return to sun-bathing. Be sure to check the local news when you get here for bacteria warnings at the beaches. There were two warnings at popular Santa Barbara beaches this morning, in which case, you don’t want to step into the ocean no matter what the temperature. Sad, I know.

Early October still usually has plenty of days at 75-80 degree weather. Later in October can be iffy.

Thanks so much you guys!

Dear Everyone,

Yes, the Pacific is cold.

I've lived in LA my whole life and will not go in; to me it's cold all year. I love flying back home and eavesdropping on people who are visiting LA and expecting sunny California to have warm water. I was in heaven when we went to the Florida Keys with that 80 degree bath water, you lucky bastards.

When would be the best months for swimming? I guess when it's hot enough outside to make you want to cool off in the ocean. And keep in mind that the coast cools off much faster than the inland areas; it can be blazing hot in the Valley and quite cool at the ocean in October; ironically, you may then find it TOO cool for the typical "beach day" you long for. Of course, I'm never happy, so.

October would be a good time to hedge your bets on Disneyland. The summer heat will (hopefully) be wearing off enough to make a day at the park pleasurable, and evenings should be nice. Definitely try to go Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, as Friday, Saturday, and Sunday will be more crowded, and even Monday as some people stretch out the weekend with a day off and so forth.

Good luck!

love
roxy quitcher bitchin

Thanks again! This is a great site for info. I'm from MN (Land of 10, 000 lakes) and my kids will swim in pretty much any weather as long as the beach is open.

I was watching people going into the water on the beach in Santa Monica all last week-- from my office desk. It was incredibly hot for May, so people went in to cool off. Your kids will get in there no matter what, if I had to guess. Enjoy yourself!