Hi!
I have an upcoming conference in Long Beach and will have one free day to hang out with my husband and 2 year old. I'm thinking we could go to the zoo in the morning for a few hours, drive to La Jolla for the afternoon/evening and then head back to Long Beach. Am I being too ambitious?

Thanks in advance!

Driving to San Diego Zoo and back in one day with a two year old? If I remember, the drive is about 2 hrs and you need to time it to make sure you don't get in rush hour traffic. I would try to find something more local if it were me. Check with someone with more recent experience, though...the zoo is spectacular and I spent several visits there with my kids. We always stayed in San Diego though.
Have fun!

Thanks! I thought that might be too much!

Since you have a two-year-old, I assume you are young with stamina.

Since you will be in San Diego, it shouldn't be too much to go to the zoo and to pop into La Jolla on your way back to Long Beach.

However, as I recall the zoo is spread out over a very hilly area and you may tire out if you have to push your child up a lot of hills.

HTTY

Hi. I believe from what you wrote, and your response to leslieq, that your conference is in Long Beach and you have one day to kill before traveling back home. You have wisely decided not to travel to San Diego. So, building on your original thought of the San Diego Zoo, here are some suggestions for attractions in the LA area.

1. The Los Angeles Zoo. A good and very large zoo, actually a little more acreage than the San Diego zoo, but fewer animals. In Griffith Park, about 35 minutes north of Long Beach. If you go there, you may be pleasantly surprised.

http://www.lazoo.org/

Not far from the zoo, a miniature train ride, and a historic Merry-go-Round.

http://www.griffithparktrainrides.com/

http://www.laparks.org/dos/parks/griffithpk/mgr.htm

2. The Aquarium of the Pacific. An excellent aquarium, and right in Long Beach! I think you would have to go clear up to Monterey to find a better one.

http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/

3. La Brea Tar Pits and Page Museum. In West LA. World famous for its tar pits and fossils. Not boring. And kids like bones.

http://www.tarpits.org/

4. The Original Farmer's Market. Only a 3-5 minute drive from the Tar Pits. Great variety of ethnic and not so ethnic food. Try to schedule lunch there. Or maybe dinner. Click on the "restaurants" link to see what's there.

http://www.farmersmarketla.com/

Boy I sure got that mixed up.

Indeed there is loads of great stuff to do in LA without running yourself ragged going to San Diego. I might add to the above that the Getty Center is free, it is beautiful, and it is very family friendly: http://www.getty.edu/museum/exhibitions

HTTY

No not worthwhile

Long Beach does have an aquarium there is also a nice little aquarium over in San Pedro. In many ways I like it better than the LB one, including the cost (donation). There is also a nice coastal path to tidepools

http://www.cabrillomarineaquarium.or...astal-park.asp


You could also drive along the coast at Palos Verdes, walk on the free trails at Trump Ocean Trails, and perhaps have a meal with a view there.

http://www.trumpnationallosangeles.com/