Southern California trip help
 

My family (dh, myself, 15yo ds and 9yo ds) are thinking of heading to California for the 1st 2 weeks of August this year.

Will the weather be unbearably hot at the beginning of August? We are from S.Ontario so it's hot and very humid here all summer.

What things would be 'don't miss' things to do?? We know we want to spend probably 3 or 4 nights and 3 days to see Disneyland - we have DVC and go to DW often so will be neat to see the differences. I don't want this trip to be just about disney/theme parks though.

We like to golf but if the weather is too hot that will be out - or is there somewhere we can golf that the heat won't spoil the fun?

My 15yo wants to see hollywood, Universal Studio's and a 'good beach'. My 9yo wants to see some Sea Lions or whales if there is anywhere to do that in August, SeaWorld and Legoland - thinking legoland might be a bit too young for the older ds'. As for Dh and I we just want to see as much as we can and not be spending every day in a theme park - ideally we would fly into one airport and work out way either north or South from there. Hopefully doing a drive along the coast.

I'm thinking the Southern California city pass deal is going to be the one for us to get that includes Sea World, Universal and Disneyland.

Any advice as to a good place/airport to start out at/finish at? Things that are 'don't miss' or specific places we should consider?

Thanks!

Into LAX and out of San Diego would be good combo if the price is right. Aside from the parks, Disney, Universal, Magic Mountain, Knotts,Lego. I'd recommend a visit to Olivera Steet in downtown LA, Famer's Market in LA and the adjacent "Grove," the Gaslamp area of San Diego, Old Town San Diego, the LaJolla coastal area and any of the historic California Missions you can get to. Along the coast and San Diego, August will be warm, but not usually uncomfortable. Inland it will be HOT. Have fun.

There are a few golf courses here that are near the coast. Do a search, I don't golf so can't recommend one.

We have a relative who comes to SD each summer to beat the humidity. It may be hot but not so much humid.

The San Diego Zoo is open in the evenings during the summer time and if you've never been, it's worth a trip. I haven't been to a seal show since I was a little kid but I'm sure they still have them. sandiegozoo.org

There are many many "good beaches". Torrey Pines has a lot to offer, it's beautiful http://www.torreypine.org
Torrey Pines also has a golf course, you've probably heard of it? I don't know how crowded it gets but you may want to reserve tee times early. Again, the only golf I've ever played is Frisbee Golf.

Keep in mind that the beaches will be crowded, it's August and the entire state of Arizona invades So.Cal at that time.
Enjoy your stay.

CA is never as hot and humid as the Midwest in the summer. If you stay along the coast it will not be too hot. If you go inland it might be hot but it won't be humid.

Thanks for the help and info - must get busy planning - it's coming up on me faster then I had expected!

Spend the time you are not at theme parks along the coast and you should be fine weatherwise. Another beautiful golf course along the coast is Trump's in Rancho Palos Verdes. I am not a golfer but settingwise it would be hard to beat. The resturant is also good and there are paths along the cliffs as well as down the cliffs to the beach below to tide pool. Not far from there is the Point Vicente Interpretive Center that among other things has info on whales. I do not think August is prime time to see migrating whales but at least you could learn about them. With golf you could make a whole day on the peninsula. At any rate don't let the discount summer rates in the Palm Springs area lure you out there, it is unbearably hot that time of year in the desert. Have fun!

I agree with Barb - don't let the good rates in Palm Desert beckon you. It is really hot. It should be lovely along the beach area.

If you have two week perhaps spend a few nights in LA and do the above suggestions - boom boom - head south to Anaheim, spend a night or two at Disneyland and then go further south to San Diego and maybe rent a place on the beach for a week and use it as your base for your San Diego adventures.

Take a day and go to La Jolla and see the sea lions at the Children's pool...

Lego land will be very boring for your 15 year old - your nine year old imo is almost too old for it.

Definitely go to the World Famous San Diego zoo~ it is wonderful!

Some of the coastal golf courses that catch summer sea breezes

Recreation Park, Long Beach (classic Billy Bell design)
Los Verdes, Palos Verdes Peninsula (ocean views)
Meadowlark, Huntington Beach (short, patchy conditioning)
Costa Mesa Country Club (Costa Mesa)

If you're staying closer to West Los Angeles there is Rancho Park, but it's almost impossible to get on unless you have a Resident Card.

Of course there is Torrey Pines in San Diego, perhaps you cold get on the North Course.

Thanks for the info - so legoland will be a skip and we will stick to Universal 1 day, Disney 2 or 3 days, Sea World 1 day, Hollywood/LA area's 2 or 3 days and golfing for sure for 1 day - that leaves me 4 or 5 days to play with and tour around and see some stuff in the San Diego area/coastal area/beaches - dh isn't much of a beach kinda guy so beach trip will probably only be 1 day.

Will either fly into LA and work our way down to SD or the other way around depending on flight prices I can get.

San Luis REy DOwns is a course inland a few miles from Oceanside (slrd.com). another course is EL Camino in Carlsbad burt I couldn't tell from the website if it is open to the public (it was years ago, but I havn't played there for 40 years!). The Crossing is a Carlsbad city course that is supposed to be fancy (I remember it went way over budget when it was built) and it looks expensive to me (thecrossingsatcarlsbad.com).

The Birch Aquarium in La Jolla is a good place to visit. I would also recommend the harbor in San DIego. You can tour many ships - from a WWII aricraft carrier to an 1863 sailing ship.

Bigtke - good call on the Midway - that is a cool thing to do with the family.

In addition to the Midway, and the Star of India (part of the Maritime Museum), San Diego has masses of golf courses.

http://www.golfsandiego.com/

I would plan on only 2 days at Disney -- we almost always did it in one night and one very long day...now that there's the California Adventure Park, too, 2 full days should do it.

Hot but not humid, and usually nice cool evenings.
Don't miss the Griffith Observatory up in Hollywood.
Yes Legoland is for small children.
How many days do you have total? As for flights, check the one-way car rates first as sometimes LAX to dropoff San Diego can be twice what dropping the other way is. Other times exactly the opposite.

I will have to check out the car rentals - thanks for pointing that out!!

Ok so now we've settled what we want to see perhaps someone could give me some advice on the itenerary we've come up with and pointers as to places to stay. I'm attempting to keep everyone happy here - again the cast consists of dh, myself, 15yo ds and a 9.5yo ds.

Arrive late on a Friday night to SAN - hotel in SAN area
Saturday - tour around SanDiego and possibly get in a 9 hole round of golf somewhere
Sunday Sea World
Monday drive along the coast stopping here and there - the jury is still out on where we will stay that night. Dh said he hopes to get 1 more round of golf in on the Tuesday morning
Tuesday - golf/Beach OR Head to Disneyland hotel early for the night/day
Wed Disneyland
Thurs Disneyland - leave from DL late in the day and head to LA area OR stay at DL hotel 1 more night??
Friday - if already in LA Universal OR head to LA and tour around
Saturday Universal if not done on the Friday OR touring around
Sunday - Day to do whatever
Monday head to Las Vegas
Tuesday Las Vegas touring
Wed Fly home from Las Vegas

I've already found a rental car and have it booked for a 1 way trip - when we stay at the DLhotel we will use our DVC points and I have 1 more night I can use on Holiday Inn points - I'm thinking we should use them in San Diego.

What would you change or make sure to see/do based on the ages of my kids - not sure of where to stay in LA area - don't want budget but don't want to use my firstborn to pay for the hotel either. No more then $150 a night I think if that's reasonable.

Thanks

If you're looking for 9 hole golf courses, Aliso Creek (near Laguna Beach) might fit into your schedule well. They also have lodging there.

http://www.alisocreekinn.com/golf-golf-resort.asp

Sorry forgot to post the link.

I'll be in San Diego for a few trips this month so if I find anything specific there other than Torrey Pines I'll post it.

Here are some of my own thoughts, but you'll probably be able to tell my tastes are different:
1) SeaWorld is one of the best experiences ever. But you are hitting it (and Universal) on weekends which means extra large crowds since locals go, too. Consider hitting those on weekdays instead.

2) In San Diego, visit Old Town for a Mexican Dinner and the harbor and Mission Bay areas. Consider staying at a hotel on Mission Bay.

3) I'm not a golfer and you don't mention your kids golfing some won't they be bored while dad is golfing? Is he golfing alone or do you golf with him? If not, then you could hit the beachs in La Jolla, or Mission Beach (later Laguna Beach or Dana Point) while he golfs.

4) Not sure why you would want to go to Disneyland if you have been to DW many times. Note: Anaheim is hot and smoggy - though not muggy like Florida. I understand you have accommodations at the Disneyland Hotel. Perhaps go to the Disney California Adventure instead?

5) I do not care for Las Vegas at all. Based on reading your original post I was a bit surprised you added LV in at the end of your trip. It is quite a long drive from LA and very hot in the summer. I took my kids there some years ago because so many said there is much to entertain kids. I was truly sorry I exposed them to this seedy, smoke filled, artificial place. Since then, it is even less geared to families. Have you noticed their ads...."What happens in Las Vegas..." I'd find some more nice places in S. Cal, personally.

Whales..August has potential for sighting blue whales, off the Orange County coast. This is something relatively recent. We spotted some in 2007 and 2006 from a private sailboat. There are local companies out of Dana Point, Newport Harbor, and Long Beach that may be running tours. You can check in June/July to see if they're showing up this year, the companies should be posting daily sightings numbers.

Some articles

2008: http://www.ocregister.com/articles/w...watching-krill

2007: http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister...le_1717453.php