Help Me Plan My California Vacation

[Hesetmefree238]

I am going to be in the LA area for 6 nights/ 5 days at the end of April.
I will be visiting my sister who lives in the Riverside area. I'm travelling with
my family (the wife and 2 teenagers). Give me some ideas on some things
we should do or see. We will be spending most nights at my sister's house, but could go on a short excursion to either San Diego or Santa Barbara for a one night stay.
Here are some of the things we have considered. Please give me opinions or share any experiences you have had.

LA Dogers game (will be attending with my brother who lives in area)
Ronald Reagan Library
Guided tour of Beverly Hills (a see the homes of the stars type tour)
Hollywood walk of fame and Grauman's Chinese theater
Coastal drive into the Santa Monica / Malibu areas
Visit Laguna Beach (spend the night on beach?)
Overnight excursion to either San Diego or Santa Barbara
Big Bear or Lake Arrowhead
Wild Animal Kingdom Park (north of San Diego)

We do not plan on going to any of the theme parks. We have been to
Disney World and Universal in Florida many times. A long shot could be to
go to California Adventure.

One other note, we are flying into LAX. We arrive on Wed night at 8:30PM. We will drive to my sister's home in Riverside. We fly out of LAX on Tuesday morning and have got a hotel booked next to the airport.

Thanks for your input

[Ron]

First thing, come by Vancouver and pick me up!

[ReformedDave]

Originally Posted by Hesetmefree238

I am going to be in the LA area for 6 nights/ 5 days at the end of April.
I will be visiting my sister who lives in the Riverside area. I'm travelling with
my family (the wife and 2 teenagers). Give me some ideas on some things
we should do or see. We will be spending most nights at my sister's house, but could go on a short excursion to either San Diego or Santa Barbara for a one night stay.
Here are some of the things we have considered. Please give me opinions or share any experiences you have had.

LA Dogers game (will be attending with my brother who lives in area)
Ronald Reagan Library
Guided tour of Beverly Hills (a see the homes of the stars type tour)
Hollywood walk of fame and Grauman's Chinese theater
Coastal drive into the Santa Monica / Malibu areas
Visit Laguna Beach (spend the night on beach?)
Overnight excursion to either San Diego or Santa Barbara
Big Bear or Lake Arrowhead
Wild Animal Kingdom Park (north of San Diego)

We do not plan on going to any of the theme parks. We have been to
Disney World and Universal in Florida many times. A long shot could be to
go to California Adventure.

One other note, we are flying into LAX. We arrive on Wed night at 8:30PM. We will drive to my sister's home in Riverside. We fly out of LAX on Tuesday morning and have got a hotel booked next to the airport.

Thanks for your input

A trip to San Diego.....of coarse I'm biased. Wild Animal park is very good. It's about 40 miles northeast of SD. It's owned by the San Diego Zoo.

[LaGirl]

yes....a trip to san diego. i need to get LAWOMEN to give you some places to go. her daughter lives out in long beach.

[Old Paths]

Be sure and visit Los Angeles Ave. (day time) and the Alley (located between Las Angeles Ave and Santee near 8th) for some really good shopping.

[CC1]

Riverside has a great In N Out Burger joint you have to eat at!!!!

Get the Double Double or the Double Double "animal style".

LA is a cool place to visit with many intersesting things to do. Here are some of the things I have done there;

1. Ferry trip to Catalina Island from Long Beach. A nice way to spend a day or spend the night on the Island.

2. Universal Studios and Universal Citywalk
3. Disneyland
4. Knotts Farm
5. Magic Mountain
6. Gene Autry Western Museum
7. Malibu - scenery and the beach / ocean.
8. Peterson Automotive Museum (Wilshire Blvd)
9. Venice Beach to see the wild people and ones with way too much money.
10. Santa Monica Pier
11. Manns Chinese theater to see the stars hand and footprints in concrete.
12. Eat at the Burbank "Big Boy" restaurant on a Friday or Saturday afternoon / evening and check out the mini classic car show out back.

There is a lot more but that is off the top of my head.

[SoCaliUPC]

Yes....San Diego is a BEAUTIFUL city Might as well come down to San Diego and do a day thing...spend the night...and then go to the Wild Animal Park.

And yes, like Dave, I am biased! Some people have to live in paradise and God chose Dave and I. What sacrifice!! LOL!

[Jekyll]

First mistake, flying into LAX...

Just get on MapQuest and find stuff for yourself...

Stay out of SoCal and see the scenery in NoCal...

Visit SanFran farmer's mkt, Alcatraz, Monterey Beach...

Oakland, Fresno, Visalia, Mt. Shasta, Eureka, the UPC Shrine in Stockton...

[BoredOutOfMyMind]

Originally Posted by Jekyll

First mistake, flying into LAX...

Just get on MapQuest and find stuff for yourself...

Stay out of SoCal and see the scenery in NoCal...

Visit SanFran farmer's mkt, Alcatraz, Monterey Beach...

Oakland, Fresno, Visalia, Mt. Shasta, Eureka, the UPC Shrine in Stockton...

San Diego/Coronado Island

Yosemite

Tito's Tacos in the LA area....

[berkeley]

Originally Posted by Jekyll

First mistake, flying into LAX...

Just get on MapQuest and find stuff for yourself...

Stay out of SoCal and see the scenery in NoCal...

Visit SanFran farmer's mkt, Alcatraz, Monterey Beach...

Oakland, Fresno, Visalia, Mt. Shasta, Eureka, the UPC Shrine in Stockton...

you've got to be kidding!!