Traveling to California in December

Nice list. Thanks.
I also have a plan to visit southern CA this winter. But I just want
to take a quick view of there. So what places are most worthwhile to
go in just one week?

(PETER PAN) wrote in message m...
Hi Ann,

I am a native of Southern California. For LA/Orange County, I would
suggest the following attractions, considering the ages of your
children:

1. Six Flag Magic Mountain in Valencia, a theme ride park 50 miles
North of Los Angeles.

1.5 the J P Getty Museum nxt to FWY 405 in Beverly Hills and various
museums in Downtown LA.

2. Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, a theme ride park about 5 miles
West of Disneyland.

3. South Coast Plaza, a very large upscale shopping mall with trendy
restaurants, and the Orange COunty Performing Arts Center, about 5
miles South of Disneyland.

4. Orange County Swap meet, the world's largest outdoor market with
mostly new goods, arts and crafts, on freeway 55 10 miles South of
disneyland.

5. Newport Beach and the Balboa Fun Zone, where teen-age kids hang
out.

6. Spend a day in Laguna Beach, an artist colony with nice
restaurants and lots of art galleries.

In San Diego, of course there are the Zoo, Sea World and the
followings:

7. Visit la Jolla Cove where you can snorkel within 20 feet of the
sand to see a lot of garibaldis, various local fish species and sea
weeds.

8. Old town for the history of settlement in California

8.5 Visit the shopping and restaurant rows on the SD harbor and wharp.

9. Balboa Park, with Art and Aerospace museums...

10. Gas Lamp quarter for restaurants, shows....

10.5 Take a SD harbor cruise from downtown.

11. Go ocean fishing at many Sport fishing operators on Mission Bay.
The Super 80's has 2 for 1 deal where parents can take along a child
for $80 full day fishing, with all takles, hooks, baits and helping
staffs. I got a lot of sea bass, baracuda and tuna with my 5 year old
son.

12. Visit Tijuana, Mexico right across the border. Buy local arts
and crafts very cheap at their Artist Village, within walking distance
from the border...

13. Make an appointment with the US Navy to visit the working aircraft
carriers that anchor a few miles off shore. QUite a show.

There are probably a lot more interesting things to do. I will post
more as I recall them.

Have a great time with your kids.

In article ,
(Cindy Mao) wrote:

Nice list. Thanks.

There are probably a lot more interesting things to do. I will post
more as I recall them.


Please do, I too am traveling to the US for a winter holiday and
appreciate the 'local' suggestions.

Mark
Australia

In article ,
(Cindy Mao) wrote:

Nice list. Thanks.

There are probably a lot more interesting things to do. I will post
more as I recall them.


Please do, I too am traveling to the US for a winter holiday and
appreciate the 'local' suggestions.

Mark
Australia

In article ,
(Cindy Mao) wrote:

Nice list. Thanks.

There are probably a lot more interesting things to do. I will post
more as I recall them.


Please do, I too am traveling to the US for a winter holiday and
appreciate the 'local' suggestions.

Mark
Australia

"standiann" wrote in message alkabouttravelling.com...
My husband and I, and 4 teens ages 13-17 will be in the area December 26 to
Jan 2 WE have made our reservations already at the Homewood Suites in
Garden Grove and than Days Inn hotel circle in San Diego Any comments on
these hotels? our Plans include the Disney parks, Universal Studios,
starline tour, the zoo and seaworld. We will be in San Diego for New
Years Eve and Day. Any suggestions on what to do. How about First Night
San Diego any comments? Any beaches recommendations for surfing. What is
the weather like, what should we pack? WE are looking for any advice,
safety, travel, attractions, must sees, driving you name it we are ready
to hear it.

I live here & have a teenager -they will most enjoy San Diego, Laguna
& Newport, most teens like Knott's Berry Farm better than Disneyland,
Hollywood, Melrose Ave., Beverly Hills, The Grove (next to Farmer's
Market) Santa Monica. Way too cold to snorkel unless you are a major
seal!

"standiann" wrote in message alkabouttravelling.com...
My husband and I, and 4 teens ages 13-17 will be in the area December 26 to
Jan 2 WE have made our reservations already at the Homewood Suites in
Garden Grove and than Days Inn hotel circle in San Diego Any comments on
these hotels? our Plans include the Disney parks, Universal Studios,
starline tour, the zoo and seaworld. We will be in San Diego for New
Years Eve and Day. Any suggestions on what to do. How about First Night
San Diego any comments? Any beaches recommendations for surfing. What is
the weather like, what should we pack? WE are looking for any advice,
safety, travel, attractions, must sees, driving you name it we are ready
to hear it.

I live here & have a teenager -they will most enjoy San Diego, Laguna
& Newport, most teens like Knott's Berry Farm better than Disneyland,
Hollywood, Melrose Ave., Beverly Hills, The Grove (next to Farmer's
Market) Santa Monica. Way too cold to snorkel unless you are a major
seal!

I live in San Diego but First Night is not something I would be likely
to go to. They have their own website:
http://www.firstnightsandiego.com/firstnightsandiego/

I don't know what to expect from the crowds at Seaworld or the SD Zoo
on New Year's Day. A lot of people will be home watching football,
that's for sure.

If you watch the Rose Parade on January 1, you know that the weather
is almost always warm and sunny. The Rose Parade is lucky, because it
isn't unusual for the day before or the day after to be rainy.

But on average these days will be warm (not hot) and the nights
chilly, so you will want to 'layer' -- be prepared to add or remove
sweaters, etc., as the weather changes.

Looking up emdc.org, it looks like you are in Maine? In that case, our
wamr days and chilly nights will probably be balmy for you?

You should expect big crowds at First Night, so I'd recommend taking
the trolley http://www.sdcommute.com/. If you're staying in Hotel
Circle, there are several trolley stops nearby. Your hotel may offer a
free shuttle to the various shopping areas nearby, and if so, I think
they could drop you there. Coming back at 1 am, you will probably want
a cab from the trolley stop.

DKM


On Sun, 05 Sep 2004 09:25:53 -0400, "standiann"
wrote:

My husband and I, and 4 teens ages 13-17 will be in the area December 26 to
Jan 2 WE have made our reservations already at the Homewood Suites in
Garden Grove and than Days Inn hotel circle in San Diego Any comments on
these hotels? our Plans include the Disney parks, Universal Studios,
starline tour, the zoo and seaworld. We will be in San Diego for New
Years Eve and Day. Any suggestions on what to do. How about First Night
San Diego any comments? Any beaches recommendations for surfing. What is
the weather like, what should we pack? WE are looking for any advice,
safety, travel, attractions, must sees, driving you name it we are ready
to hear it.


To contact me directly, send EMAIL to (single letters all)
DEE_KAY_EMM AT EarthLink.net. [For example .]

I live in San Diego but First Night is not something I would be likely
to go to. They have their own website:
http://www.firstnightsandiego.com/firstnightsandiego/

I don't know what to expect from the crowds at Seaworld or the SD Zoo
on New Year's Day. A lot of people will be home watching football,
that's for sure.

If you watch the Rose Parade on January 1, you know that the weather
is almost always warm and sunny. The Rose Parade is lucky, because it
isn't unusual for the day before or the day after to be rainy.

But on average these days will be warm (not hot) and the nights
chilly, so you will want to 'layer' -- be prepared to add or remove
sweaters, etc., as the weather changes.

Looking up emdc.org, it looks like you are in Maine? In that case, our
wamr days and chilly nights will probably be balmy for you?

You should expect big crowds at First Night, so I'd recommend taking
the trolley http://www.sdcommute.com/. If you're staying in Hotel
Circle, there are several trolley stops nearby. Your hotel may offer a
free shuttle to the various shopping areas nearby, and if so, I think
they could drop you there. Coming back at 1 am, you will probably want
a cab from the trolley stop.

DKM


On Sun, 05 Sep 2004 09:25:53 -0400, "standiann"
wrote:

My husband and I, and 4 teens ages 13-17 will be in the area December 26 to
Jan 2 WE have made our reservations already at the Homewood Suites in
Garden Grove and than Days Inn hotel circle in San Diego Any comments on
these hotels? our Plans include the Disney parks, Universal Studios,
starline tour, the zoo and seaworld. We will be in San Diego for New
Years Eve and Day. Any suggestions on what to do. How about First Night
San Diego any comments? Any beaches recommendations for surfing. What is
the weather like, what should we pack? WE are looking for any advice,
safety, travel, attractions, must sees, driving you name it we are ready
to hear it.


To contact me directly, send EMAIL to (single letters all)
DEE_KAY_EMM AT EarthLink.net. [For example .]

I live in San Diego but First Night is not something I would be likely
to go to. They have their own website:
http://www.firstnightsandiego.com/firstnightsandiego/

I don't know what to expect from the crowds at Seaworld or the SD Zoo
on New Year's Day. A lot of people will be home watching football,
that's for sure.

If you watch the Rose Parade on January 1, you know that the weather
is almost always warm and sunny. The Rose Parade is lucky, because it
isn't unusual for the day before or the day after to be rainy.

But on average these days will be warm (not hot) and the nights
chilly, so you will want to 'layer' -- be prepared to add or remove
sweaters, etc., as the weather changes.

Looking up emdc.org, it looks like you are in Maine? In that case, our
wamr days and chilly nights will probably be balmy for you?

You should expect big crowds at First Night, so I'd recommend taking
the trolley http://www.sdcommute.com/. If you're staying in Hotel
Circle, there are several trolley stops nearby. Your hotel may offer a
free shuttle to the various shopping areas nearby, and if so, I think
they could drop you there. Coming back at 1 am, you will probably want
a cab from the trolley stop.

DKM


On Sun, 05 Sep 2004 09:25:53 -0400, "standiann"
wrote:

My husband and I, and 4 teens ages 13-17 will be in the area December 26 to
Jan 2 WE have made our reservations already at the Homewood Suites in
Garden Grove and than Days Inn hotel circle in San Diego Any comments on
these hotels? our Plans include the Disney parks, Universal Studios,
starline tour, the zoo and seaworld. We will be in San Diego for New
Years Eve and Day. Any suggestions on what to do. How about First Night
San Diego any comments? Any beaches recommendations for surfing. What is
the weather like, what should we pack? WE are looking for any advice,
safety, travel, attractions, must sees, driving you name it we are ready
to hear it.


To contact me directly, send EMAIL to (single letters all)
DEE_KAY_EMM AT EarthLink.net. [For example .]

Hi Cindy and Mark,

With one week, you can visit a lot of places, do a lot of things, have
a lot of fun and gain good feels for local lifestyles in Southern
California. The worthwhile places to visit really depends on your
interests and your tastes. When I travel, I try to do the same things
the natives do, by going their places, visiting their work places or
businesses, playing their games, eating their foods, hanging out in
cool spots, sometimes visiting their homes… to have good feel for how
good or how bad the lives of average people are.

You should have a rental car as Southern California is a spread-out
valley of about 150 Km in diameter, public transportation by bus is
confusing, time consuming, and I am not aware of any local tours that
cover large areas! Most attraction can be easily be found near the
freeways. Freeways are the only fast way to reach destinations in
Southern California, as you can get lost on busy and congested surface
streets. Avoid freeway congestion by not driving on any freeway
during the commuting hours, i.e. 7-9AM and 4-6PM.

I would suggest the followings, progressing from North LA county,
through Orange County, then San Diego County to save you travel time.
You should just strike out items that you have no interests.

1. 1/2 day for Six Flag Magic Mountain in Valencia, 50 miles North of
Los Angeles. Some the rides here are very scary!

2. 1/2 day to visit Universal Studio in North Hollywood to see how the
movie industry makes its money!

3. Half day to visit the movies walk of fame on Hollywood Blvd, the
area around Mann's Chinese theater, the Rodeo shops catered to
celebrity, movies stars' mansions in Beverly Hills nearby. Stop by
University of California at Los Angeles, in Westwood, right next to
Beverly Hills to see how the spoiled brats live, work and hang out
while allegedly pursuing some education.

4. At night, go to the restaurant row on La Cienega Blvd, Beverly
Hills, for dinner at one of the fancy restaurants where the rich and
famous go to dine every night. Late night go to a few of the trendy
clubs in Beverly Hills and Hollywood. You should see the long lines
of people waiting to get into the popular clubs.

5 1/2 day for The J P Getty museum, unless you are very interested in
a large collection of fine antiquities, next to Freeway 405 in
Beverly Hills, or the Los Angeles Contemporary Museum of Arts in
downtown LA near Beverly Hills.

6 From downtown LA, visit the Farmer Market where local farmers sell
their produce. Also visit the garment district around Los Angeles St.
where clothing, shoes and accessories are sold on the streets in many
blocks.

7 Visit the old Chinatown in downtown LA and the much larger new
Chinatown in Monterey Park, East of Los Angeles, for some delicious
food from all regions of China and some fine ethnic shopping.

8 Hangout at one of the popular beaches like Venice Beach in the day
time, and Santa Monica pier at night, to see how locals hang out and
play. The beaches in the LA bay are fairly clean but ocean water is
polluted with industrial chemicals and household wastes and therefore
not worth swimming in.

6 Drive South on Highway 1 (Pacific Coast Highway) through the Marina
Del Rey areas, the main harbor for recreational boats in Los Angeles,
to the City of El Segundo, on the South side of the runways of Los
Angeles International airport, to see the giant industrial/military
complex producing the finest fighter and commercial jets,
intercontinental ballistic missiles, large satellites, electronic and
weapon systems….as the two largest industries of Southern California
are defense/aerospace and movies/entertainment

7 Go to Hawthorne airport, next to Grumman/Northrop Aircraft factory,
for 30-minute introductory flight lesson for $30. The flight schools
will take you flying in one of their highly experienced Cessna 152 or
Piper Tomahawk, hopefully by an equally experienced flight instructor,
for a 30-minute flying lesson over the Los Angeles basin, most likely
over the Palos Verde peninsula, where the view and the ride are both
breath taking! You will be flying within a few miles of jet liners
landing and departing LAX. This is how free Americans are, and they
have to take very serious responsibilities to protect those precious
freedoms. I have to admit I don't know how the flight schools are
screening their student pilots before they will take them up in their
planes after the Sep 11 terrorists' air attacks in New York and
Washington DC. Just remember that all planes are federally registered.
Hijacking even a small plane is a very serious federal crime, that may
land offenders in federal prison for decades!

8 From LAX you can book cheap flight and hotel packages to Las Vegas,
where all 7 deadly sins are catered to in all different levels of
prices, tastes, sophistication and volumes. Round trip flights/hotel
packages in Las Vegas, if booked ahead, can be had for as little as
$150 per person through Edxpedia.com or Travelocity.com. You
probably don't want to waste your time driving from Los Angeles. It
would be a boring 5 hour drive on a fairly dangerous 2-lane highway,
over some very hot and desolate deserts. This road is almost always
congested with LA's gamblers traffic going and returning on Friday and
Sunday. Las Vegas is where the jet set all over the world comes to
indulge in serious gambling, clubbing, partying, dining….and should
not be missed. From Las Vegas, you can potentially rent a car and
drive across the border to Arizona through some very scenic mountain
and desert landscape to visit The Grand Canyon, a unique natural
wonder of the grandest proportion that should not be missed. The
drive from Las Vegas o the Grand Canyon should take about 3 to 4 hours
on good, safe, divided highways.

9 From LAX areas, drive South on Route 1 along the beach, and visit
the string of beach towns where the wealthier locals live. Visit the
Redondo Beach Pier where there are a lot of restaurants and bars.
After leaving Redondo Beach, take a drive along the beach through the
Palos Verde peninsula where beautiful houses perch on 200-meter high
rocky shore. See a street over an earth quake fault that was severed
and moved sideway a few hundred meters by earthquakes. Probably take
a hike down to one of the secluded beaches along Palos Verde Estates,
where people prefer not to wear clothes! The nudists and
exhibitionists on this beach are young and old, beautiful and some not
so good looking…. Of course the area is very dark at night and you
cannot see a whole lot of anything. Besides the neighbors have been
complaining about prophylactics of all sorts and sizes being littered
in the area. Local police has been patrolling to catch those who
partake any sexual activities in public places. This area is not
recommended after dark unless one is muscular, well armed and having
very adventurous tastes.

10 Visit the Long Beach / San Pedro harbor to see the life of
commercial shipping and fishermen. Along with giant shipping lines and
cruise ships, the fishermen still haul their catches to the processing
and packing factories in this harbor. The Long Beach harbor has the
Aquarium of the Pacific and a lot of restaurants/shops/entertainment.

11 In Orange County, you should spend a day to enjoy Disneyland in
Anaheim. You may want to go to dinner at one of the
dinner/entertainment shows like the Medieval Times or Wild Bill. Both
are on Knotts Blvd., near Knotts Berry farm, another Theme Park, about
2 miles West of Disney Land. Southern California has almost all types
of world's cuisine along with Vietnamtown, Koreatown, Indiatown, all
within 10 miles of Disneyland. You can search them out in the
internet.

12 Visit South Coast Plaza at the corner of freeways 405 and 55. This
is a giant upscale shopping mall with lots of trendy restaurants. The
Orange County Performance Arts Center is just across the street.

13 Drive South on Freeway 55 to visit The Orange County Swap Meet on
Saturday and Sunday only, a very large outdoor market place unique to
the dry and sunny weather of Southern California.

14 When you are on highway 1, in the Newport Coast area of the City
of New Port Beach, there are a lot of new housing tracts, with
colorful banners and flags, being built on top of the hills looking
out to the Pacific Ocean. Land near the beach is very expensive,
therefore average new houses in this area are going for between US$2
million to US$5 million, with anywhere between 2000 to 5000 square
feet (200 to 500 sq meters) living space. Model houses should be open
to the public during work hours. You could stop by for a quick visit
to see how luxury houses are built in the US, and how ridiculously
close together these houses are built on small lots.

15 Right next to New Port Beach is the City of Irvine, a very nice,
clean, green, reputably the best master-planned city for family life
in the world. I've met city planners from all over the world who came
to study and to emulate its planning. Old and new houses in Irvine
are, on average, lower than New Port Beach, going for $500K to over $2
million. Immigrants from Asia very much prefer the life styles, school
quality and property values in Irvine, such that the population now
is over 50% Asian. On weekends real estate agents hold ‘open house' to
show off the houses on sale. You could just walk in and appraise the
values of the houses on sale!

16 Drive South on highway 1 along the coast line to visit the beaches.
I would spend an afternoon in Laguna Beach. This is a romantic artist
colony with a lot of art galleries and fine restaurants. You can
probably swim in the ocean, but the water in the winter will be likely
in the 60's degree F while mid day air will be in the 70's.

17 From Orange County drive South on Freeway 405 towards San Diego.
Stop at San Juan Capistrano to visit the mission to see how the
Franciscan monks resettled and built about 10 missions along the
Pacific coast, from San Diego all the way up to San Francisco since
1600's.

18 Further South on Freeway 5 along the coast, passed the 2 nuclear
power domes on the beach, you will drive thorough the training Camp
Pendleton of the US Marines, the toughest fighters in the world. On a
good days, you may see them practice taking a beach head with landing
crafts, helicopter gun ships, amphibious tanks, and the Navy's alleged
battle ships somewhere out in the ocean…

19 Stop in Carlsbad for a pit stop, looking at the thousands of acres
of flower farms where all sorts of flowers are planted for cutting and
for seeds. There are some very large orchid farms near the freeway if
you know where to look!

20 San Diego has many nice spots worth visiting that I already wrote
about in the previous posts. Northern most is La Jolla with its fine
beaches, La Jolla Cove where you can snorkel to see a lot of fish
right off the sand. The University of California of San Diego is
here. This is the area where you will find the most elegant and most
expensive houses in San Diego county. South of La Jolla is Black
beach, a nudist beach where the locals bare all. Now you can tell what
kinds of beaches I prefer hehehe….

21 Seaworld on Mission Bay is a beautiful marine park with a lot of
exotic fish species, learning opportunities and fun. There are a
number of hotels, camp grounds and recreation parks on the bay where
you can rent sail / power boats or jet skis to cruise around. The
water in Mission bay is stagnant and black with dead marine plants.

22 Next to Seaworld is The Old Town, the original settlement where
the Franciscan monk, Junipero Serra, built the first mission in
California. This area is a historic state park with many old houses,
shops, restaurants preserving the life styles of the first settlers in
California.

23 The San Diego Zoo is worth a day visit, being a very nice, clean,
beautiful zoo where exotic species of flora and fauna thrive. The
Wild Animal Park is about 30 miles North, in the City of Encinitas.
This is where the Zoo breeds and cares for its sick animals in
simulated wild environment. It's harder to see and to get close to
animals here.

24 Balboa Park, in the middle of San Diego, has Arts, Science and
Aerospace museums. Worth a visit.

25 San Diego Wharp and Convention Center area has a large shopping
center, fine restaurants, harbor cruise ships etc…this is where cruise
ships dock.

26 Horton Shopping Plaza is a very large shopping areas downtown where
the locals go shopping, movies, fast foods etc.

27 The Gas Lamp district next to Horton Plaza is a trendy area with a
lot of foot traffic, with many restaurants and clubs. This is where
local people hang out.

28 As you drive South toward Mexico, you will pass the beach town
National City. From the freeway you can see the large battleships
being maintained and supplied…The US Navy provides day tours of its
battleships, including the Aircraft carriers anchored farther out in
the ocean.

29 Drive South to the US/Mexico border. Park your car in the many
parking lots and take a walk across the border to visit Tijuana,
Mexico. Its Artisan Village and many restaurants, bars, shops …are
within walking distance of the border. Make sure to bring your
passport to gain reentry into the US.

Have fun.



(Cindy Mao) wrote in message . com...
Nice list. Thanks.
I also have a plan to visit southern CA this winter. But I just want
to take a quick view of there. So what places are most worthwhile to
go in just one week?

(PETER PAN) wrote in message m...
Hi Ann,

I am a native of Southern California. For LA/Orange County, I would
suggest the following attractions, considering the ages of your
children:

1. Six Flag Magic Mountain in Valencia, a theme ride park 50 miles
North of Los Angeles.

1.5 the J P Getty Museum nxt to FWY 405 in Beverly Hills and various
museums in Downtown LA.

2. Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, a theme ride park about 5 miles
West of Disneyland.

3. South Coast Plaza, a very large upscale shopping mall with trendy
restaurants, and the Orange COunty Performing Arts Center, about 5
miles South of Disneyland.

4. Orange County Swap meet, the world's largest outdoor market with
mostly new goods, arts and crafts, on freeway 55 10 miles South of
disneyland.

5. Newport Beach and the Balboa Fun Zone, where teen-age kids hang
out.

6. Spend a day in Laguna Beach, an artist colony with nice
restaurants and lots of art galleries.

In San Diego, of course there are the Zoo, Sea World and the
followings:

7. Visit la Jolla Cove where you can snorkel within 20 feet of the
sand to see a lot of garibaldis, various local fish species and sea
weeds.

8. Old town for the history of settlement in California

8.5 Visit the shopping and restaurant rows on the SD harbor and wharp.

9. Balboa Park, with Art and Aerospace museums...

10. Gas Lamp quarter for restaurants, shows....

10.5 Take a SD harbor cruise from downtown.

11. Go ocean fishing at many Sport fishing operators on Mission Bay.
The Super 80's has 2 for 1 deal where parents can take along a child
for $80 full day fishing, with all takles, hooks, baits and helping
staffs. I got a lot of sea bass, baracuda and tuna with my 5 year old
son.

12. Visit Tijuana, Mexico right across the border. Buy local arts
and crafts very cheap at their Artist Village, within walking distance
from the border...

13. Make an appointment with the US Navy to visit the working aircraft
carriers that anchor a few miles off shore. QUite a show.

There are probably a lot more interesting things to do. I will post
more as I recall them.

Have a great time with your kids.