Santa Barbra ~ Worth a Visit?

[KCmike]

Our daughter is graduating this year so I know exactly what you mean. Luckily she has been accepted to USC so now I have a built in excuse to make it out to CA more often! Maybe yours will fall in love with a California school also.

That's amazing that's she's being interviewed for the Presidential Scholarship! Congrats. What made her think USC?

 

[PrincessInOz]

Hey KCMike. If you're thinking Catalina, not sure if you found this thread. Sherry E (one of the mods on the DL subforum) started it and has been trying to keep it as a Catalina superthread.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2703621

Just one thing about Catalina - the activities do cost $$. But if you can stay overnight, I would definitely recommend that you do so. If you want to stay one night, then go mid-week. Most of the hotels on Catalina will ask for a 2 night minimum at the weekend.



Have you considered heading inland a little bit? The countryside near the San Diego Wildlife Animal Park is quite pretty; particularly if you consider taking the 78 towards Julian (very sweet little town that you could do as a quick stop...apple pie is fantastic there) and heading towards Anza Borrego dessert. There are also a couple of wineries near the WAP. I've never stopped to try the wine but it might make a nice drive as an alternative.

 

[KCmike]

Hey KCMike. If you're thinking Catalina, not sure if you found this thread. Sherry E (one of the mods on the DL subforum) started it and has been trying to keep it as a Catalina superthread.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2703621

Just one thing about Catalina - the activities do cost $$. But if you can stay overnight, I would definitely recommend that you do so. If you want to stay one night, then go mid-week. Most of the hotels on Catalina will ask for a 2 night minimum at the weekend.



Have you considered heading inland a little bit? The countryside near the San Diego Wildlife Animal Park is quite pretty; particularly if you consider taking the 78 towards Julian (very sweet little town that you could do as a quick stop...apple pie is fantastic there) and heading towards Anza Borrego dessert. There are also a couple of wineries near the WAP. I've never stopped to try the wine but it might make a nice drive as an alternative.

Yeah I've seen and been on that thread. Sherry E has been very kind to me about info regarding Catalina. I have been meaning to get out there because its something I really want to do but its always been put on the backburner. If we get to do it this year then it will be only a day trip while we're staying near Disneyland. We'll head out early to catch the boat out and try to do the golf cart tour or something. We are a family of five though and I don't know if they have any 5 people golf carts? I sure hope we don't have to rent two of them. Also probably not enough time to go inland. The kids have asked (demanded ) a revisit to the Hotel Del Coronado and that will be Priority #1 with Disneyland Priority #2 or its vice versa. I wish we could do 2 weeks out there and hit every little thing I wanted. My heart wants to go back to Yosemite one more time. I also want to see the Walt Disney Museum in SF! I have also never been to the Redwoods that are six hours north of SF.

My wife is trying to talk the kids out of the DEL in San Diego so we can go north again but I have a feeling this trip (our last real family vacation) will be a tribute to their favorite of all time.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Why do your kids want to go back to DEL? If it is the beach, then there are plenty of beaches like Huntington to visit. If it is the hotel, bribe them with another hotel.

It's funny about Yosemite. I have the opportunity to visit San Francisco a lot (DH works for an IT company and we're supposed to be based out there) and every trip I say I need to go back to Yosemite. It hasn't happened yet but I know it will one of these trips. If I were in your shoes, I'd definitely drive up PH1 after DLR and head NorCal way, go to Yosemite and try to get to the coastal redwoods.

BTW - Santa Cruz is also another cute boardwalk to visit if you do head NorCal way. There is a steam train that runs from Roaring Camp out of Felton that runs to Santa Cruz.
If you didn't have time to go 6 hours north, Roaring Camp also do another trip out through 'redwoods'. It's not quite the same as being out in the Redwood NP but it will give you a taste for it. There is a redwood grove out between Santa Cruz and San Jose.

And the other alternative might be Muir Woods, which is a day trip out of San Francisco. You'll definitely get to do the Disney Family museum if you head to SF.

 

[PrincessInOz]

We are a family of five though and I don't know if they have any 5 people golf carts? I sure hope we don't have to rent two of them. Also probably not enough time to go inland.

I don't think I saw any 5 people golf carts....but you could always find out ahead of time? That place that Sherry recommends was called Michael's in 2010.
We were there in May and the 1st ferry started at 8 am. The tours inland start early, and we figured we didn't have enough time either. So, we took our time with the golf cart and did a lot of stopping. It was the afternoon that we needed to plan for. We missed out on the zipline...it was booked out early. I think it pretty much sold out after that first boat docked at Avalon. So if you're going and want to do this, I highly recommend that you get in early as well.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Hey Mike,

I'll always remember your pics of the beach and the hotel from your picture thread a few years ago when you stayed at the Hotel Del Coronado. Didn't you find some sand dollars on the beach?

When are you planning on coming out? early summer, mid summer, or another time?

It's been a few years since I've been to Catalina Island, so I'm sure Sherry has a lot more updated information, but your family will probably enjoy the glass bottom boat or sub as one of the excursions. I've spent the night there a couple of times, and it is a fun place to visit.

Have you ever been to San Juan Capistrano to visit the mission there? That would make a nice morning or afternoon visit. It is one of the 21 California missions that is part of our history.

 

[KCmike]

Why do your kids want to go back to DEL? If it is the beach, then there are plenty of beaches like Huntington to visit. If it is the hotel, bribe them with another hotel.

It's funny about Yosemite. I have the opportunity to visit San Francisco a lot (DH works for an IT company and we're supposed to be based out there) and every trip I say I need to go back to Yosemite. It hasn't happened yet but I know it will one of these trips. If I were in your shoes, I'd definitely drive up PH1 after DLR and head NorCal way, go to Yosemite and try to get to the coastal redwoods.

BTW - Santa Cruz is also another cute boardwalk to visit if you do head NorCal way. There is a steam train that runs from Roaring Camp out of Felton that runs to Santa Cruz.
If you didn't have time to go 6 hours north, Roaring Camp also do another trip out through 'redwoods'. It's not quite the same as being out in the Redwood NP but it will give you a taste for it. There is a redwood grove out between Santa Cruz and San Jose.

And the other alternative might be Muir Woods, which is a day trip out of San Francisco. You'll definitely get to do the Disney Family museum if you head to SF.

You don't like the Hotel Del Coronado?

 

[KCmike]

Hey Mike,

I'll always remember your pics of the beach and the hotel from your picture thread a few years ago when you stayed at the Hotel Del Coronado. Didn't you find some sand dollars on the beach?

When are you planning on coming out? early summer, mid summer, or another time?

It's been a few years since I've been to Catalina Island, so I'm sure Sherry has a lot more updated information, but your family will probably enjoy the glass bottom boat or sub as one of the excursions. I've spent the night there a couple of times, and it is a fun place to visit.

Have you ever been to San Juan Capistrano to visit the mission there? That would make a nice morning or afternoon visit. It is one of the 21 California missions that is part of our history.

We did find some sand dollars on that trip! Wow what a great memory you have! We are trying to put the final touches on summer vacation. It most likely be July which is unfortunate for the Hotel Del because their free days expire in June. The kids love it there and I have to admit I like the walking around without a care there. They loved the Village Pizzeria (pizza and the ocean is a deadly combination in our house!) and the now closed Beach N Diner.

I will head over to see what I can find on Catalina again. I will know this week what the budget will allow.

Thanks Mary Jo!

 

[PrincessInOz]

You don't like the Hotel Del Coronado?

I love the Hotel. I have an aunt that lives near San Diego so we visit her as often as we can and I love going to Coronado.

It's just that if the trade off is between Yosemite and the Del, I'd take Yosemite any day. But that's me.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I love the Hotel. I have an aunt that lives near San Diego so we visit her as often as we can and I love going to Coronado.

It's just that if the trade off is between Yosemite and the Del, I'd take Yosemite any day. But that's me.

Me, too! Though, as a trade-off we're going camping in Sequoia this summer - I can hardly wait!

btw, love your tag. I get it - Princess down under

 

[PrincessInOz]

Me, too! Though, as a trade-off we're going camping in Sequoia this summer - I can hardly wait!

btw, love your tag. I get it - Princess down under

Enjoy Sequoia and say hello to the General for me.

Thanks! I love my tags too. I had to bribe the TF with lots of food porn in order to get them included.

 

[KCmike]

Hong Kong Disneyland Princess in OZ? How cool is that!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Hong Kong Disneyland Princess in OZ? How cool is that!

Officially, we're going on holiday to Hong Kong (at least that's how I sold it to DH).


But I get my Disney fix as well.


I have a PTR started, which will turn into a TR (link is in my signature below). Feel free to visit.

 

[SgtClaymore]

Santa Barbra is so beautiful and is definitely worth the trip! Be careful though, you might not want to leave once you have been there.

 

[Judy from Boise]

I love Santa Barbara, but it is part of where I grew up so I am prejudiced. They have a cute zoo there that has world class landscaping and view, almost a must do........