Visiting California for the first time...help me plan, please...

[stevenpensacola]

My wife and I will be taking a Disney Cruise (yes I know this is not the Cruise board, but this board is much more active, and I knew I'd get many more responses...and I'm asking for things to do on land, not on the cruise (there...that should cover everyone ) this fall along the California Coast.

We've never been to the left coast...so I'm seeking your help in what we should do on dry land in the time we'll have there.

This is what our schedule will look like:

We arrive in LA around mid-day the day before "day 1" so we'll have that afternoon and next morning in LA.

Day Port Guest Ashore Guest Onboard
1 Los Angeles, California — 4:00 p.m.
2 At Sea — —
3 San Francisco, California 08:00 a.m. —
4 San Francisco, California — 10:30 p.m.
5 At Sea — —
6 San Diego, California 08:30 a.m. 9:30 p.m.
7 Ensenada, Mexico 08:30 a.m. 4:30 p.m.
8 Los Angeles, California 9:30 a.m. —

We're flying into LAX and staying in San Pedro near the Cruise Terminal. What should we do in our limited time in LA based on where we're staying, and where we'll need to go?
*
*
*
*
*

What are the "must see" things to do in San Francisco?
*
*
*
*
*
Most of the Disney excursions are a little pricey...is it pretty easy to navigate around SF on foot or public transportation?

in San Diego?
*
*
*
*
*

in Ensenada? (worth getting off the ship?)

We live near beautiful beaches...so visiting a beach is not a priority for us.

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[skiingfast]

In LA will you have a car? It's helpful.

Disneyland Resort. Hollywood Blvd. Santa monica Peir and Venice Beach. La Brea Tar Pits.


SF. Very easy to get around. Look at the San Francisco CityPass. http://www.citypass.com/san-francisco It will include your tranportation and take you to the major sites. Also you will want to see China Town. Maybe Alcatraz, reserve this months out, it can sell out. Maybe go to the Golden Gate up at Fort Point. Baker Beach is really nice and a better view they you have near you. Knobb Hill. The Cable Car Museum. The Disney Family Museum. All by muni bus or cable car.

If you rent a car it's no far to the Red Woods in Muir Woods National Monument.


SD Seaworld, Zoo, Safari Park, Balboa Park, USS Midway, Cornado even Legoland. Car rentals are close to the docks.

Esenada, tough call it's not the same place I went to years ago.

 

[usnuzuloose]

Went there in Jan. Stick with the ship excursion, it is always safer. There is a street which is just off in the distance from the port, it is all shopping. Hang on to your belongings. Kids there are always tugging at you to buy something. It is quite sad. But I did a cooking excursion at a mexican restaurant. And then as the group we went up and down the street for shopping. Bought some awesome vanilla while I was there. There is the Blow hole. You can look that up online.

 

[ncc1701]

There are some hop on /off bus tours of SF. We had one last year that we upgraded to a 2 day. They went across the Golden Gate and you could get off at each side to take photos.
There is also a ferry that you can take across the bay to walk around Sausalito.Since you in SF overnight you could book a morning tour of Alcatraz. With transportation and the walk up & down the island figure on 3 hours.
My suggestion for SD would be to either go to the Zoo and tour that or else go over to Coronado. There you can walk the beach, the town and see the HotelDel Coronado. Then if time allows tour the Midway before it closes. There is also a hop on /off trolley tour of SD.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Glad to see you posting here.

In SD, I think the hop on/hop off trolley will take you to Balboa Park. I love this park and it is also where the SD Zoo is located. There is a Japanese Garden in the park and at least 15 different museums housed in those gorgeous Spanish mission buildings.

It should also take you to Old Town San Diego...but you might find it will overlap with things you might see in Ensenada (I've not been to Ensenada).

I think that the other sight might be Seaport Village.

One of the other posters has suggested the Midway and the Del Hotel. Both of these, and Balboa Park would be my recommendation for the one day in SD.

The Gaslamp Quarter is where you'll find some restaurants and bars. Last time I was at the Gaslamp Quarter, I thought it was getting a little seedy...but that might have been an incorrect impression as it was later on at night.

 

[stevenpensacola]

What can you tell me about the Walt Disney Museum in SF?

Worth the time if you're not a Disney "nut"?

Trying to decide if we should visit.

Had not even heard of this museum until a few days ago.

Thanks!

 

[usnuzuloose]

I stopped in, I think it was about a 3-4 hour tour. I can't remember the cost. There is aso a cafe and a gift shop

 

[mvf-m11c]

The WD Family Museum features the life and legacy of Walt Disney. It has original art work that Walt drawn, props, awards, Lilly Belle Live Steamer, etc. I haven't been to the museum since it opened in 2009.

Here is the website about the Walt Disney Family Museum

It costs $20 for adult, $15 for senior & student w ID, $12 child 6-12 and under 6 free.

Even if you are not a Disney fan or nut, it is a great museum to check out.

 

[franandaj]

Personally, if you are not a huge Disney Fan, I would suggest that you hang around the pier and enjoy the restaurants or the street vendors. When I was young and in HS we spent a lot of time up there hanging around the Pier and the Wharf and going to Ghiradelli. It is very touristy, but it is a lot of fun. You can get some good seafood for cheap or you can go into the restaurants in the area and pay $$$ for some excellent meals. Both sides osf the spectrum are available to you.

Have a great trip!

 

[NStramler]

What can you tell me about the Walt Disney Museum in SF?

Worth the time if you're not a Disney "nut"?

Trying to decide if we should visit.

Had not even heard of this museum until a few days ago.

Thanks!

We love this museum... but we all like Disney. If I was only going to be in the area one time, and I was on a Disney Cruise.. I would not miss it. There is also a beauriful view of the Golden Gate Bridge from one of the windows...