CA Must Do's ???

[spendleb]

Hi all, last year we went to Orlando and as well as all the theme parks we went on an airboat ride and viewed the gators and other wildlife close up, it was by far the most amazing aspect of the holiday, we are all theme park freaks but this was something natural and different, the reason for me posting is to ask if there is anything in a similar mode recommended for Southern California, I know there won't be airboats but can anyone recommend something we should try or see whilst we are there, something to get us close to the wildlife (not a zoo although we are going to SD Zoo), well wildlife apart from Snakes!!! (Do you have Snakes in CA, I mean poisonous ones we have a risk of coming across!).

Cheers for any suggestions!

Simon

PS We have a three year old so no extreme sports

 

[dbanzai]

I'm not from the area, so I can't give you too many ideas, but when I was there last year, I tried to drive out to Joshua Tree State Park, which was like a 1-2 hour drive from Anaheim.

 

[iceskatejen]

Oh, yes, indeed we do have snakes. Rattlesnakes. You don't want to be bitten by one, but they do tend to try to stay away from people from what I can tell. I have them in my area (which is near a nature preserve) and have only seen a few. They don't tend to hang out in populated areas, though.

 

[spendleb]

Oh joy I have an inquisitive 3 year old who would think nothing of trying to pick one up! Think I will need to keep a tight reign on him

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

In La Jolla, just a tad bit north of San Diego there is a beach there where a lot of seals hang out. Tink33 knows more about this beach, since I've never been there myself.

If you're going in February or April there is whale watching - you can go out on a boat & see them up close.

The San Diego Wild Animal Park lets you see animals in their own environment. Tink33 also knows more about this than me since I've never even been there. (yikes)

I also like the La Brea Tarpits in LA - where animals thousands of years ago sank in the tar & they've excavated their bones. There is a museum behind the tarpits where they put the animals together - saber toothed cats, giant sloths, woolly mammoths, etc.

If you're coming in the spring, a nice outing is to Anza Borrego (they show this area in the attraction Soaring Over California), where there is a nature center that shows you the desert & a mile nature trail that has holes in the rocks where the native Americans used to grind their meal, as well as other things. The trail ends at an oasis that you can't even see until you're almost there -- there is a stream there among palm trees. It's a nice visit to the desert.

If you go to Catalina Island, you can do things like go on the glass bottomed boat, where you'll see animal life, as well as other tours there. One night we went on a boat & saw the flying fish - that was cool.

 

[pocohontas2004]

Mary Jo:
How far are the places you mention like La Brea tar pits and the Arrego desert spot from Anaheim? How easy to reach?

 

[rsjj]

your 3 yo might enjoy travel town in griffith park. it's got trains that you can climb into. quite a few! and there's a train ride around the area as well.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

There's also a trip out to Catalina Island & going on those tours.

When we go to Anza Borrego, it's an all-day trip for us. Drive down to Oceanside, and then cut in on Hwy 78 to the interior, driving through countryside, up to Julian, a town in the mountains and famous for its apple pie. From there, you drive down to the desert to Anza Borrego - there is a nature center there, and you go to a picnic area, then you can hike (it's only about a mile) to an oasis hidden in the hills. You can drive back the same way, or continue to Saltan Sea - largest inland saltwater sea, I think, then go to Palm Springs & back to DL Resort, or spend the night in Palm Springs. This is a day trip I recommend for spring - not summer, since the desert is extremely hot in the summer... of course, you can tailor it to suit you, but this is how we've done this trip ourselves in the past.

The La Brea Tarpits are in the Wilshire District of Los Angeles, just a few blocks away from Rodeo Drive. You can do a day there - go to the La Brea Tarpits, and then on up to the Griffith Park Observatory, which is opening up this year after a 5-year refurbishment. They have an excellent lazarium show there, and that is interesting in itself to visit. I would say that it might take an hour to get to the tarpits & Griffith Park Observatory.

 

[Snow_White]

We just went to the LaBrea Tar Pits last week on our Disneyland vacation!! WE LOVED IT!!!!!!!! The museum is GREAT....lots of great fossils (Mammoth, mastodon, etc.) and very informative. We drove there directly from the Disneyland Hotel and it took us about 40 minutes to get there (we lucked out on the traffic). Traffic was a bit heavier on the way back and it took us about 50 minutes that way.

 

[scroot]

While people have mentioned catalina no one has mentioned the buffalo (american bison) that inhabit the center of the island. If you take an inland tour (to the airport or middle ranch) your will see them. In April there may even be babies.

I love the J. Paul Getty Museum in L.A. $7 for parking with no other admission fee. It is a fabulous place not only for it's world class art but also gardens and buildings.

Of course for the real wildlife try Venice Beach or Hollywood

 

[luckycharm728]

Does anybody know of the La Jolla beach Mary Jo is talking about or of any other beach where we may see some sea lions? We are staying in San Clemente for 2 days before going on to Disneyland and it would be great if my kids could see some sea lions. I'd love it too!!! I saw one in the surf in Cape Cod one year and thought that was just the coolest! If not, I have no problem just hanging out for a day on a Pacific coast beach!

Dori

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Here are some links about the Children's Beach in La Jolla.

http://www.palomar.edu/oceanography/harbor_seals/

http://www.a-zsandiegobeaches.com/lajollachildren'spool.htm

http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-2810710-children_s_pool_beach_la_jolla-i

 

[luckycharm728]

Thanks Mary Jo. That sounds great!

Dori

 

[paulala]

If you have a 3 year old I would not suggest the desert because it is too far a drive for such a young one. And once you're there I think it is really appreciated by adults more than kids. I would suggest Legoland in Carlsbad. That is just north of San Diego and it is really geared towards someone your youngsters age.
http://www.lego.com/legoland/california/Default.asp?locale=2057
Don't worry about snakes down here. I've been here 48 years and have only seen 2.