It's a California Adventure! (with added Las Vegas) Pre-trip report

[Lizzybear]

suzycute: I just found your trippie and am going to read it now, it's great to hear what other people did in California

I've given in and booked Universal.. We weren't going to but it looks like the best studio tour (the BTTF bit sold me!!) and Steve will love the house of horrors bit since we missed HHN in Orlando, not sure i'll have the nerve to join him though!

Looks like we'll be doing both the Monterey aquarium and going whale watching, but skipping the 17 mile drive (I figure highway 1 will give me my fill of driving for that day *lol*)

Just found out about Criss Angel's new show in Vegas which looks amazing, hopefully we'll be going to that when the ticket site decides to work for me!

 

[SusanEllen]

Lizzy,if these aren't on your San Francisco list yet, here are a couple of suggestions from me:
1) Ghirardelli Square is a lovely shopping and dining area built around the Ghirardelli chocolate factory (which gives tours and samples). It's right there by Fisherman's Wharf.
2) Presido Park is a National Park that's been leasing and selling sections of it's historic land to some very famous people recently. George Lucas has relocated his Skywalker Ranch special effects people to a new place he's built for them at Presido Park and Diane Disney Miller and others will soon be opening the Walt Disney Family Museum there. You'll recognize the iconic Presido building. It's been featured in dozens of movies and you'll see a replica of it in DCA (the theater where the Golden Dreams film is shown, at least until it becomes history when it's taken out in the big DCA re-do).

One more thing--When you get to Solvang, ask where you can get some aebleskivers. They're like Danish donut holes--supersized. You'll be able to find them easily and you'll be glad you did!

Have fun.

 

[mark&sue]

Sounds an amazing trip. I love Start Trek and I found the Star Trek experience to be brilliant. Especially the restaurant.

Looking forward to reading your trip report. I loved your Orlando one.


Susan

 

[Lizzybear]

Lizzy,if these aren't on your San Francisco list yet, here are a couple of suggestions from me:
1) Ghirardelli Square is a lovely shopping and dining area built around the Ghirardelli chocolate factory (which gives tours and samples). It's right there by Fisherman's Wharf.
2) Presido Park is a National Park that's been leasing and selling sections of it's historic land to some very famous people recently. George Lucas has relocated his Skywalker Ranch special effects people to a new place he's built for them at Presido Park and Diane Disney Miller and others will soon be opening the Walt Disney Family Museum there. You'll recognize the iconic Presido building. It's been featured in dozens of movies and you'll see a replica of it in DCA (the theater where the Golden Dreams film is shown, at least until it becomes history when it's taken out in the big DCA re-do).

One more thing--When you get to Solvang, ask where you can get some aebleskivers. They're like Danish donut holes--supersized. You'll be able to find them easily and you'll be glad you did!

Have fun.

Fab tips, thank you! Ghiradelli Square is definitely on the list, we loved their ice-cream at DTD last year I'm off to read day 2 of your trippie now

 

[NatalieMT]

How fantastic! I LOVE LA, it's such a fun place to spend a few days. Santa Monica ia great and it's nice to say you've seen all the touristy things around that area too. Jealous that you'll be stopping by the LA Ink shop (I adore Kat Von D, she's just beautiful) - maybe next year hey.

Look forward to reading more!

 

[Lizzybear]

Recently booked the Crowne Plaza at Manchester airport for the great price of £69 for the night (everywhere else was showing £80-100!) and aside from that only have Penn & Teller to book, just waiting for our dates to come up on goldstar.com I ended up cancelling the whale-watching as i'm not 100% sure we will have time.. We decided that we'll play it by ear on the day as it's not a busy time of year so we shouldn't have a problem walking up

5 weeks to go, I can't wait!!

 

[SusanEllen]

You've really packed a variety of things in your mega-holiday. Good job of planning.

Please, allow me to share a personal story--a favorite among many happy memories of LA trips. Years ago we saw Penn & Teller at the Wilshire Theatre in Beverly Hills. It's an old auditorium of the movie palace era with old style seating and aisles. When the second half of the show began Penn was doing his comedy thing and Teller moved off the stage and up the aisle scanning the audience. He stopped next to my husband, who was sitting in an aisle seat. He leaned over and whispered in Scott's ear, "Sir, would you like to be in the next trick?" Even though he was a introvert Scott said yes and followed Teller back to the stage and where he "worked" as part of the act for the next ten minutes. It was a rare treat for several reasons, not least of which was that Scott heard the voice of Teller. Know anyone else who has? I don't.

 

[sharon78]

Sounds great, have an amazing time and take loads of photos to show us when you get back.

 

[Lizzybear]

So.. 2 weeks til we leave (well, 13 1/2 days if you count our airport stay the night before!) I've now booked everything and almost finished our itinerary cards, just need to print them out and monopolise my dad's laminator for a while!
I've booked Penn & Teller tickets and also tickets to see Wicked in Hollywood I'm really excited about this as I managed to get them half price (goldstar.com, check them out if you're going to Vegas or California as they have loads of reduced tickets for different shows) and i've wanted to see it for ages

15 days until our first yummy Cheesecake Factory meal

17 days until Alcatraz

21 days until Universal and Wicked

24 days until Six Flags Magic Mountain (which I had to reschedule to a weekend day due to their limited off-season opening hours, we're hoping with our usual theme park strategies of get there for opening and doing the most popular rides first we should still get everything we want to done) and our first visit to DISNEYLAND!! (I know we're slightly mad doing both on the same day, just how it's worked out with having to reschedule Six Flags, Disneyland has midnight closing though and we're 'planning' to take it relatively easy for our first night since we have 2 full days in addition.. I guess we'll see how us 'taking it easy' works out! Anyone would think we were on holiday!! )

25 days until San Diego zoo

and 28 days until our first glimpse of the Las Vegas strip!

 

[arieljasmine]

Great update, Lizzy Really pleased that you got the Wicked tickets - we saw it on Broadway last year and it was fantastic.

Laur's

 

[SusanEllen]

This was some pre-trip update! If the two of you don't have fun on this trip every single day it won't be for lack of opportunites. For goodness sake, never play poker, Lizzy (remember that when you get to Las Vegas). I can tell by the enthusiasm you put in your reports, you'd never be able to keep a straight face!

 

[Lizzybear]

Well we're off to the Crowne Plaza at Manchester airport later today and tomorrow we fly to SF so I thought I would conclude the pre-trip portion of my report I'll be back on 7th October and hopefully will have day 1 up soon after

 

[arieljasmine]

Have a magical trip, Lizzy

Looking forward to hearing about it on your return.

Laur's

 

[SusanEllen]

Have enough fun for me, too, please.

 

[The Fetherstons]

Have lots of fun Lizzy

 

[travelmel]

How did I miss this PTR?????

Any news on the TR?

 

[Lizzybear]

I'm home and we both ADORED California, didn't want to leave one bit, and are still entertaining unrealistic fantasies of moving there I haven't started on the TR yet as I was back in work the day after (I think the kids at the daycare have been saving up all of their energy for me while i've been away too *lol* Been soo busy!!) we got back and haven't had a chance to sort through our thousands of pics yet, hoping to get on that this weekend

 

[SusanEllen]

I know what you mean. California is seductive. I love my Oklahoma, but California is always a lovely dream. I'll try to wait patiently for your trip report and pictures--but, please, hurry.

 

[travelmel]

I'm home and we both ADORED California, didn't want to leave one bit, and are still entertaining unrealistic fantasies of moving there I haven't started on the TR yet as I was back in work the day after (I think the kids at the daycare have been saving up all of their energy for me while i've been away too *lol* Been soo busy!!) we got back and haven't had a chance to sort through our thousands of pics yet, hoping to get on that this weekend

I know what you mean. California is seductive. I love my Oklahoma, but California is always a lovely dream. I'll try to wait patiently for your trip report and pictures--but, please, hurry.

I'm from So Cal and everytime I start crying to DH about wanting to move back he goes to the interent and brings up a 900 sq ft house in Mentone (EW!) with dirt sidewalks and a 4 foot high chain link fence with 3 1/2 foot high weeds for $360,000. Then I say, FINE. We'll stay in Oregon.

I think he keeps that one in his favorite places spot on his PC. Just for show.

 

[SusanEllen]

Travelmel, Thanks for the link to your Disneyland TR. I'll read it while waiting for Lizzy's report. Here's the link to mine if you'd like to take a look. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1953227