Other Things to Do in Southern CA When Visiting Disneyland

[WebmasterMaryJo]

<font face="Comic Sans MS"><font color=navy>Here is other useful information regarding places to see, and tips on getting around, etc.

Water Parks Post

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Response to question on visiting redwoods & other things in the LA area:

The redwoods are located along the coast of California, starting from San Francisco area, and going up north. These are the tallest trees in the world.

The sequoias are the largest trees in the world (not as tall as a redwood, but much wider in diameter). The closest sequoias are located in Sequoia National Park. It's about a 5.5 hour drive to get there.

We were there last year - this link shows the pictures I took while we were there. The General Sherman is located there & is the largest living thing in the world. One of it's branches is 6.7 feet in diameter. Here's the link: MJ's Sequoia trip Click on Day 3 to see a picture of the kids by a sequoia.

Other things to do while down here... boogie boarding at Newport Beach. You can rent the boards there if you get there early enough (by 10 or so).

Medieval Times is a good place to eat & watch a dinner show of knights fighting.

Knotts Berry Farms is well known for its delicious chicken dinners, and you don't have to enter the park to eat at the restaurant.

Mission San Juan Capistrano and the surrounding area for a nice visit.

Catalina Island for a day or overnight.

You could do the following in one day, as these are basically in the same area:
Visit the La Brea Tarpits, where you can see the tarpits where mammoths and other animals of the time perished. There is a museum there with the fossils they've pulled out. This is the location where the movie Volcano was filmed, where the volcano actually erupted. Very close are Rodeo Drive, and Farmers Market

You can also go up the hill to the Griffith Park Observatory , and finish out your day in Hollywood, visiting the Mann's Chinese Theater and reading the stars on Hollywood Blvd.

Here's some info on Newport Beach

quoting someone else here
Depending on your interests, the Paul Getty museum is fantastic if they like art even a little, it's north of the 405 freeway maybe 1.5 hour away. Also, if they like serious rides and you don't mind the different atmosphere Magic Mountain in Valencia is a great park with all the super scary rides that soemtimes teenagers like, I know I used to...

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Post on Olvera Street, Etc.


The best beaches in Orange County/Los Angeles


More stuff to come.

 

[Tartan Tigger]

Thanks for all this info MaryJo. We leave in 25 days.

 

[Floydian]

Thanks Mary Jo. We leave in, umm, an HOUR! WooHoo!

I forgot about the Capo Mission. I'll have to remind our friends of that one when we get there, since we'll be staying in Capistrano Beach anyway.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

<font color=navy>Brad,

I know you'll have a blast, so I'll just say come home safely.... (oh, and check out the Newport Beach info I just added)

 

[Dodie]

Before we left, we visited:

Audiences Unlimited Online

We were able to obtain a voucher for tickets to a taping of "Everybody Loves Raymond."

TV audience tickets are free, but, be warned, we experienced a lot of standing around waiting and a lot of uncertainty about whether or not we were going to "make the cut" and get in. (The two of us were among the last five people that got in that night, due to a lot of "VIPs" with connections to the show being in attendance.)

If you watch "Raymond," we got to see the taping of the "Let's Fix Robert" episode, where Marie got all of Robert's exes and his police partner together to discuss what was wrong with him. Simply hysterical!

If you have an afternoon/evening to devote to it, it was a lot of fun!

 

[acmmommymouse]

Where is the Disneyland Merchandise outlet from Disneyland? I think it is called Character Premeire, like in Orlando. Is there just one?

 

[phins_jazy]

acmmommymouse......I think this is what you are looking for.

Disney Character Warehouse

Fullerton-Orangefair Mall
233 Orangefair Mall
Fullerton, CA 92832
(714)870-9342

Mon-Sat 10-8
Sun 11-7

I believe it's right off of Harbor and Orangethorpe

I got this from another site so please forgive me if it's incorrect.

 

[teri]

Central Coast between Santa Barbara and Big Sur
Central Coast
Solvang - a Danish-heritage tourist village
Hearst Castle at San Simeon (stay in Cambria, eat at Linn's )
Morrow Bay
Madonna Inn (extreme kitsch, stay one night, definitely eat one meal there, Hobees is right down the road also)
Big Sur

Monterey Bay Area
Pt. Lobos State Reserve
Carmel,17 Mile Drive, Pebble Beach
Monterey - the Monterey Bay Aquarium is wonderful, stay in the wharf area
Capitola Beach has nice shops and restaurants... drive along East Cliff Drive, check out the tidepools, drive by the marina in Santa Cruz, eat breakfast or lunch at Aldo's or a fancier dinner at the Crow's Nest
Santa Cruz Pacific Garden Mall (very interesting shops, rebuilt since major earthquake, college town, quite hip )
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (historic coaster and carousel)
Drive along West Cliff Drive, by the light house, stop and see the seals, drive over to Natural Bridges State Beach

Between Santa Cruz and San Francisco
You don't have to go north of SF to find the most beautiful redwood forests! The Santa Cruz Mountains in Santa Cruz and San Mateo Counties have some of the oldest and tallest stands of redwoods, and some incredibly nice places to camp and hike.
Rt. 9 and Skyline Drive, through the Santa Cruz Mountains (especially if you decide not to do the 5 hour drive to Yosemite or longer to the Sequoias... stop in Boulder Creek for lunch or dinner at Adelita's, check out the Brookdale Lodge, lots of interesting restaurants on that route)
Big Basin State Park with the 12-mile Skyline to the Sea Hiking Trail (incredible redwoods, waterfalls, leads right to the ocean) is California's oldest state park. Lovely!
Ano Nuevo State Reserve (especilly if the elephant seals are there)
Fitzgerald Marine Reserve for excellent tidepools

closer to 101
Bonfante Gardens Theme Park check out my review of Bonfante Gardens, with pictures
If you are driving on I-5 and crossing over at Pacheco Pass to get to 101 through Gilroy, be sure to stop at Casa De Fruta which is a combination roadside fruit and vegetable stand, gift shop, gourmet shop, restaurant, gas station, car wash, and really nice kiddie park including a miniature train ride. A family favorite, good for a 30 minute fun stop.

Great America (park with great coasters, if you need your coaster fix )

If you see a Hobee's Restaurant, definitely choose that over other chains. Trust me!
For Burgers, on the go, you want In-N-Out Burgers Drive In

 

[DonnaS]

Great additions Teri! I love Point Lobos and you are right on about Hobees! Oh that's right, we met there once! If you see a Max's Opera Cafe around stop in for dessert.

In San Jose consider

Winchester Mystery House for a spooky little tour or The Tech Museum for educational fun for the entire family (well maybe not the litttlest ones).

 

[tinagirl]

I can't believe you missed some of my favorite places.

Here are my picks (California Native) in order, after the stuff on Disney Property.
#1 - Knotts Berry Farm - Approx. 15 minutes from Disneyland. Right off of the Interstate 5 at Beach Blvd. - If you visit in October, You NEED to visit Knott's Halloween Haunt...one of the best Halloween things you can do.
#2 - Medieval Times - Prices are cheaper on Weekdays, so try then instead of a Saturday. You can also get a printable coupon at their website. (Also on Beach) - Meal consists of Chicken, Rib(one), "Medieval Pizza", A little apple pie, Veggie Soup, a potato and 2 rounds of pepsi.
#3 - Movieland Wax Museum/Ripley's Believe it or Not - (Also on Beach) you can get a great combo ticket and spend a good portion of your day doing these kitchy little places...especially if you just want to kill time waiting for #2 or #4.
#4 - Wild Bill's - AAA discount available (Also on Beach) - Cool Show...Nice comic named Chip Lowell. Meal consists of Ribs, Fried Chicken, Potatoes, Salad, and Apple Pie Ala Mode. (When we went, it was all you could eat, but it may just have been that we went on a Tuesday in December when there were no people...they also have a different Christmas show.
#5 - Soak City USA - (Also on Beach) - Cool Water Park.
#6 - The Block at Orange - From Disneyland, Go South on Katella and turn right at State college. Fun shops, Large AMC theater. Nice restraunts.
#7/8 - Anything going on at Edison Field (Angels home field) or the Pond (where the Mighty Ducks play) is worth looking into.

I hope I've helped...
All my best
~Tina

 

[stlrod]

I highly recommmend to any Disney-lover a visit to the El Capitan Theatre. It was one of the highlights of our trip last summer. In fact, we just booked a weekend flight to LA in early November. The first thing we are doing is going to see Monsters at the El Capitan. Get the VIP tickets and first row of the balcony if you can. The website is www.elcapitantickets.com

 

[teri]

Here are some tips from Bob Brazeal about San Francisco, Monterey and Carmel (Thanks, Bob!)

SF

I always stay in the Union Square area.
Golden Gate Park (especially weekends when some of the road are closed to cars)
Japanese Tea Garden
California Academy of Science
Park windmills out at the coast
S.F. Zoo
Telegraph Hill
A park at the bottom of Telegraph Hill-arts or crafts often set up there
Shopping district at Filmore and Union
Fisherman's Wharf area and the walk over to Fort Mason
Fort Mason - always something new happening there
Parks along the Bay, west of Fort Mason - That seems to be where the locals go
Muir Woods
Sausalito
Napa
Looking at the homes on Pacific Heights and the views of the bay
All the museums and art gallaries at the wharf area and especially around Union Square
* Richard MacDonald Gallery on Sutter, just east of Powell - Tell Nicky that Bob Brazeal said hello

Tour the Victorian Homes
Eat at Scala's - Bottom of the Sir Francis Drake hotel - Great Italian
Starlight Room at the top of the Sir Francis Drake
Eat at Cliff House - good food - incredible view and history
Shopping at the big 9 story place on Market at the end of Powell - SF Center?
Ghirerdelli Square
Palace of Fine Arts
Bay Cruise
I think the park below Telegraph Hill is Washington Park
Take in a play
I think you've already covered Santa Cruz - neat place!! Love the rollercoaster.

Monterey

Fisherman's Wharf 1 & 2
Cannery Row - Shopping and restaurants!
Monterey Bay Aquarium

Carmel

Drive to Carmel, park and walk around
100's of shops, galleries and restaurants - every one incredible
Some neat little inns in Carmel
Carmel Valley - Wine country and many wineries
17 mile drive - Stop and look at the ocean!!
Big Sur and Pfeiffer State Park (Redwoods!! but much less crowded than Muir Woods)
Stop all along the drive down on Hwy 1
Point Lobos

 

[Tink33]

San Diego

 

[DawnCt]

How is the food at Medeival Times? thanks

 

[Tink33]

Looking for something Wild to do in San Diego?

Roar & Snore

Trainer for a Day

Dolphin Swim

 

[tinagirl]

Just responding to the food question about Medieval Times.
You get: 2 rounds of either beer or pepsi (they have specialty drinks at an extra fee)
VERY VERY yummy soup
A half BBQ chicken
Beef Ribs
Broiled Potato
Bread (usually of the Garlic Variety, but I have had occasion where it varied)
Turnovers for desert (usually apple or cherry)

They also have a vegetarian option including pasta, rice, veggies, and most of all...a FORK which the other members of your party won't have the option of using. The food is GOOOOOD! Especially the chicken which has been slow cooked and simply falls off the bone. Yum Yum.
I do suggest that you pick up a small flag in your knight's color in the gift shop prior to going in (only $1.00 per) that your small "squires" can wave. Also, most Medieval times (there are something like 6 locations in different states) have a torture museum...a must for older kids who are in awe of that "gross factor". Also, stop by the medievaltimes.com website for a coupon, or you can usually pick them up in local California hotels.

Hope this helps.
~Tina

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[DisPadre]

San Diego Zoo or the Wild Animal Park: Which is better for a 4 yr old, a 2 yr old, and heck for that matter two 36 yr olds?

 

[kazzie]

All this advice and information is invaluable in helping me plan my trip to California and Las Vegas for next year.

Having advice about other places ,eg San Francisco and the coast is extremely helpful.Obviously for me as a Brit,but also I'm sure to all the people from other US States also trying to plan a trip and finding it so hard to plan

 

[Claire L]

Just about to book three weeks in California. San Francisco to Los Angeles at a leisurely pace!! Can anyone tell me about the Best Western Carmel Mission Inn?? Also anything about Pismo Beach would be appreciated ie what to do, where to eat, etc etc.

Thanks
Claire

 

[kimmar067]

...on Great Adventure Magic Mountain????!?!