Other Things to Do in Southern CA When Visiting Disneyland

[disneypremium]

If you are ever board one night, try The Block at Orange! If your family is starving from a long trip on the road, YOU HAVE to go to Pofolks (accorss the street from medievil times) and try a sampler platter!!! And if you are hungry for lunch or diner, Naples (in the downtown disney district) has the best pizza you will ever taste!

 

[DizzyLaura]

For those of you planning to go into san francisco when you take your trip to calif. Keep in mind that the drive from there to Disneyland area is about 7 hours. (only one by plane) Thought that might help when planning!

Dizzy Laura

 

[alekana]

Originally posted by 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?

The Zoo. We just went to the Wild Animal Park with our 3 and 6 yr old kids a few months ago. They both enjoy the zoo more although the bird show at the Wild Animal Park was very good.

Also, if you go to San Juan Capistrano to see the mission, there is a place just over the Railroad Tracks past Sarducci's called Jones Mini Farm that is great for the kids. They have a petting zoo, pony rides and a little train. My kids love to go there. Sarducci's has great food too!

http://www.sanjuancapistrano.net/JonesFarm/

Tracey

 

[missypie]

This won't be to everyone's liking, but if you are Christian, and will be in Aneheim on a Sunday, you should really try to go to a service at the Crystal Cathedral. Lots to look at, dramatic music (whether or not it's to your taste, 'certainly dramatic), a big name speaker every Sunday (in addition to one or both of the Shullers [sp?]). My kids complained before it started (going to church while at Disneyland???!!!) but they voluntarily admitted that they enjoyed it.

 

[Darian]

I've been to Medieval Times several times and have always had a lot of fun. I thought they served cornish game hens instead of chicken.... if its really chicken, then dude, those are some itsybitsy birds! Whatever they were, they were simply scrumptious! And those roasted potato wedges... oh baby! Not to mention the deserts.. those little pastry thingys. The show is just awesome too. Beautiful horses and good theatrics. Took some friends from Australia there, (wonderful kind people) but they thought the crowd was too bloodthirsty and were offended by the violence. I guess we are the New Barbarians. Still a great show.

If Scheuller isn't your bag, (Crystal Cathedral) Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa is Chuck Smith's home church and its not very far from D-land. And speaking of bald pastors, Greg Laurie (Harvest Christian Fellowship) is a 35-45 minute drive from the d-land resort out east in Riverside.

Darian

 

[missypie]

Pay attention to the hint about violence in the last post about Medieval Times. It is quite intense. I took a group of boys there for my son's 12th birthday and they loved it big time. But there were also some birthday party groups of 5 year old girls and they were not having a very good time. The emphasis is on fighting, not princesses., so go if that's what you like, but stay away if you don't like fighting.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

<font color=navy>Six Flags Magic Mountain
We've been there a few times. It's located just north of Los Angeles, in Valencia, in the middle of some hills, and probably what's considered the high desert. So, in the summer it's very hot, and in the winter it can be very cold. They also have Hurricane Harbor there - water park.

If you like big rollercoasters, then Magic Mountain is a great place to visit. I've been taking my kids there since they were 5 & 6, and they enjoyed it then (even though they didn't go on a lot of rides), and they enjoy even more now that they can go on the big rides.

The park usually is open 10-10, and I recommend going there first thing. I think food is pretty expensive there, and probably one of the best deals is the Moose Lodge, where you might pay a dollar more, but at least it's better atmosphere. Also, near the Gotham City area, try the roasted corn - it's soooo good. You can also eat at the Marie Callendars right outside the park, if you want to eat at a real restaurant.

I've been on all but one of the coasters there - haven't been on the newest one yet.

 

[QueenTriton]

If you have young kids, you may want to try Adventure City. Now don't think it is going to be some great theme park. It is a nice small park with kiddie-type rides that you might find at a fair. It is affordable, though, with relatively short lines and my kids (3, 5) always have a blast. There is a train, carousel, mini ferris wheel, petting farm, arcade, etc. It is in Anaheim and I'm sure it has a website.

If the zoo interests you, but you're plans don't take you to San Diego, the LA Zoo is nice and located at Griffith Park. Probably 30-45 minutes from Disney.

Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana - a hand's on children's science museum.

 

[Gottaluvthemouse]

Adventure City is located at 1238 S. Beach Blvd. Anaheim, Ca. 714) 236-9300.
Here are a few other spots that I do not think I have seen mentioned.

Wild Bill’s Wild West Extravaganza
7600 Beach Boulevard, Buena Park
800) 883-1546

Wild Rivers
405 South at Irvine Center Drive
Irvine, CA.
714) 768-WILD

Raging Waters
210 Freeway North at Raging Waters Drive
San Dimas, Ca.
909) 802-2200

Aquarium of The Pacific
100 Aquarium Way
Long Beach,Ca.
562) 590-3100

Queen Mary
Pier “1” Port of Long Beach
310) 435-3511

Getty Center
1200 Getty Center Drive
Bel Air, CA.
310) 440-7300

 

[disneymom928]

We went to Wild Bill's a couple of weeks ago on our visit and although the entertainment was okay, the food left a lot to be desired for the price that we paid. We would not do it agian.
Michelle

 

[disneypremium]

Think PoFolks. Its the best and u wont regret it!

 

[HaleyB]

Don't forget Lego Land. We love it, it is not Disney, but still nice. We always go to Knott's (look for great discounts at Ralph's grocery stores- not all the time). One big tip on Lego Land that we wish we had known, we noticed on the way in that a second day was only $8 more than one day! If your kids like to build with Lego's you can spend 2 days easily...

Laguna Beach. Great Vegitarian food to be had, there is a Krishna buffet, and a neat local place called Taco Loco a little south of the main beach. Check to see if the Lagunia art festival is on.

Huntington Gardens and Library. Neat place. Have tea there. It is a Museum. It is near to Pasadena which is a neat old town with intresting things to look at (buildings and bridges).

There is a neat Buddist temple that is open to the public in So Cal, Pomona maybe??

Another great Museum is the Norton-Simon.

Hertz Castle is a bit up the coast. Okay more than a bit, but a nice long drive.

Too many neat costal towns to list.

Check out the tide pools. There are several places along the coast.

Funny fact-" La Brea" means The tar, so "The la Brea Tar Pits" (which is how it is said) is "The the tar Tar pits".

 

[mobetsy]

The Buddhist temple is the Hsi Lai Temple, the largest in the western hemisphere I think, and it is in Hacienda Heights (I lived there for 6 years!), which is off the 60 freeway just east of the 605. See http://www.hsilai.org/ for details. Less than 10 minutes to the south is the La Habra Children's Museum, an absolutely fabulous small museum for kids about 2 to 8. It is low tech and high on creativity. There's a good playground right outside.

Legoland is fabulous for kids about 2-10 and their parents. Much smaller and thus less exhausting than DL. A good place to eat right near there is Pat & Oscars...family atmosphere, fairly good pizza, reasonable prices; it is on Palomar Airport Rd, a couple of minutes south of Legoland.

The Norton Simon Museum is in Pasadena, as is the Huntington Library and Gardens; the two make a wonderful day trip, and you can easily go take a look at the Rose Bowl, too!

 

[Carlen T]

Just sayin' HI!