Please check my trip plan, we're flexible

[Liltx]

We will be flying in and out of San Diego but it's during Comicon so we will spend one day after we fly in and th3 day we fly out, late flight. We have 2 dds 9 and 11. Dh and I have been to all places exp the zoo, tar pits and Griffith. Beyond the first and last day we can switch/change the plans. We are super active and my kids have done at least 12 hour days minus a stroller since they were 3. Thank you for your help.

Friday, July 18- san diego zoo and point loma sunset hike

Saturday, July 19-La Jolla cove and Childrens Pool park, Scripps Aquarium, La Jolla Shore beach time

Sunday, July 20- Disneyland, fireworks

Monday, July 21- LA Starline bus tour from Anaheim 11 am

Tuesday, July 22- California Adventure, world of color

Wednesday, July 23- LA on our own, Getty, Pinks, Tar Pits, Griffith for sunset

Thursday, July 24- California Adventure, evening at Newport Beach/ Balboa Pier

Friday, July 25- Youth in Education class 10:30, stay for Fantasmic, close park down
Dh will be riding bike with friend in Laguna during the day

Saturday, July 26- Drive to San Diego, USS Midway, late lunch and flight

Our friends told us we need to visit Universal City Walk, any thoughts?

 

[millie0312]

I don't have much input on your trip overall, except to say you will LOVE the tar pits! We went last year and really enjoyed them and my DD was only 5- your older kiddos will enjoy it much more. I also hear they have a "puppet" show if you will that is geared towards kids that is really neat- it had marionettes and a cat that they made based on the size and look they thought the real thing was like (including a person inside to make it move like the real cat moved like). Hopefully you guys will have a blast- we aren't going back to the tar pits again this year but really enjoyed them!!

 

[Liltx]

Such great news about the tarpits! Dh wasnt sure it would be worth the time. I told him that's the only way he's getting to Pinks We plan to spend just a couple of hours at each museum that day. Thanks!

 

[sukhakuli]

Make sure you get to La Jolla very very early. It is super busy there, especially on a Saturday in the summer. You are going to have a hard time finding a place to park. Also, check the tides, if it's high tide, you aren't going to see much. Instead, I think you would be better off checking the tide schedule and going to Cabrillo. The tide pools there are great, and it is less crowded (but still crowded) than La Jolla. There's just not much parking in La Jolla.

Also, the San Diego zoo is quite a walk. It is very steep/hilly and there is a long walk between animals. You might be more tired than you think you are going to be after that, and might not want to go to Point Loma. It's also a fair drive from the zoo to Point Loma, and you will probably be driving it during the rush.

 

[Liltx]

We will make sure to get to the cove early, thanks. We want the kids to see the sea lions/seals. Thats why we plan to go there first thing in the morning. We are staying in La Jolla the night before and the hotel has breakfast so that should help us get an early start. Thanks for the tip.

We'll see how we feel after the zoo. I would think after 5 hours we will be done, we kind of have short attention spans. So we will have time for a nice early sit down dinner and rest. If we're tired we will just head to la jolla.

 

[lovebug33]

I don't think I could have hiked and done the zoo in one day. We were exhausted! Other than that, it sounds like a good plan!

 

[Liltx]

You all might be right about the hike. I thought it was supposed to be a short hike but we'll just see. My mom had just told me how great the views were esp at sunset. I will definitely be the deciding factor. Dh does 100 mile bike rides in the tx heat on weekends and my girls do all day tennis in the summers too. I do run but am not as active as they are so we'll see how tired I am

 

[grnflash]

Hi there. Just a couple things to consider for your SD days.

1 - Midway - this museum is fabulous. So much to explore and see and do. I see you're closing DL the night before then heading back down, so an early start probably isn't in the cards. But do try to budget plenty of time to explore the ship and sit in the planes, take the bridge tour (a must do), etc. People generally underestimate how long they'll need to see the ship.

2 - La Jolla Cove - since you'll be there, try to walk over and do the sea cave. Fun for all ages. It's at Sunny Jim's Cave Store up the street. We've taken many visitors there and everyone loves it. There are usually some sea lions down there but even if not, it's fun to walk down the narrow old stairs into the cave and the view from the bottom (of the ocean) is great.

 

[sukhakuli]

We can do 12 hours at Disneyland easy, but a few hours at the zoo knocks us out. Those trails are STEEP.

If you want to see the sunset over the ocean, but don't think you can manage the hike, go to Sunset Cliffs Park just before sunset. Amazing views, and it's not a hike, hike. You can walk along the cliffs as much or little as you want. The views are incredible. And it would be a bit more laid back.

 

[keiraliz]

I agree with the others. I couldn't handle the zoo and the hike all in the same day. My family went to the San Diego Zoo a couple of years ago, and we were all so exhausted by the time we left. It was a fun day (we loved the pandas!), but a hike on the same day would have been too much.

Otherwise, you have a great plan!

 

[jina]

I don't have anything to add re: the SD area legs - totally agree the zoo is great but exhausting!

Re: the LA/Anaheim days while on a map LA may not look far from Anaheim, when taking the endless traffic into consideration (most which you cannot predict - it can happen anytime, day or night) it's like another part of the state. Unless you're set on staying near DL for all those days you may want to break it up - do a few days in the LA area (stay near Universal or downtown) and spend a few days in Anaheim as I fear you are going to spend many hours sitting in traffic.

If you haven't been to Universal Studios definitely check out their site. The Citywalk is connected to it (kind of like DTD is to DL) - the citiwalk is not all that exciting if you are already going to DTD but if they meant check out Universal Studios I agree (if you have a day to spend there). And while you're doing all that driving, if your kids are roller coaster fanatics, skip Universal and head up I-5 to Valencia to Magic Mountain (but definitely do not do that as a day trip out of Anaheim!).

 

[Liltx]

I don't have anything to add re: the SD area legs - totally agree the zoo is great but exhausting!

Re: the LA/Anaheim days while on a map LA may not look far from Anaheim, when taking the endless traffic into consideration (most which you cannot predict - it can happen anytime, day or night) it's like another part of the state. Unless you're set on staying near DL for all those days you may want to break it up - do a few days in the LA area (stay near Universal or downtown) and spend a few days in Anaheim as I fear you are going to spend many hours sitting in traffic.

If you haven't been to Universal Studios definitely check out their site. The Citywalk is connected to it (kind of like DTD is to DL) - the citiwalk is not all that exciting if you are already going to DTD but if they meant check out Universal Studios I agree (if you have a day to spend there). And while you're doing all that driving, if your kids are roller coaster fanatics, skip Universal and head up I-5 to Valencia to Magic Mountain (but definitely do not do that as a day trip out of Anaheim!).

I so wanted to stay in la but dh doesnt want to switch hotels again and the day we do the bus tour he's probably heading to see friends. We will only be driving our rental one day into la. We have driven there several times. Our plan will be to leave anaheim no earlier than 10:00 am and we wont be returning until after dark so probably 8:30-9. Not ideal but hopefully not terrible either, although we have been stuck before.

Thank you for the city walk advice. Just the kind of info i need. We will not go then. Universal is out because my younger one will not get on any thrill rides at all. I hope to go in a few years.

 

[Liltx]

I agree with the others. I couldn't handle the zoo and the hike all in the same day. My family went to the San Diego Zoo a couple of years ago, and we were all so exhausted by the time we left. It was a fun day (we loved the pandas!), but a hike on the same day would have been too much.

Otherwise, you have a great plan!

When great minds think alike, you all are most likely right. We will check out other options or maybe visit the morning we leave.

 

[Liltx]

We can do 12 hours at Disneyland easy, but a few hours at the zoo knocks us out. Those trails are STEEP.

If you want to see the sunset over the ocean, but don't think you can manage the hike, go to Sunset Cliffs Park just before sunset. Amazing views, and it's not a hike, hike. You can walk along the cliffs as much or little as you want. The views are incredible. And it would be a bit more laid back.

Thanks I'll check it out, sunsett cliffs sounds really nice.

 

[Liltx]

Hi there. Just a couple things to consider for your SD days.

1 - Midway - this museum is fabulous. So much to explore and see and do. I see you're closing DL the night before then heading back down, so an early start probably isn't in the cards. But do try to budget plenty of time to explore the ship and sit in the planes, take the bridge tour (a must do), etc. People generally underestimate how long they'll need to see the ship.

2 - La Jolla Cove - since you'll be there, try to walk over and do the sea cave. Fun for all ages. It's at Sunny Jim's Cave Store up the street. We've taken many visitors there and everyone loves it. There are usually some sea lions down there but even if not, it's fun to walk down the narrow old stairs into the cave and the view from the bottom (of the ocean) is great.

I need to research the Midway more. We have the Lexington in Corpus Christi which we have been to a couple of times. If its very similar we might skip it on do Point Loma that morning instead. But I'm glad to hear it is so nice.

We will for sure check out the cave. That sounds super cool, I'm sure the kids will love it.