Please help- So Cal trip dilemma

[mousefan1972]

Please, I am so stressed over planning this trip I think I'm getting an ulcer!

I will try to keep this short. We are a family of 4. We are booked for a stay at the Villas at the Grand Californian for August 4th-August 9th. Our son will turn 7 our first full day there and our daughter will turn 9 later in August. That much is the easy part.

After leaving DL, we have 3 additional nights to spend in CA before we fly home to Boston on August 12th. Our choices are:

1. LA/Hollywood. We would stay in West Hollywood, and visit Universal Studios, see the Chinese Theatre/Walk of Fame, see Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, and drive out to Santa Monica or Manhattan Beach.

2. San Diego. We would visit Sea World and the San Diego Zoo, and go to the beach.

I am agonizing as to which to pick. We can't do both because I don't want to waste too much time driving around CA. We can't extend the trip b/c I just started a new job and can only get 1 week off. Which would you choose, and why? Since we live in Mass, getting out to CA is not something that will happen frequently. I asked the kids today, and DD said she wants to go to Hollywood and DS said he wants to go to San Diego to see the pandas at the zoo. DH is leaving it up to me. Men.

PLEASE HELP!!! THANK YOU!!

 

[sonnyjane]

Oh man, this choice is really easy. San Diego. Hollywood is really kind of seedy. Your kids are still pretty young so I'm not sure that they would enjoy the attractions at Universal, and the Walk of Fame area is quite dirty (nothing brings a family together like trash in the street and the smell of urine). Typically if people are planning to visit Hollywood, we tell them it will only take an hour or two max, so I'd certainly recommend against wasting three days there!

Do the zoo, Sea World, and visit La Jolla Cove or Coronado for your beach day down here. Trust me...you'll be much happier with San Diego!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Firstly, take a deep breath. Everything will work out. It is your first trip, so you and the family won't really know what you might or might not miss if you don't get round to doing it.

By my count, I think you have 6 nights at VGC. Perhaps there might be time during this time for you and the family to take a day trip out to LA/Hollywood and see some sights. I agree with sonnyjane in that LA can be seedy; but if you're there and can spare some time away from DLR, then you might be able to organise a van/tour to take you to see some sights (if you don't want to drive).

I have an aunt that lives near/in San Diego so I really love SD. Balboa Park, where the SD Zoo is located, is a particular favourite spot of mine. I like to visit at the weekends, when it is busier; and also on a Tuesday. There are about 15 - 20 museums in Balboa Park. On Tuesdays, the musuems rotate free entry. It might be worth checking out, if you are there on a Tuesday. Coronado is a nice beach and you might be able to see the Hotel del Coronado, the inspiration for the Grand Floridian. There's also the USS Midway, which might interest your DS more than your DD.


Good luck with your planning.

 

[sonnyjane]

I have an aunt that lives near/in San Diego so I really love SD. Balboa Park, where the SD Zoo is located, is a particular favourite spot of mine. I like to visit at the weekends, when it is busier; and also on a Tuesday. There are about 15 - 20 museums in Balboa Park. On Tuesdays, the musuems rotate free entry. It might be worth checking out, if you are there on a Tuesday. Coronado is a nice beach and you might be able to see the Hotel del Coronado, the inspiration for the Grand Floridian. There's also the USS Midway, which might interest your DS more than your DD.


Good luck with your planning.

Princess, unfortunately the free Tuesdays are only for San Diego residents you must provide your ID to prove you live in San Diego to get the free admission.

OP I agree with Princess that if you want to see a few Hollywood landmarks, maybe just steal away for a few hours during one of your Disney days.

 

[PrincessInOz]

That free admission thing for SD residents must have been introduced in the last few years. Last time I was in SD was 2009 and we still got in for free then. Thanks for letting me know. That'll factor into my touring plans next time I hit SD.

 

[sonnyjane]

That free admission thing for SD residents must have been introduced in the last few years. Last time I was in SD was 2009 and we still got in for free then. Thanks for letting me know. That'll factor into my touring plans next time I hit SD.

Oh bummer. I've only lived here since 2009 so I don't know any different? Here's a link: http://www.balboapark.org/visit/tuesdays

 

[mousefan1972]

Thank you both for your help. I was kind of freaking out, just a bit. San Diego it is! I think I knew that SD should be our choice all along, I just needed someone to confirm it for me.

Now.. where to stay? I've been researching hotels all day online. Right now I'm holding a room for us at the San Diego Marriott Gas Lamp Quarter. We got a good rate of $206 per night which includes valet parking for 1 car, which otherwise would be $36 per night. Is that a good place? It got good reviews on Tripadvisor and seems centrally located to the places we want to go to. We also considered the US Grant, Hard Rock Hotel, and the Omni San Diego.

Thanks for your help!

 

[sonnyjane]

Thank you both for your help. I was kind of freaking out, just a bit. San Diego it is! I think I knew that SD should be our choice all along, I just needed someone to confirm it for me.

Now.. where to stay? I've been researching hotels all day online. Right now I'm holding a room for us at the San Diego Marriott Gas Lamp Quarter. We got a good rate of $206 per night which includes valet parking for 1 car, which otherwise would be $36 per night. Is that a good place? It got good reviews on Tripadvisor and seems centrally located to the places we want to go to. We also considered the US Grant, Hard Rock Hotel, and the Omni San Diego.

Thanks for your help!

Those hotels are all great, but they are also the most expensive and trendy hotels you could possibly find downtown. In fact staying downtown in general will be more expensive than staying elsewhere Nothing wrong with that, but if you want to save some money, I'd look at hotels near Mission Beach or Hotel Circle, which is also pretty centrally located to the attractions you want to see but won't set you back as much.

 

[Camonkeygirl]

If you are going to Balboa Park, they have a pass that is called "Passport to Balboa Park", with tickets for most of the museums, and you can also get one that has a ticket for the Zoo. http://www.balboapark.org/parkpass Not a bad price when the Zoo is $42 for Adults and $32 for children 3 - 11 (2 and under are free)

The Gaslamp is a great place to stay, but is one of the more expensive areas. Check around, and you could find a cheaper hotel, that is just as good.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Have you got an Entertainment Card? Some of the hotels (Holiday Inn, in particular) seem to offer a good discount with the card.