Santa Monica Pier we have been tow or three times always beautiful lots to do and Bubba Gumps was good for lunch.Also you can hit say Manns Theater and Hollywood Sign, etc.Warnre Brothers tour is a great two hours or so.All of these are really great times away from the park.Another one thats all day is Catalina Island wife and daughter went this week and loved it and said it was awesome they have snorkeling and took a tour by golf carts around the island.
Barry Browning --
I'm so glad to hear that your wife and daughter loved Catalina! I love it as well (it's my
other favorite place in SoCal!
). I keep trying to get people to visit there while the Catalina Express is having its free round-trip boat ride birthday promo, as it is a $72 value! It's a great deal, but you have to go on your actual birthday. I did the free birthday thing this year and last year, but I've loved Catalina since the '80s.
Catalina Island/Disney tie-ins: Ariel's Grotto restaurant in DCA was originally called Avalon Cove...and that was a direct nod to Catalina (Avalon is the main town on Catalina), with the restaurant even using the mermaid theme that is a big part of the artwork/decor in Avalon. Also, The iconic Catalina casino used to be featured in one of the murals near the entrance inside old DCA. Currently I think there may still be a retro 'movie poster' or two in Hollywood Land that features Catalina in the title.
When I first saw the OP's post I considered suggesting Catalina, but it really is a
full day trip -- it's not somewhere that should be visited for just a few hours if you want to get the most of it. The Aquarium of the Pacific can be done in a shorter period of time.
All of the other suggestions in the thread have been great. I think I might go for the Mrs. Knott's chicken dinner! Yum!
I would also put in a vote for visiting the Original Farmers Market and The Grove in L.A. (they are side by side, and they have great decorations and 'snow' starting in early-to-mid November). It's a good way to spend a few hours, eat some good food and look for celebrities -- and you could do other things in L.A. while in the area.