Where to go

[Fall987]

My daughter lives in Phoenix and we are planning to visit her this January. She told us disneyland is about a 6 hrs ride from her home. We are not familiar with the area. We have visited the grand canyon area and Vegas. Can anyone suggest other places to stop off on our drive there or a nice beach area to see the Pacific ocean. We have 4 days, 2 @ disney. Thank you

 

[Elk Grove Chris]

There are a ton of places to go and see once you are over the stateline, sorry, no clue on drive out. We have done Huntington Beach before and that was nice, I am sure there are quite a few locals would recommend. We really like San Diego, the zoo, the safari park, the gaslamp district, the marina area is real nice too. It really depends on what you guys want to do and see, so many museums and galleries, other theme parks, harbors, famous ships, nearby island, etc., etc., etc. in So Cal.

 

[Darkbeer1]

OK, basic plan, drive west on the I-8 to San Diego, maybe stop at the Cleveland National Forest in the Mountains before heading to San Diego itself. Spend a night there

www.sandiego.org

Then head up the Coast Highway from La Jolla to Oceanside.

https://www.sandiego.org/articles/tours-sightseeing/highway-101-california.aspx

Then onto the I-5 towards Anaheim.

Stay in Ananheim, besides Disneyland, check out Knott's Bery Farm and the two Dinner Theaters, Medeival Times and Pirates Dinner Adventure in Buena Park.

Head to Newport Beach and the Balboa Peninsula, ride the Balboa Fery. Check out the Fashion Island and South Coast Plaza shopping malls.

Maybe visit the Bowers Museum.

www.visittheoc.com

Then head home using the I-10 freeway to finish the loop to/from Phoenix.

 

[Winnowill]

If our trip to San Diego from Phoenix over Labor Day is any indication, you do NOT want to be anywhere near I-8 right now. I don't remember exactly where the construction is - whether CA or AZ (it's somewhere near the state line), but it's awful. Where it's not closed, the traffic is a bear.

ETA: http://holtvilletribune.com/2016/09/23/caltrans-update-8-construction/

 

[Nevada Jen]

Or if you want the straight 6 hour drive your DD is talking about, stop in Palm Springs. There is a pretty cool tram to the top of some big mountain and its a fun place for a day or so. Just generally relaxing (and close to a really good high end outlet mall).

 

[Winnowill]

Just generally relaxing (and close to a really good high end outlet mall).

That has a Disney Store outlet!

 

[prestoncaldwell]

My daughter lives in Phoenix and we are planning to visit her this January. She told us disneyland is about a 6 hrs ride from her home. We are not familiar with the area. We have visited the grand canyon area and Vegas. Can anyone suggest other places to stop off on our drive there or a nice beach area to see the Pacific ocean. We have 4 days, 2 @ disney. Thank you

It's quite a detour from taking 10/60/91 straight into Anaheim, but if you do take 8 to 5 and then hit Torrey Pines State Beach off 5, you can drive up PCH all the way to Oceanside, which will be nearly all ocean/beach view, then you'll be forced onto I-5 going through the Marine Corps base. You could pick PCH back up at San Clemente and follow it all the way to Huntington Beach, then head inland to Anaheim from there. PCH is not a freeway. There will be signals, speed zones, and crosswalks, so this will be a much slower go than just driving up 5 to Anaheim.

 

[Darkbeer1]

Just to clarify, PCH is not in San Diego, as I mentioned earlier, it is known mainly be the "Coast Highway" or the old 101.

PCH (aka "Highway 1') southern end is San Clemente and then heads up the coastline.

 

[prestoncaldwell]

Just to clarify, PCH is not in San Diego, as I mentioned earlier, it is known mainly be the "Coast Highway" or the old 101.

PCH (aka "Highway 1') southern end is San Clemente and then heads up the coastline.

Yeah, technically 101, we always called it PCH when I was at Pendleton, but then again, we weren't locals.

 

[chickapin parterre]

Well, if you are looking for bragging rights, then Palm Springs tram is the bucket list. go ahead go to the internet site and explore the bucket list significance. Salton sea and Don Quixote, plus the pee wee herman dinosaur As for dowtown palm springs, it does not reach out and grab me as historical icon, but I do like the trail behind the art musuem that takes you to the level of the Date Palm trees, like a sea of fronds, so that is bragging rights. And if your interests are strange, Anthony bourdainstrange, there is more to explore