My wife and I just decided to do it, and I just booked the flight. We're not going to tell our kids until the night before we leave, which involves pulling them out of school for two days before Memorial Day; We've always wanted to just spring a vacation on them, even if it is short.
My kids are six and twelve, and aside from a day at Disneyland (ONE day, not a second more), and we're going to a Dodgers game.
Are there any locals to the area that can give me some good recommendations for other things to check out?
We're only there 3.5 days, and part of one day will involve visiting family, so I want to make the most out of any time that we have.
Thanks!
-- A good place to keep the Disney atmosphere going but unwind a bit outside the park is
Downtown Disney, which has a lot of Disney-themed and other shops, restaurants, and evening entertainment to enjoy.
-- If you and your kids aren't burned out on amusement parks by then, close to Disneyland in Buena Park there's also
Knott's Berry Farm, which has a good mix of rides for the younger and older kid (Disneyland has a lot of fun rides but Knott's has some great roller coasters and other rides if your older child is into that).
Disney and Knott's should also both be doing fireworks shows at night that weekend which are a blast to watch either close up or if you can find a high place like a parking garage roof or a balcony of a high rise hotel you can possibly catch both.
-- Nearby in Garden Grove there's the annual
Strawberry Festival held every Memorial Day Weekend, which features a large parade (starts 10:00 AM on Sat. the 23rd), concerts, rides, typical fairground games and booths, animals, great food, etc. I used to go to this every year as a kid and was in the parade a few times. It's a lot of fun.
-- If you're of Scottish descent, you might enjoy the
Scottish Fest at the Orange County Fairgrounds that weekend.
-- May is one of the best months for
whale watching from Newport Beach, and you can catch sight of Gray Whales, Blue Whales, Humpbacks, occasional Killer Whales, dolphins, and flying fish jumping alongside the boat. Before or after you can visit the local beaches and shopping along the promenade.
-- Heading north along the beaches in Long Beach you can find the
Queen Mary liner, and give the kids a glimpse of the romance of old cruise liners like the Titanic. There's also a country music festival there that weekend if that appeals to you, and there should be some good BBQ.
-- Also in Long Beach is the outstanding
Aquarium of the Pacific, featuring lots of hands on aquatic animal exhibits and a huge saltwater tank full of sharks and other sea life.
-- Something that might appeal more to you and your wife but that the kids might also enjoy would be the Roman style
Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades staying along the coast or moving inland to the westside of Los Angeles, the more modern
Getty Center, which was featured in
Star Trek Into Darkness. Both have fascinating art exhibits and sculptures and beautiful architecture. Plus the views are spectacular.
-- In LA before or after the Dodgers game, a visit to the
California Science Center would definitely be a big hit with the kids. You can see the space shuttle Endeavor and other air & space exhibits, see the Dead Sea Scrolls traveling exhibit, and visit the creatures of the Galapagos Islands.
-- If dinosaurs are more their thing (plus more modern animals and plants), the
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles is amazing.
-- Ice Age creatures can be found at the
Page Museum and the adjoining the La Brea Tar Pits.
-- And finally, you can see some astronomy exhibits, look through the telescope, see the planetarium, and get a great view of the city all the way out to the ocean from the
Griffith Park Observatory.
Many of the places I listed above have free or discounted tickets for veterans that weekend if that applies to you or your wife.
I hope you and your family have a nice trip, and I hope this list helps you add a few more fun and interesting destinations to enjoy!
