We are planning a family vacation in the next couple of weeks to Catalina Island, Los Angeles, and San Diego. We will spend most of our time on Catalina Island with a day trip and overnight stay in Los Angeles, and a day trip with an overnight stay in San Diego. We rented a condo at Hamilton Cove on Catalina Island, for a few days. We can't wait!!!! Any suggestions on dining, must see sites, travel tips, and entertainment would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

is there anything in particular in LA you want to see? this would help me give you suggestions on where to stay, etc...

if you are coming from catalina to long beach on the express and just happen to be on sunday...you can have decent sunday buffet on queen mary. they have nice spread in their grand ballroom.

In San Diego, I like Greystone in the Gaslamp.

The iced shellfish platter is nice, as is the elk.

http://www.greystonethesteakhouse.com/

When on Catalina, look into 'Banana Boat' tours out of Avalon....

My wife and I spent a couple of nights on Catalina many years ago. We stayed at the Zane Grey Pueblo and got completely wasted at Luau Larry's. I never even closed out my tab that first night, and neither of us remembers how we got up the mountain that night to our room. Of course, we didn't have any kids with us. That same trip we played Torrey Pines and Pelican Hills. What a great trip.

I'm sure that doesn't help you much, but thanks for starting me down memory lane.

I can help with the San Diego part, but you will need to rely on the advice of others for the Catalina and LA portions of your trip.

Where are you staying in San Diego? What type of cuisine are you looking for?

Catalina:

Make sure you take the glass bottom boat trip, and if you're there soon, you can catch grey whales. The town of Avalon is tiny, but there's some really beautiful hiking on the island.

San Diego:

A fantastic city. The world famous San Diego Zoo is always cool, especially for the little ones, and if you've never been to So. Cal before, you'll want to check out the beach scene. Pacific Beach and up north to La Jolla Cove are good bets. Too many good restaurants to name, the San Diego Crew can help you there, but I love the Indigo Grill, downtown.

Los Angeles:

You know you want to, so just head over to Hollywood Boulevard. You can get all your "people watching" and shopping done in one fell swoop. Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills is nearby. LA traffic is legendary, so don't try to do too much, or you'll spend your vacation in your rental car.

Have a nice trip!

Catalina Island:
I was in Catalina for a few days last July and liked it a lot though I wish the weather was a little warmer.

I enjoyed the snorkeling where the water was surprisingly clear but a little chilly. The short wetsuit that you can rent for $10-15 for the day came in very handy.

The highlight for me was seeing the flying fish at night which was part of package with dinner and a cruise to the other side of the island.

As for restaurants, there aren't anything to write home about IMO. It's catered mostly to day tourists unfortunately. Food stuffs are limited to one and a half supermarket on the island.

San Diego:
If you are a member of Open Table (see www.opentable.com), then I would recommend Dakota Grill and Spirits before 6:30. If I remember correctly last year, they had a reduced price menu before 6:30, and the food was terrific. The wine list was decent. After 6:30, the price increases, but the menu and portions remain the same. Go figure.

My other choice would be to go to Old Town for very good Mexican restaurants where they have a mariachi band that plays music for the diners.

With a day and a half, you'll need to prioritize your agenda in San Diego. The areas to visit are spread out.

Have fun!

Please keep in mind that weekend travel between LA and SD, all of 100 miles more or less, can sometimes take 4 hours with traffic sometimes coming to a complete stop for NO apparent reason. Be prepared to stop as you may be going with traffic at 70+ and then need to stop, not slow down, but stop.

An option to the San Diego Zoo is the Wild Animal Park just outside of San Diego. There are various options, riding on a mono-rail around the animals that roam free as if they were in the African plains or in the back of a truck for an up close event. Guess the age of your children would determine which would be best.

I would suggest taking the coast highway from about Newport Beach south to San Clemente. Along the way you would go through Corona del Mar and Laguna Beach. The area used to be all open land and is now likely filled with homes, but still should be scenic. Just north of Laguna Beach will be some mobile homes with some of the best ocean views west of the highway. In Laguna Beach, Las Brisas offers good food with wonderful views.

There are wonderful museums in the LA area, The J. Paul Getty in Malibu and the Norton Simon in Pasadena as well as the MOMA in LA. The Norton Simon is my favorite but the Getty has amazing views, reservations required but being out of state may help you gain entrance on short notice. The Griffith Observatory offers a great view of the city but would not suggest being their much after dark.

There is horse racing at Hollywood Park, Santa Anita in Pasadena, and Del Mar just north of San Diego. Too many golf courses to name.

Enjoy.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Juicy,

Yep,

Juicy (and others) have brought up a great point. If you're from Texas, and haven't dealt with So/Lo Cal traffic, be warned. It can be maddening. The area is devoted to cars, so plan accordingly (no rush hour freeway trips, etc. . .)

quote:

Originally posted by garnetkw:
We are planning a family vacation in the next couple of weeks to Catalina Island, Los Angeles, and San Diego. We will spend most of our time on Catalina Island with a day trip and overnight stay in Los Angeles, and a day trip with an overnight stay in San Diego. We rented a condo at Hamilton Cove on Catalina Island, for a few days. We can't wait!!!! Any suggestions on dining, must see sites, travel tips, and entertainment would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

garnetkw,

Try this place: Phil's B.B.Q. Tasty!!! Also, Point Loma Nazarene University is worth your while to visit; if only to see the kind of views that these kids (I call them surfer students -- my son being one of them)enjoy. May you have a glorious vacation. You've had some good suggestions from the others.

quote:

Originally posted by indybob:
Los Angeles:

You know you want to, so just head over to Hollywood Boulevard. You can get all your "people watching" and shopping done in one fell swoop.

What, for cheap t-shirts?

I find your itinerary a little strange. Normally you would spend time on the mainland with a short two night trip to Catalina.

quote:

Originally posted by Juicy:
The Norton Simon is my favorite but the Getty has amazing views, reservations required but being out of state may help you gain entrance on short notice.

From your description of the views I'm assuming you're not talking about the Getty Villa. The Getty Museum has not required reservations for at least the last two years.

quote:

Originally posted by garnetkw:
We are planning a family vacation in the next couple of weeks to Catalina Island, Los Angeles, and San Diego. We will spend most of our time on Catalina Island with a day trip and overnight stay in Los Angeles, and a day trip with an overnight stay in San Diego. We rented a condo at Hamilton Cove on Catalina Island, for a few days. We can't wait!!!! Any suggestions on dining, must see sites, travel tips, and entertainment would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

garnetkw,

If your itinerary permits, on your way from San D into L.A. you may want to stop for lunch at either one of two places Temecula Wine Country(plenty of restaurants to choose from), or much more affordable and not out of your way to L.A., for some excellent Mexican soups at La Especial Norte, 664 N. Highway 101, Encinitas, CA 92024/760-942-1040 - surfer town. You may want to try the classic Tortilla Soup, the Albondingas Soup or the Chicken Soup; all hearty and all savory. Actually if you are headed north into L.A. from San D on the major Interstate (I-5), exit on Leucadia Blvd turn left, just up the street turn left onto N. Coast Hwy 101. You will run into it shortly. The drive from San D to the restaurant is about 30 minutes. Temecula Wine Country, on the other hand, is a bit more out of your way traveling to L.A. If your are interested though, I-15 would be the highway.

quote:

Originally posted by Mr Cabernet:

quote:

Originally posted by indybob:
Los Angeles:

You know you want to, so just head over to Hollywood Boulevard. You can get all your "people watching" and shopping done in one fell swoop.

What, for cheap t-shirts?

I hear you, but you're a local. When my visitors come see Indy, I have a list of stuff that's not the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but that's all anybody wants to see. Folks who haven't spent much time in LA, or have never been, put Hollywood Blvd. on the short list. It's called being a tourist.

And Sancho, Temecula? Really, Temecula? But, I do agree with your ideas for Real Baja-style Mexican food, not that Tex Mex crap.

quote:

Originally posted by indybob:
Los Angeles:
I hear you, but you're a local. When my visitors come see Indy, I have a list of stuff that's not the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but that's all anybody wants to see. Folks who haven't spent much time in LA, or have never been, put Hollywood Blvd. on the short list. It's called being a tourist.

And Sancho, Temecula? Really, Temecula? But, I do agree with your ideas for Real Baja-style Mexican food, not that Tex Mex crap.

Indybob,

Hey buddy, don’t knock it so much. There is a little winery there that I really like: Palumbo Family vineyards and winery. When I came back to So. Cal. from my trip through Napa in the late summer of 2005, which was my first introduction to drinking and understanding wine, I was eager to pursue this new interest. Well, Temecula is in my backyard, so to speak, and I went right to it. Out of all the wineries that I visited, Palumbo Winery was my favorite, a little hole-in-the-wall of a tasting room. However, warm people and a Cab (2004 Cab Estate Reserve) that I truly enjoyed. My lady and I had a nice time in the area and visited Old Town Temecula where I also stumbled upon the Temecula Olive Oil Company. They also had a tasting room for olive oils and subsequently, I have been receiving their 100% extra virgin olive. Surely, there are better olive oils and wine places out in this big world of ours. In my humble approach though, I have gotten a start in these local places. In fact, knowing a little more now, I wish I would have bought more bottles of that 2005 Sophia Cab. All the same, garnetk may, as a tourist (as you say), enjoy such places.

Sancho,

I'm glad you like it. I got my start in loving wine on an '85 Petite Sirah made by a Temecula winery. And, the area can do some nice things with chenin and sauvignon blanc (Hart winery).

I just put a visit to Temecula near or at the bottom of the list of stuff a tourist, with kids in tow, might want to do given three days in So. Cal's mainland. But hey, that's just me. Maybe it's right up Garnet's alley.

For the Los Angeles portion of the trip we are spending the night in Irvine and for the San Diego portion we will be spending the night in Carlsbad to be closer to Los Angeles in order to catch our flight out of LAX.

quote:

Originally posted by garnetkw:
For the Los Angeles portion of the trip we are spending the night in Irvine and for the San Diego portion we will be spending the night in Carlsbad to be closer to Los Angeles in order to catch our flight out of LAX.

Be aware that Carlsbad to LAX is 90 minutes at 3am with no traffic. I would leave, with airport delays, 3 1/2 hours before flight time.

Thanks so much for the advice concerning traveling time.

What is the driving time like on a Sunday morning from Carlsbad to LAX?

Give yourself two hours, you'll be fine. 5 to the 405, Tune into AM 1070 for frequent traffic updates.