Southern California

Southern California has wonderful weather and is home to beautiful coastline, exciting cities, theme parks, and much more. Visit the San Diego Zoo, Disneyland, tour a movie studio, watch sea lions, see stars on the Holllywood walk of fame, and more.

Itineraries:
Southern California: Major Attractions
Southern & Central California in 2 Weeks

When to Visit:
The great thing about Southern California is the weather is perfect most of the year! It rarely gets too hot or too cold, and is drier then other parts of the country. With that said, winter (Dec. – March) will still be a bit cooler and wetter overall. If you’re hoping for some warm days so you can swim in the cool Pacific, consider going in June – September.

Things to Do

San Diego Zoo
La Jolla Cove (great place to see sea lions)
Sea World San Diego
Legoland
Sesame Place
Torrey Pines
Coronado Beach
USS Midway Museum
Disneyland
Knotts Berry Farm
Universal Studios Hollywood
Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Chinese Theater
Griffith Park and Observatory
Studio Tours

Places to Stay

There are some trips where I think it’s easier to stay in one place the whole time and take day trips from there, but this is not one of those. Even if things seem pretty close together, traffic can make them hours apart. I recommend hopping around and staying close to the areas you want to visit. San Diego Area:

Beach: Bahia Resort Hotel – located on the Mission peninsula, you get water views all around you, a beach, outdoor pool, and hot tub.
City: Holiday Inn Express Downtown – walk around downtown, close to the zoo, has an outdoor pool, clean and nice but more affordable than other downtown options. Or try Residence Inn downtown for more space.
Marina: Best Western PLUS Island Palms Hotel and Marina – close to downtown but on the marina!

Disneyland/Anaheim Area:

Check the prices on the Disneyland resorts. There isn’t as big of an advantage to stay at an official Disney resort (unlike Walt Disney World), but there are still some nice perks.
For Marriott people, we like the Courtyard Anaheim Theme Park Entrance because it’s very close to the park and has a fun pool area with waterslides (when it’s warm enough). We also like Fairfield Inn Anaheim for it’s proximity and Element for it’s family suits with bunk beds for kids.
Another great option is the Howard Johnson by Wyndham Anaheim. It has an outdoor water park and very close walking distance to the park entrance.

Los Angeles Area (you may want to be near Hollywood or Burbank to be close to studios, Universal, and Griffith park)

Hilton Los Angeles – Universal City – beautiful hotel with a nice pool and close to Universal Studios if you plan to do that park.
The Adler a Hollywood Hotel – fun Hollywood charm near Hollywood Blvd.
Best Wester Plus Media Center & Suites – nice hotel near studios in Burbank

Budget Considerations

Attractions: There are a lot of attractions in Southern California and the costs can add up quickly. Plan in advance which you think are most worth it for your family.
Free activities: You can also explore the beauty of nature in Southern California for free! There are beaches on one side and mountains on the other. Visit beaches and parks and have a grand time for free!
Flights: Compare flight costs flying into LA or San Diego. Also compare car rental costs from each airport.
Car Rental: You will need a car to get around the area. Factor in car rental costs and gas. Or if you can, drive yourself and save a lot of flights and rentals!

Kid-Friendly Places to Eat

Coming soon! There are so many out there! If you have a favorite to share, please let us know!

Tips from Parents

There are a lot of theme parks in Southern California but make sure you don’t do theme parks back to back to back – you’ll wear everyone out! Balance theme park days with easier days that don’t require as much walking. See one of our itineraries for what has worked well for us!
Theme park recommendations by ages: Teens and Tweens – Universal Studios, Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm Younger Kids – Disneyland, Legoland Preschool – Disneyland, Sesame Place
Stuido tours are fun but best for older kids and teens

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