Originally Posted By amazedncal2 I see you've already decided to skip DLR this year. I am just popping in to say that DH and I have started mixing up our DLR vacations. We don't have little kids anymore so our days are more flexible but I wish we had done some of these things when the kids were young. We started doing these things when our youngest was about 12 and the older kids weren't coming with us anymore. If you make DLR your base you can go to LA for the day. Go to Graumans Theater area, Disney Soda Fountain, El Capitan and see a show, La Brea Tar Pits (very cool) and the museum, The Grove and the American Girl Doll store, Farmers Market, Universal Studios, City Walk, Santa Monica Pier, etc. etc. etc. Not all in one day of course This trip we hit several other spots and also checked out Griffith Park. Some parts are seriously right off Hwy 5 and you don't even know they are there. We rode on the Merry Go Round that Walt Disney talks about in the movie in the Opera House Ideas for going south of DLR have already been listed. My thought is that you can still get a DLR fix and hit some amazing parts of S CA at the same time. We actually bought some books. One on Coastal CA and one on Southern CA just to get an idea of what might be out there that we whiz past on our way to DLR If you go down 101, just pointing out all the Missions is interesting, many are right off the Hwy. Have fun with all your planning
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo We rarely if ever just do Disney on a trip. Even our trip to DLP last week included 3 days of non Disney Stuff.
Originally Posted By RockyMtnMinnie Every time we plan a DLR trip, we always plan other things to break up the trip. This last trip we sailed out to Catalina Island for an overnight. We really love heading out to the Channel Islands. There are sooooo many wonderful things to do and see in California. Heck just run down the list of locations from Soarin'. I have gotten DL overdosed before if we spend too great a portion of our trip just there. We start getting into a daily rut and repeating rides over and over. It starts to lose the spontaneity that I love in a vacation.
Originally Posted By kari12177 I have a bad memory, so when I go to DL, its like my 2nd trip. My family says there tired of going every year, so we have to skip next year.Bummer for me , I wish I lived near DL, I'd go by myself.
Originally Posted By disneylandfan8 One year we went to Santa Monica and rented bicycles and biked to Venice Beach and back - we had a blast! It was spur of the moment, in December no less, but we enjoyed the different scenery. We also found the Tale 'O' the Pup, the hot dog stand seen in different movies. Don't know if it's still around tho. Would also like to go see where Walt is buried (I know, morbid, but the fascination is there!!!) and where he used to live.
Originally Posted By Ursula How about Yosemite? It is gorgeous when it is snowy that time of year. I get the" tired of Disneyland" feel all the time. Do something else, make it up to the wee one by planning something special when you do go back.
Originally Posted By DyGDisney >>I get the" tired of Disneyland" feel all the time<< You do?? I thought no one else on this board would understand that feeling!! I'm glad I'm not the only one. I really like some of these ideas for SoCal. I just need to talk hubby into them.....
Originally Posted By iamsally >>>>I'm glad I'm not the only one.<<<< Can't say that I am actually tired of Disneyland but DH and I have let our PAP's expire in order to do other things for a year or so. All of the SoCal things mentioned so far are really great. And if you like trill rides there is Magic Mountain near Santa Clarita. We try to catch that on the way to or from Disneyland. We also love the Monterey/Carmel area. California really has a lot to offer. Lassen can be nice in the fall. Hope you have a wonderful vacation whatever you decide.
Originally Posted By Lisann22 I OD'ed on Disneyland over the past three years. I haven't been back since Christmas and I do not miss it like I thought I would. I'm also feeling like I'm missing out on the big vacations I've wanted to take because I kept doing mini-weekend trips to DL. So I've stopped. I have a trip coming up and then I won't be back again till Dec '09. There is so much to see and do in Cali. People have named quite a few: Monterey - there are some cabins in the Carmel Valley that are fun to stay at as a base point: <a href="http://www.carmelriverinn.com/Room%20Choices.htm" target="_blank">http://www.carmelriverinn.com/...ices.htm</a> A great hotel between Santa Cruz and San Francisco that is beautiful and across the freeway from the Ano Nueva beach is the: <a href="http://www.costanoa.com/site.php" target="_blank">http://www.costanoa.com/site.php</a> Some great places to stay in and around Yosemite are: The Yosemite View Lodge is in El Portal on 140, they have rooms with kitchens and your patio sits on the Merced River. It's 20 minutes to the floor of Yosemite. <a href="http://www.yosemite-motels.com/yosemiteviewlodge/" target="_blank">http://www.yosemite-motels.com...ewlodge/</a> My other favorite is the Best Western Gateway Inn in Oakhurst. It's about a 60 minute drive up and out of Yosemite to Oakhurst. The train is there, lots of other activities in the area for snow fun. Ask for the 300 series rooms - they are right across the path from the indoor pool and jacuzzi. <a href="http://www.yosemitegatewayinn.com/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.yosemitegatewayinn....dex.html</a> Another great place is up at Emerald Forest near Trinidad, we stay here all the time: <a href="http://www.trails.com/all-hotels/hotel-info.asp?hotelid=79677" target="_blank">http://www.trails.com/all-hote...id=79677</a> That's not to mention just coming up to San Francisco/Bay Area. Where there is tons to do and see. ;>
Originally Posted By BoyStory DyG, are you serious about not going to DL in Nov??? Suuuper bummer!!! I thought there was a chance we'd be there the same week and could "hang" here and there... Don't forget about the Polar Express ride in Sacto- we're doing that possibly in Nov., right? I just remembered that yesterday- we need to make ressies! Also, I still want to meet up in Union Square too in Dec (we could take BART-it'll be an adventure). You just sit back and I'll just plan your activities from now on, LOL. We didn't do Monterey for our family getaway this year so maybe that's a good idea for you too! Does your Dh like Monterey? Ya' know they have those smaller bike/carts you can rent and you can all pedal around Monterey as a family I still think your family should try Legoland for a change. It's not just for boys ya' know, and it really is a beautiful Park with plenty to do to fill a day. Then you could swing over to DL and appease DD7 and DH. Of course, I'm inclined to agree with gottaluv that you need to get "checked out" re: the Disneyland apathy. I remain hopeful that it's curable. I've been let down lately b/c the only one in my family who gets half as exited as myself about our Disneyland vacations is DS 3 1/2! Of course, once we depart for DL the kids all join in on my exitement, which is sustained throughout the trip- but still..... Disneyland is currently the only route to getting DS[almost]14 to act like a "kid" again . I think there are allot of mis-matched Disney marriages out there; I'm in one myself. I'm also the product of a such a marriage too (LOL!!!). My dad was always the one who looked forward to Disneyland every year, while every year my mom became more and more "disenchanted" with our Disneyland vacations. Then, once I left home, they discovered "cruises"....
Originally Posted By koolaidmom boystory, how was your trip to DL in aug? we fought crowds all week, but still had a wonderful time. we got dreamed with lanyards and pins.
Originally Posted By jdub << And the (Monterey Bay) Aquarium just got a new great white shark -- >> That's gone now--it only ate once in the 3 weeks or so they had it. They released it. To be honest, though, the small great whites they are able to catch and sustain are NOT a main reason to go to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. So much to enjoy! Speaking of great aquariums, a really cool one--even better for many, I'd say--is the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. The usual assortment, tropicals, sea mammals, even a few non-aquatic types, plus movies & hands-on stuff. Hey, if you made it Long Beach, you could do the aquarium there, & still make a 1-day Dizzyland trip as your "compromise"--and stuff in a few other OC things while you're at it!
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains < NOT a main reason to go to the Monterey Bay Aquarium.> While I agree - for many of us in the bay area we do go to the aquarium quite often - something new is always fun to try and see....
Originally Posted By jdub Post 35: TRUE--and the aquarium always has something new & fun to see. We have seen every great white except for this one--it was a disappointment it didn't work out for them. Speaking of the Bay Area, by November, the new Steinhart Aquarium will be open, should be awesome. Part of the much larger California Academy of the Sciences in Golden Gate Park. <a href="http://www.calacademy.org/index.php" target="_blank">http://www.calacademy.org/index.php</a>
Originally Posted By jdub The Exploratorium isn't closed! <a href="http://www.exploratorium.edu/" target="_blank">http://www.exploratorium.edu/</a>
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains I thought they were in a temp building and were moving too... That was the info the schools were givin.
Originally Posted By jdub The Steinhart Aquarium had been in a temp space on Harrison Street, but left a few months ago to be moved across town into the new Cal Academy digs. BTW, here's a pretty good site for people looking for fun stuff for the family around the SF Bay Area: <a href="http://www.bayareakidfun.com/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.bayareakidfun.com/index.html</a>
