My kids love the science center in Santa Anna. it is similar to ours in LA, but different. I am sure your up north is basically the same.

There is some validity to that. Not only is Disneyland typically crowded, long-lines, but extremely pricy by any standards. Even as a young person when I was there...I felt beat-up when I left.

If your renting a car, simply take I-10 due West...you'll go thru a small tunnel banking North...and then the Ocean/PCH is right on your left. A ride up the coast towards Santa Monica, Malibu, Zuma, and Santa Barbara are priceless, and even 1-day spent doing this(stopping at different points along the beach, having lunch, ice-cream, whatever will leave your kid far more satisfied than a commercialized day at Disney Land.

you line up on that drive too. I remember there were no one on that road after you make that right. Now, right turn into the parking lot. I did that about 3 years ago on my S2000 with my wife on her birthday. We were going to go up to Venture and have lunch. Came back over the hill on Kanan and ate at Calabases.

Cantdrive55, be careful with the traffic. It will waste 2 hours of your vacation time easy. No fun for both you and your kid. Ask if you are not sure.

One the wrong day/time, that can be a nightmare. There is construction on PCH just south of Temescal so it sucks weekends after about 11am.

Parking in beach lots is between $7-10 (not sure if the summer prices have kicked in yet) so you'll either want to pick one beach to go to or try and park on PCH which can be difficult. Zuma is probably my favorite and it is a nice drive north from Santa Monica. Or you can get there from the valley via Kanan (watch out for radar cops).

But I agree I'd take that over Disneyland any day of the week. Worst day at the beach is better than the best one at the magic kingdom. They have perfected separating people from the money in their wallet.

Wear sunscreen no matter where you go...

This times ten thousand.... I know, I know... you are from out of town and want to see "the sights" i.e. Disney, Knott's, Universal, blah, blah, blah... but the reason us local stay here and put up with all this carp is because of the oceans, mountains, etc.

Pizza port= San Clemente? I highly recommend staying in San Clemente... nice restaurant and world class beach for the kid to play on, T-shirt and shorts are acceptable attire (wholeheartedly recommend pizza port also).

PM me if you have any questions about the science center downtown.

Oh, and on Disney...

Do no go on the weekend!!!!!

If you are going to San Diego and he likes airplanes and/or Navy warships, go see the USS Midway. Great way to spend a couple of hours.

In the hanger deck there are lots of interactive displays and simulators that are very cool. Definitely a fun day.

Just got back from San Diego. Midway was awesome. Very impressed at the lack of "do not touch" signs.

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