Southern California vacation advise

My wife and I and our 2 young kids are going to California in mid-October. Flying into San Diego, cruising up to Disneyland for 2 nights and then staying 5 nights on "The Beach". San Diego airport was cheaper (using "miles") than was LAX. Here's the question - What's a good beach city to spend the 5 nights at? Obivously, north of San Diego and south of LA. I'm looking for nice/safe/clean and four out of five star type places - on or walk across the street to the beach. The other question is - If you could visit one historic automotive type place - what would that be? Last year we did a similar vacation and I visited the "MOON" speed shop and the Petersen Museum. I just don't know the area well and was looking for advise from people who actually live there. Thanks and see ya in 2012 at the "Back to the 50's" event in my home town, Minneapolis/St. Paul.

 

Laguna Beach, Hunnington Beach are nice, well located beween LA and San Diego. A bit pricey, but still nice for the family. San Clemente (Nixon's old haunt) isnt bad either. Newport is real nice, but very pricey. As for a hot rod place to visit, maybe take in one of the better cruise night venues. Cl***ic 50's diner food and lots of rods in all their various guises. Ask about the best of So-Cal cruise nights to determine which venue best befits your needs and desires.

 

You might want to check on flyin in to long beach airport, alot closer to disney and painless as far as airport bs goes

 

youve got to see the Peterson Auto Museum in LA

 

With two small kids I choose a beach community in the San Diego area and that way you could do the world famous Zoo, Sea World, and the Wild Animal Park as well.

 

Comprehension is part of the reading process.

 

Mission Bay in SD is a real cool place to go to. Many kids friendly things to do around there.

 

If you stay in San Diego,go to Balboa Park and check out the Auto and Air and Space Museums.
How old are the Kids?
Legoland is down there too.

 

as a lifelong LA native, i vote San Diego beaches.
there is a hotel adjacent to Sea World, right on mission bay called the Bahia. you can get a room that opens right out to the sand. its just a short hop to the beach and all that cool stuff. plenty to do around the San Diego Area.

Long Beach is a nice place to spend a couple of days. queen mary, aquarium of the pacific, the pike, shoreline village, downtown, belmont shore, naples c****s... its a little less touristy and you're just a few minutes out of both LA and orange county. not sure about hotels "on the beach", but i like it... plus you can catch a boat over to catalina island for a day.

 

Raised in OC and have surfed every inch of coastline from mex to Nor cal, Nicest beach and area for you in OC is Laguna Beach, world cl*** resorts or good bed in breakfasts-

 

I have been to San Diego many times and would love to call it home someday. Excellent beaches, Point Loma Park, Coronado Island, great food, Sea World, The Zoo, great weather etc. I would spend MOST of my time in San Diego but maybe due one night at Disneyland etc. Flip flop your plans. My wife and I really like Laguna Beach for beautiful beaches and view. La Jolla is gorgeous also.

 

oh ,.........and free car show OCT 16th in long beach
http://therhythmrocker.com/poolcarshow.html

 

garnet street in ocean beach/san diego is fun...lots of nice stuff on the water.

 

I'm a Native of So Cal.

I would say Surf City USA (Huntington Beach). Long beach is nice to visit, especially the Aquarium and the Queen Mary, but downtown is a bit seedy, especially at night. San Diego is awesome but pretty far from Disneyland and the LA area attractions. Laguna is quaint, but pretty expensive and the worst traffic on the Coast hwy. H.B. will be centrally located, Hotels right across the street from the beach, easy to get to Disneyland, a return to the Peterson if you want, the NHRA Museum, The Nethercutt Museum in Sylmar. Yep I think Huntington is it

 

Seal Beach.
http://www.beachcalifornia.com/seal.html

 

If I wanted to see one automotive place in LA it would be the Peterson. Since you have already been there my next suggestion would be the Nethercutt collection, (818) 364-6464. Be warned that this is a collection of high dollar restored stock cars (Duisenberg's etc) mostly pre 1930. If this is not your cup of tea you should p***. Call them and they probably have a web site. Call them and arrange to join a tour of the rest of the Nethercutt estate, sort of like having Bill Gates show you around the house. It is amazing what money will buy. There is no cost including free parking, hard to beat the price.

Charlie Stephens

 

garnet is in Pacific beach and Ocean beach isnt really kid friendly

 

http://www.socalcarculture.com/events.html

Great sight for car related activities. As for family activities, try the area you plan to visit chamber of congress, or visitor's bureau. Southern California is a beautiful place to visit....enjoy.

 

.....that should read "chamber of commerce".

 

I'll second the Balboa park museum. I took wife and kids there inbetween seaworld visits. there's other museums there as well not just auto stuff. we stayed at a beach house on Mission Bay, it was great. Walk outside go to your left and there's the beach, go to your right, and there's the bay. very nice having a home with a kitchen etc at your disposal.
another time we stayed at the Lafayette hotel in san diego. it was an old estate used by the rat pack (sinatra etc) and others back in the day. probably better when not with your kids...there's rooms that open up to the pool area where everyone stays up and gets drunk..nice tattoo'd girls to look at, but i digress..

 

Thanks guys/gals? I'm 38 and we bought the tickets this morning. October 16thish - 7 days total. Would love to car shop when I'm there, but I don't think I could get one in the overhead bin! This will be the fourth time to Cali, love the whole state! Thanks again!

 

Laguna is a nice place to stay with your family, and I think the NHRA Museum is really cool.

 

Just looked at NHRA museum website - perfect!