Any tips on vacationing in Southern California in November?

After baby #3 is born, we'd like to do some traveling while I have my
maternity leave. You may remember I posted a question awhile ago
about Yellowstone in the fall. After doing some research, it turns
out most of Yellowstone will be closed when we want to go, so we're
saving that for another time.

We've decided to look at heading to southern California. Disneyland
is definitely out. I have never been there, but even the thought of
going makes me nauseous. I'm not one for lots of crowds, loud noise,
and abundant commercialism. We were thinking of visiting the San
Diego area. It seems a little more my pace. San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld,
LegoLand. What else is in that area that we should visit? Any tips
to share? We'll be driving from Idaho, so I'd appreciate any info on
things to see along the way as well. We'll be going in early
November. Our boys will be 7 ½, 5 ½, and approximately 6 weeks.

Thanks!

~ Sher

"sher" wrote in message
om...
We've decided to look at heading to southern California. Disneyland
is definitely out. I have never been there, but even the thought of
going makes me nauseous. I'm not one for lots of crowds, loud noise,
and abundant commercialism. We were thinking of visiting the San
Diego area. It seems a little more my pace. San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld,
LegoLand. What else is in that area that we should visit? Any tips
to share? We'll be driving from Idaho, so I'd appreciate any info on
things to see along the way as well. We'll be going in early
November. Our boys will be 7 ½, 5 ½, and approximately 6 weeks.


I live in San Diego County. November is usually a lovely time of year
here--usually sunny with temps in the 60s-70s (although, of course, it can
rain and be cloudy). Here are some things *we* visit while living here with
the kids:

* Balboa Park museums (the Zoo is in the Park). The best ones for kids are
the San Diego Model Raiload Museum, the Fleet Space Center/Theater (they
show IMAX films, but be warned that your kids won't like them if they are
sensitive to loud noises), and the Natural History Museum. I keep meaning to
take mine to the Museum of Man as well, because I think my oldest would
enjoy it a lot, but I never get around to it. There are also several good
playgrounds in the Park. You can make a great day out of hanging out in
Balboa Park.

* Birch Aquarium. This is in La Jolla and is very nice. We were just there
last weekend, actually. It overlooks the beach, and is reasonably close to
downtown La Jolla and La Jolla Cove, which are nice places to visit (eat
dinner in one of the more kid-friendly restaurants on the main drag, then
walk down the hill to the Cove). You can make an easy day out of this one.

* If your kids like trains and you can stand the drive (about an hour from
downtown), go out to the San Diego Railroad Museum in Campo. They have loads
of wonderful old engines and rail cars and run real train rides. I don't
know if they've gotten their steam engine up and running again, but you can
check their website at http:/www.sdrm.org. That'll also give you the times
for the train rides and let you know when they are closed.

FWIW, I don't think Disney would be overly crowded on a mid-week day in
November, but for amusements parks for the younger set, I prefer either
Legoland or Knott's Berry Farm (which is in Buena Park, just a few miles
from Disneyland and about 90 minutes from San Diego). My kids *love*
KBF--more fun rides for the younger set (I always think Disney's rides are
targeted more to the 8-12yo range; there isn't much there that my rather
cautious kidlets enjoy), a bit less rampant in the commercialism department,
and loads of fun, fun rides for teens/grown-ups who are adventuresome (which
you may not be, but your husband might!).
--
Be well, Barbara
(Julian [6], Aurora [4], and Vernon's [17mo] mom)
"Nobody died when Clinton lied." -- freeway sign

This week's special at the English Language Butcher Shop:
"They walk with an unsteady, shambling gate." -- Article in the San Diego
Union Tribune

All opinions expressed in this post are well-reasoned and insightful.
Needless to say, they are not those of my Internet Service Provider, its
other subscribers or lackeys. Anyone who says otherwise is itchin' for a
fight. -- with apologies to Michael Feldman

Circe wrote:

* If your kids like trains and you can stand the drive (about an hour from
downtown), go out to the San Diego Railroad Museum in Campo. They have loads
of wonderful old engines and rail cars and run real train rides. I don't
know if they've gotten their steam engine up and running again, but you can
check their website at http:/www.sdrm.org. That'll also give you the times
for the train rides and let you know when they are closed.

(Barbara forgot a / so try: http://www.sdrm.org)

Arg! This will teach me for not posting here before trips! Just got back from
San Diego. While I was tied up at a conference all weekend, but DD and DH
were looking for things to do and DD *loves* trains. Oh well.

We are driving from LA to Yuma, AZ at Christmas, off to see if Campo is
on the way....

Mary

"Mary W." wrote in message
...
Arg! This will teach me for not posting here before trips! Just got back
from
San Diego. While I was tied up at a conference all weekend, but DD and DH
were looking for things to do and DD *loves* trains. Oh well.

We are driving from LA to Yuma, AZ at Christmas, off to see if Campo is
on the way....

You'd have to make a detour and drive from LA to San Diego on the 15, then
take 94 East. I'm not sure how "out of the way" that is. Campo (and the
train museum) are very close to the Mexican border--in fact, you pass the
turn-off for the Tecate border crossing on your way there.
--
Be well, Barbara
(Julian [6], Aurora [4], and Vernon's [17mo] mom)
"Nobody died when Clinton lied." -- freeway sign

This week's special at the English Language Butcher Shop:
"They walk with an unsteady, shambling gate." -- Article in the San Diego
Union Tribune

All opinions expressed in this post are well-reasoned and insightful.
Needless to say, they are not those of my Internet Service Provider, its
other subscribers or lackeys. Anyone who says otherwise is itchin' for a
fight. -- with apologies to Michael Feldman

I'm not one for lots of crowds, loud noise,
and abundant commercialism. We were thinking of visiting the San
Diego area. It seems a little more my pace. San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld,
LegoLand.

I'd class all of those places as being full of crowds, loud noise, and abundant
commercialism, but admittedly not to quite the same extent as Disneyland. :-)
(I loved Legoland and we will definitely return when DS is a bit older -- he
was only 7 months old when we visited and, although he enjoyed it, I think
grade schoolers get more out of it.)

What else is in that area that we should visit? Any tips
to share? We'll be driving from Idaho, so I'd appreciate any info on
things to see along the way as well. We'll be going in early
November. Our boys will be 7 ½, 5 ½, and approximately 6 weeks.


Definitely go to the San Diego Wild Animal Park in addition to or instead of
the Zoo.

If you or your kids are at all interested in music, there is a neat little
museum near Legoland sponsored by a recording industry group. I've forgotten
exactly what it's called but the displays cover the history of musical
instruments, sheet music, and recorded music in the US, and there are lots of
hands-on exhibits, including a recording stage setup where you can put on
headphones and play the drums in a rock band. :-)

San Diego itself has an "Old Town" area with a market of mostly neat Mexican
crafts and food. I don't recall that there's a lot there for little boys but
*you* might enjoy it as a break from the amusement parks.

And do visit the beach, if it's not pouring rain. It's a different experience
than going in the summer and well worth doing.

Holly
Mom to Camden, 2.5 yrs

Circe wrote:

"Mary W." wrote in message
...
Arg! This will teach me for not posting here before trips! Just got back
from
San Diego. While I was tied up at a conference all weekend, but DD and DH
were looking for things to do and DD *loves* trains. Oh well.

We are driving from LA to Yuma, AZ at Christmas, off to see if Campo is
on the way....

You'd have to make a detour and drive from LA to San Diego on the 15, then
take 94 East. I'm not sure how "out of the way" that is. Campo (and the
train museum) are very close to the Mexican border--in fact, you pass the
turn-off for the Tecate border crossing on your way there.

That's actually on the way. We usually take the 15 to the 8 and that over
to Yuma. Looks like you can get to Campo either from the 8 or the 94.
May just do it, thanks!

Mary

"sher" wrote in message
om...
After baby #3 is born, we'd like to do some traveling while I have my
maternity leave. You may remember I posted a question awhile ago
about Yellowstone in the fall. After doing some research, it turns
out most of Yellowstone will be closed when we want to go, so we're
saving that for another time.

We've decided to look at heading to southern California. Disneyland
is definitely out. I have never been there, but even the thought of
going makes me nauseous. I'm not one for lots of crowds, loud noise,
and abundant commercialism. We were thinking of visiting the San
Diego area. It seems a little more my pace. San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld,
LegoLand. What else is in that area that we should visit? Any tips
to share? We'll be driving from Idaho, so I'd appreciate any info on
things to see along the way as well. We'll be going in early
November. Our boys will be 7 ½, 5 ½, and approximately 6 weeks.

There's a place along the coast there I think they'd love. It's shallow
water, no waves or anything. It's got starfish and other marine life in it.
The best thing is that it's free. Anyone know exactly where? My brother
wants me to go there, but he can't tell me the exact location other than
it's near San Diego. I think DS would like it.

Actually, Disneyland in November can be pretty quiet in my experience, as long
as you don't go over Thanksgiving, and while the thought of "commercialism"
might make YOU nauseous, your kids would probably enjoy the place without
having a similar reaction.