Southern California on a whim!!

The best part about this trip was that we had no agenda, no plans. We were going to get off the plane, get a car, and just drive. We stayed just outside Ontario since my wife had relatives in the area. We did not realize that until a couple of days before the trip.

The first stop was going to be the San Diego Zoo. We took the rental car and drove down the coast to San Diego. The best part was taking stops every 20 miles or so and just relaxing at the beach. Being from the Midwest, any kind of beach you can get, you do - without question. The air was warm, with a hint of sea water. It was such a nice travel that we almost nixed the idea of the San Diego Zoo, which was our destination. Now, we come from a great zoo town in St. Louis, but San Diego was beautiful. From the exotic Komodo dragon to the prized panda bears, it was a great day of rest and learning.

As this was only a 4-day visit, we spent the last day with relatives and visiting Universal Studios in L.A. This was the park to beat all parks; from the great rides to movie studio sets, it exceeded my expectations. We were able to ride the Terminator ride (not for the motion-sickness crowd) and the Jurassic Park water ride, along with the Back to the Future Roller Coaster.

At the end of the day, we took the Studio Tour, which was an enjoyable time. We were able to see several sets (like the Grinch movie with Jim Carey, as well as the mechanical Jaws). Unfortunately, we did not see any movies being filmed or stars on the lot.

The trip ended too soon and without us able to visit Hollywood. That was the one regret we had, but we promised ourselves we would be back to do this.

Quick Tips:

* Booking a flight to Ontario to visit L.A. and Hollywood is a great idea. It is a smaller airport and less crowded and you are only a car ride away from major Southern California attractions.

* At Universal Studios, I would buy tickets ahead of time. The lines on the day we went were long - and we got to the park early.

* Rent a car. It allows the freedom and gives you the ability to visit areas up and down the coast of California.

Best Way To Get Around:

Well, with the large amounts of things and areas to visit up and down the southern coast, I would recommend a rental car from someplace near the airport. At the Ontario airport, it was all there. And with us getting in late in the evening, it was off the plane, into a car, and off we went.

San Diego Zoo is a must-visit when you are in San Diego. The pure size of the park is reason enough. We started the day early and were able to find easy, close parking.

The panda viewing was the hot ticket of this day, so we saved that for last. My wife was especially interested in the Komodo dragon and the sheer size, up-close, is larger than I thought. Along with the animals, I coaxed my wife into riding the cable cars, which take you from one side of the park to the other at a very high altitude. She was not too thrilled about it but enjoyed it nonetheless.

The park caters to both adults and families alike, with children’s learning areas, games, and rides, along with the wonderful world we all expect from a zoo – animals, and so many of them.

Check their site for more information.

Now, Universal Studios is a huge place. It is split into two places, the amusement park and the studio area. We went with some relatives. The lines were long, so I would recommend tickets ahead of time via the phone or internet. The worst part was waiting in the lines, which took all of 1 hour or so.

Once in, it was quite an assortment of themed rides and games. From the T2 ride/show to the Jurassic Park water ride, it was quite up to the hype of an amusement park. We went from ride to ride, although people started to line up outside the bigger rides as the day went on.

After a day of rides, we went to the Studio Tours. Waiting in line, we were called and jumped on our tram. The tram ride took you through several lots that were used for movies and TV shows. We also were treated to a "ride" when the tram entered a warehouse and shook as if we were in an earthquake. Still an old-time standard and fan favorite is the old, reliable mechanical shark from JAWS. As the tram came to an end, so did the evening. It was a lot of fun, but we were ready for bed.