Crazy for California

The drive from SoCal to La Jolla (pronounced La Hoi-ya) was quick at 11am. Sometimes the traffic can be crazy, so we were lucky. It's probably about a 1.5- to 2-hour drive, depending again on traffic. La Jolla is a beautiful coastal city north of San Diego with lots of great shops, boutiques, and restaurants. There was a very pretty cove and beach, but the weather wasn't exactly warm enough to hit the beach.

We stayed with a friend there and headed to SeaWorld in Mission Bay. Parking was $10, and it's definitely good to get there early. Admission was $53/Adult and $43/Child 3-9 without a coupon. We had the option to buy the Fun Pass for the same price, which was good for unlimited entry to the park until December 31, 2006. Again seeing everything in 1 day would require a lot of coordination and cooperation. The kids enjoyed watching the dolphin and Orca whale shows. Their favorite was the sea lion and sea otter show. The performance was loads of laughs and had a lot of interaction with the audience. The penguin and shark encounter was neat but crowded.

Guys should check out the Anheuser-Busch hospitality center for beer tasting, with two complimentary samples for guests 21 or older. There was decent-priced food at this location, and it was tasty, too. We were again limited to some of the rides, as we had small children, but the Journey to Atlantis looked like it was a blast. It would be good to go on when it's super hot in the summer. Height restrictions were 42 inches on the rides. I definitely would go back again to see other stuff we missed.

We landed at LAX on Wednesday afternoon, and the temperature was welcoming, especially after leaving our sub-zero climate back home. At this time of year, you can't exactly expect it to be beach weather, but it's warm during the day and cool in the evenings. We were staying with a relative in Orange County, so we had to drive for about an hour. If your travel plans are for SoCal and money is no object, I suggest you get a flight to Long Beach or John Wayne Airport to eliminate the commute time from LAX. With a relative in this area, we saved money on some tickets to Disneyland/California Adventure. SoCal residents get discounted tickets, which we picked up at the local grocery store.

On March 23, we set off for Disneyland and paid $10 cash for parking. All other stores took credit/debit cards. If you have small children, bring your stroller, a definite lifesaver. Lines were the number-one disadvantage. Kids wanted to get autographs, and the lines for that took time away from seeing other things in the park. I recall seeing the entire park over 10 years ago in one full day without children. The parade of dreams was definitely a crowd-pleaser, and my kids enjoyed it thoroughly. It would be a good idea to make sure to get a decent spot before it starts. Times vary during the season, so check their website. The kids were getting tired, so we didn't stay for the fireworks, but we were told that they were spectacular.

On March 27, with the Disney pass we purchased, we were able to go to California Adventure on another day. Again, parking was $10 cash. There were lots of things to see and do, but having small kids, we were limited. FastPass helped out with the lines. It is definitely a must to see Soaring over California, unless you get motion sickness easily. My 6-year-loved it even more the second time she went on it. Monsters Inc. was good for small kids, but would be boring for older kids/adults. Muppets Theatre was a pretty cool 3-D experience. The Bugs Life area good for smaller children. The block party parade was fun, but trying to find a place to sit was impossible. I suggest getting a spot early. Times vary during the season. The weather at this time of year is unpredictable, so I suggest bringing clothing for warm and cool temperatures. We had some rain later, around 6pm.

There are tons of hotels and restaurants just outside the park. Eating inside the park can be expensive, and taking a rest at your hotel would be refreshing before heading back for more fun. Most are within walking distance.