Lots of California advice needed!

[Libby]

We stayed in San Diego for part of our 2019 trip.

I found Aims advice very valuable when planning that part ofour holiday.

We went to both San Diego Safari Park and the Zoo. (I wrote about them in my trip report)

Both were good and the safari park made a convenient stop on our drive from Palm Springs. However it was very spread out and only a part had a tram tour. Not the UK idea of a safari park where you drive your own car around the enclosures.

We much preferred the zoo and probably didn't need to do both in the same holiday.

[landandword17]

Originally Posted by danisleigh

Thanks everyone, some great advice!
Amy, I looked at your sticky…I didn’t realise there was so much to do in San Diego! It looks amazing 😍

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It's a gem. We didn't make it there until our second time on the west coast but I could gladly spend a week or even two just in San Diego. I have mentioned it to some people who go 'where?' so it's not at all well known among the general public here I think but it gets rave reviews from Dibbers. Smashing place and easily combined with Disney even without driving as the train goes from Anaheim to SD.

[marypoppins38]

I absolutely loved San Diego when we went and could easily spend two weeks there. We stayed at the Marriott Marquis next to Seaport Village and it was a perfect location for us. We ate out at Seaport Village or just did a short wander over to the Gaslamp District. We caught the ferry over to Coronado Island from just behind the hotel and was within walking distance to the Midway. For everything else we just used Uber which we found easy and not at all expensive. It’s a really beautiful city with lovely, friendly people.

[Buggles94]

Hiya danisleigh - glad your son is doing ok at the moment. Must be very worrying for you. Wanted to reply as we are coming to the end of our own Easter holidays Southern California trip. Has been absolutely amazing! We stayed in Disneyland followed by the Sheraton Universal and finally San Diego - well Coronado 😀We have loved all 3 areas and want to return asap! It has definitely got busier in the lead up to Easter and I’m glad we were in Disneyland at the beginning of the trip as we enjoyed getting to the parks for opening. This week is apparently spring break so everywhere is very busy and of course it is now Easter weekend. Sheraton Universal was a great location - whilst there we had a fantastic couple of days at Universal and we also did an amazing tour with Emily from yourlatours.com and a Warner Bros tour. Can recommend all those activities. Weather very very hot last week - 37 degrees a couple of days but have needed spirit jerseys and jeans at times this week.. (I do feel the cold easily though&#129315 It is lovely and sunny though all the time and the midday heat is still hot - just not Florida temps. We went to Magic Mountain a few years ago which was fab - a great day out. We based ourselves in Santa Monica for our LA days that trip but we loved the Universal location this time as only an 8 minutes walk to Universal City Walk and all the food and shopping options there. We also looked at visiting Palm Springs but check the dates as this weekend is Coachella so that may affect your decision for next year too. California is a really wonderful place - We are already planning a return in 2023 - so much to see and do.

[danisleigh]

Originally Posted by Buggles94

Hiya danisleigh - glad your son is doing ok at the moment. Must be very worrying for you. Wanted to reply as we are coming to the end of our own Easter holidays Southern California trip. Has been absolutely amazing! We stayed in Disneyland followed by the Sheraton Universal and finally San Diego - well Coronado 😀We have loved all 3 areas and want to return asap! It has definitely got busier in the lead up to Easter and I’m glad we were in Disneyland at the beginning of the trip as we enjoyed getting to the parks for opening. This week is apparently spring break so everywhere is very busy and of course it is now Easter weekend. Sheraton Universal was a great location - whilst there we had a fantastic couple of days at Universal and we also did an amazing tour with Emily from yourlatours.com and a Warner Bros tour. Can recommend all those activities. Weather very very hot last week - 37 degrees a couple of days but have needed spirit jerseys and jeans at times this week.. (I do feel the cold easily though&#129315 It is lovely and sunny though all the time and the midday heat is still hot - just not Florida temps. We went to Magic Mountain a few years ago which was fab - a great day out. We based ourselves in Santa Monica for our LA days that trip but we loved the Universal location this time as only an 8 minutes walk to Universal City Walk and all the food and shopping options there. We also looked at visiting Palm Springs but check the dates as this weekend is Coachella so that may affect your decision for next year too. California is a really wonderful place - We are already planning a return in 2023 - so much to see and do.

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Thanks so much! Our plan is also Disney and universal at the beginning, as we get towards Easter we will be in vegas then drive back to LA to do the WB studio tour and then fly home and I thought the tour would be ok as it’s prebooked and limited capacity. Nice to hear about the weather though, as long as it’s dry and not freezing cold we will be happy! It’s actually pleasant sight seeing when not too humid!

[Mortimer Mouse]

Originally Posted by Buggles94

Hiya danisleigh - glad your son is doing ok at the moment. Must be very worrying for you. Wanted to reply as we are coming to the end of our own Easter holidays Southern California trip. Has been absolutely amazing! We stayed in Disneyland followed by the Sheraton Universal and finally San Diego - well Coronado 😀We have loved all 3 areas and want to return asap! It has definitely got busier in the lead up to Easter and I’m glad we were in Disneyland at the beginning of the trip as we enjoyed getting to the parks for opening. This week is apparently spring break so everywhere is very busy and of course it is now Easter weekend. Sheraton Universal was a great location - whilst there we had a fantastic couple of days at Universal and we also did an amazing tour with Emily from yourlatours.com and a Warner Bros tour. Can recommend all those activities. Weather very very hot last week - 37 degrees a couple of days but have needed spirit jerseys and jeans at times this week.. (I do feel the cold easily though&#129315 It is lovely and sunny though all the time and the midday heat is still hot - just not Florida temps. We went to Magic Mountain a few years ago which was fab - a great day out. We based ourselves in Santa Monica for our LA days that trip but we loved the Universal location this time as only an 8 minutes walk to Universal City Walk and all the food and shopping options there. We also looked at visiting Palm Springs but check the dates as this weekend is Coachella so that may affect your decision for next year too. California is a really wonderful place - We are already planning a return in 2023 - so much to see and do.

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Sorry to hijack the OP's thread, but wondered how the LA tour was with Emily, as I've always wanted to use her, but haven't seen any reviews since covid began, so wasn't sure if she was still doing them. Also, what car did she use?

[danisleigh]

I looked and the tour looks good. Our cancelled covid trip we had booked with a day in LA yours but this looks good as it’s private for not too much more money.

[AlexE]

Originally Posted by Aims

Fathom Bistro Bait & Tackle, right? That is a great place! 👍

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Hi Amy

Are there any doors on the public restrooms by the pier yet? - last time I had to hot foot down to the end of the island

[Aims]

Originally Posted by AlexE

Hi Amy

Are there any doors on the public restrooms by the pier yet? - last time I had to hot foot down to the end of the island

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😂 There weren’t any the last time I went in there, which admittedly was a few years ago. I turned right around and went back out, too! I’m going to bet it is still doorless in there lol

[daytonababe]

Wherever you stay in Vegas you will end up walking a lot..

I stop off strip at South Point (for lots of reasons) but we have a car so doesn’t bother us driving to the strip.

I have also stopped on the strip many times and personally Mandalay Bay is too far down for us ..I wouldn’t stop further south than MGM/NYNY .

My two always liked NYNY and Planet Hollywood , both have a younger vibe about them.

Mirage has a lovely pool , but its just been sold so I assume will very soon undergo renovations .


I’m personally not a fan of Excalibur, Luxor, Flamingo .. all are showing their age.