Itineraries: Southern California with Kids
SoCal offers many opportunities to entertain the kids beyond the Magic Kingdom. LEGOLAND is a blast for kids 12 and under, and families can’t beat the San Diego Zoo, and San Diego’s historic Old Town.
Days 1–2: Disneyland
(45 minutes by car from LAX to Disneyland.)
Get out of Los Angeles International Airport as fast as you can. Pick up your rental car and head south on the I–405 freeway, which can be congested day or night, toward Orange County and Disneyland. Skirt the lines at the box office with advance-purchased tickets in hand and storm the gates of the Magic Kingdom. You can cram the highlights into a single day, but if you get a two-day ticket and stay the night you can see the parade and visit Downtown Disney before heading south. The Grand Californian Hotel is a top choice for lodging within the Disney Resort. If tackling Disneyland after a long flight is too much, head south from LAX to the surfer’s haven at Huntington Beach, where you can relax at the beach and spend the night in one of several beachfront hotels before heading inland to Anaheim the next morning.
Day 3: LEGOLAND
(1 to 1½ hours by car from Huntington Beach or Anaheim, depending on traffic.)
Get an early start for your next roller-coaster ride at LEGOLAND, about an hour’s drive south of Huntington Beach via the Pacific Coast Highway. Check into the LEGOLAND Hotel or the Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa; both offer direct access to the park. LEGOLAND has a water park and aquarium in addition to the LEGO-based rides, shows, and roller coasters. The little ones can live out their fairy-tale fantasies and bigger ones can spend all day on waterslides, shooting water pistols, driving boats, or water fighting with pirates.
Day 4: La Jolla and San Diego
(La Jolla is just over an hour’s drive from Carlsbad along scenic S21, or 40 minutes on the I-5 freeway; Downtown San Diego is a 20-minute drive from La Jolla.)
Take a leisurely drive south to San Diego by using the "old road," the original Pacific Coast Highway that hugs the shore all the way. It’s a slow drive through Leucadia, Encinitas, Solana Beach, and Del Mar, all of which are popular surfing beaches. When you get to La Jolla, swing around the cove to see one of the area’s most beautiful beaches. Look, but don’t go in the water at the Children’s Pool, as it’s likely to be filled with barking seals. The Birch Aquarium at Scripps here offers a look at how scientists study the oceans.
Hop onto I–5 and head for Downtown San Diego. Go straight for the city's nautical heart by exploring the restored ships of the Maritime Museum at the waterfront in Downtown. Victorian buildings—and plenty of other tourists—surround you on a stroll through the Gaslamp Quarter, but the 21st century is in full swing at the Westfield Horton Plaza retail and entertainment complex. Plant yourself at a Downtown hotel and graze your way through the neighborhood's many restaurants.
Day 5: San Diego Zoo
(10 minutes by car from Downtown San Diego.)
Malayan tapirs in a faux-Asian rain forest, polar bears in an imitation Arctic, and pandas frolicking in the trees—the San Diego Zoo maintains a vast and varied collection of creatures in a world-renowned facility comprised of meticulously designed habitats. Come early, wear comfy shoes, and stay as long as you like.
Day 6: SeaWorld and Old Town
(From Downtown San Diego, both SeaWorld and Old Town are 10 minutes by car.)
Two commercial and touristy sights are on the agenda today. SeaWorld, with its walk-through shark tanks, can be a lot of fun if you surrender to the experience. Also touristy, but with genuine historical significance, Old Town drips with Mexican and early Californian heritage. Soak it up in the plaza at Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, then browse the stalls and shops at Fiesta de Reyes and along San Diego Avenue. Unwind after a long day with dinner and margaritas at one of Old Town’s many Mexican restaurants.
Day 7: Departure from San Diego or Los Angeles
(San Diego Airport is 10 minutes by car from Downtown. Depending on traffic, allow 2½–4 hours to drive from Downtown San Diego to LAX.)
Pack up your Mouseketeer gear and give yourself ample time to reach the airport. San Diego International Airport lies within a 10-minute drive from Old Town. Although you’ll be driving on freeways the entire way to LAX, traffic is always heavy and you should allot at least a half day to get there.
