SoCal Sept itinerary

For parking in La Jolla, I have found the valet parking in front of George's to be cheaper and easier than the garages.
If you arrive before 10:00am, you should find street parking, but I don't know the time limits.
George's rooftop has a fantastic view for a drink and/or food.

In LA, the Getty Museum ( not the Villa Museum) off the rt 405 is beautiful. It's on the top of a hill, again with spectacular views. You can take a garden or architecture tour, and have a great experience just being outside. The museum is free, but there is a charge for parking.

If it's a clear day in La Jolla, go to the Torrey Pines glider port and watch the colorful paragliding over the ocean cliffs!

Have a great trip.

I used to live in Los Angeles, and have spent some time exploring the SoCal area, though my info might be a few years outta date :-) You'll find a good chunk of the area feels European, reminds me of my home country of Spain, well it used to be Spain I guess lol, and one can still find traces of those past days, I found that very interesting when exploring the area. Here's some initial notes/recommendations I have:

Check out Coronado Island, probably the nicest part of San Diego, it's attached to the city by a big bridge. Especially look at the historic Hotel del Coronado, made famous by the film Some Like it Hot with Marilyn Monroe!

Skip Gaslamp Quarter, very touristy, overpriced, dirty, and becoming quite unsafe recently, it's like Las Ramblas of Barcelona.

In La Jolla (actually misspelled in Spanish lol), I enjoyed the Birch Aquarium at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. It's really nice as it's perched on a cliff overlooking the Pacific ocean. I also liked hiking Torrey Pines Beach, with the cliffs and pine trees I felt transported to the Costa Brava.

If you are in the mood for history, look at Old Town San Diego, and as well the 200 year old Spanish Missions, many still standing, they dot the route you will drive. They really transport you back in time and are well maintained with onsite museums. There are the Missions San Diego de Alcalá, San Luis Rey, and San Juan Capistrano along your route.

Instead of Newport Beach, which I found kinda boring, I suggest San Clemente, this is the quintessential California beach town, and still mostly locals hang out.

I'd drop Madame Tussaud's wax museum, Hollywood Walk of Fame, and Hollywood Forever Cemetery total tourist traps if I've ever seen one.

Instead look at The Getty Villa, excellent free museum of various Ancient Roman and Greek artifacts, set in a vast recreated Roman Villa. I'd also suggest the newly opened Academy Museum of Motion Pictures (aka Oscars museum). If you want a break from "Hollywood", next door are La Brea Tar Pits, very interesting and well done.

As for food, my info might be a bit outdated but San Diego is known for the "fish tacos", the most well know taco shop being Tacos El Gordo. Buona Forchetta is a chain of authentic Italian restaurants in the area, serving real italian food not olive garden crap lol. In LA, the Japanese food is very good and authentic, I suggest an area called "Little Osaka" on Sawtelle blvd.

Hope this all helps!

I agree with Carlos that San Clemente is way more interesting and fun than Newport Beach. As you drive north from San Diego you might consider a stop at the San Juan Capistrano mission if you are interested in how the Spanish missionaries influenced California. If you end up at the La Brea Tarpits you could walk a few blocks over to the LA Farmers Market, https://farmersmarketla.com/, for lunch or dinner. Also near by is LACMA, the LA art museum, https://www.lacma.org/. Your hotel is near Thai Town so you could walk over there to eat. I'm afraid I don't have any specific recommendations though.

I’ve been to San Diego dozens of times and LA quite a few times. While it’s been a few years, I completely agree with all of Carlos’ suggestions. Have a great visit!

bxrlover,
So Cal resident here, since 1959, five years in San Diego. Pat, Carlos and Trotter are spot on with their suggestions. The Birch Aquarium, the Hotel del Coronado, Old Town San Diego, the mission (the oldest of 21), and the Guy Fleming Trail in Torrey Pines State Reserve are all great places to visit in San Diego. The Gaslamp Quarter is touristy and tacky, IMO. In Balboa Park, the Spanish Village merits about 15 minutes (mostly shops), but within the El Prado area I recommend the Botanical building with the lily ponds out front, the Mingei Museum, and any of the other museums there. Go to the park's website for a list of them all. And you will love the zoo! (When I lived in SD as a teenager we took the bus to the zoo at least once a week in the summer, and would spend several hours in a different section each visit.) Depending on what you do the day you leave SD, you may be kind of late for a lunch at Crystal Cove Shake Shack. (Check the website to see if the are still open in September. Probably are.

Heading north, Laguna Beach is very, very pricey, but there probably are a couple of chain restaurants that might be around. We don't get down there often, so I have no eatery recommendations. It is a beautiful setting. Hubby used to scuba dive there when he was a teenager. The town itself is full of art galleries and high end shops, but walking around the small cove area is still nice, there is a decent art museum, and kayaking sounds perfect. San Clemente is much more charming than Newport Beach, more old-school California, at least down by the water. But it is south of Laguna Beach, so you may just drive through on your way north.

If you find that you get to Laguna Beach too late to kayak that day (due to all the stops we have mentioned), you could kayak the next morning, and still get to your hotel in Anaheim easily the same day (even if you stop for lunch in Newport Beach/Balboa Island....parking is difficult there). It isn't a great distance. You will have to take the freeway a good part of the way, and there will probably be some of our notorious traffic, but Anaheim itself doesn't offer a lot for you to do that evening. You will have tons of rewstaurants to choose from.
Hollywood isn't my favorite place, but I understand people wanting to go there. Madame Tussaud's is on Hollywood Blvd. and the Walk of Fame is right there, all along the Blvd. Tussaud's is kitty-corner from the Dolby Theater, where the Oscars are held, and just a bit further on is (Grauman's) Chinese Theater. There is a large parking lot right off Hollywood Blvd. connected to the Dolby Theater. It will cost you about $20.00 for about 3 hours. Driving in Hollywood is a major pain, so I only go there when taking visitors to see Hollywood (as I did just last week).

I have never been to the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, but have heard good things about it. Other LA things not too far from Hollywood is the La Brea Tar Pits, the old Farmer's Market nearby. My favorite places to eat aren't close to Hollywood but are so very LA! Phillipe's, near Union Station, Chinatown and Olvera Street, and Pinks' Hot Dogs, in West LA., and Taix Restaurant on Sunset Blvd. There is also Canter's Deli on Fairfax Ave. in the Fairfax District, an institution in LA, as are Pinks, Phillipe's and Taix.

If Universal Studios is near Toluca Lake neighborhood in Burbank, (I have only been there once, years ago) the original Bob's Big Boy Restaurant is there. An LA area chain that has shrunk over the years, but the original is still around, serving good coffee shop food. The original Big Boy combo was what we always ordered, along with a chocolate shake. Yum! On Fridays from 4-10 they still have a classic car show that takes me back to my high school days when we teenagers "cruised" the drive-in restaurants after the football games on Friday nights. It's a good LA experience.

bxrlover,
Sorry for being so wordy. I hope we all haven't overwhelmed you. And I hope you and your daughter have a wonderful time! You will have to return to do the other 1001 things that you can do between the Mexican border and Ventura.

I can't help much with San Diego, but LA I know. Lived there 25 years and still have family all over, including just down the road from Universal.

First, Malibu is north of Santa Monica, Venice is south. Venice sucks; it's not a nice neighborhood, and it's full of homeless. Malibu is different, mainly because it's much more expensive. They keep it cleaner. You also should know that the water off CA beaches is cold, much more so than the east coast or the Gulf. The drive from Santa Monica to Malibu is much nicer than the drive to Venice, which basically goes under the LAX flight path. It is best, however to drive from Malibu to Santa Monica, because that way you are on the side with the best ocean view. If you go to Malibu, and want to keep going, drive north past Point Dume to Leo Carrillo State Park. It's a really good place to picnic. (As is Point Dume, if you can find parking. Lot's of surfing at the point.) Zuma is good too, just north of Point Dume.

I'd pass on the wax museum and the cemetery, and you should know the Walk of Fame is very touristy, with lots of buskers dressed up in costume looking to make a buck with tourist photos. I find it annoying. if you go to that part of town I think you'd have more fun on Rodeo, even if all you do is window shop. You're much more likely to find someone famous there.

If you go to Santa Monica on Saturday, go back on Sunday, early, and hit the street market in West Hollywood. This is where you can actually rub shoulders with celebs. Don't go down Santa Monica Blvd, go down Wilshire. You'll pass through Beverly Hills between your hotel and the beach.

I agree with the recommendation you add the Getty, but you may also want to take a look at an evening at the Griffith Observatory. It's close to where your staying and they have great programs at night. Take Los Feliz over the hills, not the freeway.

Places to eat around Burbank/Universal:
Sushi - Gyu-Kaku by the Burbank Center (There's also one in Santa Monica, but I've never been there.)
Mexican - Celia's Rancho by the Equestrian Center
BBQ - Ribs USA on Alameda

If you want to see a cemetery, go to Forest Lawn.

You're not staying in the nicest part of town. DO NOT leave ANYTHING in your car.

Driving the 101 can be rough if you're not used to it. The exits come fast and make very sharp turns so you have to slow down quick if traffic is moving. Other times it's a parking lot. As is the 405.

Plan on a couple hours, each way, to get to Disneyland.

For the beaches, I highly recommend you picnic. Stop at a Pavilions and hit the deli. Buy a cheap ice chest. Always carry water.

Just to add to KGC...Pavilions grocery has changed their name to Vons (their Safeway owner). There are many grocery chains in LA area, so you can pick up a picnic just about anywhere. For Disneyland, you are staying in Anaheim, so don't be concerned about the drive to Disneyland from your hotel. I believe he is figuring the drive from your Adler hotel. Yes to his comments about Venice Beach. The beach itself is nice, but the boardwalj area has gone downhill the last few years. Santa Monica beach is nice, plus there is the pier to explore a bit. Malibu is nice too, but snooty, and parking there is harder than in Santa Monica. Hollywood is, as KGC says, buskers, crowds and panhandlers, although things were improved somewhat when I was there last week. Generally, my visitors have been disappointed in Hollywood.

Both Getty museums, on PCH (the villa) and off the 405 freeway (art museum) are worth a few hours each, but you need to reserve a time for your parking at the art museum (and the villa as well, I think). Entrance to the museums is free, but parking is not. And the Griffith Observatory is a terrific one in a lovely setting, but parking is down the hill and you have to shuttle up. You might recognize it from being in numerous movies and tv shows.
I realize you can't do everything recommended here on the forum, but what a problem to have!

Surprised it wasn't mentioned, but you may want to try In-N-Out Burger. Quite the loyal following. Had a boss from Ireland that always made a stop at the one just outside LAX (Los Angeles International Airport) as soon as he could.

Also iconic is Philippe the Original. Located in downtown LA, they claim to have invented french dip sandwiches.

And if you want a fancier meal with a killer view, there is Moonshadows Malibu.

Hi bxrlover, great ideas above for your trip up the coast. I’m just going to focus on your Saturday beach plans before the Sunday morning flight home.

Santa Monica/Westside is my home and I love the Saturdays. If you can, head to Santa Monica early and have breakfast like a local at one of the Montana Avenue neighborhood cafes and coffee shops. I like Cafe de la Plage, but there’s a number of spots in all price ranges.

You can also circle back for lunch if you decide to start at the Santa Monica Saturday Morning Farmers Market (Arizona and Third). The stars there are the fresh fruits and produce. Great food for a picnic.
Enjoy the pier … Ferris wheel? Rent electric bikes and head down to the Marina? If you decide you want to swim, I second the vote for Zuma Beach north of Malibu.

Or … bag all that, drive up to Ventura in the morning and take a Channel Islands Cruise. You’ll be pros at the freeways by then. Have a great trip!

I agree with Carlos about Buona Forchetta in San Diego, plus if you decide to swap San Clemente for Newport Beach, they've opened a restaurant there also. Their original location in the South Park area of San Diego is my favorite though, and the outside eating area there is much nicer than the one in San Clemente. Coronado Island is a great place to visit, as is Torrey Pines. And the pandas will be on display by the time you visit the zoo. :-)

We like breakfast at Urth Cafe, which is about a 5 minute walk from your hotel in Laguna Beach. If you're looking for relatively inexpensive dinner, you can try Ruby's Diner. Kitschy but fun. A number of people recommend Las Brisas (also within walking distance of your hotel), but I don't have any personal experience there. It's right along the clifftop walk though, so the views are great.

There should be no problem parking on Balboa Island on a Tuesday in September unless you're planning to be there the day after Labor Day. My husband and I go there on Tuesday evenings every couple months. We cross the bridge off Coast Highway rather than coming over on the ferry. Immediately after crossing the bridge turn right into an alley that runs just off the waterfront. We usually find a parking spot on one of the residential streets within 3 or 4 blocks. Our restaurant of choice is Ciao, but there are plenty of others to choose from, and a couple small grocery stores if you just want to get a snack. We enjoy walking around both islands and often see sea lions swimming or hanging out on the floats that smaller boats are tied up to.

Your hotel is within walking distance of Disneyland--maybe 15 minutes? Parking is $30 at the park and then you have to line up for a shuttle in so walking over is probably the quickest way to get there. Or you can take the ART buses--Anaheim Resort Transit, or even a regular OCTA bus. The county buses cost $2 a trip (cash); not sure what the ART buses cost. The Garden Walk center is also near your hotel and they have a lot of chain restaurants like Cheesecake Factory, P. F. Changs, Bubba Gump, California Pizza Kitchen. You can also walk over to the Downtown Disney area to eat and shop.

And I'll leave you at the Los Angeles County line....

Thank you all so much for the informative and thoughtful replies. I am always so grateful for the trip planning help I get on these boards.

Based on your feedback, I have revamped things a bit (skipping Gaslamp Quarter and going to Coronado Island instead, stopping at Torry Pines to see the gliders and walk the trail, replacing the cemetery with the Academy Museum) and booked marked many restaurants.

As much as I would love Griffith Observatory and the Getty Villa and could pass on the Walk of Fame and wax museum, this trip is centred around my 30 year old daughter who has always wanted to go to California to live out her "O.C" dreams.

I am keeping the plan fairly loose, especially after Disney and Universal.Hoping to add in a hike to the Hollywood sign (do we go via Runyon Canyon or Brush Canyon?).

On the Saturday when we drive to Santa Monica, I am torn about whether to add in time in Malibu or Venice. Can anyone here advise re: how best to combine some of the below activities in a single Saturday?

In Santa Monica, I'd like to see the pier and maybe ride the Ferris wheel, maybe rent bikes and ride along the Strand from Santa Monica to Marina del Mar, checking out 3rd Street ( unsure about this as we aren't much into shopping), sticking around and staying at Palisades park for the sunset ( or stopping there on the way back form Malibu).

If we go to Venice it would primarily be to see the boardwalk, see the canals and maybe visit Abbot Kinney if their festival is happening.

If we go to Malibu, we would stop at Will Rogers State Park to walk along the trail to Inspiration Point, or Topanga State park and/or Zuma beach.

Thank you again for your sage advice.

I've not done the Hollywood sign hike (have taken visitors to see it from a street end in LA), but this link shows the Brush Canyon hike: https://hikingguy.com/hiking-trails/los-angeles-hikes/easy-hollywood-sign-hike/ . This guy also covers the Runyon Canyon hike, so it depends on whether you want to see it up close, but from the back, or in the distance, but the "right way round". Here's his take on the Runyon Canyon hike: https://hikingguy.com/hiking-trails/los-angeles-hikes/runyon-canyon-hike-directions/ He offers lots of pictures and directions on his site.

Day 1; Once you get the car you are only a few minutes drive from the Embarcadero. There's all sorts of Ace Parking lots (use google maps) between Little Italy and Embarcadero. You could have lunch in Little Italy. (delicious choices) Or at the Embarcadero there are several restaurants casual quick bite or nicer at Portside Pier. (Not a pier; that what that restaurant area is called.) Or further down Harbor Blvd is Seaport Village with shops and restaurants. (most touristy) I'm confused by what your plans are for Harbor Island or Shelter Island. There's not really anything to do on Harbor Island which is across from the airport but has Coasterra and C-Level for a wonderful lunch and beautiful harbor views. It's really too far to walk and not a pleasant walk from Harbor Island to the Embarcadero; even though it's along the same bay. In between you would be walking along the main road near the airport, coast guard and harbor police buildings. Not scenic. So you've got lots of choices within a few minutes drive of picking up your rental car. Shelter Island (mostly commercial fishing/boating stuff) is entirely on the other side of the bay in Point Loma, but if you want to go in the direction then you could check out Liberty Station. But this all seems a bit choppy and not sure what you might be expecting on Shelter Island. Pacific Beach is great especially if you and your 21 year old buddies want to hit the bars, but if I were on a mom and daughter trip I'd go to Coronado instead. I like The Henry for lunch. But maybe someone has their heart set on PB, so if you go, I'd look at where Kono's is, and decide if you want to fight finding parking for Kono's on Day 3 before heading off to La Jolla. (But I'm ahead of myself). So meanwhile back at your hotel in Mission Valley/Hotel Circle; there's very nearby Old Town (the birth place of California). Interesting place to walk around. There's Casa de Reyes or Casa Guadalajara for pretty outdoor patio dining. Will your luggage be locked in the trunk? Will you have valuables or just clothes? I alway err on the side of caution, but as long as nothing is in the passenger part of the car, your luggage is likely to be fine in the trunk, but one never knows and definitely we're a big city.
Day 2 There's not a lot of choices for restaurants in Balboa Park, but The Prado is lovely. If you just want a quick light bite, there's Craft Cafe at the Mingei Museum in the park. (Not to be confused with their fancier Artifact at Mingei.) The Botanical Bldg is completely closed for reno. If you decide to go to the Gaslamp be sure and check the Padres schedule to see if they are playing because downtown will even be more packed, than a usual packed Saturday night. And no matter if there's a game or not, do not drive to the Gaslamp, you should uber or skip.
Day 3 you have a lot to squeeze in..Instead of Kono's; try Brockton Villa for breakfast in La Jolla, then you are overlooking the sea lions at the cove; the coast trail is right there; Children's Pool, La Jolla village are all right there; then on to the OC. Make dining reservations everywhere that takes a reservation on your entire trip.
LA: Is there a reason for Costco after driving to LA; can you just go to the one closest to Disneyland? Once you are in Anaheim you are bordering LA Co. and just going to get deeper and deeper into LA traffic. 10 miles away that could mean an hours drive in LA. You are staying right in the heart of Hollywood so very long drive to Santa Monica and Malibu. Give yourself plenty of time for car return and to the terminal at LAX. You have Sunday morning advantage traffic wise but it's a drive from Hollywood and then everything takes a lot longer than you expect; and it's a much different experience than you'll have at San Diego Airport which is much smaller.
Have a great trip. You'll have a great time. PS. I love dining at The Ivy on Robertson or Ivy at the Shore/Santa Monica.

I agree 100% with the Birch Aquarium and San Juan Capistrano. From Birch I would go along the coast highway rather than the freeway to Carlsbad for a good look at the ocean.

The La Jolla Cove swim, an annual charity event, will be held on Sunday, Sept 8 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm in La Jolla. The event includes a 1-mile swim, 250-meter swim for kids, 3-mile swim, and 4-mile swim. You may want to consider that the area around the cove will be more crowded than usual that day. But as a visitor, it is a GREAT opportunity to experience the local lifestyle. You might watch some races and get inspired by the community spirit. Link: https://www.lajollacoveswimclub.com/event-5580788

Thanks Tall Girl. Sounds like fun. we will leave a little earlier that day to try and get parking.

KD, thanks for all that great info. Shelter Island and Harbour Island were suggested to me somewhere as parking options. PB isn't really our scene and I was torn between it and Mission beach. Just thought me daughter might find MB a bit boring.

The parking suggestions you got don’t really make sense for what you want to see/where you are going.

You’ll have a great time here no matter what you do! Enjoy!

bxrlover,
Just a thought. When I lived in San Diego, back in the dark ages, our favorite beach for swimming, tanning and body surfing, was La Jolla Shores, a big wide and clean beach. A short walk to some shops and eateries. LaJolla Cove was a favorite then too, but it has changed and the configuration of where one could swim is different. (I also loved Mission Beach for its nice surf for body surfing and the salt water taffy shop, plus the roller coaster ride.)

Parking was easier at Mission Beach and La Jolla Shores than at Pacific Beach and La Jolla Cove.

Have a great trip!

The problem we in San Diego are having this summer is that the marine layer is hanging on until about 11:00am. The best advice is to go early to find parking, but that means a few hours of chilly (San Diego chilly) weather until you have blue skies and waters.
Some of my friends are just ride sharing to the beach, to avoid the parking hassles. I myself go to Torrey Pines State beach, Del Mar, as there is pay parking, therefore always a spot, and the walk is short. This beach also has modern, clean bathrooms and outdoor showers. Enjoy!

I live in Hollywood….worked in the “ biz “ for 30 years.

Hollywood is NOT what you think it is.

Is it Beverly Hills? No

The Adler A is fine. The attached coffee shop/diner expensive but food is good.

A block from the Adler is a place called For The Win.
Very tasty smash burgers there. Or go East and enjoy a lunch or dinner at Birds. Unsure if the French restaurant La Poubelle is still open.

6 blocks East of the hotel is Gelson’s grocery store. Overpriced but I saw Chris Pine there a few weeks ago. Over the decades have seen Diane Keaton, Lily Tomlin, Helen Mirren, Tim Curry ( before his stroke).

Katty Korner from Gelson’s is the Scientology Headquarters. Looks like a French Chateau.

If you walk South on Bronson you will find homeless folks in tents on the sidewalks. Although by the time of your visit the area might have been cleaned out.

Homelessness is an issue in Hollywood. Then again it’s an issue everywhere in LA.

Lots of well known people are buried/interred at Hollywood Forever Cemetery: Mel Banc, Bugsy Siegel, Valentino, Valerie Harper, Cecil B DeMille, Douglas Fairbanks, Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney,
Burt Reynolds to name a few.

My places to eat are the Yuca Hut in Los Feliz, Birds, Palermos and Musso’s and Franks.

https://yucasla.com/
https://www.birdshollywood.com/
https://zankouchicken.com/
https://mussoandfrank.com/
https://www.palermorestaurant.net/

Former Torrance resident here! My favorite restaurant in LA is Kogi Taqueria. Korean Mexican fusion, the short rib tacos are insanely good as long as you can handle some heat. They have trucks and a regular location, so you have some different options to choose from.

My only other piece of advice (I haven't read all the comments, so maybe it's already been hit on) make sure you leave good and early to get to the airport. The traffic in and around LAX is no joke. But by the time you're heading home, you'll probably have a pretty good idea of how long it takes to get around LA.
I highly recommend using the single rider lane at Universal Studios. They aren't always clearly marked, but you can ask. Nearly every ride has one and it will cut your wait time down tremendously.
Have a wonderful trip! You should have very warm weather, but if you get some rain then it will be so much less crowded wherever you are that it'll hardly count as a negative.

In LA, would definitely skip wax museum and walk of fame.

In favor of Getty Center or Griffith Observatory...
I would also drive up to Malibu, suggest driving all the way to lunch at Neptunes Net $ for nice coastal views or splurge lunch Geoffreys $$$.