I am so stoked!
We bought our plane tickets last week to fly out for two weeks over Holiday Break.

We are flying to Las Vegas, got a rental car and are driving to Southern Cali to spend time with my dad's side of the family (I haven't been there in 10 years!!!). We are going to be staying with my sister while we are there, and then spending a few days in Vegas at the Grand Chateau (Marriott) resort (Oh yeah!!!) before leaving . I am really excited for the trip, but am even more excited to spend time with my sister (just her and I) after what happened in Lake Tahoe. So this will be a healing time as well. (YAY!!!)

I need some help and advice on what to see when we are in Southern Cali!
Where can I find discount tickets, what is the cheapest way to buy tickets for experiences (ebay?)?

Here are Some of the things I want to do, so if you have anything to add that is a must see (ie. I want to go to Hollywood, so what is the must see in Hollywood???)
We are staying in between San Diego and LA (if that helps!)

List of "want and must do's"

Disneyland
Universal Studios (We don't want to do more than one theme park, so we are only going to pick one, so which would you recommend?)

Visit my dad who is buried at the Crystal Cathedral Cemetary

Hollywood, walk of fame (what are some of the must sees in this area??)

The beach (Was thinking Newport, but which one is best in December?)

Catalina Island? Are there any cheap ways to get over to this place and enjoy the day?

I am not sure if the Mission Inn is still there in Riverside, or open to the public still, but I would love to take a walk through there when I am back. That place brings back so many memories!!!

Spending Jan 1st through the 3rd in Las Vegas. What is a must see/do there??? It has been SO Long since I have been there for more than one day..so I need help!

Any recommendatinos for restaurants in some of these areas?

And the big question is.. How do I get discounts cheap tickets/etc for some of hese activities/restaurants (do you recommend restaurant.com???)

I live in So Cal and you've covered most of the places I'd have suggested. There is a boat to Catalina that now departs from Marina del Rey (it's fairly new). You can occasionally get tickets to the theme parks from the local grocery stores at a discount. I'll keep my eye out for local commercials for the parks. There is also coupons printed on soda cans sometimes. Let me know which park you narrow it down to.

In Vegas (I vacation there 5-6 times a year and I stay at the sister resort to Grand Chateau). In front of the Polo Towers, there is a little shop called Tickets for Tonite and they have deep discounts on last minute shows (day of or day before) as well as dinners/buffets. There prices can't be beaten. No, I don't recommend restaurant.com because their list is very limited considering the vast array of places you can go on the strip.

Beaches: Are you swimming? or just want to see the beach? the coast up by Malibu is absolutely beautiful for both. If you just want to see the beach (and not go in) Santa Monica is beautiful. Playa del Rey, behind LAX airport is a nice beach, especially on a weekday. If you'll be further south, a good beach is Pacific Beach, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Mission Bay and Mission Beach. Mission Beach is a real beach town with the beach on one side and the bay on the other, with only a span of ten homes in between. You can rent little beach cottages per day there for very little money, especially in winter time. If you want a fun beach, go to Venice Beach on a weekend. There is street shows and shops - and it's always one of my faves even though I've been on and off my whole life.

Some other suggestions:
Rose Parade (if you'll be here New Years Day) in Pasadena
Solvang
a drive up the coast along PCH from Santa Monica up
Calico Ghost Town (between L.A. and Vegas)
Big Bear, if you want to see snow
Chinatown
Knott's Berry Farm (at Xmas, it's Knott's Merry Farm w/Snoopy)

HTH.

DD and I are going to LA/San Diego over her spring break. I have been researching some stuff....yes it is the typical touristy stuff....here are some sites to visit....

THINGS TO DO IN CALIFORNIA - Hollywood Citypass

THINGS TO DO IN CALIFORNIA - LOS ANGELES COUNTY ATTRACTIONS - Hollywood CityPass

Long Beach Hotel Queen Mary | Attractions | Special Events Center | The Queen Mary in Long Beach, Ca

Welcome to SanDiegoZoo.org!

Warner Bros. VIP Studio Tour - Official Site

Universal Studios Hollywood - Ticket Choices

Paramount studio tour

Jeopardy Tickets For Free by TvTix.com Print Out Online!!!

Welcome to the Studio Diner

HTH!

We live close to the Mission Inn, you will probably be here to experience the Festival of Lights Mission Inn - Festival of Lights, it is a free event and you can even tour the inside. My hubby and I love walking around the area, just be cautious as a lot of homeless like to hang out there but I do feel that it is very safe. Maybe we could meet you for coffee, I've never actually met one of my cyberfriends in person!

I'll ask my die hard beach friends which beach is most beautiful to visit during the winter.

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The falling of a tear,
The upward glancing of an eye
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Wow, thanks for the tips so far!!! TURTLE, thank you for going into such detail!! I had no clue there was a boat to go over to Catalina!

What about seeing actors/stars.. is there anywhere that is KNOWN in Cali for being "the place" to catch a star or two? (Eateries, shops, etc)?

Isn't there like a shopping strip in Cali that is.. well, out of my price range.. but would be sooo much fun to dream??? Is it Beverly Hills? I thought it was somewhere else... Rodeo Drive? Again, I thought there was a new one that was even better.


Igotscammed- THANK YOU for the info on the Mission Inn! My sister and my family go to church with you at Harvest, btw. Not sure if you read that earlier when Pastors son died.

We used to hang out at the Mission Inn when I was in High School at North. We would run all OVER that place and just be in awe at the beauty. The staff took to me and my best friend and they welcomed us like family..lol We got to see a lot of the hotel during that time.

I guess Riverside isn't what it used to be..I know there has always been homeless, but it was never dangerous at all. Times change, I guess.
Heck, I remember when the Pu$$cat theatre was across the street from the bus station! haha!

OH my, the Mission Inn has changed!!

It used to be just a ... Mission themed Hotel that was an awesome place to have weddings back when I was in high School!

WOW.. I remember they were doing the renovation.. or started it..the year I left Cali..

wow!!

I grew up in Riverside I haven't been to the Mission Inn in AGES. Our 0ur 10 year reunion was there but I didn't get to go.

When we go back to visit family, I get discount passes thru Costco

Citypass
Costco - 2008 Southern California CityPass®
$217 for adult
# Admission to the following six attractions:

* 3-day Disneyland® Resort Park Hopper® Bonus Ticket* valid for admission to both Disneyland® Park and Disney’s California Adventure® Park
* 1-day admission ticket to SeaWorld Adventure Park® San Diego
* 1-day admission ticket to the San Diego Zoo® or San Diego Zoo® Wild Animal Park
* 1-day admission ticket to Universal Studios Hollywood™©

# Booklet expires 14 days past date of first use
# First day of use must occur by January 5, 2009

There are also just Universal or Just Disney passes:
Costco - Gifts & Tickets - Theme & Water Parks

If you LOVE garlic..you HAVE to eat at The Stinking Rose! It's awesome! I personally adore Newport but I spent my summers there as a kid so I am partial. My grandparents are on 30th St.

I enjoy the La Brew Tar Pits and Fashion Island Shopping Center in Newport. The Elephant Bar in Riverside is great. My parents eat there a lot (they are in Riverside Jan-April for my mom's tax business).

Have fun! I know my kids liked the Hollywood Wax Museum. A lot of smaller tourist things like the museum gave like $5 off with AAA card.

I didn't know that there here any Riverside people here...maybe we know each other in passing? North huh? I went to Arlington. My dad was in the first graduating class at Ramona

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as soon as I talk to my dd I will let you know where to go to see stars!
she used to be in the news business and still has many friends at ktla and knows which restaurants the stars frequent when they don't want to be noticed!
one is called the Chateau and you have to get to it from a back alley but she says it is wonderful and always sees people!
as far as other restaurants to eat at!
claim jumpers is good also "the stinking Rose" *(a garlic restaurant)

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Smurf..that is wild!! I bet we just MIGHT know each other.. We lived on Dewey for a while..and my family has always lived around the Ramona area (Canterbury Rd and others). All of my Uncles and dad graduated from Ramona, along with my ex mother in law. What year did your dad graduate?? I think my dad Graduated in 1963? Ask him if he knew any Foster boys...My MIL was a Bailey. I think she graduated in 63 as well. So cool!
Oh, and Smurf, I hung out in Newport as well. Shelly Sexton (Sexton Realty) was one of my friends in High School (She was a poly girl) and her parents owned a beach house on the beach there. But even without her, that was my hang out!

Thanks smurf for the links to the costco discounted tix!



So far two votes for the stinking rose! Sounds like it is a winner!

Squeak- THANK YOU for finding out some info for me! That sounds cool!

I IM'd you!

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Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

Most parts of Riverside are still safe. Downtown Riverside has undergone a huge change in recent years. Perhaps your family and I have crossed paths some time. (Harvest is so crowded that my friends and I have to call each other on our cells to find each other!) lol... Your family has a better chance of recognizing my son, who is on the sound team. That kids runs all around church grounds, doing this and helping w/ that. He really enjoys it.

I hope you have a great visit!

__________________
Prayer is the burden of a sigh,
The falling of a tear,
The upward glancing of an eye
When none but God is near."

As for star sightings, the Ivy in West L.A. is known for celebs and paparazzi. So is the Newsroom Cafe. Both are located on Robertson Blvd across the street from each other. Ivy is VERY pricey and Newsroom is roughly half price of the Ivy. Shopping on Robertson is very trendy right now and a hotspot for celeb activity.

Celeb sightings are so hit and miss here. Just last week, I saw Brian from Big Brother in my local grocery store. LOL. I've also seen Roseanne multiple times, Meg Ryan, Phil Jackson (Lakers coach), lots of others and the cast of 90210 film here at my dd's high school. My brother once saw Paris Hilton on Robertson, but I also was face to face with her in Vegas. Check out TMZ.com and you can see the hotspots where celeb sightings occur.

If you are in Vegas on a Monday, check out the Rock Star Karaoke at the House of Blues in Mandalay Bay. I'm not really into Karaoke, but my brother works there and I went to see him. It is a great show. They have a full band there for participants to sing along to. Best part, it's FREE admission. We went thinking that we'd only stay thru a few songs, but ended up staying for the full show. Absolutely great!

I would say that, personally to my family and myself, The Hollywood Walk of Fame, is a big bust. A NOT great part of town, many stars so NOT taken care of, lots of "urine" smelling stops along the way. But, that was just our personal experience and that was two years ago...don't know if or how it could have appreciably changed during that time frame. All the other examples given here are great!

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If you only want to do one theme park, do Disneyland!!!We went last year for Christmas and LOVED it! We only did 2 days though and could definately use a 3rd day. We would also do sea world over the zoo... We went to the ocean in Oceanside, it was nice out there. Hope you have a wonderful time!

Has anyone been to Catalina? If so, what are your opinions? What tour did you like this best if you went on one?

I am looking at boat trips over there.....and it seems like it might be fun? (Thanks again TURTLE!)

Becky, we went there 10 years ago, it was a thought.. but none of us have been to Universal, so we are seriously considering it.. I dunno.....It's up to our son, really (even though I think I am a bigger kid..LOL)

www. catalinaexpress .com

and

www. catalinaferries .com (Marina del Rey)

Check out Travel Guides, Hotel Reviews, Photos, Forums, Deals - VirtualTourist.com I always visit that site before I travel to a new location. You can either post a question on their forums or look at the member tips they give. Have you visited the travel forum?? There is a sticky about California.

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I live in Fullerton. lThat's about 3 miles from Disneyland. If you go, I recommend going to Angelo and Vinci's Italian restaurant. It is the only one, they are not a chain and it is highly recommended by many people here. They do have a webstite.

Fashion island in Newport Beach is beautiful and they have a huge decorated christmas tree that is lit at night.

I highly recommend Disneyland/CA. adventure over Universal Studios.

There is also the Grove in LA which is very popular. And the Archlight theater in LA.
The mission inn is beautiful and has yummy food.

if you want more places to eat in my neighborhood PM me

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-Kristi

I'm in OC as well. Sometimes we get coupons for Universal Studios in our Sunday coupon inserts. Occassionally they even have coupons for the Catalina Flyer (boat to Catalina Island). I'll keep my eyes open and PM you if I find any. All our big chain grocery stores carry amusement park gift cards. I think the Disney ones are one day admission to D-land and another day to CA Adventures for the price of one day at D-land.