Other things to do

britlightyear

britlightyear

Active Member
Original Poster
We are headed to DL April 30th for four days to celebrate my son's 16th birthday. I was thinking we could spend 3 days at the parks and maybe do some sight seeing our last day before our flight. Is there anything near by that a teenage boy would like (preferably not other theme parks)? We are flying out of LAX and we could do something by there but we weren't planning to rent a car so it would have to be things close enough to Uber without insane costs. Would it be worth it to rent a car for just one day? We will also have suitcases to consider. Maybe see the ocean?
 
Darkbeer1

Darkbeer1

Well-Known Member
In Anaheim, maybe the FlightDeck. VANS Skate Park at the Outlets at Orange might match up. A birthday celebration at Medieval Times or the Pirates Dinner Adventure. All three are easy and short Uber/Lyft drives, or using public transit.

If you opt to rent a car to get to LAX, a drive up the Pacific Coast Highway is always fun if you have a night flight. Stops I would Recommend would be Surf City, USA (Huntington Beach), The Palos Verdes area is awesome (not officially on PCH, but an easy detour). The Point Vicente Interpretive Center is a great stop. Also the Redondo Beach Pier.

visitanaheim.org

Visit Anaheim, CA | Official Visitor & Tourism Information

The official visitor's guide for all things Anaheim. Explore trip ideas in Orange County and find information for things to do, attractions, hotels, and dining.
visitanaheim.org
 
TP2000

TP2000

Well-Known Member
Phrubruh said:
It's sad that Disney tourists have no clue what southern California has to offer them outside of Disneyland.
Click to expand...

I know, isn't it weird? Southern California was a famous global tourist destination for decades before Disneyland. Tens of millions of tourists visit California from around the world every year, and a majority of them never step foot in Disneyland. But then I imagine there are people who say "What is there to do in London for a day or two?" or "Does New York City have a fun thing we should see?" or "Is there anything of interest in Italy?"

I think it has to do with the fact that Disneyland is just one of a few hundred shining jewels in the Southern California crown brimming with manmade and natural wonders. But when you are in Orlando by comparison, the only thing there is swamps, strip malls, corporate chain restaurants, and mega theme parks.

britlightyear said:
Is there anything near by that a teenage boy would like (preferably not other theme parks)?
Click to expand...

I'll give it a shot, but the official Explore Southern California thread is your best resource.

Does your son like cars? The Petersen Automotive Museum is one of the world's finest. On museum row in west LA. https://www.petersen.org/visit
la-et-cm-petersen-automotive-museum-review-201-003.jpg


Does your son like astronomy? The Griffith Observatory and its exhibits and planetarium shows (plus the view of LA off the terraces, or of Mars through the telescope) are awe inspiring. http://www.griffithobservatory.org/
Hyperlapse+DTLA+2.png


Art and architecture? The Getty is one of the planet's most lavish and expansive collections of fine arts and architecture, (plus a nice view of Bel Air and Century City). Your entrance is free thanks to Getty Oil and a lot of dead dinosaurs. http://www.getty.edu/visit/center/?hp-2nd-level-nav=1
Getty-Museum.jpg


Speaking of dinosaurs, does he like natural history, prehistoric beasts, etc.? The famous La Brea Tarpits and attached natural history museum on LA's museum row still thrill, ten thousand years later. http://www.tarpits.org/visit
LaBreaTarPits01-1280x800.jpg


Was he into Hot Wheels or model trains as a kid? Next door to the Tar Pits is the sprawling Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). Just standing and watching the amazing Metropolis II kinetic sculpture they have is worth the price of admission.


Etc., etc., etc.
 
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Phroobar

Phroobar

Well-Known Member
Don't forget the beaches. We have some of the best surfing in the world!

It would help if we knew what he likes. There is more to this area than a mega corporate theme park. See the Knotts thread.
 
britlightyear

britlightyear

Active Member
Original Poster
Phrubruh said:
It's sad that Disney tourists have no clue what southern California has to offer them outside of Disneyland.
Click to expand...
We have been to California once in 2014 and that was for a last minute scheduled trip to DL and we basically went from the airport to DL/hotel then back to the airport. The only non-disney related thing we did was In & Out.
I have tried to look up things close to DL to do but keep getting stuff for little kids. I figured asking here would give me actual helpful ideas.
He isn't a very picky kid, not particularly into sports but I will check out the Southern California thread. The reason I asked for ideas was because I know there has to be a ton of stuff to do, it is just hard finding a starting point. Poor kid has been to Florida every year for the last 13 years and CA once and has never seen the ocean, I think we'll change that with this trip.
 
britlightyear

britlightyear

Active Member
Original Poster
TP2000 said:
I know, isn't it weird? Southern California was a famous global tourist destination for decades before Disneyland. Tens of millions of tourists visit California from around the world every year, and a majority of them never step foot in Disneyland. But then I imagine there are people who say "What is there to do in London for a day or two?" or "Does New York City have a fun thing we should see?" or "Is there anything of interest in Italy?"

I think it has to do with the fact that Disneyland is just one of a few hundred shining jewels in the Southern California crown brimming with manmade and natural wonders. But when you are in Orlando by comparison, the only thing there is swamps, strip malls, corporate chain restaurants, and mega theme parks.



I'll give it a shot, but the official Explore Southern California thread is your best resource.

Does your son like cars? The Petersen Automotive Museum is one of the world's finest. On museum row in west LA. https://www.petersen.org/visit
la-et-cm-petersen-automotive-museum-review-201-003.jpg


Does your son like astronomy? The Griffith Observatory and its exhibits and planetarium shows (plus the view of LA off the terraces, or of Mars through the telescope) are awe inspiring. http://www.griffithobservatory.org/
Hyperlapse+DTLA+2.png


Art and architecture? The Getty is one of the planet's most lavish and expansive collections of fine arts and architecture, (plus a nice view of Bel Air and Century City). Your entrance is free thanks to Getty Oil and a lot of dead dinosaurs. http://www.getty.edu/visit/center/?hp-2nd-level-nav=1
Getty-Museum.jpg


Speaking of dinosaurs, does he like natural history, prehistoric beasts, etc.? The famous La Brea Tarpits and attached natural history museum on LA's museum row still thrill, ten thousand years later. http://www.tarpits.org/visit
LaBreaTarPits01-1280x800.jpg


Was he into Hot Wheels or model trains as a kid? Next door to the Tar Pits is the sprawling Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). Just standing and watching the amazing Metropolis II kinetic sculpture they have is worth the price of admission.


Etc., etc., etc.
Click to expand...


This is all super helpful, I appreciate it!
 

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