stormy weather Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 There is talk here of going to Disneyland with extended family in October. I would also like to take my kids (14 and 12) to an aquarium and the beach because they've never been to the ocean and we will be there so close it would be a shame not to. I'm looking online at the Aquarium of the Pacific and Cabrillo Marine Aquarium.(Sorry no links as I'm on my phone) Aquarium of the Pacific looks like a neat aquarium and looking at google maps there is a beach near but the Coastal Park at Cabrillo looks to be more than just a beach and could show them different habitats and such that they couldn't see otherwise. I have fond memories of visiting the Monterey Bay aquarium and surrounding areas including beaches and tide pools at around 13 y/o. Monterey Bay is too far away though. :( Does anyone here have any experience of these places or any nicer places that are within 30 min to an hour's drive from Disney and preferably close to one another so I wouldn't have to do a lot of extra driving? I probably won't be able to check back in until the A.M. but any help would be greatly appreciated as I am not much of a traveler. Thanks. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maize Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 Aquarium of the Pacific is a bigger, nicer aquarium. Cabrillo is free; we used to live nearby and my kids loved it, especially the touch tank. There are tide pools which are fun, but the beach is not a good one for swimming, the water is too dirty. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maize Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 There is a marine mammal rescue center not far from cabrillo aquarium, not fancy but you can walk back and see sea lions and seals. There was a huge elephant seal there for awhile. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeaConquest Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 Aquarium of the Pacific is great. That would be my vote. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kubiac Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 I say skip your aquarium plans and just take them to the beach and tide pools at Crystal Cove State Park near Laguna (in same county as Disneyland). Aquarium of the Pacific is good but sometimes crowded and while it is on the waterfront, there isn't really a convenient place to set up a tent and umbrella, etc. Cabrillo is much less expensive and there is a beach right there but it's not terrifically scenic since it's more of an industrial harbor than a seashore. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stormy weather Posted July 20, 2015 Author Share Posted July 20, 2015 Thanks to those who have replied! I will bump this and check back later. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cricket Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 A few years ago (on a trip to Disney) we took a day to explore Corona Del Mar beach. There are lots of rocks for climbing and plenty of tide pools for exploring. We went to Crystal Cove State Park a couple of weeks ago and didn't think it had as many tide pools as Corona Del Mar. Maybe we just weren't in the right spot. Huntington Beach is good if you just want to play in the water, rent bodyboards and end with a campfire in the evening. No tide pools or anything though. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrittanyM Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 I would do the tide pools at Dana Point or Corona del Mar and I've heard good things about Aquarium of the Pacific. Corona del Mar is a great beach for swimming and Dana Point has some as well. Make sure to go at low tide. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 Do you like museums? The La Brea Tar Pits Holocaust Museum The Getty Museum The Children's Museum of Los Angeles are all fairly close to each other. In Long Beach you could visit the Aquarium and the Queen Mary. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stormy weather Posted July 21, 2015 Author Share Posted July 21, 2015 Now I really will have a hard time deciding what to do! @Dawn-I love museums but we will just not have enough time. We'll only have 5 days and two of those will be travel days :( Keep the suggestions coming! I'm enjoying looking these places up! Even if we can't visit them all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stormy weather Posted July 21, 2015 Author Share Posted July 21, 2015 Several of you have mentioned swimming, I had assumed it would be too cold for that. Will the water be warm enough for swimming in mid-October? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrittanyM Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 October is frequently Santa Ana winds time and can be warm (although with the crazy weather we've had this year who knows what October will be like). It probably depends on what you consider "warm" but you'd definitely be able to swim/boogie board if you had a wetsuit (which you can rent if you don't have one). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 Several of you have mentioned swimming, I had assumed it would be too cold for that. Will the water be warm enough for swimming in mid-October? HAHAHA "warm water..." I spent my 25th anniversary with dh at a friend's condo in Corona Del Mar. GORGEOUS. Love the tide pools and then the beach area. But the water? BRRRRRRR! I was used to Atlantic beaches (75-80 degrees) and had no idea it'd be so freakin' cold! We went in July, and I couldn't really even swim. A wet suit would be a must for me. I just checked Corona's water temp and it's 70 today. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elfknitter.# Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 This might give you an idea of water temps: https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/dsdt/cwtg/spac.html That said, the weather people keep saying it's an El Nino year. So water temps might be slightly higher than norm. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stormy weather Posted July 21, 2015 Author Share Posted July 21, 2015 For myself 70 is definitely not a good swimming temp! The kids have been swimming in our pond the last few weeks but I think it's over 70 in spots though some areas feel pretty cold, but it's in the 80's outside so that does make a difference. If it's hot outside they seem to tolerate colder water. We'll bring our swim shorts and rash guards and sweats I guess :001_smile: They can at least splash around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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