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Attractions A-F Attractions G-R Attractions S-Z

Attractions: A-F

ADVENTURE CITY, 1238 S. Beach Blvd., Anaheim - 714-236-9300
www.adventurecity.com
Located a few blocks from Knotts Berry Farm, this is a little theme park for kids up to age 8. Admission fee of $12.95, (seniors 55 and over are $9.95), provides entry into the petting zoo, face painting, puppet shows and storytelling in the outdoor theater, arcade games and unlimited use of all rides. The park is small enough to allow parents to keep track of their children, yet large enough to provide a day of entertainment for young children. Birthday party packages available. Open Saturday through Sunday during winter, daily in the summer.

BEACHES
Southern California is known for its beaches and the Los Angeles coast has over 75 miles of beach, all accessible from Pacific Coast Highway. Some of the more popular beaches are:
  • Hermosa Beach (310-372-2166) is a great spot to surf, play volleyball, or take a ride on the bike path. In the summer it has a fun and busy atmosphere, but manages to keep a laid back attitude. The Hermosa pier is recently renovated. Bike and skate rentals are available and the bike path runs north and south for miles. Volleyball courts are also available.
  • Leo Carillo State Park (818-880-0350), This beach, located north of Malibu, offers swimming, surfing, windsurfing, and a shaded campground. There are sea caves and tunnels for the explorers, and animal watchers can look out for whales, dolphins, and sea lions attracted by offshore kelp beds.
  • Manhattan Beach (310-372-2166) is a hot spot for surfing, body surfing, or boogie boarding. This beach is where rock’n’roll’s famous Beach Boys found the inspiration for their surf music.
  • Marina and Playa Del Rey Beaches (310-821-1081) Basin D, known as Mother’s Beach, is a safe environment for young children because there is no surf in the swimming area. A lifeguard, plenty of picnic tables, and barbecues make this a great location for family outings.
  • Playa del Rey (310-821-1081) is a beautiful beach for those who want to stay away from crowds, but it sits under the LA airport, which makes it noisy. The white sand beach with small dunes allows nice views of the Marina del Rey harbor. There are plenty of volleyball courts available, a grass park with a lagoon and playground equipment for the kids. Dogs are allowed on leash in the park. There are basketball courts and a baseball diamond.
  • Redondo Beach and Pier (310-372-2162) located in Redondo Beach, offers excursion boats, fishing and boating, plus an arcade and boardwalk. This is a family-oriented beach, because of its proximity to the pier. There are tons of activities to keep you busy all day, and a nice beach break for the surfers. Also, there is a park directly behind the beach where you can have a barbecue.
  • Santa Monica Beach (310-394-3266) This is one of L.A.’s most popular beaches and also one of its largest. It is the closest to UCLA. This is a great place to watch people; you can also swim, surf, fish and play volleyball. Santa Monica Pier offers dining, shopping, fishing, and rides, and it hosts rock and jazz concerts on Thursday evenings during the summer. Santa Monica Pier and the South Bay Bike Trail are also here.
  • Topanga Canyon State Beach (310-394-3264) is a rocky beach that goes from Topanga Canyon down to Coastline Drive. It is one of the most popular surf spots in the area.
  • Venice Beach (310-394-3266) famous for its Boardwalk, is located just south of Santa Monica Beach. An urban beach with lots of people and lots of noise, this beach has its own unique culture (artists, street performers, vendors and body-builders). You can buy a day pass and pump iron at Muscle Beach or take a yoga class on the beach in front of the Breakwater. You can also find handball and basketball courts, punching bag hook ups, rings, parallel bars, and a rope to climb. The bike and skate paths continue north and south.
  • Will Rogers State Beach (310-305-9545), located in Pacific Palisades, just north of Santa Monica. This 3 mile long sandy beach offers fishing, surfing and bodysurfing. Volleyball is the main attraction. Be cautious of water conditions because a large storm drain is located here. It is generally safe to go in the water 48 hours after a rain storm. Ask the lifeguard if you are uncertain.
  • Zuma Beach County Park, located in Malibu (310-457-9891), has a large, sandy beach with lots of volleyball courts. Playgrounds and lifeguards make it ideal for family outings. Zuma Beach is well known for its surfers.

    For surf and weather conditions call the L.A. County Lifeguards at 310-379-8471. A 22-mile beach bike path runs from below Pacific Palisades to Palos Verdes Estates.

    Bikes and in-line skates can be rented from the following beach areas:
  • Washington Blvd. Beach Lot — 310/821-9047
  • Venice Blvd. Beach Lot — 310/821-9338
  • Rose Ave. Beach Lot — 310/396-1959

    CATALINA ISLAND, (310-510-1520) www.catalina.com
    Located 22 miles off the coast of Los Angeles, Catalina feels like a world away. Stroll the quaint streets of Avalon or explore the adventurous village of Two Harbors, where you will find grazing buffalo and wild pig. Catalina offers hiking, swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, golfing, horseback riding, shopping, dining, and sightseeing activities. The Catalina Casino, a circular Art Deco building, has been the focal point of the island entertainment and culture since it opened in 1929. The Catalina Casino gets its name from the Italian language, where “casino” means a gathering place.

    There is no gambling at this facility. Rather, the massive twelve-story building is divided into a spectacular grand ballroom and movie theatre. It is also available for events and weddings. The Casino hosts most of Catalina’s major indoor events, including the annual New Year’s Eve Celebration and the Catalina Island Jazz Festival. Tours of the Catalina Casino are available daily. The Catalina Visitors Country Club is open to the public, but this wasn’t always so. The facility was originally built for William Wrigley’s baseball team, the Chicago Cubs. Now, after a lavish renovation, the club’s eclectic mix of Spanish Colonial design and sports memorabilia exists in elegant ambiance. Live jazz at the Catalina Island Country Club is offered in the summer. Catalina is accessible by boat, plane or helicopter.

    DISNEYLAND, 1313 S. Harbor Blvd., Anaheim - (714-781-4565)
    www.disneyland.com.
    There is no gambling at this facility. Rather, the massive twelve-story building is divided into a spectacular grand ballroom and movie theatre. It is also available for events and weddings. The Casino hosts most of Catalina’s major indoor events, including the annual New Year’s Eve Celebration and the Catalina Island Jazz Festival. Tours of the Catalina Casino are available daily. The Catalina Visitors Country Club is open to the public, but this wasn’t always so. The facility was originally built for William Wrigley’s baseball team, the Chicago Cubs. Now, after a lavish renovation, the club’s eclectic mix of Spanish Colonial design and sports memorabilia exists in elegant ambiance. Live jazz at the Catalina Island Country Club is offered in the summer. Catalina is accessible by boat, plane or helicopter.

    CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE, Located next door to Disneyland, California Adventure is dedicated to the state of California. The main attractions are Sunshine Plaza, Golden State, Paradise Pier, A Bug’s Land and Hollywood Pictures Backlot. Paradise Pier is dedicated to the “Golden Age” of amusement parks, offering rides, restaurants and shops. The newest attraction is Monsters Inc. Mike and Sully to the Rescue, which opened in January of 2006. A Bug’s Land features Flik and other favorite bugs from the movie “It’s a Bug’s Life.” There is also a play area and rides for the younger set. The Golden State area provides a look at California commerce, industry, and agriculture. Attractions include a fun-filled raft ride called Grizzly River Run, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and don’t miss Soarin’ Over California where you are suspended over an IMAX screen. Your feet dangle in the air as you “fly” over various sights around California, sniffing the oranges and sea air and feeling the breeze as you fly by.

    One day admission to either Disneyland or California Adventure: $63.00 for adults, $53.00 for children 3–9. Parking is $11.00. Multiple day packages also available. UCLA discount tickets from the Central Ticket Office are sometimes available.

    DOWNTOWN DISNEY, connecting Disneyland and California Adventure, offers dining, entertainment and shopping. Restaurants include ESPN (sports bar and grille) Naples Ristorante and Pizzeria (Southern Italian dishes) Rainforest Café (wide variety of dishes served amid a tropical rainforest setting), Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen (Louisiana cuisine), and the House of Blues (Cajun-Creole). There are many unique shops such as Marceline’s Confectionery (candy shop) Illuminations (candles), Compass Books and Café (the West’s oldest independent bookstore), Department 56 (specialty gifts and collectibles), Starabilias (original, restored American memorabilia from the 1880’s–1980’s), Build-A-Bear Workshop, The LEGO Imagination Center and more.

    Dodger Stadium
    Dodger Stadium

    DODGER STADIUM: 1000 Elysian Park Ave., Los Angeles
    213-224-1500 www.dodgers.com
    (323-224-1448) for ticket information.
    Home of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team; over 80 games are played each season from April to October. Seats range in price from $8–$200. For $35 you can get a seat in the All You Can Eat Pavilion and enjoy as many Dodger dogs, peanuts, popcorn, nachos and sodas as you can eat, but these seats are better at night as there is no shade. Parking is $15.00.

    EXPOSITION PARK ROSE GARDEN: 900 Exposition Blvd., L.A.
    213-748-4772.
    www.laparks.org/exporosegarden
    This is one of the largest rose gardens in the world. Over 16,000 rose bushes are located in a 7-acre garden. See the website for the history and other information about the gardens.

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