SoCal itineraries, day by day

• Morning: Walk of Fame and the TCL Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Blvd.
• Afternoon: Griffith Observatory — grounds, exhibits and the classic Hollywood Sign + city view.
• Evening: Stay for sunset and a free telescope viewing, then dinner in Los Feliz.
• 🍽️ Lunch on Hollywood Blvd; dinner in Los Feliz.

💡 Use the paid Observatory lot (enforced daily) or the ~50¢ DASH shuttle; arrive mid-afternoon to beat the sunset rush.

• Morning: Santa Monica Pier, Pacific Park and the Third Street Promenade.
• Afternoon: Bike or walk the beach path south to the Venice Boardwalk and canals.
• Evening: Sunset over the Pacific; dinner on Abbot Kinney Blvd.
• 🍽️ Beachfront lunch in Santa Monica; dinner on Abbot Kinney.

💡 Park once near the pier and bike to Venice — the beach path beats re-parking.

• Morning: Walk of Fame, TCL Chinese Theatre, Ovation Hollywood for the sign view.
• Afternoon: Drive up to Griffith Observatory — grounds, west-terrace views, exhibits.
• Evening: Sunset + free telescope viewing, then dinner in Los Feliz or Thai Town.
• 🍽️ Tacos/Thai on Hollywood Blvd; dinner in Los Feliz.

💡 Park in the paid Observatory lot (enforced Tue–Fri 12–10, Sat–Sun 10–10); arrive by mid-afternoon.

• Morning: The Getty Center — book a free timed ticket; tram up for galleries + the Central Garden.
• Afternoon: Santa Monica Pier, Pacific Park and the Third Street Promenade.
• Evening: Beach path south to Venice Boardwalk and the canals; sunset.
• 🍽️ Lunch on the Getty terrace; dinner on Abbot Kinney.

💡 Do the Getty first (morning) so you drive away from 405 gridlock, not into it. Getty parking is $25 and fills up — reserve.

• Morning: Grand Central Market breakfast, then The Broad (free, reserve) and the Arts District.
• Afternoon: Exposition Park — California Science Center (free, Space Shuttle Endeavour) and the Natural History Museum.
• Evening: Dinner in Little Tokyo or the Arts District.
• 🍽️ Grand Central Market stalls; dinner in Little Tokyo.

💡 Use the Metro E (Expo) Line today — it links Downtown to Exposition Park and on to Santa Monica. (Swap in Universal Studios for a full park day if you prefer.)

• Morning: Walk of Fame and Hollywood Blvd.
• Afternoon: Griffith Observatory.
• Evening: Sunset viewing, then dinner in Los Feliz.
• 🍽️ Hollywood Blvd lunch; Los Feliz dinner.

💡 Ease-in day — base centrally so it's an easy start.

• Morning: The Getty Center (reserve a free ticket).
• Afternoon: Santa Monica Pier and beach.
• Evening: Venice Boardwalk and canals.
• 🍽️ Getty terrace; Abbot Kinney dinner.

💡 Getty in the morning, coast in the afternoon.

• Morning: Grand Central Market, The Broad.
• Afternoon: California Science Center and Natural History Museum.
• Evening: Little Tokyo or Arts District dinner.
• 🍽️ Grand Central Market.

💡 Metro E Line day — skip the parking.

• Morning: Malibu: PCH to El Matador + Getty Villa (reserve). Or Pasadena: the Huntington Library & Gardens.
• Afternoon: Malibu Country Mart, or Old Town Pasadena & the Norton Simon.
• Evening: Back to base for dinner.
• 🍽️ Malibu Country Mart, or Old Town Pasadena.

💡 Both are car days. For Malibu go early — PCH backs up midday in summer.

• Morning: Arrive at park opening (often 8 AM) and hit headliners first.
• Afternoon: Continue across Disneyland Park (and/or California Adventure); use the app for waits.
• Evening: Fireworks, then Downtown Disney.
• 🍽️ Quick-service in-park; Downtown Disney dinner.

💡 Anaheim is 60–90+ min from LA in rush hour — overnight in Anaheim the night before to maximize park time.

• Morning: Walk of Fame.
• Afternoon: Griffith Observatory.
• Evening: Sunset viewing.
• 🍽️ Los Feliz dinner.

💡 Paid lot; arrive mid-afternoon.

• Morning: The Getty (reserve).
• Afternoon: Santa Monica beach.
• Evening: Venice canals.
• 🍽️ Abbot Kinney.

💡 Getty first, then the coast.

• Morning: Grand Central Market, The Broad.
• Afternoon: California Science Center (Endeavour).
• Evening: Arts District dinner.
• 🍽️ Grand Central Market.

💡 Metro E Line day.

• Morning: Depart LA; stop in Huntington Beach (Surf City) — walk the pier.
• Afternoon: Newport Beach / Balboa Island — Fun Zone Ferris wheel, the ferry, lunch.
• Evening: Laguna Beach and Dana Point Harbor, then on to San Diego.
• 🍽️ Ruby's on Balboa Pier; Laguna lunch.

💡 Straight I-5 is ~2 hrs; the PCH version is a half-day — pick 2–3 towns max and arrive at each before the crowds.

• Morning: Balboa Park — the Zoo or the museums (free park tram).
• Afternoon: More Balboa Park, or the Embarcadero.
• Evening: Gaslamp Quarter for dinner and nightlife.
• 🍽️ Balboa Park; Gaslamp dinner.

💡 Balboa Park has big lots with a free tram; if full, park near Little Italy and rideshare in.

• Morning: La Jolla Cove — sea lions, tide pools, the coast walk (arrive before 9 AM).
• Afternoon: USS Midway and the Embarcadero, or Coronado Island and its beach.
• Evening: Seafood on the water.
• 🍽️ La Jolla Village lunch; Embarcadero seafood.

💡 Group La Jolla and Coronado by half-day — don't bounce back and forth.

• Morning: Easy morning — Old Town, Liberty Station or the beach.
• Afternoon: Drive back via I-5 (~2 hrs).
• 🍽️ Old Town Mexican brunch.

💡 Plan the drive around rush hour.

• Morning: Arrive at 8 AM opening; hit headliners first.
• Afternoon: Continue across the park; app for wait times.
• Evening: Fireworks, then Downtown Disney.
• 🍽️ Quick-service in-park; Downtown Disney dinner.

💡 Stay within walking/shuttle distance so you can return for a midday nap and come back for fireworks — a game-changer with young kids.

• Morning: Cars Land and Pixar Pier at rope drop.
• Afternoon: Avengers Campus and more.
• Evening: World of Color / dinner.
• 🍽️ Pixar Pier snacks.

💡 If two Disney days is too much, swap in a slow Huntington Beach day.

• Morning: Huntington Beach — wide sand, the pier, a beginner surf lesson.
• Afternoon: Balboa Island / Fun Zone — the waterfront Ferris wheel, the little Balboa Island Ferry, arcade and frozen bananas.
• Evening: Sunset and dinner on Balboa Pier.
• 🍽️ Ruby's Diner on Balboa Pier; frozen bananas on Balboa Island.

💡 Beach lots fill by late morning in summer — arrive early; take the ferry instead of re-driving.

• Morning: Laguna Beach — Main Beach tide pools and Crystal Cove. Or Knott's Berry Farm (~15 min) / Legoland (~50 min).
• Afternoon: Laguna galleries and ice cream, or more rides.
• Evening: Drive home.
• 🍽️ Laguna downtown.

💡 All short drives — pick based on whether the kids want rides or a calm beach day to decompress.