Things To Do
Disneyland Park
(not dat knee) CJ and Sav are self-proclaimed experts on doing Disney right! If you plan to go, be sure to check out California Adventure (it is the better park in our opinion)! A couple of other tips: 1. Get the app! It is your best friend for the Park Map, wait times, and ordering food; 2. Lightning Lane can be worth it if you remember that you can get new ones every two hours OR when you scan one, whichever comes first (try to get LL's as soon as you can to get more use!); 3. Galaxy's Edge is so cool, but don't go straight there when it opens because that is the busiest time in that area (Rise of Resistance will have lower wait times throughout the day if you keep an eye on it); 4. The first hour the park is open has the least amount of people, so early birds will get more done! If you are a night owl, the last hour the park is open is pretty good too! 5. Try Animation Academy in DCA for an A/C break and for a fun drawing lesson you wouldn't get anywhere else! We love it!
Universal Studios Hollywood
A must-see: the Secret Life of Pets ride queue Some other favorites: the Mummy ride, Hogsmeade, and the Studio Tour
Aquarium of the Pacific
This aquarium is one of the best (and we are only a little bit biased)! It is a bit of a drive, but if you are planning on being in the Los Angeles area, it is a great place to visit! Sav volunteered here as a Bird and Mammal Husbandry volunteer and loved every minute of it!
California Science Center
The California Science Center is an inexpensive and fun place to visit in the heart of Los Angeles. Sav volunteered here as a Husbandry volunteer, feeding and caring for the sea animals in the Ecosystems exhibit hall. It is close to the Natural History Museum and many other LA attractions!
Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara has a very special place in our hearts! It is where we met and went to college. If you are up for a drive North of the venue, Santa Barbara has so much to offer! The downtown area is filled with shops and dining. The Funk Zone is filled with wineries and bars, and Stearns Wharf is a cute little spot to see! The beaches are very calm (no people and very small waves). There is a Mission, Museum of Natural History, Sea Center, and many other sights on State St. It is the perfect place for a day trip or even a quick stop!
Stearns Wharf
Stearns Wharf is a cute little gem in Santa Barbara. There are shops and restaurants right on the water. There is also the Sea Center, where Sav volunteered and worked for two years in college. The small aquarium is home to many of Sav's favorite animals, and it is the place where she found her passion for marine life and education. If you make it to Stearns Wharf, make sure you look closely in the water around, because you just might see some sea life (California Sea Lions, Harbor Seals, Sea Stars, etc.)!
Santa Claus Lane
The Beach! If you come to California, you have to come to the beach! This photo was taken on Santa Claus beach in Carpinteria, which a bit of a drive. But there are a variety of beaches surrounding the area. We recommend looking in: Malibu, Oxnard, and Santa Monica (the pier is a popular tourist destination, so everything will be a little busier; we would not recommend Venice). If you are up for a little drive, Ventura, Carpinteria, and Santa Barbara have awesome, quieter beaches! (For those of you not from the West Coast, the Pacific Ocean water is also colder than the Atlantic, but the warm weather usually makes up for it!)
Gaviota Peak Trailhead
Hiking! There are so many cool hiking spots all around the area! Gaviota is CJ's favorite in Goleta! This photo was taken on a hike in Glendale, but there are so many hills and bodies of water to hike in the surrounding area!
Santa Barbara County
Wine tasting! Santa Barbara County (just north of the venue) is one of the best places to get wine! We love wine tasting, and honestly, you can't go wrong with any wineries in the whole area!
Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood
The Warner Bros Studio Tour is fun for fans of Gilmore Girls, Friends, and many other TV shows/movies! It is the essence of Hollywood, and definitely a fun addition to a trip to the Los Angeles area.
Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden
This is where we took our engagement photos, and it was beautiful! If you are in the area, it is such a hidden gem! Definitely wear comfortable shoes!
La Brea Tar Pits and Museum
This is a great place for people interested in natural history! The tar pits and museum are in the middle of the city of Los Angeles, but they feel like stepping back in time!
Solvang
Solvang is a town seeped in Danish culture! It is such a fun place to visit, filled with bakeries, shops, and wineries. The Danish architecture and windmills make you feel like you have been whisked away, while still being in one of the best areas for wine. It is a must-see if you are up for a drive or have a longer trip planned!