Anonymous wrote:If you go to Laguna Beach there is a Pacific Marine Wildlife Rehab Center - not worth its own detour, but worth a 30 minute stop if you are there any ways. Rehabilitates sea lions, seals, etc.

Good family dining casual spot there for us was Gina's Pizza.

I used to live in Laguna, and my friends who still live there have their kids do summer camp at the Wildlife Rehab Center. It always looks like a great kid experience.

If you go to Laguna Beach there is a Pacific Marine Wildlife Rehab Center - not worth its own detour, but worth a 30 minute stop if you are there any ways. Rehabilitates sea lions, seals, etc.

Good family dining casual spot there for us was Gina's Pizza.

Surf Diva yeah! They are still around and are awesome. They used to have beginner classes at La Jolla Shores, gentle waves, great instructors.

Anonymous wrote:The water is still very cold in April, make sure you have a full wetsuit.

In my experience, the water is still pretty cold in August!

The water is still very cold in April, make sure you have a full wetsuit.

For paddle boarding, would playa del Rey of the Newport back bay be more scenic/adventurous ?

Anonymous wrote:La Jolla used to have a female surf school called Surf Diva. I love La Jolla and San Diego.

La Jolla, definitely.

La Jolla used to have a female surf school called Surf Diva. I love La Jolla and San Diego.

If you're going to be in OC, you can find lots of beach volleyball courts and most likely surfing lessons at Huntington Beach by the pier. IMO OC has much better beaches than LA! Corona del Mar is beautiful. I like Laguna a lot, too, and they also have a couple beach volleyball courts I believe (great view from Crescent Bay park). There are also lots of great smaller "hidden" beaches.

NP- where can you try surfing?

Getty Museum is awesome

OP the only change I would make is going up to Santa Barbara or Malibu instead of down to Orange County.. There is no need to go there unless you have friends you want to visit.

From šanta Monica/ Venice drive up the PCH through Malibu to Zuma beach or point dume in Malibu, eat lunch/ dinner at dukes in malibu on your way back-fun and oceanfront. Shop along Abbott Kinney in venice. Rent bikes In Santa Monica and bike to Venice beach -eat lunch at Venice ale house and people watch. Do a studio tour- warner bros and universal are great! My teen DD LOVED the Grammy museum downtown LA. Have fun. I'm going back next week and can't wait!

I lived in Pasadena 20 years and am taking my 17 year old DD to southern CA for 5 nights. We are both really active and want to play! I have been thinking 2 nights in Santa Monica/Marina Del Rey ( biking, Venice Beach, paddle boarding in Playa del Rey, 1 night in Pasadena hiking in SG mountains, Huntington Gardens, visit Pomona College) and 2 nights in Orange County (biking Back Bay, playing in Laguna Beach, Balboa). I would love to try surfing with her or play pick up beach volleyball. It has been such a long time. Please help me plan and thanks!!