Hello!
This spring we took our third Southern California trip as a family and it was our best one yet. Eight days split between Anaheim and Los Angeles. Disneyland, California Adventure, Universal Studios Hollywood, two studio tours, the Hollywood Bowl, Griffith Observatory, and the Santa Monica Pier.
I have been writing about this trip non-stop and there is a lot of new content on the blog. Here is everything:
Southern California Trip Coverage
Southern California Family Itinerary: Disneyland, Universal Hollywood & LA : Our complete overview of all three California trips we have taken as a family. This is your starting point if Southern California is on your list. Covers where we stayed, what we did, and how we planned each trip.
4-Day Los Angeles Itinerary with Teens : Four days in LA based out of Burbank covering the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, Griffith Observatory, Funko Hollywood, Santa Monica Pier, Warner Bros Studio Tour, Grand Central Market, and Universal Studios Hollywood. Including the honest story about why we did not stay in Hollywood and what happened when we tried.
Universal Studios Hollywood Guide & 1-Day Itinerary : Our complete updated guide to Universal Studios Hollywood including Super Nintendo World, Toadstool Cafe at Mario Kart, Express Pass tips, the Studio Tour, and the WaterWorld show that nobody talks about but everyone should see. Updated from our original visit!
What Surprised Us Most About This Trip
I want to share a few honest moments from this trip that did not make it into the polished blog posts:
The Warner Bros Studio Tour was the highlight nobody expected. We have been to Universal Hollywood multiple times and Disneyland more times than I can count. The Warner Bros Studio Tour was a first for us and it genuinely blew us away. Seeing the actual sets from Gilmore Girls, the Sinners costumes, the Batman vehicles, and the Harry Potter Great Hall all in one morning was one of the most memorable family experiences we have had in years. Do not skip this.
Burbank was a great home base. We originally booked a hotel in Hollywood and it was not the right fit for our family. Switching to Springhill Suites Burbank was one of the best decisions of the trip. Close to Universal, Warner Bros, and Griffith Observatory without the chaos of Hollywood. And we watched a Starlink launch from the roof which nobody planned for but nobody will forget.
Super Nintendo World is worth the hype. We visited the Hollywood version this time and it is genuinely immersive. Book Toadstool Cafe before your trip, do not wait until the day of like we did. We got lucky with a last-minute reservation but availability runs out fast.
Where we stayed on our Southern California trip: Courtyard Anaheim for the Disneyland days- steps from the parks with fireworks views. Springhill Suites Burbank for the LA portion- the perfect base for Universal, Warner Bros, and Griffith Observatory. Click each to check current rates.
Posts We Updated
Coming Soon
We are planning a weekend in New York City this summer and I can’t wait to update our itinerary posts, share a few new attractions, and try a new hotel!
If you are planning a Southern California trip, especially with teens, I hope these posts help. Reply to this email if you have questions about any of it. I read every message.
See you next issue!
Leah
Five for the Road
fivefortheroad.com
P.S. If theme parks are more your speed, check out our Theme Parks Guide for every park we have covered as a family.
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