Realistic Day Trips from Marriott NCV?

[dvcforus Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dvcforus]

We are considering staying at NCV in Sept/Oct instead of Palm Springs. We will definately do Disneyland/Califor. Adventure for probably 2 days as we have 2 kids, dd2 and dd6. What are some other realistic day trips? Is Legoland too far? What are some other "must see" sights for this area? TIA!

[Denise Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Denise]

We stayed at NCV a few years ago and did one day trip to Disneyland/CA Adventure, and one day trip to Legoland. Legoland was 45-50 minutes drive, and Disneyland was 25-30 minutes without traffic. We spent a few days at Laguna Beach or Encinitas Beach.

We stayed in Carlsbad last summer, and the drive from there to Sea World in San Diego was over an hour in traffic. I would say that it might be too far for you, but if you like road trips, then it might be tolerable.

[winger Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close winger]

If you have 7 days, D-Land (2 or 3 days) and Legoland (1 day), and a couple of R&R days at the resort and local beaches will be it, esp w/ the little ones.

If you have 10 - 14 days, buy the Southern California City Pass from Costco! Your trips will include Seaworld and the San Diego Zoo (we did not enjoy the SD Zoo's animal park/kingdom).

[Bill4728 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Bill4728]

Knotts Berry is just a couple of miles farther than D-land down the I-5. It has a OK play land for kids called Camp Snooppy. It also has some places which the kids may enjoy for dinner entertainment like Wild Bills and Medieval Times.

Universal Studios is within driving distance but traffic can make a 45 minute drive over 2 hours.

[winger Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close winger]

Knotts Berry is just a couple of miles farther than D-land down the I-5. It has a OK play land for kids called Camp Snooppy. It also has some places which the kids may enjoy for dinner entertainment like Wild Bills and Medieval Times.

Universal Studios is within driving distance but traffic can make a 45 minute drive over 2 hours.

KBF is ok for 2 and 6 yo's, but IMO Universal Studios maybe more of a teenager/adult thing.

[dvcforus Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dvcforus]

Thank you to all. Last time we were in CA we ran into some really horrible traffic so it took us about 2 hours to get back to DL from Newport Beach (the beach area). I think my dh was more impatient than my dds!

[winger Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close winger]

Thank you to all. Last time we were in CA we ran into some really horrible traffic so it took us about 2 hours to get back to DL from Newport Beach (the beach area). I think my dh was more impatient than my dds!

in 2005 we spent two weeks at NCV starting Labor Day weekend. We really had no troubles at all going to D-Land in the AM and back at night - maybe we were going against traffic? We drove to D-Land on three separate days and took one day trip to Knotts Berry Farm. We actually spent overnight in San Diego as we did the San Diego wild animal kingdom/park and Seaworld.

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

The Getty Center but it is a good drive but you can do it. If it is a clear day, you have a spectacular view from the grounds over the city and the architecture of the building alone is well worth seeing too.

PS. This trip may be more for grown-ups but so well worth it.

[janna0808 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close janna0808]

Ncv

I would have to agree with above posters who stated a couple of days at D-land and one at Lego land and the rest at the resort or very nearby. The main beach at Corona Del Mar is beautiful and just a few minutes from the resort. Newport beach is also very nearby and has the ferry that goes to Balboa Island and a ferris wheel on Balboa Penninsula. This area is kinda fun.
But really, I think you should enjoy your resort some too!