SoCal Fun Guide

(Updated in 2022)

In recent years, I have many families and friends who came to visit me. With all those planning, I have came up with a list of fun stuffs to do in SoCal (Southern California). If you are planning a trip to Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego, this guide should help!

Rating: This is my own rating system. It is based on my personal experience. (Five-stars means the place is awesome, and it worth going definitely. Three-stars means if you have extra time, you can visit this place too.)

Admission price: Price on each attraction may change as time has passed by. For more accurate information, please visit the attraction’s website.

Order: The order is based on the area. It is from Los Angeles to San Diego.

Fun Guide:

1. Getty Villa Museum

17895 Pacific Coast Hwy, Los Angeles, CA 90272
Hours: Monday – Sunday 10am – 5pm (Close on Tuesday)
Free admission, but advanced online reservations are required.
$20 parking
Museum of the art of the ancient Greeks, Romans, and other civilizations
Beautiful scenery
Time spend: 2 – 3 hours
Lokness’ Rating: ★★★
Website: Read

2. Santa Monica Pier

200 Santa Monica Pier, Suite A, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Small aquarium, trapeze, roller coaster, merry-go-around, ferris wheel
Great view of beach
Time spend: 2 – 3 hours
Lokness’ Rating: ★★★
Website: Read

3. Venice Beach

22 N Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90291
View of beach
Local stores
Muscle beach
Great people watching
Time spend: 1 – 2 hours
Lokness’ Rating: ★★★

4. Sony Studio Tour

10202 W. Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232
Hours: Monday – Friday 10:30am, 1:30pm, and 2:30pm
Ticket: $50 (price will change over time) and advanced online reservations are required.
Stages, backlot, Jeopardy set, Wheel of Fortune set
Time spend: 2 – 3 hours
Lokness’ Rating: ★★★
Website: Read

5. Universal Studios Hollywood

100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608
Hours: 10am – 7pm (may vary depends on day)
Ticket: $109 – $134 (vary by day and season)(price will change over time) and advanced online reservations are required.
Amazing Studio Tour that let you get a glimpse of different movie settings
Jurassic World, Harry Potter, The Simpsons, Transformers, WaterWorld, Revenge of the Mummy
Time spend: 1 day
Lokness’ Rating: ★★★★★
Website: Read

6. Griffin Observatory

2800 E Observatory Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Hours: Friday 12pm – 10pm, Saturday – Sunday 10 am – 10pm (Close Monday – Thursday)
Free admission
Scenic view of Los Angeles
Scientific demonstration and display about space and planets
Time spend: 1 – 2 hours
Lokness’ Rating: ★★★★★
Website: Read

7. Hollywood Sign

The famous sign of Hollywood
Different hiking trails to see or reach the sign (check the website for more information)
Time spend: 2 hour – 3 hours
Lokness’ Rating: ★★★
Website: Read

8. Hollywood Walk of Fame

Hollywood Blvd at Vine St Los Angeles, CA 90028
Stars of actors and actresses
Grauman’s Chinese Theatre
Hollywood Wax Museum ($29.99 – $34.99/per ticket)
Shops
Time spend: 2 – 3 hours
Lokness’ Rating: ★★★★
Website: Read

9. Aquarium of the Pacific

100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802
Hours: 9am – 6pm
Ticket: $36.95 (price will change over time) and advanced online reservations are required.
Sea otters, sharks, sea lions, seals, lorikeet birds
Petting pools with sharks, star fish, jelly fish
Time spend: 3 – 4 hours
Lokness’ Rating: ★★★★
Website: Read

10. Point Fermin Park

807 Paseo Del Mar, San Pedro, CA 90731
View of Catalina Island, and cliffs
Point Fermin Lighthouse
Head over to another small park (959 W Paseo Del Mar, San Pedro, CA 90731)
From that small park, you can walk down to the rocky beach
Excellent view on the rocky beach
Time spend: 1 – 2 hours
Lokness’ Rating: ★★★
Website: Read

11. Knott’s Berry Farm

8039 Beach Blvd, Buena Park, CA 90620
Hours: 10am – 9pm (may vary depends on day)
Ticket: $69 – $89 (vary by day and season)(price will change over time)
For Snoopy lovers
For Roller coasters lovers (Calico Mine Ride, Xcelerator, Silver Bullet, and Ghostrider)
Time spend: ½ – 1 day
Lokness’ Rating: ★★★
Website: Read

12. Disneyland Park

1313 S. Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, CA 92802
Hours: 8am – 12am (may vary depends on day)
Ticket: $104 – $164 (1 day 1-park ticket)(vary by day and season)(price will change over time) and advanced online reservations are required.
Shows: Fantasmic!, firework show, parade
Rides: Indiana Jones Adventure, Pirates of the Caribbean, Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, Haunted Mansion, Millennium Falcon, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Jungle Cruise
Food: Blue Bayou Restaurant, Oga’s Cantina, clam chowder bowl, churro, turkey leg, dole whip
Time spend: 1 day
Lokness’ Rating: ★★★★★
Website: Read

13. Disney California Adventure Park

1313 S. Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, CA 92802
Hours: 10am – 8pm (may vary depends on day)
Ticket: $104 – $164 (1 day 1-park ticket)(vary by day and season)(price will change over time) and advanced online reservations are required.
Shows: World of Color
Rides: Radiator Springs Racers, Toy Story Midway Mania!, Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!, Incredicoaster, Soarin’ Around the World
Food: Carthay Circle Restaurant, Lamplight Lounge, Pym Test Kitchen, churro, dole whip, corn dog
Time spend: 1 day
Lokness’ Rating: ★★★★★
Website: Read

14. Children’s Pool

850 Coast Blvd, La Jolla, CA 92037
A beach where seals and sea lions gather year-round and relax (Depends on season and time, you may see many or very little.)
Walk to the concrete breakwater where you can be closer to the seals and sea lions, and enjoy the view of waves and ocean
Time spend: 1 hour
Lokness’ Rating: ★★★★
Website: Read

15. San Diego Zoo

2920 Zoo Drive, San Diego, CA 92101
Hours: 9am – 6pm (may vary depends on seasons)
Ticket: $65 (price will change over time) and advanced online reservations are required.
Big zoo
Red panda, polar bear, koala, tiger, gorilla, hippo etc.
Time spend: 1 day
Lokness’ Rating: ★★★★★
Website: Read

16. Balboa Park

1549 El Prado San Diego CA 92101
Hours: Park is open 24 hours a day, but different museums have different opening hours
Ticket: Park is free, but there is a small admission free for each museum
Huge beautiful park
San Diego Automotive Museum, San Diego Air & Space Museum, Museum of Photographic Arts etc.
Botanical Building, Japanese Friendship Garden, Cactus Garden etc.
Free parking and free tram for transportation
Time spend: ½ – 1 day
Lokness’ Rating: ★★★★
Website: Read

17. SeaWorld San Diego

500 Sea World Dr., San Diego, CA 92109)
Hours: 10am – 5pm (may vary depends on day)
Ticket: $69.99 – $99.99 (price will change over time)
Excellent live presentation with ocean animals, like orcas, dolphins, and sea lions
Polar bears, penguins, beluga whales, walruses, sea turtles, fish etc.
Extra paid tours with dolphins and beluga whales
Time spend: 1 day
Lokness’ Rating: ★★★★★
Website: Read