Any Tours Offered by the Lawrence Welk Resort in Escondido?

[Betty]

Does anyone know what tours, if any, may be offered by the LWR into the LA area?

Might like to see Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Universal Studios, Getty Museum, or any other interesting spots we've only heard about or seen on TV.

We will be renting a car, but we've heard horrendous things about the traffic, and my husband isn't too keen on driving to that area.

What would you recommend for a first-time visitor to that part of CA?

To help with recommendations, please note we are senior citizens and will be traveling alone.

We plan to visit the Temecula area and Julian, and are thinking of driving along the coast between Oceanside and Long Beach if there is a scenic roadway we can follow. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Betty

 

[Deb from NC]

If you go to the Welks Resort San Diego website and look under activities , you'll find a link to a PDF of January activities . it looks like they are having day trips to the Getty museum, Hollywood, a San Diego tour and one or two others... We'll be there in February and are looking as well !

 

[BJRSanDiego]

Does anyone know what tours, if any, may be offered by the LWR into the LA area?

Might like to see Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Universal Studios, Getty Museum, or any other interesting spots we've only heard about or seen on TV.

We will be renting a car, but we've heard horrendous things about the traffic, and my husband isn't too keen on driving to that area.

What would you recommend for a first-time visitor to that part of CA?

To help with recommendations, please note we are senior citizens and will be traveling alone.

We plan to visit the Temecula area and Julian, and are thinking of driving along the coast between Oceanside and Long Beach if there is a scenic roadway we can follow. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Betty

I live close to the Welk resort...

Traffic can be heavy, but if you avoid rush hours it is tolerable and like most other big cities.

Temecula is kind of fun: antique shops in the Old California part. There are about 3 dozen wineries. The better ones that I can think of off the top of my head include Calaway, Culbertsons, Thorntons, Wilson (Champagne).

Julian can be fun. It is kind of up in the hills a bit and is accessed by a good but windey road.

If you've never been to the desert, it is about 1.5 hours to drive to the Anza Borrego State Park. Good visitor center. They have some trails, including about a 2 mile (?) one back to a Palm Canyon Oasis (check the distance on-line). Not a bad hike even for us seniors. If you come in late March, April or May, the desert may be in bloom.

Best memorable restaurant right on the beach: Jakes, Del Mar. Reservations probably needed. Take into account when the sun sets when you make your res. After dinner, take off your shoes and get your feet wet in the ocean.

The coast highway, 101, does go from Oceanside to Long Beach, but it peters out around Camp Pentleton. So you'll need to drive on I5 for a ways. Pretty drive though. It is also pretty to get on the 101 in Oceanside and take it south until it peters out.

TJ (Tijuana) - I wouldn't recommend it. Your insurance probably doesn't cover you south of the border. Skip it and do something else.

There are a bunch of old Spanish missions that are interesting to check out. Mission San Luis Rey (Oceanside), Old Town Mission and tourist area, Mission San Juan Capistrano, San Antonio de Pala Asistencia, San Diego de Alcala, etc.

USS Midway aircraft carrier is down by the Harbor in San Diego. Plan on spending several hours aboard the carrier museum on a self-directed tour.

Leatherneck Museum at Miramar Marine station. Free. Interesting looking at all of the old planes.