Hey gang. As pocksucket requested of me in the future, I have started this thread. I will be in California the week of X-mas. Long Beach, to be exact. I will be visiting my brother-in-law (wife's brother) and we have a few things planned, but I would like to hear some suggestions on where to go and what to see? I am really looking forward to this trip. I haven't flown since Basic Training and am not to fond of it, honestly. We will be going to Disney Land and the San Diego Zoo. Also we have plans to go to the Griffith Observatory.

I suggest the Getty Museum, the LA County Museum Of Art (LACMA) and the Natural History Museum. Also, hit up the Santa Monica Pier and if you have the time, drive up Pacific Coast Highway to Malibu. There's a great little seafood shack called Neptune's where all the bikers go on PCH.

Edit: Holy crap, Neptune's has a website! I never thought a little seafood shack like that would have one. I added a link to it in case anyone is in that area and wants to try it. :)

Tar pits

My wife really wants to drive up the PCH. I forgot to mention that. We are getting set up with a Mercedes convertable while we are there. She also wants to go to the Getty Museum.

And you ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY 100% NO MATTER WHAT MUST go to see each of the Three Stooges' graves and pay your respects.

Moe
Larry
Curly
Shemp
Joe Besser
Joe DeRita

Go there. Look at the bottom of the page links to see cemetery names and locations of the plots.

If you end up doing this punthe, you should also swing by the Hollywood Forever Cemetery to see Johnny Ramone's grave. I used to go there at least once a week with my coworkers during lunch to relax and feed the geese, ducks and cranes.

I had no idea that is where they are burried. I guess you do learn something new everyday. I will try to fit that in. Thanks for the info and the tip, Moe!

in long beach you got the Queen Mary and an old russian sub. they also have a spy museum. if thats your bag. there are also lots of great concerts during that time frame. check livenation.com.

Well stop by and see us! We are between Long Beach and the zoo...in fact we have tickets to the zoo as well. Knott's Berry Farm is fun. Hollywood, I was going to say the tar pits, but Moe stole my thunder. You could see snow and the beach! There is a lot to do here. Have fun, and be safe.

Tar pits? Seriously? I thought Moe was being a wise-ass. Tell me, what is so great aboot the tar pits?

My favorite place on earth. Poor man's Disney Land.

Oooo, I've always wanted to go to the San Diego Zoo but haven't gotten the chance to yet. Apparently there's a Zoo here in LA as well, but I can't imagine the animals being happy with all that smog. I'd rather go to a Zoo where I don't feel too bad that the animals live in captivity. ;)

WOW! Even the website is covered in tar. Looks like fun!

You will have a blast punthers. Come up to the mountains of Lake Arrowhead {my stompin grounds} and Big Bear. There is snow in Big Bear so and it's very Christmasy. If you were here in the Summer I would take you all boating/skiing on the lake...but I take the boat off the lake in the Winter time.
What everyone mentioned is awesome...I personally prefer Sea World to the SD Zoo only because the zoo makes me feel bad for the animals.

Oh...if there will be no kids and just adults...Vegas Baby!!!

How far up 101 will you go? I'm about 3 hours up from LA. I can offer a tour of the base. ;) Not much else in the area to recommend, though!

There are a number of cool museums, including the RR Presidential Library.

You up in Lompoc Maven? My best friends son is stationed there... A.F. Photographer.

Yep! Almost 2 years here, another 3 to go.

Isn't Howard Hughe's Spruce Goose in Long Beach?

Whoa, I lived in Lompoc for a year while my Dad was stationed at Vandenburg. Went to school at Alan Hancock in Santa Maria. I imagine it's grown up some since 1973. It was a sleepy little town of around 10,000 back then. 'Bout the only things around were the flower fields and the prison.

...and murals