Day Trippin' from Redondo Beach

Welcome to Redondo Beach! Referred to as a "seaside mecca," Redondo Beach quickly became the day trip destination for city dwellers in the late 19^th and 20^th Centuries. In the 21^st Century, this beach community now provides tourists day-trip accessibility into many Los Angeles County attractions.

So "What's your dream?" Most tourists are looking for:

Hollywood- You might consider this cheap tour trick by planning ahead and getting tickets for the taping of your favorite TV show. Some tickets are offered free for the asking while others may cost.

Universal Studios Hollywood Theme Park - This Park is designed to be a winner for all age groups! Park hours are largely 9 am to 8 pm with ticket costs beginning at $64. Their website www.universalstudioshollywood.com has plenty of packages that will fit your travel budget.

Disneyland and Sea World - Absolute "must sees" for some and a grateful "pass" for others. It was my mother's dream to take me as a child to Disneyland; that never happened. In 2000 as Disneyland and I both celebrated our 45^th birthdays, I was able to take my mother and my family to Los Angeles for our first visit. My mother cried as we boarded the parking shuttle at Disneyland and continued until we walked through the castle. Mom taught me that some dreams take time.

Queen Mary - You may want to incorporate this "one of a kind liner" into your travel plans. Hint: If you are traveling with teens, you may want to consider the paranormal tours. These tours are not available to children age 12 and under. These alternative tours offered something unusual for my critical thinkers with less tour traffic at dusk. "Haunted" tours are another way of giving teens a summer dose of history without the normal "I am on vacation" resistance. Check out all tour schedules, prices at www.queenmary.com.

Rodeo Drive - According to about.com, this was the number one destination for LA County. Keep in mind that it will not cost you a dime to walk down the street. Even the parking is free. However, bring your check or credit card with you if you plan to shop the drive; roh-DAY-o Drive.

Still looking for things to do and places to visit? Check the link in the box to the left for the top ten sights of "Things to do in Los Angeles." If money is no object, remember to research Gray Line Sightseeing Tours or local sightseeing companies. These groups can be of great value for people with special needs, elderly or small children. Gray Line tours can be reviewed and booked via the web at www.grayline.com with special perks for AAA and American Express members.

The Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce (www.redondochamber.org) has an excellent website with a listing of nearby attractions. Their site also provided a helpful link to the Metro Trip Planner for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. This easy to use planner gave the amount of travel time, connections needed and the ticket price per person. For example, the trip time to the Queen Mary from Redondo Beach was one hour, seventeen minutes with two connections. The cost per person was $1.25.

But before you skip away, include a little down time to enjoy the surroundings of sand and ocean. Redondo Beach is home to historic museums, piers, "eclectic shopping and international cuisine." Sometimes the best plan is the simplest.

Regardless Redondo Beach is a no-brainer when traveling into Los Angeles County. Whether you choose the Metro system or the local bike shop, there are miles of sunshine and blue skies for you to explore.

Sources:

"History of Redondo Beach." Viewable at www.redondochamber.org/community/history.htm.

Lawton, J. F. "Quotes from Pretty Woman." Edited on-line 7/2/2008. Viewable at en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Pretty_Woman

Malloy, Betsy. "Things to do in Los Angeles-Top 10 Sights." Viewable at gocalifornia.about.com/cs/losangeles/a/labest.htm.

All records retrieved on 7/27/2008 for use in this document.