The Disneyland, San Diego, and Vegas, oh my! Trip Report - COMPLETED!! 2/18/11 - Page 3 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Sunday, July 18th, 2010 – Watching the stars and smelling the tar!
I think we slept in a bit more this morning, maybe 6:30 or 7. We had breakfast at the house, took showers, and then were off to Griffith Observatory. http://www.griffithobservatory.org/ We arrived just at opening, so we were still able to get a parking spot in the parking lot and not along the long, steep road that leads to it. Another warm day (mid 80s) but still cooler than what we left! We took lots of pictures of the Hollywood sign before we went into the Observatory.
A woodpecker pecking away!
Pictures from inside the Observatory. We also saw a planetarium show while we were there.
The Tesla Coil
They had picnic tables near the parking lot, so we ate our sandwiches that we had brought with us, until the yellowjackets chased us away! After that, we got in the car, and drove thru Griffith Park. We didn’t stop anywhere else in the park, the kids were done with touring for the moment, so we kept on driving. We took back roads thru West Hollywood, and saw some really nice houses! The next stop was the La Brea Tar Pits. http://www.tarpits.org/ It wasn’t overly crowded, so it was nice (and it was air conditioned inside). But oh my, you could certainly smell the tar pits! And it’s very interesting that it is right next to a main street in LA. There was a small fee to get in, and after looking around outside, we went inside to see the exhibits.
After the Tar Pits, we were off for more driving around. I had wanted to go to The Grove (it’s a shopping complex) but since it was Sunday afternoon, to say that it was crowded would be an understatement. We got as far as the parking garage and turned around. The kids were getting cranky. I suggested driving by the Studios in Burbank on the way back to Duarte, since they are all in the same general area. We got to pass the Hollywood Bowl, and Mulholland Drive on the way, and even Forest Lawn (hello Michael Jackson ).
I believe this was Warner Bros. (which I had wanted to do the studio tour later in the week……stay tuned if that panned out or not).
And here is Disney. My camera battery died between all the studios, so I was scrambling with Matt’s camera.
That done, we headed back to the freeway and back to Duarte. I think Matt took another 3 hour nap (the kids did not sleep) and then we went out to dinner with Matt’s aunt, his parents, his other aunt, and his 2 cousins to a Filipino restaurant. It wasn’t bad, and if you didn’t know if was Filipino you were going to be surprised as it was called Jerry’s Fish House or something like that. By the time we got out of the restaurant, the weather finally turned cooler. It had to have dropped to the low 60s, and we were all freezing (no sweatshirts). We headed back and started packing (and did some laundry) for our trip to DL and San Diego in the morning.
Coming Up Next……..Where it all began, lots of people, and I’m too tired.
Great update! You sure brought back lots of memories for me. As a kid, we got to go to Griffith Observatory and La Brea Tar Pits for our school trips! You really did a great job of planning!
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Huge Disney Fan...Always Have Been...Always Will Be!
Disneyland 60th Anniversary Celebration TR here!
2013 WDW trip here!
2011 trip to Hawaii here!
I am just getting all caught up....so glad you are doing a TR for this trip, I really enjoy reading your reports! Ya'll have been doing some really cool stuff and seeing some neat places! Your DD's hair is to cute, and WOW they are getting so tall! Cant wait for more!
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Me and Cole in the Sears Tower Skydeck, 103 floors up, in a glass box hanging off the side!
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Tar pits look interesting.... I would like to see that some day. Sorry that some of the places were too crowded.. I don't blame you for not trying to join the masses. Sounds like a relaxing evening... but oh oh were you tired at Disneyland?
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You are fitting a lot into each day! We're going to have to go to Griffith Park when we go back to LA next year, as it looks like such a great place to visit.
Love the pics from Griffith Observatory. And La Brea Tar Pits looks great. I will have to visit there one day! I think it's hilarious that the kids don't take naps anymore, but Matt still does! Looking forward to more!
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Mickey's so happy to see me back, he can barely contain himself!
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The next stop was the La Brea Tar Pits. 
).
(the kids did not sleep) and then we went out to dinner with Matt’s aunt, his parents, his other aunt, and his 2 cousins to a Filipino restaurant. It wasn’t bad, and if you didn’t know if was Filipino you were going to be surprised as it was called Jerry’s Fish House or something like that. By the time we got out of the restaurant, the weather finally turned cooler. It had to have dropped to the low 60s, and we were all freezing (no sweatshirts). We headed back and started packing (and did some laundry) for our trip to DL and San Diego in the morning. 
Disney Magic - Oct 2015
all the pictures! The kids have really grown, especially Alexa!
How old are they now?
Susan
PassPorter Guide Author
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