California Dreamin: An 8-Day Mother-Son Adventure
As a family, travelling has always been a priority for us and some of my best memories are from these adventures. When faced with the daily grind of the school run, sports meets and competitions, and general chauffeuring, travelling as a family allows us to unwind and connect with our boys while also exposing them to different countries and cultures.
With our oldest son well and truly into his teens, it won't be long before he's off on his own adventures and following his own path, so this seemed to be the perfect time for our first mum and son trip. We've always travelled as a family so this was new territory for us and it was an opportunity we couldn't pass up. We both wanted a trip that could provide us with sun, sea, and lots of action which is what led us to California. Suddenly our evenings were spent googling the best locations and attractions for our needs, and planning every detail of our trip. We were spoiled for choice and in the end agreed on going to four different locations - Burbank, Anaheim, Newport Beach, and San Diego - where we would be able to soak up the sun while staying active and on the go.
Although the planning part of our trip was intense, it was also an amazing bonding experience as we spent so much time finalising our itinerary and getting excited over the fun things we had in store.
With no easy way to sum up everything we did during those 8 wonderful days, it makes the most sense to break each day down and show how we managed to fit so many things into our time there.
ARRIVAL DAY
After a long but relaxed flight we arrived at LAX. One short Uber journey later we made it to Hotel Amarano, Hollywood and got checked into our beautiful suite. Our room was perfect and gave us space to relax and unwind, without being too on top of one another. Stopping briefly at the hotel shop to stock up on drinks and snacks for our adventures ahead, we then retreated to the room, where I had a much needed, relaxing bath while Cole watched TV, and then we both had an early night to restore ourselves ready for all the action ahead.
Hotel Amarano, Hollywood
Pool Area, Hotel Amarano
DAY ONE
Between the body clock confusion and the general excitement building, my brain switched on at 3am ready to begin our first day. Rather than risking a grumpy teen all day, I used the extra time to take a long, relaxing shower, and get dressed in something cool and comfy, and when Cole finally emerged we headed to the hotel's FYC Bar and Kitchen restaurant, where we devoured delicious homemade bagels and jam. Feeling full and replenished, we left for our attraction of the day - Universal Studios. The Hotel Amarano was just a short Uber away, so in less than 10 minutes we had arrived, and headed straight to Mario Land to find our first ride of the day. Despite raining all day, we were able to try out all the rides and the fun truly never stopped. My personal favourite was Revenge of the Mummy, an oldie but can't beat the classics!
Universal Studios, Hollywood
We stopped for lunch at Mel's Diner and refuelled with delicious authentic American burgers, and of course with a teen that could eat from sun up till sun down, we stopped for for giant donuts at the Simpsons Kwik-E-Mart which earned me a rare, giant smile from him.
Universal Studios, Hollywood
With all of the rides, excitement, and about 30,000 steps, we had a quick dinner at the hotel before retiring early to our very comfy beds.
DAY TWO
Our day started quite similarly to the day before, rousing Cole from his bed we stopped for bagels at FYC before a 10 minute Uber ride to LA Zoo. Using the brisk walk to the top of the zoo to wake us up, we were able to enjoy the walk and all the different animals without too many other people around. The gibbon monkeys were such fun to watch, as they loved shouting and making noises at each other, and we stood and watched them for a good while.
LA Zoo
You absolutely can't miss a visit to Burbank without stopping by Bob’s Big Boy! Home to the original Double Decker Burger, the experience was absolutely amazing. The burgers, shakes, and sandwiches were out of this world!
Bob’s Big Boy
We made good time around the zoo, so decided to use our spare time for a quick dip at the hotel's pool before check-out time, then it was off to our next destination. The Westin Anaheim Resort was a 40 minute Uber ride away, and once we arrived we were greeted warmly, like old friends. The guest services took us to our room and also gave us a hotel tour, and naturally our first stop was to chill out at the pool here too until our dinner reservations. The Anaheim White House - one of Anaheim's most famous restaurants - offered some of the most beautiful Italian food we've ever tasted, and we left feeling very full and very ready for bed with Disney on the cards for the next day!
The Westin Anaheim Resort
DAY THREE
With a busy and exciting day ahead, we woke up bright and early and fuelled ourselves with a delicious breakfast in the executive club lounge. The hotel was perfectly located within a 15 minute walk of Disneyland, so we were able to make our way there in time for the rope drop, and before long we were off on a thrill seeking adventure, starting with Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. We were able to squeeze in a few rides before our well deserved lunch break, including Space Mountain, Matterhorn Bobsleds, and Star Tours. After all that excitement we walked to Downtown Disney and had the most beautiful pizza from Napolini, before browsing the shops and admiring all the Disney merch. Cole's favourite shop came as no surprise, it was always going to be the Lego shop!
Disneyland
The next stop on our epic Disney day was to the California Adventure Park. The park has a nostalgic Disney feel mixed with Californian flair. The iconic Mickey Mouse-themed Ferris wheel, Pixar Pal-A-Round set the tone for the vintage fun park. Ever the thrill seeker, Cole was desperate to get on the Incredicoaster first and before we knew it we were being catapulted through the fastest ride at the park, soaring to speeds of 55mph. We ended up riding it four times in total, so it was a firm favourite for us. The Little Mermaid ride was a guilty pleasure for me, awakening my inner Disney child, though I'm not sure Cole appreciated my singing!
We ended the day with the newest ride, Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout. It was so worth the wait and had us both giggling and shrieking with excitement, so this must top your to do list when planning your own Disney day.
Naturally no day at Disney is complete without sampling all the delicious treats on offer. Cole loved the colourful popcorn, and I devoured a Mickey Ears ice cream.
California Adventure Park
Truly exhausted and about 30,000 steps later, we arrived back at the Westin to hot tea and cakes being delivered to our room. I had a lovely shower and then utilised the Hotel's Recovery pack, which included a leg compression machine, perfect for easing tired legs.
DAY FOUR
After a great night's rest, we started our day at Okayama Kobo, a nearby Japanese bakery. We quickly realized why the bakery was so famous, with their beautifully baked goodies, made with 100% Hokkaido flour, which produces the softest and most amazing bread you'll ever taste. I opted for a Mentai salt and butter roll, and Cole had a hot dog Panini. We finished our meal off by sharing an iced cinnamon swirl.
Okayama Kobo Bakery, Anaheim
We planned a far more relaxed day, so after breakfast we wandered through the pretty neighbourhood before returning to The Westin for a chilled morning in the poolside cabana. With check-out time drawing closer, we got all our luggage packed and ready then had lunch at the on-site Blossom Cafe.
Poolside Cabana, The Westin Anaheim Resort
Our next stop was just a 20 minute Uber ride away to the VEA Newport Beach hotel. We explored our newest accommodation, before wandering to the nearby Fashion Island and their lovely outdoor shopping village.
VEA Newport Beach Hotel
We had arranged a private tour of the Newport Bay area with Duffy Boats. Our incredible, experienced guide Robert was more than happy to answer all our questions as he pointed out landmarks and celebrity facts. Cole was most amused to see the home of Ross Bagdasarian SR (creator of the Chipmunks), while we sailed around the bay under a spectacular sunset.
The Bay Tour on Duffy Boats
We ended the tour at the stunning Marina Lido Village where we stopped at the trendy new SKAL Pizza spot for dinner, a firm favourite for both of us, and the perfect end to our day.
SKAL Pizza
DAY FIVE
Breakfast was a 10-minute Uber drive to Beachcomber Cafe at Crystal Cove. We were dropped at the top of the hill and decided to take a gentle stroll down under the freeway to get there. Crystal Cove is a beautiful beach area with quaint little gift shops as you approach the beachfront. Beachcomber sits in a prime location on the beach with the best views and food. We decided to have an indulgent breakfast, choosing the most mouth-watering crepes and French toast with fresh fruit and cream.
We had some time to spare so we wandered along the beach and I took the time to capture some photos of the stunning location, as well as trying to sneak in some shots of Cole too. Being a typical teen, he has reached the age of being reluctant to pose for me, but he did offer to take some photos of me instead, so I got to teach him about cameras and share my passion with him. We both loved the shots he got and they'll forever be some of my favourites.
Beachcomber Cafe, Crystal Cove
We went back for another browse around Fashion Island, where I got to indulge at Anthropologie and other favourite shops. Naturally, Cole wanted to check out the Tesla store, where we could've both happily picked out souvenirs to take home, though sadly none that would fit in our suitcase!
Lunch was at the super cool JOEY, where I was greeted with a complimentary glass of fizz on arrival - well needed after a day of shopping. Cole chose the Chicken Milanese for lunch, and I had burger sliders with the delightful truffle fries.
JOEY/Fashion Island
Our activity of the day was our whale-watching tour with Newport Coastal Adventures. This was new to both of us, so we were both excited to see whales in their natural habitat. The lovely crew managed our expectations, explaining that we might not see any whales, but luck was on our side and not long after setting sail, we saw the most mesmerising grey whale gracefully swim along, occasionally popping up for air. It was a surreal experience and something I hope Cole holds dear to him forever, as I know I will. We also saw dolphins swim, jump, spin and play in the wild.
Whale Watching, Newport Coastal Adventure
On the way back, we stopped near a family of sea lions, all piled up on a floating pontoon, each trying to squeeze in a bit more on each other. It was the funniest and sweetest thing I've seen in a long time and a fun way to end the fantastic trip.
Whale Watching
DAY SIX
For our final morning in Newport Beach, we had breakfast in the hotel before check-out, and our 80-minute Uber ride to San Diego. A long drive, but we enjoyed the views of the coastal route on the way.
We arrived at the calm, urban city centre Kimpton Alma hotel, where we were ushered to the exquisite 2-bedroom Skyline Penthouse suite, the perfect touch of luxury to end our adventure.
2 Bedroom Skyline Penthouse Suite, Kimpton Alma
Pooldeck, Kimpton Alma
With Cole being an aspiring pilot, our first stop in San Diego had to be to the USS Midway Museum. We soaked up American aviation history and loved looking at all the different aircrafts. We loved looking at all the 'behind the scenes' areas, like the crew areas and what life would have looked like on board the USS Midway. Cole convinced me to go on the flight simulator, Air Combat 360, and wow, it was like taking part in a real-life flying mission. Cole wasted no time before spinning me around with somersaults and 360 moves, which certainly woke me up for the rest of the day.
USS Midway Museum
Once my stomach had stopped spinning we went to Seaport Village, a short stroll from the museum. The waterfront shopping and dining complex is filled with lovely shops and places to eat. We bought some cool San Diego T-shirts and hoodies from a lovely beach/surf shop before having lunch at Sally's Fish House and Bar.
Seaport Village, San Diego
We spent our afternoon at Balboa Park, the impressive 1200-acre home to San Diego's most exciting Museums and attractions. Cole chose the Comic-Con museum to visit first, which was filled with excellent interactive exhibits and hands-on learning through a wide range of activities.
Comic Con Museum
DAY SEVEN
After waking up in pure luxury in the Penthouse, we got ready for another busy day, with our first stop being at The Cafe, the hotel's wonderful homey eatery, where we indulged in fresh pancakes. From there we set off to SeaWorld, a short Uber ride away.
SeaWorld is a world-renowned, animal-focused theme park which features marine mammal parks, oceanariums, aquariums, and aquatic rehabilitation centres. The park also has some impressive rides, including 5 high-intensity rollercoasters and two water rides. We're always happiest around animals or at a theme park, so SeaWorld is the best of both worlds!
We walked around all the exhibits to see the fantastic mammals and marine life. My favourites were the Turtles and Beluga Whales, whilst Cole's was the equally impressive 'Cleaner Fish', which you could interact with at the 'Explorer's Reef' at the park entrance. Cole thought it was hilarious how the teeny fish nibbled and tickled your hands as you lowered them in the tanks, an experience that led to his biggest smile of the trip, one that I was thrilled to capture on camera.
The rides were fast and exciting - just as we like them, and we managed all of the rollercoasters, including Artic Rescue, Manta, Electric Eel, and Emperor - this one isn't for the faint-hearted! Cole convinced me to ride Manta 5 times. The perks of it being a rainy day, we Scots aren't afraid of a bit of drizzle. We stayed long enough to watch a few of their incredible shows and encounters too.
Seaworld, San Diego
Feeling famished, we hopped in an Uber for the short drive to the prettiest pasta restaurant ever. Cesarina offered cosy blankets and patio heaters, setting the scene for a soul-nourishing post-park day. Their pasta is made fresh on-site and you can watch the experts at work in the open-air Pastificio (pasta factory), which was really cool to see. Cole opted for a classic Italian spaghetti bolognese, while I had a delicious pasta filled with cheese and mushrooms. We finished off the meal with some authentic gelato and baked cheesecake, before returning to the hotel with our leftovers ready for a midnight snack.
Cesarina Pasta
DAY EIGHT
Waking up on our final day was bittersweet, knowing the end of this fantastic vacation was in sight. But we planned to make the most of every moment we had left.
We had fresh pancakes and strawberries for breakfast from the Hotel's cafe, the perfect bon voyage breakfast.
The pancakes from The Cafe were the best!
We returned to Balboa Park, keen to squeeze in as much culture as possible with the first stop being the Air and Space Museum, which Cole chose. He was delighted to find the same 360-degree flight simulator and, again, of course, convinced me to have another turn which led to lots of laughter on both of our parts. We also visited the San Diego Automotive Museum, and the National History Museum. The sun was shining on our last day, and it was lovely as we strolled along the breathtakingly beautiful Balboa Park.
Air and Space Museum
Balboa Park
We finished our morning of culture with a gentle walk around the Japanese Friendship Garden, an expression of friendship between San Diego and its sister city, Yokohama. The garden was a tranquil haven with the beautiful blossom trees starting to bloom, and made for the perfect end to the perfect trip.
We returned to the Hotel to collect our bags before heading to the airport, and bade California a very reluctant goodbye.
HIGHLIGHTS
This was our first trip away just the two of us, which was so special as Cole is fast approaching the age where parental supervision is a burden rather than a joy. Getting to experience all these incredible things together is something we will both hold onto forever.
Although we had a few stresses and teenage strops, the trip was full of fun and laughter, love and learning. I got to share my love of photography with Cole and will treasure the photos he took of me.
I watched Cole become more mature, as he helped me with packing, luggage and all the logistics as we moved from city to city, skills he will hopefully use for his own solo travels in the not too distant future.
Mostly this trip gave us the opportunity to switch off, disconnect from our devices, and connect with one another instead. Cole got to see me as more than just ‘mum’ and I got to see a glimpse of the man he will become.
Memories to last a lifetime
We would like to extend a special thanks to:
and the wonderful hotels for hosting: Hotel Amarano, The Westin Anaheim Resort, VEA Newport Beach and Kimpton Alma for the most memorable trip.