Tourism Ideas

When you come to Southern California, you can encounter almost any kind of culture or form of entertainment that exists. From Disneyland to the hole-in-the-wall restaraunts and specialty shops that line the Pacific Ocean, this area pretty much has it all. Here are some of our tourist day ideas, as well as a list of things to do in and around Biola.

Note: Biola is located in La Mirada, California, on the border of Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Maps and Directions to Campus

Orange County

• The Block at Orange
• Bowers Museum of Cultural Art
• Centennial Heritage Museum
• Discovery Science Center
• Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure
• Downtown Disney
• ESPN Zone
• House of Blues
• Huntington Beach
• Irvine Spectrum
• Knott’s Berry Farm
• Laguna Beach
• Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
• Mission San Juan Capistrano
• Medieval Times
• Newport Beach/Balboa Pavilion
• Old Towne Orange
• Rainforest Cafe
• Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Birthplace
• Santa Ana Zoo

Los Angeles County

• Catalina Island
• Hollywood/Beverly Hills/Rodeo Drive
• The John Paul Getty Museum
• Los Angeles Dodgers
• Los Angeles Zoo
• Long Beach
• Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific
• Long Beach Museum of Art
• Mission San Gabriel
• Museum of Tolerance
• Olvera Street
• Old Town Pasadena
• Pasadena
• Queen Mary
• Santa Monica Pier and Promenade
• Shoreline Village
• Union Station
• Universal Studios
• Various art museums
• Warner Brothers Studios
• Wrigely Mansion

San Diego County

• Balboa Park
• Birch Aquarium at Scripps
• Coronado Island
• La Jolla
• La Jolla Cove (Sea Lion Colony)
• Maritime Museum
• Mount Soledad
• Ocean Kayaking
• Old Towne San Diego
• San Diego
• San Diego Museum of Art
• San Diego Museum of Man
• San Diego Natural History Museum
• San Diego Padres
• San Diego Wild Animal Park
• San Diego Zoo
• Seaport Village
• Sea World
• Torrey Pines

Various Outdoor Activities

• Beaches
• Biking
• Golf Courses
• Hiking
• Ocean Kayaking
• Surfing

Los Angeles

What is a trip to Southern California without visiting Los Angeles, the Entertainment Capital of the world? With so many exciting sights to see you could easily spend an entire day in LA, but if you just want to hit the highlights, LA is definitely close enough to just spend a few hours exploring.

Start your exploring off with Hollywood. From the La Mirada Area, this 26 mile drive can take you 30 min or 2 hours, depending on traffic, so try to avoid going at rush hour! Take the Hollywood Freeway (101) and exit Hollywood Blvd to get to the heart of Hollywood.

Drive or stroll down the Blvd, seeing the stars on the Walk of Fame, the El Capitan Theatre, Lucky Strike Lanes (a popular upscale bowling alley lounge), the hand and foot prints of stars in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theater, the Kodak Theatre home of the Academy Awards and much more, all under the watch of the famous Hollywood sign.

Go South a block from Hollywood Blvd to find Sunset Blvd. Up and down Sunset you will find plenty of souvenir shops, and street vendors. Pick up your own mini Oscar, or even a Map to the Stars, which will lead you around the Hollywood Hills, past the houses of your favorite celebrities.

If you head West on Sunset Blvd you will eventually arrive in Beverly Hills. Turn down any street and explore the incredible neighborhoods. While you’re in the area check out the famously ritzy Rodeo Drive.

If you continue on Sunset Blvd. it will take you down into Westwood Village, right against the campus of UCLA. Take a break at one of the many sidewalk cafés, and enjoy the atmosphere. From there you can hop on the San Diego freeway (405) and head back to La Mirada.

Disneyland

A must see for any visit to Southern California is the Happiest Place on Earth. If you are interested going to Disneyland, there will be a group rate available through Biola University for only $55! Contact Tiffany Laubhan (tiffany.j.laubhan@biola.edu) to reserve your tickets by May 23 at this discounted rate.

Otherwise, tickets are available to purchase at the Resort Main Entrance ticket booths, online, or by calling (714) 781-4400 and are $63.00. Another option is the 1-Day Park Hopper Ticket. This ticket costs $83.00 and will give you access to both Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure on the same day.

If you want to experience the fun, magical atmosphere of Disneyland but are stretched for time or money, Downtown Disney is a great option! Sitting in the middle of the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Downtown Disney is a shopping, dining and entertainment complex. With shops, restaurants, street performers, a twelve-screen movie theatre and the House of Blues, it offers plenty to do. Downtown Disney is outside the theme parks, open to the public, and there is no admission charge. If you want to eat, shop or go to the movies here, the first three hours of parking are free, and you can get two more hours free with validation from the movie theatre or any sit-down restaurant. So buy a Disney souvenir, feel some of the magic, and come and go as you please!

Santa Monica

Santa Monica; Home of the famous Santa Monica Pier with its historic carousel and more recently added Pacific Park amusement park, the outdoor, pedestrian-oriented Third Street Promenade, the panoramic coastline and beach, beautiful parks, and scores of restaurants, art galleries, and theaters. With all of this and more, Santa Monica is a must see. Santa Monica is approximately 30 miles from La Mirada, a 30 to 60 min drive. Its highlights:

• The Santa Monica Pier: The finish line of famed Route 66, jets out into the Pacific with a variety of retail, food and entertainment outlets, and a world class amusement park. It’s the West Coast’s only amusement park located on a pier. Enjoy a dozen rides, midway games, ocean front specialty food outlets and seaside shopping. This familiar pier has been used extensively as a backdrop for many movies, television shows, and commercials. Come and see it for yourself.

• Third Street Promenade: Known for a twice-weekly farmers’ market, fabulous dining and terrific shopping, Third Street Promenade also has lots of entertainment choices from movies, to live theater, to street performers. All this just minutes from beaches and the Pacific Ocean.

• The Beaches: From Chess Park to Muscle Beach, you won’t believe the things you can do on the beaches of Santa Monica. Muscle Beach, a true California original, lies south of the pier and is definitely a sight to behold for its impressive array of athletic apparatus as well as the fitness buffs who flock to them. Also south of the Pier is the International Chess Park, Santa Monica’s unique, sun-bathed, ocean-cooled version of New York City’s Washington Square Park. Refurbished, expanded, and greatly enhanced in recent years, these public chess tables—and a human-scale chessboard set into the sidewalk—draw a wide assortment of players. Although level of play is generally high and the overall tone fairly serious, open tables are free for public use, and observers are always welcome.

San Diego

Explore downtown, relax on Coronado Island, or check out all kinds of wild animals at the San Diego Zoo, San Diego Wild Animal Park and SeaWorld. The possibilities are endless in one of the most beautiful areas of Southern California. San Diego is about 100 miles south of La Mirada, but is well worth the 2 hour drive along the beautiful California coast. Day trip ideas:

• Go to Coronado Island, and spend a relaxing day on the beach in front of the famous Hotel Del Coronado. Explore this antique hotel, and the beautiful surrounding neighborhoods.

• Balboa Park, the nation’s largest urban cultural park. Home to 15 major museums, renowned performing arts venues, beautiful gardens and the San Diego Zoo, the Park has an ever-changing calendar of museum exhibitions, plays, musicals, concerts, and classes—all in the beautiful and timeless setting of this must-see San Diego attraction.

• Admission to the San Diego Zoo will cost $32. If you want to make a group trip of it, groups of 15 or more: Call (619) 718-3000.

• Tickets to SeaWorld will cost $54, and may be purchased online or at the Main Entrance. If have a group of 15 or more, you can get them for $48.60

Huntington Beach

Huntington Beach, a.k.a. Surf City USA, is just about 20 miles from La Mirada (that’s a 30-50 min drive, depending on traffic!). During the day you can get a tan on the beach (or a sunburn!), try to catch a wave, spectate a surf competition, play some beach volleyball, or go shopping on Main Street. The beaches just north and south of the Huntington Beach Pier are great places to spend the day. Along the boardwalk, you will find snack shacks and rental shops where you can grab some food, rent a surfboard, boogie board, bike, or roller blades.

Want to go further out to sea? Kayaks are also available to rent. Enjoy the calm waters of Huntington Harbor, or brave the vast ocean! Rentals are available for a nominal fee at a small beach bordering the harbor channel alongside Pacific Coast Highway. Contact Malibu Kayaks at 16910 Pacific Coast Highway, 562-592-0800. Rental canoes, hydro bikes, inflatable rafts with electric motors, kayaks and pedal boats are also available from Sunset Rentals, 16862 Pacific Coast Highway, 562-592-5537.

When you start to get hungry take a walk to the end of the pier and sit down for a hamburger and milkshake at Ruby’s Diner. Other great options are BJ’s Pizza, Wahoo’s Fish Tacos, the Sugar Shack and more, all located opposite the pier on Main Street. After watching the sunset, head back down to the sand for a bonfire under the stars.

Have just a few hours of free time? Huntington will be the best beach to visit if you haven’t got all day, since it is the closest to the La Mirada area. Take a walk on the beach and around Main Street, do a little shopping, grab something to eat and be back in time for your next seminar!