Things to do Labor Day Southern California

Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer and it's the last chance to get out enjoy Southern California before school starts.

If you live in So Cal you are never far from an attraction interesting destinations. Check out these great places to visit on Labor Day weekend.


AMUSEMENT PARKS. - Arrive early to beat the crowds and check online for coupons and specials to save money

Disneyland

Knott's Berry Farm

Magic Mountain

Legoland

Sea World

San Diego Wild Animal Park

San Diego Zoo

BEACHES - So Cal has some of the best beaches in the World. Planing a beach party with a fire. Get there early in the morning to reserve a fire ring.

Huntington Beach

Laguna Beach

Crystal Cove Beach

San Clemente Beach

Malibu Beach

Occeanside Beach

Trestles Beach

Newport Beach

Salt Creek Beach

WINERIES - No need to travel to Napa So Cal has it's own wine country.

Laguna Canyon Winery

South Coast Winery & Resort

San Antonio Winery

Mount Palomar Winery

Bernardo Winery

Southen California Wineries

DAY TRIPS - With so many intersting places to go in Southern California the hardest part of your trip will be choosing where to go.

LA Farmers Market

Griffith Park

Nixon Library

Upper Newport Bay

Mission San Juan Capistrano

Orange Empire Railway

USS Midway Museum

Julian Historic Gold Town

Mission San Luis Rey

Southern California Day Trips

Crystal Cove Camping Southern California

All that is left of the trailer park above Crystal Cove Beach is pictures like the one above. Construction crews are clearing the 35 acres of canyon and beach, and transforming the site into Southern California's first coastal campground in two decades. Workers are now ripping out nonnative plants, removing concrete foundations, demolishing outbuildings, and taking out old power lines and other infrastructure, said Ken Kramer, Orange Coast District superintendent for California State Parks. The project is expected to take two years and the campground should be open by summer 2010. While the new campground is built a lucky few can rent one of the restored beach front Crystal Cove Cottages.

Japanese Friendship Garden Balboa Park San Diego

If your looking for a quite place to relax after a hectic day visiting San Diego attraction try the Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park. The gardens surround the Tea house built in 1915 for the Panama-California Exposition. garden was a nice tranquil place to take a moment to relax. There is a display of traditional dolls, and a pond featuring some beautiful brightly colored koi. Entrance fee is only three dollars and after you're done you can enjoy a snack from the Tea Pavilion. If you're at Balboa when and need a place to enjoy a quite moment then check out the garden. Japanese Friendship Garden 2215 Pan American Road San Diego, CA 92101
More things to do in San Diego

Moaning Cavern Zip Line

California's newest zip line is in the Northern California town of Vallecito. Twin 1,500 feet long lines take riders for a thrilling trip down the mountain side. The zip line at Moaning Cavern lasts 35 seconds and reaches a top speed of 40 miles per hour. At $39 for the first ride, that's about $1.10 per second. A second zip line is in the works which will be a mile and a half long, surpassing what's said to be the country's longest at 5,400 feet in Icy Strait Point, near Glacier Bay, Alaska. No athletic ability is needed here. In fact, no need to even hang on. The harness wraps around your legs and torso and hooks onto the zip line's metal trolley. The Moaning Cavern zip lines can carry a rider as light as 70 pounds or as heavy as 260.
Moaning Cavern Park
5350 Moaning Cave Road
Vallecito, CA 95251
For more information call (866)762-2837

The Kiss Statue USS Midway San Diego

The 25 ft tall Kiss statue is of the famous photograph taken by Alfred Eisenstaedt during the VJ Day celebrations in Times Square in 1945.

Located next to the USS Midway Museum in downtown San Diego the statue is quite popular with couples striking the same pose and having their picture taken next to the huge figures

The official name of the 6,000-pound sculpture is “Unconditional Surrender” however most people just call it the kiss statue. The work of art was dedicated on February 11, 2007 and has been turning heads ever since.

On valentines day 2013 a new permanent bronze kiss statue replaced the original foam core version.

Edith Shain  the woman who is being kissed in the statue attended the unveiling of the original statue , she died in 2010 at age 91.

Sea Ranch, California

Sea Ranch is located along the in Sonoma County and is a popular vacation destination. This quaint seaside village is about 100 miles north of San Francisco and is famous for its distinctive architecture of weathered-wood structures. Most homes at The Sea Ranch do not have lawns or fences. All public landscaping must use native plants. A herd of sheep is used to keep grass cut low to the ground to reduce the threat of fire during the summer months. Visitors can stay at the Sea Ranch Lodge or rent out one of the houses for their vacation. No amusement parks here just a quite relaxing small town along the rugged northern California coast.
For more information about Sonoma County:
Sonoma County Tourism Bureau
420 Aviation Blvd., Ste 106
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
707-539-7282
sonomacounty.com

Sonoma Coast State Beach

Sonoma Coast State Beach extends 17 miles from Bodega Head to 4 miles north of Jenner. This section of Northern California coast is made up of several beaches including Shell Beach, Portuguese Beach, Salmon Creek Beach and Wright's Beach. Activities including beach camping, tide pools, fishing and beach combing. The water is too cold for swimming unless you have a wet suit but there is plenty else to keep you busy. Sonoma Coast State Beach one of California's most scenic attractions and unlike the beaches in Southern California they are very rarely crowded.

The Luffa Farm in Nipomo California

A Luffa or Loofah sponge is used like a body scrub. Both the coarse textured sponge and the soft textured sponge are called Luffas or Loofahs. The latter soft textured luffa sponges aren't in fact derived from the luffa fruit, but are manufactured by folding in several layers of soft mesh-like fabric into a cloud-like shape; commonly used in tandem with shower gels/lotions.

If you have ever wondered how this natural sponges are grown and are on a trip through central California you are invited to stop by The Luffa Farm for a free tour. The luffas you buy in stores are typically grown, or "made in" other countries. These Luffa sponges are made and grown right here in California. Luffa sponges are non-abrasive enough to wash dishes, cars, sinks, toys, golf clubs, floors, walls, windows and of course great for bathing. So next time your looking for a natural sponge look for the label "grown in Nipomo" or better yet head out to the farm and see firsthand how the luffa vines look.
The Luffa Farm
1457 Willow Road
Nipomo, CA, 93444
OPEN
Wednesdays through Sundays
10:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.
www.theluffafarm.com

Irvine Spectrum Center

Palm trees, open air and a brown and tan color scheme. This pretty much describes most malls built in California in the last ten years. Irvine Spectrum fits the mold on a grand scale with over a 150 stores along it's palm tree lined promenades. The shopping mall has a couple of stand out features including a 108 foot Ferris wheel and the only IMAX theatre in the area. Dinning and entertainment are the main themes with shopping a secondary thought. Most of the stores are specialty however there is a Nordstrom at the mall. This center is very popular with locals mainly because there is no competition nearby. Another clone Southern California mall but still worth a visit. Irvine Spectrum 71 Fortune Drive Irvine, CA 92618 Center hours Retail: Sun-Sat 10am-10pm Restaurant and Entertainment: Sun-Sat 11am-11pm

Sawdust Festival Laguna Beach

The Sawdust Festival is an annual event in Laguna Canyon. Each year 200 fine art and craftspeople display their works of art at this scenic canyon art show. Open 10 am to 10 pm daily until August 31. While browsing through the artists booths you will be entertained by various music groups. The Sawdust Festival is a great place to spend the day and fun for the whole family.
All entertainment is included with admission and is provided daily until 9:30 p.m. on three outdoor stages. To see these headliners and all of other performers, purchase our $20 Summer Season Pass or an Annual Pass and get unlimited admission all summer long! Regular Adult admission is $7; Seniors $6 age 65 and up; Children $3 age 6-12 years and Free for children under 5 years of age. Discounts available online at www.sawdustartfestival.org
Avoid downtown traffic and park in the City’s Act V lot for just $7 per day or park for FREE at South Coast Medical Center after 3 p.m. weekdays or all day weekends. Then take a FREE City trolley to our festival from either location.
Sawdust Art Festival, 935 Laguna Canyon Rd., Laguna Beach, CA. 92651