Queen Mary Ocean Liner
1126 Queen's Highway
Long Beach, CA 90802
Phone: 562-435-3511
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Though Hollywood and Beverly Hills have their share of royalty, there’s nothing to compare with the stately queen that resides to the South. The Queen Mary, in permanent residence in Long Beach Harbor exudes the style and grace of a bygone era. But more than that, its massive size is truly awe-inspiring. Weighing in at hefty 81,327 tons and measuring 1,019 feet from stern to bow, the luxury liner is nearly twenty percent longer and twice as heavy as the Titanic. Daily guided tours let modern seafarers get a peek into not only the intricate detail and delicate beauty that decorate the ship, but also the raw strength needed to power this engineering marvel through the seas.

Ripley's Believe-It-Or-Not Museum
7711 Beach Boulevard
Buena Park, CA 90621
Phone: 714-522-7045
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Check your doubts at the door at this stop in Buena Park. One of several such museums around the world, Ripley’s “Odditorium” houses the weird wacky and wonderful discoveries of adventurer Robert Ripley, who scoured the globe looking for unusual, the unbelievable, and at times the downright ridiculous. They are all on display here for those willing to put their skepticism on hold for an hour or two. For those not makeing the trek to Orange County, another version of the Believe-it-or-Not Museum is on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles.

Santa Monica Pier
Ocean Ave. & Colorado Ave.
Santa Monica, CA 90401
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Originally constructed in 1909, this wood and concrete structure juts sixteen hundred feet out into the Pacific Ocean, and is crowded with fun seekers 365 days of the year. One of the most famous attractions is the hand carved carousel, a fixture on the pier since 1922. A little further down the Pier is Pacific Park, full of carnival games and rides. It’s the last stop for fun on the edge of the continent.

Universal Studios
100 Universal City Plaza
Universal City, CA 91608
Phone: 1800-UNIVERSAL
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More than anything else, Hollywood is about the movies. And nowhere are the movies are on better display than at Universal Studios. Whether it’s the spectacular sights and sounds of Revenge of the Mummy, the ride… or a chance to be a snack for a T-Rex in Jurassic Park… or a tour of the historic studio back lot, visitors to Universal are surrounded by movie history. It’s a chance to live the movies, combining an insider’s look at a working studio with big budget live action shows, and a series of hair-raising movie-style thrills created by Hollywood’s special effects wizards. After a day at the park, check out Universal Studios CityWalk next door. Every night, this shopping and entertainment complex comes alive with its unique mix of glitz and fun. Street performers, lively restaurants, and top-notch theaters create this one-of-kind experience that has Hollywood written all over it.

Venice Beach
Ocean Front Walk (south of Santa Monica Pier)
Los Angeles, CA 90291
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This canal-filled beachfront community used to be known as the Coney Island of the Pacific for the many amusements that once lined the boardwalk. These days, the people watching is more amusing than any contraption you could come ever up with. On this five-block stretch of shoreline, you can see a lot of things you don’t exactly see every day, and a few things you shouldn’t have to see ever: performers and artists, crackpots and geniuses, salesmen and surfers. And they’re all practicing good old American capitalism in its rawest form. It all adds up to the unique color of Venice Beach, like no place else on earth.