Planning a CA Trip

Some tips I learned while planning and on our trip to San Diego!

First I looked all over for tickets and found that San Diego has a 3 park pass. I searched to find a good deal and found that Costco had the best deal.

Adult $189.99 (4 day pass includes all 3 places regular price $272)

Kids $162.99 (4 day pass includes all 3 places regular price $240)

Includes SeaWorld, SanDiego Zoo & Safari Park, LEGOLAND, Knott's Berry Farm, Tours, Museums and more! 

Right now they have an extra 10% off too if you want!  Buying through Costco this saved us $318.04!

San Diego Zoo bring in lot's of treats if you have kids they check bags but you really could get away with snacks etc and not have to worry about the crazy price of foods!

SeaWorld if you know someone that lives there that is a season pass bring them!!! Discount off food and drinks, I believe it was like 40% we got from Rick's friend using it. 

Buy the drink cup yes it's spendy BUT you get FREE refills ALL Day! Buy one and share with the whole family!

Buy All Day Dinning $34.99 - For an adult this could come in handy it's crazy spendy!

LEGOLAND buy the Reserve and Ride We found we spent the MOST time in line at this park. It's like $25 per person but it really could make it so you hit more of the rides and don't stand in line for hours.

Plan to pay parking here! $15 for a car

The Pasta & Pizza ALL you can eat! Was the best bang for your buck for the family to eat!

Right now after 4pm kids EAT FREE! Another good option if you stay for dinner!

Also bring a Lego Figure to trade at the park they have certain areas you go and can swap!

There are my tips I found the be the most money saving!

San Diego Surprise Trip ... San Diego Zoo

More on our the surprise visit my husband planned for the kids. Our first full day was a trip to The San Diego Zoo!  The zoo I think was the one place I was the most excited to go see. I love our zoo's here but after you have gone several times you've seen it all. 

The San Diego Zoo was amazing and so big. We started with the double Decker bus tour so we could see all the grounds. We were able to make a plan on what we wanted to see plus we were able to see some of the animals and learn some fun trivia about them also.

After the bus tour we got some lunch, which was really spendy but no food in means your at the misery of the park. We ended walking around for like 5 hours checking it all out. They have a fun kangaroo bus that has several stops around the park if you want to give you feet a rest and head to different animals.

I had so much fun here, the boys of course thought it was ok. No rides and boys just think things are ok .. lol. A big thank you to my husband Rick for planning this amazing trip!

Surprise Vacation ... San Diego

My husband planned and set up a surprise trip all on his own (it even landed on our 12 year anniversary). He even called my boss and arranged my time off. When it got closer he did tell me since he knows I'm a little OCD and would have to plan things for work. We manged to kept it a complete secret from the boys. So two Sunday's ago we woke the kids up at 4am and told them my dad was taking us to breakfast!  They were in a sleep grumble and hopped into the car, they didn't even notice the suitcases in the back of the truck. The night before I stayed up and made a treasure map with 4 clues on where we were going. Of course I couldn't find tape to save my life so out came the glue gun lol. Yes I totally hot glued paper down.

We opened the first clue at Denny's while having breakfast clue #1: Lego Man picture "Oh the things we'll build but not with wood!". As we were heading out we opened clue #2: Zoo Animal picture "This is no ordinary place with animals". When we were close to the airport they opened clue #3: Whale picture "A famous whale lives here". When we were about to pull up to airport I had them open Clue #4: The San Diego State Logo. The video was the best of them figuring it out.

When we landed of course our room wasn't available for several hours so we picked up our rental car (the boys dream car a Camaro). I was so excited I was going to meet up with a blogger friend I have not met in real life yet but has been one of my besties for over 6 years. While we waited for my dinner date we walked around the mall. I of course had no place to change so I had to go to a bathroom to put on a dress. My hair was a mess from traveling so I took advantage of one of the kiosk in the mall with a flat iron. And my make-up was looking a little messy so I hit up Clinque. YUP I sure I was their favorite non paying person of the day ... lol.  I did great tips and when I got home went on Amazon and bought a new flat iron and a microdermabrasion brush that was used on me ... lol.

Then the time came to meet up with my friend Debby from Just Breathe. I can't tell you how excited I was! We have been friends for around 6 years along with another blogger Amy. We have all emailed and even talked on the phone a couple times. But nothing beats meeting in real life! We sat and talked for like 2 1/2 hours, I could have stayed for another few hours but Rick was blowing up my text to pick me up. I have not laughed so hard and had a bond with a friend in a long time. It was not like meeting someone for the first time it was like meeting up with a friend you haven't seen in a while and catch up on life. I so hope to meet up again if we head to California or maybe a girls get away where Amy can join us also!

What a way to start my vacation! I was riding on cloud 9 and walked on it our whole trip!