21–31 October 2026 · California

The Watson Family Trip to California

Oceanside · San Diego · Santa Monica

Bristol ...San Diego ...

Day-by-day plan

Wed 21 Oct · Day 1Arrive in CaliforniaLondon → LAX → OceansideEd working all day
Flight
  • BA269 · 21 Oct · British Airways
  • 15:05 Heathrow T5 → 18:25 LAX Terminal B (local times)
  • Direct · 11h 20m · Airbus A380-800 · Premium Economy
View route map
Approx. 8,760 km / 5,443 miles directScheduled: 11h 20m

Great-circle distance; actual flown route may differ.

On arrival
  • Ed picks up the girls at LAX
  • Drive to Oceanside: 1½–2½ hours
Stay
  • Oceanside Airbnb · 21–30 Oct
Evening
  • Dinner at home
Funky facts

Oceanside hosts the Super Girl Surf Festival: elite women’s surfing plus live music. The pier is a famous contest spot. Source

Thu 22 Oct · Day 2Oceanside & CarlsbadChillingEd working all day
Morning

Chill / sleep

Afternoon
  • Oceanside Pier and Harbour Village
  • California Surf Museum
  • Carlsbad Village: shops and restaurants
  • Carlsbad State Beach sunset
Train to Carlsbad
  • Oceanside Pier and Surf Museum: walk from Oceanside Transit Center; Harbour Village is a longer walk or short local ride.
  • COASTER southbound to Carlsbad Village: 14:36 → 14:43 (7 minutes).
  • Return northbound: 19:17 → 19:22, after the beach sunset.
  • Sara: $6.50 each way ($13 return). Children 18 and under: free with a Youth PRONTO account or card.
  • Check the NCTD timetable before travelling. First travel to Oceanside Transit Center from the Airbnb.
Dinner

At home (tentative).

Funky facts

The California Surf Museum has Bethany Hamilton’s shark-bitten board from the story behind Soul Surfer. Source

Fri 23 Oct · Day 3San Diego Zoo Safari ParkSafari Park and San DiegoEd off work🍴 Eat out
Morning
  • Safari Park: 45–60 minutes’ drive each way
  • Africa Tram · Elephant Valley · Tiger Trail · rhino habitats
Later
  • Little Italy and Gaslamp Quarter
  • Dinner: Filippi’s Pizza Grotto or Old Spaghetti Factory (to choose)
Funky facts

A cheetah can hit 70 mph—faster than a racehorse. The Safari Park is home to these sprinters. Source

Sat 24 Oct · Day 4Crystal Cove & Laguna BeachCoastal trail, tide pools and galleriesEd off work
Morning
  • Crystal Cove State Park: 1h 15m drive
  • Bluff Top Trail · ocean viewpoints · coastline
Afternoon
  • Laguna Beach: Heisler Park · tide pools · art galleries
Dinner

At home.

Funky facts

Laguna Beach hosts one of the longest-running beach volleyball tournaments. Spot the courts by Main Beach. Source

Sun 25 Oct · Day 5Morning worship & whale watchingChurch in the morning · Oceanside cruise in the afternoonEd off work
Morning

Choose a church service, then have lunch near Oceanside Harbor before the cruise:

Check service details nearer the date. The earlier services leave more time for lunch and an afternoon departure.

Afternoon

Whale and dolphin watching cruise from Oceanside Harbor. Choose an afternoon departure when booking; tickets not yet booked. Oceanside Adventures offers a larger boat, while O’side Whales offers small-group trips (up to six passengers). Check Sunday 25 October availability and sea conditions.

Evening
  • Beach sunset
  • Dinner at home
Funky facts

The final cheerleading competition in Bring It On was filmed by Oceanside Pier. Can you spot the amphitheatre? Source

Mon 26 Oct · Day 6LEGOLAND CaliforniaAfternoon and eveningEd working AM🍴 Eat out
Morning

Relax while Ed works.

Afternoon
  • LEGOLAND California: 10–15 minute drive
  • NINJAGO Ride · Dragon Coaster · Driving School
  • Miniland USA · SEA LIFE Aquarium · LEGO Movie World
Evening

Dinner in Carlsbad Village and a beach walk.

Funky facts

Find the tiny SoFi Stadium in Miniland: it uses over 500,000 bricks. The real stadium has hosted huge pop concerts and the Super Bowl. Source

Tue 27 Oct · Day 7Girls’ San Diego dayVisit Ed at work, then San DiegoEd working
Car
  • Sara drives Ed to work
  • Sara and the girls visit Ed at work before heading to San Diego
  • Sara and the girls use the car during the day
  • Pick Ed up after work
Options
  • Carlsbad Premium Outlets
  • Westfield UTC: about 25 minutes, en route to San Diego
  • Seaport Village: about 38 minutes
Dinner

At home.

Funky facts

San Diego football icon Alex Morgan helped the Wave win their first trophy, then became a part-owner of the club. Source

Wed 28 Oct · Day 8Clippers vs Lakers7:30 pm · Inglewood · possible Anaheim hotel afterwardsEd working AM🍴 Eat out
Morning

Relax by the pool while Ed works.

14:30

Leave Oceanside for Intuit Dome, Inglewood. Allow roughly 3–3½ hours for the Wednesday afternoon drive and parking; check live traffic before setting off. Arena doors open at 18:00.

19:30

LA Clippers vs Los Angeles Lakers · tip-off at Intuit Dome. Buy tickets from the Clippers. Tickets and parking not yet booked.

Dinner

Eat near the arena or at the game.

After the game

If the two-night Hyatt stay is booked, drive from Inglewood to Anaheim and check in for Wednesday and Thursday nights. Bring all onward luggage from Oceanside on Wednesday; keep the Airbnb booking in place. Allow for a late arrival and tell the hotel in advance.

Funky facts

The Clippers and Lakers now have separate home arenas: this is a Clippers home game at Intuit Dome.

Thu 29 Oct · Day 9Disneyland CaliforniaFull day · second possible Hyatt nightEd off work🍴 Eat out
Morning

If the Hyatt stay is booked, wake up in Anaheim and head to Disneyland. Otherwise drive from Oceanside early (allow 1–1½ hours).

Highlights
  • Galaxy’s Edge · Rise of the Resistance
  • Haunted Mansion Holiday · Pirates of the Caribbean
  • Big Thunder Mountain · Main Street USA
Dinner

At Disney.

Hotel option

Consider Hyatt Place at Anaheim Resort/Convention Center for Wednesday 28 and Thursday 29 October, checking out Friday 30 October. It is a Category 4 option with two queen beds plus a sofa bed in some rooms. You have two Category 1–4 award nights: check whether both Wednesday and Thursday can be booked on the awards in a suitable standard room for five. Hyatt House Anaheim is another Category 4 option, but confirm room and certificate eligibility. Check the total cost including parking. The Oceanside Airbnb remains booked concurrently; the Hyatt is not yet booked.

Funky facts

Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion gets a Nightmare Before Christmas makeover, with Jack Skellington, for Halloween 2026. Source

Fri 30 Oct · Day 10Travel to Santa MonicaFrom Anaheim if two-night Hyatt stay booked · pier and hotelEd off work🍴 Eat out
Morning
  • If the Wednesday–Thursday Hyatt stay is booked: check out on Friday and drive directly from Anaheim to Santa Monica after breakfast. All onward luggage came with you from Oceanside on Wednesday.
  • If the Hyatt stay is not booked: check out of the Oceanside Airbnb and leave at 10:00; allow 2–3 hours to Santa Monica.
  • Route 66 End Sign
Afternoon
  • Santa Monica Pier · Pacific Park Ferris wheel
  • Third Street Promenade shopping
Hotel
  • Hilton Santa Monica Hotel & Suites · one night · five guests
  • Check-in from 16:00 · confirmation 3106479682
Evening
  • Dinner on Main Street, Santa Monica
Funky facts

Holly, this one is for you: the Hollywood Sign first read “HOLLYWOODLAND” and was a giant property advert. You’ll see it tomorrow. Source

Sat 31 Oct · Day 11Los Angeles & flight homeSightseeing before departure from LAXEd off work
Hotel
  • Check out of Hilton Santa Monica Hotel & Suites by 11:00
Morning
  • Griffith Observatory: Hollywood Sign views · skyline · exhibits
Midday
  • Hollywood Boulevard: Walk of Fame · TCL Chinese Theatre
  • Lunch: Original Farmers Market and The Grove
Afternoon
  • Beverly Hills: Rodeo Drive · Beverly Gardens
Return flight
  • BA268 · 31 Oct · British Airways
  • 21:50 LAX Terminal 4 → 15:25, 1 Nov Heathrow T5 (local times)
  • Direct · 10h 35m · Boeing 777-300ER · Premium Economy
View route map
Approx. 8,760 km / 5,443 miles directScheduled: 10h 35m

Great-circle distance; actual flown route may differ.

Before departure
  • Return hire car
  • Allow 3–4 hours at LAX before the 21:50 flight
Funky facts

The Walk of Fame has a star for Selena, the Tejano pop superstar. Use the star map to hunt for a favourite singer. Source