Disneyland - Grad Style!

Disneyland isn't just for kids. And even if it was, you deserve to have a childlike day or two after having so many college responsibilities. Celebrate by going to the "Happiest Place on Earth"! Buy a two day Park-Hopper pass, while not the cheapest place to go on budget, you won't want to miss it!

Just Graduated! Photo Credit: Chris Nguyen

Did you know that you can get a "Just Graduated" button for free?? Just go to City Hall in Disneyland or the Chamber of Commerce in California Adventure. Both locations are located to the left as you enter each street. Simply go in and tell the Cast Member at the desk you just graduated college and would like a button. Once the button is proudly displayed on your chest, be prepared for special attention from the Cast Members and Disney characters you meet. You may even get free treats if someone is especially nice.

You earned these ears.
Photo Credit: Imgarcade

You can also buy your very own pair of graduation Mickey ears! It will go perfectly with your button. You will be able to find them pretty much anywhere in both parks. If you have trouble locating them, simply ask a Cast Member and they will point (with two fingers) you in the right direction. You can even have your name embroidered on the back of the hat if you'd like. It's free!







Here is a list of things of things you can't miss! Catered to a more grown-up style:

Disneyland

• Dole Whips next to the Tiki Room
• A Monte Cristo sandwich from Cafe Orleans
• A corn dog from the Red Corn Dog Wagon on Mainstreet
• Tigger Tails from Pooh's Corner
• Space Mountain
• Splash Mountain
• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Buzz Lightyear's AstroBlasters
• Star Tours
• King Arthur's Carousel
• Big Thunder Mountain
• Fireworks

California Adventure

• The soup or salad bread bowls at the Pacific Wharf Cafe
• PopCone at the Cozy Cone Motel in Cars Land
• Margarita's at the Margarita cart
• Dinner at Carthay Theatre
• Tower of Terror
• California Screamin'
• Radiator Springs Racers (my favorite ride)
• Toy Story Midway Mania
• Grizzly River Rapids
• Animation Academy
• World of Color (DO NOT MISS THIS!)

A few tips!

• Pack a lunch and some snacks! You can take food into the park. Buying every meal can get expensive, so pack a lunch and a few snacks to hold you over until dinner. You can even rent a locker and put a cooler in it if you need to.
•  Use Fast Passes! They will be your best friend. If you don't know what they are, click here.
• Go early in the morning to beat the crowds! Most people wait until early afternoon to show up at the parks, you'll be able to ride tons of rides with hardly any wait in the morning.
• Buy your souvenirs at the end of the day. Main Street and Buena Vista Street stay open an hour after the rest of the park has closed, use this time to shop! Plus, you won't have to carry shopping bags around with you the whole day.
• Get a free chocolate at the Ghiradelli Factory on the Pacific Wharf in California Adventure. A cast member will great you at the entrance with a free square! Also across the street, you can get a free sourdough roll when you take a short tour of the bakery!
• Remember that you need Fast Passes for World of Color and Fantasmic. You won't need any for the fireworks, but you should usually stake out a good spot an hour or so before the show.
• If you get tired or hot and need a break, head to Aladdin or Animation Academy in California Adventure, and Lincoln's Theatre in Disneyland. You'll be able to sit in air conditioning for a while and let your feet rest.
• Use the PhotoPass system! Disneyland Photographers are all over the park to take your picture. If you don't pictures with their cameras, they'll be happy to take them with your phone or digital camera. (I was once a PhotoPass Photographer at Disneyland!

If you're lucky enough to go to Disneyland in 2015, you're in for quite the treat! This year is Disneyland's 60th Anniversary and their calling it "The Diamond Celebration". Take a look at the video below for more info about all of the amazing things happening this year! I'm so excited.

According to their website,

"Beginning May 22, 2015, make way to the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration, where Guests of every age can commemorate 60 years of Disney magic with dazzling entertainment and sparkling surprises, including 3 new nighttime spectaculars making their in-park debuts:

• Disneyland Forever
• Disney Paint the Night Parade
• World of Color – Celebrate!

Ever since Disneyland Park opened on July 17, 1955, the Disneyland Resort has been an unforgettable destination for families to return to, again and again—a source of joy for the entire world and a place where innovation has continued to inspire an exciting future. 

Throughout the festivities, soak up the sights as iconic jewels you know and love—Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland Park and Carthay Circle Theatre at Disney California Adventure Park—magically transform, glistening and gleaming with special Diamond Celebration enhancements. 

In addition, be sure to treat your senses to the visual feast set all along beloved Disneyland Resort locations like Buena Vista Street and Main Street, U.S.A. Both will be decked out for the occasion with shimmering banners, glittering décor… and so much more.
It’s a celebration so big, one day simply isn’t enough to enjoy everything in store!"

SoCal Beaches

You just graduated from college. If you're like most grads, all you want to do is relax after all the stress of completing graduate projects and taking your final finals! You're going to want to spend a few days sunbathing and playing on the beach. There are hundreds of beaches in California, but which ones should you visit?

Here is a list of my favorite must-see beaches, perfect for college grads wanting to unwind and have fun:

Crystal Cove!
Photo Credit: Crystal Cove State Park Historic District

Crystal Cove 

I list this beach first because it is my FAVORITE. Crystal Cove is somewhat difficult to find, so therefore less crowded! Originally owned by movie directors and producers in the 1930's and 40's, this beach has a vintage vibe. It has served as a filming location for dozens of movies since then. The cove is rimmed by dozens of brightly painted beach cottages. You can actually rent them if you'd like, but you'll have to do it 6 months in advance (click the photo for more info).

This is the perfect beach for relaxing. There are tide pools you can explore, beach toys you can rent, an adorable beach gift shop, and cottages you can tour to learn more about Crystal Cove. 

But the best part about Crystal Cove? The Beachcomber Cafe, home of the best cheeseburger you will ever eat! I'm not kidding. I have dreams about this place all the time. The Beachcomber serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. And while it's on the pricier side, if you want to go to a nice restaurant to celebrate graduation, GO HERE! Breakfast and lunch are decently priced, while dinner is much more expensive. Personally, I actually prefer the breakfast and lunch menu. To cut costs, I suggest splitting the Kobe Burger. Trust me, you won't be able to finish it yourself. Make sure to grab a parking validations with your check! Otherwise you'll be paying a $15 dollar parking fee when you leave. 

My recommendations:

• Coconut Macadamia Nut Pancakes (I'm practically crying as I type this, they're that yummy)
• Lemon Ricotta Blueberry Pancakes
• Beachcomber Kobe Burger 
• Lemon Grass Chicken Skewers
• Ciabatta Bread Stack
• Mahi Mahi Tacos
• Big Bad Bloody Mary (served in a large Mason Jar with a giant crab claw)

As stated before, Crystal Cove is somewhat difficult to find if you've never been there before. Located off the Pacific Coast Highway, you must park on the East side of the highway and then take a short hike down to a tunnel that cuts underneath the road. If you'd rather not walk, take a $5 dollar shuttle ride down to the beach. According to their website:

"Where do we park and how does it work?
Parking for the entire Historic District is at the Los Trancos parking lot located on the east side of Pacific Coast Highway. You may pick up The Beachcomber Shuttle at the picnic bench adjacent to the park’s office building. The Beachcomber will validate for 3 hours of parking with a purchase of $15.00 or more at The Beachcomber Café. Each additional hour after the 3 hours will cost $5.00 per hour up to a maximum of $15.00 per day.
Where is the tunnel?
The tunnel, which connects the parking lot to the Historic District, is located under Pacific Coast Highway. You can get to the tunnel by following the footpath from the Los Trancos parking lot by heading to the southern most corner of the lot. It takes approximately 10 minutes to walk from the parking lot to the restaurant." 

Huntington Beach 

Main Street, Huntington Beach.
Photo Credit: beach.com

Huntington is the perfect beach for a day filled with fun. Huntington is a very laid-back surfer town. Park in one of the public parking lots at the end of Main Street and walk down the vibrant and busy main strip of Huntington as you make your way to the beach. There are tons of bars, beach shops, restaurants, boutiques, and surf companies like Roxy and Quicksilver. Once you hit the beginning of Main Street, cross the Pacific Coast Highway over to the pier. Ruby's Diner is at the very end of it if you'd like to grab a burger.

The beach itself is large and often crowded during peak seasons. Find a spot wherever the surfers are and watch them do their thing in the best surf beach in California. Along the beach you can rent bikes and beach toys, schedule surf lessons, and play volleyball on the provided beach courts. The volleyball courts are great places to meet fellow college grads! They are always filled with friendly people willing to share a game.

When the sun goes down and you're tired of the sand, head back up Main Street and visit one of the many bars for drinks and nightlife. These bars are always packed with young twenty-somethings at night, so they're great places to meet new people. If you'd rather have a more laid-back night, make a bonfire in one of the provided beach firepits and roast some s'mores! Who doesn't love a good beach bonfire?

My favorite day to visit Huntington Beach is on Sundays. A small farmers market is located just to the right of the pier. These booths are filled with all sorts of interesting things to buy: seashells, mermaid jewelry, terrariums, doggy sunscreen, and lots of tie-dye. As the sun is setting, a drum circle begins on the northern steps of the pier. Everyone is invited, bring your own drum and join in! Dozens of locals and tourists beat to drums and dance to the rhythm.

Here is a map of Orange County Beaches in case you get lost along the PCH!

Orange County Beaches
Photo Credit: OC Almanac 

Santa Monica

Santa Monica Pier and Downtown
Photo Credit: Ron Niebrugge

Located just West of Los Angeles, this beach is great for grads looking for a more urban beach scene. Santa Monica is beach meets LA meets amusement park. There are miles of tourist friendly roads lined with shops, restaurants, bars and nightclubs. Lounge on the beach during the day, and then head down one of the many streets at night when the city comes alive. The pier's amusement park also lights up at night, with a roller coaster and brightly spinning ferris wheel.

For some of Los Angeles' best shopping, check out Santa Monica Place and (my personal favorite) Third Street Promenade.

Hotels

Pool-side lounging.
Photo Credit: Paul Schmidt. Marie Claire Italia, May, 2012

Now that you're officially in Southern California, it's time to check into your hotel. Hopefully you booked it in advance. Hotels booked a few weeks (or even months) ahead of time are always cheaper than day-of bookings.

There are literally thousands of hotels in Southern California. How do you find the right one? My trick: Hotels.com! This website has a lot of cool features. First of all, you'll be able to browse every available hotel. Second, a lot of the hotels are already discounted! Third, for every 10 nights you book, you'll get one night free! This will come in handy on your next getaway.

What I love about Hotels.com is their search tools. This is how I find the perfect hotel:

1. Type in preferred location. (I usually stay around Disneyland, or closer to the beach)
2. Set a price range with the "Average Nightly Price" slider tool.
3. Set the "Guest Rating" slider to 3-5. (Sometimes I do 4-5 if I'm feeling particularly picky)
4. Sort the list from lowest to highest price. 
5. Browse through hotel pictures and listed amenities and pick whichever hotel looks the best to you.

I've stayed at really nice hotels for really cheap prices by doing this. By simply going off of the price, you can end up staying in some really gross and run-down places. The key to finding a cheap AND nice hotel is the Guest Rating tool! Make sure you add your rating after your stay to help other travelers!

If you know exactly what area you would like to stay, try searching on the Map View! I love using this feature when I'm trying to find a hotel close to Disneyland. Simply set the desired limits above, then click on the Map icon in the upper lefthand corner. Zoom in on your desired area and browse the available hotels. Below is an example of the Map View around the Disneyland Resort. Click to zoom!

Screen shot of the Hotels.com Map View. Photo Credit: Hotels.com

Many hotels offer free breakfast! If you're trying to save money, take advantage of this! What college student (or in this case, starving graduate) would say no to free breakfast? Some hotels also have on-site exercise rooms for the health-minded individual. 

College student or recent graduate friendly areas? These locations have great nightlife!

• Pacific Beach - The best beach in San Diego for nightlife.
• Santa Monica - LA meets hippie-chic beach town. Amazing nightlife and shopping! Plus an amusement park on the pier! 
• Huntington Beach - Surf City, USA! This beach is especially fun during surf competitions! Check out the city's website for more info.
• Anaheim - Disneyland isn't just for kids. Check out Downtown Disney! It has fantastic shopping, restaurants, bars, live entertainment, and a movie theatre! Also close by, Anaheim Gardenwalk. You can also catch a baseball game at the nearby Angel Stadium.

Transportation

The first step towards booking a trip is deciding how you want to get there. Roadtrip or by air? Should you enjoy the journey to your destination, or skip the long drive for more beach time? Both options have their pros and cons.

Roadtrippers.com Photo Credit: roadtrippers.com

Roadtrips are fun, but also exhausting. Depending on how far away you live, this may not even be an option for you. Log onto Google Maps and plot your route. If it would take you more than 12 hours to get there, I recommend flying! Roadtrips can be really fun if you have the right attitude. They're also a lot cheaper than flying. If you pack 2 or 3 friends into your car, gas will be much cheaper split between all of you. Plus, those hours of driving can make for fun conversation. Keep in mind, however, that the more time you're traveling, the less time you'll have at your actual destination. If you only have a few days to soak up the SoCal sun, flying may your best option.

If you do decide to take the scenic route, check out Roadtrippers (link under photo). Just type in your starting point and ending destination, and the website will give you a list of cool things to stop and do along the way. It is very customizable. You can choose to only view offbeat attractions, must-see shopping, national parks, etc. If you're going to take the time to drive, you might as well make it more fun! And if you get lost, hey, you'll have lots of funny stories to tell. As Erol Ozan once said, “Some beautiful paths can't be discovered without getting lost.”

While flying is more expensive, it is much faster and easier than driving. Think of the extra cost as bonus vacation time. The sooner you get to your destination, the sooner you'll be sunbathing on the beach.

While most people think of LAX when they think Southern California (thank you, Miley Cyrus!), you should be thinking LGB. The Long Beach Airport is closer to Orange County and further away from the congestion clogged highways around Los Angeles. Plus, flights are almost always cheaper to Long Beach than Los Angeles. If you're planning your trip far in advance, check out Airfare Watch Dog. Type in your home airport and destination airport and it will create an email alert for drops in pricing. Basically, it does all the hard work of finding a great deal for you. I always plan my trips around when flight pricing drops. If you're planning a last-minute trip, try travel sites like Orbitz or Priceline so you can see every flight that's available. That way you won't have to go to every individual airline's website.

Long Beach Airport Plaza Photo Credit: Long Beach Airport

The Long Beach Airport is a charmingly small airport. A recent renovation in 2012 gave the space a clean and modern update. Being a small airport means you'll be out quickly. It can take hours to get out of LAX. I once waited 3 hours for the rental car shuttle, it was misery. The rental car station at LGB is literally 50 feet away from the exit. Just take the crosswalk through the drop-off and loading zones and you'll be cruising in your new ride in no time at all.

Speaking of rental cars, you'll need one if you fly. A rental car is essential in Southern California! My recommendation? Priceline's Name Your Own Price. On a recent trip I took to California, rental cars out of Long Beach were $400 a week. Don't ever pay that much for a rental car! I made a couple of bids on Priceline and ended up getting a car for $120 a week. That's a 70% discount! The trick is to start small with your bids. There is a link that shows you recent winning bids to give you a good idea of what price to try first. When I won my 70% discount, I saw that the last winning bid was $20 dollars a day. I started at $15 dollars and went up a dollar every time it declined my bid. Luckily I only had to bid twice before it accepted my $17 dollar a day bid!