Family Trip to LA & San Diego October 2009

Highlights from family trip to LA & San Diego Oct 2009

Overall
- Good food at new (to me) restaurants: Cici's Cafe, Memphis Soul Cafe

Day 1

Drive down 101 to LA - super delicious clam chowder at Splash Cafe in SLO

Day 2

- Brunch w/ family at Cici's Cafe in Tarzana (as reviewed on Yelp): yummy pancakes, ridiculously big selection of pancakes and other food, but long wait on a Sat morning

- Bobby & Gina's wedding!!!

Day 3

- Family birthday party for Kaiya: dim sum at Ocean Star

- Dinner w/ Victoria at Hide on Sawtelle in Santa Monica (as reviewed on Yelp): really good sushi and worth going back to despite limited menu and long wait

Day 4-6

- Lunch w/ Sean & Meg at Memphis Soul Cafe & Bar in Costa Mesa (as reviewed on Yelp) - really interesting menu with good mix of Southern-inspired of sandwiches, salads, soups and entrees; good starter cornbread, 1/2 pulled-pork sandwich and cup of gumbo combo; interesting indoor dim-light bar interior and cozy back patio
- San Diego!!! (see San Diego blog post)

Day 7

- dineLA Restaurant Week: lunch at Crustacean (as reviewed on Yelp)

Day 8

- LA Zoo at Griffiths Park train ride

Day 9

- Breakfast at Marmalade Cafe in Calabasas: good breakfast, 7-grain pancakes good, huge portions, fun pond outside with turtles and ducks for Kaiya to play with

Things For Next Trip to LA
- Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach w/ Minah & baby Casey
- Santa Monica Pier Aquarium: only open 2-5pm during the week (as reviewed on Yelp)

- Getty Center in West LA
- Griffiths Park train ride

- Pumpkin patch at Underwood Family Farms