Soon, my husband and I will be escaping the snow and cold for a few days of what we hope to be sun and warmth.  We’ll be cruising on the Carnival Splendor on her second cruise back after repairs from last fall’s fire and engine failure.  But before we set sail, we’ll have a bit of time to spend in Los Angeles.

What are a couple of parents, on a rare vacation without kids, going to do in LA?  Truth be told, we’re not quite sure.  And that’s where we need your help.

Here are the basics:

• We’ll be arriving in LA in the early afternoon Friday and will also have Saturday free.
• We’re a pretty good driving/navigating team and have mastered driving in Chicago, yet we don’t enjoy traffic and would like to avoid the worst of it if possible.
• We’re flying into LAX, our hotel is near the airport, and our cruise leaves from the Long Beach Terminal.
• We enjoy a scenic drive much more than a drive across a city.

So, what should we do?  Ideas that have crossed our minds are dinner on a pier or beachfront somewhere (suggestions appreciated); visiting Universal Studios; driving up to Malibu and maybe Santa Barbara; and visiting the Ronald Reagan Library and Museum in Simi Valley.

To throw a monkey-wrench in things, there’s rain forecast for our days in California.  Does sunny LA tend to have short showers, or should we expect all-day rains, changing our plans accordingly?  And what should we do in LA if it’s raining?

California experts, please give us your best ideas.  We’re all ears!

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