Our trip to California was such a treat and something I will never forget. We wanted to take one last big adventure as a family of three before baby brother arrives, and it couldn't have been more perfect. Clark is 2 and deep in his Cars era - and knowing how quickly these phases fly by, we absolutely had to take him to California Adventure's Cars Land to meet all his favorite characters.

Here's our complete 5-day itinerary that was perfectly paced for a toddler (and a very pregnant mama!):

Day 1: Arrival & Settling In

We arrived at night to our Airbnb in Santa Ana, which was perfectly located about 15 minutes from Disneyland. Getting settled the night before made our Disney day so much smoother!

Day 2: Family Time & La Jolla Cove

We drove to visit family just outside of San Diego and took a day trip to the gorgeous La Jolla Cove. This spot was absolutely stunning - with incredible views of the cove, playful sea lions, and plenty of open space for little ones to run around safely. We also stopped at Bobboi Natural Gelato for the most refreshing treat! La Jolla was the perfect low-key day to ease into our California adventure.

Day 3: The Magic of Disneyland!

The day we had all been dreaming of - Disneyland! We got 1-day park hopper passes so we could bounce between Disneyland and California Adventure. While we spent most of our time in California Adventure (Cars Land and characters Clark would recognize), I also wanted that nostalgic Disneyland experience.

We arrived around 9 AM after eating a good breakfast and fueling up with coffee. Watching Clark experience Cars Land was pure magic - he could ride Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters and Mater's Junkyard Jamboree, and Cars Land looked exactly like it stepped out of the movie. He was completely in awe! Getting photos with Lightning McQueen and Mater was the highlight of his entire trip.

Disney with a Toddler Tips:

Bring a cooler in your stroller - Pack iced water and snacks! This was a lifesaver and buying water adds up quickly.
Download the Disneyland app - Everything you need is right there: ride wait times, food ordering, restaurant reservations, and access to photos from park photographers.
AC neck fan is a must - Especially for this 6-month pregnant mama!
Show up extra early for the "Paint the Night Parade" - Get that prime curb spot so your little one can see everything.
Take advantage of park photographers - With how hard it is to get good family photos these days, I asked them for help all day! For about $25, you can download all your photos - so worth it!

Day 4: Newport Beach

We were exhausted after Disney and had a wonderfully late start to recover. After making breakfast at our Airbnb, we headed to Newport Beach for lunch at Rockin' Baja Lobster (2104 W Oceanfront, Newport Beach). This is hands down my favorite seafood spot on the west coast - it definitely satisfied my pregnancy crab and shrimp cravings!

After lunch, we walked to Marina Park (1600 W Balboa Blvd, Newport Beach), which ended up being the absolute gem of our entire trip. Clark was obsessed! This family-friendly beach has a playground, plenty of seating, and sits on a bay so there were no big waves to worry about while Clark played in the water. We spent hours there - it was pure bliss.

Later, we headed to Laguna Beach for family photos with the incredible Simply Adri Photo at Top of the World, which had the most gorgeous views I've ever seen. I'm so grateful to have these precious photos to remember this once-in-a-lifetime trip as a family of three. Of course, we grabbed In-N-Out on the way home!

Day 5: Charming Balboa Island

Our last day was spent exploring Balboa Island, the most adorable little town. You can drive over the bridge or take the ferry to the Balboa Peninsula, which has the "Fun Zone" - an old-school boardwalk with shops, arcade, food, and a Ferris wheel.

We parked on the neighborhood streets of Balboa Island (no time limits!) and wandered the main street exploring the cutest shops and restaurants. My favorites included:

Toastique - Perfect breakfast spot
Sugar and Spice - Andy became their best customer for chocolate-covered bananas
Huskin's Coffee - Great coffee stop
Balboa Candy - Sweet treats galore
Sundance Thrift Shop - Plus they had a retro photo booth outside!

After exploring the island, we took the Balboa Island ferry to check out the Fun Zone. Clark loved riding the ferry and was amazed that cars could fit on the boat too! We spent time at the arcade and grabbed ice cream before heading back.

For our grand finale, we returned to Marina Park. Clark had even more fun the second time since he knew all his favorite playground spots and was more confident in the water. We stayed until sunset, and I couldn't have imagined a better way to wrap up this sweet adventure.

Final Thoughts

This trip was everything we hoped for and more. Seeing California through Clark's eyes, watching him experience Disney magic, and soaking up these last precious moments as a family of three made every moment unforgettable. If you're planning a SoCal trip with toddlers, I hope this itinerary helps you create your own magical memories!

Have questions about any of these spots or want more specific details? Feel free to reach out - I'd love to help you plan your own California adventure!

with love,

Nikki