USA West Coast road trip this March

maggiecon

I would have to agree on the LV comments my partner and I went there last year and although we enjoyed i definetly wouldnt bring my kids there. there are !!!!!! mags for sale in the vending machines instead of newspapers there are billboards everywhere advertising strip clubs and the touts witht the cards for the escort girls are so pushy and in your face.

San Fran is brill. March is too cold for yosemite it will be closed but you could go sking in lake tahoe a little bit further north.

San diego would be ideal for a five year old.

isplumm

mollymunchkin wrote: »

Haha oops. Personally, I can't stand Disney and have no idea what the parks are all called. Makes searching for prices a bit easier if I have the correct park name!

The only thing I would say is that you seem to be planning to do a lot of driving ....

LV - Grand Canyon - LA - SF .... have a look at a map .... we did LA - LV - SF in three weeks back in 2000 & it was hard work. For example it is nearly 500 miles from GC to LA ... it is a days drive .... look at http://usparks.about.com/library/distances/bldistance-losangeles.htm for mileage distances ....

If you drove from LV to LA, you could go through Yosemite .... which has amazing views/ scenery http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/hours.htm ... thought it was amazing ... but be aware the roads twist & turn ... what doesn't look far on map can whole day ... also accommodation goes quickly in the park, so you may need to stay outside.

Mark

jackieblack

isplumm wrote: »

The only thing I would say is that you seem to be planning to do a lot of driving ....

LV - Grand Canyon - LA - SF .... have a look at a map .... we did LA - LV - SF in three weeks back in 2000 & it was hard work. For example it is nearly 500 miles from GC to LA ... it is a days drive .... look at http://usparks.about.com/library/distances/bldistance-losangeles.htm for mileage distances ....

If you drove from LV to LA, you could go through Yosemite .... which has amazing views/ scenery http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/hours.htm ... thought it was amazing ... but be aware the roads twist & turn ... what doesn't look far on map can whole day ... also accommodation goes quickly in the park, so you may need to stay outside.

Mark

We did LV - GC - LA - San Diego last Easter, in two weeks, loved it all and didn't find it too much driving.
We did, however, do the GC - LA bit over two days, giving us time to stop and look at some of the great little places along the Arizona stretch of Route 66, and stayed overnight in Lake Havasu City.

San Diego was our favourite place - DD went surfing and DH went kayaking at La Jolla, we went to Seaworld, USS Midway and had lunch at a diner where some of the scenes from Top Gun were filmed.

Mr_Lahey

jaypr wrote: »

First of all i'd reconsider the Las Vegas part, unless you've already booked.

I'd go San Francisco to LA, but Vegas is for adults. You will not be able to be around the gaming tables or any of the machines with a 5 year old.

Personally, i cant think of a worse place to take a kid.

Jason

My kids love Vegas. There is loads to do in and around Las Vegas for kids.

In terms of LA i can't think of many warse places in the whole of the USA.

Mr_Lahey

isplumm wrote: »

The only thing I would say is that you seem to be planning to do a lot of driving ....

LV - Grand Canyon - LA - SF .... have a look at a map .... we did LA - LV - SF in three weeks back in 2000 & it was hard work. For example it is nearly 500 miles from GC to LA ... it is a days drive .... look at for mileage distances ....

If you drove from LV to LA, you could go through Yosemite .... which has amazing views/ scenery thought it was amazing ... but be aware the roads twist & turn ... what doesn't look far on map can whole day ... also accommodation goes quickly in the park, so you may need to stay outside.

Mark

Driving in the USA is much quicker when on the open roads than the UK. I know you are dying to tell me about the 65 speed limit in most of CA,NV,AZ but there are times it is 75 and you can easily sit at 100mph for a few hours without ever getting bothered.

Maxjessdru

I would also suggest Monterey - really nice town. There is so much wildlife there (the sea otters are brilliant to watch from the pier), you can book whale watching trips (we saw killer whales and grey whales) and the aquarium is one of the best I've been to

merlinormartin

Hey

A few hotels we stayed in along your route..

Disney
We stayed at the Radison in Buena Park; free shuttle to disney, free breakfast and walking distance to Knotts Berry Farm, cinema, shopping and Medieval Times. (seemed very child friendly)

San diego
Loews Coronado Resort; nice hotel but very isolated and probably not suitable for 5 year old.

LA
Sports Mans Lodge; quirky hotel with free shuttle to Universal Studios.
(we also stayed at the Hilton but more suited if flying from LAX)

San Fransisco
Best Western Tuscan Inn good location near Fishermans Wharf.

Death Valley
We stayed at Furnace Creek Ranch during August and LOVE IT! .. although not sure if anything to keep a 5 year old entertained.

Vegas
We stayed at MGM and Mandaly Bay not sure if these are classed as "kid friendly"

Bishop & Yosemite
Have a recomendation for a great hotel in Bishop but dont think u plan to go this route?


If you have any specific questions (price, locations etc) feel free to ask.