California Dreamin'

itsanne

My head is going round in circles, so I'd appreciate viewpoints before booking flights tomorrow (last day of BA sale).

We're going to Palm Springs for three weeks from mid November to early December. PS accommodation begins and ends on Fridays. As flights will be the biggest cost, it makes sense to do more than that while we're over there, so we're planning to spend another 1-2 weeks elsewhere. We've thought of several possibilities, hence going round in circles, but are open to other suggestions.

Possibility 1 (These are not in any particular order.)
Fly to San Francisco, spend a few days there and then slowly make our way over to PS via Yosemite NP. That would be our first choice at a different time of year, but November isn't ideal. We've been to both SF and Yosemite before (35 years ago!). We might then finish with a couple of days in Los Angeles before flying back from LAX.

Possibility 2
Fly to Las Vegas and back from LA. To be honest, Las Vegas doesn't appeal, but we would like to visit Grand Canyon and from the MSE sticky there are other places to go from there, so it's under consideration.

Possibility 3
Fly to or from San Diego, with LA at the other end.

Possibility 4
Fly LA in both directions.

Help!

blindman

Look at the SouthWest USA and West Coast thread for ideas

I would have thought at that time op the year sating furthest south would be better (warmer!)

Phoenix\Tuscon\Sedonna?

Good Web-site

Southwest USA

headpin

You may find that Yosemite is getting a bit chilly in November and that not all of the entrances to the park are still open. Yosemite can be driven in a day from SF, but it's a longish way and really you need an overnight on the way there. You should allow at least a couple of days in the park which also means paying the ££££ (perhaps that should be $$$$$) that they charge for accommodation at the location. Probably a bit fresh for camping!!! The Grand Canyon will also be getting the worse for wear on the weather front too at that time of the year. If you do want to go there and do not want to go via LV then think about Phoenix.


At that time of the year I would look at staying further south and the SD option in or out looks the best bet. There is enough to do coming up from SD towards LA to keep you amused for a week or so. Enjoy.

Alan_Bowen

The fares will probably be lowest to LAX, highest is always to LAS. As others have said go south for the better weather, I have been to San Diego in November when the weather has been excellent, you could drive north to Santa Barbara but much further north and the weather could be very uncertain. Palm Springs is great year round and it is a relatively easy drive to San Diego or any of the towns north along the coast. You may even see me there, try Humphreys Half Moon Inn on Shelter Drive if you need accommodation. They usually have off season rates around $125 a room

jackieblack

Alan_Bowen wrote: »

The fares will probably be lowest to LAX, highest is always to LAS. As others have said go south for the better weather, I have been to San Diego in November when the weather has been excellent, you could drive north to Santa Barbara but much further north and the weather could be very uncertain. Palm Springs is great year round and it is a relatively easy drive to San Diego or any of the towns north along the coast. You may even see me there, try Humphreys Half Moon Inn on Shelter Drive if you need accommodation. They usually have off season rates around $125 a room

We stayed at Humphrey's Half Moon Inn and loved it

cubegame

Don't get hung up on the BA sale and think of booking so early. Long experience has shown that their sale is rather fake and better prices will be certainly be available on tickets later in the year (1 or 2 months before you depart).

Backbiter

jackieblack wrote: »

We stayed at Humphrey's Half Moon Inn and loved it

So did we. It's a great place. It helped that there were two gigs on when we were there, by George Thorogood and the Destroyers, and Earth Wind and Fire. We had a first-floor room overlooking the stage so got to watch both concerts for free.

itsanne

Thanks everyone. OH is very keen to go back to Yosemite despite my weather warnings, and friends who haven't been before have decided to join us! I wish he'd been more forthcoming about it before I did all the research :cool:!

We've ended up deciding to fit in both a loop north from LA, including San Francisco, Yosemite, Las Vegas and Grand Canyon before collapsing in exhaustion when we hit Palm Springs, and also some time in San Diego. We're planning on 10 days for the loop and will vary it if the weather looks too bad. The complication now is having to pack for all seasons! Bread and water beckons.

zagfles

itsanne wrote: »

Thanks everyone. OH is very keen to go back to Yosemite despite my weather warnings, and friends who haven't been before have decided to join us! I wish he'd been more forthcoming about it before I did all the research :cool:!

We've ended up deciding to fit in both a loop north from LA, including San Francisco, Yosemite, Las Vegas and Grand Canyon before collapsing in exhaustion when we hit Palm Springs, and also some time in San Diego. We're planning on 10 days for the loop and will vary it if the weather looks too bad. The complication now is having to pack for all seasons! Bread and water beckons.

How would get from Yosemite to Las Vegas - you realise the Tioga pass (the road east from Yosemite towards Mono Lake) will probably be closed? You'd have to double back on yourselves and head south back towards Bakersfield/LA to get round the Sierra Nevada. You'll likely have a lot of snow around the Grand Canyon too and the roads in the area - it's very high up there. We were in the area in November time and it was very snowy (Bryce Canyon looks great in the snow though!).

roonaldo

Are you able to drive? the drive up/down highway 1 is pretty spectacular.

itsanne

zagfles wrote: »

How would get from Yosemite to Las Vegas - you realise the Tioga pass (the road east from Yosemite towards Mono Lake) will probably be closed? You'd have to double back on yourselves and head south back towards Bakersfield/LA to get round the Sierra Nevada. You'll likely have a lot of snow around the Grand Canyon too and the roads in the area - it's very high up there. We were in the area in November time and it was very snowy (Bryce Canyon looks great in the snow though!).

Thanks for the feedback. We've been warned that the Tioga pass might be closed, but also advised that it might not be. (We're going at the beginning of November.) As well as fingers crossed we'll have a Plan B which misses out part of the trip and a Plan C which will be completely different. We're allowing 12 days for that part of our stay so there's scope for alterations.


Roonaldo, yes we'll be driving. We're planning Highway 1. We managed to get about half way between SF and LA (from the SF end) many, many years ago.