HELP! California road trip advice needed

jackieblack

Kel wrote: »

Our flights are all booked and some of you will be pleased to hear that we changed our minds at the last minute and have scrapped Vegas (due to how hot it would be, I've been to vegas before and wouldn't have a problem taking my kids there otherwise) so have 3 nights to us up elsewhere. ?

I think that's a good call (I don't think the smell of melting eyeballs adds much to a holiday )
Where are you flying home from now?

Kel_3

We are flying home from LA now (so into SF and out of LA)

Crispy_Ambulance

We stayed at Curry Camp in a tent cabin in Yosemite valley. It was expensive ($150 per night) but it was well equipped (for a tent!) and it was wonderful to wake up in the valley. The tents sleep 5, I think.

San Francisco is expensive for accommodation. Look at staying on Lombard Street as we found it more reasonable (and nicer) than Union Square or Fisherman's Wharf. The public transport is great so you won't need a car in SF.

Murphy_The_Cat

John259 wrote: »

That's a superb suggestion.

Can I ask - what would the kittens recommend to the OP's offspring?

Hello John

without knowing Kels children, its always difficult to recommend things, however, IIRC, this is what they were looking for from the Californian trip (in no particular order).
Hotel with pool
Hotel with hot tub
Time with us
Going to baseball
Going to Aquirium
Going to winery (don't ask )
Going on Amtrak
visiting plane and/or ship museum
whale watching
not spending all day driving (although they were OK with some long trips, juts not every day)
beach time.
Farmers Market
Rugby training at a Californian Club
Home made Ice Cream
Mini golf
Car racing
Drive in movies
Cable car
small scale fun park (no interest in Disneyness)
Legoland
Eating outdoors
State Park
Seeing some wildlife
Frying an egg on the bonnet of the car (we went to California via Death Valley)
Santa Barbara Zoo.
Hiring bikes
Playing with a rugby ball in a park.
Having fun.

In short, they wanted us to do things together as a family, they don't have much interest in 'big ticket' attractions.

John259

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

without knowing Kels children, its always difficult to recommend things

Very true - but what an interesting list. Thanks for posting.

EssexExile

If you want more low key stuff, Knott's Berry Farm was fun last time I was in the Anaheim.

gracie10

We have booked to go back again next year. Think we are out there the same time as you. We go August 6- 22nd.
We did Yosemite on our first trip. It's so beautiful, we stayed at Camp curry to.
We used Hotwire to book our hotel in San Fran as they were coming in so expensive. Have used them again for San Diego next year to.
If you need anymore tips then just ask

jackieblack

Kel wrote: »

We are flying home from LA now (so into SF and out of LA)

I which case, SD need not be your last stop, as you've got to drive back to LA anyway you could, if you prefer, do LA/SD/Anaheim.
LAX is not far from Santa Monica IIRC

We drove from San Fran to Yosemite and then to Monterey, stayed 2 nights at Pismo Beach then to Ventura (for 6 flags) then that was the year the volcano erupted in Iceland and we got an unexpected extra 8 bonus days in Anaheim/Long Beach before flying home


We had done LA and San Diego the previous year on a separate trip. SD is on my list of places to go back to (once I've visited the other 29 states I have got to yet )

The USS Midway (in SD) is worth a visit (http://www.midway.org/ )
We also had lunch at the Kansas City BBQ restaurant nearby where several scenes in Top Gun were filmed (but maybe you need to be of a certain age to appreciate this )

graham73

You'll have a fantastic time and you'll be there about the same time as us. I'll give you a wave if I see you passing by

As others have said, I'd spend less time in LA and more in other places. I can take or leave LA, I've never got the appeal of it personally. If you've never been to LA, it's of course a must visit place. Disney is amazing, not matter how many times you've been. On the other hand, I love SF and it's surrounding areas. If the Mrs would allow, I'd look into moving there, it's perfect for me.

Death Valley and Yosemite are great but if you're heading from LA to Vegas, it's a long drive. Ideally you want to go from SF to Vegas and go via Yosemite and Death Valley then on to Vegas.

Vegas is fine with kids, not for long but there's things to see; most of the hotels have things going on outside, there's malls, shows and of course the pool to hang out in. Grand Canyon is a long drive. Is a helicopter tour a possibility? We're flying in and out of Vegas and are spending a few days here again with our daughter. She loved it last time and can't wait to go back, mainly because of the swimming pools!

Santa Cruz Boardwalk is a great day out for the kids, just across the bay from Monterey. The Lost Boys was filmed there, if you remember that one?

Whatever you end up doing, you'll have a great time.

jackieblack

graham73 wrote: »

Death Valley and Yosemite are great but if you're heading from LA to Vegas, it's a long drive. Ideally you want to go from SF to Vegas and go via Yosemite and Death Valley then on to Vegas.

Per post 26 kel's skipping LV this trip now