Touring holiday to Nevada, California & Arizona

jamtart6

Oohhhh do the Monterey Bay tour its lovvely!! Places of interest around there:
*Monterey - nice but raining when we went so I have a very narrow minded view of the place! (ie. the icecream shop!!)

*Carmel by the sea (clint eastwood was the mayor no less) - just to see the desperate housewives-esque small town with an exclusive shopping centre and THE MOST GORGEOUS beach ever!! (they had it imported !!!)

* Watsonville - nice Hispanic town with lovely murals (worth a drive through)

* Santa Cruz - the wackiest place on the planet but I really love it. If you can drive up to the university there are great views of the pacific, the boardwalk is like being in Grease!! (oohhh pleeeease take me with you!!)

*Capitola, not as nice as Santa Cruz but there is a Macy's there should Mrs Cat need a shopping fix!!

If you can get to Yosemite its really really worth it, its absolutely amazing!

Murphy_The_Cat

Bean_Counter wrote: »

Please let us know how things go, as I am planning to go back to the States to do a similar type of thing, hopefully Spring 2009.

Have a great time (although I don't know if I am brave enough to take the kids.)

I ceratinly will be happy to let you know how I get on.
As for the children. This will be the last time that we can holiday when we want without having to go 'cap in hand' to the school, so we're 'cough ahem' pushing the boat out quite a bit :j

jamtart6 wrote:

Oohhhh do the Monterey Bay tour its lovvely!! Places of interest around there:
*Monterey - nice but raining when we went so I have a very narrow minded view of the place! (ie. the icecream shop!!)

*Carmel by the sea (clint eastwood was the mayor no less) - just to see the desperate housewives-esque small town with an exclusive shopping centre and THE MOST GORGEOUS beach ever!! (they had it imported !!!)

* Watsonville - nice Hispanic town with lovely murals (worth a drive through)

* Santa Cruz - the wackiest place on the planet but I really love it. If you can drive up to the university there are great views of the pacific, the boardwalk is like being in Grease!! (oohhh pleeeease take me with you!!)

*Capitola, not as nice as Santa Cruz but there is a Macy's there should Mrs Cat need a shopping fix!!

If you can get to Yosemite its really really worth it, its absolutely amazing!

We're travelling at the end of April, through May which is why we're majoring on Arizona & san Diego (where it will be a lot warmer) and not doing so much in the more Northern parts of California.
We're also unsur about how keen MTK will be to go to the aquirium after all the other stuff that we've seen/done, but a harbour trip could do very nicely for us.
On this trip, Santa Cruz is merely a place with a hotel thats closeish to the airport for our last night.

jamtart6

aww fair enough - SCruz is crayzee though! I love it!! The last twice I've been to Cali, its been April, once was hot enough to fry on the beach, the other poured for 2 weeks and Yosemite had snow - so very wise to stick to the warmer places ! have fun!!!

t1nk3r_2

Re - 'Pick up next hire car and staying in a villa in San Diego for a week'.

Hello. Your whole trip sounds great. If you don't mind me asking where did you look at booking your villa in San Diego. I am looking to visit the west coast with my wife and our friends and we are trying to keep the cost down by sharing the accommodation (rather than paying for 2 hotel rooms). Any information would be appreciated. Thanks

duchy

We're heading out in the same general direction in july (Yes we're going to fry )
We're putting in a bit of backtracking to fit in certain concerts in Vegas but apart from that I think I've got the route pretty much right-although I'd appreciate any advice
Here#s our provisional trip
Fly to Las Vegas 15 July
15-19 July Orleans 4 nights

19 July Las Vegas toAnaheim 4 hours
19th-22nd July Disneyland 3 nights $462.30 Marriott Townesuite 2 bedroom suite

22 July am Drive Anaheim to Vegas 4 hours
22 July -24th July Las Vegas Orleans 2nts

24 July am drive to Hoover Dam (approx 45 mins) then onwards to Springdale Utah (2.5 hours) Hotel Driftwood Lodge Springdale 3nts

25 July Zion National Park (.5 hr)
26 July Grand Canyon North Rim (2.5 hours) & return
27 July Springdale to Provo (3hr 50m) 2nts $332 Residence Inn 2 bedroom suite

28 July Full day in Provo
29 July Provo to SLC (44 mls) should be able to get a Priceline hotel for around $65
30 July SLC to Park City (30 mls) 2 nights 4 star condo
01 Aug Fly from SLC

I think I've covered everyone's wish list from glitz, themeparks, scenary and fitted in some visits to friends too

magyar

Hi Murph.

My holidays in Cali/Nev have taken me to:

Los Angeles: hmm... you have to see it I suppose. Not really my cup of tea. Anaheim obviously for Disneyland. Santa Monica area is quite nice. I'd steer clear of Venice Beach, again not my cup of tea and not an area for kids. Some of the other beaches are nice though - Manhatten Beach probably my favourite (and if you're there, eat at the Kettle, it's ace).
[have a friend who lives in Marina del Ray, so if you need any specific advice, let me know]

- San Diego. Only really went to the Seaworld, which is a must for kids.

- Monterey. A 'must' for me is breakfast on the pier. Excellent clam chowder there. Perhaps not desparately exciting for kids. Big Sur is... well, a big rock, really. A drive up the PCH is a must, though - it's fabulous scenery

- San Francisco. Not sure if you're going this far, but if you do then the kids would love the harbour boat tours and Alcatraz Island.

- Yosemite. Stunning scenery, I would avoid staying in the park, though, and instead stay at...

- Mammoth Lakes. Great scenery again, mainly a ski resort, but very good for getting cheap rooms off season.

- Las Vegas. You either love it or hate it, and I love it. If you're not a gambler it's the cheapest city in the country. (I always allow myself a little flutter, though). I would always stay on the Strip, not much point if you don't. There are some good outlet malls in Vegas for a little tax-free shopping, too.

wdyw

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

We're also unsur about how keen MTK will be to go to the aquirium

MTK - Murphy_The_Kitten?? Like it!
2 days in LA? now thats a surprise- I thought you would have driven straight through it!

What sort of flight deal did you manage to pick up? I haven't been able to find any AA bargains to the West coast leaving Manchester.

Have a great trip

bina72

t1nk3r wrote: »

Re - 'Pick up next hire car and staying in a villa in San Diego for a week'.

Hello. Your whole trip sounds great. If you don't mind me asking where did you look at booking your villa in San Diego. I am looking to visit the west coast with my wife and our friends and we are trying to keep the cost down by sharing the accommodation (rather than paying for 2 hotel rooms). Any information would be appreciated. Thanks

Hi there!
Have a look at this site www.vrbo.com there are some amazing homes for rent all over the states (especially when you compare what you pay to stay in a holiday cottage in the UK!). Most have great amenities.
I'm hoping to stay somewhere in Utah this summer myself. :T

Murphy_The_Cat

t1nk3r wrote: »

Re - 'Pick up next hire car and staying in a villa in San Diego for a week'.

Hello. Your whole trip sounds great. If you don't mind me asking where did you look at booking your villa in San Diego. I am looking to visit the west coast with my wife and our friends and we are trying to keep the cost down by sharing the accommodation (rather than paying for 2 hotel rooms). Any information would be appreciated. Thanks

Its early days yet, but our first twon sources of accomodation are VRBO and BBonline. As I come across other decent sources, I'll update you.

Duchy, your itinerary looks absolutely splendid.

wdyw wrote:

MTK - Murphy_The_Kitten?? Like it!
2 days in LA? now thats a surprise- I thought you would have driven straight through it!

What sort of flight deal did you manage to pick up? I haven't been able to find any AA bargains to the West coast leaving Manchester.

Have a great trip

& there's MTK2 as well !.
The two days in LA are mainly for a break in the driving from San Diego to San Luis Opisbo. SD to Long Beach is about 100 miles which will give us enough time to do some sandcastling and beachystuff and also allow us time to visit Knotts for a day.
We may just spend the one night here, visit Knotts and then spend a night at Santa Barbara instead (which is a lovely place, plus its got a very family friendly zoo).
Long Beach to San Luis Opisbo is about 210 miles, so a SB night may work out well -- although Mrs Cat has said that she's not keen on the idea of single night stays on the trip.

As for my flight bargain, I've got 4 of us from Man-Ord-Las and SJC (San Jose) - Ord -Man for £1174 - including a paid for seat with luggage allowance for MTK2.
Have you seen my thread about manipulating the AA flight booking computer
plus, if you register with AA, you'll get notified of their 4 day seat sales.

Murphy_The_Cat

magyar wrote: »

Hi Murph.

My holidays in Cali/Nev have taken me to:

Los Angeles: hmm... you have to see it I suppose. Not really my cup of tea. Anaheim obviously for Disneyland. Santa Monica area is quite nice. I'd steer clear of Venice Beach, again not my cup of tea and not an area for kids. Some of the other beaches are nice though - Manhatten Beach probably my favourite (and if you're there, eat at the Kettle, it's ace).
[have a friend who lives in Marina del Ray, so if you need any specific advice, let me know]

- San Diego. Only really went to the Seaworld, which is a must for kids.

- Monterey. A 'must' for me is breakfast on the pier. Excellent clam chowder there. Perhaps not desparately exciting for kids. Big Sur is... well, a big rock, really. A drive up the PCH is a must, though - it's fabulous scenery

- San Francisco. Not sure if you're going this far, but if you do then the kids would love the harbour boat tours and Alcatraz Island.

- Yosemite. Stunning scenery, I would avoid staying in the park, though, and instead stay at...

- Mammoth Lakes. Great scenery again, mainly a ski resort, but very good for getting cheap rooms off season.

- Las Vegas. You either love it or hate it, and I love it. If you're not a gambler it's the cheapest city in the country. (I always allow myself a little flutter, though). I would always stay on the Strip, not much point if you don't. There are some good outlet malls in Vegas for a little tax-free shopping, too.

Hi Magyar

thanks for some really good suggestions, but as you've mentioned in your post, taking the Kittens along complicates things slightly.

I'm finding things to do (actually LOTS of things to do) quite steadily.

If anyone is interested, I've currently lined up
Biplane flight over the Red Rocks from Sedona

A trip on either the Grand Canyon Railway
or the Verde Canyon Railway

Panning for gold in Arizona

Visiting BiospereII

The Pima Air and Space Museum
which will link us in with The Boneyard
and
The Titan Missile museum

& I've only just started looking !!!!

Oh boy oh boy, am I/we going to have fun :j:j:j