Hi all,my wife and I and 2 teenage daughters are just starting to plan our next holiday to California and would appreciate any advice or info about the trip we are trying to do.
We want to visit San Deigo,San Francisco,Los Angeles and stop at some of the coastal cites on the drive in between and maybe finish in Las Vegas if enough time,
Were planning to go for 2 weeks,where is it best to start from,can we only fly directly to Los Angeles,is it safe to drive along the coastal freeway,can we just book a hotel for the first couple of nights and then book as we go.
From what I%26#39;ve read I think we would like to have at least 3 days in San F,
TIA Craig
California trip
Sounds like a wonderful trip.
It really depends on when you are coming if you can just book as you go. For example, summers and holiday periods - I would recommend against doing this. In addition, San Francisco can get busy if there is a major convention or conventions or key event such as Fleet Week in town. As such, its helpful to know when you are planning to come if ok to book as you travel.
Also, it depends when you are coming about finishing in Las Vegas. In the summer many people like this route as they can see Yosemite, Death Valley, and Las Vegas on their travels. The major reason why you cannot do this in the winter is that the Tioga Pass (high elevation) that leads out of Yosemite closes due to snow for about sometime in November until late May or early June. Opening date depends on how much snow we get and how much late in the season. They try to clear as soon as it is practical, but these guidelines are good to use for planning.
It is safe to drive along the coast - this is a combination of Highway 101 and 1 and most find it fine to do. The most beautiful stretch from Cambria to Monterey is the most difficult to drive - its a major highlight to most vacations, but the 90 miles, plan on 3 hours or so for the trip...Longer if you want to get out and enjoy the Big Sur area. Other than that, it is safe.
If you have not been to San Francisco before, 3 days ia a nice number to plan on giving your other activities.
For 2 weeks, I would probably plan the following amount of time:
1) Los Angeles - 4 days
2) San Diego - 2 days
3) Santa Barbara or Pismo Beach 1 day
4) Big Sur/Carmel/Monterey - 1 day
5) San Francisco 3 days
6) Yosemite 1 day
8) Las Vegas 2 days
The backkend as you can see is a bit rushed. You might want to drop off the car in San Francisco and fly to Las Vegas on Southwest Airlines if you want to spend more time in Las Vegas. Or leave Las Vegas for another time.
Have a wonderful time planning and do ask if any questions.
California trip
Hi Mini thanks for the reply were looking at going mid Oct, if we kept to your itinerary would we need a car while we were in Los A and San Fran or can we tour round without one.Is it expensive to park your car in the cities if we hire it when we arrive but don%26#39;t use it.We would probably fly to Vegas but as I suggested before we%26#39;d like to book as we go in case we like some where on the way to SF and would like to stay there longer would that be possible at that time of year.
Thanks Craig
Craig,
Is it possible for you to fly directly into San Diego instead of LA? If you can do that, you won%26#39;t have to backtrack. San Diego is south of LA and Santa Barbara is north of LA.
If you fly into LA, you will drive south for three hours to get to San Diego, then you have to drive back the same route to head back up north. I wouldn%26#39;t want to waste any driving time, seeing the same area twice.
I would suggest you use the (inland) 5 Freeway between LA and San Diego and save your precious driving time for the more scenic coastal areas north of LA.
NOTE: Laguna Beach is a good area to stop in between LA and San Diego. It is a beautiful beach and a lovely town with lots of shops. Definitely head over to the coast to visit Laguna.
The coast in the southern part of California is beautiful, but the wealthy folks have bought up all the coastal land and gated it off. You won%26#39;t see as much of the ocean as you think. You will see houses and big fences for most of the southern portion of the California drive. For some reason the wealthy think they have rights to the beautiful coastal view. It is a sore point with a lot of us living in Southern Calif.
Further up north (once you get near Santa Barbara) the beautiful coast becomes more accessible and more visible.
After visiting San Diego, I would take the 5 freeway to the 101 freeway which will take you out of LA. It will take you up north through Santa Barbara.
Once you leave Santa Barbara, you might want to stop in the Danish town of SOLVANG, Calif (check it out on the Internet)
http://www.solvangusa.com/ or http://www.solvangca.com/
Heading north from Santa Barbara or Solvang, be sure to stop in Cambria. Darling town on the coast.
The drive from Cambria up to Carmel / Monterey is beautiful but very slow going. If anyone if your family doesn%26#39;t like narrow, winding two lane roads along steep cliffs dropping off to the ocean, I wouldn%26#39;t suggest this drive. Make sure everyone is prepared for this portion of the road because once you start up this coast route, you can%26#39;t turn off and go inland (because of the mountains.) You would have to turn around and go all the way back.
Carmel and Monterey are definitely two places you will want to drive through along the coast. The famous 17-mile drive through Carmel is breath-taking.
http://www.pebblebeach.com
http://www.montereyinfo.org/17%20mile%20drive
http://www.beachcalifornia.com/17mile.html
Be sure to take a drive over our famous Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco!
http://goldengatebridge.org
Have fun!
Mid-October can be easier to find lodging. If your family really wants to shop %26amp; do city-type activities, then drop off your car in San Francisco, spend a few days, then fly to Las Vegas. (I love Yosemite, but shopping isn%26#39;t the highlight in this destination!)
Hello Craig-
I have agree completely with the suggestions from LucyLocket---especially the part about taking some time to visit Laguna Beach. It%26#39;s a beautiful place to visit any time of year but October would be a great time to go.
I would suggest visting the Montage resort in South Laguna, then driving north on Pacific Coast Highway a few miles up, stop again at Heisler Park and stroll along the pathways above the ocean and take in all the amazing coastal views!
Santa Barbara is another awesome California treasure that should not be missed!
Have a wonderful time exploring our beautiful state!
Driving up the coast highway is no problem,it will just be like being back in North Wales,make sure to give yourself time to visit Hearst Castle en route(book in advance).
Personally speaking I always book hotels in advance,I know it can deprive you of some flexibility but having travelled that far I%26#39;d rather not waste time trying to find somewhere to stop for the night!
Also parking a car in San Francisco is very expensive,even at your hotel,Alcatraz is a must see %26amp;,again,must be booked in advance.
Thanks all so much to see and not enough time to do it all.Will have to start planning with military precision
Craig
We also love the Laguna Beach area, we have have enjoyed stays at the Casa Laguna Inn, the Montage and the Laguna Reef. The scenery in back of the Montage (across the street from Laguna Reef) is some of the prettiest on the entire CA coast. Let me know if you would like suggestions for places to eat in Laguna, we have several favorites.
Have fun on your trip and with your planning! :)
Many Brits think that once you%26#39;ve been to Orlando you%26#39;ve seen America,we%26#39;ve been touring the West for years %26amp; still haven%26#39;t seen all we want to see,it is enormous %26amp; there is so much to see,besides the cities there are so many beautiful natural sites,try Yosemite,Death Valley,Sequoia NP,Catalina,Grand Canyon,Monument Valley,the list is endless,you will soon find that 2 weeks just is not enough,start planning for many more visits!
Craig, might also be worth thinking about flying into San Francisco if you cut Yosemite. (Virgin from Heathrow)
You could then spend time after SF going south down the coastal route to LA and on to San Diego. You could then cut inland to Death Valley and Las Vegas.
Only issue would be that you%26#39;d then have to take a domestic flight to LA in readiness your return flight or face up to the return flight from Vegas going into Gatwick.
We have booked a trip for March going into SF and home out of LV as we are using a taxi for our UK transfers anyway - the Heathrow/Gatwick conundrum was solved that way for us
Hope that helps with one aspect of the trip decisions
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