Vegas -> DLR -> SFO Need Suggestions!

[ninecrayons]

I've been throwing around the idea of a summer trip with the BFF that would involve going from Vegas, to Disneyland, then up to SFO and home.

I'm imagining we'd fly from where we are in Florida to Vegas, then drive to DLR and then up to SFO. I've always wanted to do the Pacific Coast drive so that would be amazing.

I have a few questions:

1. Has anyone ever done anything similar? How did it go for you? Thoughts or suggestions welcome.

2. We will likely be staying on property at DLR. Any hotel suggestions?

3. We did SFO many years ago for a long weekend and mostly just did tourist stuff like Fisherman's Wharf, Ghiradelli, etc. We want to go to the Disney Family museum and are open to any other suggestions.

We'll likely be going in June or early July since I'll be out of school.

Thanks!

 

[bcla]

3. We did SFO many years ago for a long weekend and mostly just did tourist stuff like Fisherman's Wharf, Ghiradelli, etc. We want to go to the Disney Family museum and are open to any other suggestions.

We'll likely be going in June or early July since I'll be out of school.

Thanks!

The Presidio itself is pretty fascinating. The Main Post (where the WDFM is) is a pretty nice place to just take a stroll. Crissy Field has a pretty nice area where it's been turned into a wetland.

I'd suggest Marin County. Sausalito is a really charming place. Maybe also the Marin Headlands (Conzumel Drive has spectacular views), Muir Woods, Stinson Beach, and/or Point Reyes. I personally love lighthouses, and there's the Point Reyes Lighthouse as well as Point Bonita Lighthouse in the Marin Headlands. However, access is an issue. You'll need to walk either place. Point Reyes has several hundred steps down. Point Bonita has one heck of a hike (and lots of poison oak along the trail) that ends with a spectacular and somewhat scary bridge.

 

[gatorfreud]

No advice since we usually just drive on I5 - not scenic! Making a hwy 101/1 road trip this summer but haven;t yet! We did spend Thanksgiving in Carpinteria (just south of Santa Barbara) and it was super cute.

Just wanted to say, June and July can be downright COLD here in SF. Esp. if you are from FL (I moved here from there 13 years ago). Like really cold, maybe in the low 60's even high 50s in parts of the city. So make sure to dress in layers. You very likely will not be wearing shorts here so bring pants! (Shorts for other parts of the trip, and even if you go outside the city like to Napa).

One year a few years ago we were camping about 2 hours north of SF. When we left there, 102 degrees. Coming across the golden gate bridge it was 63. Brrr. This was in July. Don't be one of the tourists shivering in shorts with their cheap SF Fleece jacket on that they bought at the wharf!

Kim

 

[bcla]

No advice since we usually just drive on I5 - not scenic! Making a hwy 101/1 road trip this summer but haven;t yet! We did spend Thanksgiving in Carpinteria (just south of Santa Barbara) and it was super cute.

Just wanted to say, June and July can be downright COLD here in SF. Esp. if you are from FL (I moved here from there 13 years ago). Like really cold, maybe in the low 60's even high 50s in parts of the city. So make sure to dress in layers. You very likely will not be wearing shorts here so bring pants! (Shorts for other parts of the trip, and even if you go outside the city like to Napa).

Not scenic. I beg to differ. Miles and miles of scenic farmland. Thousands and thousands of cattle. It's scenic in it's own special way.

I wouldn't say it will necessarily be cold or warm. What you do get are lots of little "microclimates" and rapidly changing weather conditions. I remember once taking a day off from work and going to Point Reyes with my wife. We went to the lighthouse that I mentioned. It was a beautiful day with absolutely clear visibility and no wind. But the visibility was clear up to the rolling fog about 3 miles off the shore. It was almost like a solid wall of fog, and within minutes it had hit us and the temps had gone down about 10 deg F. By that time we were at the top of the stairs and could barely see where the lighthouse was. Dressing in layers helps a lot with dealing with cold conditions that suddenly heat up when the fog or cloud layer clears.

 

[rpbert1]

WE did the scenic route from SF to LA, and like PP i would go the highway, as its a long long drive, maybe do a few hours on tyhe scenic route before going on the highway, as i found after a while driving you never even noticed the views, just my opinion.

As with San Fran, we where there in early Aug, and had come prepared for the climate, first day was nice Tshirts not shorts, next day was cooler again, and our last day started with sunshine and quite warm till about early morning 11 oclock, then it changed, had jumpers /coats etc on still cold and the damp with the sea mist , we where all freezing, so go prepared lol

 

[RSWA2]

1. Has anyone ever done anything similar? How did it go for you? Thoughts or suggestions welcome.

2. We will likely be staying on property at DLR. Any hotel suggestions?

3. We did SFO many years ago for a long weekend and mostly just did tourist stuff like Fisherman's Wharf, Ghiradelli, etc. We want to go to the Disney Family museum and are open to any other suggestions.

1. As other PP have said, the drive along the coast is long and curvy, so if you get carsick, it may happen. But it is nice, you can stop along Santa Monica, Monterrey, Santa Cruz, Half Moon Bay, lots of small ocean side towns between the LA and SF area.

2. Staying on property? You have 3 options, Disneyland Hotal, Paradise Pier, Grand Californian. Each have pros and cons. I think most posters here will suggest an offsite, to save money.

3. You can check out Golden Gate park, there are plenty of paths, museums to look at, you can rent bikes, go to Chinatown, Union Square, city hall.

But, prepare for any weather in SF, it may be warm in the mid morning to early afternoon, then cool and windy, especially after the sun sets and the breeze comes in from the ocean.