Need LA help please!

ADisneyFamilyof5 · Jun 27, 2015

Hi all! I am in the early stages of planning a big road trip for my fam next (late) April. Trying to figure it out so I can tell hubby the approx budget. From Portland we will head to Yosemite, then Disneyland (the main reason of our trip), San Francisco then finally head home. My kids have never been to SF and nobody from our family has been to Yosemite. So here are my questions:

1. We are not big outdoors people, but I feel like we can't miss this opportunity to stop at Yosemite. Any suggestions for must go to places for us with a 8, 6 & 2 year old? Thinking of staying at Housekeeping camp because we have never (and probably will never camp).

2. Very interested in taking the kids to an old Gold Country town so they can pan for gold (just for fun). I want one that is not far off our path of Portland to Yosemite using I5. Suggestions?

3. I want to take the kids to La Brea tar pits and the Natural history museum (big dino fans) and possibly Griffith park & walk of fame. Should I stay a night or two in LA, or make Anaheim my home base and drive up for LA day trip?

4. The boys requested a day trip to a beach. We have only ever been to San Diego. Should I take them to Huntington? Or I could add that if we stay in LA and go to Santa Monica.

Thanks for the help!

Disney Kidd · Jun 27, 2015

It would be a long day to fit the tar pits, natural history museum, griffith park, and walk of fame - especially with the unpredictable LA traffic. It could be done maybe if you just visit the tar pits, but skip the Page Museum. The Walk of Fame is cool and if you're already in the area I would suggest visiting the Chinese Grauman theatre with the handprints and footprints in cement. The mall that is attached is very cool and home to the Dolby Theatre (where the Oscar's are filmed). Parking in the mall is really cheap!

sheetz · Jun 27, 2015

It's easier to stay at least one night in LA on the way down to do all the stuff you want to do before heading to Anaheim. Otherwise you'll be wasting a lot of time backtracking.

ADisneyFamilyof5 · Jun 27, 2015

Disney Kidd said:
It would be a long day to fit the tar pits, natural history museum, griffith park, and walk of fame - especially with the unpredictable LA traffic. It could be done maybe if you just visit the tar pits, but skip the Page Museum. The Walk of Fame is cool and if you're already in the area I would suggest visiting the Chinese Grauman theatre with the handprints and footprints in cement. The mall that is attached is very cool and home to the Dolby Theatre (where the Oscar's are filmed). Parking in the mall is really cheap!

Ok, I could do one day museum stuff and one day of Hollywood stuff. Thanks for the advice and the parking info!

sheetz said:
It's easier to stay at least one night in LA on the way down to do all the stuff you want to do before heading to Anaheim. Otherwise you'll be wasting a lot of time backtracking.

Thats what I was thinking, Just trying to avoid another hotel move, Thank you!

Disney Kidd · Jun 27, 2015

ADisneyFamilyof5 said:
Ok, I could do one day museum stuff and one day of Hollywood stuff. Thanks for the advice and the parking info!

Thats what I was thinking, Just trying to avoid another hotel move, Thank you!

You're welcome! It's the Hollywood and Highland Mall. It's only $2 to park for 2 hours with validation. From there you can see the Walk of Fame, Grauman's Chinese Theatre, and Dolby Theatre.

theluckyrabbit · Jun 28, 2015

And across the street from the H&H Center is Disney's El Capitan Theatre and the Ghirardelli Soda Fountain. So, depending on what's playing when you visit, a movie and a sundae might be fun. The El Capitan has been nicely restored and has live organ music for certain showings.

GoBears 1980 · Jun 28, 2015

ADisneyFamilyof5 said:
1. We are not big outdoors people, but I feel like we can't miss this opportunity to stop at Yosemite. Any suggestions for must go to places for us with a 8, 6 & 2 year old? Thinking of staying at Housekeeping camp because we have never (and probably will never camp).

In April you could still have snow in Yosemite. I'd opt for the Lodge at Yosemite Falls instead.

ADisneyFamilyof5 said:
2. Very interested in taking the kids to an old Gold Country town so they can pan for gold (just for fun). I want one that is not far off our path of Portland to Yosemite using I5. Suggestions?

Here is a resource on gold panning, but again, in April, they may not be open yet because the water is going to be very, very cold as it is direct snow runoff.

http://www.goldfeverprospecting.com/gopainsoandn.html

I'd consider panning for gold in Knott's Berry Farm instead.

ADisneyFamilyof5 said:
3. I want to take the kids to La Brea tar pits and the Natural history museum (big dino fans) and possibly Griffith park & walk of fame. Should I stay a night or two in LA, or make Anaheim my home base and drive up for LA day trip?

I'd drop the Natural History Museum and just do the Page Museum & the tar pits followed by the Farmer's Market. The Hollywood Walk of Fame gets very old, very fast. The garage at Hollywood & Highland is only cheap for 2 hours, then it is $1 every 15 minutes until you hit the max of $15 a day. I think you'd be able to see the Chinese Theater, the Egyptian and El Capitan theaters and enough of the WOF in 2 hours, but be aware it doesn't stay cheap after 2 hours.

What do you want to see in Griffith Park? The Observatory or the trains, carousel, etc?

ADisneyFamilyof5 said:
4. The boys requested a day trip to a beach. We have only ever been to San Diego. Should I take them to Huntington? Or I could add that if we stay in LA and go to Santa Monica.Thanks for the help!

For beach I'd find Newport Beach at the Balboa Pier better for young kids than Huntington Beach.

I don't see a need to spend a night in LA unless you want to split the drive to SF.

How are you driving from LA to SF? How much time do you have allotted for it?

ADisneyFamilyof5 · Jun 28, 2015

GoBears 1980 said:
In April you could still have snow in Yosemite. I'd opt for the Lodge at Yosemite Falls instead.

Snow in April? Hmm... I just don't know about Yosemite. Maybe we will save this for a summer trip.

GoBears 1980 said:
I'd consider panning for gold in Knott's Berry Farm instead.

You can pan for gold at Knott's?!?! Awesome! I was debating adding that to our plans. My oldest son loves roller coasters so I may have just add it!

GoBears 1980 said:
I'd drop the Natural History Museum and just do the Page Museum & the tar pits followed by the Farmer's Market. The Hollywood Walk of Fame gets very old, very fast. The garage at Hollywood & Highland is only cheap for 2 hours, then it is $1 every 15 minutes until you hit the max of $15 a day. I think you'd be able to see the Chinese Theater, the Egyptian and El Capitan theaters and enough of the WOF in 2 hours, but be aware it doesn't stay cheap after 2 hours.

What do you want to see in Griffith Park? The Observatory or the trains, carousel, etc?

We really want to go to the Natural History Museum because my boys LOVE dinosaurs and the Tar Pits/Page Museum only have mammals. I wan't planing on too much time to see the Walk of Fame/Chinese Theater, etc. I thought we could do that along with dinner the evening we drive down. I just thought Griffith park for fun. The carousel & trains sounds fun, we have an Oregon Zoo membership so we get into the LA Zoo for 1/2 price and that is where the Hollywood sign is. But I am not set on going to Griffith park.

GoBears 1980 said:
For beach I'd find Newport Beach at the Balboa Pier better for young kids than Huntington Beach.

I don't see a need to spend a night in LA unless you want to split the drive to SF.

How are you driving from LA to SF? How much time do you have allotted for it?

Thanks for the Newport Beach advice! We are very flexible with which beach we visit, so I am going to look into that. I am thinking of spending the night in LA on the way down. With all the things we want to do, and having an unpredictable 2 year old, I figure we will have more time to do things by staying in LA.

bcla · Jun 28, 2015

ADisneyFamilyof5 said:
Hi all! I am in the early stages of planning a big road trip for my fam next (late) April. Trying to figure it out so I can tell hubby the approx budget. From Portland we will head to Yosemite, then Disneyland (the main reason of our trip), San Francisco then finally head home. My kids have never been to SF and nobody from our family has been to Yosemite. So here are my questions:

1. We are not big outdoors people, but I feel like we can't miss this opportunity to stop at Yosemite. Any suggestions for must go to places for us with a 8, 6 & 2 year old? Thinking of staying at Housekeeping camp because we have never (and probably will never camp).

2. Very interested in taking the kids to an old Gold Country town so they can pan for gold (just for fun). I want one that is not far off our path of Portland to Yosemite using I5. Suggestions?

3. I want to take the kids to La Brea tar pits and the Natural history museum (big dino fans) and possibly Griffith park & walk of fame. Should I stay a night or two in LA, or make Anaheim my home base and drive up for LA day trip?

4. The boys requested a day trip to a beach. We have only ever been to San Diego. Should I take them to Huntington? Or I could add that if we stay in LA and go to Santa Monica.

Thanks for the help!

Housekeeping is really roughing it. It like a concrete bunker with a curtain for a front door. It's pretty close to tent camping. I believe you'll need to bring you own sleeping bags or maybe rent a sleep sack. It's also going to be somewhat chilly overnight in April. Snow in Yosemite Valley is unlikely in April and if there is it will be light.

As far as gold panning, would a simulation work? There's the Pioneer Village in Folsom near the American River.

http://www.historicfolsom.org/198Wool-2/

GoBears 1980 · Jun 28, 2015

I spent many an Easter skiing in Yosemite.
http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/april.htm
http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/april.htm

bcla · Jun 28, 2015

GoBears 1980 said:
I spent many an Easter skiing in Yosemite.
http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/april.htm

In Yosemite Valley though? And in this drought? Badger Pass closed this year in January due to lack of snow.

GoBears 1980 · Jun 28, 2015

Yeah, but the Valley is still 4,000 feet high.....

sheetz · Jun 28, 2015

Don't forget El Nino is expected this winter.

GoBears 1980 · Jun 29, 2015

sheetz said:
Don't forget El Nino is expected this winter.

Which means more snow doesn't it?

bcla · Jun 29, 2015

ADisneyFamilyof5 said:
Snow in April? Hmm... I just don't know about Yosemite. Maybe we will save this for a summer trip.

If you're mainly sticking to Yosemite Valley, then you'll be fine. The high country might not be accessible, but the Valley floor should be OK. It's a good time to visit, with small crowds.

GoBears 1980 · Jul 2, 2015

bcla said:
If you're mainly sticking to Yosemite Valley, then you'll be fine. The high country might not be accessible, but the Valley floor should be OK. It's a good time to visit, with small crowds.

As I said in my post and as the National Park Service says in the link below, it could snow, tire chains could be required. It isn't common and might not be likely, but it can not be ignored as a possibility.

http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/april.htm

Carstairs38 · Jul 4, 2015

We are currently having a drought, but that's no guarantee what the winter will bring next year.

I would recommend hitting San Francisco on your way down. If you go to Yosemite, then LA, then back up to SF, that's a lot of backtracking for no real reason. And trust me, it's a long drive. Like 8 hours. I do it all the time myself. You'd be better off visiting there and then Yosemite, and then coming down to Southern California and flying home from here.

abayaflowers · Jul 4, 2015

sheetz said:
Don't forget El Nino is expected this winter.

Yes, that's what the local weather people are saying. Since we live in the Santa Cruz Mountains and had a terrible drought, the El Nino will bring heavy, heavy rains. So, we are preparing our area. We live among the Redwood Tree forest and have to be careful of the "widow-makers" and the dead trees from this past drought season.

We have many oaks suffering from the deadly oak disease, too.

So, traveling should not be an issue unless you want to take a 4x4 adventure

Just watch the weather www.wunderground.com.

You will be good.

Need LA help please!

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