4th of July

[itJeff]

Hi all,

I've lurked (on and off) these boards for several years. My family has been to DW twice. My wife and I have 3 girls ages 4, 6 & 10.

This summer we're going to California to see some family. I'm trying to determine where to spend the day of the 4th. San Francisco area, or Disneyland?
What are the crowds normally like in DL? Anyone experienced the fireworks in SF, are they as good/better than DL?

We plan to spend a few days around SF (see the bridge, redwoods, etc.) and a few days in southern CA to visit with some family and do other stuff. We just don't know which order... Any suggestions? Thanks!

 

[PinkBudgie]

I don't think anyone does fireworks as good as Disney. That said, I've heard the park is VERY crowded on the 4th, and you can see the fireworks on a different night. I went after NYE to DLR this year and it was so packed, you really could barely move anywhere. Fast passes went quickly and even things that are normally not very crowded in the summer had long lines. If it was me, I'd go to DLR on a different day.

I'm about a 45 min to hour's drive from SF but I've never seen the fireworks there. I've only see the ones at the fairgrounds, but usually we just do our own in the front yard, so I can't really say much about that.

PS- a good redwoods park is Armstrong Grove. They have hiking but if you don't want to hike they have lots of wide, flat trails that you can wander and they highlight trees of interest. Also, easy parking, and picknic tables. I like it better than Muir Woods. If we are going to have a picnic, that is where we go. We have taken our boys there when they were little and they really liked it then too.

 

[GrandBob]

Sorry PinkBudgie, I have to disagree with you about the redwoods. I would definitely go to Muir Woods. Yes, they get crowded in the summer; but it's a great place to see redwoods close to SF. I've been to Armstrong and wasn't impressed.

I'd combine a couple hours at Muir Woods with a drive up to the top of Mt. Tam. On a clear day, you can see all the way to the Sierra Nevada. And killer views of the whole Bay Area. Of course, if it's an overcast day, skip it.

-Bob

 

[itJeff]

Thanks for the advice! We'll probably go to SF first, then the southern area the next week.

So, we had heard that to see the really BIG redwoods we would have to drive as far north as Eureka. Is that true? It is worth it?

We have a couple of WDW tickets from 2001 that have one day (park hopper) left on them. We thought of using them while we were in the DL area. Does anyone know if they will still honor them? I know at the time they were good for any Disney park, but don't want to get there and find out we'd have to shell out more $$.

 

[GrandBob]

So, we had heard that to see the really BIG redwoods we would have to drive as far north as Eureka. Is that true? It is worth it?

Well, there's tall, and there's omigosh tall. I think even the ones in Muir Woods get close to the latter.

From the Muir Woods web site:

The tallest coastal redwood at Muir Woods is about 258 feet, approximately the height of a six-foot person stacked head to toe 45 times. Further north, these trees can reach heights up to 379 feet.

From my experience, when you're standing at the bottom and looking up, it's hard to tell the difference between 258 feet and 379 feet. But yes, if you want to see the tallest ones, you have to go a few hundred miles north.

-Bob

 

[LuLusApple]

You want redwoods, come to my neck of the (red) woods LOL Mendocino county. North of SF about 2.5 hours up hwy 1 thru mendo coastline and BAM
Gigantor trees. We are the redwood empire

 

[PinkBudgie]

Sorry PinkBudgie, I have to disagree with you about the redwoods. I would definitely go to Muir Woods. Yes, they get crowded in the summer; but it's a great place to see redwoods close to SF. I've been to Armstrong and wasn't impressed.

I'd combine a couple hours at Muir Woods with a drive up to the top of Mt. Tam. On a clear day, you can see all the way to the Sierra Nevada. And killer views of the whole Bay Area. Of course, if it's an overcast day, skip it.

-Bob

Then we will have to agree to disagree. I was not impressed with Muir Woods. It was crowded and we couldn't even find a place to park. We had to park way down along the side of some street and walk a ways in.

Amstrong is better for children in my opinion. You can park in a lot just feet outside the gate and walk in for free, or pay to drive in and park in front of a picnic table. And if you want tall trees, the tallest at Armstrong is The Parson Jones Tree at 310ft tall. The oldest tree is over 1400 years old.
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=450

So, no, you don't have to drive all the way to Eureka, just to Guerneville.

Anyway, you can go to the websites of both and see which seems best for your family, if either.

About the WDW tickets, there was a thread about this topic just a little while ago. Look back one or two pages and you should see it. I don't have any knowledge about that so I won't try to answer.

 

[GrandBob]

Then we will have to agree to disagree. I was not impressed with Muir Woods. It was crowded and we couldn't even find a place to park. We had to park way down along the side of some street and walk a ways in.

Agreed

I guess we all have our bad experiences. Mine was at Armstrong. My (then) GF and I stayed there for the night before backpacking into Austin Creek. All I remember was a bunch of obnoxious people in large motor homes making tons of noise all night, and running their headlights at 1 AM so they could park. And Austin Creek is pretty uninteresting -- all just dry grassland type area.

But my main reason to suggest Muir Woods is just proximity to SF. Armstrong would be an all-day thing. In the same time frame, the OP and family could tour Muir Woods for 1/2 day, and spend the other 1/2 day at Mt Tam, which has spectacular views. IMNSHO, a much better use of the day. But I certainly respect your differing opinion

-Bob