Disneyland and CA route 1 trip

[kniquy]

We are planning our first CA trip. We hope to have 2 weeks but coming from the East coast at least 2 days are just travel. We want at least 5 days at DL towards the end of our trip. It maybe our one and only DL trip so we want to take it slow and soak it up.
Has anyone done a similar trip? Any tips?
Where would you fly into?
any must do stops on that route and around DL?

if you had one trip to DL what is one thing you would have to see or do?

 

[dieumeye]

Other than Disneyland, what are you looking to get out of your visit - what kind of stuff do you like doing? California is huge and there’s a huge variety of stuff, so narrowing your focus/likes would help with advice. Some things to consider:

-Nature related: sequoias/redwoods, desert, hiking, beach.

-History related: old west, ghost towns, gold rush, Spanish missions, etc.

-Classic “Hollywood” tourist stuff: Hollywood sign, Chinese theatre, Hollywood Blvd, etc.

-Other parks: Knott’s, Universal, Six Flags, Legoland, Seaworld.

-Wineries?

-Do you like museums, art galleries, science centers, etc?

-Are you just looking to visit Anaheim or are you interested in San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, elsewhere?

-Do you want to go fast paced and try to cram in as much as possible, or go slow to maximize time in one area?

 

[OKW Lover]

I'd plan on flying into San Francisco. Spend a few days exploring this very interesting city. Then, if you like wine, head for Napa/Sonoma for a couple of nights. After that, start a slow crawl down the coast towards LA. Stops at Big Sur, Monterey, and perhaps Solvang?

 

[JWelch62]

I have ridden my bike from San Francisco to San Diego (fundraiser for the CAF) on 4 occasions. The scenery along much of PCH is absolutely beautiful. If you fly into SFO or Oakland there are a lot of scenic areas, and a lot of things to see and do if you drive down the coast. Half Moon Bay, Big Sur, Monterey Bay (Dory's aquarium), Santa Barbara/Los Olivos for wine tasting, etc

There are lots of amusement park options around Anaheim as mentioned above. And lots to do in San Diego if you want to leave from there.

 

[PirateBrigade]

Open jaw it... fly into SFO, OAK (preferred), or SJC, SMF (further out, but if significantly cheaper, consider it).

Day 1 - travel day

Days 2-4) Wine country if you are interested, SF (usuals -- bridge, alcatraz booked far in advance, Walt Disney Family Museum if you're really a Disney nerd, etc...)

Day 5) Drive down a combination of SR-1 and US-101 -- in many places, they run concurrently, but I don't know many people who purely drive SR-1 the entire way, it's usually a mix to balance out time vs. views. Considers stops in Monterey, Big Sur (this is a must, Bixby Bridge is going to be your postcard view that you send back to everyone), San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara.

Day 6-10) Disneyland for your 5 full days

Day 11) Explore other areas of OC/LA, drive down to San Diego

Day 12-13) San Diego

Day 14 - return flight

You can probably cut out a full San Diego day and maybe spend the night on the central coast somewhere.

 

[azdisneylover]

Knotts Berry Farms is approx 6 miles away and is celebrating their 100 year anniversary. Mr Knotts and Mr Disney were friends.

 

[evilmommie]

Personally, I'd skip over SF and start in Monterey to make your way down to OC. Lot's of great itinerary ideas on AAA. https://magazine.northeast.aaa.com/daily/travel/north-american-tours/california-road-trip-lifetime/

 

[PirateBrigade]

Personally, I'd skip over SF and start in Monterey to make your way down to OC. Lot's of great itinerary ideas on AAA. https://magazine.northeast.aaa.com/daily/travel/north-american-tours/california-road-trip-lifetime/

lol hater! just kidding, at least a visit to the Walt Disney Family Museum for the inner Disney nerd in all of us…skip mid-market, for safety reasons.

 

[dreynolds1982]

I'd plan on flying into San Francisco. Spend a few days exploring this very interesting city. Then, if you like wine, head for Napa/Sonoma for a couple of nights. After that, start a slow crawl down the coast towards LA. Stops at Big Sur, Monterey, and perhaps Solvang?

This is close to the trip my fiancée and I are doing for our honeymoon in late August. Flying into San Fran, 3 nights there, then down to Monterey (3 nts), then drive down the Big Sur. One night in Santa Barbara, then 3 nts at DL. Then final night in Long Beach since we're flying out of LGB.

 

[V.I.N.CENT.]

If you visit SF, fly into Oakland. Make sure to visit the Disney Family museum, it's a great museum (run by the Disney family) and nice setup before visiting the park. If you drive down I-5 to L.A. a good time save is to stop by in Livermore to visit wineries on the way. Saves a lot of time not traveling in the opposite direction to Napa.

 

[PirateBrigade]

If you visit SF, fly into Oakland. Make sure to visit the Disney Family museum, it's a great museum (run by the Disney family) and nice setup before visiting the park. If you drive down I-5 to L.A. a good time save is to stop by in Livermore to visit wineries on the way. Saves a lot of time not traveling in the opposite direction to Napa.

+1 for OAK, and it doesn't get too many fog delays that SFO can get.

But unless someone is in a hurry, it's hard to recommend I-5 and its army of cows to OOS visitors. US-101 is quintessential California. The only upside to I-5 is the fact that the going speed is like 80-85mph and getting to so-cal is possible (but not recommend) to get to without any bathroom breaks.