Help with Our Big Trip to Cali :)

[Shamurocks]

I hope I've posted this in the right place.
Okay so in July next year, me and my family have decided to do a grandish tour of California. No-one in our family drives so we're calling it our road-trip without a car
My Dad has visited California once before in 1991 but this was on a coach tour so he is almost completely clueless as the rest of us.
Anyway here's our plan:

8th July - Fly to San Diego
5 nights/4 days in San Diego for SeaWorld and maybe the zoo (I know this seems like a lot of time for San Diego but we're big SeaWorld fans)
13th July - Amtrak train/Greyhound bus to Anaheim
5 nights/4 days in Disneyland
18th July - Amtrak train/Greyhound bus to LA
3 nights/2 days in LA for touristy stuff and a day in Universal Studios
21st July - Fly to San Francisco
3 nights/2 days in San Francisco for touristy stuff
Fly back home on the 24th

Okay now for the questions, bearing in mind at we're almost completely clueless at this point apart from reading bits of travel guides.
1. Does anybody have any hotel suggestions for any/all our destinations with a moderate budget?
2. Does anybody have any advice on travelling by train/coach between San Diego - Anaheim - LA? Is either method better?
3. Any attraction ticket suggestions? I'm looking at the South California CityPass and adding extra days to SeaWorld?
4. Any other tips & advice for first times would be appreciated, especially for San Diego, LA & San Francisco as we're more researched on Disneyland than any of our other destinations.

Sorry it's a long post, but any advice would be greatly appreciated

 

[skiingfast]

This sounds pretty great.

I would definately do the the SD zoo. Seaworld in SD is a little less on rides than the Orlando version so it may fall short if that's your comparison.
SD is hardest without a car. You can do some trolley and bus combos but will probably need a taxi too.

There are a bunch of hotels along Pacific Beach which you may find an enjoyable place to stay. Also you might look along the trolley line in Mission Valley for somewhere cheaper.


To go to Anaheim a bus, grayhound is a country wide bus company, may not be as practical for this run. I'd consider Amtrak, there is also a commuter rail that goes every thirty minutes. It's not as easy for baggage but can get you there. It's called Coaster in SD county and you transfer to the Metro to get in the LA area. You can also use either to get north to LA.

In LA let me be clear you don't want to go to the city of LA, you want to go to the sites around it. You can take a subway to Hollywood and buses. I would consider also going to Venice beach and Santa Monica which have some moderate hotels near the beach. But to Universal if you want to go there, there are package deals to Universal.

I would highly consider taking Amtrak to SF from LA. The reason is the trains which go through San Louis Obisbo travel the coast and this is quite visually pleasing even though much slower than a plane.

In SF look at hotels near Union Sq. and Fisherman's Warf they can be more reasonable near the warf. The Cable Car goes between the two.

You also might consider a couple night in Las Vegas there is a bus from Anahiem. It's called the Lux Bus.


I'd really consider the Citypass for Socal, Hollywood and San Fran, preferably the alcatraz version. It will let you see the major sites. If you don't use it they can be a good guide on what to see.

 

[Shamurocks]

Thanks for the help

 

[katesorad]

Where are you staying in San Diego?

There are a lot of great places to visit in San Diego, especially since honestly Sea World is more of a day trip here. Orlando's Sea World has a lot more to do than the one in San Diego.

Within walking distance of the San Diego Zoo, is Balboa Park, where you'll find a bunch of museums. San Diego doesn't have the best museums ever (especially if you've done LA's museums, you won't be too impressed), but I really enjoy San Diego's Air & Space Museum. Right now, they have an Alien exhibit going on, which I found to be pretty cool. There is a free trolley service that is located right in Balboa Park, and if you don't want to make the 10-15 minute walk from the Zoo to the museum, just hop right on the trolley near the Zoo and you will be taken over there.

Closer to Sea World is Mission Beach and Belmont Park. Belmont Park is pretty cool.. there are a lot of fun shops with unique souvenirs, as well as an old wooden roller coaster and some other rides for you to do. There are numerous places around the beach where you can rent surf boards, get surfing lessons, rent beach cruiser bikes, etc. That is definitely something that you can do for an afternoon.

Oh, one thing about the Zoo that you might want to know is that it's not the easiest to walk around. There is a lot of incline and it's rather confusing. So if you have the $ for it, I'd go with the bus tour that the Zoo offers. It's a much better way to see all that the San Diego Zoo offers.

When you're in San Fran, definitely do Alcatraz. It's kind of expensive, but 100% worth it and it's just a good time. It's really interesting. When I was there a few years ago, they had a former inmate doing a book signing at the store. Definitely a lot of great information.

 

[MAH4546]

Not going to the "city of LA" is terrible advice. You most certainly do want to go to the City of Los Angeles, which includes Hollywood, and some of the best places to visit in the area.

I would stay either downtown (Bonaventure) or Hollywood (Renissance), which are both on the Red Line subway. In addition to seeing Hollywood, there is the mid-Wilshire/Fairfax area with the Farmer's Mark, the Grove, the La Brea Tarpits and many museums. In downtown, just walking around provides great architectural sightseeing - check out the Grand Central Market, Angel's Flight, the Central Library (which has rotating exhibits), Disney Concert Hall, Art Gallery Row (Spring St.), The Standard Rooftop lounge (there is a cover on Fridays and Saturdays; free other nights) and Little Tokyo. You can also take the Gold Line train from Union Station four stops to Mariachi Plaza for real, authentic Mexican food or the Purple Line to Koreatown (Wilshire+Western) for excellent, all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ.

Outside of Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Venice Beach and Beverly Hills are also fun places to visit.

Also, are you not renting cars in San Diego and Los Angeles? Getting around is otherwise very difficult. The trains in Los Angeles are great, the buses are horrific; but the trains only can get you to a limited amount of neighborhoods.

 

[Shamurocks]

Not going to the "city of LA" is terrible advice. You most certainly do want to go to the City of Los Angeles, which includes Hollywood, and some of the best places to visit in the area.

I would stay either downtown (Bonaventure) or Hollywood (Renissance), which are both on the Red Line subway. In addition to seeing Hollywood, there is the mid-Wilshire/Fairfax area with the Farmer's Mark, the Grove, the La Brea Tarpits and many museums. In downtown, just walking around provides great architectural sightseeing - check out the Grand Central Market, Angel's Flight, the Central Library (which has rotating exhibits), Disney Concert Hall, Art Gallery Row (Spring St.), The Standard Rooftop lounge (there is a cover on Fridays and Saturdays; free other nights) and Little Tokyo. You can also take the Gold Line train from Union Station four stops to Mariachi Plaza for real, authentic Mexican food or the Purple Line to Koreatown (Wilshire+Western) for excellent, all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ.

Outside of Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Venice Beach and Beverly Hills are also fun places to visit.

Also, are you not renting cars in San Diego and Los Angeles? Getting around is otherwise very difficult. The trains in Los Angeles are great, the buses are horrific; but the trains only can get you to a limited amount of neighborhoods.

Thanks for replying No we aren't renting cars, I'm the only one who can drive and you have to be 21 to get a hire car on a British Drivers License apparently That's why our choice of hotel is a big priority

Thanks for the advice for San Diego katesorad I was looking at the Zoo and Balboa Park as a day. I know it may seem like SeaWorld has less to do, but my family are odd and can do 4/5 days at SeaWorld in Orlando on our trips, so I think we can fill 3 days at SWC

 

[skiingfast]

Not going to the "city of LA" is terrible advice. You most certainly do want to go to the City of Los Angeles, which includes Hollywood, and some of the best places to visit in the area.

Outside of Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Venice Beach and Beverly Hills are also fun places to visit.

I'm sorry you diagree, but it is great advice. If you aren't going to a Lakers game there is nothing great to see there. Hollywood is not part of the city of LA, nor are the other places you listed. Those are all the places people think of when they consider going to LA. It a terrible mistake when people go to the LA and wonder where the beaches are or the stars in the sidewalks.

 

[katesorad]

Thanks for the advice for San Diego katesorad I was looking at the Zoo and Balboa Park as a day. I know it may seem like SeaWorld has less to do, but my family are odd and can do 4/5 days at SeaWorld in Orlando on our trips, so I think we can fill 3 days at SWC

You'll have a great time! Oh.. if you do get bored at Sea World, check out the Old Town Trolley Tours in San Diego.. they take you all around, and if you make it to Old Town, it's really cool. It's a historical area of San Diego, and there are even haunted tours over there at night! They are so fun if you like that kind of thing.

Since you're not renting a car, it could be tricky.. but you can do it! What hotels are you looking at in the San Diego area? I may be able to help you on deciding, since I always am having family and friends come to visit, and some opt to stay in hotels rather than in my tiny little apartment (smart choice, if you ask me!)

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

What exactly do you want to do/see in Los Angeles? They do have pretty good museums, here, and I'd recommend visiting Farmers Market, La Brea Tarpits, Hollywood/Highland area (Graumann's Chinese Theater/Kodak Center), Universal Studios, if you want another theme park. There are some trolley tours (Starline) you can take at Graumann's Chinese Theater. Look at the Hollywood Renaissance Hotel & see if that is in your budget. You can also maybe take in a play at the Pantages Theater while in town.

Sounds like a fantastic vacation.

 

[MAH4546]

I'm sorry you diagree, but it is great advice. If you aren't going to a Lakers game there is nothing great to see there. Hollywood is not part of the city of LA, nor are the other places you listed. Those are all the places people think of when they consider going to LA. It a terrible mistake when people go to the LA and wonder where the beaches are or the stars in the sidewalks.

No, it is absolutely terrible advice to tell people to skip the City of Los Angeles, which includes many of the places I mentioned.

And if you really think Hollywood is not in the City of Los Angeles, well, then you should not be giving advice on visiting Southern California, because it most certainly is a neighborhood within the City of Los Angeles. In fact, every place I listed is in the City of Los Angeles, so you clearly have no idea what you are talking about (and note I never once said Santa Monica, Venice Beach and Beverly Hills are part of LA).

But, sure, if one doesn't want to see the art museums, the tar pits, Hollywood, Korea Town, Little Tokyo, downtown museums and architecture, China Town or dozens of other neighborhoods, there is no reason to visit the City of Los Angeles.

 

[Danibelle]

I think there are things to see in LA. Griffith Park, LA County Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art (in 2 locations), Farmer's Market and The Grove. I could go on. It will be extremely difficult to get around San Diego, LA, Orange County, pretty much all of Southern CA without a rental car. There is no really comprehensive public transportation system and cabs will be a huge expense.