Itinerary help please - Las Vegas, Zion, Arizona, Disneyland and California

[SmileDisney]

Hi
We started out planning a Disneyland/Grand Canyon trip but now keep adding more stops to our drive. There is so much more we could add if we had the time. I would appreciate some feedback.

There is me(47), DH(49), DD(15) and DS(13).

Flights are booked July 6 –July 20, 2010. The only hotel I have booked is at Grand Canyon but there still seems to be some availability so could change.

Tues 6th – Arrive Las Vegas 10:30 pm
Wed 7th – Las Vegas sightseeing morning then to Hoover Dam, then to Zion NP, Utah, Hotel in Springdale
Thurs 8th – Tour Zion National Park, Hotel in Springdale
Fri 9th – Morning open, drive to Grand Canyon, stop enroute to see Antelope Canyon, Page, Arizona, Hotel in Grand Canyon National Park for 2 nights
Sat 10th – Grand Canyon
Sun 11th – Grand Canyon then drive to Sedona, hotel in Sedona (Slide rock)
Mon 12th – Sedona (Jeep Tour) then drive to Palm Springs, Hotel in Palm Springs or Rancho Mirage
Tues 13th – Palm Springs sightseeing then drive to Disneyland (5 nights at Disneyland Hotel)
Wed 14th – Disneyland
Thurs 15th – Disneyland
Fri 16th – Disneyland
Sat 17th – Grayline LA Tour
Sun 18th – Disneyland then drive to La Jolla beaches, hotel on the beach somewhere
Mon 19th – San Diego Wild Animal Park then drive to Laguna Beach, hotel on the beach
Tues 20th – Fly home form Santa Ana/John Wayne airport at 8:00am

We could remove Zion/Page or Palm Springs and have more time at San Diego or have one less day at Disneyland and add it somewhere else.

I would appreciate any suggestions….is this too much or is there anything we should really, really do that we are not??

Thanks!

 

[Willowlynn]

Being from Arizona and traveling quite a bit I would take Page out of your trip. It is pretty but not much there to do. Spend that time somewhere else that you will get to see much more.

 

[CPT Tripss]

Skip Hoover Dam and go straight from LV to Zion. It's out of the way, and not that exciting. Plus, you will see another Dam, just as big, when you drive from Zion to the GC (south rim?)

I have never been to DL or Palm Springs, but I love the National Parks and recommend as much time in them as you can get.

Do double check the driving distances and times . . . there is so much to see that I wouldn't want to spend all the time in a car.

 

[SmileDisney]

Willowlynn - Thanks, we may just decide to push straight through to GC.

CPT Tripss - That's good advice to skip Hoover Dam, we had planned to go when we were driving from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon, then we added the "detour" to Zion so it is hard to let it go. If we did, we sure would get to Zion a lot earlier!

Thanks!

 

[PrincessInOz]

As the OP has pointed out, don't back track to Hoover Dam. Go directly to Zion NP.
Antelope Canyon is worth the trip if you are a photographer and want to take a shot of the irridescent orange/pink/red walls - but only if you visit at the peak time; which is when the sun is overhead. If your schedule works out so that you get there before 11 or after 2'ish, then you may be disappointed.

If you're looking for an alternative, then head to the Grand Canyon and spend more time there (I certainly won't point out Bryce NP or Escalante, which are in a different direction to where you are going). But my favourite spot in your itinerary is Sedona. If you like the outdoors and walking, there is so much more to do in Sedona and you can walk right up to the red rock and touch it. And if you travel south of Sedona, you'll get to see Montezuma's Castle - cliff dwellings built by the Sinaqua Indians.

I haven't been to Sedona in about 8 years but opposite the Matterhorn Inn, on the side where the Arroyo Roble Hotel is; there is a group of shops and there was a small cafe that made the best bread and butter pudding I've ever had anywhere in the world.
I don't know if it's still there...but if it is, please have one for me

If you have time and if it isn't too much out of your way, drive through the town of Jerome as well. You might find yourselves stopping for an hour or two looking at the touristy shops. We definitely stopped to walk down and up the streets! In fact this alternative route back to the 40 is pretty...but you might want to head down to the 10 if heading to Palm Springs. I haven't been to Palm Springs; so I can't comment if it is worth visiting or not.

I'd also be tempted to head to San Diego/La Jolla first before Disneyland/LA (and maybe get to drive through Anza/Borego, which is featured in Soarin', instead of Palm Springs). That way, you're not doubling back from San Diego back to the airport. I know it's only 2 hours; but that could be 2 hours spent sightseeing elsewhere.

This route may take you down towards the 78 onto the 8. If you decide to do this, check out Julian..another cute little town that you can visit for an hour or so. Apple Pie is good there (just outside the town back towards the beach is where I normally stop). This route also takes you close to WAP..and I think there are motels in Escondido, if you're looking for somewhere close to stay for a night; or you could head to La Jolla or San Diego for the night.

Have fun!

 

[CPT Tripss]

If Jerome is the place I'm thinking of . . . PP is on target with that recommendation to visit. Part way up a mountain, old mining town, populated by a fair number of folks caught in the 60's time warp.

When in Sedona, try a sunset jeep tour to go with the daytime one.

 

[SmileDisney]

Jerome sounds like a worthy detour. I'm really excited about going to Sedona. I wish we had the time to do more.

The reason we are gong to Disneyland then back down to San Diego is so that we can be at Disneyland mid-week and avoid the weekend crowds. I was a bit stuck with the timing because if we tired to get flights earlier than the 6th they ended up being nearer to Canada Day and 4th of July weekend and the cost and flight selection wasn't as good.

I'm really having a hard time deciding on location for hotels for when we go to San Diego Wild Animal Park. I know I want to be near the beach but ....wow.... some of the prices are really high! I've searched the boards for beach recommendations and boy it is overwelming!

 

[PrincessInOz]

SmileDisney - I have an aunt that lives in San Marcos/Escondido so I am never in need of accommodation in this part of the world. We do, however, spend a lot of time touring round.

We last hit this part of the world in 2008 and after our day at SeaWorld, we went off the highway path down Sunset Cliffs Road. It's very laid back and not 5 star by any stretch of the imagination; but it looked like a part of California where the surfers hang out. If this sounds like what you're after, I'd look into Ocean Beach, Sunset Cliffs or Azure Vista. I would bet that the accommodation here would be more reasonable. Perhaps someone on the Dis who is local to the area might be able to help out more. I didn't see the beaches so I'd recommend you do some research in case I'm sending you in the wrong direction.

The alternative is to look around Carlsbad up towards Oceanside. Carlsbad is close to LegoLand and about 40 minutes to San Diego; about an hour to DL.

 

[Shock13]

Smile-I just recently came back from a trip to Sedona and the Grand Canyon and have a couple of tips if you're interested.
If you have time, stop at Williams near the GC. It is a very small town but lots of history. The town also resides on the famous Route 66 and was the last to be bypassed when they built I-40. There are lots of shops with Rt. 66 merchandise so if you are interested in getting a postcard or magnet, then this will be a good place.
Also take AZ Hwy 89A from Flagstaff to Sedona. It's a windy road but the view is amazing and then you can drive through Oak Creek Canyon which is beautiful. At the top of the road before descending into Sedona, there is a rest area where you can pull off and have a view of the mountains. There is also several Native Americans selling jewelry.
In Sedona, visit the Chapel of the Holy Cross. It's a tiny little place but the view of Sedona is breath-taking.
I hope you have a great trip!

 

[momofeva]

I don't know if this will enter into you plans or not, but in the last couple of days the news has reported that there will be road construction at the East Entrance to Zion's NP.

"The project will cause delays and closures for drivers entering or leaving the park on State Road 9 between the east entrance and U.S. Highway 89 at Mount Carmel Junction." (ksl.com and sltrib.com)

They are saying that there could be delays of up to 3 hours and that it will start in mid-May and may last until October.

 

[SmileDisney]

Thank you for the head's up.

I've been agonizing about what to do but I think we will just have to back track and detour around the Zion costruction if the delays look long. It may mean we skip the lunch stop in Page. I was really looking forward to seeing Antelope Canyon so that will be a big disappointment.

I'll keep watching the updates...maybe it won't be too bad.

thanks again....I only have 2 hotels left to book...yea!!

 

[CPT Tripss]

Go to the Zion web site for road info . . .

At this point in time, work is expected to be Monday through Thursday. Construction closures will occur on those days. Weekends and Holidays should be open with few delays. The work schedule is being finalized and will be available the week of May 17th. When it is available, the schedule and any updates will be posted on this website or by calling 435-772-3256 (press 1, then 4).

Alternate routes of travel between U.S. Highway 89 and Zion Canyon are Utah State Route 59 from Hurricane, Utah to Arizona State Route 389 and Fredonia, Arizona (better for large vehicles) or Utah State Route 14 from Cedar City, Utah to Long Valley Junction (high elevation/steep grades). During the construction period, travelers may want to consider using one of these roads between Zion Canyon and Bryce Canyon or Grand Canyon National Parks.

More at http://www.nps.gov/zion/parkmgmt/road-construction.htm

 

[SmileDisney]

Great news for us as we will be driving through the construction area on a Friday...maybe not so good for others though.