visiting california in August...need help

[damo]

Our family has decided to take a trip to California in August for two weeks. We plan to fly to LA and then drive up to San Francisco and then fly home from there. I would really appreciate any advice on hotels around the Disneyland area as well as Knotts/universal/sixflags magic mountain/paramount great america/sea world. If anyone has any other suggestions of do not miss events please let me know.

Please help!!!

 

[mickeyfan1]

You may want to post over on the Disneyland forum. Mary Jo and several other native Californians are a good resource. I have stayed at the Residence Inn which was a hike to walk to DL/DCA but they have a free shuttle. ANd I have stayed at the Fairfield Inn which is acroos the street and 1/2 block or so away from the HArbor Street entrance (main gate). Both of them were clean, the staff efficient and friendly and the rates were resonable (free for the Fairfield on Marriott points and like $79.00 for the Residence Inn). Sea World in in San Diego, it is a bit of a drive in the lovely CA traffic, but it is a nice park. I think it is smaller than the Orlando park, but I could be wrong.

 

[minniecarousel]

Yeah - if you plan on doing things in San Diego, you really need to stay overnight there. Driving up the Coast of California (Highway 1) is beautiful - but it takes ALL DAY! Great America (in Santa Clara - south of San Francisco) is OK (I haven't been there in a few years) & it's do-able while staying in SF. SF itself has so many things to see: all the "touristy" stuff: cable cars, Fisherman's Wharf, a Bay Cruise, Golden Gate Bridge. Day trips to the Redwoods and the Napa Valley are fun too.

You might consider flying into San Diego, renting a car there and staying there a few nights - near Disneyland a few nights, near Universal a few nights, maybe along the Coast for a night and then end up in or near SF for the remaning nights.

Don't forget to bring jackets/sweaters along. The SF Bay Area gets cold in the evenings. Gotta love our "natural air-conditioning" : fog.