What to see, where to stay

[Freyja]

We will probably have 2 weeks when we come in april. Me, DH, DS 11, DD 9, DD 4 and DD 1.

What we are trying to figure out is whether we should stay the whole time in or around LA (do DL, Universal, Seaworld, Knotts, Hollywood etc), or whether we should stay only a week in LA and spend a week somewhere else (San Fransisco, Las Vegas...)???

Do you have any good recommendations?

I´m kind of having problems putting together a realistic plan.

Thanks again for bearing with me

 

[abby]

I would suggest 5 or 7 day at disneyland, and then a few days in San Diego to do sea world and the zoo, too much time spent driving to and from, then it depends on what you like. Universal may be too old for your kids.

 

[MATTERHORN]

I agree, if you haven't done San Diego before, I would spend 3-4 days there. Our kids are DD5, DD2.5 and DS 2 months and the older two love Sea World and The Zoo. Granted we have no zoo where I live, so it is new to them, but it still is a great zoo.

I live in Las Vegas, and if you do come here, it will be mostly for the parents!! A few years ago they started to gear everything towards families, now that is changing back to grown ups. There is just not much to do that's not really expensive (shows, Shark Reef, etc.) They closed our Wet N Wild this year, changed the Pirate show at Treasure Island to a more adult Sirens show (yuck!) and the few rides that are at the hotels are roller coasters for big kids!

I haven't done San Francisco but really want to so maybe someone can give us some info! Good luck and either way it will be a great trip!!

Andrea

 

[Tink33]

If you have 2 weeks and want to visit San Francisco - I would spend 7 days in Southern California, 2 days travelling up the coast and 5 days in Northern California. Is it too expensive to fly into San Diego and fly out of San Francisco or Oakland?

In San Diego you have the Zoo, Sea World, Wild Animal Park, Legoland, Balboa Park with the museums, beaches, harbor tours, military ship tours and much more.

In Orange County you can visit Disneyland, California Adventure, Knotts Berry Farm, the Fun Zone, beaches, shopping, and more.

In the Los Angeles area some highlights are Universal Studios, the Queen Mary, Long Beach Aquarium, a tour of Hollywood and Beverly Hills.

Driving up the coast you can stop in Solvang, Morro Bay, visit Hearst Castle, Big Sur, the redwoods, Carmel, Monterey, Santa Cruz, and end in San Francisco.

San Franciso might include cable cars, Pier 39, the wharf, China Town, Lombard Street, the park, Fine Arts Building with Exploratorium, the Presidio and so much more.

I am in the midst of planning a drive up the coast for Spring Break this year. I was watching a travel program and they voted the drive up 1 and 101 as the most scenic roads in the country. I did this drive every year as a child and I know that I never appreciated it.

Have Fun planning your trip.

 

[Freyja]

Thanks so much for the great advice. I think we are leaning more and more towards spending 5-7 days in San Fransisco. Everyone I speak with says it is a great city. We´re trying to fit in as much as possible, without totally overdoing it, and at a reasonable price (sound familiar?).

We´re flying in from Iceland so that´s expensive enough. Just the airline tickets will be around $5000!!!

 

[Judy from Boise]

I personally have never cared for San Fransico, and instead would spend the time travelling down the CA coast. I would highly reccomend going to our DL trip reports board and read kevin Stringer's excellent trip reports about his England /CA trip. He even has scads of pictures. I will go see if i can find one to link to.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=894068

here is a link to his first of 19 reports ! If you can figure out how to "search" for them(on the trip reports page using advanced search), you will get a screen with all of the post listed in order.