Me and the tribe are coming to California!
Discussion
I'm bringing my family (wife, 2 teenage girls, boy age 11) to California for a holiday in August.
We've booked a hotel in LA for a few days to do the usual stuff, and then it's off exploring!!!
I want to get up the coast to San Francisco, see some redwoods, see Vegas and do something grand canyon-like (maybe helicopter in, raft down a bit and chopper/bus out?)
I've got from the morning 6th August (when we finish in LA) to end of play and must be in LA to sleep on the 15th August (we fly out from LA on the morning of the 16th)
Anyone got any suggestions for us please? - places to stay, things we must see/do, best routes to take, best Grand Canyon option etc?
Andy
We've booked a hotel in LA for a few days to do the usual stuff, and then it's off exploring!!!
I want to get up the coast to San Francisco, see some redwoods, see Vegas and do something grand canyon-like (maybe helicopter in, raft down a bit and chopper/bus out?)
I've got from the morning 6th August (when we finish in LA) to end of play and must be in LA to sleep on the 15th August (we fly out from LA on the morning of the 16th)
Anyone got any suggestions for us please? - places to stay, things we must see/do, best routes to take, best Grand Canyon option etc?
Andy
When I was 16 we went from San Fransisco to see Yosemite NP, Sequoia NP, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, San Diego, Tijuana then Los Angeles.
It was a real experience but probably the best bit was walking down the Grand Canyon and walking back up. I won't pretend that it's easy. However, every time I see a picture of the place I remember the sense of achievement. You also get a feeling for the sheer magnitude of the place that I really doubt you can get in a plane or on a raft.
I am sure the kids will want to go to Disneyland, however it wasn't really that great so only spend a day there.
Remember America doen't have "history" but it certainly has "geography" so it really is worth experiencing what they have.
You might also want to visit Lake Tahoe, which is very picturesque in the Tahoe City area.
It was a real experience but probably the best bit was walking down the Grand Canyon and walking back up. I won't pretend that it's easy. However, every time I see a picture of the place I remember the sense of achievement. You also get a feeling for the sheer magnitude of the place that I really doubt you can get in a plane or on a raft.
I am sure the kids will want to go to Disneyland, however it wasn't really that great so only spend a day there.
Remember America doen't have "history" but it certainly has "geography" so it really is worth experiencing what they have.
You might also want to visit Lake Tahoe, which is very picturesque in the Tahoe City area.
GavinPearson said:
Remember America doen't have "history" but it certainly has "geography" so it really is worth experiencing what they have.
Sums it up well really.
If you are going from LA to SF, then Highway 1 is the only way to go (see profile pic). As you have kids, stop off maybe at Santa Cruz and go to the fairground on the beach there.
Drive across the Golden Gate bridge ($5 one way as you come south on it, you don't pay going north), just hope it's not foggy. Sausalito just over the other side of the bay is gorgeous.
People's opinions differ, but I found Alcatraz to be worthwhile and interesting - I'd advise booking online your ticket through Blue and Gold Ferries. Make sure you take some trams, see LOmbard Street. The Coit Tower is a good way of seeing the whole city. Make sure you get some proper clam chowder and other seafood.
Surely the most important question is what are you driving?! I suppose with five of you, a Mustang or similar is out, but you might be able to find a new Charger (make sure you get one with a Hemi engine as many companies have a detuned 2.5l V6 that is only available for hire car firms and in Canada - and is crap). Avis are doing an ad campaign here at the moment that they have a few 'cool' hire cars available, such as Hummers (might not go down too well in California
) or the Chrysler 300C. Have a great trip
andymadmak said:
Just home after 17 days...... just a bit tired!
Thank you America for a wonderful holiday! Great people, great sights, we had a ball!
Thank you America for a wonderful holiday! Great people, great sights, we had a ball!
Great news Andy and pleased to hear - what route did you end up taking? Hope the weather was great, although imagine you got the tail end of the heat-wave?
Mustang Baz said:
andymadmak said:
Just home after 17 days...... just a bit tired!
Thank you America for a wonderful holiday! Great people, great sights, we had a ball!
Thank you America for a wonderful holiday! Great people, great sights, we had a ball!
Great news Andy and pleased to hear - what route did you end up taking? Hope the weather was great, although imagine you got the tail end of the heat-wave?
Didn't see a cloud the whole time till the last day when we flew out from LA!
Spent a couple of days in Atlanta with friends then flew over to LA for a couple of days. Then took a few days to go up Route 1 via Santa Barbara and Carmel and Monterey to San Fransisco for a few days. Then over to lake Tahoe for a few days, then down to Yosemite, through Death Valley (117 degrees!) and into Vegas / Grand Canyon. 2000 miles and millions of smiles.
Andy
Edited by andymadmak on Friday 18th August 10:01
andymadmak said:
Then took a few days to go up Route 1 via Santa Barbara and Carmel and Monterey to San Fransisco for a few days. Then over to lake Tahoe for a few days, then down to Yosemite, through Death Valley (117 degrees!) and into Vegas / Grand Canyon. 2000 miles and millions of smiles.
Glad you plumped for the Coastal route initially which we discussed on hotmail - the wise option and really pleased it work out.
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