18 days In California with the Family....Where so I start.

Where are you flying into, and does Disneyland have to be done first? Assuming you're flying into LAX, and the answer is yes, I would consider the following:

3 days Disneyland area (is this JUST for Disneyland -- that's a lot of days for one theme park!)
3 days San Diego
3 days Los Angeles
2 days driving up the coast ending up in Monterey
2 days Carmel-Monterey
3 days San Francisco
2 days Napa (actually, I wouldn't do this at all, but other people think it's great even with kids. It is beautiful, but I'm just not into wineries and wine tasting). Instead, I might head to Lake Tahoe for a couple of days of R&R

You can go into the Desination tab above and find out what there is to see and do in each of those places.

Vegas in summer is NOT pleasant, at least not for doing anything other than sitting in the shade by the pool under a mister - it can be 115 °F

Thanks for the reply sf7307. You are probably right, 2 days in Disneyland would probably do. I would also like to take the kids to Leggo land, is that in the same vacinity?

We will most likely be flying into LA but may save some time for LA/SD at the end of our trip after returning from Mexico.

Lake Tahoe sounds like a better bet than Napa, could I also squeeze in Yosemite if I can add a few days?

Would love to see the Grand Canyon and spend 1 night in Vegas. We live on the outskirts of the Aussie outback, in Mildura and are pretty used to the dry desert heat.

Using your outline for a guide, how does this sound..

Arrive in LA late on day 1.

Day 2...Drive to Aneheim

Day 3/4/5 Disneyland and surrounds.

Day 6/7 Drive up coast

Day 7/8 Monterey

Day 9/10/11/12 SF inc Yosemite

Day 13/14 Lake Tahoe

Day 15/16 Drive to Grand Canyon

Day 17 Vegas

Day 18 Drive back to LA for flight to Cancun.

Day 19-27 Playa Del Carmen and surrounds.

Day 28 Fly back to LA.

Day 29/30/31 San Diego

Day 32/33 LA

I've managed to extend my trip by a week here and this would be best case so may need to trim a little. If so, were could I trim?

Does this sound achieveable?

How about Lake Tahoe to Las Vegas to Grand Canyon and then back to Vegas for the flight to Cancun?

Or, actually, you might like to skip Tahoe. See Yosemite and then head south (instead of north to Tahoe and then back south again) to Las Vegas. From Las Vegas go to Zion National Park. Bryce Canyon and then the North Rim of Grand Canyon (they are in the same vicinity) and then return to Las Vegas to fly to Cancun.

That makes sense. I presume that most hire car companies will let me drop off at a different point to the collection?

I may have to choose between Yosemite and Lake Tahoe if I want to get the best out of my time.

How long will the drive take from Vegas to the Grand Canyon? Will one night at the Canyon suffice and is it worth the travel for such a short visit? We were all "blown away" by the grace and magnitute of Uluru on a trip a few years back and I assume that the Canyon would have a similar effect.

If you can fly INTO somewhere besides LAX, I would reverse the trip and save disney for the END. No need to do the kid's most fun part of trip jet-lagged and right off the plane.

I personally think you can find plenty of beaches/sites to rival Cancun on this trip.( except of course Mayan architecture) See the CA coast more in depth.. there is PLENTY to stop and visit along the way. A trip to the G.Canyon, yes, would be worth the effort.

Drop off fees between STATES is usually pricey, but you never know.My daughter rented in SFO and dropped off in Vegas without much penalty at all. Distances are huge so an open-jaw trip will be advantageous to you.

Las Vegas is not at all child friendly. I really dislike the place and hope never again to spend time there myself either, but even aside from this prejudice I don't think it is a good place to take children. I would add time to the Grand Canyon and cut this out of the schedule. Your time there is unclear to me on the schedule but it easily merits several days even if you do not want to do a lot of hiking.

I was in Las Vegas a couple of weeks ago, and it only re-enforced my opinon that it's not good for kids, especially when your time is so limited. You want to go for the adult entertainments I assume and with such a short time, there really will be nothing for your kids to do but, it's going to be hotter than Hades when you are there so the kids might really enjoy just hanging out at the pool while you do the casinos, if thats what you have in mind.

If Las Vegas is something you really want to see, then, of course, you do have enough time to stay a couple of nights but there are a lot more interesting places in the west.

Cancun is lovely - in December. It is incredibly hot and humid in August. I wouldn't go there during summer.

I strongly recommend dropping Cancun and adding your time to California.

If you were to add some time to California, you could add the redwoods up north, and do both Yosemite and Lake Tahoe.

It's "worth it" to see the Grand Canyon, but kind of far on this trip unless you fly, or as elnap suggested, at least add some of the other southwest US national parks to make traveling that distance worth the effort adn time. In fact, with an added week, you could just do that -- after you're "done" in California, spend a week in the southwest -- fly there, rent another car (to be returned to the same location if cost of dropping it elsewhere is prohibitive), and fly back to California (or to Cancun, no need to return to LA -- you can fly to Cancun from either Las Vegas or Phoenix, I'm sure).

Cancun in the summer- yuck.

Hot, humid, risk of hurricanes.

You'd be better off in Hawaii.

Don't miss Yosemite. If you're talking about this year, start looking for accommodation there NOW. You're already very late and most things will be booked up. Check daily for cancellations. You may have to stay outside the Park.

Las Vegas is not, in any way, child-friendly.

Your kids are at the upper limit age-wise for Legoland, which is in Carlsbad, just north of San Diego.

In San Diego, we have lovely beaches and great weather in July/August, so you really don't need to go to Mexico then. You could use some of the "Mexico time" for the Grand Canyon.

It sounds like Mexican beaches are big on your wish list. Unfortunately, your trip is at the worst possible time to go there.

Unless it is a 'must', I'd forget about detouring to Mexico and add those days to california. Yosemite is breathtaking -- but you'd have to book NOW. Yosemite Lodge or Curry Village would be your best lodging choices.

By sticking to CA (and maybe a couple of days in Vegas - though that is a hoooorrible time to go there as well and it is not child friendly) you can keep the same car the whole time and not have any one-way drop off charges.

In August, the Pacific Northwest would be a much nicer visit than Cancun.

Given the weather, I'd skip Mexico too. Add another day or two to San Diego, and then another couple days for your trip up the coast from LA to Monterey. There are some good places on the central coast to visit - Pismo Beach is fun with kids because they have a big wide beach near the pier. Another place to consider is Santa Cruz - the Boardwalk is a beachside amusement park that the kids would enjoy and the town is a good beach town, plus the Santa Cruz mountains have nice redwood groves and good hiking.

San Francisco is the most interesting urban area in the state - there are other cities, but none feel as urban as SF. Plus SF is just a unique place, so make sure you don't shortchange your visit there. I saw on your latest draft of your itinerary that you had combined SF and Yosemite and given 4 days total - Yosemite is a 4 hour drive from SF, so half of one of those days will be travel in between, 4 days isn't much time for both those places. I'd add a day or two if possible.

Las Vegas would not be my choice to take kids, but since you are only planning a day there enroute back from the Grand Canyon, I think it is fine. If you didn't have the GC on your itinerary, I'd say skip LV though.

Anyway, overall I think you've got a great itinerary, and a month is a fabulous amount of time for this trip. And if you choose to skip Cancun, it will make the pace of your visit to CA more relaxed, which is important. Don't want to rush through things too quickly.

I totally missed the fact that you've lumped San Francisco in with Yosemite. Definitely, DEFINITELY spend at least 2 nights in San Francisco. You want at least 2 full days in SF. Then spend at least 2 nights in Yosemite.

Regarding Grand Canyon and Yosemite: It is about a 5 hr drive from Las Vegas to South Rim Grand Canyon.

However, if you choose to go to the North Rim Grand Canyon, I think it is about 3 hrs (but I can't really remember). You can do a loop of North Grand Canyon then Bryce Canyon then Zion then Las Vegas. Zion is 2 1/2 hrs from Las Vegas.
Or you can do the loop Las Vegas to Zion (2 1/2 hr) to Bryce (2 hr) to North Grand Canyon to Las Vegas.

I love the Yucatan and have been there many times but would not consider going in summer. In fact, from May 1 until the end of October, it's way too hot to do anything except lie in the sea or pool sipping margaritas. Forget about touring the great Mayan cities at that time of year.

Also, if you do go, you run the risk of having your travel plans ruined if you are the victim of a tropical storm. These are very common in especially August and September but can occur in July as well. We have friends who were caught in Cancun several years ago and then again last summer in Cabo. We warned them not to go but they ignored our warnings. However, they work for the airlines, so getting home was not that big a problem. But for the ordinary tourist it could be a nightmare.

If you do insist on going, check into going to Holbox Island. This is the one place in the area that adventurous travelers actually prefer in the summer because you can swim with the whale sharks.

http://yucatantoday.com/en/topics/holbox-island

However, it's a long, long way to the Yucatan from California. It would be better to spend that time in the Western US instead. There is so much to see.

did a lot of exploring in that area of the world.

with kids, i'd also skip las vegas and napa. Yosemite is amazing and varied spend much more time there--long hikes, short hikes, waterfalls, etc. if you can't get lodging in the park valley, be advised that it is a 2 hour drive to the nearest city and hotels from there on curvy roads. grand canyon is amazing as well but you just stand at the top and look down mostly as you won't have enough time to really take some long hikes. zion and bryce canyon are unique and are number 3 and 2 for us behind yosemite. grand canyon fourth place rating. legoland is neat but only if your kids are into legos still. you could probably get all of disneyland in in one day. it's not that big of a park. lake tahoe is beautiful to look at but, i'd skip it compared to yosemite. get working on hotel and it is absolutely worth the $$$ to stay in the park there-- and we are not wealthy people who think nothing of that aspect. good luck!

Legoland....I think your boys may find it a bit babyish for their ages. It is geared for younger kids.

Great help there guys. Thanks soooo much.

You have all got me rethinking PDC/Cancun now but I do really want to see some of Mexico whilst we are in the region. Is a few days in Tiajuna a good idea? Or is it a bit dangerous? Is there anywhere else that we could drive to in Mexico that would be worthwhile?

If we decide to spend some beachtime on the Californian coast, where will we get warm, swimmable waters, quaint beachside bars and cafe's and beachside accomodation that wont cost me more than $150 a night?

It sounds like Yosemite will take a few more days than I thought so we will skip Tahoe so to maximise time in SF. I have looked at the deluxe tents that they have in the park. Has anyone stayed in them? It sounds like a great way to experience the natural beauty of it. I'm not much of a camper but if everything is already set up I'm sure we could "rough it" for a few days.

I was thinking Legoland as much for myself as the kids, being a big kid at heart. Where else would you recommend? The boys are into the "hands-on" interactive things more than all the death-dyfing rides, but as I love a good Coaster, a combination would be good.

It sounds like Vegas gets the universal thumbs down but if we are going to the GC, I might as well check it out just to tick it off the "Bucket List". I thought they may have some family orientated shows at some of the Casino's?

"If we decide to spend some beachtime on the Californian coast, where will we get warm, swimmable waters, quaint beachside bars and cafe's and beachside accomodation that wont cost me more than $150 a night?"

One of the most beautiful beach areas in Southern California is Laguna Beach, an artists colony with all of your requirements with the exception of the hotel cost! I just did a quick check on Expedia and used a couple of midweek dates in July and there are some places that are pretty close to your target but they are not on the beach but across Coast Highway from the beach. Unless you want to drop $500 a nite to stay at the Montage it will be hard to get something on the beach! I saw a few that I am somewhat familiar with, Laguna Reef, Holiday Inn, Pacific Edge and Best Western Las Brisas. I live in the area so I have not stayed in any of them. I have booked a visiting business associate at the Best Western and he said it was perfectly fine although nothing fancy. Book ASAP! The ocean temps may be a bit brisk, it usually runs 65-68 in July & Aug, just right to cool off!

If you stay in Laguna you might consider booking tickets for the Pagent of the Masters which runs from July 7th to Aug 31st. It is a really unique experience. Real people are posed and made up to appear as actual works of art. Here is a link to their website http://www.foapom.com/site/overview_pom.asp
The tickets are not too expensive and I think even boys your sons age would enjoy it. My boys were interested in art and I think they would have liked to see it because it is fascinating to see how real the "paintings" look. They show how it is acheived and the narrator is amusing so it's not like sitting staring at paintings for two hours.

Your trip sounds like fabulous experience for your family!

Thanks SeeHag.

We love showing the kids other cultures and places as it really broadens their horizons. I believe it is an investment in their futures.

I will look into Laguna Beach but we do love being absolute beachfront and $500 a night is pretty much out of the question. We normally pay that for a week in Thailand.

I don't think going over to tiajuana will be anything positive for your family. This is NO where to get a feel for mexico.


check out www.hotwire.com for hotels for 4 people. any many search engines as the prices can vary so much it is incredible.

deluxe tents in yosemite are fine for a few nights and worth it not to do the driving!

"We love showing the kids other cultures and places as it really broadens their horizons. I believe it is an investment in their futures."

Well -- unfortunately -- that definitely ain't Tijuana. Anywhere right along the border - and very especially Tijuana, are to be avoided. Sleazy, dangerous, long border-crossing delays -- just NOT nice.

"deluxe tents in yosemite are fine for a few nights and worth it not to do the driving!"

I totally agree re staying in the Valley and avoiding the driving. Just don't confuse the tent cabins w/ 'deluxe'.

The last time we went to Tijuana was at the insistance of our then 21 & 17 yr olds. We all hated it. We spent the entire time being accosted by men calling out "Viagra" and trying to drag us into la pharmacia.

Tijuana is a grotty, dirty border town with no redeeming value. It is not representative of Mexico and I would recommend against even a day trip there.

The tented camps are deluxe as compared to ground camping.

They have a concrete floor and a canvas roof supported by a metal frame. The beds are single beds with mattresses on a metal frame. You are supplied linens, a pillow, and blankets. There is a small table (card table size) and at least one chair. There is a wood stove. You take your meals (for a fee) in the restaurant. The meals are very good, and you eat family style. There is a central shower block divided men/women. It has flush toilets, a vanity area with electrical outlets, and hot showers with a small changing room.

Maybe not a 5* hotel, but very deluxe for camping. I am not sure how you would fit 2 adults and 2 children into them, as the ones I remember have 3 beds, not 4.

You really need to book NOW for Yosemite. If possible, try scheduling so your stay is mid-week. I can guarantee you that all the weekend sites are taken.

Camp Curry is noisy, hot and dusty, but has a great location. White Wolf is much quieter, but you must drive up to an hour to get to the major sites. Tuolumne Meadows is lovely, but highly sought-after.

<<<"We love showing the kids other cultures and places as it really broadens their horizons. I believe it is an investment in their futures.">>>

<<<Well -- unfortunately -- that definitely ain't Tijuana.>>>

I thought the poster was referring to Laguna Beach LOL!

I live in San Diego. Years ago, many of us would go down to Tijuana and other small towns in Baja California for shopping, lobster and margaritas. I know nobody who still does that. There is now a warning from the US state Department not to go there. It always was dirty, it is now also dangerous.

When you are in San Diego, you could eat at Ortega's in the Hillcrest area and you'll get the same kind of food we used to drive to the family's original restaurants in Puerto Nuevo to eat.

http://www.ortegasbistro.com/

I would make a list of what you want to do and then connect the dots--I know for a seasoned traveller, this is not news.
Depending on where you land, also. It might be better to land in San Francisco, since you are headed to Mexido.
Must sees--the redwood forests north of SF, Yosemite Valley, perhaps the Napa Valley, back to the coast for Big Sur, then down to LA/Hollywood and San Diego.
There are also the sequoias outside of Yosemite.

Whoa. WHY are you going to Cancun when you have GORGEOUS Mexican beaches on the west coast. NOT Acapulco, but Zijuatenejo and another I can't call the name that is quite newish and relatively unsooiled. Cancun is awful. Cozumel (even!) or Belize would be better on the east coast.

Actually, during the summer my favorite California beaches are at Lake Tahoe. This is one of the most beautiful lakes in the world and the water is pristine. There are wide sandy beaches with unparalleled views of the Sierra Nevada. Some find the water a little on the cool side but, for me, it's exactly the right temperature in mid-summer. There is also excellent hiking (or mountain biking)trails that surround the lake. There are accomodations in all price categories as well as superb campgrounds.

One of the great drives in California is a loop through Yosemite, Eastern Sierra, and Lake Tahoe while also spending some time in the Gold Country (Sierra Foothills). There's also Grover Hot Springs (a half hour south of Tahoe in Markleeville) to soak in.

Remember, California used to be part of Mexico (and some claim it's being reclaimed) so there's no need to go traipsing off to Cancun or Tijuana.

So Tijuana is definately out.

It is not Cancun that we are considering, just flying into there and heading south to PDC and Tulum. We wanted to spend a week on a beach with day trips to Mayan ruins and the Eco-parks. Still undecided.

I can fly into SF from Oz on United if it makes more sense but as we are hiring a car and had intended to go up along the coast and then inland on the way back, LA seemed a better fit. I suppose this really depends on if we decide to do the Vegas/GC leg.

It sounds like Yosemite will be a definate and as soon as we arrange flights, we will book accomodation. The only problem at the minute is that VirginA and United dont have their deals out for mid July/Aug yet and the 4 tickets would cost me almost $2000 more than the price for June. I am checking daily and will jump as soon as the price is reasonable.

Is Montery the best place for a couple of days break in the drive to SF or should I devote this time to somewhere else. I originally wanted to go in June and the stop off was based around going to the US Open at Pebble Beach (sports tragic) but I am now open to other options.

Thanks again for all the great advice.

Las Vegas, the lovely beaches, Grand Canyon and Yosemite are places that you must go..but avoid Tijuana..and also, you could search in the net for "must see places in California"..will give you a better idea of the places plus will help you prioritize the places that you might want to see..

I would reiterate the advice against Las Vegas for kids. I have been with and without kids in our group and there is no comparison.

I disagree with others' advice on Legoland. We had been there when our kids were 9, 6 and 4. When we were going to Disneyland again, we planned to skip Legoland. My younger two (then ages 10 and almost 8) wanted to go back so badly, that we changed our minds. My husband took them for one day and they had a blast.

Highlights: Water rides, especially the wave riders, where the spectators use the water cannons to shoot at the participants. They really loved another ride with a robotic arm; I think it's called Knight's Tournament. It has different levels of intensity depending on your age. (Should be on youtube.) The Volvo driving school lets the kids drive and steer their own cars, without a track or preset course. Also, for those age 10 or over, stop near the entrance and sign up that morning to come back later and build a Mindstorm robot.

If you decide against Legoland, I would recommend three days at Disneyland. Remember there can be longer lines during the summer and the best rides your kids will want to do more than once. Check the official site, but I believe with a 2-day pass or longer, you always get into both Disneyland and California Adventure (CA). And you and your spouse will enjoy some of the CA rides, as much as your kids. Also, remember that if you are doing other things in Southern California, you could go to Disneyland, then take a day off and go to the beach, then go back to Disneyland for your second day.

And if you are looking to expose the kids to culture, what about the Spanish missions or more time in San Francisco?

Here is a link to my trip report from almost two years ago:
http://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/trip-reportdisneyland-a-new-ride-southern-cal-a-birthday.cfm

Thanks Mark.

I have bookmarked your report 5alive...Very helpful. La Brea is now on my list.

I hadn't really considered SF as a highlight, it was just going to be a stopover on the way to Yosemite, but I am starting to change my mind. There is an extensive post already on the things to do in SF but there didn't seem to be alot for the kids.

I am afraid that Vegas is still in my sights. It may just be a "train-wreck" fascination to see mankind at it's worst but I seem to be lured by all the glitz amd pomp. As I said before "Bucket-list".

My boys loved San Francisco at that age. They thought the Alcatraz prison tour was cool and I still have memories of holding onto my youngest while we rode the cable cars. Lots of history, earthquake, gold rush etc

I agree that San Francisco is a good destination for families with kids. Ours enjoyed Fort Point National Historic site, right under the Golden Gate bridge
http://www.nps.gov/fopo/index.htm
and the Maritime Museum
http://www.maritime.org/index.htm

Check the baseball schedule for San Francisco Giants, LA Dodgers or San Diego Padres tickets for the dates you will be there and have a great time! If your boys are sports fans they will enjoy a little slice of Americana! Pick a team and cheer for them... have a hot dog!

Las Vegas in July/August will be unbearably hot. A not to miss thing to see there is Hoover Dam which is simply amazing but Im not sure if you could stand the hour long tour in the heat. I'd skip it with my kids at that time of year. One of the most enjoyabble things to do in Las Vegas is to walk the strip and take in the sights... that will be most uncomfortable at that time of year. Your children will not be allowed into the casinos, except to walk through so pick a hotel carefully with a family friendly wonderful pool and plan on being there most of your time.

A game of baseball will be at the top of my list. I've checked the schedule and found that many games will be on whilst we are there. We might even be able to catch a pre-season NFL game, just waiting for the shedule to be announced.

Hoover Dam is a definate and as we are from the OZ Outback we are pretty used to the heat.

Any other thoughts on places to stop on the drive from LA to SF?

When I was your kids' age used to visit family in the east bay and going over to SF was always a highlight. My cousins and I loved it.

17 mile drive.
hearst castle

California is large and diverse.....mountains and deserts, beaches, fertile valleys, and the redwoods. There are beautiful beaches from San Diego to the Oregon border.

I second november_moon's recommendation for Santa Cruz~the Beach/Boardwalk is fun for kids and used to have free concerts on Monday nights during the summer. At Natural Bridges State Park, there are some great tidepools.

There is a lot to see and do in SF~take your kids for a walk across the Golden Gate; to the Exploritorium; to a matinee of Beach Blanket Babylon; to Alcatraz; and if you can't get tickets to one of the teams onemoneygirl mentioned, there's also the Oakland Athletics.

I agree with Gretchen, who suggested the Pacific coast of Mexico as opposed to Cancun, although Mexico that time of year is hot and humid. and she's right about the redwoods~they're beautiful. Henry Cowell Rewoods State Park is close to Santa Cruz and boasts lots of lovely redwoods!

Legoland is reasonably close to Disneyland, you could easily hit both. I'd recommend hitting the 101 and driving up to Northern California (ie, north of Eureka. You'll hit some beautiful areas, the redwood and some unbeleivable camping spots if you're so inclined. The redwoods are like no other place on Earth.

Okay - so much information here... agree with some - others not so much.

1. DO NOT GO TO TJ - it is dangerous. Grew up going there living in San Diego but now it is very very dangerous.

2. Laguna Beach is awesome. I actually stayed at the Best Western Las Brisas in July. It was acceptable. Had lunch today at the Montage - and whilst it is lovely - would not spend the $$$ to stay there.

Would not go to Cancun in August.

Stay in San Diego and go to a Padre game at Petco Park. I have been to many different stadiums around the country and Petco Park is one of my very favorites. You will love it.

Your boys will likely love Alcatraz - it is a fun day to spend. It does sell out over the summer so please book in advance as you firm up your schedule.

I have gone to Vegas a few times with my kids - Cheer and Dance competitions often brought us there and my dh's work. If you do go - take your boys to see the Blue Man Group. So fun for kids (unless they have any special needs to noise and lights. just an fyi) pay for good seats - we have seen it far away and up close and it was way more fun up close.

Lake Tahoe is stunning. I have only been there in the winter but we have a week planned there in August and I am looking forward to it!

I meant to comment on Disneyland.

We go often as passholders - if you can afford to - stay at a Disney property. It is worth the little bit extra $$ The California Grand is one of my favorite properties and has a lovely pool with big cushy chairs. If your bride likes spas it has an excellent one - you can often get into the park earlier when staying at a property.

The next down in price is the Disneyland Hotel and after that is the Paradise Pier. You can often get deals with booking directly with Disney and combining tickets with hotels.

Toy Story at California Adventure is a great ride - no fast pass - so go there first thing in the morning - the line there can be over an hour easy if you do not.

The Aladin show at California Adventure is a lot of fun and is ending in August. Be sure to sit on the lower level - it makes a big difference - good to get off your feet for a while and cool off. We all enjoy it - it is like a broadway show

Skip TJ. Just not worth it. POssibly dangerous, definitely not a nice place these days.

We've taken our kids to LV for years. There is plenty there that children enjoy: The rides at Circus Circus, the shows at Excalibur, the lions at the MGM, the animatronic gods at Caesars, the Star Trek stuff at the Hilton, the roller coaster at New York New York (although there is definitely a size limit on that), the food in many of the casinos, including gelato everywhere at the Venetian. Sun screen is an absolute must at the pool, I got burned in about 20 minutes one year.

Do be aware that driving to Hoover Dam can be a bit of a trial, as parking can be difficult.

If you do Disneyland on a day when it is open until late I would think that one day would be enough. The kids might want to go back, but I don't think you will.

Santa Cruz has a beautiful beach. The water is not particularly warm, but it's warm enough to swim in, and there is a lovely boardwalk with lots of rides. My daughter and niece had a blast there last summer. The rides are open until at least 11 p.m., I believe.

If I had to choose between Yosemite and Grand Canyon I would choose Yosemite. GC may be more impressive, but YOsemite is just gorgeous, and there is plenty to do there. Tahoe is tons of fun as well.

Monterey has history, and of course has the aquarium. Carmel has never seemed particularly child-friendly to me.

How about a plan that has you flying into LV, visiting the Grand Canyon on a day trip and Hoover Dam on a different day, then driving out to the West Coast. Perhaps then traveling up the coast from San Diego through Anaheim. From LA, drive up Highway 99 through Fresno and into Yosemite. Out of Yosemite you can travel east to Highway 395 and up to Lake Tahoe, then out of Tahoe and over to San Francisco. From SF you start your way back down the coast via Santa Cruz and Monterey. You then fly home from LA (or San Diego, or Las Vegas, or wherever works best for you).

Have fun and please report back!

With kids ages 8 and 11, I would definitely do at least two days at Disney.

So much information....you guys are great!!!

Your collective enthusiasm for California has convinced me to ditch my plans of spending some of my time in Mexico. If I can get the support of the rest of the family, I'm going to spend the whole month exploring the whole west Coast!!!

I will redraft my itinery, based on all your suggestions and will repost it shortly.

MomDD, where is the Blue Man Group show? I presume at one of the Casino's? I will go see the Padre's and also try to get tickets to a Dodgers game. Seeing I'm going to spend a month there I may as well try for a Giants game as well.

Thank's for all your help. This will be a really special trip and I will certainly post a comprehensive report.

Blue Man is at the Venitian in Vegas - http://www.blueman.com/tickets/las_vegas

I have not had the fortune to get to a Giants Game - but that is one high on my list to get to - I would do that over a Dodger game but I am a San Diego fan . Know that the Dodgers stadium is a pain and not very nice. The Angels put on a fun game. If you want to blow a ton of cash and score amazing tickets- get diamond club seats and go to the buffet they put on. We always joke "only in Orange County" - it is a *very nice "baseball" experience .

The great thing about AT&T Park (like Petco, but very UNlike Dodger Stadium) is that it's downtown --- you can walk or take Muni from anywhere in the city. I work about a mile away, and regularly walk to games. (MomDD, anytime you want to go on a day I have tickets for (we get 10 games a year), I'll be happy to take you!)

Ahh, MomDD, how can you not like Dodger dogs at Chavez Ravine? And I've heard they did some renovations to the park too. But seriously, my husband loves baseball and we've been to all the California teams mentioned. You cannot go wrong.

I also recommend going to see the Giants. I've not been to see the Dodgers or the Angels, so I guess it isn't a fair comparison - but AT&T park is great. I actually don't even really like baseball, but I love going to Giants games. The park is really neat and you've got wonderful views of the bay. My company has had our summer picnic there a couple times and everybody has a blast.

Another thought: if you do decide to go to Lake Tahoe, spend enough time for your kids to swim and play in the lake. There are some nice beaches and swimming areas as well as paved bike trails around the lake (with bike rentals nearby) - and I think these would be very different experiences than you have in OZ. My Aussie relatives adored Tahoe, Zion, Bryce, Grand Canyon and Yosemite (and they are bushwalkers back home).

SF - you better watch it - I just might take you up on it

5alive - I know.. I know and the truth is I have not been to the Dodger stadium in a few years - with Petco and the Angels - I just prefer those.

Like SF said, the experience of it being downtown is really sweet.

I completely agree with elnap - if you go to Lake Tahoe, definitely plan time to swim, hang out, and ride bikes. That's the best part of going to Lake Tahoe

And if you do go to Lake Tahoe, the best beach in my opinion is Sand Harbor on the very north side of the Lake, past Incline Village. It's absolutely gorgeous, and the water is shallow very far out so it warms up wonderfully (the rest of Lake Tahoe is far too cold for pleasant swimming). There is a Shakespeare festival there every summer and the plays are right there at the beach - it's a fabulous venue on a lovely summer evening (does get a little chilly at night, bring a sweater), especially when there's a full moon.

Enjoying the information about Lake Tahoe as we will be there in August!

Padres Game -- YES
Giants Game -- YES
Angels Game -- Yes -- if you don't get to either of the first 2
A's Game -- Yes -- if you don't get to either of the first 2
Dodgers Game -- NO!!! (Die hard Giants fan here -- not even for the dodger dogs )
Sand Harbor -- YES!!!

Janisj - I love the Angels but agree with you without even for the sake of "who" is playing but just the ballpark experience itself.

I did also want to let you know about the Southern California City Pass- which is a deal if you end up wanting to go to ALL of the places listed:

http://www.citypass.com/city/socal.html

A LOT of passion for baseball here!! I cant wait to see what it's all about.

MomDD, that Citypass is a great tip. The only downer is the 14 day validity as if I continue with my plan of doing a "loop", Disney and SanD will be at opposite ends of my 4 week itinery.

Speaking of Itineries, seeing I have officially dumped the idea to split this trip with Mexican beach time, this is my new plan...

7 NIGHTS.... LA/ANAHEIM/SANTA BARBARA

This will include 3 days at Disney,split between the 2 parks, a visit to La Brea and some R & R at the beach.

2 NIGHTS MONTEREY OR SANTA CRUZ

I still need to research what this area has to offer but it seems like the ideal place to break the drive.

4 NIGHTS SAN FRANCISCO

I have been convinced to add more time here. Will get to a baseball game, go to Alcatraz and still looking for some suggestions.

3 NIGHTS LAKE TAHOE

Rent a cabin in the Sand Harbour area and relax for a few days.

2 NIGHTS YOSEMITE

Tented Accomadation, in the park (mid week)

3 NIGHTS VEGAS/GRAND CANYON

Still need some help here. Will spend at least one night at the GC NORTH RIM and visit Zion. If it is practical to drive from Yosemite direct to the GC, I will do that, spend 2 nights and 1 in Vegas. Otherwise, it will have to be Vegas/GC/Vegas. Also want to see Hoover Dam.

7 NIGHTS SAN DIEGO/LA

Plan on spendind 6 nights in La Jolla, visiting the Zoo/Sea World/Balboa Park mixed with plent of Beach time and then spend our final night in LA doing anything we missed earlier.


There is still plenty of scope to modify this programme if I have skipped something that shouldn't be missed.

Any further recommendations, particularly regarding accomodation would be great. I am probably looking at around $150 a night on average. If I can trim this in some places, I can splurge in others.

I will also repost this as a new topic as the plan is now very different from the original. I hope you dont mind.

Thank you all once again...Shane, Kerry, Joel and Caleb xxxx

That looks like an excellent plan. You could always tweak here or there, but it really looks good the way it is.

Only one minor issue: "Rent a cabin in the Sand Harbor area and relax for a few days." There really aren't any cabins near Sand harbor. It is at the NE corner of the lake. The nearest development is Incline Village on the north end, and nothing much on the mostly undeveloped east side.

Incline is a fairly high end town but there are some condos available for rent. Otherwise, the main option is the Hyatt.

Your best bet would be to stay in a cabin or lakeside motel somewhere between Kings Beach and Tahoe City. Then you would be a short drive to the Snad Harbor area.

Another idea for Lake Tahoe is Zephyr Cove. My family had a reunion there several years ago for my grandma's 80th birthday. It worked out great. They have different sized cabins set back in the trees just beyond the beach. There is a restaurant and snack shop on site as well as a pier where you can rent small boats and water toys. You can also take boat cruises on the lake from there. The beach is nice - not quite as nice as Sand Harbor, but still pretty darned good. Lake Tahoe is of course very cold, but I've never found it to be too bad - esspecially when I was a kid.

In addition to cabins and lakeside motels, there are also many condo developments in the area between Kings Beach and Tahoe City, as well as very upscale houses (some of which are for available for rent). We have stayed at Brockway Springs (Kings Beach), Tahoe Taverns (Tahoe City) and Chinquapin, as well as one or two shabby motels. I particularly love Brockway Springs because of its pool overlooking the lake, its grassy area for playing on, and the fact that it's walking distance to Kings Beach town. The condos are not luxurious, very simple, but fully outfitted. They also have a couple of tennis courts. It's also the closest of the California towns/condos to Incline Village, although we never spent much time there. Full of families with kids.

We own a timeshare at the Ridge Tahoe - it is not on the lake itself, but might work for the rates you want. I believe they do nightly rental as well. It is where we are staying in August.

You could do priceline for the anahiem area if you are not going to stay at a DL property. There seems to be fairly good success with that. If you are going to stay at a DL property (It will be more than 150.00 USD a night) the California Grand is indeed grand... right on Downtown Disney. The DL hotel is "next" and than the Paradise Pier. Paradise Pier has a fun water slide.

For SF I have stayed in Union Square as well as Fisherman's warf and prefer Union Square. I used points and stayed at the St Francis in a very large room. Not sure if we got lucky or not but it was one of the most spacious hotel rooms we have been in. Expedia has some great rates.

For Vegas - I love the Ventian - you can sometimes get good rates there - so check it out - and it is where the Blue Man Group is located if you end up going to a show (my kids all loved it - have been twice!). Not sure how great the pool is at the Venitan so someone else might vouch for that.

In San Diego - did you narrow it down to where you want to stay? Beach area or downtown? The Marriott on the harbor has a great pool and is close to downtown to go to the zoo and the Midway - I think you boys would enjoy both. You can take the ferry over the Coradado as well - you can also walk to Petco Park from there and see a Padre game. You will have to drive to the beach of course from there.

I recommend taking a day/afternoon going to George's on the Cove and having lunch on the roof top and walking down to the sea wall and seeing all the seals. My Mom was just there and said they all had little pups - too cute.

Thanks guys your help is just overwhelming.

There seems like plenty of options on Tahoe.

In San Diego we will stay near the beach as this will be in lieu of Mexican beach time.

I have started a new Thread with my new extended trip plans here.....
http://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/california-dreamingplanning-a-family-trip-to-the-west-coast.cfm

Feel free to add any comments there or here, whatever you prefer.

Zephyr Cove would be good. I like Brockway too. But I think they are fairly pricey.

For for a condo that would be a bit cheaper than the Ridge/Brockway Springs -- In Incline Village is Club Tahoe http://www.clubtahoe.com/

It is not on the lake and doesn't have the gorgeous lake views, but is in central Incline Village w/ a pool, indoor and outdoor spas, two tennis courts, etc. It is in the woods but is still walking distance to a major supermarket, several restaurants, shops . . .

I think if I am going to go there, I may as well splurge on lake views. I am happy to go "elcheapo" in my city stopovers so I can spend a little more for views. Will $200 approx get me there?

also check out www.hotwire.com

for priceline bidding you will need two rooms.

the "calendar of wins" from last year can give you some ideas of prices at www.betterbidding.com s well as a place to learn the ropes of system, and also possible hotel names on the blind purchasing at hotwire.

good luck

<<<It is not on the lake and doesn't have the gorgeous lake views>>>

Yes, but look at these pictures - especially the ones of/from the pool! Sorry, I don't know the prices.

http://www.brockwaysprings.com/TheResort.htm

We've stayed at Brockway several times and liked it a lot - we used to go with a group that usually stayed there. The only issue with Brockway is that it doesn't have a beach on site - it isn't far from beaches though. So it depends on what you want. The views from the lakefront condos are great. There are also "lake view' condos that have decent views too.

Once we stayed at Lakeland Village, which is in South Lake Tahoe - the condos were nice, the on-site beach was pretty good. It also had the benefit of being close to the casinos, which was important for some of the people in our group. The next trip we went back to Brockway though - I think Brockway was less expensive.

sf7307. Oh, no argument. I certainly agree the Brockway Springs has the amazing views. My suggestion was just an alternative if budget is an issue. It sounds like the OP is hoping for lakeside.

I don't know current rates at Brockway, but I sort of doubt they'd be $200 or less in summer. Even Club Tahoe raises their rates to $250 for the summer season. (to give you an idea - up to the middle of May Club Tahoe is only $145 a night)

Brockway looks amazing but they have a 7 night minimum during high season and its over $300 a night for a 2 bedder.

Lakeland has loft rooms with a pull-out for $250 all up inc taxes and has availability. I might try and find out more about the surrounding area. Views look great.

I'll check Club Tahoe as well.

Club Tahoe is about the same if not more than Lakeland. I'm leaning to Lakeland at the mo. Any thoughts?

There is a fundamental division among Tahoe "people" - there are North Shore people, of which I am one, and South Shore people (which is where Lakeland Village is). The South Shore is where "Stateline" is (technically, it's South Lake Tahoe, CA and Stateline, NV) -- and casinos. I have no objection to casinos, it's just that they change the nature of your surroundings. South Lake is just much more developed than the North Shore, and hence, in my opinion, not as pleasant. That doesn't mean I don't enjoy it when I'm there, it's just not where I would choose to go between the two. The views from the top of Heavenly Valley are spectacular, unfortunately, for the most part, you won't be where the views are! North Shore is less developed, feels less suburban, and has more of a funky vibe.

The condo developments themselves are pretty equal (none of them is high-end, you're paying for location, etc.).

I'd choose Club Tahoe myself, but Lakeland would definitely be OK too. I prefer the north end of the lake (but always also drive around to the south end at least once during my stays).

Club Tahoe units have a king-sized master bedroom/ensuite, a smaller double bedded room w/ hall bath, full kitchen plus a loft w/ twin beds. No one would have to sleep on a sofa sleeper.

I don't know what you meant by luxury tents in Yosemite, but if you are talking about Camp Curry, that's OK. It's not really camping -- don't worry about that. It's just that you have a tent for your walls instead of a wooden building. However, be forewarned that the "housekeeping" camp by the river is cheek-by-jowl tents only feet from each other, dusty and dry, noisy, and generally seemed like a refugee camp. Absolutely do NOT stay there!! Even if there's nothing else available in the valley.

If accommodations in the valley are full, you can stay on the western outskirts of the park, on highway 41 at El Portal, which would be about half an hour's drive from the valley, or south of the valley on 41, around Wawona. These are both winding roads, but then all the roads are in Yosemite.

If you are OK with something rustic, you could try Camp Richardson on the southwest shore of Lake Tahoe. It's full of individual cabins and faces on a lovely beach. It's a fair distance from the casino area of South Lake Tahoe. But I don't know whether there are still places available for this summer.

And, to add to my last post, I too think you should not go to Las Vegas. It really is not a good place to go with kids. However, if you do still decide to go, from Yosemite, take the road across Tioga Pass in the park, then down the back side of the Sierra Nevada mountains to Highway 395, then south and go through Death Valley on your way to Vegas. The east front of the Sierras is a breathtaking sight -- sheer mountains rising abruptly from a high (5,000 ft) valley. Very rural, with lots of cattle farming.

Actually, you can also take this "back way" to get to LA, by going on south on 395 through the desert and then heading west again to Southern Calif.

Thanks charnees, yes it is Camp Curry we are considering. I dont need all the trimmings but I am not generally a "happy" camper. Refugee conditions are definately not my scene.

Rustic is fine. I will look into Richardson.

Janisj and SF7307, The reason that I was considering South Tahoe was purely to cut dowm a little on travel from SF and outbound to Yosemite. My boys are reasonable travellers but I want to avoid as many "Are we there yet?" momments as there will be a lot of long stints in the car on the next few legs of the trip. If there is a discernable difference that will effect our enjoyment, I will certainly reconsider as it is a long way to come to cut a few corners.

We pretty much just want to enjoy the Lake and soak up the views so we certainly dont need a built up area. Even restaraunts wont be necessary as we will probably just "throw a prawn or 2 on the Barby". Anything rustic with a view on the North shore close to a beach?

"Janisj and SF7307, The reason that I was considering South Tahoe was purely to cut dowm a little on travel from SF and outbound to Yosemite. "

Well - looking at a map, that makes sense. But it actually usually takes longer to drive hwy 50 to southshore than I-80 to northshore. I-80 is a multi-lane, high speed freeway and then hwy 267 is just a few miles from Truckee to north Lake Tahoe.

Hwy 50 is a partly 2 lane, winding road that can be very slow because of all the camper van/motorhome traffic. In summer - I'd take I-80 every time over hwy 50 if I had the choice.

As for heading south to Yosemite - assuming you are going down 395 to Tioga Pass, starting from northshore would only add about 30 extra drive.

Thank Janisj, the North shore it is!!!

Thank you for clearing that up. Maps are great but nothing is more valuable than first hand knowledge and that is why I value all of your information so much.

Oops - that should be >>would only add about 30 mins extra drive time<<

You're welcome -- your kids in the back seat will probably be much happier on the drive to north Tahoe than on the twisty/turny hwy 50.

One hint when you get to Truckee - the first exit that mentions Lake Tahoe is for hwy 89 to Squaw Valley and on to Tahoe City. If you are headed to Incline Village you want to go another mile or so to either the Central Truckee or the hwy 267 exits. Both will put you on the shorter route to NE Tahoe.

Funny about the opinions of the different tent cabins in Yosemite Valley. I've always considered the tent cabins at Curry to be cheek by jowel and the ones at Housekeeping to be more spread out. Camp Curry doesn't even have room for people to have their own camp fires. We've stayed at Housekeeping Camp four different times and found it to be perfectly fine. The thing about Housekeeping Camp through is that you do need to bring gear. We take everything we would normally take for camping, just minus the tent. So I wouldn't recommend it for people travelling by plane. I think Camp Curry is a decent option for people who want to sort of camp without bringing any gear.

If we do manage to get a booking there, then Curry Camp will do us fine. Can we squeeze 4 in a tent? Our 8 year old is very small and can fall asleep anywhere. He is more than happy to jump in with us.

Yeah - 4 in a tent is not a problem. If I am not mistaken, the configuration is 1 double bed one one side of the tent and then a set of bunked beds on the other.

Just spoke to my 11 year old who has decided that he will skip his school camp (grade 5) if we change our dates to June. This would be fabulous as the fights are almost $2000 cheaper at the momment and I can start booking. Not to mention that it also 1 month less to wait.

Dont want him to miss out so we have left the decision to him, but really, Disneyland VS Ballarat? No contest in my book. Will keep you posted.

I didn't read all your posts, but there has been a lot of violence in Mexico lately even in tourist areas. I would stay in the US.

FamilyTravlin: The OP is long past that idea. Mexico isn't in the plan . . .

I love Mexico but I would NOT go in August. My husband & I were there 3 weeks-Cancun area last Dec. You will love California-SF a beautiful city-we are just a ferry ride away(|My husband works on the ferrys) Lake Tahoe is spectacular. Glad you are going to skip TJ-there has been a lot of drug violance on the border towns. Enjoy you trip-book ASAP for Yosemite.

Good Job ALL for contributing to what looks like an excellent travel plan.

That was fun to read, and to watch the process evolve all to the benefit of the OP and his family's interests, and all in good and generous spirit. Hurray!