2 Week West Coast Travel with Family

Old May 31st, 2015, 03:31 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
2 Week West Coast Travel with Family

Hello All:

Looking for some advice from the folks here. We are doing a first time trip to the west coast and want to spend two weeks. This is a high level view of what we are thinking, however having never been to the west coast, not sure if this is practical, so looking for your advice. Family consists of wife and 3 kids(11, 7 & 2). We are looking at traveling in July 2015 and know we are already late in making the bookings.
Day 1 - Fly in to Phoenix Sky Harbour Airport. Rent a car.(Any recommendations of best/cheapest car hire company)
Day 1 & 2 - Stay at a hotel near the GC South Rim - Red Feather Hotel.
Day 3 - Afternoon - Drive to Las Vegas in the PM - recommendation for a hotel/resort with kids
Day 3 & 4 - Stay in LV
Day 5 - Drive to Los Angeles in the AM and stay in/near Disney Land(any recommendations?)...plan to spend 2 days at disney land
Day 5 -8 - Stay in Los Angeles - plan to visit places like San diego Zoo, knotts berry farm, universal studios, lego land - would 2 days be sufficient to see all these places? what would you priortize?...anything else we should be including/removing?
Day 9 - Drive along highway 1 towards SFO, Stay at Carmel. If we start at 6.30am or so and stop at a few places along the way, would we be able to get to Carmel before night?...or may be we stay the last nite in LA at Santa Barbara?...Should we plan this drive differently
Day 10 - Drive to Yosemite Park. any recommendations on where we could stay and what activities we could do with kids?
Day 12 - Drive to SFO - recommendations on places to stay and activities/places to see with kids
Day 13 SFO
Day 14 - fly out of SFO around 4pm.
Lastly - as you see the above proposed itinerary, are there places we can do some shopping?, outlet malls etc?
Any recommendations/help would really be appreciated. Thanks in Advance.
varghesepaul is offline  
Old May 31st, 2015, 05:54 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 72,633
Likes: 0
Received 50 Likes on 7 Posts
First of all I wouldn't fly into Phoenix unless you were going other place in Arizona. Fly into Las Vegas (plus rental cars tend to be cheaper in LV than at Sky Harbor.

>>would 2 days be sufficient to see all these places?
janisj is online now  
Old May 31st, 2015, 06:07 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 10,965
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You have insufficient time to do everything you hope to do. A better trip would concentrate on the many attractions between San Diego and San Francisco. Some noteworthy places that would be of interest to your children and that are not included in your list are the Hearst Castle in San Simeon, a mission (such as La Purisma), the aquarium in Monterey, and the redwoods.

HTtY
happytrailstoyou is offline  
Old May 31st, 2015, 06:10 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 11,716
Likes: 0
Received 17 Likes on 4 Posts
Where are you flying in from? Since you used the term car hire, I'm guessing you are coming from UK or Australia.
Why not fly into Las Vegas (cheaper car rental)?
See Hoover Dam either on the way to or from Grand Canyon South Rim.
Las Vegas is well known for outlet malls.
If you are a foreign visitor, there are a couple of websites that provide a package of car hire, insurance and no drop off fees for one way rentals.
You might want to go from Las Vegas through Death Valley and over the Tioga Pass into Yosemite.
Go from Yosemite to San Francisco and then south along the coast with stops in Monterey/Big Sur and Santa Barbara before Disneyland/LA.
Fly out of LAX. California is having severe drought, so don't expect the waterfalls in Yosemite to be as great as in years past.
SFO is an airport south of the city of San Francisco.
tomfuller is offline  
Old May 31st, 2015, 08:14 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Agree you are trying to do way too much in limited time. You would be doing nothing but driving (and you haven;t allowed for traffic - from LA to SD alone is going to be 4 hours a lot of the time) esp traveling with 3 kids including a toddler.

If it were me I would fly into SD, do that, Disney, avoid LA, stop on the coast on the way north and then spend a couple of days in SF and immediate area.

Agree Yosemite is great - but not sure there is anyplace to stay since you are making arrangements so late.
nytraveler is offline  
Old May 31st, 2015, 08:31 AM
  #6  
ltt
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,466
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
you've got good information there. so now you know you need to refine your itinerary, pick your priorities and drop some. then come back with your plan b so we can help out.
ltt is offline  
Old May 31st, 2015, 09:10 AM
  #7  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hello All: thanks so much for all your inputs. I guess I am packing in too much. Based on your feedback, will rework the schedule and come back to the group. The only booking I have done is at the place at the GC, so will need to hit there first. The rest I still need to do. Also I am flying out of SFO, so need to hit there last.
I am thinking maybe I skip LV and also SD, Knotts Berry Farm, was mainly using LV as a halt point between GC and LA.
What would you say are the Must Do's with kids in 2 weeks I have on the west coast and what would be ideal route if I have to get to GC first and SF last?, happy to cut out the rest.
Thanks so much for all the really quick and honest feedback, really appreciate it.
varghesepaul is offline  
Old May 31st, 2015, 12:35 PM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,287
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You've gotten good advice from others.
First, Disneyland is in Anaheim, not LA, an hour from LA. So look for a place in Anaheim for the days you visit Disneyland and California Adventure. With 3 kids I would look for a suite hotel, like Residence Inn Maingate, it has free hot breakfast and some light weeknight meals and I think free parking.
Drop Legoland, it is expensive and the 11 year old might be bored unless a huge Lego fanatic, this is in Carlsbad about a 45 minute drive north of San Diego.
Knott's is in Buena Park, fairly near Disneyland.
I would try for at least two nights on the Highway 1 drive, maybe 1 in Pismo Beach and another 1-2 in Monterey.
jamie99 is offline  
Old May 31st, 2015, 01:14 PM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 11,716
Likes: 0
Received 17 Likes on 4 Posts
OK. Fly to Las Vegas and rent a car to go to Grand Canyon.
On the way back from Grand Canyon South Rim, stop at Hoover Dam. Stay at the Hacienda casino/hotel which is about 2 miles from Hoover dam. They do have adjoining rooms if you don't get a suite.
Drive from Hoover Dam/Hacienda straight through Las Vegas all the way to Anaheim.
I would limit the amusement parks to Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm.
It is your choice whether to drive up the coast to San Francisco or go by way of Yosemite.
Try to pick a rental car company that does not charge a large drop off fee in San Francisco.
tomfuller is offline  
Old May 31st, 2015, 01:34 PM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 72,633
Likes: 0
Received 50 Likes on 7 Posts
>>Stay at the Hacienda casino/hotel which is about 2 miles from Hoover dam.
janisj is online now  
Old May 31st, 2015, 01:58 PM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 11,716
Likes: 0
Received 17 Likes on 4 Posts
Dine after seeing Hoover Dam and then get to bed for an early departure. http://hooverdamlodge.com/dining/
I'll miss the all you can eat buffet that the Hacienda had.
Rooms seem to be $80 up Sun-Thurs and $100+ Fri-Sat.
I last stayed at the Hacienda in February 2013. My other favorite in southern Nevada is the Fiesta in Henderson.
Does anyone know if there are still helicopter flights from the little hill next to the parking lot?
tomfuller is offline  
Old Jun 1st, 2015, 09:38 PM
  #12  
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 285
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
>

Hi - I'm afraid you've got your geography wrong and you won't be able to do all this Day 5 - 8. Especially if you plan on spending 2 days in Disneyland which is in Anaheim about an hour South of LA. Knott's Berry Farm is in Buena Park near Disneyland. Legoland is another hour South of Anaheim in Carlsbad. The SD Zoo is then another 45 - 1 hr South near Downtown San Diego.

You can see that this isn't possible. Day 5 & 6 Disneyland. Day 7 & 8 you can't do all the rest so you'll have to decide what are your 'musts' for your family.
elizzie4000 is offline  
Old Jun 1st, 2015, 11:35 PM
  #13  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks all.

How does the revised agenda below look?. I have taken out Yosemite and LV.
Day 1 - Fly in to Las Vegas. Rent a car, drive to Grand Canyon South Rim
Day 1 & 2 - Stay at a hotel near the GC South Rim - Red Feather Hotel.
Day 3 - Afternoon - Drive to Hoover dam in the PM - stay at Hoover Dam Lodge
Day 4 - Drive to Anaheim via LV. Stay in Anaheim - Residence Inn Maingate
Day 5 & 6 - Disney land
Day 7 - knotts berry farm
Day 8 - Universal Studio
Day 9 - Drive along highway 1 towards SFO, Stop at Pismo Beach Stay....Any recommendations for place to stay?
Day 10 - Drive to Carmel, visit Herst Castle on the way. Stay at Carmel. Any recommendations?
Day 11 & 12 - visit Point Lobos, Monterey Bay Aquarium
Day 13 - Drive to SF in the AM - recommendations on places to stay and activities/places to see with kids
Day 14 - SF - recommendations on what to do
Day 15 - fly out of SFO around 4pm.
Few specific inputs
1. how does this now look?
2. Where would i fit in some shopping?..LV?...if so do i need to amend the agenda to account for that?
3. I would ideally like to add in some quality beach time...which would be the best family friendly beach on this itinerary and any suggestions how i could fit it in?..i could repurpose day 14? or combine day 7 & 8 into one day or both?.

thanks all.
varghesepaul is offline  
Old Jun 2nd, 2015, 03:44 AM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,304
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Try to get lodging inside the Grand Canyon. Red Feather is about 12 miles from the South Rim, that is nowhere near as convenient as staying inside the park. At this late date you will probably need to call frequently to see if there are any cancellations but it will be worth it if you find an opening that fits your dates.
WhereAreWe is offline  
Old Jun 2nd, 2015, 05:12 AM
  #15  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 11,716
Likes: 0
Received 17 Likes on 4 Posts
There are still helicopter rides from the Hoover Dam Lodge.
http://www.damhelicopterco.com/
It's only 4.5 hours through the Mojave Desert from Las Vegas to Anaheim so I'm guessing if you ended your shopping in LV at 1PM, you would be to Anaheim on time to check in.
tomfuller is offline  
Old Jun 2nd, 2015, 10:05 AM
  #16  
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 13,480
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Car hire is at a premium in July, I don't know your dates so can't compare rates for you, also rates depend on which country you are from. Be sure that your rate quote includes both collision and liability excess coverage. Book soon and check the cancellation/change policies.

I would not spend an overnight near Hoover Dam. Continue on to Anaheim, or halfway, take advantage of the cool evening temperatures for driving and the much lighter traffic heading into Anaheim in the evening.
clarkgriswold is offline  
Old Jun 2nd, 2015, 10:10 AM
  #17  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thank you. I will call and try my luck.
If anyone has recommendations for stay at Pismo beach and Carmel, pls let me know. Also the ideal beach to spend a day with family along the above itinerary.
Thanks
varghesepaul is offline  
Old Jun 2nd, 2015, 10:17 AM
  #18  
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 13,480
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Where to stay in San Francisco: Try to book the Columbus Motor Inn asap. Good location and parking for the car will be included. You may want the car for a trip up to Muir Woods, and also to get you all to the airport for departure.

Universal is really not geared for kids that age except maybe the 11 year old. I would skip it in hot July and head up the coast towards Monterey. Add the extra day to San Francisco or the Monterey area. I would also skip Hearst with young kids.

Pismo, Monterey, all along the coast lodgings are filling up already for July especially rooms that accommodate 5 persons. I would probably pick up a self-inflating intex airbed from Target somewhere along the way so that you can book rooms with two queen beds and just pop open the airbed for one of the children. The twin size re-folds nicely and doesn't take up much room in the boot of the car. There is a Target store 2 miles south of LV airport open until 10pm, you might also pick up a car safety seat for the 2 year old as the car company might charge you $80 per week.
clarkgriswold is offline  
Old Jun 2nd, 2015, 10:33 AM
  #19  
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 13,480
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
AutoEurope has some good car rates with Alamo/Europcar for pickup LAS return SFO. Be sure to check your country-of-origin at the top left. Also, print out the quote which states that all insurances are included/zero excess etc. At the rental counter they may try to tell you otherwise so pull out your printed proof.

With kids that age I would look at Cayucos Beach just north of Pismo, or Avila Beach. Cayucos Beach Inn has large family rooms as does Avila Lighthouse Suites. It's tough to recommend without knowing your $budget and dates. For instance July 4th weekend is a huge three-day holiday here and rates will be sky-high/lodgings already full-up.
clarkgriswold is offline  
Old Jun 2nd, 2015, 12:03 PM
  #20  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,402
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Depending on your final itinerary and which routes you end up taking, here are a few outlets that might be on your way:

http://www.fashionoutletlasvegas.com/

http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=6

http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=20

http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=91

http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=23

Of these, Desert Hills is the largest with the most high end stores followed by the one in Camarillo.

What's your accommodation budget? Are you looking for one or two rooms? Some dates would also help as the California central coast is very busy in July. You'll have a much easier time finding accommodations if your coastal portion falls midweek.
Patty is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -