4 week family trip ideas

Old Sep 15th, 2014, 07:40 AM
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4 week family trip ideas

Hi
we are visiting the US from South Africa for the first time in June/July 2015, for a month (long planned dream trip!) . We're a family of 4 (Mom, Dad, 12 year old girl and 9 year old boy). We'd love to see some of the 'big' sights, experience a bit of nature, and have some 'experiences' to remember.

Our provisional itinerary looks as follows:
20 June - arrive in NY in the afternoon from South Africa.
20 - 27 June - New York (booked, timeshare hotel). No car - will use train /taxi etc.

Week in NY. Perhaps a day trip or 2 from NY via Train? Any suggestions?
We're also considering buying the NY Pass for 5 days? But I'm not sure if it'll be worthwhile, given that its Summer vacation and most of the attractions will be very busy, so we may end up only doing a few of the 'included' attractions?

27 June check out.
27 June to 1st July - Itinerary free. Any suggestions for these 5 days? We will be travelling by train, or could rent a car if better.
We're thinking Washington DC and Philadelphia areas over Boston area, especially with kids? And maybe a night or 2 in a smaller / countryside town nearby?

1st or 2nd July - fly to West Coast. Not sure yet where to. Collect car rental from airport.
2nd to 8th July -- still deciding. 8th-15th July - booked (timeshare resort) - Oxnard, near Ventura (closest we could get to LA!) 15th July -18th July - still deciding.
+- 19th July we need to start making our way home

So we have 6 days from 2-7 July, and 4 days from 15-18 July, still free.
I have in mind to use the 6 days (2-7 July) for a road trip to Las Vegas (2 nights), perhaps a Death Valley day trip from Las Vegas (?? insane??), Grand Canyon (not sure if we can fit that in) and visit Joshua Tree NP. Although that is most probably fartoo much.

Whilst in Oxnard we'll visit all the LA attractions! Any suggestions here? Perhaps San Diego or is it not feasible for a day trip?

We then plan to use the last 4 days to drive Coastal H'way from Oxnard to SF (+- 2 days with an overnight en route) and finish the trip in SF (2-3 days)? Yosemite would have been great but perhaps a dream too far?

As you can see, we're trying to do a lot, but it is our first ever trip to the US!

Thanks for any suggestions or improvements!
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Old Sep 15th, 2014, 07:55 AM
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Just time for one quick comment re the CA bits right now:

San Diego isn't really a day trip from Oxnard. It is a 3.5 hour drive each way if you don't hit traffic . . . and you almost ALWAYS hit traffic somewhere along the route.

Maybe consider flying from the East Coast to San Diego, stay three nights and see all the sites you can squeeze in. Then maybe a few nights in Orange County or Santa Monica/Manhattan Beach area. Use that time to visit the OC beaches, Disney (really needs two full days), Knotts Berry Farm, etc. Then up to Oxnard. Use that base to visit sites in the northern LA Basin (Universal, Getty, Malibu, Hollywood, etc) and Santa Barbara.

I would NOT go to Death Valley in June.
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Old Sep 15th, 2014, 08:28 AM
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A couple of notes:

Agree to avoid the desert in summer - there are plenty of natural wonders to see without subjecting kids to areas where it's just too hot to leave the car.

Like the idea to fly into SD and sightsee there for a few days before heading north.

In NYC you should NOT get any passes - it's practically impossible to get to enough places to make them pay - and their "no lines" benefit is illusory - few places have lines. The one thing you should get in advance is tickets to the Statue of Liberty - tickets to the crown sell out months in advance. Go to the website of the National Park Service and get tickets as soon as your dates are solidified. Since this activity takes about 5 hours better to go for the first ferry of the day.

Also if you want tickets to any hit broadway shows you should start looking for options about 5 or 6 months in advance. For older shows go to broadwaybox.com about 3 months out to get a good choice of discount tickets.
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Old Sep 15th, 2014, 08:54 AM
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I'd go to Washington D.C. for those 4-5 days after NYC. Spend a few days in DC and possibly a couple days in Virginia. Shenandoah National Park is beautiful and there are lots of small towns to choose from for an overnight or two.

I would fly to Phoenix after that. Drive up to Sedona for a night or two, then continue on to the Grand Canyon for an overnight. Head to Las Vegas if you must (it's not super kid friendly) and make your way over to Oxnard eventually. You CAN go to Death Valley - we have had a couple threads recently where people asked about going in August (the hottest month of the year) and were told it was too dangerous to get out of their car (ridiculous advice). Both people reported back and said they went anyway and it was great. You'd want to drive through early in the day before it gets really hot but it is definitely doable.

I know you have a timeshare in Oxnard but I'd seriously consider staying elsewhere to explore LA. You can plan on a lot of driving and traffic if you try to make day trips from Oxnard into LA.

Lastly, you will be visiting over the 4th of July holiday weekend. Expect anywhere to be busier than normal that entire weekend.
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Old Sep 15th, 2014, 10:53 AM
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The cheapest car rentals are in Las Vegas. Fly to Las Vegas. Drive up the "Strip" so that you can say you've seen it. Drive through Boulder City and stay at the Hacienda hotel/casino which is 2 miles from Hoover Dam. The next day you have a good head start on your way to see the south rim of the Grand Canyon.
See either Joshua Tree or Death Valley but not both. You could also drive through the Mojave National Preserve and see lots of Joshua trees.
Return the car to Las Vegas and fly toward home from there.
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Old Sep 15th, 2014, 11:03 AM
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Agree with avoiding the desert, it will be HOT there, over 100F. Try and spend two nights driving Highway 1, so many things to see there, maybe one night Pismo Beach and one night Monterey.
San Diego is a very nice town if you can fit it in, but agree, it is not a daytrip.
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Old Sep 15th, 2014, 12:11 PM
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>

Not feasible to do a day trip to San Diego from Oxnard.

I, too, would not go to the desert in June. I went to Death Valley the past April and it was already in the 90's. Very hot.
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Old Sep 15th, 2014, 02:13 PM
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Please don't go to Vegas to just get a cheaper car rental . . . Besides since you are visiting from Overseas you can get discounted, all-inclusive car hires than cover insurance, and one-way drop off fees. Much better/cheaper than most Americans can get.
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Old Sep 15th, 2014, 02:42 PM
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Using Oxnard as a base for sightseeing in Los Angeles is not a good idea. For one thing, there are 60 miles of busy highways between the two cities. (Oxnard is a good base if you want to visit Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Ojai.)

Also, San Diego requires more than a day trip even if you stay in Los Angeles rather than Oxnard. If you want to go to the famous zoo, SeaWorld, or some other attraction you will need to spend at least one night there. Two nights would be better.

On the west coast, I would focus attention on Los Angeles (a movie studio, Disney World, etc.), Highway 1 between LA and San Francisco, the Hearst Castle in San Simeon, San Francisco, and national parks: Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, Death Valley, and Zion (rather than Joshua Tree). (Others on this forum may urge you to not go to Death Valley during the summer, but we've been there in the summer several times with no problems.)

Las Vegas in a loathsome place in many ways, but it is also fascinating. Your children's eyes will pop. Valley of fire, near Las Vegas, makes a memorable day trip, and Zion National Park (160 miles east of Las Vegas) is a spectacularly beautiful place.

The Grand Canyon is often visited as a day trip from Las Vegas, but, in my opinion, it is better not to go to the Grand Canyon if you can't spend at least one night there. On a day trip you will spend five hours driving there, peek over the edge with hundreds of other day-trippers, and then spend five hours driving back.

To see as much as you can in the time you have, you will have to stay in places much closer to the sights you want to see. That will probably require that you compromise on the quality and spaciousness of your lodging.

If you consult California and Arizona guidebooks (such as those published by Fodor's), you will be able to make much better decisions about how to maximize the use of your time here.

HTtY

PS At the time you are traveling, you can go or leave Yosemite via Tioga Pass on highways that connect Death Valley and Las Vegas to that park.
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Old Sep 15th, 2014, 02:48 PM
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>>To see as much as you can in the time you have, you will have to stay in places much closer to the sights you want to see.
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Old Sep 15th, 2014, 03:06 PM
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I would try to maybe see Nantucket/Cape Cod while you are in the MA area.

On the CA side of things, I would definitely recommend Disneyland while you are in the LA area. It will be busy the time of year you will be in CA, but I think it would be fun for the kids and parents as well. However, it I quite expensive. Ages 10+ it is $265 for a 3 day hopper pass, which will be necessary to visit both parks and see everything there. You could do the 3 day, 1 park per day pass, which is cheaper. Still over $200 though.

The desert will be hot during that time of year. 110+ degrees. The Grand Canyon is grand. So, if it is something that you can't live without seeing, then you should see it. Just take lots of water and wear super cool clothes.

I would agree with flying into San Diego. It is a fun town. They have a Maritime Museum right near the airport. That could be fun for the kids. Also, the San Diego zoo is awesome!! If you want to venture out a little farther, there is the San Diego Wild Animal park. That is fun too. I haven't been there for a few years though. So, I am not sure how much it has changed. However, you could always look up more information about it online http://www.sdzsafaripark.org/. You are from South Africa, so I don't know if you have actually been on real safaris or not. But, it is a fun option.

I just did the HWY 1 trip from SF to Santa Barbara. It was beautiful. However, it is a LONG drive. With some stops along the way it took about 12 hours. I would recommend only going that route if you are going to be staying the night along the way. It is very windy and on the edge of cliffs in some spots, so if that doesn't appeal to you, I would just take HWY 101.

Also, you may want to expect fog on the coast in the morning/early afternoon time that time of year. It is known as "June Gloom".

There is so much to see and do in CA. It is really an awesome state....I might be a little biased though ;-)
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Old Sep 15th, 2014, 06:46 PM
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oops . . . That should say >>they apparently have a time share trade.
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Old Sep 16th, 2014, 01:01 AM
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Utah has superb parks of international fame. Zion being the most visited. Books. The most comprehensive, with driving instructions, is this one
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00COBH45M

Next is South Rim Grand Canyon - there are airplane tours from Las Vegas . Caution: Some go to the West Rim which NOT the real Grand Canyon, but have an interesting extend glass viewing area - Google: Grand Canyon Skywalk. If on a budget, there are bus tours there from LV
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Old Sep 16th, 2014, 01:51 AM
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Thanks everyone for the replies, I really do appreciate your efforts!

Based on above, I think we may re-look at our itinerary as follows:

East Coast:
New York 7 days:
- thanks for the tips regarding the NY pass. For the 4 of us, its approx $ 700 for a 5 day pass, so its quite a big decision!

Washington DC 3 days, followed by a day or 2 near Shenandoah Nat. Park, scenic little town for accommodation.
- Would you suggest a car rental from Washington DC then rather than public transport?

West Coast:
Fly into San Diego for 3 days 2-4 July. Car rental at airport.
- Any suggestions for a good place to enjoy Independence Day celebrations there?
- we're considering Coronado or La Jolla to base ourselves at?

- 5 July, drive to Las Vegas (just to say we were there!) via the desert route, past Anza-Borrego Desert, the Salton Sea, Joshua Tree National Park and the Mojave Park, with overnight en route very close to Joshua Tree.
Arrive Las Vegas late 6 July.
Las Vegas 7 July.

- I think we may not have enough time to make it to the Grand Canyon - I agree, it warrants at least an overnight visit (unless we give up a day in LA which may be an option).
- we have requested a more central timeshare location, but am not too optimistic given that its peak vacation time.

8 -15 July - LA.
Disney is - unfortunately - a must for the kids, despite the crowds and waiting lines.
- I'm also consideirng
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Old Sep 16th, 2014, 02:01 AM
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(Sorry accidentally posted too early...)

I'm also considering
- Knott's Berry Farm
- Malibu Beach, Huntington Beach and Santa Monica beach
- Day trip to Hollywood, Beverley Hills, Rodeo Drive (again - just to say 'been there' !), Walk of Fame etc.


15 July - 2 day trip along coastal Highway to San Francisco.
- Is Hearst Castle really worth it, not sure I'll appreciate all the excesses. I think the beauty and nature of the area may be more appealing.

I like the idea of an airplane tour from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon, that could be a worthwhile and memorable extravagance!

San Francisco +- 3 days
- I've heard Alcatraz tour by night is quite special.
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Old Sep 16th, 2014, 02:22 AM
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- Having read more on this forum and on the internet, I think we may cut LA to 5 full days, and spend the extra days in and around the Grand Canyon area and surrounding parks. I hadn't realized the vast number of options in the area! (P.S. I have a valid excuse, I have ordered my guidebooks but am still waiting for them to arrive!)
- controversial question - would it be best to cut our time on the East Coast by 2 days and add this onto our California/Arizona time?
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Old Sep 16th, 2014, 11:24 AM
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Just make sure the airplane goes to Grand Canyon South Rim and not tourist trap Grand Canyon West (all the helicopter tours go to West Rim).
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Old Sep 16th, 2014, 11:34 AM
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Depends on what is of most interest to you.

I am prejudiced FOR the east coast - think NYC and DC are incredible places - and enjoy that far more than some other places and shuold not be cut short.

The parks in the west are also wonderful - but only you know what is of most interest to you and your family. IMHO LA is pretty much a waste of time - love SD, SF and farther up the coast from LA - but think the city itself needs no more than a 2 days.
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Old Sep 16th, 2014, 01:05 PM
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Ref:
West Coast:
Fly into San Diego for 3 days 2-4 July. Car rental at airport.
- Any suggestions for a good place to enjoy Independence Day celebrations there?
- we're considering Coronado or La Jolla to base ourselves at?

Old Town San Diego (230 acres (93 ha) is historic and an excellent place to have Mexican Food. It was first settled by Spain (1789), Mexico and then Mormon military during the Mexican American War - tour their visitor booth. Else - see http://www.oldtownsandiegoguide.com/

Of course you can drive to the Mexican border, park, walk across the border and take a cab (ask price first) to downtown Tijuana. Sometimes, they have inner-drug wars, but I've never been affected. But.....

Vaga
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Old Sep 18th, 2014, 03:56 AM
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Thanks for the extra suggestions Jamie, NY traveler and Vaga!

OK , now looks like:
NY 20-27 June (7 nights)

Washington or Boston area 27 June to 1 July (4 nights)
1 July : Fly East Coast to Las Vegas
1 July - 3 July: Las Vegas (2 nights)
3 July - 5 July: Grand Canyon NP (Maswik Lodge) (2 nights)
5 July drive towards San Diego: (overnight en route) (1 night)
6 July - 8 July: (San Diego) (2 nights)
8 July (pm) drive to Oxnard
8 July - 15 July : (Oxnard) (7 nights
15 July - 17 July (Coastal drive to SF with 1 or 2 nights overnight en route)
Arrive early 17 July in SF
17-19 July SF (2 nights)

Unfortunately I'm unable to change Oxnard to a more central location in LA.
Any improvement suggestions for above new itinerary?
Thanks!
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