dkhe

I am flying to disneyland on Dec 22nd with 2 kids 7 and 10 years. I am planning to see the parks on dec 23,24 and sight seeing LA on Dec 25th.

Is Christmas a good day to see LA. Are guided tours a way to go. Which guided tour is good to see most of LA with kids

My return flight is from San Francisco on Dec 30th evening. I will be renting a car on Dec 26th for drive to San Francisco. How can I plan the rest of my tour. I can stay anywhere between LA and san francisco and visit as many places between dec 26th to dec 30th but I want to make this trip enjoyable for the kids.

Does it snow in areas between LA and San Francisco during christmas.

nytraveler

If you want to see snow you will have to take a fairly long detour into the mountains - you won't get snow along the coast between LA and SF.

doug_stallings

No, it does not snow in either of these places or in any place in between where you'll be driving, but the weather can be chilly and wet.

But Christmas Day may be a difficult day to "see" LA. Pretty much every possible attraction will be closed, and many tours may not operate. You'll have to ask individual companies. If you just want to drive around LA and look at houses and buildings, however, that might be a good day since traffic will be much lighter than usual.

Better might be to "see" LA on December 23 and spend the 24th and 25th at Disneyland since it's open on Christmas day. Just be aware that Christmas Day is one of the busiest days of the year there since few other places are open. Or, alternatively, use that as your travel day since traffic will be lighter.

MichelleY

Doug and nytraveler give good advice. Nothing will be open in LA. No snow, but it could be chilly and rainy. Winter is our rainy season.

janisj

Disneyland will be absolutely jam packed. I sure hope you are staying on property or just across the street from the parks so you can escape throughout the day - it will be crazy crowded.

StuDudley

It last snowed in San Francisco in '77. It started snowing around 8PM & we got a couple if inches. It was gone by noon the next day.

About 20 years ago, the temps were in the 20s for around 10 straight days. No precipitation - so no snow, but it killed all the citrus trees and many other "old" trees. We lost around 5 trees.

I have a picture of me as a kid (about 60 years ago) sitting in the snow in our backyard in San Gabriel (LA county).

San Francisco is wonderful around Christmas. Several skating rinks are set up around the City - Union Square, Justin Herman Plaza.

After visiting LA, I would head north on 101 and then drive up CA #1, starting at San Luis Obispo. Visit Hearst Castle & spend the night there (San Simeon). Then continue north along the beautiful Big Sur Coast. Wander around the redwoods at the village of Big Sur (have lunch at Nepenthe if you arrive at lunch time). Then on to Pt Lobos (just south of Carmel) & spend an hour or so at "the most beautiful meeting of land & sea" (someone's quote). Then stay 2 nights in Carmel. On to San Francisco & spend your remaining time there.

Stu Dudley

logandog

There's always snow on The Matterhorn at Disneyland. I see it every time I drive by.

MichelleY

I think stu has a brother in San Diego.

StuDudley

>>I think stu has a brother in San Diego.

seeyalater

Everyone assumes you will travel up the coast from LA to San Francisco and that does make the most sense. If however you choose to go straight up the middle of the state on I5 you may hit snow at the mountain pass at the north end of the San Fernando Valley heading into the central valley (also known as the Grapevine). I have sat there overnight in early December waiting for the road to open.

DebitNM

I didn't get the impression that the OP is "seeking"snow, but just wants to know if there will be any -- as in, having to deal with it.

Jean

How will you go sightseeing in L.A. on the 25th if you're not picking up the car until the 26th?

Just so you know, traffic in L.A. in the last days before Christmas will be crazy. I can't imagine a worse time to be driving around, looking for parking, trying to see things. If this were my trip, I'd pick up the car in Anaheim the afternoon of the 24th, drive through L.A. on the 25th and keep going before stopping for the night somewhere north of L.A. As loads of people drive to be with family on Christmas Day, the freeways will not be without traffic. You could do a drive-by in L.A. of something that interests you (Santa Monica Pier, Hollywood Blvd., Observatory, whatever), but I wouldn't be making any in-depth sightseeing plans.

I wouldn't drive the coast that week without hotel reservations for each night and dinner reservations for Christmas Day.

bigtyke

I think I saw snow on top of the Matterhorn in Disneyland. It must have been localized because I don't remember any on Space Mountain.

SeaUrchin

Yes the Grapevine, Interstate 5 north of Santa Clarita may close due to snow. Check the weather before you start up the grade if you are taking that route and change plans. Along the coastal route it can be dreary and not very pleasant if it is raining. It is a fairly narrow road on Highway One north of Morro Bay, if you happen to hit bad weather it may not be a good idea.
I would suggest taking Highway 101 north to San Francisco at that time of year if the weather is rainy or foggy.

Carmel is a good place to stay, also Santa Cruz and Monterey.

Sometimes our weather is excellent over Christmas and New Years in Los Angeles. If you watch the Rose Parade you already know that.

KTtravel

Since childhood I have hoped for a white Christmas. No luck so far here in SF.

Tabernash2

Have you checked the dropoff fee for the rental car? Picking up in LA and returning in SF?

yarrl

If you are going up the coast highway Hearst castle is a great attraction. It was built by Willima Randolph Hearst as his get away and is really something spectacular. I remember back as a ten year old when my paretns took me there for the first time I was impressed.
http://www.hearstcastle.org

Christina

I've rented cars in LA and drive up the coast a couple times, I've never had any drop off fee. I don't think most rental companies care about that so much in the US, at least not in the same state. I think it is cheaper to rent at Burbank airport than LAX, but that is airport fees or supply/demand. Also, it might be higher to return somewhere north just due to some local variation in supply/demand, but not a drop off fee per se. IN fact, I just checked and it is cheaper to return at SFO, renting at Burbank, than to return at Burbank last week in Dec. for week, by about $30.

I've been stuck on Grapevine, also, not fun. I used to live in Santa Monica and would go to the movies on Christmas, they were open. But generally, you can't do general sightseeing, of course. It would have to be a laid-back day, going to a restaurant, driving around, the movies, etc.

I agree getting out of town and driving on Christmas might not be a bad idea (driving up the coast).

Tomsd

Why are we even talking going up the Grapevine? Leave LA and drive along the scenic Coast Hiway/1 - to Santa Barbara - and I suggest have lunch in Danish themed Solvang and then finish the drive to be close to Hearst Castle. For a special treat - consider staying on the beach at Moonstone - in Cambria - just south of Hearst Castle. http://www.moonstonehotels.com/CambriaOceanfront.htm

Even if you don't stay at Moonstone, go for a walk there - and also - check out the Elephant Seal beach - about two miles north of the turn into Hearst Castle.

In addition to Hearst Castle - the kids (and adults) would also probably love the Aquarium in Monterrey.

Christina

No one is suggesting the OP do that, except one person thinking they wanted snow, I guess. The rest are just mentioning it (and perhaps as a place to avoid).