aprilmommy0205

Hi! My family and I would like to a California vacation for August 2013.

Ideally, we would like to include the following attractions:
Yosemite
Alcatraz (for the husband)
Legoland (for the 7 year old boy)
Hollywood (for the 10 year old girl)
Disneyland

I went on an escorted tour when I was a teenager and fondly remember Solvang and Big Sur.

We can travel for up to 2 weeks. How would you suggest we tackle this trip?

spirobulldog

Yosemite is my very favorite place. However, August might not be the best time there. Any chance you could go more like the 1st or 2nd week of June. There is a good chance the waterfalls will be dry or nearly dry by August a lot of years.

Do you want to include the coast between San Francisco and LA-Big Sur, Monterey, Hurst Castle, Carmel, Etc? I think your kids would like the Monterey Bay Aquarium(it is far better than most aquariums, IMOP).

San Francisco 2-3 Days
Coast 2-3 days
LA/Disney 3-4 days
Yosemite 2-5 days

There are several major areas in Yosemite to see
The main two are Maripossa Grove(giant Sequoia trees)
I think you need at least half a day for Maripossa.
Then you need a full day in the Valley, but 3 days would be more like it. I would take the shuttle(fee) to Glacier Point and hike down the Panorama Trail that Connects with The Mist Trail back down to the valley.
You might want to stay one night in Wawonna Hotel(near Maripossa) and then 2-4 nights in the Valley. There is all price ranges there including Tent Cabins(which might be really fun for your kids-they do not have a private bathroom though). You could spend a day at Hetch Hetchy and another day along Tioga Road/Tuolumne Meadows area. Just depends on how much hiking you want to do.

If you go to Monterey, consider kayaking in Elkhorn Slough. Really aweseom experience. Point Lobos is nice place to hike too. McWay Falls is a must see. Plan on spending 3 or 4 hours at Hearst Castle.

You might also consider skipping Maripossa Grove and spending a day or two in Sequoia National Park. The tree in Sequoia are better than those in Yosemite(although they are both spectacular), IMOP. If you go in August, I might just do Sequoia and save Yosemite for later date.

Of course, see Chinatown and ride the Cable Cars in SF too.

spirobulldog

If you are flying, check rates. We often fly into San Jose.
Oakland is another option along with San Fran and LA. Several airports to choose from.

tomfuller

I will echo what spiro said. Reserve early for the lodging you want in Yosemite. The rocks are just as beautiful even if there is not as much water coming off the falls. http://www.yosemitepark.com/
Check the prices to fly to several airports and then add in the cost of the car rental returning the car to whichever airport you rented from.
Either fly or take the Amtrak Coast Starlight south to Los Angeles and rent another car for the attractions in southern California. Maybe go over from Yosemite to Monterey to see the aquarium before heading back north to SF to see Alcatraz.
If the kids want to see large Coast Redwoods, drive over the GG bridge to go see Muir Woods.

spirobulldog

yes-At Sequoia or Yosemite, Make reservations NOW!!

aprilmommy0205

Thanks for your replies.

We are kind of locked into August. School doesn't let out here on the East coast until the end of June. The kids are involved in a camp program for the month of July.

I was just looking at the lodging options in Yosemite. While I'd love to stay at the Ahwahnee, I think it might be a bit out of budget. My husband thinks it would be cool to stay in one of the tents at Curry Village, but I am not convinced as camping isn't my cup of tea. LOL I guess we really need to pin down a date soon so I can reserve whatever it is we choose. Would you recommend the Wawona over Curry Village? In your opinion, do we need one overnight or two?

I would like to see everything in between SF and LA. (Ha ha - I know it can't be done). What are the best things to see along the way? Obviously, we can skip the wineries since our children are too young.

I'd like to fit in as much as possible because I am not sure when we'll make the trip again.

aprilmommy0205

It looked to me that I couldn't make reservations 13 months out, rather I have to wait until the one year mark. Is that correct?

MmePerdu

The trouble with California is that one should really think of it, my home state, as 2 countries, north and south. I like to travel at a leisurely pace and wouldn't consider trying to visit 2 countries in 2 weeks, say France and Italy. So please think about the possibility of visiting one or the other. Decide who this trip is really for, the kids or the adults and proceed accordingly. Limit the mileage, which half has the most for the target audience and go from there. I think you'd get the most for your 2 weeks that way.

Rastaguytoday

Yosemite lodging will book 366 days in advance. This is the official park lodging website. It's bulky, but it will work.
http://www.yosemitepark.com/lodging.aspx

It will all depend on which days of the week you are traveling. Disneyland is hell on the weekends.

I would either start from the South or North.

My choice would be start from the South. In order: Legoland, Disneyland, Hollywood and then start driving North.
Stop overnight on the way to Yosemite. 1-2 nights in Yosemite then to San Francisco. If you're going to Hollywood, go on the Universal Studio tour, fun for the whole family.
http://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/

The Hearst Castle is nice, but you are relatively short on time, and it's really out of the way.

If it's Alcatraz, there's a lot to see in San Francisco for all members of the family. The Steinhart Aquarium in Golden Gate Park. http://www.calacademy.org/academy/exhibits/aquarium/

Find StuDudley's San Francisco guide, and it will give you more than you would ever want to know.

Now, it's time to start mapping out the days to make sure you have enough time. Make a soft copy of your proposed itinerary, and keep modifying it until the whole family is satisfied. Post the itinerary when you're satisfied and let the Fodors folks kick it around.

Fly an open jaw ticket, with San Diego and San Francisco as your two airports.

janisj

"Would you recommend the Wawona over Curry Village?"

Neither. I'd recommend Yosemite Lodge over either of them. Nice rooms, Cafeteria and posher restaurant, practically at the foot of Yosemite Falls.

Wawona Hotel is a historic property, but the drive from there into Yosemite Vally takes forever . . . Over an hour at the best of times.

susiedq

They do have some small cabins in Yosemite that are very nice. Those probably book fast. Yosemite is like a large city in the summer. Very, Very crowded. It takes away most of the charm.

Solvang is washed up, don't waste your time.

A drive on the coast, Hwy 1, is beautiful. There is a lot to do in San Francisco. Right outside of the city if Muir Woods. It's incredibly beautiful.

Tomsd

Anyplace you can stay in the Valley Floor/main area/Village area at Yosemite is fine - and we usually enjoy Curry Village - but have also stayed at the other places. Curry Village is fun for kids - (your son should love the pool) - and is fine for grownups, assuming you are not next to a noisy group. If you are at CV - ask when you check in if they can try to find you a quiet area.

And for first time visitors - Yo is amazing, even if there are a lot of fellow visitors there. You can always find places away from the big crowds if you ask around/make a minimal effort.

And as for the order of your trip - I say start in SF - and work your way south - and save the best - most laid back part for last - lounging on SD beaches, - which are less crowded than LA's and much easier to get to/away from.

Also - your son will probably love the SD Zoo, Safari Park (formerly Wild Animal Park) and Sea World, and it's only a little over an hour to get up to Disneyland/Anaheim from SD - assuimg of course - you go after the morning commute - and return before or after the evening commute.

Tomsd

And two weeks is plenty of time to see SF, Yosemite, drive down the Coast and see some of the sights in LA and then wind up kicking back in SD.

Heck - you could even bullet back up I-5 from SD to SF in about 8 hours if you had to at the end.

aprilmommy0205

Thanks Tomsd. I was worried about the very same thing MmePerdu mentioned, but I am hoping we can see a lot of things in the two weeks. I still have to get some travel books for the kids. I want them to be responsible for planning some of the vacation.

janisj

I would NOT stay in Curry Village in August. The whole Valley will be crowded, but at Curry, you will be on top of everyone else, it can be hot and will be dusty. Just not the nice/'camping' experience you may be expecting. In May, late Sept? -sure . . . in August --not me.

Stay at Yosemite Lodge if you can - Large motel type rooms most w/ nice views.

janisj

Meant to say >>Large motel type rooms most w/ balconies and nice views.

spirobulldog

There are a few regular wood cabins with bathrooms. These are pretty normal type cabins, not the tent cabins(although, I think they would be a good option-I do agree with janisj about august perhaps not being very comfortable.

I would stay one night @ Wawonna and then 1 or 2 nights at either Yosemite Lodge or Curry regular cabins.

To get exactly what you want, be prepared to go online exactly the moment that you can make your reservations(either at midnight or 7:00am in the morning-I'm not sure when the exact time is for Yosemite).

Tomsd

To each their own. Curry village is usually a lot of fun, like going back to camp - and it's not that dusty.

Plus - if you feel the need to cool off - you can always go jump in the pool.

There is also a good pizza place at Curry Village and a good ice cream outlet, plus a little store there also, and at night - they have slide shows and Ranger talks.

Tomsd

Again, there are different travel plans/styles one can have.

When in a new area - I like to explore as much as possible - but including some kick back time - and then better plan where to come back to the next trip - and if you haven't had a good preview - how will you know?

If it were me - I would fly into SF - and do the city stuff for a couple of days, them drive to Yo, and after a couple/few days in Yo - drive over to Carmel/Monterrey (you don't have to go back thru SF) and check out the Aquarium, and the like - and then start your journey southward.

FYI - one can drive from Carmel/Monterrey to LA in about 8 hours - straight through - and then San Diego is another couple hours, again, working around commute traffic.

Of course, I recommend you spend some time in Big Sur, tour Hearst Castle if you think the kids would like that - and maybe spend a night in Danish Themed Solvang, and then maybe a night in Hollywood - and then head down to SD and kick back there at the end for a few days.

janisj

Please understand 'Yo' is just an affectation tom uses to convince folks he's a regular visitor. (He is probably the only person on God's green Earth that calls it that)