West coast and East coast trip for 18 days
Apr 14th, 2014, 10:10 AM
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West coast and East coast trip for 18 days
We, a family of 4 adults, intend to visit the important attractions of West Coast and East coast in the middle of May. The starting and ending point will essentially be Kansas City. Seek expert advise for suitable places with suggested itinerary.
Apr 14th, 2014, 11:57 AM
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Under these circumstances, I would devote more of the time to the West Coast, including Los Angels (Warner Brother's Studio), the Pacific Coast Highway, San Francisco, Las Vegas, and the Grand Canyon.
On the East Coast I would concentrate on New York City and Washington D.C. and whatever small towns and countryside you can squeeze in.
HTtY
On the East Coast I would concentrate on New York City and Washington D.C. and whatever small towns and countryside you can squeeze in.
HTtY
Apr 14th, 2014, 11:59 AM
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This is planned for 2014 and keeping in view the limited days, we intend to fly between the major cities and explore around using rent a car. we would be more interested in the site seeing and amusement/fun parks.
Apr 14th, 2014, 12:41 PM
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Here's a 23 day trip out West....
http://www.greentortoise.com/adventu...cific-zion.php
Tailor it to your needs.
http://www.greentortoise.com/adventu...cific-zion.php
Tailor it to your needs.
Apr 14th, 2014, 03:43 PM
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For some suggestions it is essential to know the time of year you are traveling, because some useful roads are closed until summer and some places (such as Death Valley) may be too hot for you in summer. Also, I may have been too ambitious when I suggested the Grand Canyon because I don't advise visiting the Grand Canyon unless you can spend at least two nights there. The place is a zoo if you go only for a peek over the rim.
Assuming Tioga Pass is open, this may give you a start in the right direction: Las Vegas (1-2), Death Valley, Bishop (1), Bodie State Park (excellent ghost town), Tioga Pass, Yosemite (2), Historic Highway 49, San Francisco (2-3) with side trips to Napa Valley and Muir Woods; Highway 1 through Carmel and Big Sur, San Simeon for Hearst Castle, Cambria (1); Highway 1 to Malibu, Santa Monica, and Los Angeles for studio tours and those theme parks which interest you.
A California guide book, such as Fodor's, would be a big help in deciding which destinations are most appealing to you. (I find guide books are more helpful for sightseeing than they are for hotels and restaurants.)
HTtY
PS NYC is fascinating and Washington D.C. is a great experience if you can visit the Capitol, the White House, and the great monuments to Lincoln, Jefferson, Washington, the Viet Nam War, etc. The Smithsonian Institution is overwhelming it what it has to offer, and George Washington's home, Mt. Vernon, may be visited as a day trip from D.C.
Assuming Tioga Pass is open, this may give you a start in the right direction: Las Vegas (1-2), Death Valley, Bishop (1), Bodie State Park (excellent ghost town), Tioga Pass, Yosemite (2), Historic Highway 49, San Francisco (2-3) with side trips to Napa Valley and Muir Woods; Highway 1 through Carmel and Big Sur, San Simeon for Hearst Castle, Cambria (1); Highway 1 to Malibu, Santa Monica, and Los Angeles for studio tours and those theme parks which interest you.
A California guide book, such as Fodor's, would be a big help in deciding which destinations are most appealing to you. (I find guide books are more helpful for sightseeing than they are for hotels and restaurants.)
HTtY
PS NYC is fascinating and Washington D.C. is a great experience if you can visit the Capitol, the White House, and the great monuments to Lincoln, Jefferson, Washington, the Viet Nam War, etc. The Smithsonian Institution is overwhelming it what it has to offer, and George Washington's home, Mt. Vernon, may be visited as a day trip from D.C.
Apr 15th, 2014, 08:49 AM
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happytrailstoyou,
Thanks for such useful information.
We intend to visit from the middle of May, 2014.
Do you recommend time saving by taking flights between destinations and avoiding Road trips?
Thanks for such useful information.
We intend to visit from the middle of May, 2014.
Do you recommend time saving by taking flights between destinations and avoiding Road trips?
Apr 15th, 2014, 12:35 PM
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Years ago our family with 3 children enjoyed camping trips to the East Coast and also to the West Coast BUT certainly not the same summer. And this was from Missouri and Illinois. I don't get a focus on what you want to do and see. And beware, day long travel in a car just takes time and gas and can be boring to kids. janisj is right, not enough time.
Apr 15th, 2014, 05:14 PM
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Depends on where you are going. If you are visiting the NE Corridor - DC up to Boston - train or budget bus (not Greyhound but luxury coaches) is the way to go. In any of these places a car is worse than useless.
But not sure how many amusement parks you will see (dont; know why - but that's another post). All of these cities have an incredible number of historic and cultural sights that are workd class. NYC does have Coney Island - but don;t really get what there is for adults there other than the beach and the aquarium - and a frank from Nathans.
The biggest/best parks are in FL.
But not sure how many amusement parks you will see (dont; know why - but that's another post). All of these cities have an incredible number of historic and cultural sights that are workd class. NYC does have Coney Island - but don;t really get what there is for adults there other than the beach and the aquarium - and a frank from Nathans.
The biggest/best parks are in FL.
Apr 16th, 2014, 07:45 AM
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From among what lists of places.
You CANNOT see much of both coasts in only 18 days. You can see a reasonable amount of one coast in 18 days.
Pick one.
As for flying - I don't think it makes sense except for cross country - or NYC to FL if that's what you want. In most of the other areas (DC to Boston corridor) flying is no faster than train or bus and has much greater potential for delays than train.
In CA you can fly from SD to SF or Seattle - but if you want to see anything in between it doesn't make sense.
Also - other than amusement parks - we really don;t know what you want to see/do. If that's all you want - suggest you get a guidebook on them, pick out which you want and just build a trip around that.
You CANNOT see much of both coasts in only 18 days. You can see a reasonable amount of one coast in 18 days.
Pick one.
As for flying - I don't think it makes sense except for cross country - or NYC to FL if that's what you want. In most of the other areas (DC to Boston corridor) flying is no faster than train or bus and has much greater potential for delays than train.
In CA you can fly from SD to SF or Seattle - but if you want to see anything in between it doesn't make sense.
Also - other than amusement parks - we really don;t know what you want to see/do. If that's all you want - suggest you get a guidebook on them, pick out which you want and just build a trip around that.
Apr 16th, 2014, 07:45 AM
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cb--if you let us know specifically where you've decided to go, we can better advise how to get there. Once you get to the East Coast, it will probably be quicker to go by train between Washington DC and Boston rather than fly.
West Coast, you can fly from LA to San Francisco or vice versa, but you'd miss one of the best parts of California--the drive up (or down) the Coast. Happytrails' plan contemplates driving and that's the only way I would visit the places he recommends.
Again, hard to advise you without knowing more.
PS strongly advise limiting this to either East Coast or West Coast. That way you could see enough to appreciate it rather than rushing back and forth. Each coasts has enough to warrant several months. However, to overgeneralize, the East Coast has history while the West Coast has scenery.
West Coast, you can fly from LA to San Francisco or vice versa, but you'd miss one of the best parts of California--the drive up (or down) the Coast. Happytrails' plan contemplates driving and that's the only way I would visit the places he recommends.
Again, hard to advise you without knowing more.
PS strongly advise limiting this to either East Coast or West Coast. That way you could see enough to appreciate it rather than rushing back and forth. Each coasts has enough to warrant several months. However, to overgeneralize, the East Coast has history while the West Coast has scenery.
Apr 16th, 2014, 10:21 AM
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Tioga Pass will not be open in May, thus important parts of the itinerary I suggested won't work for you.
With that in mind, you could fly into Phoenix and go to Sedona (1), the Grand Canyon (2), Las Vegas (1-2), Death Valley (1), Los Angeles for Hollywood and theme parks (2-3), Highway 1 from Malibu to Carmel (1), Yosemite (1-2), San Francisco, Napa Valley, Muir Woods, etc.
The drive between Death Valley/Las Vegas and Los Angeles is not scenic, but it makes sense to do the trip by car. Using this plan you would fly into Phoenix and out of San Francisco.
HTtY
With that in mind, you could fly into Phoenix and go to Sedona (1), the Grand Canyon (2), Las Vegas (1-2), Death Valley (1), Los Angeles for Hollywood and theme parks (2-3), Highway 1 from Malibu to Carmel (1), Yosemite (1-2), San Francisco, Napa Valley, Muir Woods, etc.
The drive between Death Valley/Las Vegas and Los Angeles is not scenic, but it makes sense to do the trip by car. Using this plan you would fly into Phoenix and out of San Francisco.
HTtY
Apr 25th, 2014, 05:18 AM
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You're asking West Coast or East Coast? Oh my gosh, that's like asking England or France. Way too broad because on either coast you have many miles and many sites. Mid May into June is OK but surely you indicate what are your real interests?
