3-week itinerary California
 

I am planning a trip to California for around 3 weeks in July 2014 with my family (including 7 year old child), and came up with the following itinerary so far:

Day 1: Flight from Amsterdam to San Francisco
Day 2: San Francisco
Day 3: San Francisco
Day 4: Drive to Yosemite NP early morning (4 hr drive) – check in hotel early afternoon
Day 5: Yosemite: Yosemite Valley
Day 6: Yosemite: Tuolumne Meadows
Day 7: Yosemite: Glacier Point & Mariposa Grove
Day 8: Drive to Monterey early morning (4 hour drive). Visit Monterey Bay Aquarium / Cannery Row / 17 Mile Drive. Spend the night in Carmel
Day 9: Drive via Big Sur and San Simeon (visit Hearst Castle) to Cambria. Spend the night in Cambria
Day 10: Drive to Los Angeles (what to visit on the way?). Check in hotel in Los Angeles
Day 11: Los Angeles
Day 12: Visit Disney World
Day 13: Visit Legoland
Day 14: Beach
Day 15: Drive to Las Vegas early morning (4 hour drive). Check into hotel
Day 16: Las Vegas
Day 17: Drive from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon NP (4 hour drive).
Stay in El Tovar for 2 nights?
Walk along part of Rim Trail
Day 18: Grand Canyon
Bright Angel Trail hike
Day 19: Drive to Bryce Canyon (5 hour drive).
Stay at Bryce Canyon Lodge for 1 night?
Day 20: Bryce Canyon
Sunrise at Bryce Point
Navajo Trail/Queen's Garden hike
Drive to Zion – Stay in Zion Lodge for 2 nights
Day 21: Zion NP
Riverside Walk/Narrows hike from bottom up
Day 22: Zion NP
Angel's Landing hike
Drive to Las Vegas (2.5 hours)
Stay 1 night in Las Vegas
Day 23: Flight from Las Vegas to Amsterdam

Any feedback / advice would be very welcome!

I don't know much about southern so cannot comment on that part.

I like Point Lobos State Park near Carmel and the hike to McWay Falls at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park in Big Sur. And one night at Bryce would be fine.

I would stay at Yosemite Valley at 4,000 feet elevation before going to Tuolumne Meadows at 8,000 feet. Give your lungs a chance to acclimate a bit.

it sounds alright. just to clarify, it's Disneyland in California (Disney world is in Florida). One consideration, most people spend about 3 dsys between Disneyland and California Adventure (right next to each other - 3 day pass is available). Assuming you are staying in Anaheim, LEGOLAND is quite a ways south - anywhere from 1 1/2 - 2 hours. if you want to cut out driving that distance, why not just go to Disneyland for 2 days and skip LEGOLAND. for Yosemite and Bryce, you need to make reservation asap. It's also best to try to be in Vegas between Sunday and Thursday nights. Friday and Saturday night rates jump a lot. I'm sure in the next year you'll refine it some.

For a stop between Cambria and LA, Santa Barbara has a lot to offer. Lots of restaurants, beaches, historic Mission, wine tasting rooms, etc.

Are you staying in Los Angeles and doing a day trip to Disneyland followed by a day trip to LEGOLAND from L.A., or are you going to stay somewhere like Laguna Beach for those two/three nights? If staying in L.A. for a few days, I would do the relaxing beach day between the two day trips instead of two trafficky day trips back to back.

Also you don't want to drive to Las Vegas early morning unless it's a Sat or Sunday, traffic between Los Angeles and Victorville will be rough until 10am.

I agree with more days at Disneyland, stay in Anaheim (Disneyland is not in LA). Many folks buy a 3 day park hopper, if you buy it online it comes with one Magic Morning when you can enter the park an hour before it officially opens.

Skip Legoland and spend an extra day or two in Disneyland.

Thanks a lot for your comments. Would you say the national parks (especially Grand Canyon, Bryce & Zion) are too ambitious with a 7 year old child?

Okay, I'll go for 3 days to Disleyland/California Adventure and stay 3 nights in Anaheim. I suppose it is easier then to skip my relaxing beach day, and drive from Anaheim to Las Vegas? Instead I could consider to spend 2 nights at the beach on day 10 & 11 and from there take a day trip to LA (rather than staying in a hotel in the center of LA). What do you think about this idea? Any tips on the nicest beach near LA? Thanks.

Here is the updated itinerary. What do you think?

Sat. 5 July: Flight from Amsterdam to San Francisco
Sun. 6 July: San Francisco
Mon. 7 July: San Francisco
Tue. 8 July: Drive to Yosemite NP early morning (4 hr drive)
Wed. 9 July: Yosemite: Yosemite Valley
Thu. 10 July: Yosemite: Tuolumne Meadows
Fri. 11 July: Yosemite: Glacier Point & Mariposa Grove
Sat. 12 July: Drive to Monterey early morning (4 hour drive). Visit Monterey Bay Aquarium and/or Point Lobos State Park. Spend the night in Carmel.
Sun. 13 July: Drive to Cambria. On the way, drive through Big Sur, stop at Piedras Blancas for the elephant seals, and visit Hearst Castle in San Simeon. Spend the night in Cambria.
Mon. 14 July: Drive to Los Angeles (visit Santa Barbara on the way). Drive Pacific Coast hw via Malibu to Santa Monica. Stay 2 nights in a hotel at the beach.
Tue. 15 July: Day trip to Los Angeles
Wed. 16 July: Visit Disneyland / California Adventure. Stay 3 nights in Anaheim.
Thu. 17 July: Visit Disneyland / California Adventure.
Fri. 18 July: Visit Disneyland / California Adventure.
Sat. 19 July: Drive to Las Vegas early morning (4 hour drive). Stay 2 nights in Las Vegas.
Sun. 20 July: Las Vegas
Mon. 21 July: Drive from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon NP (4 hour drive). Walk along part of Rim Trail. Stay in El Tovar hotel for 2 nights.
Tue. 22 July: Grand Canyon: Bright Angel Trail hike (not suitable for children?). Catch the California Condor nature talk with the ranger.
Wed. 23 July: Drive to Bryce Canyon (5 hour drive). On the way, visit Page (and rent a motor boat for an hour to see the canyon from the bottom up) and Red Canyon. In Bryce, stay at Bryce Canyon Lodge for 1 night.
Thu. 24 July: Bryce Canyon: Sunrise at Bryce Point, Navajo Trail/Queen's Garden hike. Drive to Zion. Between Bryce and Zion take the one hour trail roundtrip to Canyon Overlook just before Zion Mt, Carmel tunnel. In Zion, stay Zion Lodge for 2 nights
Fri. 25 July: Zion NP: Riverside Walk/Narrows hike from bottom up
Sat. 26 July: Zion NP: Angel's Landing hike (not suitable for children?). Drive to Las Vegas (2.5 hours). Maybe visit Valley of Fire SP between Zion and Las Vegas and also Red Rock just west of Las Vegas.
Sun. 27 July: Flight from Las Vegas to Amsterdam

>>Sat. 12 July: Drive to Monterey early morning (4 hour drive). Visit Monterey Bay Aquarium and/or Point Lobos State Park. Spend the night in Carmel.
<<<<

Impossible !!!!

How can you fit in a tough 4-5 hr drive, followed by a 3 hr Aquarium visit, plus a 3 hr Pt Lobos visit in one day. You may also want to visit some of the other "wonders" in that area - like Carmel Beach, wander through Carmel shops, Spanish Bay, Pacific Grove, etc. IMO, Carmel/Monterey is a 2-3 night/1 1/2 to 2 1/2 day visit - not a 1/3 day visit like you have planned.

PLUS - there is usually a 2 night minimum stay at Carmel hotels on a weekend in the middle of high-tourist season.

>>Sun. 13 July: Drive to Cambria. On the way, drive through Big Sur, stop at Piedras Blancas for the elephant seals, and visit Hearst Castle in San Simeon. Spend the night in Cambria<<

Again - impossible - unless you want to spend most of 2 days riding in a car. This is the middle of tourist season. Lines will be long at Hearst Castle - and you will want to linger along the beautiful Big Sur coast for many hours visiting the redwoods, Nepenthe, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Pfeiffer beach, etc. Make this a 2 day trip - stopping at Big Sur for the night (we like Big Sur Lodge).

Las Vegas was 110 degrees last week. I would not want a 7 YO or even me to have to endure those temps. What is a 7 YO going to do in Vegas (I'm not a fan of LV). I can't imagine staying inside in an AC hotel for 2-3 days. It will be hot in the National Parks also.

Stu Dudley


Stu Dudley

With a child, you might find a night at Asilomar more fun than Carmel. Lots of room for a kid to run around, perhaps see deer, go out to the beach. Meals are served camp-style in the large dining hall. Reserve way in advance, and don't expect luxury.

At that time of year, I would prefer more time on the coast. It will be hot in Zion.

I think your new plan sounds better. Adding more time to Disneyland for your child is a good idea. Maybe take a day off Yosemite and add it to the Monterey, Carmel, Cambria portion. At Bryce, a mule ride down the canyon may be more fun for your child. We did this and loved it. Not sure about all the hiking in the parks for your child. You may need to scale back on some of that. As far as Las Vegas; everyone should see it at least once, plus it works in well with you plans to see the GC, Bryce and Zion.

Here is a link to a report from Shane in Australia from several years ago. It gives good information and may help you plan some of your trip.

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...lden-state.cfm

I was reading the whole thread before posting butvsawca HUGE red flag - which stu Dudley go to first.

There is no way on earth you can travel from Yosemite to Monterey and manage the aquarium and 17 mile drive w/ only one overnight. You have listed two days worth of sites and have less than 1/2 a day to see/do them.

That plus the almost universal two night minimum on summer weekends in the Carmel area. You definitely need to stay two nights! Most of the rest of your plan (with the added days in Anaheim) looks reasonable.

Re legoland - it is fun but with the similar parks you can visit in Europe / UK you might find better use of your time if you drop it.

Santa Barbara is really beautiful ... so I'd stay there at least a day. I agree that while you're in the Los Angeles area you'd like to stay at the beach ... and I'd suggest the Main Street area (something like SeaShoreMotel.com which is good for families - low budget) or a mile north (in Santa Monica) we have plenty of hi end properties on the beach.

I'm curious.

Why would you come all the way over to the US and spend 3 days at Disneyland, when Disneyland Paris is only 3 1/2 to 4 3/4 hrs away from Amsterdam by Thalys/TGV?

Stu Dudley

Ties - when you are in Orange County - do try to get outside of Anaheim - go down to Laguna Beach... enjoy the actual coast. I see you are traveling with a 7 year old so I get the Disneyland but since you will have a car - enjoy.

If budget permits - try to stay AT a Disney property - you can some perks - extra park hours etc. - We love the California Grand, then Disneyland Hotel and then the Paradise Pier. Paradise Pier has a fun water slide.

Jeeze - was typing on my mini iPad and and didn't see the oopsie should have said >> . . . posting but saw a HUGE red flag - which stu Dudley got to first.<<.

Wow, thank you all for the useful tips. I have tried to take all advice on board, and came up with the following new plan:

Sat. 5 July: Flight from Amsterdam to San Francisco
Sun. 6 July: San Francisco (recover from jetlag)
Mon. 7 July: San Francisco (sightseeing)
Tue. 8 July: San Francisco (sightseeing)
Wed. 9 July: Drive to Yosemite NP early morning (4 hr drive). Visit Glacier Point & Mariposa Grove?
Thu. 10 July: Yosemite: Yosemite Valley
Fri. 11 July: Yosemite: Tuolumne Meadows
Sat. 12 July: Drive to Monterey early morning (4 hour drive). Relax in the Monterey area (Carmel Beach, wander through Carmel shops, Spanish Bay, Pacific Grove) and spend 2 nights in Monterey, Carmel, or Pacific Grove.
Sun. 13 July: Visit Monterey Bay Aquarium and/or Point Lobos State Park.
Mon. 14 July: Drive to Cambria. On the way, drive through Big Sur and stop at Piedras Blancas for the elephant seals. Spend the night in Cambria.
Tue. 15 July: Drive to Los Angeles (visit Santa Barbara on the way). Stay 2 nights in a hotel at the beach (relax rest of the afternoon).
Wed. 16 July: Los Angeles
Thu. 17 July: Visit Legoland. Stay 3 nights in Anaheim.
Fri. 18 July: Visit Disneyland / California Adventure.
Sat. 19 July: Visit Disneyland / California Adventure
Sun. 20 July: Drive to Las Vegas early morning (4 hour drive). Stay 2 nights in Las Vegas (hotel with pool).
Mon. 21 July: Las Vegas
Tue. 22 July: Drive from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon NP (4 hour drive). Stay in El Tovar hotel for 2 nights.
Wed. 23 July: Grand Canyon: Bright Angel Trail hike (up to 1.5 mile rest house) and/or follow Junior Ranger program. Catch the California Condor nature talk with the ranger. Kaibab?
Thu. 24 July: Drive to Bryce Canyon (5 hour drive). Take the more scenic drive on 89A, past Marble Canyon and the Vermillion Cliffs, rather than the route through Page. Stop at the old highway bridge over Marble Canyon, now a pedestrian walkway. In Bryce, stay at Bryce Canyon Lodge for 1 night.
Fri. 25 July: Bryce Canyon: Sunrise at Bryce Point, Navajo Trail/Queen's Garden hike (take a mule ride down the canyon). Drive to Zion. Between Bryce and Zion take the one hour trail roundtrip to Canyon Overlook just before Zion Mt, Carmel tunnel. In Zion, stay Zion Lodge for 2 nights
Sat. 26 July: Zion NP: Riverside Walk/Narrows hike from bottom up
Sun. 27 July: Drive to Las Vegas (2.5 hours). Maybe visit Red Rock just west of Las Vegas. Stay 1 night in Vegas.
Mon. 28 July: Flight from Las Vegas to Amsterdam

How about we skip the day in Vegas on 21 July, and add it towards the end, so we have one more day to 'relax' before the flight back?

I have no specific plans for LA yet, but I suppose I have a bit more time to think about this. Main thing now is wait for flights to become available and then book hotels in the national parks.

Underhill,

When you mentioned "a night at Asilomar", did you have any specific accommodation in mind? I assume the dining hall where they serve camp-style belongs to a hotel?

Thank you.

Ties Thursday July 17 will be a long day - depending on traffic - where you stay in l, traffic to northern San Diego - can be a beating. All day at legoland and then the drive to check into a hotel in Anaheim... Just be aware of that.

I would personally go to Disneyland on July 17 and then go to San Diego for 3-4 nights. San Diego zoo is amazing (one of the best in the World), take in a padre game at Petco park (very American! :-) - go to Coronado, go to la Jolla.. You won't be sorry! You can visit Lego land in one of those days if it is a high priority.

You are moving a lot for traveling with a family & I think going to be exhausted.

I would stop in Santa Barbara after Cambria. It's a long drive to LA otherwise and will feel like you are in the car a lot.
If you do stay in Cambria, can I recommend staying on Moonstone beach. We have done this a couple of times now and LOVE it. This past November we stayed at the Sand Pebbles inn and thought it lovely ( not to mention a great sea view if you take one of the front rooms AND it's next to the fabulous Seachest restaurant. )

Also as you be early risers coming from Europe , I would book Hearst castle for the a.m after you have stayed at Cambria. Yes you are back tracking slightly BUT it's only 5 minutes or so up the road and that way you are not rushing down thru the Big Sur to get to HC on the day before. Pre book online.

Oh and finally :) we also visited San Diego zoo in November for the first time ( I thought we would be there a couple of hours) we were there ALL day. It's amazing.......

We did a lot of travelling too on our trip from Sf to San Diego ( and then up to Palm Springs before finally finishing in LA) but we like you wanted to cover a lot of ground BUT do realise the driving can be tiring ( and boring) so less stops do mean you will "see" more!

A few more thoughts.

If you go to Point Lobos on a weekend, get there early. All the parking spaces fill up very early on the weekends. And it's only a .5 mile walk to McWay Falls at Julia Pfeiffer State Park and it's a gorgeous view.

I'd either go to northern Arizona or southwestern Utah. It's too much driving to do both. Either one will be very hot in July. You could combine southwestern Utah with the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. If you do go to the South Rim, do go to the condor talk.

If you drop a night from Las Vegas I'd add it back to Yosemite. It's really hot in Las Vegas so I can't recommend hiking there in July. If you ever go back during a time of year with comfortable temperatures, Valley of Fire is a gorgeous park. (And on the way to Bryce & Zion.)

My son doesn't care much for zoos, but maybe we can stay 2 nights in Anaheim (to visit Disney), and then another 2 nights in e.g. La Jolla. In La Jolla when can then do 1 day Legoland and 1 day relaxing before the trip to Las Vegas. I suppose it doesn't make a huge difference to travel from Anaheim or La Jolla to Vegas (only 30 minutes difference?).

Shanti, when you say "combine southwestern Utah with the North Rim of the Grand Canyon", do you mean I should drop Bryce and Zion?

Do you think Point Lobos and the Aquarium on one day is a no go?

Thanks.

>>Do you think Point Lobos and the Aquarium on one day is a no go?<<

July is fog season along the Carmel/Big Sur coast. I've found that it is sometimes less foggy in the AM at Pt Lobos. You can certainly do both the aquarium & Pt Lobos in one day. Perhaps wake up in the morning & determine the fog situation. If it is clear, head to Pt Lobos first thing in the am. If it is foggy - head to the aquarium first.

If this was my trip, I would want to spend as much time as possible in Carmel/Monterey and along the Big Sur coast down to Cambria. I've lived in California all my life (66 years), and along with San Francisco and Yosemite - the Carmel/Big Sur Coast is the "best" we have to offer the tourist, IMO. I think on July 14 you are rushing things. Your revised itinerary did not include Hearst Castle. If the omission was a mistake, I don't think you will have enough time to enjoy the coast, all the beaches/coves along the way (the many Pfeiffer things), Hearst Castle, Cambria, and then have to get to LA the next day.

The first 28 years of my life I lived in the LA/Southern Calif area (23 in San Gabriel and 5 in Laguna Beach). I think you are going to be surprised by how much concrete & freeway time you are going to experience when you arrive in the outskirts of the LA area and until you leave for LV. And once you are out of the Cambria region, it is going to be hot for the remainder of your vacation. The LA/San Diego beaches will be cooler, but inland (including Disneyland) could likely be in the low 30s and once out of LA towards LV in the mid to high 30s - maybe even 40. I think by about July 26 you are going to wish you were back in the cooler/less crowded Big Sur Coast. Again - I would recommend that you overnight in Big Sur at the Big Sur lodge so that you have the option of visiting Pt Lobos on July 13 or 14 (depending on the weather) and then have a leisurely lunch or dinner at Nepenthe and time for visiting Pfeiffer State park, Pfeiffer Beach, Julia Pfeiffer Burns state park, and many stops for photographs as you drive south to Cambria. Also not a rushed Hearst Castle. I suggest that you "give up" a day in LV to make room for a night in Big Sur. A pool is not going to do you much good if the temps are 43 degrees outside - like they were last week.

Stu Dudley

I meant that driving to the South Rim and then going to Bryce and Zion, which are in southwestern Utah, adds a lot of driving to your trip. Which would be much more driving than I would want to do, especially at that time of year.

Stu Dudley answered your other question.

.

Hi Stu,
I did actually leave out Hearst Castle on purpose, so we have the whole day to drive from Monterey to Cambria and spend quite some time in Big Sur. I am not sure if Hearst Castle is very special, but I have already seen quite some castles in Europe.

So, if I add one day, would you suggest the following itinerary?

Sat. 12 July: Arrive in Monterey. Check into hotel and relax.
Sun. 13 July: Visit Monterey Bay Aquarium. Stay in Monterey (2nd night)
Mon. 14 July: In the morning, check out of hotel and drive to Big Sur lodge. From there visit Point Lobos (if not done on the 13th), have a leisurely lunch or dinner at Nepenthe and time for visiting Pfeiffer State park, Pfeiffer Beach, Julia Pfeiffer Burns state park.
Tue. 15 July: Drive to Cambria in the morning. Is there anything to see there, or just relax until the drive to LA the next day?

Thanks.

You will need to pre book Nepenthe. Even in November it was mobbed at lunchtime!

We've been at Nepenthe in September and waited about 45 minutes. Personally, I wouldn't want to have to arrive there on a schedule.

Asilomar is not a town, it's a "conference center" (that sounds so dry) where you can stay. http://www.visitasilomar.com/

I think you national park plans look fine. The South Rim of the Grand Canyonnis at 7000 feet and the North Rim even higher, around 8800. Bryce is also very high. Zion, at 2400, will be the hottest, but you can cool off with the Narrows hike. That is about the most fun you can haven two feet. Make sure to stop in at Zion Adventure Company to check on the weather and river conditions before you start. July is thunderstorm/flash flood season, and you don't want to risk being in the river iwhen one occurs.

I like Shanti's suggestion of going to the North Rim instead of the South. It is higher, cooler, and quieter than the South Rim. Itis also a lot closer to Zion and Bryce. You could get a Weatern Cabin and be right on the rim. Walk out to Bright Angel Point for beautiful canyon views. You can also hike into the canyon on the North Kaibab trail. I don't know if they do condor talks there, though.

The closest view we have had of a condor was at Zion, up at Scout Lookout. One landed on a ledge nearby and opened its wings repeatedly, so we could easily see the number tags.

SF, I guess if it depends on whether you really want to eat there or not ( its only like prebooking any other restuarant) if your not bothered and happy to wait then agree don't pre book, but If it's on there "must do" list, I would pre book.

Nepenthe does not take reservations. Waiting is the best part of having dinner or lunch there. You get to sit on a large terrace overlooking the coast with A+ views. Maybe they'll have a fire going in their big fire pit. The views are actually better than the views inside the restaurant. You can actually have a light dinner/lunch outside I believe (certainly you can order drinks/cheese etc). That might be the best idea for a 7YO. My wife loves the ambrosia burger with tons of French fries. You can also wander in their gift shop below & "relive" the 60s. We were at Nepenthe in April and also last Sept & got to the restaurant as soon as they opened for dinner. No wait at all - but we chose to have a drink outside first. I think they open at 4:30 - which might be a good time for a 7YO - but you may decide to do lunch/dinner on the terrace.

River Inn is a fun breakfast spot in Big Sur.

Julia Pfeiffer Burns state park is at the extreme south end of Big Sur (the village) - so visit that on the way to Cambria. Cambria itself is OK - but compared to the hundreds & hundreds of small villages we've visited in Europe and also compared to Carmel and Pacific Grove - it does not "measure up" IMO.

Also, compared to the hundreds & hundreds of castles we've visited in Europe, Hearst is OK - but it probably won't "jazz" you that much. It's different/unique for those who have never visited Europe - but not for those who visit European castles frequently.

Stu Dudley

I've eaten lunch at nepenthe probably 6 or 8 times and have never booked. But then I almost never go in July / August.

My guess is booking at that time of year would be helpful. But it is pretty hard to gauge arrival time if it is one's first drive down hwy 1. There is so much to see along the way.

You honestly cannot compare Hearts Castle with a real castle in Europe, totally different. HC is built in the style of! That said I still think its interesting and have done 2 of the tours now. I found it more interesting ref the life of Mr Hearst etc. ( and the views) Than from a " castle" perspective.

Ref Nepethen we chose to eat outside as the wait was ages... Think we just had cheese and drinks etc. glad we stopped off as we ment to go when we were in CA last time but didn't make it. Wasn't a highlight though..... Odd as I could have sworn you could prebook onliine.. I must be thinking of somewhere else. ( I did do a ton of research about a ton of places so it doesn't surprise me :))

If you're adding a night in Big Sur and not visiting Hearst (which I agree is skippable), how about spending the following night farther south like Santa Barbara?

I also like the North Rim Grand Canyon suggestion, less crowded and less driving.

By Nepenthe being "open" I really mean "seating people & start serving dinner". The bar/terrace service is open all day/evening long.

We've been gong to Nepenthe annually since 1970. I don't make reservations, but if someone knows that they take reservations, verify it again and let me know about it. To my knowledge, they will put your name on a list when you arrive - but I was not aware that they could do "call in" reservations in advance - but things change!!!.

Stu Dudley