Hi,

I plan to visit LA and San Francisco with my wife and 2 kids (5 and 8yr) between November 4 to 13 (next month). I would like to spend 3 days in LA and then drive down and spend 5 days in and around San Francisco. Besides a trip to Disneyland with kids, not sure what else I should plan to see/do.

Can you please suggest how best to plan the trip. My wife and kids are visiting US for the first time, I have been to Bay Area several times on business. We will fly Singapore to LA and then fly back from SFO. Thank you so much for your inputs.

regards,
-S

Shenwai, I am sure your wife will want to experience all the fantastic (and expensive) stores in SF., especially on Post St., so I will address the interest that your children might have. At the end of Market St. is the ferry building. There is the ferry that you can take to Vallejo. In Vallejo there is Marine World (a Six Flag park) Children the age of your children usually really enjoy this. November in Vallejo normally has quite pleasant weather. You could take a taxi from the Vallejo ferry station to Marine World and of course a taxi from Marine World back to ferry. The ride is beautiful. It takes 55 minutes and goes across the San Francisco Bay.
In SF there is Golden Gate Park, the zoo etc., and in Marin County the Discovery "something" that young ones enjoy. Believe it is sponsered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. And if your children are boys, they would probably enjoy the Alcatraz Prison tour. I have found that girls are not as excited or as interested in this tour. Just, please, allow time for your dear wife to look at all the merchandise in the stores! Pier 39 always seems to be of a great interest to children (you will be there if you take the Alcatraz Tour). I do not care for it but children do, and there are beautiful bay views. Also, your hotel will help you and most of them have a lot of brochures you can read to give you ideas, locations etc. Enjoy your trip, and hope you file a report when you get home.

I always recommend visiting LA on Sat and Sun since the traffic is much easier to handle. So I'd recommend Disney Thursday and Friday night in Anaheim with Friday set aside for Disneyland, followed by Sat morning and afternoon at Knott's Berry Farm nearby. Saturday night I'd check-in for two nights in Los Angeles with a Sunday visit to the LA Zoo and maybe to the Museum of Natural History. The Magic Castle hotel might be nice with a Saturday or Sunday night magic show dinner.

Head north on Monday, but don't leave Los Angeles until about 10am. A stop for one night in Carmel would be nice, with a trip to Point Lobos State Park to see the sea lions, and maybe a visit to the Monterey Aquarium.

tracys2cents ideas are really good. Would help make the trip from LA up to SF more enjoyable (especially for the children).

Hi,

Thank you for the excellent inputs. Gives me pretty good idea about the options. My son is 5 and daughter is 8. Couple of additional questions please:
1. Read a lot about Lake Tahoe region - would it be worthwhile/advisable to include a short trip to and from Lake Tahoe around this time of the year? How long is the drive from San Francisco? When does it start snowing there?
2. May be this is a naive question... what are the key differences between Disneyland and Disney California Adventure parks? Also, are the rides in Disney and Six Flag parks quite different?

I like the idea of visiting Point Lobos State Park and am inclined to limit LA stay to 2 days so that I can spend 1-day at Point Lobos on the way to SFO. If I have only 2 days in LA, what is the best approach from the perspective of kids (a) cover key attractions in both Disney parks in 1-day and spend the other day at Knott's Berry Farm OR (b) plan 1-day each in both Disney parks (total 2 days). Thank you in advance.

regards,
-S

I highly recommend two days for Disney, especially with kids 5 and 8 yrs old. Your visit will be much more enjoyable, and you will be able to experience most of the attractions, rides and shows/characters without rushing around like crazy. If you want to visit and really enjoy both parks, take the two days. You might also plan to return to your hotel at some point during the day for a rest---usually helps make the evening more pleasant--for the adults too!

Best approach for the parks, in my opinion, is to go back and forth between them. If your kids are Disney fans, they should have a fantastic time! I would choose Disney over any of the other theme parks in the LA area--most particularly with younger kids like yours.

Disneyland is classic Disney, while California Adventure is a little different, but still has some of the Disney touch. You'll get some idea from the Disney website. CA Adventure has some rides that are more similar to traditional amusement park rides (boardwalks), and attractions tied to regions in California. It does not have the same "fairy tale" feel of Disneyland, but it is fun. We go to CA Adven for specific attractions and shows, and sometimes for dinner, but spend more time in Disneyland--the "happiest place on earth" of course. Overall, our family prefers Disneyland, and could spend most of the two days there.

I would try to spend some time with the kids in CA Adven. at the animation showcase (sorry, the name slips my mind), where they have some fun interactive displays. Soaring Over California is a great ride, though I'm not sure of the height requirements for the 5 year old. The water ride can be very, very wet, and I would suggest plastic parkas for that ride, especially if it is not hot.

I am always happy to talk about specific attractions, if you have questions.

Have a great trip, and welcome!

Thanks to inputs from all of you, looks like we have most of plan in place now:
- Nov 4, evening: Arrive LA
- Nov 5-6: Disneyland & Disney CA
- Nov 7: Depart for SFO via Point Lobos
- Nov 8: San Francisco main attractions
- Nov 9: Vallejo, Marine World
- Nov 10: San Francisco shopping etc

That leaves only Nov 11-12 schedule to be worked out. Wonder if a short trip to someplace nearby (e.g. Lake Tahoe or Napa etc) would be worthwhile (we depart back from SFO on Nov 13).

Any other suggestions you may have for putting the remaining 2 days to best use are most welcome. Thank you in advance.

regards,
-S

shenwai, when you take the family to Marine World inn Vallejo - if you are taking the ferry let me tell you where to board the ferry to Vallejo. At the end of Market St., facing the Ferry Building, walk around the Ferry Building on the left side. Straight ahead is where you line up, right outside the locked gates. The gates are opened up when the ferry arrives. There will be two lines. Facing the gate you will want to be in the line on the right side. Before you get on the ferry ask the crew "is this the ferry to Vallejo?". Even the locals get confused sometimes as there are so many lines and it is not marked properly. Also, their summer schedule ends October 31st. If you go to the website at www.baylinkferry.com you will find all the information you need. If you need a taxi when you arrive in Vallejo (assuming you go via the ferry) the Yellow Cab of Vallejo phone number is 642-4421.
Personally I think that your last two days before you fly home would not give you much time to enjoy Lake Tahoe. But going to the Napa Valley would be a wonderful experience and much closer to San Francisco. Also Sonoma and surronding area is beautiful and actually enjoyed more by some visitors. You would have time to do both if you were having fun. Do have a wonderful trip, and welcome to California.

Dear LoveItaly,

Really appreciate your detailed inputs. Will update as my trip is finalized.

Thank you once again to all of you for sharing your inputs.

Regards,
-S

I agree with LoveItaly that it might be too much to go to Tahoe after the long drive from LA to SF. Tahoe can take 3-6 hours one way depending on whether you hit traffic on the way to Sacramento, etc. Frankly, if you do decide to go out of town for two days, I would highly recommend Yosemite Nat'l Park over Tahoe as the drive is more consistent (3-4 hrs) and the scenary is unbelievable. You may get snow (but not much) in either Tahoe or Yosemite. If you stay closer and go up to the wine country, I would recommend going up over the Golden Gate Bridge to the Sonoma Area - Healdsburg, etc as it is quieter and you could go for a picnic with the kids assuming the weather holds. An alernative to Sonoma/Napa given the focus on wineries in that region would be the John Muir woods. They are just north of San Francisco (over the golden gate bridge) and there is a great and easy "nature walk" plus more challenging hikes right through an immense redwood grove - the walks through the lush forest and huge redwood trees might be really neat for your wife and kids if they are mostly familiar with the tropical climates. Other suggestions - my nieces of similar ages loved going to the "Exploratorium" down by Ghirardelli square and Pier 39. It is an interactive science/nature museum. I believe that you could also buy a "citypass" which is sold in many locations and provides a number of city attractions including the exploratorium, Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park, Bay Cruise, etc., for one price. Something to consider if you plan to do some of the above anyway. With respect to Disneyland/CA adventure - the kids will of course love Disneyland but definitely take time for California Adventure. Personally, I find it a refreshing break from the crowds at Disneyland as it is a newer park with wider avenues and less crowds. Plus, there are lots of areas that the kids will really like - The ride "California Soaring" is awesome and I think your 5yr old might be tall enought (hopefully); the "backstage area" where there are some muppet and interactive shows; the "Bugs Life" area with rides for smaller children; the "boardwalk" with rides for bigger children; and finally, a "Grizzly" park/play area with great jungle gyms/forts/ for kids. Marine World in Vallejo is a combination of animal shows (elephants, dolphins,etc) and rollercoaster type rides. There is really nothing else to see in Vallejo so you'll be going just for MarineWorld. If you were tired of theme parks after Disney, you could possibly consider stealing a portion of that extra day for a Yosemite or Tahoe trip - just a thought. You'll have a great time whatever you do! I'm sure you're familar with Bay Area traffic due to your business trips but for your family's sanity, do try to avoid driving on the main commute paths during the 7am-10am and 4-7pm timeframes!

You might also consider Bodega Bay or a coastal town around SF area, if you would enjoy the beach. Of course it is a "cool-weather" beach, you will need sweaters and possibly hats, depending on the day, but the views are beautiful, the restaurants are quite good, and the kids might have fun looking at tide pools, etc.

I would skip Tahoe since you have so little time and traffic could be bad, as could the weather.

You could also check out Berkeley, the Lawrence Hall of Science, or San Jose area (Tech Museum, etc).

The Exploratorium is a wonderful place! It's actually located at Baker and Beach Streets behind the Palace of Fine Arts, just less than one mile from Ghirardelli Square.

Here's a link:
http://www.exploratorium.edu/visit/index.html

I'm going to travel to San Francsico for the week of Thanksgiving with children, as well. We're from Orange County, CA and the trip is primarily for the kids to enjoy the city. Does anyone have advice on a hotel that is family friendly, but not expensive? I'm seeking something convenient to any form of public transportation, preferably in the city, and with rooms large enough to accomodate a family of 5. Any new ideas on places to see with children or dining out are appreciated, too!

Hi everyone,

All of you have been just fabulous with your inputs. Many thanks to all for taking time for share your thoughts and insights.

My flights bookings from Singapore are now confirmed and the schedule is more firmed up. Incidentally, we now have a few extra days than originally planned. Due to constraints of return flights availability, we will now have to take the return flight from LAX on 16 Nov. So this is what our schedule looks like

3 Nov: arrival@LAX
4-7 Nov: Disneyland & Disney CA
7 Nov: Depart to SFO
7-10 Nov: @San Francisco
11-16 Nov: open as of now
16 Nov: 8pm Depart from LAX for

I am thinking of using this extra time to drive around - possibly spend 2 days at Yosemite and then travel to LA via the coastal road. Tentatively:

11 Nov: Leave from San Francisco for Yosemite NP
11-12 Nov nights - spend in Yosemite NP
13 Nov: leave for Monterey - stay overnight on the way
14 Nov: arrive at LA sometime in the afternoon
14 & 15 Nov: stay overnight in LA and visit Universal and around Hollywood
16 Nov: Depart for Singapore

Wonder if this schedule is realistic and does it make sense from the perspective of driving around with kids. Appreciate any suggestions you may have about the proposed self-drive from San Francisco-via Yosemite-Monterry to LA.

Initially, I was keen to include a trip to Lake Tahoe since my kids are very keen to see snow (not necessarly ski but just enjoy being there while it snows). However, from some of the advise received on this message board, looks like that may be too hectic, especially while driving with kids!

I would be grateful for any thoughts you may have about the above options.

Thanks and best regards,
-S

Your new plan sounds good. Personally, I would spend more time on the Coastal drive south and less time in LA.

Just FYI, there is a great deal of snow in the higher elevations of the Sierra right now because of a few large storms coming from Alaska. This makes your decision to skip Lake Tahoe a wise one. The good news is that your children may still get to experience snow in the higher elevations of Yosemite.

Bring some warm clothing and have a great trip!

Here is the link for Yosemite conditions. You should check it before you leave San Francisco for the latest updates on road closings:

http://www.nps.gov/yose/now/conditions.htm

I would suggest visiting Monterey and the coast while heading from LA to SF, and Yosemite on the return. Going from Yosemite to Monterey is a fairly long drive which is not very interesting.

For the coast drive, use a combination of US101 and CA1 highways. You might like to take two days for that, perhaps stopping in San Luis Obispo as well as Monterey.

Yosemite is definitely a good choice for the return direction, though it will likely be somewhat cold. You will want to watch the weather - if it is rainy in SF, it may be snowing in Yosemite (or on the north or south entrance roads where they hit higher elevations). The highway 140 entrance through El Portal is less likely to have snow.

If you have extra time because of flight arrangements, you may want to add San Diego. Usually nice weather, and lots to do that would interest the kids (Seaworld, Legoland, Zoo ...).

You would likely find it usefull to use the search function to find old threads on Yosemite and San Diego.

Hi,

Thank you. Heading up from LA, I must reach SF by 7 Nov for some work that I have in SF. So that does not leave me enough time to drive on the way up. I like the idea of using 2 days on the costal drive while driving back from SF. However, if Yosemite to Monterey drive is not advisable, I have a bit of a dilemma.

Since I can only drive on the way back from SF and don't want to miss the opportunity to drive along the cost, is there any other routes or options I can go for? Btw, can you please tell me more about San Luis Obispo. Earlier someone recommeded that we should go to Point Lobos along the coast. Any other advise on "must do" and "don't miss" along the coastal drive? Thank you in advance.

regards,
-S

The drive from Yosemite to Monterey is fine. You go through a lot of open space and farmland, so the drive can be a bit boring, but it's not bad. If you don't have a lot of open countryside where you are from, it might even be interesting.

The town of San Juan Bautista, near Hollister and Gilroy, is a short detour from your route and is a good stop - there is a mission there and quite a few restored or reconstructed buildings from the old town square. Good bit of California history and space for the kids to run around and get some of their energy out.

Once you get to Monterey, there are a couple routes you can take south. Hwy 1 is the coastal route and by far the most scenic. The Big Sur coast is there and is absolutely beautiful. It is a narrow road so it is slow going. Hwy 101 is a freeway and is further inland, passing through rolling hills and farmland. If you don't have time to drive Hwy 1, you can get a good taste of the Big Sur Coast at Point Lobos, which is just south of Monterey/Carmel.

San Luis Obispo is a nice town with a fun downtown area. It's a college town - Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is there. Just south of SLO is a town called Pismo Beach, which I like a lot. It's right on the coast and really have the California beach town feel to it.

There is nothing really wrong with the drive from Yosemite to Monterey, it just adds a few hours of driving time (which can sometimes be a challenge for the kids, though I suppose if they manage the Singapore to LA flight, the drives shouldn't be too bad). You could consider shifting Disneyland to the later part of your trip so that you have more time for the LA->SF drive.

Do pay attention to the map and fill up with gas before going up into the mountains at Yosemite. While LA and SF areas have an amazing variety of food choices, the central part of the state is much more standard American, so if the kids are picky about what they eat, you might want to plan for that and look for an asian market in LA or SF (there are complicated rules about bringing food with you in your baggage).