We are a family of three who will be going to California during the last two weeks of August 1999.

We will be spending 7 days with friends in San Francisco and then driving down the coast.

We intend to spend 2 days in Monterey, 2 days in Santa Barbara followed by 3 nights in
Disneyland.

After Disneyland we are thinking of spending 2 days in Palm Springs and followed by two nights back in Los Angeles.

I would like to hear from people who have been on a similar vacation who can offer advise.
(Places to visit, where to stay etc.)

I am not to sure of the best places to visit, and would particularly like to hear from those with thoughts and/or experience of visiting Palm Springs in August. (is it to hot, should we go orgive it a miss, will the aerial tramway be operating ?).

Also we intend to visit Universal whist in LA. Is it best to stay in a hotel close to Universal or a hotel in Hollywood and visit other places of interest.

We live in Jersey Channel Islands (UK not USA) and would appreciate any views on airline travel from London.

Thanks
Chris, Elaine and Danielle.

If at ALL possible,go to Yosemite before driving down the Pacific coast. You will probably have time for only a day there - not a good idea - but not seeing it at all is a REALLY bad idea. As a former resident of Santa Barbara, I can assure you that Yosemite is MUCH better than SB

Unless the road is closed, you MUST drive down Hiway 1 from Monterey to San Luis Obispo.

Palm Springs in August is NOT an ideal place to visit. Check out
www.desert-resorts.com/indexae.html
for info on the sights. The Aerial Tram is open, but many of the other places are not.

While in central California, don't miss the opportunity to see redwoods. You needn't go north to Redwoods NP or to Sequoia NP; you can see some of them in Yosemite, Muir Woods Nat Mon, or Cowell State Park.

Some personal favorites:

San Francisco -- Alcatraz (tickets often sold out WEEKS in advance), Fishermans Wharf (VERY touristy, so if you hate that type of place, avoid this), Cable Cars, Chinatown (walk off the beaten path for unusual shops)

Los Angeles -- View from top of City Hall (on those rare days with no smog), Tommy's restaurant, Old Pantry

I would agree with Paul in that Palm Springs in August is a bad idea. Think of temperatures of 115 degrees Farenheit(really really hot!) The aerial tramway will be operating, but I don't think it is worth the trip over there just to see it. I would recommend staying the extra days in Los Angeles, or perhaps driving down to San Diego, which has lots more to do than Santa Barbara. As for the hotel near Universal Studios, it is basically a matter of preference. Universal is about 15 min. (on a good traffic day) from downtown L.A., and you are much further from the coast. Have you thought of perhaps visiting the beach or a water park? Depending on your budget, you might want to consider staying in the Santa Monica area, which will not be quite as hot as the metro/downtown area. As I am writing this I am aware that Santa Monica is in the news lately, but I can assure you, that type of incident is not the norm. If you are interested in art, make reservations at the Getty Museum in Brentwood, it is a must see. For a multicultural experience, go to Farmer's Market in the Faifax district or Olvera St.(which is a little touristy). In San Diego, you can visit the Wild Animal Park, Seaworld, and Old Town, as well as relaxing at Balboa park. There are tons of things to do and see here, it's just a matter of choice! Oh, and if you enjoy classical music, definitely get tickets for the Hollywood Bowl, and be sure to bring a picnic! You might also want to consider a visit to Long Beach, which has the Queen Mary and the Aquarium of the Pacific. (although I think Monterey's might be better). A trip to Venice boardwalk is also a little touristy, but can't be beat for the peoplewatching! As for the northern part of the state, if you can take a tour of the Napa/Sonoma wine country, do it! If you need any more info, please feel free to email me.

Message: As mentioned above, the Monterey Bay Aquarium is a must see.

Also as mentioned--the drive down Hwy. 1 from Carmel to San Luis Obispo is an absolute must. Stop for lunch in Big Sur at a restaurant called Nepenthe. It has a large outside patio with incredible view down the Big Sur coast!

Another very interesting stop is Hearst Castle in San Simeon. You can reserve a tour in advance through BASS tickets I believe. Sounds like a fun trip!

I live about one hour from Palm Springs- you would be better off seeing San Diego- Seaworld, Shamu etc. As for Universal- the one in Florida is nicer- just beware of L.A.- a German tourist just got shot and killed - thought he could walk along the beach from his motel at night! A real no no here! You'll have to rent a car. For help on airfare come see the Cheap Flight Forum in www.eurotrip.com- we just listed about 10 websites for Europeans coming to USA. Be sure to check out Virgin Air and British Air websites. Keep abreast of their specials.
www.fly.virgin.com/atlantic
for British air go to www.airlines.com and it gives URL's of all airlines.

3 days at Disneyland is too long; this park is like the Magic Kingdom --1 day is enough and you will want to stay right there as near as possible. (If you've seen WDW (FL) you can skip it entirely). That should give you more time to see the rest of LA. Universal Studios is very worthwhile and east to get to from Beverly Hills, Hollywood, etc. Get an early start and be sure to allow time to eat after at CityWalk --a unique shopping/food/entertainment area just outside the park. Lots of movie & TV related stuff in LA; that's one of the unique reasons to visit. I suggest going to It's a Wrap which sells clothes from many of the TV shows and movies when they are done. Have fun!

I would skip Palm Springs altogether. It is far too hot in August. The temperatures will be 115+. The trip down hwy 1 through the Big Sur country is a must. Go on the 17 mile drive just between Monterey and Carmel. Allow yourself a full day for the trip from San Francisco through the Big Sur. I would probably stay the night in San Luis Obispo.

Yosemite is worth a visit. Shorten up your time in other places so you can visit San Diego. San Diego is much different and nicer than Los Angeles and is well worth visiting. Must sees in San Diego are the zoo, Wild Animal Park, Sea World and the coastal area. You could easily spend a week in San Diego alone.

Hello,
I am a native Angeleno and currently live in the bay area. If you get a chance, spend a couple of days in Lake Tahoe. It's about a three-and-a-half- drive from SF and really spectacular.
I agree, 3 days in Disneyland is way too much, one day should suffice, if you go from opening to closing, which is really the way to do it!
E-mail me if you have any questions, I'd be happy to help.
Have a great time!

We've traveled through California a number of times. Yosemite is probably the most spectacular sight in the central California area. The natural beauty surpasses any of the man-made entertainment spots or cities. The drive along California 1 is also a beautiful experience. One problem, due to the flood several years ago, housing is at a premium in Yosemite. Reservations are available 364 days in advance, so you may find it difficult to get reservations in the park at this time. It is possible to stay in Oakhurst and drive into Yosemite for the day, and you may be lucky enough to get a reservation. It will be hot in August, and if there hasn't been a lot of rain/snow during the winter a lot of the wateralls will be minimal; but, all in all, it is a place not to be missed. Forget the three days in Disneyland and enjoy the scenery not available at any other place. If you in the vicinity of San Luis Obisbo on a Thursday night, they have an interesting farmer's market and street fair which makes an unusual way to spend an evening and a meal on the street.

Just spent 10 days in Northern Calif. (I live in Michigan)and the Sierra Nevada foothills and would recommend these areas instead of Palm Springs and Disney (unless you have your hearts set upon seeing Disney). Lake Tahoe is beautiful as are the Sierra Nevada mountains. I agree with the others who recommended Yosemite National Park. It is exceptional, though very crowded especially during summer. The northern road is beautiful and less crowded (Hwy. 120) but you do miss some of the big attractions such as EL Capitan and Yosemite Falls/ Bridalveil Falls. There are several lesser known wine regions in the Sierra Nevada foothills also-very pretty but less popular than Sonoma and Napa Valleys. Also, you can travel the 'Mother Lode' route-visiting many of the old Gold Rush towns along Hwy. 49. I have some websites for these places if you're interested.

I am a native Californian, and have driven up and down the state several times. Most the info in the replies are good, but it is important to keep in mind if you are driving that a lot of time will be spent doing just that...driving. It is nine hours from SF to LA, and several hours between stops at different locations.
Yosemite is wonderful, some of the most spectacular scenery in the US. But you will need to allow lots of travel time. If you go there, you are on the complete oposite side of the state from the coastline. I would suggest leave early on day one, visit yosemite, and stay overnite in Oakhurst. Eat dinner at Pizza Factory restaurant, my favorite pizza place ever!

Day two travel back to Monterey and visit Cannery Row/Fishermans Wharf area, including the aquarium if time allows. Stay the night in Monterey.

Day three leave early and drive down highway 1 along the Pacific coast (check to see if it is open to through traffic, as slides can close the road from time to time). Stop in Big Sur, then continue on to San Simeon and visit Hearst Castle (a must) Advance reservations should be made. Continue on to Santa Barbara for the night. It makes a long day, but puts you within two hours of LA.

Santa Barbara is nice, but there isn't really anything worthwhile to do. Day four you can go to Universal Studios (1.5-2 hours from SB) Traffic into LA from Santa Barbara is HORRIBLE! during the week, so leave SB about 8 am. From Universal Studios, travel to Anaheim for the night, and stay at Disneyland Hotel.

Day five, spend at Disneyland (a must if you havn't been to Walt Disney World in Florida) One day is enough if you start early and stay late. Get on the good rides early before crouds arrive. They have parades and street shows after dark. Spend night at hotel again.

Day six, travel to San Diego. San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal PArk (two seperate attractions in two locations) are great. The zoo is located in Balboa Park, which has tons of stuff to see. A huge place. Visit Seaport Village, shopping at Horton Plaza, visit Old Town. Besides San Francisco, San Diego is my favorite Califonia City. Check out the online tour guides for San Diego for more stuff. Allow two days here.

If $$$$ is not an object, stay at Hotel del Coronado on Coronado Island. Coronado is just south os Sandiego. It is a great landmark. If it is too expensive, at least go to the island and see the inside. You can drive by bridge, witha toll one way ($1.00 last time I went) and free comong back.

Finally, I concur with other messages, DO NOT waste time in Palm Springs in August. It is hot, and nothing is happening.

Hope this is helpful. Feel free to e-mail me directly.

Much good advice posted to you here. I would add that you might consider one or the other - Disneyland OR Universal Studio - as they are somewhat redundit. Both are BIG amusement parks theme/thrill rides built around the promotion of studio movies. Personally, I would see Disney and skip Universal. We thought Universal was really, really contrived, not too well done, VERY expensive and the lines for rides are unbelievably long - 2 hours for Jurassic Park ride. Not that Disney isn't all of the above, but it does offer more imagination in the animatronic characters, lighted parades, landscaping and just general ambiance. I think Disney and then Seaworld, the Zoo and animal park in San Diego are better choices. We also loved the quaint city of Carmel-by-the-Sea, at the end of 17 Mile Drive. Might consider staying a night there if its convenient to your drive. I agree that the Monterey Aquarium is wonderful, but again it might feel reduntant added to a visit at Seaworld. Have a wonderful trip.

Very good advice here. The BEST is to skip Palm Springs!!! I've been there in August and don't ever want to return! (had no choice) It will be hot in L.A. also most likely so plan to stay near the coast. Don't stay in Hollywood to see Universal---it's not the Hollywood you think of. There are hotels in the area, one rather funky one with a great pool and good for kids is Sportsman's Lodge in Studio City on Ventura Blvd, about 15 min. away. Arrive early!! Santa Barbara is beautiful but really a second home community and b&bs--not great for the kids. 3 days in Disneyland would put me over the edge! Try to see Hearst Castle in San Simeon just at the south end of the highway 1 drive through Big Sur. Don't be tempted to drive hwy 1 all the way from SF--go on 280 to 101 and off at the Monterey Peninsula exit (I think it's 156 west???) Alternatively, take 280 to 85 to 17 and show the kids "Surf City, U.S.A."., better known as Santa Cruz. They can arrange surfing lessons at Club Ed's on the beach. Have fun, it's a great state!!

Additional thought: United flies its new 777s from London to SFO and L.A. to Heathrow. Prebook two seats together on the side (as in A and B or H and J) and the aisle across---it's roomy, food service is fairly good and no need to go business. It's a LONG flight, however. Did it a year ago from London and last week from Paris---both times equally good. Or, you can't go too wrong with BA.

I bet you never expected so many replies-everybody has great points-Palm Springs definetly too hot in August and really not a great deal to do. Three days at disneyland is too long-the area surrounding D'land is rundown and looks very dated.. Disnelyand itself, though fun for a day, maybe 2, needs to be modernized. San Francisco-YES Definetly take the Coast Hwy (1) from Carmel to LA-Yosemite is also a must see-I think you want to see things that you can't find in the UK or Europe. Anyway, I suggest San Diego for a few days instead of Palm Springs. ENjoy your trip and happy planning!

I disagree about Palm Springs in August. Lets face facts. You're never going to get 115 degrees in the UK. You might find such temperature extremes a nice contrast.

I visited Death Valley a few years ago in early September; it was 112. The place was empty, desolate, and totally, totally, totally quiet. Ever "heard" nothing at all? No birds. No insects. No cars. No planes. Nothing. I still remember it. The stark beauty of the place is still really vivid in my mind. Then, drive up hiway 395 towards Yosemite, and go in the back door. You'll pass Mono Lake.

Maybe not what you want, but it's really quite beautiful in it's own way. If you don't like crowds, that's your trip.

Try to get to Yosemite while in the SF Bay Area. Call the Redwoods Guest Cottages in Wawona to stay while in the Yosemite area. Nice houses that are privately owned and rented. Phone is 209.375.666 Fax is 209.375.6400. The park will be crowded, but it is beautiful. Stay in Carmel, not Monterey. The Pine Inn on Ocean is a great place and you can still easily go to Monterey. Do prepare for some crowds on the highways. We live here and it gets crowded in the City and Carmel in summer. Alcatraz is fun in the City. Get ur friends to book tickets in advance. One week to two weeks early is usually good enough, Do not plan to get the tickets on the day you want to go. Must reserve in advance. Any other questions, email me.

I am happy to see the wonderful responses that you have received from others. Their comments are exceptionally good. May I add something on Santa Barbara: It is not a must see, but it is especially unique in its small city ambiance, a clean, rather safe,spanish styled city with some interesting aspects: If the California historical mission settlement is of interest to you, then the Mission in Santa Barbara is very interesting. The Santa Barbara Zoo is exceptional for kids since it is small in size and not overwhelming. If you are into shopping, then you might find the Paseo Nuevo Mall on State Street interesting as well.Restaurants abound with Brigette's on State Street exceptional.As you can see from the comments you have received, California can be an easy destination of pleasure for a month or more! Have a good time.

I say skip LA and go straight to San Diego. You don't need to spend more than a day or so in Anaheim. There is so much to do in San Diego. Old Town, Zoo, La Jolla, and you can go an hour north to Temecula Wine Country. The whole area is made up of beautiful coasts and views. Also the weather is usually never humid.