Crossing USA from New York to San Francisco July 2006. When we arrive in California we would like some days swimming.

1. Where do we stay? Family oriented - family prices. Which coast? Cabin/cottage/camping?

2. We are also thinking of spending the very last two days in San Francisco. Do you know Adelaide Hostel, Isadora Duncan Lane?

Many greetings from family in Denmark. looking very much to visit some of USA from East to west - in one month. Can you advise?

The Pacific Ocean is pretty cold; I'm not sure you would enjoy swimming in it.

Lee Ann

www.baysidehotel.com is a decent choice in Santa Monica, near Los Angeles. Your best prices on the coast will be weeknights and if you are visiting larger cities you can usually get best hotel rates staying near the airport or downtown areas on Fri & Sat. LAX is not the greatest area to base yourselves but if you are on a "family budget" and you are in Los Angeles on the weekend, you can consider it. San Fran airport is also now connected to downtown by train. You can get a decent hotel near the airport with large family rooms for half the price of a small B&B room in downtown.

Coming from Denmark you should have no problem with water temperatures in July in Southern California. At least that's my experience being used to the Baltic Sea during Summers (coming from Northern Germany myself).
That said, water temperatures in the S.F. Bay area will indeed be chilly.

I would suggest you add a few days in the San Diego area. Coronado Beach with the famous Hotel Del Coronado is on a peninsula fronting the city of S.D. and features a very nice beach.

Del Mar, slightly North of San Diego has a very nice beach for hanging out and taking a bath, too.

God Jul to you, Denmark!
hsv

Thank you very much for replies. San Diego sounds very nice. And Santa Monica.

God Jul (Merry Christmas)to you - and meny greetings.

If you're on a budget try to plan your trip across the states by using MOTEL6. Great motel for a small price and youonly need accomodation for sleeping and taking a shower. Paul

Motel 6 sounds great. We have three children. (9,13,14). That makes five persons. Do we need one or two rooms?

Denmark, do you know for sure children are allowed in hostels in San Francisco?

If yes, location-wise I can recommend one - on Mason street.

Don't know anything about Duncan Lane.

Denmark, I'm heading to Copenhagen day after tomorrow. I'm very excited. You are so lucky to have a month to travel, I only have two weeks but am glad for it.

FainaAgain: Thank you for reply. I think children are allowed. Do you mean 312 Manson Street?

Crefloors: Welcome to Denmark. What are you going to do/see?

Denmark - Here is another strong vote for San Diego with some of the best weather year round. Go to www.sandiego.org for a lot of good information. This is the official tourist site and you can order some brochures if you want as well as see special offers. Give us an idea on your budget and we can help with places to stay.

You may want to consider a suite type hotel or something with a kitchen with 5 of you. A frig and micro-wave are very handy and really save the $'s.

Are you planning to drive from New York to California? Once you have your route worked out you may want to come back with another post and request additional information with another title. This will get you more responses.

Welcome and enjoy this beautiful country.

Sandy

Check out ColumbusMotorInn for San Fran...near the wharf and close to Union Square, they have large rooms and even a "family suite"...and parking is included which can cost you $24-$40 a day elsewhere.

Thank you SandyBrit. San Diego sounds great. It will also give us the opportunity for svimming after the drive across USA. Yes, we drive from New York to SF. We have found an appartment in New York for 4 days - and after that we are on the road. We fly home from SF. God idea to post the route with another title.

Thanks for the idea, tracy2cents.Will find the place on the net.

Lotīs of greetings.

Denmark:

Take a look at Ocean Park Inn, 710 Grand Ave. San Diego www.oceanparkinn.com
FAX 858-274-0823
e-mail [email protected]
Located directly across from the beach, continental breakfast, mini refrigerators and microwaves. Hotel has a very small pool. Your children would love this area. Grocery store, eating places close by. My husband and I have stayed here and would do so again.

Also look at Inn at Sunset Cliffs, 1370 Sunset Cliffs Blvd. www.innatsunsetcliffs.com
FAX 619 222-4201
e-mail [email protected]
This is a small 23 room inn on the cliffs of the Pacific. No direct access to the beach. They have kitchen units including two bedroom. Breakfast is included on the weekends served on their patio in front of the Pacific. The views here are tremendous. Inn does have a good size pool. You can walk into the town from here easily. Forgot to say free parking included. Walks on the cliffs fantastic. We will certainly stay here again. I got a much cheaper rate by contacting the inn direct.

Do you know that you can review lots of hotels, inns, b&b's at www.tripadvisor.com

Sounds like you are all set for the New York part of your adventure which is another of my favorite cities. I have a son living in NYC and another in San Diego so we do visit quite often.

Sandy

Denmark, yes, this is the one! My son worked there part-time while in college.

Nice area, close to all types of public transportation, lots of places to eat for all kinds of prices, safe to walk around if you don't go south, some places even within walking distance.

If cost is an issue, camping may be the way to go. You can go to any Target, K-Mart or Big-5 Sporting Goods store and pick up camping equipment for $300, everything included. But you will need a luggage rack to carry all the equipment given the number of travelers, or maybe rent a very small U-Haul--assuming that you are allowed to tow with your rental. Besides savings on motel costs you also save on food because you are more likely to shop and cook for yourselves, which is cheaper than eating out.

Thank you for many good advises. About camping: I have heard there are good cabins - f.ex. at the KOA campgrounds.True?

Denmark - I'll let others help you with information about camping/cabins but here is the KOA website www.koakampgrounds.com

Please consider a second posting with a different heading that pertains to camping/cabins. You will get more help.

Happy planning.

Sandy

Hello again SandyBrit
Thanks again. We are in the middle of planning. I know tripadvisor. Have used it for our trips to a.o. Rome, Firenze, Venice, Athens, Paris and London - with good results. I also - yesterday - found a very good hotel in Washington DC - where we are going after New York DC. During our month in the states we are planning to use different kinds of accomodations. From hotels with 4-5 stars to local motels to cabins on campinggrounds. Thatīs a part of the experience.
Thank you for your advises so far.
Many Greetings
Kim

Sounds like a fun trip, although a lot of driving. Try to come up with a tentative schedule of how long you want to spend driving across the country and what you want to see, and post it. I'm sure people will have a lot of helpful suggestions.

I assume during your drive that you'd like to stop and see place along the way, consider the kinds of things you want to see - mountains, desert landscape, museums? there are lots of great national parks, but they are most crowded during the summer, so planning ahead is a good idea. Do you want to do a lot of tourist things in California like Disneyland and studio tours, or do you want to spend more time in wilderness areas like Yosemite?

Think about the kinds of things you want and we'll try to come up with suggestions.