California-Anaheim to San Fran
 

I will be staying in Disneyland for about 4 or 5 days and from there would like to travel up towards San Francisco. I would like to stay a couple places along the way for a night or two in each place. It will be myself, my husband and two daughters, ages 19 & 22.
Any suggestions would be appreciated? Also, is it best to fly into LA or Orange County Aiport?

Orange County-John Wayne Airport is much closer to Disneyland than LAX, but the latter isn't difficult if you'll have a car anyway, so go by price and schedule (including car rentals).

Oh, sorry, should ask - why 4 or 5 days at Disneyland? Disneyland is not like Disneyworld. You can easily do all of Disneyland and California Adventure in a couple of days.

Agree with sf7307, 2-3 days tops is enough for Disneyland and California Adventure. There is so much to see and do in CA you can put those two extra days somewhere else if you want.

We weren't sure how many days to allow in Disneyland. We will be attending the D23 expo which is at the convention center for 3 days. My daughter's artwork was chosen to be displayed there so that's why we are going. Then, I was thinking we needed another day or two to go to Disneyland and California Adventure? Maybe we can take some day trips from there?

Ideas for traveling from LA to SF.

If you want to stay on the Coast:
Solvang http://www.solvangusa.com/

Hearst Castle http://www.hearstcastle.org/

Monterey & the Monterey Bay Aquarium http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog...2298/tpod.html

If you want to travel inland:

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks http://www.nps.gov/seki/index.htm

Yosemite National Park http://www.nps.gov/yose/index.htm which is always beautiful!

The Gold Rush, Mother Lode Country, Historic California Hwy 49 http://www.historichwy49.com/

Utahtea

Thank you, I will check out those places.

Hit Laguna Beach if you need to hang around the Anaheim area for a while. Consider staying in Laguna for a night or two - especially if your daughter is an artist.

Here are my ideas for the San Francisco area.

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...mendations.cfm

Stu Dudley

Thank you for your suggestions. Do you think it's best to stay 2 nights in Laguna?

Yep. Staying near Disneyland is boring, IMO.

Stu Dudley

The only reason to stay near Disneyland is because you're going to be spending time AT Disneyland, so it's convenient. It's not attractive, in any way upscale, etc. Just lots of hotels and motels and chain restaurants on some pretty major streets. Laguna Beach on the other hand, is a quintessential California beach community. On nice days, everyone is out and about, sunbathing, swimming in the ocean, playing beach volleyball, eating at beachside (or at least view) restaurants, shopping in "beachy" stores, etc. So combine the two and you'll have a great trip!

Any hotel suggestions in Laguna? I am also going to drive up to San Fran so any other suggestions to stop along the way would be great. I need to do my homework on California, I haven't been back there in a long, long time! I'm sure my girls would like to see Hollywood, Beverly Hills, etc.
Is Carmel a good place to stop also?

My choices for overnight stops would be Pismo Beach or Cambria, and then Monterey.

Santa Barbara is great too, but probably too far south for the first night - it would make a good lunch stop though.

Pismo Beach is beachy and casual. Cambria is artsy with a beautiful coastline.

Monterey/Pacific Grove/Carmel are all close together, so you can stay in which ever one suits you best. Monterey is more lively, Carmel is quiet and upscale, Pacific Grove is a small town with a casual vibe.

You should also stop in Santa Cruz on your way from Monterey to SF.

I am wondering if I am trying to cram to much into ten days. Do you think I am better off just staying south of LA. Maybe going down to San Diego instead?

San Diego is great too. I don't think you would go wrong with either choice.

If you go up to SF along the coast, you will have a road trip - moving from place to place, a night or two in each location, seeing a good variety of things along the way.

Going to San Diego - you could stay in one hotel and have that as a base for sightseeing, relaxing, hanging out.

Just depends on what sort of trip you want.

As an OCer myself I can say Anaheim is pretty boring outside of Disneyland. Suggestion for a less expensive hotel that is right on the water and one if my familys favorites is The Beachcomber in San Clement. Check that out, it is the next beach to the south of Laguna.

I meant San Clemente...oops

I will defintely need to stay in Disneyland for around 5 nights. So that doesn't leave me too much time to go to both San Francisco and San Diego area. I wanted to go for around 10 days. I think I will either need to make it 2 weeks or just pick one or the other. Is the Hotel Del Coronado nice? I read mixed reviews? or is it better to stay in San Diego?

>>San Clement. Check that out, it is the next beach to the south of Laguna.<<

What happened to South Laguna, Dana Point, and Capistrano Beach???

Stu Dudley

Yes, the Hotel Del is definitely nice, however I think the mixed reviews come from the fact that it is an old hotel and that always comes with some issues. The location is fabulous.

The Hotel Del is on Coronado, which is an easy drive over a bridge from SD - 5-10 minutes and you are in downtown.