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.

If we needed to see a few things in LA and also go to Hollywood, is it best to stay in LA or stay somewhere nearby and go for the day?

You are VERY wise to stay in Anaheim during the convention. It is no picnic commuting in OC let alone from beach communities during rush hour. And don't stay at the hotel in San Clemente- railroad tracks practically run through it.

Yes, The Del is a historic beauty but you'll pay to stay there. If nostalgia is your thing you'll see the value in staying there, if it isn't, you won't. Know during the summer it is packed with non hotel guests.

I think before anyone can offer anymore suggestions they need to know how many days do you have AFTER Disneyland/Anaheim? 10 days- 2 weeks total? 5 free days?

And I would fly into SNA unless you are saving a bundle. It is sooooo much more pleasant than LAX and less of a drive.

SOCALOC:
The price to SNA seems to be the same as the price going to LAX. So I will attempt to fly into there. I was thinking of flying out of San Fran going home and just driving up the coast and staying a few places along the way. I do need to head over to LA and Hollywood (I think for the day?, not sure if that is enough time?)
As far as time goes, the convention is Aug 19-21. I was thinking of getting there maybe the 17th so we could enjoy Disneyland a couple of days before it starts. Then, I was thinking of flying home around Aug 27. I am just really confused as to where to stay or if I should skip the San Fran part and just head down to San Diego. Help!!! lol
Any help would be greated apprciated!

Can you do LA as day trip during the convention?

If your main goal is taking a scenic drive along the coast I'd say it's doable but I'd fly out of San Jose instead of SFO.

You could:

Leave 21st PM after the convention and stay in Ventura. This will help avoid the OC/LA/Ventura county AM traffic quagmire. Wake up, eat breakfast and hit the road early AND relaxed. I'm suggesting Ventura since accommodations are much more affordable than Santa Barbara and you only need a place to rest your head anyway. Plus, you really want to see THE drive to SB during the day.

22nd-Stop by Santa Barbara/Pismo Beach etc. Stay overnight in Cambria/San Simeon.

23rd-All day on Highway 1. Stay in Carmel, Monterey etc area

24th- Sight see in the vicinity.

25th- fly home.

If LA needs to be crammed in somewhere in the above itinerary- it's going to be pretty stressful IMO. San Diego would be easier but it sounds like you vision heading north. I love San Diego but you are talking about two entirely different experiences. Good luck Mers and ask away! :)

SOCALOC:
Thank you for all your suggestions. Yes, I think we are going to have to skip going south of Disney. I think we will also stay in San Fran for a couple of days. As far as staying in Carmel or Monterey, do you recommend one over the other?

I'm not a big fan of Monterey. I would stay in Carmel if you like cute towns, shopping, wandering in villages, large sandy beaches. Or Pacific Grove if you want to stay in a Victorian B&B, close to the ocean/bay.

Stu Dudley

<<<I'm not a big fan of Monterey. I would stay in Carmel if you like cute towns, shopping, wandering in villages, large sandy beaches. Or Pacific Grove if you want to stay in a Victorian B&B, close to the ocean/bay.>>>

That said, they're all within 5 or so miles of each other. In fact, the Monterey Bay Aquarium is physically partly in Monterey and partly in Pacific Grove.

We would probably like Carmel then. Any recommendations on very nice hotels? Is one night enough? or two better?

Depends what you plan to do while there -- for example, if you're going to spend 3 hours at the Aquarium (see other thread entitled "Northern California Trip"), you might need more time. If you're going to hike in Pt. Lobos, you'll need more time. If you're just going to drive down the coast to see the views, turn around and come back, less time.

So:

Aquarium
Wharf
Boat tour
Kayaking
Pt. Lobos/Hiking
Pfeiffer Beach (don't know how it's affected by the road limitations)
Town of Carmel
Pacific Grove walk/bike path

You certainly couldn't go wrong with two nights.

We will not do aquariums, or hiking, or anything like it. We just want to enjoy the views, and maybe do some shopping. We will go up the coast but then fly home from San Francisco.

If all you're doing is driving up the coast from Monterey to San Francisco, with a little eating and shopping on the way, one day should be fine.

Thank you! I will look into hotels in the area. Thanks again for all the help!

any suggestions on hotels in San Francisco? Maybe in an area that you can leave the hotel and walk instead of driving somwhere?

"<i> Maybe in an area that you can leave the hotel and walk instead of driving somwhere?</i>"

No one needs a car in SF.

What is your budget?

I will have a car because I need to drive up from the LA area along the coast. Should I return the car somewhere in SF when I arrive? I probably will stay 2 nights then fly out of SFO.
As far as budget, I would probably go up to 400-500 per night per room, (I think I need 2 rooms because there will be 5 of us).

$400-500 per night per room? There is absolutely no reason to spend that much on a hotel here - this is not Manhattan or London! What would you like to be near -- shopping (Union Square) , beautiful views and near the bay (my person preference - the Embarcadeo), touristy areas (Fisherman's Wharf), top of the [quite steep] hill (Nob Hill)?

I like the Embarcadero (check out the Hotel Vitale) because you can walk everywhere - you are within 20 minutes walk of Union Square, Chinatown, North Beach, Fisherman's Wharf, etc..

What are your dates here? I just randomly checked the Hotel Vitale ($339) and the Hotel Monaco ($251) for July 20-22..

"<i>Should I return the car somewhere in SF when I arrive?</i>"

Normally I'd say yes because parking is sooooo expensive. But w/ that budget, that $45-$50+ a day may not make you blink.

So maybe keep the car in your case -- pick a nice hotel, pay to park the car and still have change from your $400+ a night.

oops-didn't mean to hit submit . . .

But myself, even w/ that budget, I'd probably drop the car downtown (where partly depends on which hotel you choose) and take a cab to SFO on your departure day.

I am looking around Aug. 22-24. I priced the Hotel Vitale, and it will be around $400 per night. I had originally priced the Fairmont Heritage Place at Ghiradelli Square. I can get a 2 bedroom city view for $750 per night (instead of getting 2 rooms), or a bay view 2 bedroom for $950 per night. Not sure if this location is any good, or if it is better to stay in the Embarcadeo area or the Union Square area.

Also, if it's better for me to get rid of the car, I can do that. I heard it's kind of crazy getting around SFO airport?