"if you want to see L.A., stay in L.A. If you want to see San Diego, stay in San Diego"

Absolutely! You really will lose lots and lots of time to-ing and fro-ing between LA/SD and Newport B.

IMPORTANT TEEN FRIENDLY ALERT!! Unless your kids are different from every other teen, and crave hours of sightseeing of natural beauty. I have a few suggestions: Try and mix up "once in a lifetime moments" with breaks for teenage fun, so they don't wish you or each other dead!

Vegas: Easy *"Stratosphere" crazy rollercoaster and great view especially at night-*Poolside sunbathing-strolling through the "canal shops at Venetian with Gelato"
Grand Canyon: Life changing sight...give the kids one day. It's cool and amazing, but then it's a really big canyon.
Yosemite: Again very beautiful...mmm lovely
San Francisco: Good bet! Nice mix of historic and natural sightseeing and "fun factor".
Santa Cruz: Nice boardwalk.
Pismo: Sand dunes (here are your sand dunes!!)
Montery: Lovely...aquarium...then yawn.
Santa Barbara: Beautiful..museums..cafes...more of a couples destination.
Newport Beach: Perhaps the girls are thinking of the "OC" or "the Hills". The beaches of Laguna are terrific and it's a perfect little coastal town.
San Diego: Lots to do: perhaps do the "historic" stuff in the morning and hit Del Mar , Coronodo or La Jolla Shores beaches in the afternoon. Good place to end your trip on a high note, rather than a collective "whine" note.

25 days is a terrific amount of time...Personally, since I have 2 teens (16 and 14), breaking up 1-3 days of "Mom's life changing destinations" with 1-2 days of "OH my God! this is so cool, My friends are going to be so jealous!" Seems to keep all of us happy.
P.S.
Death Valley: SKIP IT! Instead perhaps visit Palm Springs. Which is located in the desert, but with pools and nearby Joshua Tree or Tram to the top of the mountain. Keep in mind, 2/3 of California is pretty much a desert, and Vegas is located smack dab in the middle of one. I look forward to your trip report.
Tina

Vegas
Grand Canyon- 1 full day
You could do it from the North Rim instead of the South. This would save you time driving to Page the next day. This would save a lot of driving. Hike down in to the canyon a bit. Maybe ride mules

Antelope Canyon/Page
Bryce- 1 full day spend night "in park"
hike Navajo Loop/Queens Garden Trail
maybe ride mules

Zion- 2 day spend night "in park"
hike The Narrows
let the teens hike Angels Landing

Death Valley
1 full day
if you do any hiking or get on the sand do it early in the morning. expect temps of 120+ and expect temps of 100 for a low. Scotty's Castle if it is open in the summer. See Zabriskie Point, Badwater, Devils Golf Course, Dante's View, Artist Drive. Consider a drive thru Titus Canyon if you have a high clearance vehicle. We did it in a Toyota Rav and was fine. Some of the lodging is open in the summer(this is more of a winter destination).

Yosemite
3 full days
Stay in Wawonna area 1 night and see Sequoia Trees
Stay 2 nights in the valley
Hike Panorama Trail from Glacier Point
maybe drive Tioga Road

San Francisco 2 or 3 days
chinatown
cable cars
farmers market
fishermans wharf
Segway Tour was fun for us



In San Diego we enjoyed The Wild Animal Park(which is owned by the zoo) more than we did the zoo. But see both, if possible. I have been to LA, but haven't traveled between SD, SF, and LA- so can't help you with that portion of your trip.

This is a rushed trip. I would not try to hurry and do to much. Buy a National Park Pass and save a lot of money. I would stay at most of the places and extra night over what I stated above if at all possible.

Regarding spirbulldog's list for Yosemite...

You'll drive the Tioga Road if you enter the park through the east gate (from 395/Lee Vining).

Here's one website's list of Yosemite's top ten easy hikes. Note the inclusion under "Honorable Mentions" of the Mono Lake South Tufa Trail.

http://www.yosemitehikes.com/yosemit...easy-hikes.htm

Regarding the Panorama Trail, note you can hike it downhill if you prefer and want to spend less time, although the cost of the one-way bus ride is steep.

http://www.yosemitehikes.com/glacier...rama-trail.htm

>>

Driving nonstop from LA to San Francisco will only take "6 to 12 hours" on the coast - if you drive up boring Highway 5, it's 5-6 hours. Vegas to LA - 5 hours. Vegas to SF - 10 hours.

Have you considered not coming to the West at all?

Driving around all that desert - Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon to Page to Bryce to Yosemite - why, your sandals might fall off or your car might overheat in all that desert country! Surely, you'll shrivel to a prune if you hit Antelope Canyon at the best viewing time which is midday! And wait till you hit a sand storm in the desert - downright frightening!

(Just kidding! )

The best way to get from Las Vegas to Yosemite is through Death Valley. I wouldn't recommend driving boring I-95 to skirt around Death Valley. It's worse than Death Valley because it's long and boring.

You've been to the Sahara Desert, Death Valley is no hotter. Just don't expect endless vistas of sand dunes. The best sand dunes on your route are, as tinabina mentioned, at Morro Bay/Pismo Beach.

http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1207

I agree with spirobulldog that you would be better off to visit the North rim of the Grand Canyon. First, because it is more rustic and much less crowded and touristy; and secondly, it's much closer to Page. Whether North or South Rim, you really, really need to make reservations now if you want to be right at the rim.
Also, I recommend driving down US1 between SF and LA because this coast drive is spectacular. Stop at San Simeon for a tour of Hearst Castle - again, truly spectacular, especially the setting (wise to make a reservation since tours are very popular).
If you do go to Death Valley, don't miss Zabriskie Point and drive thru Mustard Canyon. Your teens would like the pool in the Furnace Creek resort.
I'm not a big fan of San Diego - very clean and fairly pretty, but boring. The zoo is very crowded and I think the San Diego Wild Animal Park in Escondido is better. It's pricey but the segway tour in the Park is great. But I would skip SD and spend more time in SF and/or Napa/Sonoma Wine Country. In the LA area, I like Santa Monica - teens would like the Pier. Be aware that the Pacific is freezing and beaches are for sunbathing only!

Hi Everyone,

Great advice,I've now decided to skip the south rim of GC to concentrate our trip on the north rim. I've attempted to book a cabin at the North rim lodge and nothing is available for July 17th, any suggestions as to accomodations? Will than move unto Page- any lodging suggestions. Need advice for lodging near Bryce Canyon also. Still looking for the best beach experience between LA and San Diego. We will stop in LA a couple of days and San Diego a couple of days.

Keep the advice coming

Helen

Hi popup,

I disagree with others who suggest the North Rim over the South. The South Rim has a much greater variety of viewpoints, trails, and visitor concessions and activities. There is much less to do at the North Rim unless you take some of the more adventuresome hikes. The North Rim is great but not, in my opinion, the best option for the first timer.

Here's something that describes the differences of the two rims to help you make your decision.

http://www.arizona-leisure.com/grand...n-arizona.html

Can you rearrange your itinerary a bit so you don't end up at the North Rim on the 17th, which is a Saturday? There may well be cabins on other nights. You could also try calling Forever Lodging in case there are cabins available that don't show up on the website. The Pioneer cabins are good for a family of 5.

If that doesn't work, the Kaibab Lodge is just outside the park entrance, so you could try booking there.

The North Rim is indeed quieter and more remote. That appeals to many of us, and not to others. For a one-night visit, how many viewpoints and activities do you need? The lodge and cabins there are right on the rim; there are a number of easy trails along the rim, or one can take a short hike down into the canyon without facing as much summer heat as you find at the South Rim.

There is also a short but spectacular walk out to Bright Angel Point 1/4 from the lodge, with fantastic views. We did that several times to see it in the changing light.

We love the two patios, one on either side of the sunroom at the lodge, where you can side at a table right on the edge of the canyon. You can buy breakfast or lunch at the deli, or a drink at the bar, and bring it out there to sit and soak in the view, without the crowds you will find at the South Rim.

After 2 nights at the North Rim we hiked to the bottom of the canyon and up to the South Rim, where we found the crowds and the hubbub a bit jarring. We were happy to get back to the North Rim and have more peace and quiet, and that nice cool air at 8800 feet.

Be sure to include a couple of days at Zion. Your kids will love the Narrows hike, where you walk in the river, with water sometimes up to mid-thigh or higher. Check at Zion Adventure Company in Springdale, the little town right at the western entrance to the park, for safety notices and advice on this hike. They rent special water shoes which we found useful.

For dunes, you might stop at Oceano Beach, near Pismo.

And for a nice family-friendly beach between LA and San Diego, we like San Clemente. (And I grew up living in Newport.)

I think if a person can see both the North and South rim would be great. However, if you are on one side or the other and don't have the time or want to make the effort then go with whichever side is the easiest for you to get to. Yes, they are different, but similar.

For Bryce and Zion stay "In Park". If you can't get Bryce Lodge then go with Ruby's. In Zion there is a ton of lodging just outside the park in Springdale, UT.

If you end up staying more than 1 day in each spot, let us know, I could easily come up with 3 days worth of activities in each place and I am sure others could add more.

For instance, while in Page it would be a shame not to see Rainbow Bridge. While in Bryce, you might want to drive HWY 12 and see Calf Creek Falls.

I don't agree totally with tinabina. My teen loves National Parks, and a trip like this would be right up her alley. You are talking about seeing Major Major icons of the west. And you are going to be going to enough different type areas that I don't see how anyone could get bored with them. The main thing is not to be super rushed through these places. I understand wanting to see a lot, just don't miss half of it while you are there. National Park Lodging in some places requires 12 months preparation to get exactly what you want. I suspect that you will be able to get lodging at most of what you want, but not everything. People do cancel as time gets closer, so you should make plans, then keep calling back, right up until time you leave.

Hi,

Any advice regarding whether we should visit Bryce or Zion. I was reading up on the Zion's Narrow Hike and it seems great! Also wondering with whom to do the Antelpoe canyon in Page, several bad reviews. Is the half day rafting with colorado river discovery worth it? or should we do something else?

Thanks

Helen

Zion Narrow and Angels Landing are two of the top hikes in the Entire National Parks. I would say they would rate easily on the top 5 day hikes for a lot of people.

You might want to rent shoes @ Zion Adventure Company, Do carry a walking stick. They also rent wetsuits, but you probably wouldn't want those in the summer. DO NOT even consider this hike if there is rain in the forecast.


If you go to Bryce, you might as well go a bit further and hike Calf Creek Falls also.

Zion is a very pretty park, and far more rewarding than the Grand Canyon, in my opinion. You are in a valley looking up rather than looking down(although you can hike in some areas and look down). You will most likely see wild turkeys and deer. We even saw a California Condor on top of Angels Landing. Link to Zion including The Narrows. Oct 2008.
http://www.photoworks.com/slideshow/...1?source=pw980



Death Valley and Red Rock Canyon Pic-Jan 1st
http://www.photoworks.com/slideshow/...F?source=pw980

My shoes had really thin soles and they melted for sure. I was surprised, I tell ya. I did Egypt in August but Death Valley was worse in July for me anyway.

I did Egypt in August, too. If Death Valley is worse in July than Egypt is in August, I'd stay far far away....

I'm with the others in recommending Zion - my favorite area in the desert southwestern United States. Having said that, there are some considerations for July travel. Zion can get pretty hot in July, with average highs of 100 degrees, and thunderstorms occurring an average of 14 days out of 31. It's best to start hikes as early as possible. Given the temperatures, the Narrows hike is particularly attractive, but due to the good chance of thunderstorms have a backup plan ready. The thunderstorms usually don't drop much rain, but you never know...

As a minor note, The Stratosphere Hotel in Las Vegas no longer has a roller coaster on top, but it does have three other rides that range from moderately scary to "no way I'm doing that" scary!

Angels Landing has multiple fatal, 1,000 ft falls every year.

This year there were two, of middle-aged women.

Be very, very cautious and think twice about completing the last, much more dangerous part of this hike. Most all of the vistas can be seen from safer, lower levels.

The advice about being careful if going to Angels Landing is worth heeding. Sadly, Angels Landing had two fatal falls last year (2009), but averaging multiple fatal falls per year? No.

In any case, the hike is worth while. It's a safe hike most of the way - to Scout Lookout. At that point, the view is already spectacular. Many people decide to stop at that point; others continue the last short but very steep portion to Angels Landing.