California itinerary help
 

Now that we have settled on a destination or at least an airport, I need help with figuring out the best places to stay. We are a family of four - 2 younger teens plus mom and dad. We have roundtrip tickets into LAX and 8 full days to tour. Would like to split time between the coast north of LA and then in Orange County.

We want to see Disneyland, an Angels game and Knotts Berry amusement park in Orange County. North of the city we would like to see Big Sur, Santa Barbara and the Hearst Castle. Looking for the best opportunities for bike riding, light hiking and maybe kayaking. Open to other suggestions for sightseeing too.

Can anyone suggestion good hotel options - would love to have a resort type setting but need to keep it under $300 per night.

Would love any suggestions on sightseeing too. I've been to LA on business many times, so I have a reasonable acquaintance with distances, traffic etc.

Would love to hear from Fodorites. Thank you in advance.

I recently did quite a bit of research on where to stay while visiting Disneyland and settle on Doubletree Inn Anaheim. We ended up having to cancel out trip, but my parents went and said the hotel was very nice and convenient for Disney.

<Looking for bike riding, light hiking and maybe kayaking.>

Bike in Santa Barbara from Leadbetter Beach along the Cabrillo bike path.

Across from the lagoon, pedal along the short strand in front of the Biltmore Hotel.

See middle of this article: http://www.sbchamber.org/visitors/attractions.html

http://www.lotsafunmaps.com/details.php?locationid=161

Central Coast Kayaks in Shell Beach will drop the kayaks off for you. Kayak along the cliffs to Dinosaur Caves. http://www.centralcoastkayaks.com/

http://www.classiccalifornia.com/rentals.htm

Young teens also like nearby Pismo Beach.

Can also rent kayaks at Morro Bay and Monterey Bay.

These are light hiking trails we do often to relax and sightsee:

Oso Flaco/ Nipomo dunes:

http://www.centralcoasttourist.com/P...oso_flaco.html

http://santalucia.sierraclub.org/osoflaco.html

Bob Jones City to the Sea Trail in Avila Beach:

http://www.special-places.org/ecm/La...nes_Trail.html

Many light trails in Montana de Oro State Park near Los Osos.
http://www.slostateparks.com/montana_de_oro/default.asp

Waterfall hikes along Big Sur:

http://jrabold.net/bigsur/activ-wfal.htm

Point Lobos State Park south of Carmel.

I would go for Disney property while there. Two full days will do you here. One at Magic Kingdom, one a California. Our 14 year old liked it and she rides everything (cedar point is the best place if you have teens that just want to ride wild rides). Disneyland is smaller than Disneyworld. We were pleasantly suprised by how nice the grounds were there. Magic Kingdom is very similar to Magic Kingdom in Disneyworld, but still different.

I haven't done this, but it high on my list to go to the Channel Islands sometime. I think the kayaking there would be fantastic. Check out Channel Islands National Park and give it a consideration for a full day.

bear: that's quite a list! Thanks for posting! Bookmarking.

Thank you all for the great suggestions, especially bear900.

Anaheim sounds like a good spot for what we want to do.

Any suggestions on a location/hotel along the Central Coast? I'm thinking we should be at least as far north as Santa Barbara but probably should be even further north if we can find the right hotel. Does this sound right?

With four nights along the coast and a mix of activities for you and the teens you might start with two nights in Santa Barbara.

Some basics are the Santa Barbara Courthouse, the old Mission and the Botanical Gardens in Mission Canyon: http://www.sbbg.org/

Walk lower State Street.

You might also enjoy a drive up to the Montecito hills where a lot of the rich and famous live.

Some of the best views of the Pacific Ocean can be seen from the top of the Montecito hills.

The Montecito canyon roads are beautiful drives lined with many beautiful homes.

There are also many easy to moderate trails up in the canyons.

A couple of nice ones are:

Cold Springs Trail:
http://www.santabarbarahikes.com/hik...l?cold_springs

Tunnel Trail Hike: http://www.santabarbara.com/activiti...iration_point/

Most travelers who visit Santa Barbara miss the really great beauty of the Montecito hills.

If you don’t plan on visiting north of Hearst castle I recommend two nights in Pismo Beach as a base.

Stop and visit the Danish town of Solvang on the way up from Santa Barbara.

Cambria and San Simeon (Hearst Castle) are only an hour north of Pismo Beach and Morro Bay is just a half hour north of Pismo Beach.

They are relatively short distances from Pismo and do not require staying overnight.

Avila Beach and the Bob Jones City to Sea Trail are within minutes as is San Luis Obispo, all places that teens like.

The Sea Venture will put you right on the beach in Pismo.

Other nice hotels on the bluffs half-way between Pismo and Shell Beach are The Cottage Inn by the Sea and the Best Western Shore Cliff Lodge.

Thank you bear900 again! I truly appreciate you taking the time to respond with such detailed answers and links. Got a reservation for the Cottage Inn by the Sea.

>:D<