California + Las Vegas & Grand Canyon for 12-15 Day Trip in May
 

Thank you in advance to any advice you can share!

My wife and I have never been to California. We will travel along with our 3.5 years old daughter. We are looking at an early May departure for 12-15 days (give or take). No particular starting point for now, nor air tickets booked. We will rent a car, therefore it is preferably to start/stop at the same place. Our interests include good & cheap food, sights, activities and having a nice relaxed time traveling around. Unfortunately, due to the circumstances, the last one is not quite possible due to the demands that come with the age of our precious princess. No interests in wine tasting and chasing the celebrities. We consider ourselves as one that stay on the budget side of the scale.

I got no any California experience at all – I’m just starting to read what might be in interest for us during the trip. Therefore I kindly ask for some support in planning the trip.

What initially came as a first thought is to visit (order is a subject of decision):
SF
Area from Monterrey south to Santa Barbara
LA
San Diego
Grand Canyon
Las Vegas
Sequoya Park
Yosemite Park

Since the plan is to do a kind of a circle around the starting point will depend on your suggestions.

We are not keen-to-the nature so much, so parks can be minimized to one only – hiking is out of any question, just want to see the big Sequoya trees. I read that they can be seen in Yosemite as well. I got advice to start the journey from Las Vegas, since the prices of the air tickets and rental companies there are cheaper. True? I haven’t done any comparison yet.

1. What would be your suggestion for a starting/returning point, considering the time of the year?
2. What stops do you recommend we make and for how long in each destination? I’m keep reading that we should dedicate some time on the SF-Santa Barbara part of the trip because is quite beautiful. Also the San Diego is worth visiting.
3. Please, consider that we would try to stay on the budget side of the street. I’m not restricted with the days so much, but I’d like to stay around 15-ish max… maybe 1-2 plus if needed.

SF is outstandingly covered already here in the forum, thank you Stu for that http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...mendations.cfm

I do like to plan ahead so more questions will follow ;-)
Cheers,
Koko

I only have time for a quick note right now so it won't address most of your questions . . . but >> just want to see the big Sequoya trees. I read that they can be seen in Yosemite as well<<

Unfortunately not when you are visiting. The Mariposa Grove of Redwoods is closed to the public and will be for the next two years.

Your criteria this:

parks can be minimized to one only
hiking is out of any question
just want to see the big Sequoya trees

That would also rule out the Grand Canyon, as there are no Sequoia trees. It is also not a place that I would visit with a 3 year old given the steep drop offs in many places. I would not charcterize the GC as toddler proof.

Regarding the rest of your trip

You have not told us where you are starting from so it is not possible to tell you where fares are cheaper. You yourself need to compare airfare and car prices, then factor in time and gas. I use Kayak.com to compare flight prices.

"we are not keen-to-the nature so much" - that would probably rule out much of the SF to SB coast, since the reason for visiting is all about nature.

Perhaps you can tell us what you DO like, besides seeing the giant sequoias.

Agree that there seem to be some issues with your trip"

Las Vegas is NOT really child friendly since they are not allowed in casinos and most of what you would do there with a child is visit Grand Canyon/other national parks

I don;t see the need to make a giant circle - if you check car rentals many will allow drop offs at different places in the same state (CA)

Agree that the trip up the coast from LA to SF is all about nature - esp for a 3 year old (adults can love Hearst Castle but not even sure kids that young are allowed everywhere)

You might be better off spending time in those places with kid friendly activities: SD (Zoo, sea world, lots of parks), Anaheim/LA (Disney, Knott's Berry Farm and other amusement areas) with possible movie studio tour

Then a quick drive up the coast, stopping just for the aquarium and going north of SF so you can see the giant sequoias at Muir woods and possibly staying at Saualito before back to SF to drop the car and see sights in the city (China town, fisherman's wharf, etc)

To me you are missing many of the wonders of the west (Grand canyon, Yosemite and a lot of sights on the coast - with all of the wonderful scenery and wildlife) but if you aren;t interested that just stick to a couple of larger cities

I agree with nytraveler on your trip, do check out one way drop offs, even if there is a fee, it might be less than lodging, gas etc to make a loop.

While you are in the San Francisco area, drive up to Muir Woods, or on the way south along the coast hwy, go into Julia Pfifer state park to see large trees.

In Monterey, take the little one to the aquarium.

Maybe fly into SFO and stay 3 nights (no car needed)
Pickup car leaving SF
Pickup car and stay 2 nights driving Highway 1
1 overnight 1 Monterey (1 "L"), visit the Aquarium and maybe Dennis the Menace Park, brief stop at Point Lobos, skip 17 Mile Drive
1 overnight Pismo Beach or Morro Bay (kids are allowed at Hearst but probably not a good idea, over 100 steps)
3 nights Los Angeles area
OK that is 8 nights
San Diego needs 2-3 nights
Disneyland needs at least 2 nights
OK that is now 12 nights so you will have to pick and choose the rest of your destinations.
Yosemite has to be reserved well in advance, you can try calling for cancellations daily. Not sure I would stay in the Curry cabins unless you can get one with a private bath.

I agree with emalloy: If you are going to San Francisco first go to see Muir Woods and or Julia Pfifer to see Coast Redwoods (not Sequoias but big trees).
You might want to fly to San Jose instead of SFO. Rent the car in downtown San Francisco and return it there.
Rental cars are cheaper in Las Vegas than anywhere in California so it might be wise to fly there and drive from there to cover all of your southern California loop.
There are some non-casino hotels in Las Vegas if you do choose to spend a night there.
Fly home from Las Vegas after returning the car there.

Hello again.
Thank you all for the good advises – they gave me some initial thoughts about how to start planning.
You might be right in suggesting that I should plan for different airports upon arrival/return. The Expedia gave me exactly half price for one-way to SF in comparison with the two-way. The one-way flight from Las Vegas is also almost at the same price (slightly expensive, but still OK). Even with some additional fee it might be wiser to have an one way drop offs for the rent car as well. Strangely, Kayak gave me the same price for same drop-off (SF) and different drop-off locations (SF and LV) – I have to investigate further that.
janisj thank you for bringing that Mariposa Grove would be inaccessible at that time of the year. I think that we will have enough big trees seen in Muir Woods and or Julia Pfifer parks, which suites better my initial trip plan to stick to the coastal side of the state.
jamie99, I appreciate the trip plan you suggested - I will use it as a draft for now with a start point in SF and departure from LV.
Thank you once again. I’m starting to build up a plan now, but due to the forthcoming holidays it might take longer than usual.Will keep you in touch,
Cheers,
Koko

>>(kids are allowed at Hearst but probably not a good idea, over 100 steps)<<

Depends -- not of you are using a stroller. Strollers are not allowed.

>>I think that we will have enough big trees seen in Muir Woods and or Julia Pfifer parks, which suites better my initial trip plan to stick to the coastal side of the state. <<

I'd skip Muir Woods -- it is north of SF and gets very VEREY crowded. I'd stick to the parks in Santa Cruz and/or Monterey counties.

Down the coast from SF and then flying home from either San Diego or Las Vegas would be a very nice trip.

Big Basin Redwoods State Park is just north of Santa Cruz and is a quiet and beautiful place to view the giant redwoods.

There are more old growth trees in the parks near Santa Cruz. Henry Cowell is very convenient to Santa Cruz. Most of the parks in Big Sur (Garrapata, Pfeiffer Big Sur, Julia Pfeiffer Burns, Limekiln) also have redwood groves but these are mostly small second growth trees.

I meant smaller, not small. They will still seem big but not as big as in the parks around Santa Cruz.

janisj, sharondi, patty thank you for the park suggestions - both Big Basin Redwoods and Henry Cowell State Parks could fit nicely on our way south to Monterey area.
So far, I'm considering to start the trip from San Francisco, where we could spend 3 or 4 nights (haven't decided yet); drive trough the BBR & HC state parks heading down to Monterey as our next sleep over point. Evening could be spend to look around Cannery Row & Fisherman's Wharf. The next morning would be dedicated to the Monterrey Aquarium + Dennis the Menace Park. Afternoon we will stop in Carmel for a look around, Point Lobos (if we have time) and having the next stop somewhere between Cambria and Pismo Beach. Thus, we will skip Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, having seen already the big trees the day before.

How does it sound to you so far?

jamie99 mentioned to skip 17 Mile Drive. Is it worth doing it having in mind the program so far?

Don't forget - everything in the program is flexible and can be modified.
Thanks, Koko

If your only choices time wise are Point Lobos OR walking around central Carmel . . . I'd do Point Lobos. Carmel is lovely -- but it is really an adults sort of place. Nice restaurants, shops, art galleries. Not that easy w/ a stroller. Point Lobos is gorgeous where you can see tide pools w/ all sorts of interesting things. Plus you can see otters, and sea birds and sea lions etc.

I totally agree with janisj, and would consider skipping the 17 mile drive, you will have plenty of beautiful ocean views on the trip.

There are some good car-rental rates for pickup San Fran and return Vegas , so as planning proceeds if that works out for your plans, you wouldn't have to circle back.

clarkgriswold, correct. I don't intend to make a circle anymore. So far I plan to land in SF and depart from LV.
Also I found out that the foxrentacar.com offers relatively cheap cars for different drop-off location in comparison with the others - a Premium class is $500 for 15 days.
In addition, Southwest offers pretty good deal for the traveling families - They allow two checked pieces of baggage per ticketed customer + a stroller and a car seat for free.

I've had good luck with autoeurope.com for 1 way rentals. They use top tier rental car co's.

Fox is the one rental car company that I will never use again.
My advice would be to fly to Las Vegas from San Francisco and rent a second car there for the southern CA part of the trip.