california or colorado?
 

We're from London, we've 12 days for our summer holiday, we've 2 children (11 and 13) and don't know whether to go to California or Colorado (Denver area) in three weeks time. (We've family in both States).

Please help/advise quickly, before all the flights go!
Please please, would love advice on this - Have been to California before (15 years ago) but not to Colorado.

What's your budget? What things do you like to do? Will you be renting a car?

That's funny, TravelCal - I am a Colorado girl, and was going to suggest California for beaches + mountains.

Thanks for your speedy replies!
Budgets about £2000. Yes we will be renting a car

I say California. Colorado is beautiful but California has more to do. California can reinforce all the negative stereotypes you have ever seen of the US (just joking), however, it is a pretty state with lots to offer.

I don't suppose you could do 1/2 and 1/2? I don't think a flight between them would be very expensive?

Sounds like California then...Would we find accommodation easily in late July/early August, or could we just chance it (like I think we did 15 years ago)?

What time of the year? If it is before October I would say Colorado. You can start running into snow in Colorado by Oct. If it's after October then I would say California.

There's a lot to do in Colorado in three weeks. Rocky Mt. National Park, Colorado National Monument, (even a side trip to Moab, Utah and Arches and Canyonlands National Park) Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, the Million Dollar Highway between Ouray and Durango. Mesa Verde National Park, Pikes Peak to name a few.

Utahtea

You can't really go wrong with this decision. Since you haven't taken the kids to either state, both would be new to them.

If I were taking my kids to California, I'd take them to a couple of amusement parks and a beach or two in the southern half, then I'd head up north. I'd take them to San Franciso for a couple of days, maybe followed by Muir Woods. I'd definitely take them to Sequoia and Yosemite. If you go to Yosemite, you'll need to stay outside of the park, or camp inside the park, at this late date.

If you choose Colorado, don't remain in the Denver area. Get up into the mountains quickly. My kids love Rocky Mountain National Park. They also really like the tourist activities in the Durango area (350 miles SW of Denver): The Bar D cowboy chuckwagon, the narrow gauge train, rafting, the melodrama, and Mesa Verde. Now that I think about it, "The Old West" might be a great theme for your trip.

I agree with travellyn that you can't really go wrong with either. Both are beautiful states. And there is so much to do in both.

California has a mix of just about everything - coastline, mountains, cities, deserts, farmland. Colorado is more geared toward outdoor, American west type of activities.

Since you have 3 weeks, if you were to go to Colorado and you will have a car, you can also see some neighboring states. There are some great national parks in southern Utah. Wyoming is beautiful - you might consider going up to Yellowstone.

In California, you could do the coast - San Diego up to SF and then head inland to the mountains.

Either way, I would make reservations as soon as possible because things will fill up.

Let us know what you decide.

I wish we did have 3 weeks! We're only able to go for a total of 12 days (29 July-10 August inclusive)

We live in California and we don't go anywhere in the summer. It's just to crowded!!!

You can see a lot of Colorado in 12 days.

Utahtea

My vote is for California. It is a state which I fell a need to visit at least once in a two or three year period. Plus, I feel that you will find a much better variety of things that children would enjoy.

Your kids are perfect Disneyland age. I'd go to California and save Colorado for when they are older and will appreciate nature more.

To Barbara S.

My kids appreciated nature at a much younger age because they were exposed to it. If they aren't exposed how can they learn to appreciate? Besides there's a Six Flags in Denver if they need an amusement park.

Utahtea

Thanks for all your advice. And now I'm really not sure! My lucky children have already done Disney in Paris and Florida, so we won't be doing that again this time. Is it really crowded in California in July/August?

Klar,

here's some advices from a European who has a little experience of the area, and who's planning a trip in that area right now.

if you have 12 days and plan to rent a car

THEN

- Fly to SF and drive to Denver! En route, you'll be able to see Yosemite, Death Valley, Southern Utah Parks (Zion, Bryce, Arches, Monument Valley, ...), then in southern Colorado, you have the Big Sand Dunes (pretty amazing to see a Sahara -like landscape in the middle of mountains!), or you could cross the rockies a bit more north.

- Another idea would be to fly to Denver, drive north to Yellowstone, then south-west to Salt lake City, then south to Southern Utah parks, then east through south Colorado/north New-Mexico.

Again, if you plan to go to that part of the world, go experience the nature! If you want to see cities, stay in Europe! :-)

I agree that California would be the better choice. I would choose southern Califronia over northern California for a couple of reasons. The weather in the summer is a lot nicer in southern CA and there's more for the kids to do and the beaches in LA and San Diego are great. I would suggest LA, San Diego, and a drive up highway 1 through Big Sur and Monterey. In order to save on driving, you can fly into either LA or San Diego and fly out of San Jose.

Klar, Tough decision indeed. I live in California AND Colorado and truly think I have the best of both worlds. (by the way, I LOVE London :-) )

One thing to consider with Colorado might be a week in one of the mountain resorts. You could rent a condo and go horseback riding, bicycling, swimming, hiking, rafting, sailing..... It's beautiful right now. In my neighborhood you will see beavers and a bear (can't see those in California every day)

What if you spent a week in Colorado, then fly to SF and spend another 3 or 4 nights there? Can you fly open jaw to Denver, leaving from SF?

Klar, I am going against the crowd and vote Colorado. Having lived in Both California and Colorado I think Colorado offers more for a family. Another big plus is that Colorado is very affordable in summer. You can easily find a 2 bedroom condo for under 100.00 a night.

My bias here is that I do not like long drives on vacation. I would look at Vail or Keystone. Keystone would be my first choice because it?s easy to get around lots of activities at the resort plus you?re only a few minutes to Breckenridge. Breckenridge has an Alpine slide, maze that the kids would probably like. Keystone offers, horseback riding, bike riding, free gondola rides, river rafting. Look at http://summitnet.com/summer/ for some ideas as well as www.snow.com for events at some of the ski areas. Note that the summit county ski areas really are year round resorts in Colorado.

From Summit County I would go west to Glenwood springs for a soak in the outdoor mineral pool, http://www.hotspringspool.com/home.html
You could head to Aspen from there if you want to drive some.

for some reason my commas are converted to questions marks, just to clear up any confusion this may have had.

I agree with most posters: Both California and Colorado are great.

But I think California offers the greatest assortment. You have beaches, mountains, lakes, deserts, great restaurants, great shopping, great lodging - all within sensible driving times.

To me, as much as I love Colorado (don't live there, but almost did), it's sort of a one note place.

Just my thirteen and one half cents worth. (I've given myself a raise!)

klar,

Maybe we would be able to help you better if we had an idea of what in the states you would like to do. Mountains? Beaches? Museums? Cities? Nature?

I live in California and I think it's crowded in the summer. We always leave the state to go on vacation in the summer. Also California is a BIG state and it's HOT in the summer unless you are in the mountains.

Utahtea

If you don't mind driving and seeing a lot, I second the recommendation for flying into California (LA or SFO), spend a day sightseeing, then drive to Denver.

From SFO, take I-80 across the Sierra's and northern Nevada to Salt Lake City, then take either US-40 to Denver or head south a bit and take I-70 to Denver.

From LA, take I-10 to I-15 and head north through Las Vegas to southern Utah. Drive through Zion National Park and then to Bryce Canyon NP. If you have the time, continue east on U-12 to U-24 (a magnificent, scenic drive), turn east to I-70 and on into Denver. If you don't have the time for that, from Bryce Canyon, head back to US-89, go north to I-70 then east to Denver.

With any of these options, you'll gain and appreciation for the majesty and magnitude of the western U.S. you'll never get from flying over it. It's quite a lot of driving but at the end, I think you and your family will treasure the memories.

I think it's important to note that SF to Denver is a long drive. I did it in April and it took 24 hours. No matter how you cut it up, that's a lot of time in the car. And some of it is pretty darn boring. (sorry Nevada)

My family did a car trip from the Bay Area to Denver about 10 years ago and we definitely went through some incredible country. There wasn't much to see through Nevada although driving through miles upon miles of nothing was definitely an experience. We did find a couple little places that were nice - I think it was the Ruby Mountains that had a nice creek, forests and hiking trails. We saw some great country in Utah - the highlights were Timpanogas Caves, Arches National Park, driving through the Canyonlands, and a little town called Green River. In Colorado we enjoyed Glenwood Springs, Leadville, and Pikes Peak.

High in Denver today is expected to be 95.

Los Angeles - 85

Big Sur - 77

San Francisco - 76

There's been a heat wave blanketing the west this summer. Plus, a real lack of water.

Traffic sucks in California. No way around it. In Los Angeles, I think it's quicker to walk than drive.

In the Bay Area, traffic has been really light lately - even the drive over hwy 17 to the coast on a sunny saturday morning isn't as bad as it usually is.

Keystone high is supposed to be 81 today. No traffic anywhere. I think I'll go out for a bike ride. :-)

Klar - aren't you glad you asked? ;)

To Jack:

The problem with the temps is if you leave Denver for the mountains it will be cooler.

If you leave the California coastal cities it will be HOT!

Utahtea

There is so much beautiful country to see in Colorado. California is so crowded during the summer.

Grasshopper your making me jealous!

Klar from what I am reading if you like lots of time in a car then California, if your a bit more active Colorado. Fodorites sure like to drive. I must be the exception. :)

Hey Jack water? see http://summitnet.com/activityguide/a...;title=Boating :)

Having grown up in Northern California and now living in Colorado, I can definitely say that you have a tough choice!

The one main difference between Colorado and Northern Cal for me is WATER. What Coloradoans refer to as a "lake," we ex-Californians would call a "pond," lol. There is precious little water around, but the trade off is the cool mountain atmosphere during the summer months. Even the Sierras get hot in July and August, while I've never experienced too much heat in the Rockies. The good thing about the heat though, is that swimming, rafting, boating, and water skiing feel great.

If you are traveling in late summer, I'd advise either coastal areas in California (and perhaps even Lake Tahoe) or the mountain areas of the Rockies. Utah is another hot area in the summer, Arches and Canyonlands will be toasty. Good luck.

Another vote for Colorado. Time to visit the family there! Head to Summit County for some hiking, rafting and stunning scenery.

My manager is on assignment to the US from England. He finds our western weather to be brutally hot. If you don't like hot weather, go to the mountains in either state. Or if you want the beach, go to Oregon or Washington. (Personally, I'd suggest Seattle and Mount St. Helens/Ranier - but that wouldn't be staying on topic). I think you'd be a bit frazzled by Southern Cal's "beautiful weather".

Utahtea - Since we live in Utah my kids are exposed to the Rockies every day - perhaps that's why we prefer to vacation in California - we love the ocean.

I agree klar needs to give us more information about what kind of vacation he and his family want. Or which relatives he prefers to visit.

Barbara S,

hehehe...we live in California and love to go to Utah for vacation.

Yes, it really depends on what klar would prefer to see & do.

Utahtea

Thanks for all your advice. Sorry about this, but as air fares so high at the moment, have decided to skip US this summer, and go to Sardinia instead! However, am planning proper 2 week break in Colorado at Easter.

Is this a good time/good idea? Can we ski then?

Colorado at Easter time can be snowy! March and April our our snowiest months but when it does snow that time of year it can be 75 degrees the next day. Can still take in some great spring skiing and Denver can be beautiful in the spring. Too early for camping and rafting however. Good Luck.