California Vacation
 

Hello,

We are a family of four, including two teenage boys, aged 15 and 13, traveling to California for the first time this summer for 16 days, including 2 travel days. The last four summer vacations, we have travelled to Europe, but now we would like to visit our family in L.A. for a few days, and build a Californian vacation around of it.

Initially, we are planning to fly into San Francisco and leave out of L.A. If time permits, we would like to see the following:

- Spend a few days in San Fransisco
- The drive north of San Francisco to near the Oregon border (including Nappa Valley)
- Yosemite National Park
- The coastal drive from San Francisco to L.A.
- 4 days in L.A.
- A few days at a beach resort to end the trip (can even include ending in Las Vegas and flying home from there)

We just do not know how many days we need in the drive north of San Fransisco and in Yosemite National Park, or the drive from SF to LA. Is there one place we should base ourselves out of in Northern California or should we stay at different places every night?

We so appreciate any help you can offer.

Thanks again.

Andrea

First order of business should be figuring out what dates you'll be at Yosemite, and securing your reservations in or near the park a.s.a.p. It may even be too late already, depending the dates of your vacation.

I wouldn't end up in Las Vegas in July or August as it will be too hot to enjoy much "beach time" by the pools....Laguna Beach would be my suggestion and you could fly home from LAX, or San Diego, or SNA airport near Laguna if they have service to your city from SNA.

Here are my ideas for things to do & see in San Francisco and the Bay Area, including Napa/Sonoma/Marin areas.

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...mendations.cfm


Driving south from San Francisco:

Take 280/101/156 to Monterey and stay for 2 nights in Carmel or Pacific Grove. Visit the aquarium, Carmel,n Spanish Bay, Pt Lobos, and anyplace else that interests you. Do not stay only 1 night. Three nights would be even better.

Slowly drive down the coast. Have lunch at Nepenthe - good hamburgers. Continue south along one of th most dramatic stretches of coastline you'll probably ever see (we spend 2 months in Europe every year). Stay at San Simeon for 1 night.

Next morning visit Hearst Castle. Perhaps 2 tours. Then continue on to the LA area.

Stu Dudley

Thank you very much for your replies. They are very helpful... More suggestions would be welcome....

Your days don't quite add up to 14. I'd say you need to spend arrival day plus two more days in SF, maybe the afternoon of that day 3 in Napa Valley and stay for dinner. That leaves you one day for exploring the Redwoods and coast north of San Fran, two days for Yosemite, your 4 days with family in L.A, and 3 days for your beach resort (LagunaRiviera.com is one to consider though probably already full-up for this summer). The one day free is for your drive from Yosemite to Los Angeles, but I really think you'll want to stop and enjoy the coast on the way down for at least one day. So maybe cut your time in L.A to three nights?

With kids 13 and 15, I'd skip Napa. I'd actually skip going north of San Francisco at all -- wrong direction for this trip. If it were me, I'd fly into San Francisco and spend 3 days, head over to Yosemite for 2 days, cut back across to Monterey, spend 2 days, 2 days driving down the coast, 4 days in LA = 14 days. That doesn't include the beach stay at the end, so you'd still have to cut something out.

If you need to cut out a segment of your trip to save time, I would skip the north of San Francisco to Oregon & Napa Valley segment. That is a very long drive and it will essentially require an "up & back". I don't think your kids would find much of interest in the Napa Valley. The coast north of SF is beautiful, but for most of summer it could be very foggy. I think a "quick" trip to Oregon along the coast & back 101 & then to the Napa Valley would be at least a 3 night trip. Personally, we prefer the Dry Creek/Sonoma Co area over the Napa Valley. Healdsburg is right along 101, so a visit to Healdsburg would consume less time if it is included with a trip to the North Coast & Giant Redwoods (which you will see in the Yosemite area too). Although we love the North Coast, we think the Big Sur Coast from Carmel to San Simeon is prettier (it can get fog also).

Stu Dudley

>>- A few days at a beach resort<<<

I grew up in the LA area and after I got married we lived in Laguna Beach and I worked in Carlsbad - both cities right on the coast. I don't recall seeing any Hawaii/Caribbean/Mexico type resorts along the coast - except for perhaps the Ritz Carlton which was being built when we moved up north to San Francisco.

Stu Dudley

Everyplace you want to visit is great (except maybe Napa for a family). Unfortunately - you simply don't have enough time.

SF, Yosemite, the coast, visiting the rels, staying on a beach and/or Vegas will more than fill your 2 weeks.

Your first order of business should be to find lodging in Yosemite Valley. Have flexible dates and you <i>might</i> get lucky. Once you nail down Yosemite, then build the rest of your itinerary around that.

I'd agree that you really won't have enough time to appreciate the trip to the Redwoods. It is a very long drive from SF (5-6 hours or more) and that is an area to experience via walking or hiking, not just as a drive-through (to justify the time spent in the car).

If you concentrate on SF area, Yosemite and Monterey/Carmel/Big Sur, then LA, you will have plenty to do and a much more enjoyable experience. I'd do SF 4 nights, Yosemite 3 , Monterey/Carmel 2, LA 4, and add in more time in the area you like best.

Skip Napa/Sonoma= The kids aren't going to get much out of it.

Skip California northern coast= Too much driving for little reward

Secure Yosemite accmodation reservations ASAP. Try to avoid weekends.

Look at some days in a southern California beach accomdation such as Laguna Beach or Carlsbad if the boys are at all interested in surfing.

Skip Las Vegas. Too hot and not that much for the boys. They'll enjoy the beach more.