California_Nevada_Arizon - Family Trip July-August 2011 - Please help
Jun 3rd, 2011, 11:19 AM
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California_Nevada_Arizon - Family Trip July-August 2011 - Please help
Hello everyone
We are a family of 4 (2 adults, 2 kids of 9 and 11) from Switzerland and will travel to California this coming mid July to mid August (29 days), landing in Los Angeles.
Flight to LAX is booked, Car (MiniVan) is booked for the entire period as well.
Hotels I'm on it, got some ideas meanwhile for LAX (near Anaheim) and Vegas (Luxor seems price-value the best so far) - here i would request your help mainly on the NP route, any tips on hotel and eating would be great.
To the route now: we know approx. the itinerary we want to do as following:
- Los Angeles, 4 days (Disney, Universal, Hollywood, Down Town)
- Las Vegas (Town, Shows/Fun, Grand Canyon day trips), 6 days
- Yosemite, reaching thru Death Valley and Sierra Nevada route i.e. east side or from south via Sequoia NP, not sure on this yet, overall 6-7 days
- San Francisco, 3-4 days? (not sure yet what we will do/visit there)
- Southcoast back to LAX, 4 days
- LAX 1 day for flight back
Between every destination (besides the NP route) another 1 day for transit.
Know, what is not clear to us is
a) is the route above from LAX counter-clockwise the right one or should we do it clockwise from LAX-Friso-NP-Vegas-LAX; the reason for this is that with the kids I'm not sure if the first route in means of coast-city-parks and then the fun (Vegas/Shows-Canyon-LAX Disney) would be the better way or stay with above route - any advise would be appreciated.
b) Death Valley vs. Sequoia NP - somehow not geting the raod-link to visit both; from what I read i would like to stick with the DV and SN route, but then, the SQ NP is as well a very interesting place i guess we shouldn't miss - but then, it seems quiet a rounding to do both? any suggestions?
c) Yosemite - being in Europe and never in the US, who wold have thought (with the size of the country) that one would have to book the hotels within the NP almost a year in advance - and i'm not the only one, got another pal at work who didn't know it and moves on with an RV - no way for a place as well. know to the question: if I stay with the above route entering from east side, how much of a hassle is it to make day-trips from Lee Vining? coming from south there is allready a couple of threaths, will consult them....
d) San Francisco: would really love to go for some wine yard visit and tasting, but then, with kids - any suggestions here?
I guess for first enough of questions - we really would love your support on this unique trip of ours? (can't really afford this once more I guess ;-) gosh, pricier then i ever thought....
Greets from Switzerland
websmile
We are a family of 4 (2 adults, 2 kids of 9 and 11) from Switzerland and will travel to California this coming mid July to mid August (29 days), landing in Los Angeles.
Flight to LAX is booked, Car (MiniVan) is booked for the entire period as well.
Hotels I'm on it, got some ideas meanwhile for LAX (near Anaheim) and Vegas (Luxor seems price-value the best so far) - here i would request your help mainly on the NP route, any tips on hotel and eating would be great.
To the route now: we know approx. the itinerary we want to do as following:
- Los Angeles, 4 days (Disney, Universal, Hollywood, Down Town)
- Las Vegas (Town, Shows/Fun, Grand Canyon day trips), 6 days
- Yosemite, reaching thru Death Valley and Sierra Nevada route i.e. east side or from south via Sequoia NP, not sure on this yet, overall 6-7 days
- San Francisco, 3-4 days? (not sure yet what we will do/visit there)
- Southcoast back to LAX, 4 days
- LAX 1 day for flight back
Between every destination (besides the NP route) another 1 day for transit.
Know, what is not clear to us is
a) is the route above from LAX counter-clockwise the right one or should we do it clockwise from LAX-Friso-NP-Vegas-LAX; the reason for this is that with the kids I'm not sure if the first route in means of coast-city-parks and then the fun (Vegas/Shows-Canyon-LAX Disney) would be the better way or stay with above route - any advise would be appreciated.
b) Death Valley vs. Sequoia NP - somehow not geting the raod-link to visit both; from what I read i would like to stick with the DV and SN route, but then, the SQ NP is as well a very interesting place i guess we shouldn't miss - but then, it seems quiet a rounding to do both? any suggestions?
c) Yosemite - being in Europe and never in the US, who wold have thought (with the size of the country) that one would have to book the hotels within the NP almost a year in advance - and i'm not the only one, got another pal at work who didn't know it and moves on with an RV - no way for a place as well. know to the question: if I stay with the above route entering from east side, how much of a hassle is it to make day-trips from Lee Vining? coming from south there is allready a couple of threaths, will consult them....
d) San Francisco: would really love to go for some wine yard visit and tasting, but then, with kids - any suggestions here?
I guess for first enough of questions - we really would love your support on this unique trip of ours? (can't really afford this once more I guess ;-) gosh, pricier then i ever thought....
Greets from Switzerland
websmile
Jun 3rd, 2011, 01:08 PM
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1. I will comment on SF - there are many things to do there and I think you would not be disappointed. I think the kids would get a kick out of Alcatrez. The San Francisco science museum and aquarium are really good to visit. The drive and experience of the vineyards may not be great for the kids, but I wouldn't miss them if you love wine - it is a beautiful area.
http://www.sftravel.com/aquarium-san-francisco.html
2. There should be really good deals in Vegas because of the time of year and the heat. I got a huge suite (I think it was the Jr. Suite (2 bedroom, sitting room, kitchen, at MGM a couple of years ago in August on-line for around 100.00 a night. Shop around and stay in a hotel you want - you can find good prices. I do know that some of the rooms at the Luxor are much less desirable than others. Type in Las Vegas here and you will see a lot of good advice. I would add Hoover Dam to your Vegas trip.
I don't have any tips about Yosemite - I tent camped near the park years ago and we drove all over, but I just don't have any details. sorry.
I hope you have a great trip!
http://www.sftravel.com/aquarium-san-francisco.html
2. There should be really good deals in Vegas because of the time of year and the heat. I got a huge suite (I think it was the Jr. Suite (2 bedroom, sitting room, kitchen, at MGM a couple of years ago in August on-line for around 100.00 a night. Shop around and stay in a hotel you want - you can find good prices. I do know that some of the rooms at the Luxor are much less desirable than others. Type in Las Vegas here and you will see a lot of good advice. I would add Hoover Dam to your Vegas trip.
I don't have any tips about Yosemite - I tent camped near the park years ago and we drove all over, but I just don't have any details. sorry.
I hope you have a great trip!
Jun 3rd, 2011, 01:21 PM
#3
a): It honestly makes little difference which direction you do the loop. The main limiting factor would be which dates you couldget accommodations near Yosemite Valley.
b): The reason you aren't finding a road route -- there really isn't one. Not one you'd want to take anyway. Sequuoia/Kings Canyon is not accessible from the east side of the Sierra Nevadas.
c) You can't really tour Yosemite Valley from a base in Lee Vining. It is a bout a 2 hour drive w/o stops. But you can check for accommodations in El Portal or Yosemite West which are the closest places to the Valley. And keeptrying for cancellations in the Valley itself. Because folks do book so far ahead, cancellations are common.
d): You can also see very nice vineyards closer to Yosemite and could do that enroute to SF. Then when you get to SF you can concentrate on seeing the sites there.
One note: I personally don't think Las Vegas will be much fun for the kids. It could easily be 46C or even higher and pretty miserable. Las Vegas has a few things for children but it is really an adults-only and indoors destination.
If it was me I'd leave LV after one night and drive through Death Valley (But be VERY careful and carry lots of water since it could be up to 50C. Stay in LeeVining for one night. Then go into Yosemite National Park via Tioga Pass, cross the park and stay (hopefully)in El Portal for 2 nights as a base to seethe Valley and Mariposa grove (Mariposa Gr. Woudbe a fairly adequate substitute for Seq/Kings Canyon..
b): The reason you aren't finding a road route -- there really isn't one. Not one you'd want to take anyway. Sequuoia/Kings Canyon is not accessible from the east side of the Sierra Nevadas.
c) You can't really tour Yosemite Valley from a base in Lee Vining. It is a bout a 2 hour drive w/o stops. But you can check for accommodations in El Portal or Yosemite West which are the closest places to the Valley. And keeptrying for cancellations in the Valley itself. Because folks do book so far ahead, cancellations are common.
d): You can also see very nice vineyards closer to Yosemite and could do that enroute to SF. Then when you get to SF you can concentrate on seeing the sites there.
One note: I personally don't think Las Vegas will be much fun for the kids. It could easily be 46C or even higher and pretty miserable. Las Vegas has a few things for children but it is really an adults-only and indoors destination.
If it was me I'd leave LV after one night and drive through Death Valley (But be VERY careful and carry lots of water since it could be up to 50C. Stay in LeeVining for one night. Then go into Yosemite National Park via Tioga Pass, cross the park and stay (hopefully)in El Portal for 2 nights as a base to seethe Valley and Mariposa grove (Mariposa Gr. Woudbe a fairly adequate substitute for Seq/Kings Canyon..
Jun 3rd, 2011, 01:51 PM
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Thx willowjane for the tips; will look out for MGM as well; read some negative post about Luxor, it's seems the Tower rooms though are renovated. Hoover Damm is on our list as well.
Thx as well to you Janisj, read so many posts of you, great you got the time and answered on mine as well and as always very usefull tips! Yosemite i will keep on trying, really hope to get a room at the valley itself; will look out for El Portal and Y.West, thx.
About LV, the amount of days is really more for 2 days at LV and then 2 daytrips for GC and HD, alternatively we could do a 2 day round-trip and have an overnight near the GC NP, still thinking on it.
And really appreciate the tip on Mariposa Grove, that's very valuable.
In regards to the heat, my wife is Indian and we travel almost yearly there and quiet used to this kind of heat all of us ;-)
Then i guess will go with the above mentioned direction, on our way back down to LA i guess we would love to have a couple of days at a beach and take rest before our flight back to Zurich. Any suggestions of a good place between SF and LA for a family beach vacation? (allthough the water might be a bit cold for our taste).
Will adapt our route and then post again with some more details next days, would appreciate another check from you, thx.
Thx as well to you Janisj, read so many posts of you, great you got the time and answered on mine as well and as always very usefull tips! Yosemite i will keep on trying, really hope to get a room at the valley itself; will look out for El Portal and Y.West, thx.
About LV, the amount of days is really more for 2 days at LV and then 2 daytrips for GC and HD, alternatively we could do a 2 day round-trip and have an overnight near the GC NP, still thinking on it.
And really appreciate the tip on Mariposa Grove, that's very valuable.
In regards to the heat, my wife is Indian and we travel almost yearly there and quiet used to this kind of heat all of us ;-)
Then i guess will go with the above mentioned direction, on our way back down to LA i guess we would love to have a couple of days at a beach and take rest before our flight back to Zurich. Any suggestions of a good place between SF and LA for a family beach vacation? (allthough the water might be a bit cold for our taste).
Will adapt our route and then post again with some more details next days, would appreciate another check from you, thx.
Jun 3rd, 2011, 02:16 PM
#5
There are many beaches along the coastal route. One suggestion might not be the conventional first choice -- But I'd recommend Carmel for one night.
There is a public beach right in the middle of town - well, at the end of the main road. So you could enjoy the sort of English-village-y atmosphere, shop, dine and still walk to a nice beach.
But there are beach towns all along the coast. One thing -- on weekends many of the coastal accommodations require a two night stay. If you are on the coast on weekdays you can usually book just one night.
There is a public beach right in the middle of town - well, at the end of the main road. So you could enjoy the sort of English-village-y atmosphere, shop, dine and still walk to a nice beach.
But there are beach towns all along the coast. One thing -- on weekends many of the coastal accommodations require a two night stay. If you are on the coast on weekdays you can usually book just one night.
Jun 3rd, 2011, 02:48 PM
#6
If you cant get lodging at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon on your dates, try one of these hotels in Williams Arizona.
http://www.booking.com/city/us/willi...7703893907;ws=
You do not want to try day trips to Grand Canyon from Las Vegas.
While in Vegas, try day trips to Valley of Fire and Red Rocks.
You could save some money on your Las Vegas hotel bill by stopping 1 night at Buffalo Bill's hotel casino in Primm Nevada.
Primm is just past the CA/NV border. Buffalo Bills has a roller coaster that the kids would love.
Death Valley is best visited in the spring when the wildflowers are out and not in the heat of summer.
http://www.booking.com/city/us/willi...7703893907;ws=
You do not want to try day trips to Grand Canyon from Las Vegas.
While in Vegas, try day trips to Valley of Fire and Red Rocks.
You could save some money on your Las Vegas hotel bill by stopping 1 night at Buffalo Bill's hotel casino in Primm Nevada.
Primm is just past the CA/NV border. Buffalo Bills has a roller coaster that the kids would love.
Death Valley is best visited in the spring when the wildflowers are out and not in the heat of summer.
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