First time visitor
 

We are making our first ever trip from the UK with 2 children (10 and 8). We have a whole 6 weeks, starting in Boston and ending up at San Diego, via SF, Sequoia and LA. I've just started focusing on things to do and what to pack and got a lot of info from this site, but, for starters, I'd like to know a bit more about

(1) what to expect on July 4 in Boston, where's the best place to be with kids (we're staying at the Copley Sq Hotel)?

(2) what's the Big Dig and is it still happening? (We did have a car booked but I'm trying to cancel after reading messages here!)

(3) what to pack - is it cool at night in July. Also, we plan to go to church occasionally on our travels - how formal do you Americans dress (can our kids wear shorts all summer or do they need some "Sunday best"?)

Boston is great. Faneuil Hall is a good place to be with the kids. sights, food, shopping, games.

I used to live in Boston. For a tourist, there is no reason to have a car. THey have a great subway system.
If you don't have a car there is no reason to worry about the Big Dig.

The weather in Boston in July can be hot, pack shorts but at night you can wear pants and a shortsleeve shirt. Usually you will not need a jacket at night.

For church, i would say anything is fine , except for shorts. Pants or skirts are better.

have a great time!

Hi!
I can help with the California part. Weather: in July, you dress in layers in SF, because the temperature changes every 5 minutes, depending on whether you're standing in the sun or the shade, and if there's a wind blowing. You spend a lot of time peeling off sweaters, then putting them back on.

In L.A., it will be, during the day, between 70 and 85 f. (about 20 - 36 c), the later in July, the warmer. But unlike England, the temperatures in LA and SD drop by 10 to 15 degrees f. at night, so you will need a light jacket or sweater in the evenings. It rarely rains in So. Calif. during this time, but it does rain more often in No. Calif. (nothing like England, however).

On churches, well at least in the Catholic church (vs. the Episcopalian or Church of England), it's gone informal beyond belief. The elderly still dress up a bit, but the younger people generally do not. I even saw someone go in their pyjamas! Children generally wear shorts, at least in summer.

I hope this helps.

Thanks for the advice. I forgot to mention that we are also travelling via Rutland VT, NYC and Washington DC. I assume the same applies re what to wear. It's hard to get my head round all the different weather systems (let alone the timezones!)which we are going to encounter - a big contrast with home.

Are you driving on this trip or flying? We took our kids (10 and 12)on a 6 week driving trip from San Francisco (where we live) to Washington, DC and New York.

Washington and NYC can be very hot and humid in July - in all our pictures the kids have bright red sweaty faces from the heat. San Francisco in July (the city itself) can be downright chilly and foggy (I've seen people wearing down vests in July!). Although if you drive a half-hour or so in any direction, the temperature is often 30 degrees (F.) warmer.

Upon re-reading the above, I realize I've made all the weather sound atrocious. Sorry - we had a great time on our trip and I'm sure you will too - I was just trying to give you an idea of the variety of weather you might encounter.

SFE - It's trains, planes and automobiles! Driving from Boston to Vermont. Train down to NYC, then train to Washington, fly to SF. Then hire an RV for one week. Then fly on to LA and rent a car to San Diego.

Any suggestions on where to spend the week in the RV from SF? I'd thought that the Sequoia NP was feasible - less busy, easier than Yosemite for us first-timers. But no idea if we need to book ahead etc. Any other suggestions would be extremely welcome.

Sounds like a great trip with lots of variety!

Re: the Calif. part of the trip - I assume you have to return the RV to San Francisco and you fly from there to LA? (Another option to think about - if your plans aren't already set - would be taking the week to go from SF to LA seeing the sights along the way- a popular sightseeing trip for lots of visitors.)

What kinds of things do the various ones of you like to do? Outdoor things (mountains, rivers, beaches, redwoods, deserts, ranches, wildlife, hiking, rafting, rodeos, etc.), history (gold mining, ghost towns, Native American), museums (art, tech, science, hands-on), and on and on - gosh, I can see why people come here! ;->

Please feel free to email me if you'd like to at [email protected] and I'd be glad to offer some specific suggestions. (The one and only time I was in the UK people were so helpful, I'd like to return the favor if I can.)

busi_lis go to www.weatherbase.com to get weather pattern details by month for all the places you'll visit.
It's very well organized and will give you plenty of insight.

You'll have no problem driving in New England area, but Boston's a huge headache IMO (though I've driven in London a few times and for a right-sider that was still plenty challenging). The Big Dig is a tunnel system connecting Boston's Logan airport to the downtown which has dragged on longer than expected and has partially paralyzed traffic in the area. The drive over to Rutland is very nice. In fact, the only place in the eastern US which irritates me when driving is Boston. NYC is easy to drive in but parking is so much of a hassle most people avoid it, DC is not too bad if you know your map. The highway systems are very efficient and easier than many of the European highways since the number of exits/entrances is much greater with many more services. You'll also find petrol prices to be a bargain. Driving trips in the US are great IMO.
Ask for opinions about details as you get things planned. Sounds like a wonderful adventure.

Your plan to get from Boston to NYC to Washington is a good one - a car will actually be an impediment in these cities. You won't need a car in SF either.

One suggestion - consider renting a car rather than an RV from to go from SF to Sequoia/King's CAnyon or Yosemite (and yes, even though attendance at many US national parks is down, you should book ahead if you are planning to be there duirng the summer months - it may be too late to get accomodations at least inside Yosemite).
There are probably RV aficionados who will disagree, but I think that will find an RV very limiting and cumbersome getting around the relatively narrow roads inside the national parks (plus trying to park at scenic overlooks will be a nightmare in an RV) and remember that some of the driving is in the Sierra Nevada mountains (twisty, windy roads).

Also I would reccommend that you keep that rental car and DRIVE instead of fly from SF to LA - on the coastal road (Route 1), passing through Big Sur, Monterrey, Carmel, Cambria, etc... Route 1 is one of the most famous scenic roads in the US, with some of the most spectacularly beautiful coastal scenery in the world, plus quaint towns, 17-Mile Drive, the Hearst Castle in San Simeon (reserve ahead), and the Monterrey Aquarium (one of the best in the US - your children will probably love it), and much more. To do this drive justice, take your time and overnight at least one night somewhere along the way.

I was thinking along same lines as last posting.

Every time in the national parks, I see the RV's trying to find places to park, & if not used to driving an RV, it really delays everyone else watching the driver trying to reverse/back up.

Also - I agree about using a rental car (or rent a van if you have a big family) from San Francisco to Los Angeles travelling along Highway 1 (the coast). There usually is an extra fee for dropping the rental vehicle off at a different point than where you picked it up, but still would be cheaper than the whole family airline tickets.

Definitely get to a couple of the national parks, if you have time. They are well worth the visit and each one shows off a different type of spectacular scenery.

If you have a full six weeks, perhaps you could schedule a rental vehicle in California area for two weeks? There is just so much to see!!! Consider travelling to Redwoods or Sequoia national parks, or even as far over as the Grand Canyon (past Las Vegas). The kids would love it.

Happy planning!

July 4 is an excellent time to be in Boston, and your hotel location is ideal.

The concert and fireworks celebration is just blocks from your hotel. It attracts nearly half a millin people very year, and has its own web site.

http://www.july4th.org/

The city generally has a week-long set of special events, focused on the waterfront and called Harborfest.
http://www.bostonharborfest.com/
If possible get a copy of the Boston Globe's "This Week" supplement, which usually appears weekly on Thursdays but might appear earlier that week. www.boston.com

How wonderful that you and the family have 6 weeks to vacation here - and how varied your experiences will be! I hope you have an enjoyable and safe time.

Regarding Boston, I was going to suggest what the above poster did - take advantage of going to see the Boston Pops live concert on July 4th. It's always televised and I watch it every year! Great music, and not just U.S.A. patriotic, but all kinds (usually a singer or two, as well).

My husband and I have visited D.C. several times and always enjoy it. I hope you have several days devoted to seeing the sights. Even a week isn't enough to see it all if you take your time. Getting around on Metro is the easiest way.

Do all of the "touristy" things in San Francisco, including Alcatraz Island, Fisherman's Wharf (some say it's cheesey - I like it!), Ghiradelli chocolates, Chinatown, etc. Make the trek to the Coit Tower - a wonderful view of the city.

Regarding church attendance, I think many still "look down" so to speak on wearing shorts - even for kids. Jut some nice casual pants and shirts would be better, IMHO.

Nights CAN get cool enough to wear a light jacket/sweater in all places you're visiting with the exception of L.A. Humidity will probably be a killer for you if you're not used to it.

Have fun planning your trip. Do you have room for one more person?! ;-)

busi lis --
Just so you know, the "vest" referred to by SFE is a jumper without sleeves or a down waistcoat! It is NOT an undershirt!

Thanks for all the helpful postings. I wish I'd discovered it before we'd booked and paid for our flights from SF to LA as the road trip sounds enticing. I've lots to think about so expect a few more queries soon!

Regarding Boston part of trip -

July 4th - few days before and the weekend after - will have many events going on in Boston. The biggest is the July 4th concert on the Esplanade - a long, thin park along the Charles River. The Boston Pops plays from the Hatch Shell - a music "shell" at one end of the Esplanade. People set out blankets, picnic, etc - sounds great - but beware that people spend ALL DAY sitting on those blankets to reserve a spot from where they can hear and see concert. It is not something one can merely wander over to am hour or so before the event. Sometimes the Pops does a "rehearsal" the day before, and this is less packed.

There are fireworks along the harbor as part of "Harborfest" - an event every year along the water. Either of these things are walking distance from Copley Square, although the harbor is a much longer hike - about a half hour. Still, it is a nice walk, passing through Boston Public Gardens, Boston Common and you can walk along the Freedom Trail.

The "Big Dig" is a massive highway project - the largest this country has ever done - which revolves around making a major highway through the city of Boston an underground roadway instead. It has been going on for at least a decade, first rerouting wires and pipes, then digging big holes, rerouting traffic, making driving in an already congested city an adventure. The project is finally getting to the point where new roads are actually opening (and not just big holes in the ground!). However, Boston is better without a car. Pick up the car after your city stay.

Regarding dress - we tend to be less formal than those in UK, especially in summer. "Sunday best" applies to Easter and Christmas only at most churches, especially in summer.

Another thought about the RV - we have considered this on our many trips and found that it is actually less expensive to stay in a cheaper motel than to rent an RV. Many like it for lifestyle reasons, but the mileage charges they add to rental cost can be quite large. Remember, if you rent an RV, you have to take it everywhere with you - even if you run out for milk or bread!

Have a great trip.

Here in the D.C. area in July, you can expect temps in the 80s (Farenheit), maybe into the 90s. You'll want to be prepared for hot, humid, and sunny. Yes: shorts & the NYPD t-shirt you got in NYC, and that Red Sox cap (or floppy hats) that y'all got up north. Sandals or flip-flops. Don't forget the sunscreen.

I can understand the misgivings about the RV (I'm the same about caravans on our UK roads) but I'm afraid the RV is non-negotiable - one of my husband's life goals (watched too much of Frasier in his Winnebago) along with seeing pandas (hence the visits to DC and SD).

Are there any RV fans out there at all??

If so, what do you think of my idea of trying to book ahead at KOA Visalia over a weekend 7/18-19(so we know we have somewhere to stay) and then taking our chance on finding other sites during the rest of the week? Any suggestions on where would be suitable (and not too much of an inconvenience to non-RV drivers!)?

The info on Boston is really helpful. My husband is spending 6 weeks in New England before we arrive, driving and mapreading himself (first time in 14 yrs of marriage!) so at least he is forewarned of the hassle he's letting himself in for.

Anyone driven up to Caribou ME from Boston? It seems quite a drive but probably not for New Englanders.

"Anyone driven up to Caribou ME from Boston? It seems quite a drive but probably not for New Englanders."

I can't fathom what you mean by this. It's folks out in the big, square Western states who think nothing of driving hundreds of miles in one day. For Bostonians, the 200 miles to New York is a big deal. Caribou is over 400 miles from Boston, and I'll bet there are very few people in Massachusetts who've ever been there. Why Caribou??

That's exactly why my other half is going to Caribou - because it's a long way from anywhere and he's doing some study on how rural church is done (in North Michigan and NE). So I get to plan the city trip/holiday and he has to plan his itinerary to all the remote spots he's visiting... only i can't help interfering a bit!

Definitely you do not want a car during your stay in Boston. You don't want to drive in Boston, if you can find a place to park it will be outrageously expensive, and you'd have to pay $30 or more to park it in the hotel's garage per night.

The weather is completely unpredictable. Reviewing weather trend charts would be completely useless. It will likely be mostly sunny and in the 80's during July, with much cooler nights (in the 60's, you'd be changing from shorts to slacks and sweaters when the sun set). But, there could be a heat wave with temps in the 90's every day and not that much cooler at night. Or, it could be a mild summer with temps hardly ever getting up to or over 80. You just never know.

As for church, you'll see anything and everything, especially on kids.

You don't need to travel nearly as far as Caribou, ME for "rural". Anywhere in NH north or west of Concord and Manchester and anywhere in Vermont other than Brattleboro, Manchester, or Burlington, are just about as "rural" as northern Maine. But, if he really wants to head to northern Maine, I'd recommend Castine, Deer Isle, Stonington, which are "rural" but also have spectacular oceanside locations.

While in Northern California, do take some time to visit areas outside of SF, as there is so much to see. SF itself is a rather small city, so much of it can be seen in a couple of days. Other areas outside of SF that merit visiting include the Wine Country(Napa/Sonoma). San Jose/SiliconValley, Monterey/Carmel, and Yosemite. As previous people mentioned, weather in SF in the summer will be cold/foggy (highs around 60). Wine Country, San Jose, and Yosemite will be pleasantly warm. Monterey and Carmel have simialr weather to SF.
Look at the following websites for more on what to see and do in Northern California.

http://www.winecountry.com/

www.sanjose.org

www.yosemitepark.com

www.monterey.com

One thing I would NOT do is plan to stay in an RV down near Visalia. It is often very hot, 105F or more is common in summer. People take RVs up into the Sierra mountains all the time. You want to be sure the RV, tires, etc are in good shape, and be sure to use the pullouts along the road to let others pass. Campsites (especially for weekends) at the popular parks tend to get pre-booked, but there are usually spaces available in outlying campgrounds or in the nearby national forest areas.

An example would be Hume Lake, which is between Kings Canyon and Sequoia national parks. It's a forest service campground, (no reservations), on a mountain lake; across the lake is a large church camp. If you come in on a weekday, you would have a good chance of finding a campsite there or nearby, while the national parks would be more difficult. Try to keep the size of the RV to a minimum, the bigger they are, the more difficult it is to find a campsite in the really nice areas of the mountains.

You will find lots of RV information at www.rv.net/forum

Scroll down the page and you will find places to ask questions about "Campgrounds" and "Destinations" among many other topics.

By having the RV, you can cook a lot of your meals and save LOTS of money. Not having to pack and unpack every few days is another plus.

KOA's are not our best places to stay. They are usually just handy stopping places on your way somewhere. Try to camp IN the parks. You should try to get reservations.

busi_lis,

What part of north Michigan will your husband be visiting for his study? I lived in two towns in Michigan - Cheboygan, at the northern part of the Lower Peninisula, by the Mackinaw Bridge, and in Escanaba, which is in the Upper Peninsula of the state. If you have any specific questions regarding those areas, maybe I can help.

Thanks Curmudgeon and Connie for your hints on RVs. I really do need to get on and prebook somewhere, don't I? I hadn't thought about the heat in Visalia. KOA was the only campsites I knew about but I'll have a look on the website you mentioned. We really do have a blank sheet for the RV week. We not really great hikers but some gentle scenic walking, and a bit of horseback riding would be good.

All the info on Boston has been brilliant. We can't get rid of our rental car as I'd hoped (otherwise it would mean 2 one-way rentals at an extra $300+) but have decided to leave it parked at the airport during our 5-day stay, at only $16 a day which sounds better than trying to park in city, let alone drive there!

July 4th sounds like it's going to be a memorable occasion for us as a family -and Gail I think I might be quite happy to sit all day long on my blanket with a book after a few days walking around the city, so thanks for the info.

I see you mentioned Northern Michigan...I live there and can help you out if you are planning on stopping here. Caribou Maine is a LONG way up there!

more thoughts on an RV in northern CA:

Between national parks, national forests, and state parks, there are probably 100 different entities running public campgrounds in CA. There are huge variations in amenities at public sites, from full RV hookups and store, to no water and pit toilets. There are often size limits (length) on the RVs allowed.

Private campgrounds such as KOA have full hookups of water, sewer, and power, and often some facility such as a swimming pool, but are rarely in or adjacent to scenic locations. To me they are mostly a place to stop for the night on a long trip rather than a destination (Travel Inn for RVs).

I haven't seen a good online listing of the hundreds of CA campgrounds, but there are guidebooks; you might try finding and buying one from Amazon.

Heading north from SF might be a bit easier for an RV newbie; maybe as far up as Gold Beach Oregon, or Oregon Caves. The weather is pretty good in summer, and i think the range of private campgrounds would better.

I've just visited rv.net/forum - quite overwhelming at first but eventually I found my way to some valuable info and I've posted a query there. Curmudgeon's suggestions will also go into the deliberations - thanks. Incidentally, forgive my ignorance but will we see redwoods if we go north?

Thanks for the offers of help on North Michigan. That is strictly my husband's department and I've passed on the offers, but he's so swamped with other preparations at the moment, he may let it pass. (He's leaving in 6 days and I know he has some contacts already where he's staying near Marquette.)

Thanks too to SFE for email offer. Will drop you a line when I get my thoughts in order.

My experience has been that church dress is more formal on the east coast than west coast, but it depends somewhat upon denominational affiliation. I also believe those attending in small-town rural areas still tend to dress up more than in urban churches. In any case, I would hope you'd be welcome where ever you decide to attend, regardless of what you're wearing. Heaven knows He doesn't care!

If you are going to be in Rutland why don't you think about spending more time in the prettier area like Woodstock or Killington area. Rutland is a very crowded area and not pretty. When we go skiing we stay in a great place called Hawk Inn. They also have the most beautiful houses to rent. Unfortunately though these houses are erxpensive and I am not sure of your budget. I would though reconsider Rutland
Joan

Another vote for taking a few side trips out of SF. Even though you wont be driving between SF and LA, you can still see some incredible scenery just south of Monterey. The best way would be to spend a couple nights in Monterey and drive down the coast to Big Sur one of the days you are there.

Thanks for the suggestions re Petaluma (north) and Big Sur (south). I don't have a detailed road map, but it looks as if it would be difficult to make an easy (ie shortish) roundtrip to incorporate either of these.

I've been busy with MapQuest and found a round-trip from San Francisco via Sacramento, Nevada City, Sonora, Fresno, through Sequoia and then back to SF. It's about 700 miles - quite enough for 7 days. Any thoughts from those who know the area? Are there any detours/variations we should be making - or favourite sites. What about Lake Tahoe? My Lonely Planet guide book wasn't too complimentary about it. We are not watersport enthusiasts (except for a bit of swimming) so what else might we be missing?

Re Rutland, my husband will already have spent a week there with a contact of his. We'll be staying just outside the town and certainly intend to roam further afield where it's more picturesque.

Sacramento, Nevada City, Sonora, and Fresno are all either in the central valley or in the low foothills and are usually very hot in summer. The gold country towns along Hwy 49 can be interesting, but are more comfortable in fall or spring.

The lakes and campgrounds along that area tend to be somewhat dry and barren, mostly oriented to water-skiers. The elevation is a key, when it is 110F in Sacramento (near sea level), it will be 80F at Lake Tahoe (5000ft).

Lake Tahoe is a beautiful place, though it can get rather overrun with people (especially the south shore area). Somewhat similar terrain (mountains, rocks, forests) to what you would find in Sequoia park area, but with the big blue lake.

Get a map of California which shows a bit of the terrain, it will give you better perspective. All that flat space in the center of the state is great for agriculture (with water brought down from the mountains), but tends to be hot, dry, and dusty.

In the rough area of your description, I would move higher into the mountains, going up to the Lake Tahoe area via I80 highway, maybe dropping down via CA88 before heading over to Sequoia. Avoid CA49 with a motorhome; you can certainly get through on it, but it is very twisty and slow.

Redwoods in CA come in two types, the ones on the coast are taller, grow in spots from Santa Cruz up to the Oregon border. The sequoia redwoods are not quite as tall, but larger, and grow in the mountains in some areas in/around Yosemite and Sequoia parks.

An alternative route would be to go from SF to Sequoia area, spend two or three days there, then return via Monterey Bay, Santa Cruz, and Big Basin park (which has beautiful coast redwoods).

Some of these roads are quite challenging to the really big motorhomes; if you can keep to 25 foot size or below, it will help (smaller the better). If I were doing it, I would stick to the shortest possible, and buy a cheap small tent for the kids (rain in summer is very rare in CA).

We traveled by RV for years with our kids; what a treat! Plenty of room for everyone to have their "own space"; no need for restroom stops, restaurant on wheels, naps, television, games, etc. Make sure that you are renting from a reputable company and have info on repair shops along the way. Most of the RV parks have swimming pools,game rooms,laundry facilities, groceries. Good Sam is another RV park company. There are guide and RV books listing camping sites, road maps and other useful data. Be sure to "dump" when your tanks get full; a full tank can be smelly. Enjoy!!

What a treat of a trip! But what a bear of a planning job!

I know it's more of an "American" favorite, but just in case you ever ready any of Louisa Mae Alcott ("Little Women," etc...), a visit to her home in Concord (near Boston) would be a real treat. Concord was also the stomping grounds of Emerson, Thoreau and others.
You don't say the gender of your kids - the Alcott House tour wouldn't be too boring for them, I don't think (tho as I write this, I'm struck by thinking about the difference between the American version of "the old days" - i.e., the 1800s...and what qualifies as "old" in the UK....) I hope you have a wonderful trip!

Let me know if you will be visiting any of our city's museums here in Boston. I would gladly get you some passes for your family.

Just email me at [email protected]

For your Boston segment, may I suggest thh Childrens Museum. Its a great place for children. They get to touch all the exhibits and plenty to do. They may also like the Aquarium and IMAX theatre. (but it can be very crowded inthe summer) Your children will be fine in shorts in church, and there is no reason to get a car. Unless you'd like a day trip to the Northshore ie: Salem, Rockport. They are great cities to explore and beautiful beaches are plenty up that way. The children may enjoy a whale watch also. Good luck and have a great time.

After a frustrating few days with a sick computer, it's good to be back and find yet more helpful assistance.
Curmudgeon - your comments on temperature are appreciated. My fair-skinned daughter and I would melt at 110 degrees! I like your alternative itinerary, with Monterey and Big Basin. I wondered about doing it backwards but because we start out on a Friday I haven't yet found a CG in the Big Basin area which isn't fully booked. I think instead the first priority is to book somewhere not too far from SF for the Fri and possible Saturday nights, then head for Sequoia as you suggest, then head back to the coast on Weds/Thur. I'm working from an atlas because I haven't yet got hold of a detailed roadmap, so I'm not quite sure where I should be looking in order to get started in the right direction for Sequoia. How about somewhere on the Diablo Range? Then perhaps we could drive a long day over to Sequoia. Any thoughts? By the way our motorhome will be 22ft - more than enough for us to manoeuvre. I like the suggestion about the tent for the kids!

Arjay - Coincidentally I just found Little Women among some childhood books. If I get chance to read it with my kids (boy 10, girl 8) before we leave in 6 weeks, we'll definitely make a detour via Concord.

Your comment re whales reminds me... Anyone got any experience of swimming with dolphins? My daughter has been telling people here that she intends to do this (along with me!) on our trip. Where? How? And what does it cost?

Starting on a Friday near the bay area is a bit of a challenge for camping. The state parks like Big Basin pre-reserved the day they come available (I think it is 60 days in advance), though sometimes there are cancellations. There are a number of small private campgrounds in the area between Big Basin and Santa Cruz. Anywhere in the area between Half Moon Bay in the north, to Monterey/Big Sur in the south would be a reasonable option. Mt Madonna county park might work, I don' think it fills as fast as the state parks. The Diablo range area can still get pretty warm. Stick to the coast, coastal mountains, and Sierras if you can.

Try Sea World San Diego for dolphins. There may be some threads here if you search.

It might be time to start a new thread on specific topics, this one is getting pretty long.

A couple more thoughts... You might try Santa Cruz KOA. Other possibile nearby areas would be Scotts Valley, Felton, Boulder Creek, Half Moon Bay.

Morgan Hill, Prunedale, Gilroy might be fallbacks (a bit more hot and dry than the coast areas). There is a place called "Casa de Fruita" on the road east of Gilroy (towards Sequoia) that is pretty big and likely to have space.