Hawaii vs California
 

Looking to take a vacation with smaller children at the beginning of September. Would like to spend some time in California but also would love to visit Hawaii. We have about a week for our trip. Is it silly to try to do both or should we focus on one place? Where should we go and what should we do? We are very adventurous and love the outdoors. Would also like one day to be just a day at the beach. And whether it's in California or Hawaii, we would like to stay along the beach. Any ideas and suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Trying to visit Hawaii and California in one week isn't a good idea. Choose one, do some research, and come back to ask more specific questions.

They are very different states. If you can afford Hawaii, go for it-- if your kids are good travelers for the longer flights, and if you think it's worth it to take them (you didn't mention their ages). One week is the minimum to visit Hawaii, because it's a special place.

If you decide not to splurge on Hawaii, California has so many great places, you need to narrow down your preferences.

From where will you be beginning your trip? Keep in mind that it's about a 5 hour flight from California to Hawaii. How old are the children~babies, toddlers, or grade schoolers? What ammenities do you want for your accommodations, and what is your budget?

kids ages are 5 and 4 and are very good travelers. california has sea world and disney land and things like that. - would look at san diego/las angeles. hawaii is somewhere i've always wanted to visit, i just didn't know what they had for kids to actually DO. money really isn't a huge issue. just looking at taking a nice vacation.

Well, what do you want to actually DO? When I go to Hawaii (often), it's mostly to do nothing! If you're looking for activities/sites appropriate for 4 and 5-year olds, then yes, southern California has more of them.

Get the Fodors book on Hawaii and read it. It will give you a decent overview of the state.

Hawaii doesn't have any amusement parks, but Honolulu has a zoo, and most kids are pretty content to spend all day in a pool or digging in the sand on the beach. :)

It sounds as if Southern CA would be a good fit for your family if you'd like to mix up things like theme parks and beach time.

Yes, I think Southern California is the way to go right now. We do want to do the parks and I would love to stay along the beach. What are good beaches and what other stuff do you recommend doing?? I'd like somewhere where it's more private and not packed with tourists.

Remember, September is going to be HOT in both places. I might go for more coming and going to a beach and less standing in lines (Disneyland).

San Diego would be the best of both worlds~beaches, a world class zoo, Sea World, Balboa Park...........

You can "commute" to Disneyland/Anaheim in an hour+ from San Diego (depending on where you are staying) - assuming you go after (or before) morning and afternoon rush hours.

While I/we love Hawaii - don't think the kids would really know what they are missing if you come to San Diego - and go to tide pools, the Zoo and Wild Animal Park, Sea World, Legoland, and so forth.

If you stay near the beach - it's not that hot in SD - but if you go inland - it can heat up.

"While I/we love Hawaii - don't think the kids would really know what they are missing if you come to San Diego..."

But mom and dad will have some idea of what they're missing, whereas the kids could care less and be happy regardless. So why not spend a week on Maui, staying at some place like the Grand Wailea or Hyatt; nice beaches and great pools at both.

We still don't know where the OP's trip originates. If it's from the east coast, the idea of flying to Hawaii with a 4 year old and 5 year old sounds daunting.

Hawaii is a LOT more exciting than California (state of my birth) to my point of view. More exotic, less traffic. As far as what's to do for kids, start with some sand toys and to go the beach, float toys and a hotel pool, Fort de Russy and Kapiolani parks, the Zoo.

I agree depends where you are flying from if California or Hawaii might make more sense because of flight time and routes.

If you are going to the beaches to swim, keep in mind that CA are pretty cold, even when its hot, IMOP anyway.

We are flying from Kansas.

In early September - people are swimming at all the beaches in San Diego. The water is warmer in Hawaii yes, but you see kids in bathing suits in the water all along the coast.

Check out the Cove which also has lifeguard - or Mission Beach. http://www.a-zsandiegobeaches.com/lajollacove.htm

I would take them to Hawaii. At that age, kids are easier to please and don't need the constant entertainment. They are happy with the beach and pools. Save S. Cal for when they are a little older, need more entertainment, and can do more of what is offered.

Kids that are 4 and 5 probably aren't going to be "swimming" unless it's in a pool. Suze is correct~Hawaii is much more exotic, but you'll spend less time getting to CA. My own personal opinion~flying from Kansas is going to be a long enough flight for your little ones. Since you only have a week, I would say spend it in San Diego and save Hawaii for another time. Also, don't forget~Labor Day is in the beginning of September.

I wouldn't be against the San Diego idea. Or even Los Angeles and include Disneyland.

I love Hawaii but maybe the kids would appreciate it a bit more, and have an easier time with the long flight, when they are a couple years older.

suze, it's the flight to Hawaii from Kansas that makes me think SD may be the better choice for the OP. The flight from CA to HI comes pretty close to violating my frustration threshold, I can't imagine it would be any different for a 4 year old. We probably have the same attention spans. :)

I'd stay in Anaheim for a few nights for Disney, if you get a 3 day or more parkhopper ticket you get one free Magic Morning when you get to enter the park one hour before opening. Plenty of motels and hotels across the street from Disneyland on Katella.

Then move to San Diego, try and stay near the beach if it is in your budget. Kids are the perfect age for Legoland (only about a 45 minute drive in Carlsbad). Zoo is world class and Sea World is nice as well.

"...it's the flight to Hawaii from Kansas that makes me think SD may be the better choice..."

I kinda see it as another five hours on the plane vs. the frustration of standing in lines at theme parks. Might even come close to equaling out, or worse, if traveling around Labor Day.

3 days at Disneyland wouldn't be my cup of tea, and I LIKE Disneyland. I think you can't go wrong with 1 day at Disneyland, 1 day at Legoland, 1 day at SeaWorld, and the rest around San Diego in general (beaches and other).

But Hawaii is NEVER out of the question!

Forgot about the zoo and wild animal park.

af7 - not sure I understand your comment about forgetting about the Zoo and Wild Animal Park (Safari Park now).

Kids love those places.

tomsd, She didn't say to "forget" about them as in not going to. Rather she had forgotten to mention them.

Suze is right!

One week for a trip to Hawaii including flights?? With little kids? No.Way. Head to Anaheim, do Disneyland, one other place nearby and head home.

I'm late to the discussion, so if this has been mentioned I'm sorry in advance.

If you tried to do Hawaii & California in one trip you'd lose days. For example, Hawaii from LA is a 5 hour flight and by the time you arrive, get a rental car and settle into your hotel you've lost a day of your vacation - and another day in your return flight. So you basically would have 1 1/2 days each in Hawaii and Calif. Not worth it.

I'd pick San Diego. Coronado (across the bay from San Diego is a perfect area for young families). You would still have great freeway access to all the kid friendly attractions like Balboa Park, the Zoo, Sea World and Legoland. And Coronado's beach is consistently ranked one of the best beaches in the world.

Agree with nanabee - but also consider La Jolla and the lovely cove. Also the tidepools at Cabrillo National Park/Pt. Loma. On my wife's laptop or would copy the site page for you.

BTW nana: Had Thai again from J & T on Linda Vista. They raised their minimum price from $6 t $7 but the red curry Salmon is still $8 and what a great sauce. :) The Tom Kha (w/ coconut milk)soup for $3 is also a killer bargain, as is the Tom Yum soup if you prefer more of the lemongrass flavor. Also love the spicy Basil Chicken.

But - as I said early on - we love Hawaii. If the kids are good travelers and that's what you want to do - go for it. Kauai is our favorite (the lush "Garden Isle") - and Big Island/Hawaii probably has the most different things to do - but we also love Maui (great beaches) and Oahu - the "gathering place" - but you could save Oahu for another time - when you might want to take advantage of their more frequent "deals". :)

thanks tomsd. we've tried to get over there to try it. in fact, funny you mentioned it - i've had their name/address/phone number on a sticky post-it on my computer screen! this is a sign! we'll probably go next week after work.

Go to Southern California. As somebody else said, save Hawaii for when the kids are older and they can appreciate it. Why spend all that extra time and money to get to Hawaii when the kids can't and won't get that much out of it? California would have a lot more for them to do. You can only plop them on a beach and give them toys for so long.

Personally, if this was me I'd find somebody to watch the kids for a week and just go to Hawaii with your spouse.

WhereAreWe: Kids have fun wherever's there's a pool, actually, but I'd drop the kids off somewhere, too! ;)

Also - there are lots of things for kids to do in Hawaii. I would suggest you try to make it 8 or 9 days in Hawaii(leave on a Friday - fly back 9-10 days later)- maybe spending 4 days on Oahu - and taking them snorkeling at Hanauma Bay (try the masks ahead of time to see if they can handle it) - and even if they don't swim - you can wade out to see fish, visit Sea Life Park, ride the train along the beach out at Ewa beach, go to the zoo, etc.

Then fly over to Kauai - a 20 minute flight and the inter-island airport is easy to maneuver) - and ride up the Fern Grotto river, see the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific", ride horses, maybe go to a Luau, go for walks/hikes, etc.

Sounds good, Tomsd, but the op only has a week for this vacation.

Tomsd: Where do you find Oahu deals? I'd like a good resource to check on now and then. I love Oahu.

Go to Hawaii when you can really experience it - the OP is adventurous and loves the outdoors, but with children that young they will be fairly limited in those adventurous outdoor activities.

4 and 5 year old children will be fairly limited in what they can do in Hawaii. If they even want to snorkel, an adult would have to be watching them the whole time - so the adult would actually not get to snorkel very much. Horseback rides generally have an age limit - if you could even find a ride that allows children that young, it would be pretty limited in where they go for liability reasons.

Sure they can go to the pool and play, sit on the beach and play, go to the zoo, etc. But those are all things they can do on the mainland - that's my point. There are so many adventurous outdoor activities in Hawaii that would be eliminated or curtailed when travelling with young children, so just wait til they are older, go without them or go to Southern California where they can find many more kid-friendly activities for a week. OP did say they want one day at the beach...but that leaves a lot of time for other activities and there's so much more for the kids in California.

emily - I know a lot of "deals" I check out from past trips but just google away to see what is currently being offered. Let your fingers do the walking. :)

Any particular things you are looking for?

And if you arrange it to travel to Hawaii over two weekends - leaving on a Friday am (or even a Thursday) - and returning on a Sunday of the 2nd week - you can enjoy 9/10 nights there. That's what we did a lot anyway.

And whereweare: It's all up to the travelers how much they want to see Hawaii now (and maybe plan to return again soon) - v. coming to say - lovely SD. :)

IMO - the kids could have a lot of fun there Hawaii - and also here. Agree - either place - find some activities where maybe the parents can enjoy a few hours alone while the kids are being entertained by other responsible ones.