Road tripping w/teens
 

Planning a 16 day car trip in July from IN to CA. Traveling w/hubby (golfer/former surfer), son 16 (skateboarder/surfer wannabe) and daughter 13 (shopper/beach bunny wannabe). As for me, I'm just looking forward to hanging out w/my best friend -who will unfortunately be recovering from foot surgery. <BR>Here's the plan so far-- drive like heck for 3 days w/stops in Missouri (relatives), Amarillo and Flagstaff. Arrive in Pasadena day 4. Zip down to Ensenada w/best friend and her family to hang out at beach for 3 days. One day on our own (no friend) in LA area. Start back w/daylong stops @ Vegas, Grand Canyon, Grand Junction, Co, and somewhere in Kansas. Then back to Lake of the Ozarks to visit family and home. <BR>My questions-- do-able in 16 days/$3500? What to do on alone day in LA that will satisfy everyone? Anything I absolutely must see along the route?

I suspect there is no such thing as too much beach, sosuggest LA day include Venice Beach and Santa Monica Pier, for strangeness, weirdness, muscles, bikinis, skaeboarders, etc. <BR> <BR>Then a visit to Melrose AVenue, for more weirdness, and Rodeo Drive, just because it's famous. <BR> <BR>BAK <BR> <BR>Can't help on the rest of the troute.

You might consider visiting both Zion and Bryce on the return since you will be so close and both are worth visiting and it won't add too many miles to the trip. <BR>To do this you could alter your route as follows. From Las Vegas head for Zion followed by Bryce and then on to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. If it could be worked out figure one day or the better part of a day at each. These places are worth visiting if you have never been.

Thanks to both of you. I think wierdness is just the experience my kids are hoping for on the California leg of the trip. Not that there aren't wierdos in Indiana -- we just hide it better ;^) <BR>And, I was considering Zion and Bryce. If you could only do one, which would it be? <BR>Thanks again

I lived in So. Cal for several years, and my favorite beaches were located in Orange County, not L.A. County. Too many vagrants and druggies on L.A. beaches. <BR> <BR>Seal and Bolsa Chica are both great, but Huntington Beach is the quintessial beach experience, IMO. Laguna is gorgeous.

Bryce or Zion - I would pick Bryce but you can still get to drive through Zion on your way to Bryce. No extra mileage to speak of and the drive through Zion is scenic. One never knows what scenic beauty will move teen agers but if I had to pick one place they would find interesting it would be Bryce.

Stop in Glenwood Springs, Colorado on I70. Your whole family will enjoy a respite in the hot springs. Largest pool in US