I wouldn't pass up San Diego for Las Vegas but everyone is different. The Zoo and Balboa Park are very worth your time here.

How long is this trip? Besides the Zoo, Sea World and Gambling, what types of things would you consider "interesting?"

I love San Diego and think it would be a shame to skip it.

HI - well we are trying to see as much as we can in the short time that we are here - and just feel now that the Grand Canyon is something very different to what we have in Australia - being that we have zoo's and animal parks and seaworld - so we were thinking that a trip to Grand Canyon and to stay there and go down into the canyon would be an experience that we would not get anywhere else - we are not into gambling (especially as we have our children aged 24 to 28 plus their partners and a 10mth baby) so not a good thing to encourage gambling!!!! although I am sure we will have a bit of fun - but taking in a show and shopping and just generally the atmosphere of Vegas.

The Grand Canyon is a great destination and it seems like anyone coming to the Western U.S. wants to see Las Vegas. You can always take a tour of the Hoover Dam.

There is a lot more to SD than the parks. I've been to SD 4 times - been to the zoo once and haven't been to Seaworld and the Wild Animal park. Had a fabulous time on each trip though

I do understand the need to prioritize and I don't think you can go wrong with either choice - I just didn't want you to make the choice to forego SD under the impression that the parks were the only reason to go.

I think after coming from Queensland, San Diego might look like small potatoes as far as the beaches or even deserts are concerned.

The Grand Canyon may be the drier version of the Great Barrier Reef. And the bonus, there's not much that can hurt ya at the Grand Canyon, rattlesnakes and scorpians might be a mere annoyance for an Aussie.

thanks LSky - i would never of thought of the Grand Canyon being a drier version of the Great Barrier Reef !!!!! will definately keep my eyes out for the rattlesnakes and scorpians though
have you been to Australia ???

Never been to Australia but I've read Bill Bryson's, In a Sunburned Country.

In which I learned that there were more things that could kill you in Australia than anywhere else in the world: jelly fish, funnel spiders and then the little tiny snakes that hide under a couple of inches of sand. Not to mention your Prime Minister who went out for a morning swim and was never heard from again.
Other than that, Australia sounds delightful. I know people who love going there. I think you're wise to give So. Calif a pass. San Diego is lovely but we have ocean and then desert. A bit like your area, I would think. Minus the Reef, of course.

After reading that, I'm sure you would swat a scorpion down like a gnat and pick up tranantulas for examination. Some people keep tranantulas, they are fairly harmless but who would want a big hairy spider?

Really, it's rare that people are bit by rattlers or scorpions. Have great trip.

One of my favorite Bill Bryson books!

It was a good one. I gave that book to my mother as an audio and she told me the other day she listens to it when she has a difficult time falling asleep. She loves it.

But shhhh. Let's not mention what he said about Queensland