Trip plan for SFO and Vegas
 

Hello All, This is my first post but I have visited fodors several times in the past for my trips, and I thank all the members for their posts.

I need some inputs for my upcoming trip to SFO and Las Vegas with my wife and my 2 year old in last week of December. I have broken my trip in 2 parts. SFO - 4 days and Vegas - 4 days.

Hotel, flight and rental car bookings (both in SFO and vegas) are already done. We are flying to Vegas & staying for 4 nights(1 night in grand canyon). From there, flying to SFO and staying there for 4 nights (1 night in Monterey).

We have not planned each day in detail so far but below are must see for us:-

Vegas - visit grand canyon, hoover dam and see some family friendly shows in vegas ( any suggestions?) .
SFO - golden gate bridge, cable car, crooked street, 17 mile drive, alcatraz

I would appreciate any thoughts, comments for my trip as to what you think about it?
what more attractions can I cover in vegas and SFO or nearby areas, given the time we have?
Would also appreciate some suggestions for vegetarian restaurants at both places.
Any other suggestions (apart from long hikes which require lot of walking) are welcome :)

Looking forward to hearing from everyone.

Are all your arrangements set in stone/unchangeable? I honestly don't know what you'll do for 4 days in LV w/ a toddler. A day or two -- I get but four?

If it was me I'd spend more time in the SF/Monterey area. Much more for the little one.

If you are flying Southwest by any chance you can change your flights w/o penalty.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium is great, especially for kids (even a 2-year old).

Thanks janisj,
This is current plan, I am open to changes but will have to check once with Delta airlines:-

Day 1 - Land in LV at night
Day 2 - LV (night stay)
Day 3 - LV (night stay)
Day 4 - grand canyon (night stay)
Day 5 - LV (fly to SFO in afternoon)
Day 6 - SFO (night stay)
Day 7 - SFO (night stay)
Day 8 - Monterey (night stay)
Day 9 - SFO ( catch flight back home in night)

I was planning to do death valley for 1 day, if there is not much in LV. Effectively I have 2.5 days in Vegas since we are landing at night (1 day for Grand canyon and hoover dam).

Thanks sf7303, yes added to list. That is a must see, which I forgot to add previously.

If the Vegas Hotel has a good pool, you probably won't need to "do" anything.

I saw a fair number of children at the Bellagio conservatory. And it's free. You can also watch the fountains there and eat.

https://www.bellagio.com/attractions...al-garden.aspx

The time in Grand Canyon seems too short. It's about 300 miles from Las Vegas, depending on how you go, which is a long drive for one night, especially with a toddler. The sun sets really early in the canyon (5:45 p.m. when I was there last week) leaving you very little time to really enjoy the magnificence of the place. If it was my trip I would either find an extra night in GC or save it for another time.

Well, I wouldn't skip the GC, but I agree that an extra night there would be really ideal--if the weather is good enough to be outdoors a lot, which it should be.

I don't think swimming is an option in LV at the end of December. The average high temperature in December and February is 57 degrees.

I'd try REALLY hard to get another night at the GC since you will be doing a lot of driving.

Take a day off Vegas and add it to the Grand Canyon. Vegas really isn't a family-friendly place, and most adults won't appreciate having a 2yo at whatever show they've paid to see. Also, as others have said, it takes a while to drive to the Grand Canyon and wouldn't have time to see much if you do it as a day trip.

Lee Ann

Don't they heat the pools in Las Vegas?

Here are some ideas for San Francisco and the Monterey/Carmel area.

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...mendations.cfm

Just like the Grand Canyon - Monterey/Carmel isn't really a one-nighter in December. If you travel by car and leave or return during rush hours - it may take you 3+ hrs to get there, and same on the way back. If you go to the aquarium, a visit may consume 3 hrs. We have an aquarium in Golden Gate Park that some say is just as nice as the one in Monterey (I prefer Monterey).

Stu Dudley

>>Don't they heat the pools in Las Vegas?<<

Most of the hotels close most of their pools in winter, though will often have one pool open. But even a heated pool isn't toddler friendly when it is really cold outside. Plus the pools that are open will be shut if there is any rain. Yes it does rain.

Even though LV is in the desert it gets cold - esp at night - in the winter. Outdoor pools are shut - since anyone climbing out would freeze even if they did heat the pools by 40 degrees or more.

Plus not sure which hotels have toddler pools at all and I can't imagine they would be welcome in adult pools.

Not sure what to do in LV since little ones aren't allowed in the casinos and most of the shows are not appropriate even if the parents are willig to payfor a ticket and chance having to walk out. (Not sure about LV but in NYC kids less than 5 years old are not allowed in theaters - unless there is a special kiddie show.)

Thanks everyone, I have removed a day from LV and added to GC. Likewise removed a day from SFO (Day-7) but yet to plan

Day 1 - Land in LV at night (LV - night stay)
Day 2 - LV - night stay
Day 3 - grand canyon - (GC night stay)
Day 4 - grand canyon, hoover dam - (GC night stay)
Day 5 - LV - fly to SFO in afternoon ( SFO - night stay)
Day 6 - SFO day tour (SFO - night stay)
Day 7 - ??
Day 8 - Monterey/Carmel (Monterey night stay)
Day 9 - SFO day tour ( catch flight back home in night)

I am still thinking about Day 7 whether I should allocate it for Monterey/Carmel area OR should I go further south to San Simeon for Hearst castle

Stay nights 7 and 8 in Carmel, Monterey or Pacific Grove. I wouldn't bother with San Simeon until your child is older. Strollers are not allowed.

There is PLENTY to fill your two days on the Monterey Peninsula and northern Big Sur. And I would ditch the SF tour on day 9 -- I'd just drive up to SFO from Monterey in the late afternoon/early evening.

With a toddler in Monterey/Carmel area, the Dennis the Menace Park is a do not miss. Also, the beach near Lover's Point in Carmel on Ocean Ave. has a very manageable beach for little ones... if the weather is pleasant.

Chintan - are you planning on staying at an Airport Hotel? You keep writing SFO. That's the airport.

SF is San Francisco.

This is a serious question. If you do mean SFO that really isn't recommended for sightseeing in SF. If you need help finding accommodation in SF post your budget.

Really??
<Day 6 - SFO day tour (SFO - night stay)>
Did you assume that meant they're touring the airport all day?

janisj:- Thanks, will skip San Simeon
lynni - Noted about Dennis the Menace, thanks.
elizzie4000 and NewbE - Sorry, I meant SF. Please ignore SFO, it was a mistake. I have booked hotel in San Francisco city (not at the airport) . Day 6 - I meant sightseeing the city.

Some hotels have pools that are open year-round, though you should always check as this is the time of year they'd close them for a couple weeks of maintenance etc.
Bellagio
Hilton Elara
Excalibur
Gold Coast
Green Valley Ranch
Palazzo
Paris
Platinum
Sam's Town
Vdara
Wynn Resorts

LV also has a terrific Children's Museum that's worth a couple of hours, and if the 2 year old is interested in dinosaurs, a nice Natural History Museum. Also check for holiday events at the Springs Preserve....and one caution, when New Year's falls on a weekend Vegas is crazy-crowded and rates are sky-high. Since Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam are the main things on your radar, you might want to check for rooms in Henderson or elsewhere.

(Oops...Just re-read and noted that Vegas is the first part of your trip and hotel already arranged....great!)

Day 3 - grand canyon - (GC night stay)
Day 4 - grand canyon, hoover dam - (GC night stay)


You're going to want to visit Hoover Dam on day 3 on your way to the Grand Canyon, not on day 4. Make sure you give yourself enough time to see Hoover Dam and make the long drive during daylight so you get to the Grand Canyon before sunset.