Two day trip from Vegas - Palm Springs or beach (Newport/Laguna)?
 

My mom is coming to visit me in Las Vegas next week. Thursday/Friday is my weekend, and we're planning on doing a quick getaway. We're trying to decide between Palm Springs or the beach. Most people are pretty negative about PS, since it is so hot (I live here in Vegas, so I'm used to the temps). However, it is off-season there, and therefore cheaper. It's high season at the beach.

So the decision is this: stay at a cool, smaller, different hotel in PS and probably just make the most of the hotel OR stay at a cheaper chain with no character at the beach (Holiday Inn Express has good reviews on Trip Advisor, and I usually have good luck with HI), and make the most of the beach!

Any suggestions? Biggest concerns in PS are heat and not having enough to do. Biggest concerns at beach are if it rains, we're not in a really nice room to make the best of it.

I'm aware of drive times and traffic issues. Thanks in advance!

Er, rain in July? In coastal southern California?!

I would be a teensy bit surprised.

Grab a JetBlue or Southwest flight to the coast (not LAX-- LGB or SNA); don't drive, for heaven's sake. Palm Springs will be cheap, sure, but it's just more hot, dry desert. Newport and Laguna are lovely coastal cities with lots to do, and they will definitely be cooler and different from your hometown, won't they?

It hardly ever rains in July here in the Laguna area, however, it just rained this morning, so who knows! I can't believe it! It's cloudy and humid, cool, then hot. (I have the feeling Al Gore's not kidding, lol!)
The weather patterns lately are just nuts...!

It's also been very humid in Palm Springs this week. Due to something like monsoon clouds coming up from Mexico.
I'd go to the beach but it will be very crowded. Next week is fourth of July week.

My geography is really poor, so this may be stupid-- but I'm wondering why you need to drive so far south. What about Carmel, Monterey, or even Santa Barbara?
Otherwise, I love Newport Beach in particular and since you already live in the desert, why not go to the ocean??

Maureen, that's not a silly question (and those destinations are very good indeed)-- however, it takes much longer to drive to those places than to Palm Springs, Newport Beach or Laguna Beach, since they're farther away. Beaches in LA and Oranges Counties are the closest choices to Las Vegas, driving or flying.

Actually, if flying was an option, I'd even throw San Diego into the mix-- fun town, much cooler than Las Vegas or Palm Springs, La Jolla's a nice place for two ladies to relax and depressurize....

Driving distance and "as the crow flies" distance to Monterey/Carmel are not the same. Monterey is quite a long haul from LV.

The OC beaches are about 4 - 5 hours away from LV.

I second rjw's San Diego suggestion although last minute may be $$$.

HI..
I agree with rjw on coming on down to San Diego.. La Jolla is gorgeous and they still have rooms at the Hotel La Jolla for under $200 and it has sweeping views of the ocean and try and ask for the top floors on the North side..3 -4 short blocks from a gorgeous beach and they have a free shuttle to downtown LJ and the food and the natural beauty is something not to miss..
I love Newport and Laguna but you are going to pay huge bucks and I just got back from PS and we got a great deal a the JW Desert Springs but since you live in Vegas go to the beach..water is perfect too..
Here are some links for you..
hotellajolla.com mgr on-line special
lajolla.org
lajollacove.com
georgesatthecove.com Terrace
ljbtc.com Marine Room

Restaurants in LJ Shores that are wonderful are;
Piatti's
Elario's in the Hotel LJ at the top
Jeff's Burgers for lunch
Sea Lodge
The Cheese Shop

Have a blast!!

If you decide to go to Palm Springs, check out Chase hotel - stayed there a year ago on recommendation of this board. In the middle of everything, close to restaurants, you'll walk to the Thursday night market, and off-season should be cheap.

We had a spacious room, a kitchen, large bathroom, a balcony overlooking really nice pool area with grass and trees. You'll see pictures on the Internet, yes, it's that nice.

Buffet breakfast - don't remember now, but fruit, pastries, coffee - yes. Also cookies all day free in the lobby.

If you do a search, you'll find my report. Let me know if help is needed.

Thanks for all the responses! I was thinking of SD also, but I have family there and so I go there pretty frequently. We've both (my mom and I) seen SD and the surrounding area a few times, whereas we've only been to Laguna and Newport once, a while ago. Although I will throw the suggestion out to her.

As for driving vs. flying, I did check Southwest, but the flights aren't as cheap as I'd like to see. We're trying to stick to a pretty low budget, other than hotel costs. Plus, given the fact that you have to be at the airport an hour prior to the flight, it turns into a 3-hour ordeal until it's all said and done AND we'd still have to rent a car once there.

So... I didn't know there southern Cal doesn't get rain often in the summer. That's good to know - I assumed it was like most other coastal areas, which usually have quite a bit of rain...

The weather is bizarre here in Vegas today, too. Very cloudy/hazy, which is unusual!

I was kind of thinking it would be nice to get out of the desert, that's why I was leaning towards beach. My mom has never seen Palm Springs, but it may be a better idea to wait for a winter visit to check that out.

Finally, TahitiTams - thanks for the links and suggestions. I will check them out and email them to my mom as well.

I think I'm leaning towards Laguna? (As you can tell, not solid...)

Another thought - I realize your first choice here is beach areas but you might consider Lake Arrowhead or Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino Mts. It's not as far as San Diego for one thing and since you only have 2 days that is something to think about.

The big Bear/Arrowhead area is sort of like Mt. Charleston outside of Vegas but with the lakes, resturants, shops it makes for a nice place to weekend.

We used to live in the LA area soI am familiar with all these places (also familiar with Vegas as we live in AZ now :-) ). Temps in the mts. will be much cooler then Palm Springs that is for sure.

We're having the same weird weather in Southern Ca. Laguna would be nice if you can find something in your budget. A budget choice for dinner in Laguna is the Beach House Sunset Specials. Reservations a must. (My cheap friend used to take me there). Very nice view.

I owned a condo in Palm Desert for 5 years. July and August are not at all nice!

We have a Palm Desert house and a home at the beach in the Newport Area and you couldn't pay me to go to Palm Desert this time of year. It has been overcast and warm at the beach but still beautiful. You'll love Newport and Laguna.

Thanks for all suggestions: to update, I've decided on Newport. We're leaving very early on Thursday morning and staying until Friday afternoon (traffic should be a delight on Friday evening!). We are staying at an Ayres Hotel in Costa Mesa, so we'll be five miles inland. Great prices and good reviews on Trip Advisor, so the only downside is that it's not right on the beach.

I will let everyone know how it goes!

In the meantime, any good suggestions for food in either Newport or Laguna? Cool sandwich shops for lunch? I'll look into the Beach House Sunset Specials... Anything else?

Newport Beach - The Crab Cooker across from the pier is a legend

Grand Canyon is nice but just make sure you check your driving times to be sure you want to invest the time to get to the Grand Canyon. Mapquest shows it is 11 hours from Grand Canyon to Yosemite (5 hours from Vegas to Grand Canyon). That is accurate unless you go anywhere near LA or OC; then you have to factor in traffic. Only you can decide if you want to spend the time in the car to get there or if you would rather have more time to spend in Yosemite or Vegas.

Sorry - Not sure how that happened. This posted to the wrong thread!

Yes, don't miss the Crab Cooker. Their grilled lobster tails are a treat.
Get there early, as a line will form out the door nearly every night. If you're stuck in the line, you can get great clam chower to eat while you wait. And mail a free postcard, too. Have fun!

Great suggestion - thanks! We'll definitely check it out...

We just went to Santa Monica this weekend for a 2-day trip. It was fantastic!! We stayed right across from the beach, so we were able to walk to it. The weather was great, about 85. What I liked about the area was, you have the beach during the day, at night you can walk to the Promenade and walk around the shops/restaurants while watching/listening to street performers and local musicians. We went on the spur of the moment, just for a relaxing trip to the beach. We parked our car Fri. night and did not have to retrieve it until we left Sunday afternoon. They have the beach, the pier and like I said the promenade area, very nice! Just a suggestion, if it were me I would head to the beach. Also, as recommended Newport is great as well, so is Huntington.