asimm

We are a couple aged in the mid 30's and active with a girl child aged Planning a trip to USA in
July 2017 for about 25 days

We visited USA in Juky 2016 covering cities like NY, DC, MI, Orlando (disney +!Universal) , Niagara and a bit of NJ and enjoyed the trip a lot.

Probably covered the majors in the East coast therefore this time interested in the West coast.

We would greatly appreciate fodors communities help in deciding which cities/places/towns to visit. Though we would want the major touristy places but do like a bit of out of the way places

Our main interest may include
Good cities
Shopping
Natural beauty
Scenic places
Beaches
Small town
Nature parks (visited Shenandoah )

Thanks a lot

asimm

We loved driving good cars on big roads in USA in our last visit, though not very long rides but day trips and 4-6 hours drive , therefore renting a car is something we would do on this trip too

marvelousmouse

Are you thinking California beaches or the Rocky Mountains or the desert? Lakes or rivers? Driving or flying? Because I think you need to provide a little more information. The west is a really large place, and (if you drive) I'd probably just stick to California with 25 days. But part of that is I think I remember you being more into cities than nature.

In California- 3 national parks you should not miss are Sequoia, Redwoods, and Yosemite. You need reservations for the last two at least 6 months out (I don't know about Sequoia). There are also lots of Historic State Parks that are just as interesting. My favorite area of California is the gold country (with its caves) followed by the Big Sur Coast. However, I know Big Sur was hit hard by fires this year so my knowledge is not up to date there.

Then, of course, you've got Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, Utah National Parks, Colorado national parks, Yellowstone, Glacier, etc. etc. You should pick up some guidebooks to get a sense of distances and what these places are actually like- I've met international tourists who really have no idea about the sheer size and diversity of the west.

asimm

Will prefer Flying if it is a more than 500 mile drive but do not mind driving for shorter distances

We are not much into history

Dessert not really, but lakes, rivers and mountains are our cup of cake

The main areas we will visit I guess would be Vegas and California but open for all suggestion

Which national park would be good out of Redwoods, Yosemite, Grand Canyon and Yellowstone

And we can arrive from our country to either Vegas or California, which would be a better choice

marvelousmouse

Yosemite and Grand Canyon. Yellowstone would be out of your way. Redwoods would be worth driving to see, but possibly you could skip those in favor of Sequoia NP. Depends if you want "big" trees or "tall" trees.

Honestly it matters less where you start and more where/when you get reservations. I wouldn't book your plane tickets until you have your dates at Yosemite reserved. And I would want at least 3-4 days there, staying in Park lodging which can be both expensive and tricky to reserve.

Things to keep in mind...Vegas will be more expensive on weekends. July4 is a national holiday and will be horribly busy and expensive in many places. Wherever you are, I don't recommend driving on that date. You don't want a car in San Francisco at all, so I would probably end or begin your trip there. I don't know if you are interested in Disneyland, but there are refurbishments that go until mid July, and I'd wait to visit after those finish.

I mentioned the historic parks less for the history and more because they might be attractive to your kid. Gold country has Columbia Historic Park, a living Good Rush town- old fashioned soda, candy shop, kids activities. Then there are cave tours. Bodie Historic Park is a preserved ghost town, frozen in time. Railtown has train rides. Anyway, California has tons of these sort of places and you find one that fits pretty much any interest

jamie99

I'd probably fly into SFO, visit Yosemite for 2-3 nights (but you need to start making reservations NOW, July is popular with kids out of school and families traveling). Then a couple of nights Monterey, a night or two in Pismo Beach or maybe Cambria. You can visit Hearst Castle, wine tasting in Paso Robles near Cambria, another night in Santa Barbara (avoid weekends as many places have 2 night minimum stay on weekends), then LA for however long you wish. Then maybe a few nights in Anaheim for visiting Disneyland and maybe Knott's Berry Farm. San Diego if time allows.
Redwood National Park is a long way north of SF, visit Muir Woods or Henry Cowell Redwood State Park near Santa Cruz (another nice town with an old fashioned boardwalk).

HappyTrvlr

Las Vegas is in tne desert so you'd problably want to akip it.

Kathie

No one has written about cities yet.

I highly recommend San Francisco, but also look at Portland and Seattle. I'm not a big fan of LA, but some people love it.

asimm

First time traveller to West coast will certainly be going to
Las Vegas - 4 days
San Francisco - 4 days
Los Angeles - 4 days
& 1 of the national parks - 3 days

I still have about 10 days. What are my options

janisj

I would do Las Vegas for 2 days (maybe 3 nights). You certainly don't need 4 days there.

For the 10 days (now 12 if you shorten Vegas) I'd spend 5 driving between LA and San Francisco -- amazing scenery, lovely towns and LOTS to see and do. Places like Santa Barbara (1 night), Hearst Castle (1 night nearby), Big Sur, Point Lobos, Carmel and Monterey (3 nights in maybe Carmel to cover all four)

Then I'd either spend the other 5 or 6 nights doing the northern California and southern Oregon coast including the Redwoods and wine regions . . . OR fly from SFO up to Seattle and spend the time there and nearby parks/islands.

Songdoc

Las Vegas - 4 days
San Francisco - 4 days
Los Angeles - 4 days
& 1 of the national parks - 3 days

That sounds great to me. I would definitely drive the Pacific Coast Highway between SF and L.A. (or the other way around) with an overnight to include Hearst Castle.

Your post is tagged with Hawaii, too.
I LOVE Hawaii. You could visit two islands in your remaining ten days. The main reason to go there is for the fantastic beaches and natural beauty. It would add a completely different aspect to the trip.

Dukey1

OK, let's start with Vegas. It is a tremendously popular destination and for good reason BUT not for any of these reasons you have listed above:

Shopping---(some would say the so-called "high end" shopping in Vegas is overpriced)
Natural beauty
Scenic places
Beaches
Small town

My question is do you really, REALLY want to spend four days there?

jamie99

I'd take one night away from Las Vegas and drive to Grand Canyon and stay overnight there (advance reservations needed). I would spend 3 nights driving Highway 1 staying in Santa Barbara, Cambria and Monterey or Carmel.
Then add the rest of the days to Hawaii.

asimm

Will further explore the drive b/w LA and SF, any more input on it. What kind of experience do I get visiting Barbara, Cambria, Carmel and not to forget Hearst castle.

Yea maybe we should do Vegas for 3 days as we are NOT into any kind of gambling

Immediately the question that comes to my mind is

"Going to Yellowstone + Grand Canyon ,maybe Death Valley which I assume all are national parks" doesn't it make a very similar kind of experience.

Will it be all similar to each other OR is it all a very different experience

Isn't hawai too far from LA or SF. Is it worth travelling that dustance and paying the high airfare ?

Thank a lot

janisj

>>"Going to Yellowstone + Grand Canyon ,maybe Death Valley which I assume all are national parks" doesn't it make a very similar kind of experience.

Will it be all similar to each other OR is it all a very different experience

jamie99

Sorry for confusion, this post is also tagged for Hawaii.
Santa Barbara is a lovely Mediterranean style town with nice beaches, a beautiful California mission and nearby wine tasting in the Santa Ynez Valley (the film "Sideways" was shot here).
Cambria is about a 5-10 minute drive from Hearst Castle which is in San Simeon. I have stayed in both, Cambria has more places to stay and eat. Be sure and see the elephant seal rookery just north of there, short stop. It is a good overnight stop between Santa Barbara and Carmel via Big Sur.

marvelousmouse

I would do 2 days in Vegas (or frankly, skip it entirely) in favor of adding a day or two onto both SF and LA. LA especially. There is so much to see and do, and the city is very spread out.

marvelousmouse

any interest in amusement parks?

With your remaining 10 days, it depends on what you want to do. I'd probably do 4 of the days on the coastal drive. I'd spend 3 days at a beach town. And then 3 days in gold country or another national park.

Gardyloo

Where are you flying from? Will jetlag be an issue?

The reason for asking is that love it or hate it, Las Vegas is an ideal place to overcome major time changes and/or jetlag, as it's a 24 hour city. If your body clock says it's noon but the bedroom clock says 4 AM, no problem, things will be hopping downstairs, or you can watch the sun rise over the desert, things like that. In my opinion getting in sync with the clock is way easier in Vegas than it is in a bigger city, and especially easier than jumping into a car in LA traffic.

So with the extra ten days, what?

My first recommendation would be take two days from Las Vegas to visit Zion National Park in Utah, a surprisingly short drive from Las Vegas. I'd then fly to Los Angeles (inexpensive and avoids a hot and tedious drive.) Visit LA, pick up a car and drive the coast north to San Francisco. Then I'd suggest continuing north through the redwoods (including Redwood National Park) to the Oregon coast, then inland to Portland and the Columbia River Gorge and Mount Hood. You could fly home from Portland, or take the train to Seattle and fly from there.

This would give you the stunning redwoods, the scenic Oregon coast, and the amazing Columbia Gorge with its waterfalls, vistas and pleasant communities. Visit Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood and take the chair lift up to where there's skiing in the summer.

The two days at Zion and the drive to Portland would comfortably take up the ten days, and would offer a terrific amount of variety and marvelous sights.

Map - https://goo.gl/maps/ufM3AirWZQK2

StuDudley

>> with a girl child aged>Good cities
Shopping
Natural beauty
Scenic places
Beaches
Small town>we are NOT into any kind of gambling