California Dreamin'
Discussion
I've just booked flights to LA: 2.5 weeks in April travelling with Mrs P and 2 daughters (12 and 15).
The broad plan is to spend time in LA, travel to the Grand Canyon via Vegas etc. My wife wants to spend some time trekking in a National Park, daughters want to visit Universal Studios, Hollywood etc.
It will be the 1st time in California on holiday for me, so I'd appreciate any thoughts or recommendations for family activities, great hotels, car hire, or short organised tour companies etc. Thanks!
The broad plan is to spend time in LA, travel to the Grand Canyon via Vegas etc. My wife wants to spend some time trekking in a National Park, daughters want to visit Universal Studios, Hollywood etc.
It will be the 1st time in California on holiday for me, so I'd appreciate any thoughts or recommendations for family activities, great hotels, car hire, or short organised tour companies etc. Thanks!
Thanks for the tips. We're hoping to fix the itinerary and book hotels in the next couple of weeks.
Current thinking is to do the city bit first...2 days in LA then fly to SF and stay there for 3 nights, pre-booking Alcatraz etc.
Hire a car (probably a 4x4 with Hertz or Avis) from SF and drive down Highway 1, spending a couple of nights on the coast.
Drive to LV and stay there for 2 nights, then on to the Grand Canyon for a few days trekking (wife and daughters are into running and cycling but don't like helicopters unfortunately!).
Finally drive back to LA and stay by a beach (Malibu?) for a couple of relaxing days before heading home.
Any tips for places to stay would be much appreciated. Our preference is for interesting / trendy places rather than 5 star luxury!
Cheers, and I'll definitely report back.
Current thinking is to do the city bit first...2 days in LA then fly to SF and stay there for 3 nights, pre-booking Alcatraz etc.
Hire a car (probably a 4x4 with Hertz or Avis) from SF and drive down Highway 1, spending a couple of nights on the coast.
Drive to LV and stay there for 2 nights, then on to the Grand Canyon for a few days trekking (wife and daughters are into running and cycling but don't like helicopters unfortunately!).
Finally drive back to LA and stay by a beach (Malibu?) for a couple of relaxing days before heading home.
Any tips for places to stay would be much appreciated. Our preference is for interesting / trendy places rather than 5 star luxury!
Cheers, and I'll definitely report back.
Thanks - yes, only planning 1 day in Las Vegas. Arriving late on the first night and driving away first thing after the second night.
Might try to shorten that if I can't pre-book any family friendly shows, restaurants etc. Don't fancy a big night out with Tiger Woods' mates.
The hotel recommended above sounds like it might be a good option.
Might try to shorten that if I can't pre-book any family friendly shows, restaurants etc. Don't fancy a big night out with Tiger Woods' mates.
The hotel recommended above sounds like it might be a good option.
Thought I'd report back on this, and thanks to those who offered advice.
It was a 2.5 week Easter trip with Mrs. P and 2 teenage daughters. We all like active holidays and we're not into 5 star luxury.
Our itinerary was as follows:
3 nights in Hollywood. We arrived late on the first evening after sorting our the car rental with Hertz (Jeep Cherokee with 141 miles - just big enough for 4 bags). Stayed at Loews Hotel close to Hollywood Boulevard, did the Warner Brothers studio tour (which was great); a bus tour around the Hollywood Hills, Bel Air, Beverley Hills etc. (driver's commentary was a bit crap); walked up to the Hollywood sign (as close as you can get); Rodeo Drive etc.
5 nights in Yosemite - 3 at Tenaya Lodge and 2 at Evergreen Lodge. Much preferred the latter: great food and hospitality. Tenaya is more suitable for younger kids (pool was full of toddlers), a bit of a rip off, and too pleased with itself. We hiked up Yosemite Falls (amazing at this time of year) and walked lots of trails.
3 nights in San Francisco at the Clift Hotel near Union Square. No breakfast but there are some amazing diners including David's opposite. Hotel charges $50 per day to park the car, but just dropped it off round the corner on Taylor St for half the price. Only rainy day was spent doing a bus tour. Pre-booked Alcatraz (daughters found it really interesting and that's saying something). Walked to pier 39 over Nob Hill and Lombard St. Rode back on the cable car. Daughters hung out Westfields etc. Went to a great Italian (Uncle Vitos) and a ropey Chinese...
Spent a few days driving PCH, staying for a couple of nights in Carmel (pretty place with a nice beach) and San Louis Obispo (stayed at the bonkers Madonna Inn). Stopped off at loads of places including Santa Cruz, Monterey for a whale watching trip, Pfeiffer Beach, Malibu etc. Views around Big Sur were remarkable.
Finally stayed in Santa Monica at an Airbnb, we all ran to Venice Beach each day, daughters enjoyed shopping etc. Also an easy drive back to LAX.
In total we covered 1,500 miles. Could easily have driven more, but it was good to spend a decent amount of time in each place.
Saw some interesting cars, including a "Ferrari Daytona" convertible on fire by the side of the PCH (assume some kind of kit car). Several porsche 356s, including a few genuine coupes. A nice orange pre-impact 911S at Madonna Inn, parked up next to an E type 1.5 series.
Definitely recommend this trip - it will be a tough one to follow.
It was a 2.5 week Easter trip with Mrs. P and 2 teenage daughters. We all like active holidays and we're not into 5 star luxury.
Our itinerary was as follows:
3 nights in Hollywood. We arrived late on the first evening after sorting our the car rental with Hertz (Jeep Cherokee with 141 miles - just big enough for 4 bags). Stayed at Loews Hotel close to Hollywood Boulevard, did the Warner Brothers studio tour (which was great); a bus tour around the Hollywood Hills, Bel Air, Beverley Hills etc. (driver's commentary was a bit crap); walked up to the Hollywood sign (as close as you can get); Rodeo Drive etc.
5 nights in Yosemite - 3 at Tenaya Lodge and 2 at Evergreen Lodge. Much preferred the latter: great food and hospitality. Tenaya is more suitable for younger kids (pool was full of toddlers), a bit of a rip off, and too pleased with itself. We hiked up Yosemite Falls (amazing at this time of year) and walked lots of trails.
3 nights in San Francisco at the Clift Hotel near Union Square. No breakfast but there are some amazing diners including David's opposite. Hotel charges $50 per day to park the car, but just dropped it off round the corner on Taylor St for half the price. Only rainy day was spent doing a bus tour. Pre-booked Alcatraz (daughters found it really interesting and that's saying something). Walked to pier 39 over Nob Hill and Lombard St. Rode back on the cable car. Daughters hung out Westfields etc. Went to a great Italian (Uncle Vitos) and a ropey Chinese...
Spent a few days driving PCH, staying for a couple of nights in Carmel (pretty place with a nice beach) and San Louis Obispo (stayed at the bonkers Madonna Inn). Stopped off at loads of places including Santa Cruz, Monterey for a whale watching trip, Pfeiffer Beach, Malibu etc. Views around Big Sur were remarkable.
Finally stayed in Santa Monica at an Airbnb, we all ran to Venice Beach each day, daughters enjoyed shopping etc. Also an easy drive back to LAX.
In total we covered 1,500 miles. Could easily have driven more, but it was good to spend a decent amount of time in each place.
Saw some interesting cars, including a "Ferrari Daytona" convertible on fire by the side of the PCH (assume some kind of kit car). Several porsche 356s, including a few genuine coupes. A nice orange pre-impact 911S at Madonna Inn, parked up next to an E type 1.5 series.
Definitely recommend this trip - it will be a tough one to follow.
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