Suggestions for 12 days in California
Discussion
Looking to spend 12 nights in California later in the summer, we've only booked flights, arriving and departing from LA.
We love a road trip, so will be hiring a car, although it's surprisingly hard to find a convertible.
There's a few things we'd definitely like to do, Santa Barbara, Disney, Yosemite National Park & San Diego
Considering heading to Grand Canyon, Mrs is keen on Vegas for a night, me less so. Possibly San Fran.
Will be keeping an eye out for SpaceX launches.
Both into our cars, so any interesting car related stuff, museums, shows etc.
If anyone has recommendations on things to do, particular order to do it in, stop offs to break up journeys, how many nights in each location, places to stay etc that would be great. Hoping to put a high-level schedule together this week.
Thanks in advance.
We love a road trip, so will be hiring a car, although it's surprisingly hard to find a convertible.
There's a few things we'd definitely like to do, Santa Barbara, Disney, Yosemite National Park & San Diego
Considering heading to Grand Canyon, Mrs is keen on Vegas for a night, me less so. Possibly San Fran.
Will be keeping an eye out for SpaceX launches.
Both into our cars, so any interesting car related stuff, museums, shows etc.
If anyone has recommendations on things to do, particular order to do it in, stop offs to break up journeys, how many nights in each location, places to stay etc that would be great. Hoping to put a high-level schedule together this week.
Thanks in advance.
Edited by scz4 on Monday 1st June 10:12
I did something similar, although in less time. Massive vote for San Diego- a real hidden gem of the States in my opinion. I actually preferred it to LA and wish I'd spent more time there. USS Midway is definitely worth a trip! The coast drive up from SD to LA is really interesting. Didn't actually go north of LA, which is a shame.
In terms of LA, the Getty museum is worth a visit, as is the Petersen museum if you are interested in cars, as is the California Science Center (they have the Space Shuttle Endeavour), as well as all the obvious LA sights..!
I wasn't particularly interested in Las Vegas, so I went to Palm Springs instead. Really worth a visit, very cool mid-century style houses (Frank Sinatra and Elvis had a holiday home there!) Lots of very, very cool hotels and motels plus a few bars and restaurants.
If I went back, I'd definitely try and explore some of the national parks (Joshua Tree, Sequoia National Forest up to Yosemite) as well as San Fran.
Hope that helps!
In terms of LA, the Getty museum is worth a visit, as is the Petersen museum if you are interested in cars, as is the California Science Center (they have the Space Shuttle Endeavour), as well as all the obvious LA sights..!
I wasn't particularly interested in Las Vegas, so I went to Palm Springs instead. Really worth a visit, very cool mid-century style houses (Frank Sinatra and Elvis had a holiday home there!) Lots of very, very cool hotels and motels plus a few bars and restaurants.
If I went back, I'd definitely try and explore some of the national parks (Joshua Tree, Sequoia National Forest up to Yosemite) as well as San Fran.
Hope that helps!
cRaigAl205 said:
I did something similar, although in less time. Massive vote for San Diego- a real hidden gem of the States in my opinion. I actually preferred it to LA and wish I'd spent more time there. USS Midway is definitely worth a trip! The coast drive up from SD to LA is really interesting. Didn't actually go north of LA, which is a shame.
In terms of LA, the Getty museum is worth a visit, as is the Petersen museum if you are interested in cars, as is the California Science Center (they have the Space Shuttle Endeavour), as well as all the obvious LA sights..!
I wasn't particularly interested in Las Vegas, so I went to Palm Springs instead. Really worth a visit, very cool mid-century style houses (Frank Sinatra and Elvis had a holiday home there!) Lots of very, very cool hotels and motels plus a few bars and restaurants.
If I went back, I'd definitely try and explore some of the national parks (Joshua Tree, Sequoia National Forest up to Yosemite) as well as San Fran.
Hope that helps!
Thanks, taken note of some of these, very helpful In terms of LA, the Getty museum is worth a visit, as is the Petersen museum if you are interested in cars, as is the California Science Center (they have the Space Shuttle Endeavour), as well as all the obvious LA sights..!
I wasn't particularly interested in Las Vegas, so I went to Palm Springs instead. Really worth a visit, very cool mid-century style houses (Frank Sinatra and Elvis had a holiday home there!) Lots of very, very cool hotels and motels plus a few bars and restaurants.
If I went back, I'd definitely try and explore some of the national parks (Joshua Tree, Sequoia National Forest up to Yosemite) as well as San Fran.
Hope that helps!
Edited by scz4 on Monday 1st June 10:36
If you're headed for the Grand Canyon be aware that the West Rim is not part of the national park, there are various viewing areas on both north and south rim within the park. Some suggest that the west rim is a bit of a tourist trap and "not the real canyon" - but it is in easy reach from Vegas, the park is a few hours further on.
If you're over that way consider visiting the Hoover Dam & Boulder City, you can get tours to take you from Vegas, Aside from the dam itself there is also a museum downtown.
If in LA there's the Petersen museum. There is also a museum for the famed Lions dragstrip, only open a couple of days a week https://lionsautomobilia.org/ NHRA museum in Pomona https://nhramuseum.org/
Donut derelicts meet/cruise in on Saturday mornings, you need to be early though, its done by 9am.
9015 Adams Avenue, Huntington Beach, CA 92646
You can visit the Queen Mary down at Long Beach.
The beaches from Long Beach down through Huntington, Laguna, Newport etc are quite nice to cruise down on the way to San Diego.
If you're over that way consider visiting the Hoover Dam & Boulder City, you can get tours to take you from Vegas, Aside from the dam itself there is also a museum downtown.
If in LA there's the Petersen museum. There is also a museum for the famed Lions dragstrip, only open a couple of days a week https://lionsautomobilia.org/ NHRA museum in Pomona https://nhramuseum.org/
Donut derelicts meet/cruise in on Saturday mornings, you need to be early though, its done by 9am.
9015 Adams Avenue, Huntington Beach, CA 92646
You can visit the Queen Mary down at Long Beach.
The beaches from Long Beach down through Huntington, Laguna, Newport etc are quite nice to cruise down on the way to San Diego.
We flew into Vegas and drove up to San Fransisco, down the coast to LA and back across the desert to LV
And, like you, found it difficult to get a convertible or anything remotely interesting from the hire companies. If you hire a "Mustang (or similar)" they will probably "upgrade" you to some dull as ditchwater four door saloon with an anemic engine...
Anyway...
Vegas is good for a couple of nights. It's an experience that you don't get anywhere else.
San Francisco was great, but i understand it isn't quite as safe and friendly as it used to be these days. But it has loads of history and interesting stuff.
Hurst Castle was a strange place but really interesting to see how the other half lived in the early 20th century. Easy to spend a day or two exploring it, as it is huge.
Whale watching all the way down the PC Highway
Didn't like LA: big, busy and intimidating. Smelly, huge roads, hot, terrible architecture...really didn't like it
And, like you, found it difficult to get a convertible or anything remotely interesting from the hire companies. If you hire a "Mustang (or similar)" they will probably "upgrade" you to some dull as ditchwater four door saloon with an anemic engine...
Anyway...
Vegas is good for a couple of nights. It's an experience that you don't get anywhere else.
San Francisco was great, but i understand it isn't quite as safe and friendly as it used to be these days. But it has loads of history and interesting stuff.
Hurst Castle was a strange place but really interesting to see how the other half lived in the early 20th century. Easy to spend a day or two exploring it, as it is huge.
Whale watching all the way down the PC Highway
Didn't like LA: big, busy and intimidating. Smelly, huge roads, hot, terrible architecture...really didn't like it
If you are staying in LA I'd recommend Hermosa Beach, it's 10 miles from LAX and has such a good vibe, pier, surfers, boardwalk, lots of bars, restaurants etc. You mentioned Disney understandably, but I'd go to a movie studio tour also. Universal is a mix of theme park and back lot tours, Paramount is purely back lot etc. I haven't done others so cannot comment.
I like San Fran but I believe it's gone downhill in recent years, if you've never been though I'd recommend it, just so you can relive some of the bullet car chases. Obviously get yourself to Alcatraz... but you would need to book that well in advance.
Ojai is lovely for a night, it's where A-list celebs have homes when they don't want to be in Beverley Hills.... I bumped into Charlize Theron there.
Lajolla is nice place to stay just outside of San Diego, mission beach also if you fancy a day sunbathing.
If you're heading up towards Yosemite then onwards to Vegas you will travel through Death Valley and the lowest point in the USA, worth stopping there and walking out onto the salt flats which is pretty eerie. I stayed in Lee Vining at a motel and visited mono lake, worth a look. But there are plenty of places to stay on that route, Mammoth, Bishop etc. If you do decide to head to Vegas through Death Valley make sure you have a full tank of fuel before setting off, there's literally nothing all the way to Vegas, it's pretty scary how remote you are and practically no-one else travelling on the road the few times I've done it.
HTH
I like San Fran but I believe it's gone downhill in recent years, if you've never been though I'd recommend it, just so you can relive some of the bullet car chases. Obviously get yourself to Alcatraz... but you would need to book that well in advance.
Ojai is lovely for a night, it's where A-list celebs have homes when they don't want to be in Beverley Hills.... I bumped into Charlize Theron there.
Lajolla is nice place to stay just outside of San Diego, mission beach also if you fancy a day sunbathing.
If you're heading up towards Yosemite then onwards to Vegas you will travel through Death Valley and the lowest point in the USA, worth stopping there and walking out onto the salt flats which is pretty eerie. I stayed in Lee Vining at a motel and visited mono lake, worth a look. But there are plenty of places to stay on that route, Mammoth, Bishop etc. If you do decide to head to Vegas through Death Valley make sure you have a full tank of fuel before setting off, there's literally nothing all the way to Vegas, it's pretty scary how remote you are and practically no-one else travelling on the road the few times I've done it.
HTH
LA is terrible, but iconic, so you'll probably want to tick off a few sights which we did in a one night stay (Hollywood/Venice Beach etc).
Yosemite/Death Valley/Las Vegas/Grand Canyon is a great loop (a helicopter from Vegas to the canyon is amazing and also cuts out some traveling if required).
San Fran and San Diego are both interesting, but depends how much driving you want to do.
I've done it three times and never once went for a convertible as if it's hot you'll have roof up for the a/c and be aware that many convertibles have tiny boots if you want the roof down.
Yosemite/Death Valley/Las Vegas/Grand Canyon is a great loop (a helicopter from Vegas to the canyon is amazing and also cuts out some traveling if required).
San Fran and San Diego are both interesting, but depends how much driving you want to do.
I've done it three times and never once went for a convertible as if it's hot you'll have roof up for the a/c and be aware that many convertibles have tiny boots if you want the roof down.
If, on the way from or to the airport, you happen to be in LA on a Friday night, stay at the Tangerine hotel in Burbank, walk 5 minutes round the corner to Bobs Big Boys diner for the car meet which Jay Leno is known to turn up at.
It's also walking distance from Warner Brothers if you want to do the studio tour, has a highly rated Mexican restaurant next door, free parking and breakfast is available in the form of Cuban pastries from an excellent bakery.
It's also walking distance from Warner Brothers if you want to do the studio tour, has a highly rated Mexican restaurant next door, free parking and breakfast is available in the form of Cuban pastries from an excellent bakery.
Yosemite is stunning, especially if you get out of the valley into the trails (though the Valley really is iconic). Getting up close to El Capitan and spotting the climbers and realizing just how big that rock face is......wow !! A really good 1 day hike is Mist Trail > Mist Falls > Nevada Falls and back down the John Muir Trail. I think it was 8 or 9 miles in total. Need to be reasonably fit. The granite staircase is a bit of a slog but the views are amazing. I think we set off at 8.30am and were back at the car by 3pm. We took a packed lunch with us & plenty of water.
If you head to Sequoia, as others have said the dark skies are stunning (big stump car park is a good spot later in the evening). As well as the big trees, head to Moro Rock for some great views to the South of the range. The drive to Roads End in Kings Canyon is epic with a few good trails at the end into the wilderness too (Mist Falls from roads end is about an 8 mile round trip)
If you head to Sequoia, as others have said the dark skies are stunning (big stump car park is a good spot later in the evening). As well as the big trees, head to Moro Rock for some great views to the South of the range. The drive to Roads End in Kings Canyon is epic with a few good trails at the end into the wilderness too (Mist Falls from roads end is about an 8 mile round trip)
If you go to the Petersen remember to book the Vault as well, it has some amazing vehicles down there. The only other things I'd add is Universal and Warner Bros Studio VIP tours are really good if you're into movies, a trail ride from Sunset Ranch in Griffiths Park is great for views over the Valley and the Hollywood Sign and the Getty Centre is a really nice visit if you fancy a bit of culture and peaceful afternoon tea/coffee.
Oh, and a great way to see the beach is to rent a couple of bikes from Santa Monica Pier and ride down to Marina Del Rey and back, lot of shops and food outlets along the way and a nice way to see LA beach culture for a couple of hours.
Disney is best done if you're staying on site, or at least in Anaheim and you'll need at least a day for each park. It can take 1-2 hours or more to get there from anywhere north or west of downtown if the traffic is bad.
If you're going through Yosemite and want to stay in the Valley you need to check availability as soon as possible as they get booked up months in advance. Also check if you need to book an entrance slot to get into the park on the NP service web site. Without a booking you may not get in.
Las Vegas has turned into a bit of an expensive toilet since Covid but does have some amazing Cirque shows. We went to see Mad Apple last year and it is completely different to all the others. Well worth a night.
There's not a lot in San Diego except the zoo which is really good, Seaworld and Legoland are both nearby if that's of interest. The automotive and Air & Space Museums are okay if you have time. You could always pop over the border to Tijuana but be prepared for a long wait coming back if it's busy and check that the rental insurance allows you to go there as well if driving.
For future reference we've done Route 66 twice and you'll need at least 3 weeks to do it justice and nearer 4 if you go off piste to the Grand Canyon etc.
Oh, and a great way to see the beach is to rent a couple of bikes from Santa Monica Pier and ride down to Marina Del Rey and back, lot of shops and food outlets along the way and a nice way to see LA beach culture for a couple of hours.
Disney is best done if you're staying on site, or at least in Anaheim and you'll need at least a day for each park. It can take 1-2 hours or more to get there from anywhere north or west of downtown if the traffic is bad.
If you're going through Yosemite and want to stay in the Valley you need to check availability as soon as possible as they get booked up months in advance. Also check if you need to book an entrance slot to get into the park on the NP service web site. Without a booking you may not get in.
Las Vegas has turned into a bit of an expensive toilet since Covid but does have some amazing Cirque shows. We went to see Mad Apple last year and it is completely different to all the others. Well worth a night.
There's not a lot in San Diego except the zoo which is really good, Seaworld and Legoland are both nearby if that's of interest. The automotive and Air & Space Museums are okay if you have time. You could always pop over the border to Tijuana but be prepared for a long wait coming back if it's busy and check that the rental insurance allows you to go there as well if driving.
For future reference we've done Route 66 twice and you'll need at least 3 weeks to do it justice and nearer 4 if you go off piste to the Grand Canyon etc.
Edited by Voodoo Blue on Wednesday 3rd June 19:48
scz4 said:
Added Palm Springs.
A 'hidden gem' that not many foreign tourists visit, but it's a really lovely areato spend a day or two.
If you have time, do this:
https://pstramway.com/
+1 for USS Medway, though otherwise we were slightly disappointed by San Diego
Pismo Beach is a lovely small beach town (near Hurst Castle, which we really enjoyed) and about halfway between LA and SanFran, if you can spare it then 1 or 2 nights here would be a great mid-holiday break from travelling
If you’re as far north as SanFran then the Winchester Mystery House (San Jose) is incredible and worth a visit en-route, with a crazy back-story of the widowed heiress to the Winchester Arms fortune believing that the spirits of people killed by Winchester rifles were seeking revenge, and that the only way to stay alive was to continuously expand her house without any plans , which went on for about 40 years!
Pismo Beach is a lovely small beach town (near Hurst Castle, which we really enjoyed) and about halfway between LA and SanFran, if you can spare it then 1 or 2 nights here would be a great mid-holiday break from travelling
If you’re as far north as SanFran then the Winchester Mystery House (San Jose) is incredible and worth a visit en-route, with a crazy back-story of the widowed heiress to the Winchester Arms fortune believing that the spirits of people killed by Winchester rifles were seeking revenge, and that the only way to stay alive was to continuously expand her house without any plans , which went on for about 40 years!
I’ve done quite a few US road trips over the years, but my favourite is still flying into Las Vegas and heading north through Lee Vining and Yosemite, then across to San Francisco. From there, driving down Highway 1 to LA is hard to beat, with stops in Monterey and San Luis Obispo, a few nights in Santa Barbara, and a visit to Hearst Castle along the way. Fantastic scenery, great roads, and a real mix of landscapes and towns.
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