Another question about travelling around California!
 

Help needed again please!! We have decided that we would like to travel through a National Park when we are over for 2 week holiday in March. Our Itinerary so far is as follows:
Arrive early hours 14th March - Stay in Hotel at LAX
Morning 14th - collect hire car and head to Hotel/sights of LA
Staying in LA until night of 18th, then heading to San Diego for 2 nights/days.
Leave San Diego on the evening of 20th heading North towards San francisco.

Thats it so far, apart from the fact that we have hotel booked for 24th - 27th March in San francisco so we need to be there for evening 24th.

So the question is, basically, what to do with the days/nights between pm 20th to pm 24th?? Any suggestions welcome - we would like to visit Yosemite, but are not sure if it will keep us occupied for 3 days with 5 year old.
Also, suggestions of where to stopover on route would also be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks in anticipation of your responses! :D

Re: Another question about travelling around California!
 

I know you have a 5 yrs old but there is the Napa Valley you could go see the vine yards they cater for familys and the kids have large play areas etc..a trip to carmel valley monterrey for picnics,what about Disney!

Re: Another question about travelling around California!
 

Hi,
we intend to do Disney, Universal, Seaworld, San Diego Zoo etc whilst in the first week and in that area. Its just the in between time we are trying to make sure that we cover as much as possible and get the best mix of California - it feels like we will have to compromise somewhere ie. heading inland instead of Coast Road due to time restraints, but I'm just concerned that heading inland towards National parks won't fill our time enough - except for the driving which should take a while!!
C x

Re: Another question about travelling around California!
 

the Pacific coast highway, from LA to SF, is the best part IMO.

Re: Another question about travelling around California!
 

http://www.visitcalifornia.com/todo.php

If you got to travel Itineries there is a long list of what you could do on route.


Hope this helps! :)

Re: Another question about travelling around California!
 

My advice - spend as little time as possible in LA, an extra day in San Diego, hit Yosemite for a few days and spend the rest of the time in San Francisco and surounding area, or in Napa.

On the PCH drive San Luis Opisbo is a nice place to stop off if you want nice shops and architecture, if you prefer nature then you should stop in Monterey where you can either go to the Aquarium, or better...take a boat out to see the Whales, pretty much all year round you'll see something but it's best to go on the early morning trip rather than the afternoon one.

Re: Another question about travelling around California!
 

Don't feel like we can spend less time in LA as our little boy has mapped out lots of things he wants to do, and its his birthday whilst we are there!
If we go up Coast Road to Monterey then isn't it a bit of a trek over to Yosemite??
C x

Re: Another question about travelling around California!
 

Check out this site. This guy traveled to Yosemite from SD in March.
SD to Yosemite in March

Re: Another question about travelling around California!
 

Whatever you decide to do - make sure you visit the Monterey Aquarium. Not only your son, but you too will enjoy it.

Re: Another question about travelling around California!
 

There are things to do in and around LA, Universal Studios, La Brea Tar Pits, Olvera Street, lots of museums.....you could probably spend more than a couple of days there.

Going North, definitely head up Pacific Coast Hwy. You could probably spend a day at Hearst Castle and then Monterey, as someone has suggested......it is just beautiful along there - so don't hurry. Take time to explore. Have fun! :)

Re: Another question about travelling around California!
 

I think you're going to need a holiday to recuperate from this holiday!

Re: Another question about travelling around California!
 

Monterey Aquarium is reinventing their children's area currently so if you go , as suggested, the kids will have a great time in the area being expanded to almost double in size.

Re: Another question about travelling around California!
 

Yeah go north and pull up at 6 flags Magic Mountain. That will keep you busy for a few days!

Don't forget to stop off at Knox's Berry Farm and take the kiddies to see Camp Snoopy in Buena Park.;)

Re: Another question about travelling around California!
 

The Wife & myself have just been to Yosemite in September and I think that if you can get enough access to the park, spending 3 days there will not be a problem.

That said, I think it's a bit too early in the year - as you can see from the blog link there tends to be a noticeable amount of snow left and I think most of the higher regions of the park will not be accessible at that time of year. CA120 will almost certainly be closed still... I'm usually in Silicon Valley for a conference in March and every time we wanted to go, we postponed the trip because of the weather.

Another alternative would be to go up the coast further to Eureka and spend some time in Redwood National Park. It's quite spectacular if you can live with the very 'British' climate :D up there.

And as it's been said down there, if you do like driving on a great road (as opposed to viewing the car as mere transport), do take the Pacific Coast Highway in at least one direction.