To skip LA even though DD has her heart set on it?

[DragonessOfFlagstaff]

We're doing a USA road trip in a few weeks. SanFrancisco to Utah. We were originally going to do San Fran - Vegas and LA and DD had her heart set on LA, universal studios, Malibu etc but honestly, LA is such a shit hole I really don't want to go so we've decided to skip LA and just do San Fran-Vegas-Utah and then back to SF. DD doesn't know yet and my mum thinks im being cruel making DD do a number of "boring" destinations and skipping the biggest thing she was looking forward to but it's such a shit hole I don't think she'd enjoy it anyway! AIBU to just call rank and knock it off the trip?

In this house the adults who are paying and driving set the final itinerary. Sure we may discuss options and every one is encouraged to give opinions but ultimately DH and I decide.

I would definitely miss Las Vegas, I’ve never been to LA but Las Vegas is a hell hole imo, LA must have more age appropriate activities for her, I never want to go back to Vegas.

Are you driving all the way. Which route are you taking?

We didn't find LA a shit-hole at all. We stayed in a lovely hotel in North Hollywood close to Universal. Had a lovely outdoor pool and they showed films on an outdoor screen in the evening.

OP, I'm sure you can find a nice part of LA to stay in and keep your dd happy.

Really mean to cancel if she wants to go there, and all of LA and the surrounding areas are not shit holes.

Why don't you go up to the observatory and have a picnic and watch the sunset? Take her rollerblading or biking down Santa Monica promenade down to Venice Beach? Universal or Disney for a day? Hike up the beautiful mountains up to the Hollywood sign? Home of the Stars tour (bit rubbish but great for a youngster into that kind of thing!)? Malibu beach with a stop for lunch at Dukes? Shopping at one of the Outlets? A studio tour?

There's so many great things to do!

YABU and somewhat selfish.
It’s your daughters holiday too and while you may think LA is a dump your dd might love it.
My parents took me on a road trip of the western seaboard when I was 16 and I was desperate to go to Santa Cruz because lost boys had been filmed there. My uncle who was with us was totally against it because it was a dump and too far out of the way.
We went because my dad said we’d already travelled thousands of miles, a hundred or so wouldn’t make a difference. It was a dump- I absolutely loved it! And had so much respect for my dad for arguing my case and taking us off the planned route for my benefit.

We stayed here:

www.thegarland.com/rooms

I did a similar road trip about 5 years ago. I didn’t do LA though for basically the same reasons you don’t wanna go. I don’t regret not going. I did go to Vegas though and while it was an experience, it’s not a place I’d want to go back to. I actually went a slightly different route through Colorado and New Mexico but I had done a separate road trip to Utah earlier that summer and that was by far my favourite individual destination - arches national park is stunning. Painted desert national park is pretty amazing too. The Grand Canyon is overrated in my opinion. Having said that though, if you can go to LA for a couple of days, it would probably make your DD very happy (for the whole trip) especially as it’s something you promised her.

Unless she’s really into drinking, gambling and strippers I would skip Vegas and take her to Universal Studios, it’s really brilliant fun.

How old is your daughter

I would skip Las Vegas drive is long and boring and it isn’t a place for children there a a few things for them but really it’s an adult playground

Universal Studios is fantastic and you can do the sights in one day in LA no need to spend too long there

My teen dc loved LA, Warner bros, Universal, Holywoid sign, Observatory, chinese theatre.

And the observatory is really nice go at night it’s cooled down and the views are wonderful the grime of LA is hidden from that far up

I didn't like LA either but I would recommend everyone visit if they are doing a road trip that way anyway!

I remember being so obsessed when I was younger of what I though LA was like, I'd be so upset if my parents did this so yes I do think YABU. Can't you just got for a few nights, perhaps stay further out somewhere nicer and day trip in to see the main sites?

YABU. I don't see how LA is a shithole - Venice Beach, Rodeo Drive, Santa Monica Pier, the Hollywood sign and Beverly Hills to name a few things are all worth visiting. I'd visit LA ten times before you could drag me to Vegas once.

I've spent a lot of time in Southern California and although some parts of LA are not nice at all there are loads of lovely places. Universal studios is a must, a day in Disneyland is sure to delight, see the Hollywood sign and the stars at the Chinese Theatre, look at the beautiful people on Rodeo Drive. I can see why a young girl would want to go.

I've been to Vegas a few times, far more seedy and less to do unless you are taking her to a show in the evening. The scale of the hotels is amazing but as a child/teen there will likely be far more she would be interested in in LA. Sorry, that's not what you want to hear but it would be such a shame for her to miss out after going all that way.

We didn't find LA to be particularly grim - like any big cities there's places you'd stay out of but some of it was really nice.

I disagree with the Vegas haters; we went over new year with DD (7) and she loved it. And neither of us gamble at all. We had a great time.

LA really isn't all a shithole. Santa Monica is just lovely, and there is so much more to it than the grime. I would hate to live there, but there is so much that would make for a memorable holiday.

Conversely I cannot for the life of me think why you'd want to visit Las Vegas, unless you could jet in, gawp at the madness and jet out again.

I don’t hate LV

It’s just not a place I would take ds it’s not for children just some hotels wanting more money have made a seedy place seem family friendly been there plenty of time (from LA and once from SF) the drive is long and dull

Far more for children to enjoy in LA and just the experience is being there

YABU. On both counts really. Firstly if you've promised her it, it's a bit mean not to go. Secondly, you can't really call the whole of LA a shithole. We went on our honeymoon and heard this from a lot of people, what they really mean is that downtown Hollywood is a shithole, and that I would agree. But the beaches and some other parts are amazing and it is on my list to revisit at some point. Oh, on the other hand, we really didn't 'get' Las Vegas and wouldn't be in a hurry to go back.

I agree with the majority here - a family holiday is supposed to be for the whole family, and that does, on occasion, mean doing things that you don't want to do, because your kids/other family members do.

I have lost count of the hours I have spent looking round railway museums, power stations, preserved railways and industrial archeology because the dses and dh enjoyed these things - and they have equally spent time doing the things I want - stately homes, castles, second hand bookshops.

Of course, it is easier if everyone agrees - but in a family, people are going to like different things, and it is a bit unfair to leave out something that is really important to one family member, whilst leaving in all the things that you enjoy.

Sorry, @DragonessOfFlagstaff, but I think you have to suck it up, and spend some time in LA, for the sake of your dd.

We're holiday twins! I'm doing v similar and we also agreed to skip LA.

Have you spoken to your DD about what she wants from LA? If it's the beachy glamour side why not have a quick stop somewhere like Santa Cruz or Monterey? And if it's the theme parks can you do Disneyland and just avoid LA specifically?

Take to LA and Vegas. It wouldn't be fair on her to leave out LA just because you don't fancy it. Vegas can be fun for children too, there's Circus, Circus Adventure Dome, M and M's World, the light show down town, and the Coca Cola store. She might enjoy playing Bingo too.

OP you’ve just posted another thread about your daughter not making friends and being a bit of a loner.

In that case I would be doing DAMN sure to make sure she enjoyed her family time.

She’s looking forward to LA. Do LA

Yep have been to LA (as in airport and then gone out) a few times and only on the first time did we go anywhere near downtown LA!

Its so massive I agree find out what bits she would like

Of course you have to do the one thing your Dd wants to do, or you’re just basically saying she’s completely unimportant