We are off to California!!

[shesariver]

After many hours research and lots of help from fellow Mumsnetters on my previous thread now cant quite believe that we are all booked up (through Trailfinders) so thanks again!

Final Itinerary worked out - we fly out from Glasgow next August 31st and spend 2 nights in New York, and then fly onto California.

4 nights San Francisco, then pick up a car - 1 night Monterey - 1 night in Santa Barbara (at a lovely hotel right across from the beach) - 4 nights Los Angeles - and last but not least 4 nights in an ocean front room in a hotel on Laguna Beach!

Now we can start planning all we want to do!

We are going in less than three weeks. V excited. Have booked accommodation but not Alcatraz yet - who did you book your trip with. How long does it take? We are in SF for three nights and I can't decide if I want to go or would I rather hang out in the city - ride on some cable cars, cycle over Golden Gate Bridge. We are staying in Fishermans Wharf though which would be handy to catch a boat.

I think it's only Alcatraz cruises that actually land on the island. The others just drive past and look.
We went last August - peak season I know but BOOK IN ADVANCE!!! We happened to pick about the last tour with free places on the day we wanted around 3 weeks in advance. That was online and I think they keep some back for other avenues but, when we arrived on the day to collect ours, there was a billboard stating that there were no more tickets available (for people who hadn't already booked) for 8 days.

Is it worth it? Did you love the tour or was it a tourist nightmare?

Re: how long does it take - depends how fast you walk round! The headphone tour is fantastic - very interesting. Boat trip is around 15 minutes each way (fab views of the city).
Be warned, it can be chuffin' cold over there!

Thanks so much - this is exactly what I need to know before booking. DH v keen - I'm not sure if the DVD will love it (12 and 10).

Loved it! Even world-weary teenage kids did too.

DVD - dc obviously! Blooming predictive text!

(Kids: 16 and 14)

If you get time, the Academy of Science museum (Golden Gate Park) is fabulous. Great exhibits about earthquakes and a multi-level Eden project type thing.
We drove over GG bridge several times to Sausolito, and had lunch at a fab harbour restaurant in Tiburon (Sam Anchor's Café)

So excited, for me its 10 weeks and 2 days!

Similar to you rubyruby we have 2 nights in New York first, realistically only 1 day and a bit...DH is now wishing we had longer! Our hotel has a pool on the roof so I quite fancy letting DH run about ragged with the boys sightseeing whilst I sit by the pool sipping cocktails

We booked our holiday through Trailfinders who also booked the Alcatraz trip at the time. We have bought Hollywood Universal tickets but thats about it.

rednats we have ideas planned, so far we have hired a car for a day whilst in SF so we can drive over the GG Bridge up to Bodega Bay (where Hitchcocks The Birds was filmed). Lots of other things to visit regarding film locations as DH is a HUGE film fan, apart from the usual touristy stuff in Hollywood so far we are going to Pasadena to see the houses used for the locations in Back to the Future, also DS2s favourite film.

Thanks for link reggiebean, will check it out, and thanks everyone for tips!

Ruby wow what an itinetary. I love how much time you've allocated to the coastal part. You'll get to experience so much. Our trip is a bit more rushed I think.
For San Francisco We're Staying at fishermans wharf. We've decided against Alcatraz. I think the kids are too you g 8,6&4. I think we're going to do a tour the first day including muir woods and Sausalito. Then we'll get the ferry back. The next day I plan to do the exploratorium, explore the areas we want to spend more time in from the tour on the previous day then at Ds request we're going to AT&T park to see the giants baseball. The next day we pick up a car and go off to Yosemite.

Anyone bought/buying a citypass for san francisco? Only there for 4 nights, one trip to Alcatraz booked. Nearly $500 for 5 of us, Monterey Bay aquarium tickets would be used and bay 1 hour cruise. But based in apartment near the waterfront so not sure if we will use the muni transport much?? Thought the exploratorium looks good but may run out of time? Probably talking myself out of it now!!

Right - just booked for Alcatraz (when website asked how did you hear about us I typed in mumsnet!). Next question - what about Hearst Castle? Anyone been? Should we go? Do we need to book?

Hi! We are off on July 4th!

Flying into and out of Vegas. Itinerary as follows:

1 night Las Vegas
2 night Death Valley
1 night Sequoia
1 night Yosemite
3 nights San Francisco
1 night Monterey
1 night Carmel
2 nights Pismo Beach
2 nights LA - Universal
3 nights Simi Valley staying with family
Couple of nights free
2 nights Grand Canyon
2 nights Las Vegas

Just realising how much we will be living out of suitcases! Liking the sound of the 'fluff and fold' laundrettes!

Getting excited now. DH and I have been before but in winter. So cold in Vegas the fountains were frozen and we almost got snowed in at Yosemite.

Just been looking at the city pass and it seems good value. Would be going to Exploratorium and Monteray aquarium anyway and we want to go on cable cars etc.

Cider - Have fab time, we will be going to several of same places 3 weeks after you! Perhaps post how you get on??!! In SF we looked at the hop on hop off double decker 48 hour tours which may work out cheaper than city pass for us. So much info to take in about all the different places, the info on these forums have been great.

Lilian - Hearst castle is remarkable but we won't be returning this time as our kids (10 & 8) won't get it, will find it boring after 1st few mins and I will constantly be hissing "Don't TOUCH " at them!

We leave 30th July for SF, can't wait!

HI, we are off in only two weeks, so excited.
Got a few Q's to sort out, like parking for a week in SF, how and how much to tip, never driven an automatic before and any driving tips.

Las Vegas 2 nights
Williams/grand canyon 2 nights
Palm springs 1 night aerial tram up the mountain
santa barbara 1 night
cambria 1 night
monterey 1 night whale trip and aquarium
san fransisco 8 nights airbnb
yosemite 2 nights
death valley 1 night
Las vegas 2 nights

Tried to book online for At&t but just would not accept my uk address.
Originally wanted to get out of Vegas asap but now i have to admit to really looking forward to the glitz.
3 weeks in total

Ooo ruby it looks like I am doing a similar trip but in reverse.

Is Alcatraz really worth it? its just a prison and I have seen a lot of dungeons and prisons with the NT and always found it a bit hmmm.

Ummm it's looking a bit hot in California.
Getting a bit worried about the car breaking down in death valley and the whole family roasting.
Never experienced heat like that before, any tips?