San Francisco, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles

[peachygirl]

We're off to these three very soon looking for any tips/ must do/sees recommendations

Thanks everyone I just remembered this thread might still be going,
so far we have booked alcatraz and a tour of SF, planned the trip to the Nixon place. We are about to book a concert at the Hollywood Bowl and wanrner bros studios, in one of the parks in marina del rey where our LA hotel is there is a free classical concert on the thursday night!!
we are staying in the stratosphere and will sort out the grand canyon when we get there!
Thanks all for tips good luck to everyone else planning trips

sorry if I repeat anything already posted - have not read other messages.

Hated LA - smoggy, smelly busy sprawly etc. But did Knotts berry farm, disneyland, day trip to Tijuana and Universal Studios

San Francisco - loved - fisherman's wharf, alcatraz, walked across the golden gate bridge, Union Squarte, trolley ride, lombard street - steepest and bendiest from memory.

I love San Fran, there is lots to see and do there. Obvious things like Alcatraz, Golden Gate Bridge. The shops are lovely, I prefer shopping in SF then NYC. Why not take a trip to Berkley, that's quite nice v studenty and hip.

We then drove down to LA, and tbh I couldn't stand the place. Far too smoggy and just not my kind of thing. It is absolutely huge so if you do decide to do the theme parks be prepared that Anaheim is quite a way out of Los Angeles. I think someone mentioned it is made up of lots of little places which is true. For somewhere really nice visit Santa Barbara which is a cpl of hours drive north of LA, it is lovely. Or if you have got time make a trip down to San Diego which is gorgeous.

Las Vegas> great place for a couple of days. I am off there again in a cpl of weeks. It is a laugh, lots of entertainment shows for both adults and children. the Venetian hotel simulates Venice, and you can take a trip on a Gondola through the hotel. There is also the white tigers and the siegfried and roy show which will keep you all entertained! There are lots of free things the dancng fountains at the Bellagio, erupting Volcanoes.

Have a great time

San Fran is very nice but if you want something a little slower paced and pretty try the wine country, Sonoma and Napa Valleys. You can visit most of the wineries and there are tours and food in most of them. And even though you can't drink while pregnate you can still bring some bottles home. Sonoma is a lovely little town with great shops one of my favorite places in all of northern california. There are tours that you can book from san fran as well that take you there by bus or by limo. And the autumn is one of the best times of year there as that is when wine making kicks into gear and you can watch them make it.

Another great place to visit is Bodega bay, its got some lovely beaches, not just the place they filmed the birds, and Goonies! A couple of pretty good fish and chips places. an ex-californian in Derbyshire.