Really want to go to the California coast but really don’t want to drive

[TheMotherChip]

Currently looking into options for a California holiday. Teen kids would like to do Disney, Universal and see the sights of Hollywood. I’d like to see San Francisco and some of the lovely typically Californian beach towns.
To do this we would need to move around but I’d be terrified about driving as I’ve never driven before. I like to relax on holiday and driving just isn’t for me. Nearly all the holidays seem to be fly-drives though.
What are my best options for getting around? I’ve looked at coach trips but don’t think kids would want to be stuck on a coach with strangers for lots of hours. Maybe train or boat is an option but I can’t find much information online. I did think about flying into LA and home from SF but this seems to be much more expensive than travelling to and from the same airport.
Can anyone help with an itinerary also? Best place to start and things to see and do in the area which we shouldn’t miss.

i have driven before, should have read never driven ABROAD before

Have you seen the Coast Starlight train? Michael Portillo did a programmme on this and it looked great.

Driving in the US is easy.

I wouldn’t get the Greyhound bus, you will end up in someone’s basement.

We stayed in Anaheim and walked to the Disney parks or used the shuttle buses.
We also did a coach trip to Tijuana and sea world.long day but well worth it.

I am planning a trip next year to the US and have been looking at trains to get around (I really don't fancy driving out there). As Nico says, the Coast Starlight might work well for you. I'm also looking at the California Zephyr which goes from San Francisco area to Chicago. The scenery on the CZ, particularly west of Denver is meant to be amazing. If you look at the Amtrak website and select Destinations and then See All Routes, you can see all of the main lines listed. Pacific Surfliner might also be interesting - that's further down on the west coast. You can get a 15 day rail pass which allows you 8 segments (trips) which might work out cheaper if you want to use the train a lot. I'm pretty sure one of those trains stops at Anaheim.

Re: flights, I also thought it was very expensive to fly into one city and out of another until I realised that I should be selecting "Multi-City" rather than "One Way" on the website - perhaps you have done the same?

The other thing I have done today is looked at the USA brochure on the Trailfinders website (you can view it online). There are loads of different holidays, including some rail ones and, while none of them were exactly what we wanted, it did give me some ideas.

Thank you for the suggestions, I’ve googled the Cosst Starlight and it looks amazing, definitely one for the bucket list.
I’ve tried searching for Multi city flights but they are still twice the price. Annoyingly if I search for indirect flights to LA, I could fly to San Francisco, then change to a short flight to LA, then fly back directly from LA. On the date I searched this was less than half the price of flying to San Francisco and then coming back from LA. I’m wondering if I could book the first option and then after I’ve got the tickets let the airline know that I’ll be staying in San Francisco and not getting on the short flight to LA? It seems so ridiculous!
Trains are looking like a pretty good option, I didn’t realise Anaheim had train links with places like Santa Monica. Need to do some more research!

The train doesn’t do highway 1 though. You miss the best!

Also Hollywood Boulevard is grubby. There are much nicer places to see in LA than a chewing gum littered street!

Hey,

I drove abroad for the first time last year, in California. I was terrified beforehand and asked people for advice and actually felt quite frustrated at people's responses which was "driving in the US is easy, you'll be fine", but actually it really was fine!!! I drove around LA, then out to San Bernadino Forest (the highways were ace, so many lanes) and back.

I know you said you don't want to drive but your trip would be much easier if you did.

(Sorry if this is a hugely unhelpful post as you don't want to drive!)

Your trip sounds ace, we're going to San Francisco next year so I'm on a huge California research project at the moment!

What specifically makes you not fancy driving?
Lots of things about driving in the US are easier, particularly when outside the biggest cities. Motorways (freeways) are huge, wide, much less speeding and overtaking than the UK. Parking is easy, the spaces are gigantic, no squeezing to get in a tight space like here.
I’d be inclined to go to SF, rent a car on your way out of town, drive south, return the car when you arrive in LA. So no city driving with trickier navigation, just drive the easy bits.

PCH needs to be done by car

My DB did an organised coach tour thing for 3 weeks but probably wouldn't be that great for teens.

Driving in the US is MUCH easier than in the UK. The roads are really wide, there are fewer cars, parking spaces are massive and they're not allowed to go as fast as we do. I used to freak out watching American movies where the driver would be chatting away and not watching the road giving me massive anxiety, but after driving in San Francisco out along the sea I can see why they can pay less attention. I know you're nervous but honestly get an automatic and take it slow to start and you'll be fine.

I wouldn't be too worried about flying out of different cities. In my experience, it doesn't add to the overall cost and at times, there can even be good deals that way.
In terms of trains connecting places like Anaheim and Santa Monica - the LA area has a public transport system that, particularly for places tourists want to go, is quite good. It's seen as this entirely car-centric place, but they've really been spending on public transportation infrastructure in recent years, and the system has greatly expanded.
In terms of trains between LA and San Francisco - it's a long journey, but it's easy to break it up. In addition to the Coast Starlight Train, check out the Pacific Surfliner. It from Southern California it only goes as far as San Luis Obispo, but it's easier to use as multiple trains run every day. (The Surfliner is the overnight train through to Seattle and just runs once a day.) A stop in a place like San Luis Obispo would be a nice way to break up a trip between the major coastal cities.

Sorry, I meant the Coast Starlight is the overnight train through to Seattle and just runs once a day.

We did California without a car last year as aaa family of 5 using large Ubers. We stayed 6 nights in Hollywood and 4 nights in Manhattan Beach. Explored Universal, Warner bros and the other touristy bits from the Hollywood base, then visited Venice Beach and Santa Monica from MB. Hermosa is also cycling distance from MB. We spent about £450 on Ubers but we visited lots of places and it would be cheaper if a family of 4 as you could book regular Ubers. No worries about finding parking, parking costs etc. It was great!

May have been difficult to do Disney/Anaheim though,

I'd like to do California with DD, she'll be 16 so wouldn't like a coach trip and doesn't like too much touring around, so I was thinking we'd fly into San Francisco, have a few days there, get a hire car delivered to the hotel and then head off down the coast, a couple of stops for two nights each and then end up in Anaheim, dropping the car off at the hotel. We're happy to use Ubers or buses to get around locally, and then fly home from LAX.

I'd like to drive the Pacific Coast Highway but I'm really not keen on city driving having seen huge multi lane intersections in Orlando. The big question for me is use a tour company to make the bookings or DIY?