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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

California holiday - Yosemite, Monterey, disney

54 replies

PrincessPopsicle · 04/08/2019 10:07

Hi, would really appreciate some planning help for Cali holiday.

We have 2 weeks. Fly to SF and stay for 4 nights, then 2 nights as yet undecided, 4 nights LA, 3 nights LV and final 2 nights undecided.

The 2x undecided were going to be Carmel/Monterey and Yosemite (in that order but now thinking may change this to avoid 7 hr drive from LV) but youngest has just asked if we are going to Disney. We weren’t planning to, but do have Universal and Warner Bros in mind for LA.

Does anyone have a view on where is good to stay in Yosemite - general location helpful (found nice hotel in Fish Camp?), we are 5, so accommodation isn’t always super easy. I think we’d like to see the main attractions there, but are not seasoned hikers (and I’m a little afraid of bears). I’m hoping we’ll find an organised tour to join (assuming they exist).

Also, anyone any thoughts on whether 2 nights is overkill (given how little time we have to play with) for Monterey etc. We would like to do whale watching and I’m told the aquarium is amazing. Could we nick a day from here to go to Disney and not suffer?

Any other tips on what not to miss while we’re SF/LA/LV and anywhere in between, would be fab. We fly at the weekend, so not much time to organise!

OP posts:
mummyrocks1 · 06/08/2019 08:31

Whiterose- sorry to jump on the thread, but where did you stay in SB? We are looking for either a hotel with a pool walkable to the beach and activities or an apartment with a shared pool.

mummyrocks1 · 06/08/2019 08:31

Whiterose- sorry to jump on the thread, but where did you stay in SB? We are looking for either a hotel with a pool walkable to the beach and activities or an apartment with a shared pool.

mummyrocks1 · 06/08/2019 08:31

Whiterose- sorry to jump on the thread, but where did you stay in SB? We are looking for either a hotel with a pool walkable to the beach and activities or an apartment with a shared pool.

PolkadotLollipop · 07/08/2019 21:54

Vegas is a great base for the Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon and has World class dining and shows (Cirque de Soleil, singers with residencies) but there is a real grim seediness to the city too what with the gambling and legal prostitution (semi naked women were leaning over me to pass DH & DS escort & lapdancing flyers in the streets during the daytime). Not ideal for little ones. It’s a big, grown ups playground. I’d go once for the Dam, Canyon, entertainment & top end restaurants but I wouldn’t take kids and I wouldn’t stay longer than a few days.

stucknoue · 07/08/2019 22:30

You can do the original Disney park in one day (we didn't bother with the other park) also see what's on at the Hollywood bowl. Death Valley is an interesting overnight stop between Vegas and la!

Original poster
PrincessPopsicle · 08/08/2019 06:55

Thank you all, I hadn’t realised folk had continued to post as I didn’t get notifications.

Our itinerary is now nailed on. There is a lot of driving, but it isn’t me behind the wheel and husband says he’s happy to do it to go to the places mentioned. I’m pretty flexible and would have been happy with a less comprehensive trip tbh.

It’s a shame that we may have over egged LV. I thought it would be great for the kids to see (youngest is 8, so not toddlers). It was the first place we booked so we’ve kind of planned everything else around it. We will be going to the dam, planning on one day on the strip. The plus side is, it’s the only place we’ve booked with a washing machine, so I’ll have plenty to do there, assuming drying clothes won’t be a prob in the desert!

Tips on Yosemite are fab. Thank you. Disappointed about Alcatraz. It just didn’t occur to me that folk would be so organised and book so far in advance! When I checked last it was fully booked to almost end of August!

OP posts:
Mustbetimeforachange · 08/08/2019 07:48

Yes, we missed out on Alcatraz when we went a couple of years ago as well, which I was very disappointed about. Yosemite is one of my favourite places, are you staying in the park? If not, you may queue for ages to get in each day. The only negative for us was the poor and very expensive good in Yosemite. Americans brought it all with them & had barbeques & enormous coolers full of food but of course we couldn't really do that & so spent a fortune on not-great food.

sandyfoot · 08/08/2019 08:01

Re Alcatraz. Try booking an open top bus tour that includes Alcatraz. That's what we did and it worked out great.

Someone asked about accommodation in Santa Barbara? El Capitan Canyon is fanbloodytastic. Kids would love it and so did the grown ups

Zoowolla · 08/08/2019 08:17

If it makes you feel better we didn't take our dc when the youngest was 8 - the audio tour is pretty intense in parts.

We were lucky enough to be back in SF when youngest was 10 and went to Alcatraz he loved it but said he would have found it scary before.

mummyrocks1 · 08/08/2019 21:58

Thanks sandy, looks amazing.

Stripyhoglets · 09/08/2019 22:49

We've just done similar - I think you've said you're all booked now but Yosemite is quite a drive from the coast so if you can change things do 2 nights there. We stayed just outside park gates/entrances and got in fine everyday. Parking in the village is usually full but you can park on edges and get shuttle buses around the park.

Igavebirthtoabanana · 13/08/2019 22:50

We are off to California on Thursday for 2 weeks!

First week we have an air b&b with a pool in San Diego, planning to mooch around and see the local sights as well as chill by the pool.

Then to Las Vegas for 3 nights, yes we have kids and yes, we still really want to go. We have the Blue Man Group show, Magic show and helicopter tour booked.

Last stop is Santa Monica for four nights. We've been to Disney and Universal in Orlando before and both left us bit meh so won't spend money on those this time. Would like to do the Warner Bros tour though.

2018SoFarSoGreat · 13/08/2019 23:19

for those of you going to Las Vegas, please try to see a Cirque du Soleil. They have 4 shows running most of the time, and all are spectacular. Literally breathtaking. I've taken 6, 7, 8 and 12 year olds at different times, and they have said it was one of their top things ever!

That would make a LV trip worthwhile, in my opinion.

Mustbetimeforachange · 14/08/2019 09:40

While I hated LV (&, oh, the heat!) I did love the Blue Man group show.

Jimjam68 · 15/08/2019 00:49

@mummyrocks1 I’m in Santa Barbara right now staying at the Harbor View Inn. It’s right opposite the beach and Stearns Wharf with a nice pool. The four of us are in a room with 2 double beds. It’s spacious enough.

California holiday - Yosemite, Monterey, disney
rabbitsandrhubarb · 19/08/2019 22:17

Any recommendations for accommodation just outside Yosemite? We are going in October, starting in San Francisco, then Carmel/Monterey then 2 or 3 nights Yosemite, then over to Napa and Sonoma, and back to San Francisco. Am really struggling with Yosemite accommodation - everything in the park is booked up or really expensive, and even outside the park it still looks quite expensive. Thinking of basing ourselves either Oakhurst, Groveland or Mariposa and driving in each day.

mummyrocks1 · 22/08/2019 21:38

Thanks Jimjam, will look it up.

Belindabelle · 23/08/2019 13:14

We stayed at Evergreen Lodge but I found the drive in and out each day a bit long. Very scenic though. Rush Creek is owned by the same company and is slightly nearer.

Vasya · 23/08/2019 13:25

The Monterey aquarium is absolutely fantastic, and the day I spent whale watching from Monterey is up there as one of the best experiences of my life. I genuinely cried.

Yosemite is absolutely a marvel - I wouldn't miss it. The mist trail is a good hike for beginners. It's steep in places but a very safe path, and even if you don't go all the way to the top you still get lots of good views along the way. You can park right at the base of the trail.

You're unlikely to see bears, especially on foot. The park is set up to keep you on established trails, where it's usually busy and noisy enough that bears would stay away.

mummyrocks1 · 23/08/2019 16:15

Belinda- we were looking at evergreen lodge. How far is the drive please? It looked like it was right by the walks, didn't realise it was a drive. We are going early June 2020, jhow far in advance do you have to book?

Belindabelle · 23/08/2019 16:36

Its at least an hours drive to Yosemite Valley from Evergreen Lodge.

When we were there I thought Yosemite View Lodge was in a better location for getting in and out of the village. No idea what its like though.

Evergreen was lovely but just a bit too far away for my liking.

Belindabelle · 23/08/2019 16:51

I would book your Yosemite accommodation asap. We were not sure of our exact itinerary so I held off and was lucky to get Evergreen Lodge. I never told DH how much it cost!

Next time we go I want to stay in the Ahwahnee. I better start saving.

mummyrocks1 · 23/08/2019 20:17

Yes, looked lovely but going to look elsewhere. Our dcs are still small and don't want an hour drive each day there and back

Mustbetimeforachange · 23/08/2019 21:19

If you are booking that far ahead, stay in the park.

mummyrocks1 · 23/08/2019 22:45

Any suggestions please?