Please talk to me about California ...

[zafferana]

We're planning to go to California for 14 nights in summer 2021. Our two boys will be 13 and 10. I haven't been to CA for a while and we've never taken our DC, although they're familiar with the east coast. This is our itinerary and we'll by flying to/from San Francisco:

San Francisco and Marin County (3 nights)
Yosemite (2 nights)
Death Valley (1 night)
Santa Monica/Venice Beach for visiting LA (4 nights)
Pismo Beach/Morro Bay (1 night)
Monterey (2 nights)
San Francisco (1 night)

Our boys are into hiking and just being outdoors (particularly DS1) and messing about in the pool/on the beach (DS2). Hopefully I've included enough of both to keep them happy. We have a friend in LA who we'll want to visit for one of the day and otherwise I want the second week to be quite relaxed and include plenty of beach, wildlife watching and relaxing time.

Would they enjoy Alcatraz, do you think? I will book in plenty of time, if so. I've never been, so I'm not sure. TIA.

It's interesting that you mention Mono Lake @User260486. When I went to Yosemite as a teen we stayed in Lee Vining, which is right on Mono Lake, and I remember it as being rather other-worldly and fun. Did you go out on the lake? We only saw it from the shore and I'm wondering whether to go over there one day we're in Yosemite, if your teen (how old and boy or girl?) liked it. My DS is very much a teen already and he's not even 12 yet ...

I have great memories of having lunch in Sausalito, but of the parking being a nightmare, so yes either bike or ferry from SF sounds like a great idea with the kids as I'd love to go back there. The problem is that two weeks just isn't enough! There is SO much to see and do that it's a case of what to miss out, as much as what to prioritise.

Re: flights from Manchester - thanks for mentioning that @drivingtofrance - but we live just outside London, so Heathrow is much more convenient for us. I've spoken to both BA and Virgin about how to get the best prices with them and they both said to ring them 14 months before travel, as they have access to flights for Fly-Drive holidays at that point and that is when you get the best prices. Once they go on general sale on the website they're much more expensive. Good to know!

I'll take a look at the Mystery Spot ...

Thanks again for all your tips and reminiscences - I'm loving reading all your messages!

We read about the lake in a guide book and decided it was worth a 1.5 hour drive from our location in Yosemite. Tioga road is beautiful in itself, with multiple scenic views along the way. The lake is unusual, with its salty water and stunning tufas. We walked along a walk that takes you right up to the beach and tufas, and then we went to the other beach and swam in the lake (just beware of harmless flies right by the water edge and lots of crill in the water). It is a bit like the Dead sea, you can feel the water pushing you out. There were people with canoes too. My dd is 14, and she enjoyed the trip, took many photos, very instagrammable:)). The 5 yo did not want to go deeper into the lake but played on the shore. The swimming beach is very small and does not have showers.

I've already got the Getty Museum in Malibu and hiking in Griffith Park and the observatory on my list. I remember when I went as a teen my dad and stepmum had organised everything like a military operation. Now I know why

The more I look into this, the more I want to do 17 nights and include San Diego ...

Stay as many nights as you can OP.

We were there almost three weeks - we spent quite a lot of time with family but did try and fit in some extra sightseeing. There is a LOT to see and do . I have been going to Northern California since I was a kid and still find many new things I want to see.

I'd defo inc San Diego if you can. We didn't have it on our list but it has been recommended by several people

Sadly, I don't think there is any chance that DH will go for more than 14 days as he's much less travel-focused than I am. Plus, I've had a major rethink about hitting so many destinations in one trip - my family aren't high energy on holiday and I need to be realistic about that. I had a chat with a friend on Sat night who's done an RV trip to CA with her DH and kids and they just went to four places. She said even then they felt they were only scratching the surface, so with that in mind I have redesigned our itinerary and now think it's likely to be:

San Francisco (4 nights)
Lake Tahoe (4 nights) - my friend LOVED Tahoe
Yosemite (3 nights)
Monterey (3 nights) - we can do the 17-mile drive on one of the days

The advantage of staying in places for longer is that we can rent a condo and have more space. We can also keep the focus on hiking and the great outdoors, which will suit everyone much more than traipsing around cities.

As for southern California, I'm hoping that everyone will love this trip and let me book another one to cover all the stuff we won't get to this time! We're US citizens and DH is in agreement that we should visit the US at least every other year to show the DC something of their other country.