California

[JemimaBobbins]

We're looking to go to California in July/August. We'll be staying with people the first week in LA but we're looking for ideas of what to do the 2nd week. We're thinking about going somewhere maybe like Big Bear Lake for a few nights then San Diego for a few nights. Any comments? Any hotel/accomodation/sight-seeing recommendations would be great. It's the two of us plus 10 year old ds.

the only comment i have is

Seriously, I believe anywhere along the Big Sur is a winner.

And again. I love California.

yep - we went to california over NY in 2008 with our 5 year old.

I can heartily recommend san diego - we stayed at ocean beach (like camden on sea) in the ocean beach hotel -right on the sea front - the area has got a surfy/biker vibe but its in no way threatening - sort of biker lite.

Mission beach was also good though and bigger and more mainstream - theres a great restaurant there called the broken yolk.

San Diego zoo is well worth a visit and the park that its in has some good museums - we didnt go to sea world.

we also stayed in a hotel opposite disney for a few nights - handy to walk to the parks - your 10 year olds will particularly like the California side as it has got all the big rides in it.

We also drove out to palm springs for a different feel and onto yosemite national park - palm spring has lots of good value resort hotels with kitchens and great pools though you can camp im yosemite as well or stay in one of the cool desert towns like 29 palms which has got some great kitchy/cool hotels.

In LA itself we stayed at the Farmers Daughter in West Hollywood opposite the Farmers Market and the Grove where all the celebrities shop - good cos you walk across the road to it and so slightly more normal.

Santa Monica was great for a day out from LA if you dont fancy Disney/Universal again - the pier and the town itself are really walkable once you've found somewhere to park.

I could go on for days about car hire and other such dull things [looks wistful]

oh and even if you dont stay in ocean beach - theres a restaurant called Hodads which serves the best burgers and chips and milkshakes ever and has a great vibe - dont be put off by the queue or the heavily tattooed waiters

that hotel here

ahem hodads (will stop now I promise) here

Big Bear is lovely - it was one of the first places I went when I moved to California. The coastline is gorgeous, there are lots of little places to stop off at on the way to SD. Palos Verdes (good surfing), Huntingdon and Newport are all worth a look. I'd meander on down to SD, stopping off at places en route

If you can get to Vegas its brill

I've been twice to California and I just love it, except Morro bay/rock on the big Sur coast
Disneyland and Universal are brill you will need a day for each
If your going to San Fran and want to go to alcatraz book in advance

We had a fab holiday in Ca last year, a week in Napa Valley area and a week in the San Fran/Monterey Bay area. It was wonderful, we enjoyed it so much. We hired a car for the first time in the US and with Sat Nav, it was easy-peasy.

Thanks everyone. Got some guides in the post this morning so going to have a look at those this evening.

Ive been to san fransisco and down the Big Sur to montery etc.

It is wonderful, Its my favorite city(beats new york) It is small enough that you can walk the city but loads to do there plus you can go up to napa valley or down to montery.

We drove highway 1 through Big Sur and it was fabulous. Only thing that spoilt it for me was leaving behind that breath taking beauty to go to Las Vegas but I seem to be on my own in thinking that place is awful! Enjoyed San francisco and Santa Cruz (not sure if right sp - the place where Lost Boys was filmed!)