Potential Family holiday to West Coast of America

[Beachman]

Hi all,

We have 2 kids aged 10 & 8 and currently we are currently saving with the intention to take the kids to America to see Disneyland, Universal studios and Legoland.

The rough plan is to stay in LA for around a week but seeing it’s such a big effort and expense to get there we would also like to visit another city for about 4 nights, so this is where I’m asking for your help. Friends are suggesting we have a stopover at Hawaii on the way home, but seeing as a family we spend so much time on the beach I’m not sure a beach holiday would have the WOW factor.

Another option is San Francisco or Las Vegas? With Vegas I’m not into gambling, but thought the free daytime activities all the casinos have plus the lights might be fun for the kids?

What do you think?

Also another question about driving in LA as thinking about hiring a car and driving from Anaheim 90 minutes to Legoland and then the next day from Anaheim to Universal which is the other side of the city. While I’ve previously driven in Canada,  it wasn’t in Major cities during peak time. When I know the city and also where I am going then things like driving in peak hour traffic doesn’t worry me, but put me in a unknown town and driving on the wrong side of the road then my stress/confidence levels will turn pear shape?

Thanks

[gronk]

Research and research more....time of year can be very important for crowds at the theme parks....10 min wait for a ride compared to a 3 hour wait !!

Travelling around the city is easy....out of peak hour times....and hire a navman with the hire car.

Instead of seeing another city, why not do a cruise down to Mexico ??  Heaps cheaper than Australian cruises and may be cheaper than spending up to a week in a city !

[glenm64]

If I get there Yosemite NP Yellowstone NP and Grand Canyon all must sees for me.

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[The punter]

LA is terrible, concrete jungle full of rudeness, understand the lure of theme parks, but I'd only use LA for transit

Close by are:
Boulder Dam / Grand Canyon
San Diego Zoo

But if you are looking to get a bit more 'real" I'd be heading to New Orleans or Kansas City. Some of the best "culture" in the US exists in these places, real music, played by real humans who can groove the pants off of any tune.

Shit sorry i digress, wrong forum.

[Beachman]

Research and research more....time of year can be very important for crowds at the theme parks....10 min wait for a ride compared to a 3 hour wait !!

Can’t agree more with your statement. At the moment we are looking at early September which isn’t school holidays in America and also looking at pulling the kids out of school a week early before our holidays start here to try and beat crowds and holiday airfare increases. Also trying to plan the trip so we aren’t visiting these places on weekends.

[D4D]

We are planning a similar holiday. Having been there before, the distance between all 3 is a pita to get around. I'm not a fan of driving and would use the 'super shuttles' to get around. Hawaii is overrated if you live near an Aussie beach. I'd spend more time at the theme parks.

[tk421]

I agree with your friends. Australian beaches are amongst the best in the world, so unless you're wanting to catch some big waves maybe have a look at something else.   I'd like to do this trip with my kids one day so have looked at a self drive- something like this:

http://www.autotoursusa.com/tours/region/california_and_southwest
or this:
https://www.carrier.co.uk/itineraries/north-america/americas-west/
 or this:
http://www.seduniatravel.com/tours/americas/usa/west-coast-self-drive


Vegas doesn't interest me, and I've heard once you're off the strip its not a nice place. I loved San Francisco - Alcatraz is incredible.  But then I was a 21 year old out for a good time. Not sure Hippy backpackers would be a suitable accommodation..
LA just scares me but I have a friend who goes there for work every so often and loves it.

[gronk]

When we went, we stayed at Woodland Hills...a bit cheaper than in the city area...and drove everywhere.....then drove to Las Vegas ( casino, grand canyon ) then onto Death Valley, Lone Pine, Yosemite, San Fran then back down the coast road to LA ( santa monica, muscle beach ) then San Diego ( seaworld and the aircraft carrier tour ), then onto a cruise to Mexico.

But this was with 2 couples ( no kids ), and if your kids aren't into driving and sightseeing, then they would love a cruise ship !!

[Titfish]

GLenm64,

I managed to get to Yosemite when I was over there and was worried it would not live up to expectations. How wrong I was. It blew me away and I would recommend it to anybody. I've always felt that any city in the would can be replicated but nothing in nature can be. That is why I got out of the cities as fast as I could. The other place that I enjoyed greatly was Mount St Helens but that is probably a bit out of the way when related to the original post.

Yosemite would definitely be on my list.

Ken

[gordo350]

The drive up to San Francisco from LA is awesome.  Take a couple of days and you will love it. Vegas is definitely not kid friendly and I would never go there again. (been acouple of times). It really is trying to out shock it's own publicity.  Mexico is also not family entertainment.  Driving in LA is not hard. Just indicate and blend. If you annoy someone,  drive like you stole it!

[UIZ733]

Yes LA is a hole! Yosemite is amazing and almost spiritual. The coastal  drive from San Francisco to LA is excellent. Don't drive when jet lagged, otherwise as gordo said drive it like you stole it and you will be OK. A GPS is a must when driving. One other thing, the place is very expensive.

[MDS69]

We did 2 weeks in Calafornia in 2012 with then 10 and 7yo. We flew out of Sydney on fathers day. Spent a week in Anaheim with 3 days split between Disneyland and Calafornia Adventure Land. Did a day trip at the factory outlets. Spent time at Downtown Disney. Blew another day beside the pool as it was hot. Another day wandering the strip and Winter garden.
The second week was in San Diego. Sea World, Lego Land, San Diego Zoo.. A day wandering downtown. Spent some time at Seaport Village which is a tourist shopping souviner area with restaurants etc. Did the tour on the USS Midway. Went shopping at Target and Walmart for the experience.

In Anaheim we got around on the ART bus and San Diego by cab, bus and private taxi. Wasn't interested in driving myself.

Weather in September on the west coast was spectacular even a little hot at times. So much more we wanted to do but it was our first time overseas and we know so much more now. Going to Florida for Universal and Disney World in Jan flying out NYD for two weeks with a week in Hawaii on the way home.

[gronk]

.  Mexico is also not family entertainment. 

It is on a cruise ship.....just got back from our 3rd cruise and the kids seemed to like every bit of it....plus some really nice stop overs along the coast.

[gronk]

Going to Florida for Universal

Went there in April.....2 adults, the 2 park pass and front of line upgrade......$470 for the day !!!!!!!     Never again !

BTW, Cape Canaveral was also great !

[dales133]

Youd be far better off going to singapore/malaysia.
They have universal studios and legoland and a bunch of other places plus the culture and far cheaper.
Exchange rates are more favorable especially in malaysia... we had a great trip thier recently

[BrettMG]

Yes to Disneyland and Universal, both awesome! A big yes to Vegas as well. Went there didn't gamble at all but had a great time. We were there when the annual Elvis convention was on - hilarious. Casinos are much more than gambling. Take the kids to a live show like Cirque Du Soleil or Wayne Newton.

[madbunny]

hi there going to the us in july ,la for a week our kids get to dance in the parade at disney ,vegas for 3 day just to see the sights plus the canyon and now looking at a week in New York because its just a bloody long way with 2 kids ,so santa doesn't bring me my camper now cheers

[MDS69]

Went there in April.....2 adults, the 2 park pass and front of line upgrade......$470 for the day !!!!!!!     Never again !

BTW, Cape Canaveral was also great !

I don't know what passes we have. All part of the package BUT I think we still need to organise front of line.

Have heard good things about the space centre so thanks for reinforcing that.

[gronk]

I don't know what passes we have. All part of the package BUT I think we still need to organise front of line.

Have heard good things about the space centre so thanks for reinforcing that.

Do some research.....if it's not a busy time front of line won't be needed.

Cape Canaveral was a highlight ( we don't have kids )....there was a launch on our day there....got cancelled with 2 mins to go ( weather )

[jetcrew]

If it were me I would stay at Santa Monica... I have  been there about 30 times in a previous life and it very nice and safe..good base ..San Fran also very nice.

Jet    

[gronk]

If it were me I would stay at Santa Monica... I have  been there about 30 times in a previous life

What, as a dog, cat or a black dude at muscle beach ??   


Only trouble with Santa Monica is the 1/2 hr plus drive back to LA.

[Paul (SA)]

Hi Beachman - we did this exact trip in March this year. We have two boys 8 and 6 and visited Disneyland, Legoland etc.

My thoughts are to stay to stay in either San Diego or San Francisco and 'visit' Los Angeles. Do a day trip to LA and see the few sites on offer there like Venice Beach and Santa Monica. We loved being in San Francisco - we enjoyed Alcatraz, Fisherman's Wharf, going over the Golden Gate bridge and visiting the Jelly Belly factory. It was a fun city to be in for a few days. We also visited nearby Yosemite NP which was beautiful and a highlight. We could have just as easily stayed in San Diego as well. It is a long drive from LA to Legoland, it is practically in San Diego anyway.

Going in March, we were at the tailend of the snow ski season and it was great to take our boys to the snow for the first time and try skiing. We went to Mountain High, but Yosemite NP has its own ski field as well. It was strange as the weather was really warm in California in March and yet we could still go snow skiing!!??

At Legoland we stayed in the Legoland Hotel - it was about $300 for the night - but it is an experience in itself that our kids thought was the highlight of the whole trip.

I wanted to go for a day trip over to San Diego and head over the border, but time contraints knocked that one on the head.

Depending on the time of year you go, also consider checking out a baseball, basketball or ice hockey game to get a genuine US experience.

If I did the trip again I would fly into San Francisco and stay there a few days and then go down to LA to get your theme park fix and visits the sites for a day. As others have said, the coastal drive to LA is amazing.

Feel free to PM with questions etc.

Cheers, Paul

[gronk]

Only trouble with staying too far from LA is if you want to do 2 theme parks, you need 2 days, plus you need to get to them at opening time to fit them in to the day.

Same as staying at San Fran, we stayed out of town (Mill Valley ) and went in and did a tour ( Around town sites and Alcatraz ). If anyone wants to go to Alcatraz, do not expect to turn up and see it, book well in advance ( we booked 2 mths ahead )

Just work out what you and the kids really want to see. Unless you have a big budget, it's hard to cram everything in.

[xcvator]

If you go and not take the kids to Disneyland they will never,ever forgive you 
For what it's worth, and I have done exactly what you're thinking about, we stayed at the "Tropicana" motel in Annaheim, twice  they have a breakfast of sorts, nothing flash , but it means you're not going to look for something to eat as soon as you get in the gate at DW, it's also within easy walking distance, another +, also check if the kids stay in the same room as you they may stay for free. Allow 3 days to do all the rides etc, you might do them in 2, if so go back and do your favorites again 
Similar to be said for Universal Studio's, try and work out what you want to see and get a timetable before you go as a lot of the show times overlap. Bus travel time Annaheim to U/S was about 1.5 hours each way

You can do a day trip to Sandiego , it's only about an hour and a half by bus from Annaheim or stay overnight, but if you have been to Seaworld in Qld it's very similar, if you do go spend the extra and do the behind the scenes tour as well.

These are things the little kids and the big kids will both enjoy ( Disneyland aint just for little kids  )

1 of the cheaper ways to go is to get  a "package" that includes D/L tickets/flights/accommodation and extend your stay for as many days as you want.

Trick.  organise your transfers before you go, may not be any cheaper but it's 1 less thing to worry about when you're jet lagged and the kids are ratty at 10am.(it's a 14 hour flight )

Trick.  take lots of US $1-00 notes for tipping ( at least $20-00 for the 1st 2 days)
 
Trick.  take 1 suit case inside another, kids clothing and sneakers are VERY cheap 

Trick.  If there is no breakfast where you stay, find a supermarket and buy a cheap toaster ( $7 to $10 ) bread, butter, spreads, paper plates and plastic knives etc this will save you a fortune ( just don't burn the toast or the smoke alarms will go off  )

San Fransisco is a beautiful place and very interesting, for adults, not so much for little kids, Bronny and I loved it .

Enjoy planning the trip, it's half the fun 


ps I think in September D/L doesn't open until about 10am and closes early but check anyway
 

[gronk]

Trick.  If there is no breakfast where you stay

Don't book !!

 There are so many places to stay, only book somewhere with breakfast, so much easier..

We spent 4 weeks going down the east coast ( as well as the west coast 2 yrs ago ) and we would only book a room if they had free breakfast.

When 1st arriving in LA, we prebooked a motel that also had free transfers from the airport...or if hiring a car, prebook it before leaving.