Commiefornia vacation planning

[SkylinesSuck]

The wifey wants to visit California. She is Japanese and wants to see 'murica, even the dirty stinkin' liberal parts. Looking at flying out for about a 5-6 day trip in mid July with our 6 & 8 year old boys.

I was leaning towards San Fran + Yosemite but it looks like Yosemite requires more pre-planning than a month and a half. Yosemite is a must for us in the next few years (before we move back to Japan) so I'm thinking of pushing that back a couple of years. You guys got any suggestions? Also, and this matters, like 2 days after we get back from that trip, we are going to see family on the shore of Lake Erie and will of course be going to Cedar Point, so I'm not super interested in amusement/theme parks in CA. The redwoods interest me. Is there family stuff worth doing in L.A. besides Disneyland and traffic? I'm also interested in anywhere else not within driving distance of DC, but it works have to be good enough to convince the boss. Thoughts?

 

[voodooridr]

Sequoia national park and Kings Canyon if you want seriously impressive trees

 

[SkylinesSuck]

Kinda how I'm leaning now. Couple days at Sequoia NP, couple days in LA doing..... something???

 

[cliffish]

couple days in LA doing..... something???

Running from the protests

 

[bobthetj03]

You won't experience much quite like the north coast if you can swing it. North of San Fran. Lake Tahoe area might be of interest too.

 

[SkylinesSuck]

You won't experience much quite like the north coast if you can swing it. North of San Fran. Lake Tahoe area might be of interest too.

What's up there? Keep in mind we will have kids with us. I'm all for renting a convertible and cruising the PCH for the whole vacay, but I don't think the kids could handle much of that.

 

[bobthetj03]

What's up there? Keep in mind we will have kids with us. I'm all for renting a convertible and cruising the PCH for the whole vacay, but I don't think the kids could handle much of that.

No way you would want to do the whole PCH, but maybe a section of it, say for example, central SR1 up to Monterey, hit Santa Cruz and take the kids to the Beach/Boardwalk, stay at a B&B or VERBO. something of that nature. Keep in mind July is hot in the central valley and NorCal north of the bay area. Triple digits!

 

[Alex01]

Santa Cruz, Napa, Lake Tahoe are all good choices.

The kids would like the Monterey bay aquarium, I believe you need to buy tickets in advance. The Santa Cruz beach boardwalk is fun. If you go to SF visit the Eastern Bakery in Chinatown for some delicious pork buns. In SF pier 39 is fun for kids as well. I don't have enough good things to say about Lake Tahoe. The north side is a bit lower-key family-oriented while the south is more the "party side" with casinos. Sand Harbor is a great spot to hang out on the beach that has lots of fun rocks to jump off of.

​

 

[Sea Cot]

I've done a few CA family vacations throughout the years when my kids were toddlers through pre-teens. Each time we booked through ABNB or VRBO in a location that served as base camp. Wife's requirement was ocean, so that's were we landed.

San Fran/Monterey Bay. We rented a VRBO in the La Selva Beach community (gated private beach access), flew in to SFO. Explored the city upon arrival and day of departure. Explored the bay and beyond from Big Basin State Pk to the Big Sur parks.

San Diego area- booked a condo on Mission Beach, visited the zoo, Legoland, Coronado Island, and went up to Laguna Beach.

Base camp for our Redwoods NP adventure was in Brookings, OR. Great area to alternate between beach, forest, and mountain adventures. Not much at all for man-made attractions.

I've been to LA several times for business, and have no desire to go there for vacation. I do enjoy the Griffiths observatory, Santa Monica, and street vendor al pastor tacos, though. Accessing Sequoia NP for a loooong day trip is possible. I've made the trek from downtown LA, to Sequoia and said hi to General Sherman, then back in ~14hrs.

 

[SkylinesSuck]

Legoland you say? Googling now.....

 

[Sancho]

Stay away from LA... seriously, dont go.


Sequioa and kings canyon are a must... either day drive it... or spend a weekend there.

There is a beautiful drive on the foothills from three rivers to kings canyon. Gorgeous this time of year.


Northern caluf is pretty too... especially the coast.

I would stay away from SF... but if you go.. be sure to download the local poopmap app. Think I'm joking?

San Diego... go here for beaches... safari parks/zoos/sea world (depressing)/ legoland.... martime & midway museums. Air & space museums in balboa park.
1 hr east is mtns.
1.5 hrs east is desert... anza borrego & ocotillo ohv park.

1 hr north is orange county ... laguna beach.

Consider a day at catalina island.... leave from orange county.


Give me a pm if you want more details!

Also... I have some airBnB rentals in la jolla, downtown, and mission beach. Prob booked though for summer.

 

[Modoc Guy]

Wouldn't be real fun for the kids, but drive through the Napa Valley and hit the wineries! Great Mom and Dad fun!

 

[JEEPCJTJ]

The only time I spent in California was between flights in an airport. It may get no better than that IDK.

I have been to America's Roller Coast (Cedar Point) several times. It's been a few years now and my kids were in their 20s las time but it was a good time every time even when they were too young/small for some of the coasters. We never bought a line pass (whatever they call it) but last time we were there we figured we should next time because money saves time. It probably helps even more with the kids.

The Millenium Force is one of the fastest and definitely the smoothest coasters I've ever been on. It doesn't bang anyone around at all. It's so smooth I think the only reason it the T-shaped lap bars and seat belts is because their lawyers said to.

I remember about 20 yrs ago the wife and I took walkie talkies. Due to everyone having them we were able to communicate very little. One time we succeeded my daughter and I just got off some coaster and couldn't find the wife and son who was too small. Wife said they were by a giant peanut. We searched the area for almost 20 minutes looking for the giant peanut and/or them when we bumped into them... standing in front of a giant statue of Snoopy.

 

[Rick Flair]

I could suggest maybe a nice downtown trip to Fresno? Bakersfield? Feel Free to wear red for fun.



Seriously though, sequoia NP is awesome, if you care to venture a bit into Oregon, if you hit up the Redwoods and go up towards Cave Junction, the Oregon Caves are fun for the kids and adults. Nature at its best. It can be done in a day trip and spending time in Gold Beach is fun, lots of sand dollars to find on the beach and pretty. Northern CA is awesome. You couldn’t pay me to hit up anything central and below anymore.

 

[Zorba]

Some great suggestions already, I'll second King's Canyon, and suggest to NOT miss the high country of Yosemite. Skip LA. There's nothing like Big Sur, and if you can take the back road over the Santa Lucia mountains into the Salinas Valley, do it. If you drive between Monterey and Santa Cruz (I was born in S.C.!), wave at the Moss Landing power plant halfway around the bay as you drive past!
If you have more time, go over Tioga pass out of Yosemite down to Lee Vining and Mono lake - and then see Bodie before you head south on 395. Death Valley is wonderful if you have time.

 

[Dr. Internet]

There used to be a public beach in Carmel, if you are in that area. Kids should get some ocean time, but the water is pretty cold, as I remember it. San Francisco used to (1969) be beautiful with many attractions. Today, sadly, I wouldn't visit.

 

[Zorba]

There used to be a public beach in Carmel, if you are in that area. Kids should get some ocean time, but the water is pretty cold, as I remember it. San Francisco used to (1969) be beautiful with many attractions. Today, sadly, I wouldn't visit.

There is - but do STAY AWAY from Monastery Beach, aka "Mortuary Beach" just south of Carmel on 1, or at the very least STAY COMPLETELY OUT OF THE WATER if you do go there. Several deaths a year from rip currents and undertow, despite prominent warning signs. And yes, the water is COLD!

Plenty of beach around the entire curve of Monterey Bay - any of them would be safer than Monastery - and generally speaking, the weather will be warmer on the north side towards Santa Cruz. We'd see (and laugh at) obvious out of area tourists in Monterey every summer. They had spent thousands of dollars on their "Sunny California Vacation", be dressed in shorts, flip-flops, and tank tops in a rented convertible with the top down. The air temp would be about 58 degrees and overcast, with a 15 or 20 kt crosswind! These poor Smurf blue people would ask "Is this weather normal?" "Yep, its always like this in the summertime. Sometimes weeks go by without seeing the sun at all!".

As Mark Twain famously said, "The coldest winter I ever experienced was a summer in San Francisco." Most of Monterey Bay pretty much mirrors Frisco's weather - your best chance of sun is in Santa Cruz, or head way south to Pismo Beach. Or go just about anywhere inland.

I'd tell you to go to Kalisa's La Ida Cafe on Monterey's Cannery Row - directly across the street from the aquarium - but it was closed down after a 50 year run in 2007. The upstairs Belly Dance cabaret was famous!

 

[JEEPCJTJ]

Back to Cedar Point Topic, I just saw this.

Labor shortage forces Cedar Point to shut down 2 days a week​

and this

Cedar Point Doubles Pay, Cuts Days as It Looks to Hire​

 

[Dr. Internet]

There is - but do STAY AWAY from Monastery Beach, aka "Mortuary Beach" just south of Carmel on 1, or at the very least STAY COMPLETELY OUT OF THE WATER if you do go there. Several deaths a year from rip currents and undertow, despite prominent warning signs. And yes, the water is COLD!

Plenty of beach around the entire curve of Monterey Bay - any of them would be safer than Monastery - and generally speaking, the weather will be warmer on the north side towards Santa Cruz. We'd see (and laugh at) obvious out of area tourists in Monterey every summer. They had spent thousands of dollars on their "Sunny California Vacation", be dressed in shorts, flip-flops, and tank tops in a rented convertible with the top down. The air temp would be about 58 degrees and overcast, with a 15 or 20 kt crosswind! These poor Smurf blue people would ask "Is this weather normal?" "Yep, its always like this in the summertime. Sometimes weeks go by without seeing the sun at all!".

As Mark Twain famously said, "The coldest winter I ever experienced was a summer in San Francisco." Most of Monterey Bay pretty much mirrors Frisco's weather - your best chance of sun is in Santa Cruz, or head way south to Pismo Beach. Or go just about anywhere inland.

I'd tell you to go to Kalisa's La Ida Cafe on Monterey's Cannery Row - directly across the street from the aquarium - but it was closed down after a 50 year run in 2007. The upstairs Belly Dance cabaret was famous!

Zorba, Thanks for clarifying and warning against dangerous conditions. I haven't been there since 1984, and remember the area as very pretty. Went to the Hog's Breath when Clint E still owned it, before he was mayor.

 

[Alex01]

Back to Cedar Point Topic, I just saw this.

Labor shortage forces Cedar Point to shut down 2 days a week​

and this

Cedar Point Doubles Pay, Cuts Days as It Looks to Hire​

Seems like now is a great time to be a high school or college student looking for a job. I wish I could have made $20 an hour with a signing bonus at that age.