Planning a California vacation for next summer.......
by BillyGoat, At Thanksgiving with Joe Bethersontin, Thursday, June 29, 2023, 07:32 (590 days ago)
edited by Jay, Thursday, June 29, 2023, 13:00
I assume plenty of folks here will have good insights. Kids will be 14 and 13.
My company is having a conference in Huntington Beach in June. Thinking about building around that. My wife thinks we can/should do all of California in one fell swoop, but I think that seems insane.
I'm thinking we might do a day at Disneyland and maybe do the old school Universal. In San Diego, I know about the Zoo and the Wild Animal Park (we will definitely do the latter, because it's so unique). Welcome thoughts on how best to do Catalina on a limited timeframe (can it be a day trip?) and insights on where to stay and other cool stuff to do.
The full California itinerary would definitely start in SF. Muir Woods. Then Yosemite. Then Fresno (where my wife has friends from JVC). Then Monterrey Peninsula. That's creeping up on like 10 days even before we get to the conference, based on our usual pace.
Tags:
travel
Don't try to do it all
by ndbk32 , Los Angeles, Thursday, June 29, 2023, 14:14 (590 days ago) @ BillyGoat
You'll be exhausted. Experiencing California is a real mix of city highlights and nature. Since you'll be in Huntington, I'd stick to the southern half.
Everywhere mentioned below is great. Except Avalon, I don't like Avalon. But that is a personal preference. I also don't like Stevie Wonder. That said, Catalina on the whole is nice. And unique, what with all the buffalo.
If you're traveling between SD and LA, you can either do the coast which is obviously scenic and lovely. Or you could go inland up through Temecula for some low-key wine country, then up to Idyllwild, which is an unexpected and charming mountain town. Come down the other side of that mountain and boom, you're in Palm Springs!
Hollywood is more of a thing to check off the list, than a fun family activity. But totally worth it if you pair it with Griffith Park/Planetarium, driving Mulholland Drive, maybe a late afternoon cocktail somewhere. You could drop the kids off on the walk of fame, give 'em just enough money so they have to choose between either a cool glass bong or their name on a fake Oscar statuette, then you hit the Roosevelt Hotel for a cocktail, making sure you retrieve the kids just before they become Scientologists.
I'd pick Disney or Universal. The idea of doing both back-to-back is giving me hives. Or skip em both for more time in Central Coast. It's so damn beautiful up there.
Heading NW from LA, you can't go wrong. Malibu -> Ojai -> Santa Barbara -> Solvang/Buellton/Los Olivos -> SLO -> Cambria et al. Man, you can't go wrong. My favorite part of the state.
Anyway, if Santa Monica makes your itinerary and you need recommendations, let me know.
Whoa, I just realized that Universal Hollywood has become
by BillyGoat, At Thanksgiving with Joe Bethersontin, Friday, June 30, 2023, 09:37 (589 days ago) @ ndbk32
a full amusement park. I was just thinking we could do the backlot tour and see Bruce, the parting of the Red Sea, and the Back to the Future clocktower. They've done a heck of a job not marketing that park nationally.
Nice call out on Ojai
by Pat, in the cloud, Thursday, June 29, 2023, 19:39 (590 days ago) @ ndbk32
Drive into town and let the kids wander around Bart’s Books. Grab a drink at Topa Topa. Head to dinner at (pricey) the Oak at Ojai Valley Inn or (low key and delicious) Ojai Rotie. After dinner get the Ojai Pixie Orange ice cream at the shop downtown and wander around the park. Stay the night in your private airstream at Caravan Outpost or return to the Ojai Valley Inn and spend the kid’s inheritance. The next day you can hike around in the hills or play golf at the beautiful and cheap public course there (or at Ojai Valley Inn, Mr. Moneybags). Then cruise out to your next destination, pausing at the overlook over the valley as the sun sets on the mountains.
The same adage holds true here as the European trips.
by Joe I , Thursday, June 29, 2023, 12:49 (590 days ago) @ BillyGoat
Don’t plan too many things, unless your goal is to wear out the kids. Lots of great comments so far and as you’re recognizing, California is a really big state. I’m assuming that you’re planning on beach time for the kids during the days you have your conference, as Huntington and nearby are perfect for that. They don’t call it Surf City for nothing.
Good discussion already on San Diego, and I concur.
Disneyland / Universal for two days will be a lot for you, but the kids should love them both, and maybe Universal more. Hollywood (walk of fame, Hollywood and Highland, Grauman’s Chinese) is skip-able for me, unless there’s someone who really wants to do it. Lots of museums if you’re looking for recommendations, but my personal favorites are the Norton Simon in Pasadena and the Broad downtown LA.
As mentioned, Catalina can absolutely be done in a day trip. Boats leave out of Long Beach and Dana Point. Pick whichever is closer to where you’ll be. Renting a golf cart really is a blast to see around Avalon town, but you can also stroll it easily enough. My favorite Island Company tours (I’ve done most of them) would be the Ridgetop Eco and the VIP Casino Backstage. The zip line is also pretty good. One night stay over could be fun, but hotel rates can be pricey. And watch out for two night minimum requirements. If you don’t book any tours, a day trip is likely plenty.
Driving the central coast is truly amazing. PCH can be very windy, so plan on going slow and taking breaks / stopovers along the way. Solvang is a bit of a tourist trap, but Los Olivos is particularly nice and Santa Barbara is worth a stopover. Some excellent wine tasting in the area for the kids! The Hearst Castle in San Simeon is eye opening. Carmel & Monterey are stunning, and you can see some redwoods there if you don’t get to a bigger park.
San Francisco is, well, one of the states jewels. The hills are alive, and a ton of things to do.
I may be in the minority here
by IrishGuard, Thursday, June 29, 2023, 11:29 (590 days ago) @ BillyGoat
But a day in Jedidiah Smith SP is worth 3 at Disney. The redwoods must be where the veil between worlds is thinnest.
I'd drive the coast, south to north, then circle back through Lassen NP or Tahoe, through Yosemite, and then fly home from the Bay Area.
Lassen is very underrated. Basically CA’s Yellowstone.
by Pat, in the cloud, Thursday, June 29, 2023, 19:48 (590 days ago) @ IrishGuard
Also an excellent spot to camp right nearby is Burney Falls. Highly recommended for folks in the area. Waterfalls, good hikes (Pacific Crest Trail intersects for awhile, and a nearby lake for boating, swimming, and relaxing. You can even rent cabins if you don’t want to deal with a tent.
https://www.tripsavvy.com/mcarthur-burney-falls-state-park-the-complete-guide-4155631
I'm pretty familiar with LA
by NDinVA , Yorktown, VA, Thursday, June 29, 2023, 09:25 (590 days ago) @ BillyGoat
edited by NDinVA, Thursday, June 29, 2023, 11:09
I have two daughters who live there, so my wife and I get out there frequently. As a matter of fact, while I was writing this post, one of the them called me and I told her what I was in the middle of doing. She agreed with my statement below that the homeless situation in Venice Beach had been improved greatly.
I'm sure Riverside and Long Beach can tell you more than I can, but I can give you the "frequent tourist but not a local" point of view.
Be warned, I tend to enjoy stuff other people find to be too "touristy" or "cliche"
Catalina definitely can be done as a day trip. We rented a golf cart and went all around the island. Ate fish tacos at the beach. Fun day, although probably a decade ago now.
We like Griffith Planetarium and Griffith Park in general, although parking can be a bitch. I think there is a shuttle bus up the hill, although I've never taken it myself. If you go, my favorite show at the Planetarium is "Centered in the Universe". Probably the same show Jimmy Dean watched in Rebel Without a Cause. That's a joke, but they have been showing the same thing for years now. There is a short easy nature hike at the bottom of the road from the Planetarium called Ferndell, which is pretty neat.
I like the Farmer's Market at Fairfax and 3rd. Nirvana for a junk food junkie. I like Nonna's Empenadas, but didn't care much for Magee's Kitchen.
Grand Central Market in downtown LA is similar to the Farmer's Market, but is in sketchier neighborhood. However, Angel's Flight is right across the street, which is kind of cool.
Phillipe's restaurant, home of the original French Dip sandwich is a few blocks away, near Olvera Street and the LA Plaza, the historical center of LA. One block up Ord Street from Phillipe's is the intersection where they filmed the final scene in Chinatown (where Faye Dunaway had her eye shot out).
I'm not sure what the homeless situation is like in Venice Beach now. Last time I was there in 2021 it was pretty bad, but I hear they've mostly cleaned it up. If you're up for getting a little exercise, try renting bikes in Venice and bike past the Santa Monica pier up to around the end of Sunset Blvd. We like Gladstone's restaurant at the intersection of Sunset and the PCH. Try the Crab Louie.
Hollywood is kind of tacky but the carnival-like atmosphere will probably be fun for your teenagers. (God, I can't believe they are teens already).
If you like pastrami, Langer's Deli is great. It's near McArthur Park (where the cake got left out in the rain) which is unfortunately also in a seedy neighborhood now. Daughter's near west Hollywood has pretty much the same food in a better location. I think it's called Daughters because it's owned by the daughter or granddaughter of the Original Langer. The #19 is their signature sandwich.
Another fun place for a beach day is Paradise Cove in Malibu. Parking is very pricey, but if you eat at their restaurant, or even just have a drink, they'll validate your ticket. At least they used to.
Have a great trip buddy, I was just out there in March, and we're probably going again in October.
Two things.
by River, Hell of the Upside Down Sinners, Thursday, June 29, 2023, 18:14 (590 days ago) @ NDinVA
Don’t come to Riverside.
A lot has been mentioned about San Diego, but I haven’t seen mention a tour of the USS Midway. Truly a fantastic tour!
Great stuff. Griffith in particular is something I've always
by BillyGoat, At Thanksgiving with Joe Bethersontin, Thursday, June 29, 2023, 09:30 (590 days ago) @ NDinVA
wanted to see.
If you're just going to Avalon...
by BPH, San Diego, Thursday, June 29, 2023, 08:52 (590 days ago) @ BillyGoat
then yes, Catalina can be done in a day. We usually leave from the Dana Point harbor, and it's an hour ferry ride there and an hour back. That leaves plenty of time to rent a golf cart to cruise around the town and check out the Casino and Wrigley garden. Though if you can swing it, an overnight is also nice.
Other ideas for SD/SoCal: Coronado (can take a ferry from downtown SD and walk down Orange Avenue to the Hotel del), Balboa Park (which can easily be seen as part of a zoo day), the Gaslamp Quarter and Little Italy (though the homeless problem downtown is very real), La Jolla Cove, SeaWorld (it has like half a dozen roller coasters now in addition to the marine exhibits) and Newport Beach (of "Arrested Development" fame; it's just south of Huntington and a great beach town for walking, especially Balboa Island).
I can give more info on any of these if you're interested.
(I also echo Jay's post about the Central Coast. It's gorgeous and would be very appealing depending on how many days you ultimately have.)
You're doing Balboa Park and the Zoo in one day?
by PMan , The Banks of the Spokane River, Thursday, June 29, 2023, 09:29 (590 days ago) @ BPH
You move quickly, or way underestimate the awesomeness of the many museums and spaces in the park.
Ha, fair point
by BPH, San Diego, Thursday, June 29, 2023, 09:52 (590 days ago) @ PMan
It was just a poor way of saying that the zoo is actually in Balboa Park and it’s easy to see them one after another (not necessarily in the same day).
I was teasing.
by PMan , The Banks of the Spokane River, Thursday, June 29, 2023, 10:15 (590 days ago) @ BPH
We just did the SD Natural History Museum, the Japanese Friendship Garden, and the Timken in one day. Hit the O'Keeffe/Moore show at SDMA on a different morning.
have you explored the central coast?
by Jay , San Diego, Thursday, June 29, 2023, 08:27 (590 days ago) @ BillyGoat
Since you have to be in Huntington at some point you may want to just focus on the southern half of the state. Big Sur south to Santa Barbara is pretty amazing. San Simeon, elephant seals, Morro Bay, Pismo Beach, central coast wineries, Los Olivos, Santa Barbara.
No, and I'd love to. Which goes more to my feeling that the
by BillyGoat, At Thanksgiving with Joe Bethersontin, Thursday, June 29, 2023, 09:29 (590 days ago) @ Jay
state just can't be adequately done in a single pass.
I don't see any way to cut anything out of the NoCal agenda I've already laid out, and that plus the central coast could easily be a hefty trip in and of itself.