12 Days to spend in California

[JunieJay]

Those of you who know the state fairly well, how would you spend 12 days in California? Would you try to see a lot of the entire state or would you limit it to one area? Its so hard for me to judge, not knowing traffic or how long each attraction takes to tour. I know we want to stay a couple of days at the beach (not sure which beach although I have been given good recommendations so far), I know we want to do the Hollywood thing, and I know we want to go to the San Diego Zoo. I'd love to do a few days in San Francisco...I also want to do Monterey and that area, but thinking maybe its best to concentrate on So. California this trip and doing Northern and Central California on another trip. Then again, its not cheap for us to fly out from D.C.......California is just so overwhelmingly HUGE!! LOL! With so many things to see, its hard to know where to draw the line.

In your opinion, what would be an ideal itinerary for 12 days?

 

[mott]

I'd suggest concentrating on So. CA if you only have 12 days. Then next time, you can do central/No. CA.

With all the things you mentioned wanting to see/do in So. CA plus at least 3 days in DL, you'll use most if not all of those days.

I'm not an expert on the area, but if no one else replies, I can give you my suggestions...

 

[KimAshton]

Do not forget Calforinia is a big state. I would stick to Southern CA this trip and if you ever get out again do Northern. San Fran is beautiful.

 

[Judy from Boise]

Snoopy ,how many days are you thinking for DLR ? You are thinking about DLR ..........right!

Are you wanting to go to the Getty Museum to feed your artist's soul?

Do the boys want to try surfing?

 

[ScooterL]

Unless you really want to just get a taste of things (and you don't mind doing a lot of driving) I'd echo what previous posters have recommended and suggest that you concentrate on southern California. But it depends on what you enjoy. I myself kind of like the commando-see-a-little-bit-of-lots-of-different-places kind of trip, and it gives me an idea of places I want to go back to later and spend more time...and also shows me places that I don't want to waste my time!

But for southern California...it depends on what you like to do. If your family is into roller coasters and thrills, then in addition to DL you might also be interested in Knott's Berry Farm, Magic Mountain, and Universal Studios. There's lot of things to do in San Diego - Sea World and the Zoo/Wild Animal Park, Balboa Park, the Midway, the beaches. And you could visit the desert and go to Palm Springs and take the tram up San Jacinto (where it's way cooler than it is in the desert!) There's also Hollywood, Solvang, and Santa Barbara.

What kinds of activities does your family enjoy?

 

[tracys2cents]

You can do it all in 12 days, especially if you fly into San Francisco and fly home from San Diego or LAX.

3 nights in San Fran, two nights in Monterey/Carmel which could also be your "beach time", one day down the coast with maybe a night in Santa Barbara, 4 nights Los Angeles/Anaheim and 1 or 2 nights San Diego.

If that's two much I'd cut out San Diego and visit the L.A. Zoo and Wild West Museum as a nice alternative. If your kids are into Legos however, going further south for both Legoland and the SD Zoo would be a must.

 

[birkner]

Those of you who know the state fairly well, how would you spend 12 days in California? Would you try to see a lot of the entire state or would you limit it to one area? Its so hard for me to judge, not knowing traffic or how long each attraction takes to tour. I know we want to stay a couple of days at the beach (not sure which beach although I have been given good recommendations so far), I know we want to do the Hollywood thing, and I know we want to go to the San Diego Zoo. I'd love to do a few days in San Francisco...I also want to do Monterey and that area, but thinking maybe its best to concentrate on So. California this trip and doing Northern and Central California on another trip. Then again, its not cheap for us to fly out from D.C.......California is just so overwhelmingly HUGE!! LOL! With so many things to see, its hard to know where to draw the line.

In your opinion, what would be an ideal itinerary for 12 days?

I would fly into SFO, spend 3 in SFO, drive to Monterey, tour the area and spend the night. From Monterey, you can drive down to Los Angeles, spend about 3 days in the LA area and then drive to San Diego and spend the last 3 days in San Diego. I would fly home from San Diego.

If you book early enough, you should be able to get two reasonable flights one way on SWA.

This itinerary is quite easy to do and you can pick the things you want to do in each place. I have done this with visitors many times from all over the world.

Recap:

3 in San Francisco area
2 in Monterey (including overnight)
4 in Los Angeles area (including drive from Monterey)
3 in San Diego area

 

[Blahnde]

Clearly you are getting mixed messages so far and my question to you is … how much time do you want to spend in your rental car?

If you want to drive the coast of California then you could “see” San Francisco, Monterey, Los Angeles, and San Diego. You will spend the majority of 3 days in the car: SF to Monterey = 3-4 hours, Monterey to LA = 8-10 hours, and LA to SD = 3-4 hours. These counts are without stops or major traffic congestion. Unless the twelve does not count travel days to and from DC, you are already down to 10 which now leaves only 7 days to “see” 4 LARGE cities. This type of trip reminds me of those European tours where you go to 7 countries in 10 days … it’s Tuesday, we must be in Austria! It is not my kind of trip, but it may be yours.

I suspect that a priority is to go to Disneyland and if so, I would say focus on Southern California only. There are a TON of things to do as I am sure you are well aware. However, even if you just stay in Southern California you should prepare to spend a lot of time in the car … traffic is not just a nasty rumor, it is a harsh reality. I used to commute 12 miles one-way at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. and it took 45 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes each way every day! People look on Mapquest or Streets & Trips and think, “Well, it’s just 10 miles … I’ll be there in 15 minutes.” Not in LA, LA, Land!

I don’t want to go too far off base, but I have to say beware of the “Hollywood thing.” Do you know what Times Square in NYC was like in the ‘80’s … Hollywood today is very similar. Couple of famous theaters, the Fredrick’s of Hollywood “museum,” some brass stars on the sidewalk, some hookers on the stroll, some handprints in cement, some street kids begging for money to shoot heroin in the alley … this does not say family vacation destination to me, but everyone’s different. Now Griffith Observatory where they shot some of “Rebel Without a Cause” (and MANY other movies!), which is on the hill with the “Hollywood” sign, where you have a beautiful view of all of Los Angeles, and where they have scientific and astronomical exhibits … this is more like the family entertainment I suspect you are looking for. And it still fulfills some of the “Hollywood thing.”

So my vote is Southern California only, but as I said in the beginning … how much time do you want to spend in your rental car?

Blahnde

 

[sharonrs50]

Blahnde's description of "Hollywood" is accurate.

Hollywood can best be seen also by touring Universal Studios, especially the tram tour part, because it is a working studio.

Also, tour of Warner Brothers http://www2.warnerbros.com/vipstudiotour/ I have not been on it personally, but I have heard very good things about it.

There is so much to see in So. Calif. that I agree - save San Francisco and central CA for another trip. San Diego and Los Angeles together are definitely doable in your time span, as long as you don't mind driving.

Sharon

 

[mshrm]

Youve been given alot of good advice but I will ad my .02....

We go for about the same time as you, last trip was 14 days this one will be 12 days. Im originally from California so I have the freeways down pretty well and can get around, but if your not familar that can be an issue.

Personally I would choose one area or the other. We do both but never the same trip. When in southern CA we usually buy the pass that includes Disney(3days), Universal, SD Zoo and Sea World. Both the anaheim area and the San Diego area are great and i would split the time up.

Norhthern CA is so great too. When we go there we spend time in San Fran then usually work our way up to the Redwoods. Its all so beautiful.

Its not too much fun to spend your vacation in the car and that can easily happen in CA with the traffic and size of the state. You can have fantastic trip doing either but I would definately choose.

Either way have a blast!