Hey guys,

As the title states, I booked flights for my next family holidays to the West Coast USA.

We fly into SanFransisco and fly out of LA in April 18.

Would love to hear from you guys on what to plan while there.

My family consists of my wife and I and my two girls 16 & 11 and the girls love anything shopping/movie wise and of course we all love the car scene.

Below is my very basic itinerary but still looking for hotels (minimum 4Star), things to do, places to stay, car rental & car meets, workshops to visit etc.

San Fransisco (3 days)
- Alcatraz Tour
- Golden Gate Bridge bike tour
- Fishermans Wharf
- Big Bus hop on hop off tour

Drive renter car along Cabrillo Highway halfway to LA (One night). Not sure where best to stop for the night, any suggestions where and what to do???

Then sticking to the coast make our way to LA. (5 days)
- Universal Studios
- Hollywood
- Shopping
- Disneyland
- Santa Monica Pier/Beach

Rental car wise, I was just going to hire a car for the road trip from San Fransisco to LA and would need a SUV to carry all the suitcases.

Not to sure if there's anywhere that rents out G63's but that would be my pick of vehicle for this road trip.

Any suggestions on what to do, hotels to stay at etc would be greatly appreciated.

 

Car rental in San Francisco centre will be very limited in choice. Best choice will be at the airport, but trade off is that parking in San Fran can be very expensive.

If the Pacific Coast Highway is open when you go then its well worth going down that route but doing it in 2 days will mean long days and missing out on much of what to do on the way down.. Many choose to stop at Monterey as there is lots to do there (Aquarium, Whale watching tours, Carmel, 17 mile drive etc) then people usually head down to Morro Bay / Pismo Beach / Santa Barbara areas for the next night.

When you get to LA, you will need at least two locations as LA is vast and it can take 1.5 hours to get from the Hollywood are down to Disney in Anaheim. So you will want to split those. There is a Hilton close to Universal which would make a good base for that area.

There is loads to do movie and car wise in LA. Worth doing the Warner Bros Studio tour. If you are into the Fast and Furious films then there are filming locations you can see such as the Neptunes Rest near Malibu, Toretto's house, Market etc http://www.seeing-stars.com/Location...dFurious.shtml

You are going to be pushing it to see much though if that is what you want to do. Disney is 2-3 days so doesn't leave you much time for everything else you could do in LA, especially if you do go down PCH and take in things on that route.

 

As far as the hotel if you like something more modern check out http://www.stregissanfrancisco.com or if something more traditional http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels.../san-francisco is always a safe bet.
I would rent the car at the airport either from Sixt or Hertz. You should have no problem renting GLS but not every Hertz/Sixt branch has G550/G63 available.It would be easier to rent G63 in LA.
I would definitely stop by Carmel and 17 mile drive and Santa Barbara on the way to LA.

 

Definitely recommend stopping in Big Sur for a night on the way to LA. Absolutely beautiful place to spend a day/night and take a break from the PCH.

I’m biased, but I’d spend some time in Malibu to check out the beaches (Point Dume), grab food at a nice restaurant (Nobu if you want some of the best sushi), and there are plenty of Canyon roads with gorgeous overlooks which are an absolute blast to drive on (maybe not in a G wagen though).

I’ve driven up the coast from LA to Monterey (I agree that’s worth stopping to see as well, Laguna Seca is there too), and it’s a beautiful drive. Been to SoCal more than I can count and lived there a few years ago... love it there.

 

Thought you should know this as its unlikely to open as early as April. Monterey and Carmel are a must see if you're thinking of seeing the California coast.


https://www.cntraveler.com/story/cal...il-summer-2018

 

Wow, thanks everyone for your feedback.

Great info for me to research and deffinately good to know regarding the highway closure.

Is the alternate route to LA worth driving or should we stick to the coastal road and just accept the detours???

I will have to get an update from you guys closer to heading over in April.

On the the subject of Disneyland, my kids are older, 16 & 11... I know my 11 year old will love to go to Disneyland but the rest of us could give it a miss.

Is this something we could get away with only doing a day trip???

Also, will change the trip down to LA to to stops as suggested.

Thanks for all the info, I'm off to do some research now.

 

Alternative route is the boring freeway unfortunately. Many at the moment are doing the route down past Monterey then doubling back and going across to the freeway and down

Disney is two parks which are opposite each other. You could do much of the bits they would be interested in over one long day, but not all, so only you can decide. If it is a theme park you want, then there is Six Flags Magic Mountain just north of LA that you will near enough pass which has the big roller coasters at it so that may be an alternative.

 

 

You'll need to get tickets soon- it's popular. https://www.beachblanketbabylon.com

 

Don’t waste your time in Hollywood. It sucks. It’s just trashy attractions run by shady people, and the walk of fame smells like ****. 400ixl’s suggestion of doing the Warner Bros lot tour is a better option. Santa Monica pier is also a tourist trap but it’s not filthy like Hollywood is. Venice Beach has a cool skatepark but the boardwalk is mega trash. Abbott Kinney Blvd’s a much nicer part of Venice to visit. Lots of boutiques that appeal to wives and daughters. Parking in Venice can be a headache depending on the day of the week and what the weather is like. If it’s a warm and sunny Sunday then parking becomes very difficult and expensive by late morning. Disneyland is in Anaheim and you’ll want to stay close to the park the night before you intend to visit otherwise you’lol spend too much time in traffic trying to get there. While you’re in Anaheim visit Portillo’s Hot Dogs. Get a dipped Italian beef sandwich. There are some outlet shops in that area, too.

Talking about shopping, you can go as crazy as your wallet will take you. Beverly Hills has flagship Chanel and Louis Vuitton boutiques along with Dior, Margiela, Gucci, Burberry, two St. Laurent stores, a flagship Rolex store (Geary’s), Audemars Piguet, plus a well-stocked Barney’s of NY. There’s also the Beverly Center, The Grove and Farmers’ Market, and the Westfield Century City. There’s a McLaren dealership not far off of Rodeo Drive and Mercedes-Benz of Beverly Hills always has the eye candy on display. If you head east from Beverly Hills you’ll end up in West Hollywood, which is a completely different world than Hollywood proper. Melrose Avenue has a ton of boutiques. There’s a flagship Leica Store and gallery on Beverly Blvd if you’re into photography. And there are a lot of high end furniture and decorating stores along that stretch, too. If your daughters are more into streetwear there’s a Supreme store, Flight Club, and others. You will see more G wagons in one afternoon than you can count.

 

 

A few things I didn't see mentioned already:
San Francisco - Another hotel option to consider is the historic Fairmont Hotel. It on the top of *** Hill, has great view, and was featured in a number of movies. the Tongo Room in the Fairmont is an interesting place to get a drink or appetizer. Also on *** Hill is the Mark Hopkin Hotel, also featured in movies (Bullitt among others) which also has the Top of the Mark, a bar at the top with a lot of history.
Not mentioned already of San Francisco is driving to Coit Tower on Telegraph hill for a panoramic view of the bay. For a workout, you can walk-run the 980 steps from the Embarcadero to the base of Coit Tower. Google it if you're interested - It's a great workout.
It's touristy, but drive your car down Lombard Street ("The World's Most Crookedest Street"), It doesn't take long.
Also touristy, but a worth see, is drive over the Golden Gate to Muir Woods. It's the quickest, easiest redwood forest to see and really beautiful.
The maritime museum at fisherman's wharf has some cool ships you can tour, included the Jeremiah O'Brien, a Liberty Ship where they filmed some of Titanic. Not sure if this would sell to teen-age daughters, however... If you continue walking west from Fisherman's Wharf, you can walk through the Aquatic park, over the hill at Fort Mason, into the Marina Green, and on to Crissy Field and ultimately Fort Point under the Golden Gate Bridge. It's a long walk, but you can do as much as you want and then drive the rest. You can usually find parking around the Marina Green or in Crissy Field. You can really take in bay along this path.
April is a good time to go to San Francisco: It's before the majority of June Gloom fog, though you can get fog there any time, and historically, there has been a warm spell in April. You will likely need a coat however, as it will be cool and windy at least some of the time.

Going south:
Lot's of good wineries in Paso Robles, if you are inclined, as well as farther south in the Santa Inez Valley at Buellton and Solvang.
A good place to stop between San Francisco and LA is at Heart Castle in San Simeon, it's pretty impressive.
San Luis Obispo is a good mid-way stopping point along the route, though any where from San Simeon to Buellton and Solvang would work depending on where and how much you plan to stop along the way.

I'll leave LA to the people that know it better than me.

 

Hearst Castle was interesting. I went there with my g/f last year and had fun. We also stopped at Nitt Witt Ridge in Cambria (not too long of a drive away) and both of us really enjoyed that. It was a short little tour.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitt_Witt_Ridge

The Winchester Mystery House in San Jose is also a cool place to check out. I didn't see it mentioned yet.

http://www.winchestermysteryhouse.com/

 

 

I'll second Hearst Castle. I was glad I made a stop there back when I did a San Diego to San Francisco drive way back in 1996. I also didn't think much of Hollywood itself. Even a rental is fun on PCH, to the extent that you're willing to back off occasionally or stop at a scenic turnout to build a gap ahead of you and get a nice run on some curves. Also requires some like-minded passengers. Hopefully the fires won't impact your route.
I remember Hertz at SFO had a good variety of nice cars a few months ago... Don't remember seeing a G-wagon but I wasn't looking for one
I will warn that SFO is infamous for flight delays due to fog.

If you're thinking about Disneyland, I suggest looking at touringplans.com and the book those guys wrote. Basically you want to be in line before the park opens and hit the most popular rides first instead of just wandering around. Otherwise you burn all day waiting in line. That means dedicating two mornings if you want to do both DisneyLand and the California Adventure parks. Do something else in the afternoon when it gets crowded and warm. If you follow that strategy, know which park has early entry hours for guests staying "on site" and avoid it unless you are one of those guests.

What I hate about CA is that even dumpy hotels cost a bunch compared to most other places in the country, but maybe I'm just more likely to stay in a big city when I visit.

Hope you have a great time!

 

This was full of great information for you. I would also suggest heading a little further south and checking out the glorious South OC coastline in Laguna Beach-DanaPoint.

 

I recommend going to the top of the San Francisco Marriott hotel in the later evening. It has iconic architecture and fantastic views in all directions. There is a bar and restaurant but there is no pressure if you just want to look.

Another option is to take the ferry (from near Fisherman's Wharf) over to Jack London Square in Oakland. There are often daytime events and a lot of good restaurants. It is also a short taxi/Uber ride to Oakland's China Town. I think the general Chinese food there is better than in San Francisco (except the Dim Sum, go to SF's China town for that @ ~11am). Make Oakland a daytime or early evening trip, it can be a bit scary after 9:30-10pm.

Points South, stay in Cayucas, just North of Moro Bay. It is much cheaper (and easier to book or get something last minute), and both towns have good restaurants.

An odd tourist spot in Los Angeles is the County Morgue. It has a tourist shop that sells branded coffee mugs etc.

I agree with other comments about going South of LA. Ports of Call is a huge fish market and eating spot in San Pedro (go around back of the fancy restaurants). Next South is Long Beach. It is nice to drive around. Further South is Huntington Beach, there are almost always weekend events there. Yet a little further South is Newport Beach, full of nice yachts and Ferraris that people park on the streets because their houses are too small to include a garage (its tough to be rich).

 

 

Hey All,

Well its time to start booking accomodation mainly for the road trip two nights stay from San Francisco to LA and whilst in LA.

Whilst in San Francisco I was thinking of somewhere in the Fishermans Wharf area.

For the trip down I was thinking of stopping for the night at Monterey then down to Santa Barbara.

My biggest road block at the moment is where to stay in LA.

I found a sweet apartment in Hollywood that I was thinking of booking, however, when I mentioned it to a friend at work he suggested not staying in the city as it was quite dangerous at night.

What do you all think of this?

 

Some parts of Hollywood can be a bit seedy so not the nicest of areas to stay in. LA is also a massive place to get across. For example to get from the Hollywood area to Anaheim (Disney) may only be 35 miles but it will take between 90-120 minutes to do it.

I would suggest a split stay. Start off in the north, maybe somewhere like Burbank where you can do Hollywood, Universal Studios, Warner Bros Studio Tour all within 20 minutes drive. You could also do a drive across Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive to Santa Monica in about an hour from there as well. Then when you want to go to Disney, go down and stay at Anaheim to be local for that. There really isn't much else of interest within 30 minutes drive of Anaheim (other than the sports stadium if you want to see a NHL game).

As car and movie fans, have a look for locations for Fast and Furious if that is a film of interest. There are various locations in LA from the Torretto house to the Sandiwch bar round the corner to the race across the rail line scene. North of LA is the road they did the Paul Walker goodbye and in Valencia is where he unfortunately died.

For your other locations, Fishermans Wharf is a good area for tourists and you can walk to many attractions such as the Alcatraz ferry pier, or the cable car turntable. Monterrey is nice, maybe look to see if you can stay in Carmel which is just around the corner and plenty of choice in Santa Barbara. Just remember the Highway 1 is currently closed and not likely to open until late summer 2018 now. http://www.bigsurcalifornia.org/highway_conditions.html

 

 

Oh yeah, if you're in town for the GP of LB that's a great time. There's usually a very impressive exotic car corral, too. The only time I've ever seen an SLR Stirling Moss in person was at one of those events.

 

 

 

The following shows a map of where the closure is http://www.bigsurcalifornia.org/highway_conditions.html, with their blog giving up to date info at http://thebigsurblog.com/

They do have a link to a route across Nacimiento-Fergusson Road but you would be fairly brave to take that route IMO https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=17R3toKlpraivDeP9X8IH1v08JOo&ll=35.9889 7364529204%2C-121.48784864791872&z=16

This is the road they suggest https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@35.9863774,-121.4898816,3a,75y,264.8h,68.27t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sRQMx3zOG0qCqueVN30w3lQ!2e0!7i1 3312!8i6656

Most people are going down Highway 1 to Big Sur and then doubling back up to Monterrey, going across the 68, down the 101 and across the 46 to Cambria, and back up highway 1 to San Simeon for the Seals and then down from there.

We had front of line passes for Universal the first time we went (in August) but didn't bother the second time (again in August) as we found we could get around everything in the day without them. Are you getting VIP tickets for the extended studio tour, or just to queue jump? If the latter unless you are there for Spring Break at this time of year I don't think you will need them, or at most FoL passes. If you buy your tickets off of the Universal website you get entry an hour early into Harry Potter world which allows you to get this done before the main opening where you can get down to the Studio tour and get that done and out of the way.