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Post by bingcherry on Apr 24, 2016 1:23:55 GMT
My DH and I are trying to plan our June vacation. We are spending 4 nights in Las Vegas (Mon-Fri) and then were planning on going to California for a week. It's such a huge state that I am a bit overwhelmed.
Would love some suggestions for regular touristy and off the beaten path things. We aren't planning to do Disney or Universal as we live in Orlando. Sea World is probably out too for the same reason. We love wine so might spend a day or two in Napa valley.
Thanks in advance.
Sharon
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quiltz
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,840
Location: CANADA
Jun 29, 2014 16:13:28 GMT
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Post by quiltz on Apr 24, 2016 1:40:09 GMT
What part of California & how will you get there from Vegas?
Renting a car from one area (location ex. Vegas) and dropping it off at a different area (location ex.Oakland) can be an expensive option.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Sept 29, 2024 22:33:28 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2016 1:53:04 GMT
Pick a part of the state and then plan according to that area.
Just my 2cents...Napa is fine but Central CA coast wine is as good, even better with some varieties. And cheaper. Napa tasting rooms charge but most. Central CA tasting rooms don't. If you want to wine tast check out Paso Robles Wineries.
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Post by tallgirl on Apr 24, 2016 1:54:52 GMT
We are heading there for two weeks this summer and our itinerary is as follows…
Arrive LAX
1 night LA
Three nights along the Pacific Coast Highway to San Francisco
3 nights Lake Tahoe
3 nights Yosemite
1 night Santa Monica
3 nights Disneyland
You are also pretty close to Death Valley and could incorporate that. There is a lot we aren't going to see, but the state is just too big to see it all in one trip.
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Post by 2peafaithful on Apr 24, 2016 1:57:32 GMT
What part of California & how will you get there from Vegas? Renting a car from one area (location ex. Vegas) and dropping it off at a different area (location ex.Oakland) can be an expensive option. So very true. We just got back from CA and we flew into LAX and out of SNA (John Wayne Airport) which is about 40 or so miles from LAX and we had rented a car for a week. Our rental was $300 a very fun convertible VW bug. My dh takes care of flights and car rentals on trips. I take care of where we stay, things we are going to go do, places to eat, etc. He has rented a car dozens and dozens of times. But for some reason this time this detail escaped him (likely overload and the reason we needed to getaway) and we drove the 45 mins longer to SNA. We had prepaid for the car and went to drop it off. The guy gave us a receipt and my dh said oh I already paid for it. The man handed him a receipt and it was for $1400. It was $1100 more to drop it off roughly 40 miles away. I stood there calm as can be and said lets go into the office. We went in and spoke to a clerk and he said I can have you talk to my manager. We spoke to the manager and he said I would love to help you but it has to be handled with the manager at LAX since that is where it is from. So we were going to have to leave with that hanging over us. My dh stood there flustered with himself for making the error. Than before we knew it the manager said Oh I fixed it! He said something about a solution he thought of that he had never once though of prior to that moment and it worked. He printed us out a receipt with being returned at LAX and no additional charge. We have visited lots of places in CA but never farther north than Monterey and the Carmel area. My sister loves Napa and goes often. Have fun planning your trip. |
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Post by katlady on Apr 24, 2016 2:34:56 GMT
If you do Napa, I would just stay up in the north, maybe go to Mendocino, Fort Bragg, cruise down to Sausalito and San Francisco, go as far south as Carmel/Monterey.
There are also wineries down south in Temecula, which is just north of San Diego County. And then in the south you have San Diego ( La Jolla, the Zoo, Balboa Park, Julian, etc). There is also Palm Springs. And you are still close enough if you want to hit the L.A. area (Getty Museum, Santa Monica, Hollywood, etc.). Downtown L.A. also has a couple of cool museums.
Are you flying? Driving? From Las Vegas to any major part of California takes a good 4-6 hours of driving. And I wouldn't try to do both northern and southern California in one week, unless you don't mind a lot of driving.
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Post by dealsamongus on Apr 24, 2016 5:48:17 GMT
Depends on where you stay - I lived in both San Diego and the Central Coast (Santa Barbara).. all are beautiful!
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Post by kristi on Apr 24, 2016 5:51:26 GMT
California is awesome & big! I love the Pacific Coast Hwy to San Francisco.
Highlights: Big Sur, Monterey, Hearst Castle, Santa Barbara, Alcatraz, Tahoe & Yosemite.
Palm Springs/Joshua Tree, Death Valley & San Diego are great as well.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Sept 29, 2024 22:33:28 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2016 6:57:34 GMT
I'm in San Luis Obispo County. Lots of beauty and fun here - Hearst Castle, wineries, beaches, etc. If you have any questions about this area, I'm happy to help! LA is amazing but you sit in traffic a lot so if I had only a week I'd skip it. SF seems easier to get around and is more interesting imho. Yosemite, Tahoe, amazing! It really depends on what you guys like to do - shop, look at scenery, hike, foodies, thrill seekers, etc. Let us know your interests and we can help you narrow it down  |
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Post by omarakbt on Apr 24, 2016 7:07:15 GMT
We have pretty much anything you want to do state wide and such great distances that it's impossible to do even close to all in one visit WE have wine tasting in multiple areas, Temecula, the coast, Napa Sonoma and some in the western sierras. We have zip lining We have gorgeous National parks ( Yosemite, Sequoia, King's Canyon Death Valley Lassen) We have hiking fishing hot springs and places to do nothing but relax. Beautiful tourist places such as Hearst Castle, B&B's up and down the state We live here and we never tire of seeing our beautiful state This year is an outstanding year in Yosemite The waterfalls are full for the first time in four years. San francisco is always gorgeous and their are redwoods just across the bay in Muir Woods Monterey and Carmel are gorgeous costal towns.
In SF you can take walking food tours,tour Alcatraz ( reserve in advance) take a sail boat cruise of the bay ( look at groupon, living social and goldstar for discounted tickets to things like the sailing cruise walking tours etc)
Don't push too much Pick an area and really enjoy that area.
Diane
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LeaP
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,939 
Location: Los Angeles, CA where 405 meets 101
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Post by LeaP on Apr 24, 2016 15:29:50 GMT
As others above have said, it is a huge state so you are better off picking one area. If you haven't been, San Francisco is pretty spectacular. Napa and Sonoma are an easy drive north and Monterey/Carmel are an easy drive south. Yosemite is a longer drive east and is not a day trip.
The drive from Las Vegas to Los Angeles is long and can be full of traffic. A lot of European tourists go north through Death Valley. It too is a long drive, so with just a week you are better off flying. Los Angeles doesn't wear its charm on its sleeve. It has great museums, the ocean, good food but you will sit on the freeways getting anywhere.
San Diego has Balboa Park which includes the zoo. La Jolla is by the beach and is a good place to be a tourist.
If it is wine you love, Paso Robles is a nice quiet area to visit.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Sept 29, 2024 22:33:28 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2016 15:45:47 GMT
Driving from Vegas to Napa and back is hard. It's about 600 miles apart and traffic can be horrible. You won't regret visiting, but keep in mind that you'd essentially spend a fair portion of two days just being on the road.
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luvnlifelady
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,428
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Post by luvnlifelady on Apr 24, 2016 18:18:32 GMT
There are also nice wineries in Temecula along with Indian casinos if that's your thing. It's not too far from all the attractions of San Diego.
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Post by lucyg on Apr 24, 2016 18:31:51 GMT
Fly from Las Vegas to San Francisco (or any Bay Area airport) and rent a car there. It's a great, central location for the other places you might like to visit, assuming you don't want to do Southern California, of course. And don't listen to those Central Coast/Valley girls about their wine!  You need to visit Napa and Sonoma first. |
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You need to visit Napa and Sonoma first.