Summer Family Trip

[HotRodZilla]

Ok, I'm looking for input on what to see and do. My daughters, especially my middle daughter, are into Meghan Trainor. My wife started looking for concerts and we are now scheduled to go to San Francisco for the concert on Tuesday, July 21st.

Our plan is to leave here on Friday July 17th and head to Flagstaff. We'll stay the night there and then head to the Grand Canyon all day Saturday. We'll stay in Flagstaff again on Saturday night. Unless someone knows somewhere reasonable to stay near the GC, we chose Flagstaff because GC hotels seem hard to find and are expensive.

Then what? We could drive to Vegas, but it's not really kid friendly. I'd rather take them somewhere cool on the way to SF. Maybe Lake Tahoe. I thought about Death Valley, but I'm thinking it'll be hotter than Hades and I don't know what's there for them to see. We'll stay the night somewhere and then arrive in SF Monday afternoon.

We'll check out SF on Tuesday and then hit the concert. I'd like to get up late on Wednesday and take them to see the Redwoods. Would we go to Redwood Natl. Forest? I'm assuming so, unless there's somewhere better to see them, or enter the area.

We'll spend the night and start heading back to Albuquerque. It's 20 hours, so I'd like to split it up by taking a detour through Zion Natl Park, or something like that. We'd like to be back in Albuquerque on Saturday afternoon/evening cuz C and I have to go to work on Monday.

Is that clear enough? I guess I need help for Sunday between the GC and SF. Then recommendations on where we can stay by the Redwood Forrest and then ideas for the two day trip home.

Any thoughts? I know a lot of you know these areas well, so I thought I'd ask.

Thanks!!

 

[FJRay]

Maybe head out to the coast and follow hwy 1 to the bay area. Stop and see Hearst castle on the way.

 

[07FJRVegas]

For Vegas the Hoover Dam, Red Rock Canyon are good family spots to book end an overnight. Zion is wonderful - went there three times last year. I really like the Best Western in Springdale as they have nice rooms and an exceptional buffet included. Death Valley would be 120ish at that time of year.

 

[erixun]

Hoover dam is by Vegas, but is also usually hotter than hades. Might swing all the way to LA and hit Universal Studios for the day- took the family there last year and had fun. It was expensive though- we paid for the VIP experience and I thought it was worth every penny- made the day more enjoyable with no lines to wait in. Disney land is also by LA-

If you do the Hoover dam thing and Vegas- Vegas does usually have some cheaper hotel deals, and there are some cool things in Vegas for the kids- M&M world, roller coaster on the stratosphere, the shark reef/aquarium at mandalay bay, circus circus has the inside coaster and a floor full of kids stuff, just some thoughts. My kids also liked looking at all the lights on the strip.

 

[exskibum]

Sunday from The GC sounds like a long hot drive that time of year, especially the first 6 or 7 hours. So I'm thinking that you'll be seeking relief the last part of the day. That means either elevation or coastal air conditioning.

EITHER head west to the Cambria area on the coast for the night, maybe visit Hearst Castle. Next day if it isn't too foggy (which means it's h.o.t. in the Central Valley), head north on 1 through Big Sur and on through the Redwoods north of Santa Cruz on your way to S.F.

OR head north and west to 395 north up the back side of the Sierras. (It'll cool off north of Bishop.) One alternative is Lee Vining for the night and then over Tioga (120) through Yosemite Park on the way to SF. Alternatively, get thee all the way to south Lake Tahoe for the night. Suggest 395 north to Monitor Pass (89) through Markleeville to 88 west to Luther Pass (89 north) into Meyers and SLT. Next morning early, head north on 89 along the west shore by Emerald Bay before breakfast in Homewood, Tahoe Park, Tahoe City or Truckee. From Truckee, take old 40 west (Donner Pass Road) by Donner Lake and over Donner Summit on 40 to 80 west (you can stay on old 40 all the way to Cisco Grove before getting on 80 west to San Francisco).

 

[JamesW]

For scenery I enjoyed Zion and the N. side of the G C.

 

[Surly]

Hi A.J.

I see that you have made 5,400 posts and this one is about family time, great stuff. I hope you all have a great time.

 

[HotRodZilla]

I hadn't thought about Hearst Castle. They might like that. They are 12, 7 and 6 if that helps. I thought of Hoover dam but not sure.

There are Redwoods around Santa Cruz? I don't care if we go to the National Park. I just want them to see them. I've never been either, so I think that'd be cool. Crater Lake would be awesome, but may be too far out of the way. We'll be in our Expedition, so no FJR nominal speeds.

 

[Mudslide Miller]

Yeah AJ, I would avoid DV in July. Brutally hot and not much there to see that would interest the kids, except for maybe Scotty's Castle. The new road across Hoover Dam is an engineering marvel and there's a memorial for Pat Tillman and other vets. It's a relatively short stay to see what's there but it's definitely interesting. They used to do tours through the inside of the dam but not sure if they still do. Vegas has some kid friendly stuff as mentioned above, but your best bet for them probably is along the Cali coastline. Best of luck with your summer adventure.

 

[HotRodZilla]

My wife's cousin is an engineer who was heavily involved in the building of the Hoover Dam Bridge. IF we go to Vegas, that'd be who we stay with. I'm not a huge Vegas fan. Don't really like to gamble and the crowds make me nuts. Same reason I'm not a Disney Land, Universal Studios, Knotts Berry Farms fan. We could do one of those if we had to but I'd rather not. I think there's plenty of beautiful stuff outside that we can see.

The coastline is a good idea, and I'll probably stick with Zion. Just don't want it to suck! Haha...

 

[Abercrombie FJR]

My wife's cousin is an engineer who was heavily involved in the building of the Hoover Dam Bridge. IF we go to Vegas, that'd be who we stay with. I'm not a huge Vegas fan. Don't really like to gamble and the crowds make me nuts. Same reason I'm not a Disney Land, Universal Studios, Knotts Berry Farms fan. We could do one of those if we had to but I'd rather not. I think there's plenty of beautiful stuff outside that we can see.
The coastline is a good idea, and I'll probably stick with Zion. Just don't want it to suck! Haha...

Your going on a road trip with four ladies and you don't want it to suck?

Just kidding, road trips are always an adventure. I sure wish I would have taken more time from working all my jobs to do a few more road trips when my sons were still young.

 

[ionbeam]

In San Simeon there is both the Hearst Castle and an elephant seal rookery on the coast. The seals are BIG, interesting, smelly and sometimes engage in rough behavior.

Beware that San Simeon puts you dangerously close to that Carver guy.

On up Rt 1, the Monterey Aquarium is awesome and IMO, worth the stop. Your kids will probably burn more than half a day there. There is also the chance to see sea otters and seals. I would recommend getting to the Aquarium when it first opens in the morning.

Big Basin with redwoods is located about 25 miles northwest of Santa Cruz. There are some really nice motorcycle roads in this area (too bad about the kids). This is smallish area of BIG trees but as good as it gets without going up the Avenue of Giants. There are also waterfalls in the area. This also puts you in the area of Alice’s Restaurant (with lots of nice motorcycle roads), but while there are interesting things at Alice's and really good food at the restaurant the kids probably won’t be impressed.

On the eastern side of Ca, over by Mono Lake is the ghost gold mining town of Bodie.

While Crater Lake is beautiful and the geological history interesting, your kids may find it to be, “Like, so what else does it do?”

On the other hand, the Lassen Volcano road up the mountain is dramatic and beautiful. There is one road side bubbling mud pot but farther on there is a park ‘n hike board walk that offers volcanic sights and smells similar to Yellow Stone.

In trade to some of the above, if you can get over to Sequoia and Yosemite the scenery is stunning, but so are some of the summer crowds. Don’t even think of trying to stay in or near Yosemite park.

When I have more time to write, I have more suggestions .

See some pixs from San Jose north to Or, then back south down the eastern Ca state. I have pixs from San Jose to San Simeon including the aforementioned sites but they aren't posted but available if you have anything you want to see.

 

[Allen_C]

Going up the coast on PCH is a great idea, especially if anyone likes beaches and the ocean. If not, and interests are more in mountains and forests, go through Yosemite and Lake Tahoe. Both are beautiful and lots of places to stop and take in nature. Yosemite has a small grove of redwoods you can hike to or just search for all the scenic locations in the Ansel Adams photographs.

Enjoy!

 

[Bugnatr]

Can't go wrong with a road trip up the coast. Kids always love the ocean but remember with the fog it can be quite chilly so bring some warm clothes.

Check in with Tyler, she knows the central coast better than most folks.

 

[wheatonFJR]

I hadn't thought about Hearst Castle. They might like that. They are 12, 7 and 6 if that helps. I thought of Hoover dam but not sure.
There are Redwoods around Santa Cruz? I don't care if we go to the National Park. I just want them to see them. I've never been either, so I think that'd be cool. Crater Lake would be awesome, but may be too far out of the way. We'll be in our Expedition, so no FJR nominal speeds.

Yeah, I would follow skibum's advice on his go to the coast then North. We did a family trip and did the Hearst Castle on our way up the coast from Cambria.

Redwoods will be in the area between Santa Cruz and SF...have fun on your trip!

 

[exskibum]

There are several "redwood" state parks in California - just blow up the map on Google maps. From Big Basin north of Santa Cruz, there are a few such places between the coast and the population centers of San Jose and the SF Peninsula communities to the east. (Seek Tyler's input, esp. in this area.) All have redwood groves of decent size, but the real big ones are mostly further north - Avenue of the Giants north of Garberville maybe the best for stunning sizes, and the National Park designated Area alongside other redwood state parks is up by Trinidad, north of Eureka. (I guess you need to get out here on an FJR when we do a more or less annual molestation of the north west coast and coast range.)

My problem with sending you too far north after the concert Tuesday is your understandable desire to see Zion. You may want to spend most of a day out of the car there on foot. Really. Having said that, the coast north of SF has some real beauty, but the further north you are Wednesday evening, the tougher to get to Zion on Thursday. So I'd consider ending Wednesday in the Sierras (as far south as possible) where there is lots to see - Bodie, west or east shore of Tahoe, Lee Vining and/or hot springs out of Mammoth Lakes. Lotsa beauty, cooler temps, history, etc.

Use Thursday to get to Zion and consider spending all day Friday in the park using the tour busses for sightseeing and access to some hiking (6 and 7 year old limitations considered). It's gonna be a long hot day heading southeast across Nevada. On the Hwy.50 route, Great Basin Nat'l Park (just west of the Nevada/Utah border) has the Lehman cave tours as a possible break from the heat of the day long trek from the Sierras to Zion, but you might have to call ahead to reserve spots on a 1 or 2 hour tour. Or you can do 120/6 east to Tonopah, then east and southeast over Extraterrestrial Hwy, then through Caliente, etc. Either route is probably going to be mostly boring for kids. (Should you do triple digit pursuit speeds across Nevada and have extra time, consider a stop to see Cedar Breaks Nat. Monument east of Cedar City - much like Bryce Canyon.)

 

[wheatonFJR]

Skibum will not steer you wrong.

I kid you not!

 

[Goodman4]

Good suggestions so far. My best memories of Cali are the Sequoias, but it does get kind of crowded. We avoided Yosemite due to the crowds. My brother used to live in Ridgecrest and now lives in the Lake Isabella / Bakersfield area south of the Sierras.

My girls were close to your younger ones' ages when we took them to Glacier in Montana in the car back in 2000. I don't think they cared about seeing much from the car and don't remember it. They remember the visits with family and that's about it. But my great-nephew who is also that age loves to travel with his grandma (my sister) all over the place in the car. It depends on their personality.

I liked Mono Bay too. Mammoth in Summer was nice and it was cooler. We saw devils postpile and several areas where there had been earthquake activity but some of that is running together in my mind. I remember most the immense variety of the mountains, desert and ocean.

I think the redwood parks would be good, too. I just haven't been that far north.

 

[NightShine]

Wednesday morning still in the SF area? You don't have to go far for Redwoods. How about just:

https://www.nps.gov/muwo/index.htm

?