California area Travel Advice

[Travman 6]

My girlfriend and I are going to California and I just wanted to get some advice on what to do, where to go etc from people that know the area. Its not a skydiving holiday at all (I jump, she doesn't).
We arrive in LA on 13 June and fly out from LA 1 July.
Planning on linking up with friends in Vegas, they are there for 1 night on 17 June.
We would like to go to the beaches in LA, probably check out Hollywood, shopping and my girlfriend wants to have a go in the iFly tunnel in Hollywood.
We also want to go to the Grand Canyon, maybe Death Valley, San Francisco and Disney Land (fulfill my childhood dream).
We are thinking of staying in LA first few nights, then driving to Vegas and staying there for a few nights, then driving to San Francisco and then back to LA. Though I've had people recommend staying in Anaheim for Disneyland.
So any advice would be great, thanks.

[quade 4]

Were you going to travel to all of those locations by car or hop flights between them?

Hopping flights would be awesome. Driving by car would need to be planned out pretty well otherwise you'd be wasting a LOT of time and especially if you're using LA as a hub rather than just as a place to pass through.

From LA and by car;
San Francisco is about 8 hours north.
Vegas is about 5 hours north east.
Grand Canyon about 8 hours east.
Anaheim/Disneyland about 2 hours south east.

Nothing you've mentioned is simply a day out and back except Hollywood, the beaches and Disneyland.

I'd break the trip up into chunks;

San Francisco
LA, Hollywood, Beaches, Disneyland
Vegas, Grand Canyon

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[MakeItHappen 15]

Quote

My girlfriend and I are going to California and I just wanted to get some advice on what to do, where to go etc from people that know the area. Its not a skydiving holiday at all (I jump, she doesn't).
We arrive in LA on 13 June and fly out from LA 1 July.
Planning on linking up with friends in Vegas, they are there for 1 night on 17 June.
We would like to go to the beaches in LA, probably check out Hollywood, shopping and my girlfriend wants to have a go in the iFly tunnel in Hollywood.
We also want to go to the Grand Canyon, maybe Death Valley, San Francisco and Disney Land (fulfill my childhood dream).
We are thinking of staying in LA first few nights, then driving to Vegas and staying there for a few nights, then driving to San Francisco and then back to LA. Though I've had people recommend staying in Anaheim for Disneyland.
So any advice would be great, thanks.

I would suggest
hollywood/Anahiem beachs first couple of days
LV then
Bryce, Zion Nat'l parks, then North rim of Grand Canyon.
Back track to Cali and hit
King's Canyon, Sequoia and Yosemite parks on the way to SF.
Then take PCH south back to LA.

There is a camp ground (Jacob's lake or something like that) about 10-20 miles outside the North entrance of Grand Canyon that you can stay at and then get a day pass for the park.
The north rim is less commercialized than the south rim and is higher too.

And get a AAA membership to get maps and these really handy-dandy listings of motels and campgrounds all through the areas that you will travel. They were awesome in planning routes and finding accommodations. nice friendly mom & pop places that were cheap.

I did a MC trip that had part of it as ~14 days from Reno-SF-Cali parks-LV-Bryce-Zion-Grand Canyon.
I spent one day at North rim, got a hiking pass for the south rim bcz the north trails were washed out,
Drove to the south rim. hiked the canyon down the next day, hiked out the next day.
It was part of a XC RT from IN.

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Make It Happen
Parachute History
DiveMaker

[Travman 6]

Yeah was planning on breaking it up, sort do a bit of a loop LA-Vegas-San Fran-LA. Was thinking driving to see more, I hear the PCH is awesome.

[quade 4]

Quote

Yeah was planning on breaking it up, sort do a bit of a loop LA-Vegas-San Fran-LA. Was thinking driving to see more, I hear the PCH is awesome.

PCH from San Francisco to LA is awesome. One of the prettiest bits of earth. Driving PCH will take you all day, but the views are very, cool.

One thing to be keenly aware of, distances in LA are very deceptive because of the traffic situation. As long as you're in the LA area, leave tons of time if you have an actual appointment you're trying to hit. People in other parts of the world complain about their traffic and they simply have no idea what real traffic is.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[MakeItHappen 15]

Quote

One thing to be keenly aware of, distances in LA are very deceptive because of the traffic situation. As long as you're in the LA area, leave tons of time if you have an actual appointment you're trying to hit. People in other parts of the world complain about their traffic and they simply have no idea what real traffic is.

Paul, traffic in Thailand and Russia is more chaotic than what we have here.
All 3 places have congestion, at least we have some semblance of order here.

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Make It Happen
Parachute History
DiveMaker

[1969912 0]

If you do drive the PCH from SF to LA (highly suggested), hit the Hearst Castle for a tour. If you want to see a good beach, stop at Guadalupe Dunes State Park West of Guadalupe (good food) which is West of Santa Maria on Hwy 1. I went there at least ten times while in college, and only ever saw saw one other person on the beach, and it was a guy taking pics of sunsets. Point Sal is South of there but will likely have more people.

"Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ."
-NickDG

[turtlespeed 226]

Quote

My girlfriend and I are going to California and I just wanted to get some advice on what to do, where to go etc from people that know the area. Its not a skydiving holiday at all (I jump, she doesn't).
We arrive in LA on 13 June and fly out from LA 1 July.
Planning on linking up with friends in Vegas, they are there for 1 night on 17 June.
We would like to go to the beaches in LA, probably check out Hollywood, shopping and my girlfriend wants to have a go in the iFly tunnel in Hollywood.
We also want to go to the Grand Canyon, maybe Death Valley, San Francisco and Disney Land (fulfill my childhood dream).
We are thinking of staying in LA first few nights, then driving to Vegas and staying there for a few nights, then driving to San Francisco and then back to LA. Though I've had people recommend staying in Anaheim for Disneyland.
So any advice would be great, thanks.

Stay away from the land of fruits and nuts.

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

[NewGuy2005 53]

Yosemite is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. It will be crowded, though.

[heavydude 0]

By the way I dont mean to be a downer but protect your gear when you travel here (CA). Hide all valuable stuff like skydiving gear away from sight and remember that almost all beach areas are prime targets for breakins to your car. I have lived here for 20+ years never had a problem, but never leave anything of value in my car. Iwould even take my rig with me into a resteraunt rather than the car.