Expert: Ernest Tufft - 6/14/2008

Question
my wife and kids (8 and 5) and me  are heading out to san francisco from the UK in august , I need to drive down the coast to LA (for two days in Disneyland I guess ) and then go east to the Grand Canyon, and possibly return to SF via Yosemite. We will be staying in motels.

I have been to SF before but is the following iternary good or can bits be missed out or fast forwarded?  


day one santa cruz monterey overnight
day two monterey aquarium / san simeon overnight
day three santa barbara overnight
day four getty museum / anaheim overnight
day five disney anaheim overnight
day  six  disney anaheim overnight
day seven palm springs /Las vegas overnight
day eight grand canyon overnight (but where )
day nine  vegas ..................I guess

how do I get to yosemite from here - do i need stops ?

much obliged  

Answer
Sorry for the belated reply.  I've had trouble logging on.  Ok!  You have begun writing an fine itinerary.  When I write an itinerary, I break the day into three parts, and NEVER have "free time".  So, in the morning of day two, for example, a visit to the Monterey Bay Aquarium would fill about two hours or so.  Then, plan an afternoon activity.  In your case, it appears that driving down the coast to San Simeon is the plan.  The question is do you have a priority for a visit to San Simeon Hearst Castle State Monument, or to drive and enjoy the vista spots and seal lions lounging along the coast?  The drive from Monterey can vary from 2 to 4 hours, depending upon which of these you choose to do.  In any case, it's important to go to places like Virtualtourist.com and refine your plans to portions of the day, and then if you find a plan doesn't work, then "free time" can easily be created.  On the other hand, if "free time" becomes a bore, it's harder to build an itinerary once on the road.

My recommendation is to stay at Morro Bay, not San Simeon, and then skip Santa Barbara, except maybe as a stop along the way.  Your choice of the Getty Museum is excellent, but I suggest considering a stay in Pasadena, not Anaheim (unless Disneyland/Knottsberry Farm are part of this trip).  LA now has an excellent system of passenger trains and light rail rapid transit, and finding a hotel within walking distance could be worthwhile as a way to get away from driving (See www.metro.net).  I actually find Palm Desert more interesting and centrally located than Palm Springs, but these are all part of the Coachella Valley (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coachella_Valley) and there are many things to do here in winter.  It's very hot here in summer, and I don't greatly recommend a visit to this area, nor quite frankly Las Vegas, in summer, unless the plans are to stay within the air conditioned confines of the hotel casinos.  The Grand Canyon is OK in summer because of the altitude moderation of the summer heat.  At virtualtourist.com there is plenty of information regarding where to stay. Also, consider the nearby town of Flagstaff, Arizona.  The drive through Death Valley in August will be within the confines of a air conditioned car in good repair only;  however, since this may be enroute through to Yosemite along Hwy 395 (with Mono Lake a good stop along the way to Tioga Pass), such a drive would be very good.  Please use my keywords at Virtualtourist.com or elsewhere, and then reply with questiions that may refine your itinerary...good luck :-)