californian advice

seveb

i'm planning a trip with my family to california summer 09 and looking for some advice on the best area to set up home for the 2 weeks.
we'd like to take in disneyland, san fran, grand canyon etc.

i was thinking that huntington beach would be a good anchor point for us??

if anybody has stayed in any villas in california i would love to hear about where you stayed.

i've searched the net but am coming up pretty empty handed on this front.
we do not want to stay in a hotel for 2 weeks with young kids.

i'll take all the advice i can get, thanks.

MsFifers

Those places you mention are all quite a distance away from each other - ie I don't think you'd be able to do them (and give them justice) on day trips from one base, in case that is what you were hoping. (Certainly not to the Grand Canyon anyway)

I did a trip around california , spending a couple of days in various locations. I was staying in hostels and with relatives though so I'm afraid I can't help with any accommodation recommendations.

But I would recommend this approach if you want to see everything from the sequoia forests & wineries in the north, san fran, big sur, (the kids would love the Aquarium in Monterrey btw - Its BRILL!), Yosemite National Park (bears!) etc, etc.

Maybe you could try a "split base" - a good few days in a hotel in San Fran, and then some time by the sea or in Yosemite?

5starpool

If I were you I would start in San Diego, lovely city, waterworld which is great for the kids, and just a great place. Then drive up to Disneyland (only a couple of hours drive), stay the night in LA (no more, it is a sh1thole imo), then drive up the coast road to San Fran taking a few days to do so. As mentioned above there are some cool places along the way such as Santa Barbara, Big Sur, Monterrey, Solveng (mad Danish town), and the scenery is just magnificent. A few days in San Fran to finish with Alcatraz, biking the bridge, the pier, maybe a day trip to wine country if that floats your boat, and you will have a great time I think.

rossie1977

as the previous posters mentioned the distance between the grand canyon and california is huge, its a good 5 hrs drive from LA to vegas and then a good 5-6hr drive from vegas to the south rim of canyon (which is the most accessible part)

san diego is a far better bet than anywhere in LA county imo, the weather is nicer, there is far more to do for kids

seveb

cool, thanks guys for all the advice, much appreciated.
pretty overwhelming the amount of things you can do in this area of the states.
plenty of research to be done.