Best time of year to visit California?

[Mazzy]

WDW at Xmas will be our fifth trip, and dare I say it, I think we need a change! :eek:

I've wanted to go to California for a long long time, and we are thinking of doing this for 2007 - a long way off, but it's never too early to gather information, as many of you will know! ;)

A rough plan is to visit San Francisco, Monterey, Carmel, LA and Anaheim for Disneyland and Universal(of course), Las Vegas for the Grand Canyon (an absolute must!) and maybe San Diego if we can stretch to it.

I know that the weather changes a lot from place to place in California, and for those of you who've been, what month of the year do you think would be the best time to visit?

I am quite keen on going in maybe May or June, what do you think? Could we enjoy all the different regions in those months? I would rather go in Spring than Autumn, as it's just nice to have something to look forward to during the Winter before.

Anyway, I'll stop prattling now! ;) Hope someone can help. Thanks :D

[Cinders Mum]

I was in Anaheim and Las Vegas last May and it was getting hot, hot, hot, I would go early/Mid May at the very latest otherwise the heat is stifling..... it's not the humid heat of FLA but a really drying heat, very tiring.

Val
xx

[Suzie&Stuart]

Originally posted by Mazzy
WDW at Xmas will be our fifth trip, and dare I say it, I think we need a change! :eek:D

Mazzy,how dare you suggest such,such...such.....oh' words fail me.

Seriously though,we were supposed to go to California,Vegas,Grand Canyon and Phoenix in Nov 2003 as we felt after 3 trips to Florida in 36 month, we needed to see something else.
Unfortunately we had to cancel the whole trip 8 weeks prior to going and rebook our trip that year to Florida.

Now having been 5 times since Nov 2000,myself and Suzie have been discussing the very same before we even came home last weekend.

A little point to remember is that the Grand Canyon,unless taking one of the trips by air,is a 300+ mile drive from Vegas via Boulder,Lake Mead,Hoover Dam and onto Williams or Flagstaff.Then you have to head north for about 50 mile to the Grand Canyon State Park.

For weather,take a look at www,wunderground.com ,find the location you want and check the history for the past couple of years.
We found that the first 2 weeks of November was giving temps in the 70s for Anahiem,roughly same for Vegas,mid 50s for the canyon and high 70s,mid 80s for Phoenix.
I can only give figures for November as thats the time we were researching into.

Good luck with the planning

Stuart:cool:

[Briar_Rose]

When we went this year March/April, it was really nice weather - warm enough not to have to wear jackets but not too stifling IYKWIM??

April would be a lovely time to go, however, SanFrancisco is likely to be chilly whenever you go at random times - lol One minute it was glorious sunshine, the next it was freezing!! So you need to keep a cardie or fleece with you.

Aos if you're intending to do LV and SD as well, you might have to think about doing 3 weeks+ as we only did 2 weeks LA to SF and still didn't see all that we'd have liked to - have to do it again sometime.

[Mazzy]

Thanks Val - the problem is that we want San Fran to have reasonable temps so we can do some walking there, so we may have to swelter in LV, but we won't be there too long, so hopefully we'll survive! ;)

Stuart - I know, I know, it's taken me by surprise too, never thought I would have had enough of WDW, but our last trip was for 2 weeks and we did feel that we had done everything in the parks (several times!) and I think I should have organised more stuff outside the parks, but there you go! :rolleyes:

Sorry you had to cancel your California trip - we actually had to do the same would you believe - I had us all booked up to go and I started with my foot problems (long story), so had to cancel, and then by the time I was fit to travel I wanted to go back to WDW, so California has been on the back-boiler until now.

We are planning on taking one of the flights from Las Vegas, if DH can bring himself to board the plane, and do the tour that way, it sounds really great. There is a tour which combines, 'plane, boat, helicopter and coach, I'm sure that wouldn't leave the kids any time to be bored! ;)

I've just been looking at weather for today in the various places, and apart from Vegas being on the hot side, everywhere else is great for the middle of May, so it looks like a good time to go. :D

What year were you thinking of going?

[Mazzy]

Thanks for that Elise - I've always wanted to see San Fran, but the cold weather does put me off a bit, I really cannot stand being cold at all! :eek: I'm sure it would be worth it though, to see the sights. As we're still in the early stages of planning, not too sure how long we would be going for, it's too far in advance to check prices, school holidays etc, so will have to wait a few months until we have more of an idea of what we can do on the budget. :D

[heatherB]

the best weather in san fransisco is usually september however nothing there is guarenteed i feel my favourite SF quote by Mark Twain coming on "the coldest winter i ever had was a summer in San Fransisco" or something like that.

what ever time you go you will need to take a fleece. it doesn't get REALLY cold, but it seems it when you compare it with towns that are 30-40 miles away.

[Michelle]

Good Luck Mazzy:)
We have tried to book to go to SF, LV and LA..but we always end up booking to go back to FL

[rob@rar.org.uk]

Originally posted by heatherB
the best weather in san fransisco is usually september however nothing there is guarenteed i feel my favourite SF quote by Mark Twain coming on "the coldest winter i ever had was a summer in San Fransisco" or something like that.

Although SF does get peculiar weather, I'm sorry to disappoint but that's not a Mark Twain quote :(

http://www.snopes.com/quotes/twain.htm

Regards

Rob

[lesliejohn]

heh mazzy,
we did the west coast in feb 03, the wearher though sunny wasn't as warm as i had expected, even in vegas.
we too stayed in anaheim and managed to get to san diego on a day trip to sea world from a company based in anaheim.
les.....

[Suzie&Stuart]

Originally posted by Mazzy

What year were you thinking of going?

Mazzy,to be honest we are not completely sure,but hopefully by 2008 or before.There are one or two thing in the pipeline that could possibly give us the means to go within the next 18 months,but its only a slim possibility.
I think though if California is going to be too much of a hassle to organise,and If we end up in Florida again ,then I think we would do a split holiday,one week in Orlando but away from the parks and the other on the Gulf coast,probably way down in Naples or Marco Island

Suzie has been offered a place at Bradford Uni for this September as a mature student studying Biomedical Sciences and we have our eldest 2 DDs about to start their 3 years of GCSE work.

We cant afford to go in the most popular times i.e school holidays and like yourself I cant be doing with going on damp dreary weather holidays [although we dont have too much of a choice here in the UK],I dont see the point in spending thousands on a holiday just to be cold,I can stay here in England and do that.So timing is going to be critical as I dont want to have the girls getting behind with their work.
Although I have no qualms about taking the girls out of school in term time.I always promised myself that I would never jeopardise their GCSE work once they got to that stage.

Good luck with the planning

Stuart

[donna100]

I can let you know what the weather is like as i am off to Santa Monica on Saturday :jump: :jump: :D :D

Will certainly fill you in when i get back...
Unless of course I marry a film star while I am there :D
and don't come back


xxxxx

[loopydiamond]

Hi Mazzy...I havent been to all of the places that you are planning but hope this may be of some help... Iv been to San Diego in June and September....both times the weather was beautiful, my niece lives there and she says that some times June can be dodgy as in very wet and unsettled....she says that May is a beautiful month there, they have always had glorious weather in May.....when we were there in June we flew to phoenix and drove to the grand canyon....it was very very hot, 112 degrees in phoenix! hotter at the grand canyon, In september we flew to Los Angeles and the weather was great there too, we went to Disneyland in the middle of our stay and that day the weather was glorious, we went further up to Hollywood and again perfect weather...sorry I havent been to Las Vegas or San Francisco but my niece says that the earlier the better for Vegas, as from June onwards its very very hot there....too hot for comfort... hope this is of some help to you....enjoy whatever you decide to do..

[Rio]

We went to Anaheim in November the first time for Thanksgiving and the first week was 90 degrees, but that was a freak heatwave and the second week was 60 degrees, but night times were very cold, we had to buy a fleece.
Last year we went in August which was lovely, though I did ind Las vegas very hot and humid, but Anaheim was lovely, but again, the nights were quite chilly, I had to buy a sweatshirt.
I have a friend who lives in Anaheim if you want me to ask her about any specific month.
Love Rio

[KittyKat]

We did California in October 1997 and the weather was warm/hot in LA, hot in Las Vegas, very hot in Death Valley (104 degrees F) pleasantly warm in Yosemite, and cooler but not cold in San Francisco/Monterey (in the 60s). We're thinking of going again next year and its still a toss up between going again in October or maybe late May/early June.

Hope this helps

Kitty

[Mazzy]

Thanks everyone for your great advice. :D

I think we will just have to wait a bit now, and see how the school hoidays pan out, and also any exams. DS will be in year 8 so he won't be taking any SATS tests, but DD will be in year 12, so not too sure when any test will be held yet.

May does look a good month to go though, and if we fly to Vegas first and do the Canyon at the start of the trip, the weather shouldn't be too hot hopefully. :D

I've been looking at the various Canyon tours - has anyone done a helicopter trip? There's a great one which includes a 'plane to the Canyon, then heli round the canyon then landing on the canyon floor, where you get into a boat, cruise the river, then heli again - sounds great - anyone done this tour at all? What did you think?

[sharon_banks]

Hi Mazzy

We did a similar tour in July/August 2003. We started in San Fran- very cold, we bought fleeces and still were frozen on the boat over to Alcatraz. None the less fantastic city and really enjoyed it. We travelled down the coast staying at Monteray, Santa Barbara, Las Vegas, Anaheim and San Diego. Weather beautiful from Monteray onwards, we didn't find it too hot, maybe 75- 85ish?
In San Diego don't bother doing the trip to Tiuana, it was awful. The area is so deprived and the people are so poor, there very little you can do and it makes you feel so guilty - not exactly adding to your holiday cheer!
We then travelled accross the dessert to Las Vegas. It was unbearably hot there but everywhere is beautifully air conditioned so providing you didn't want to sunbathe you were fine. We arranged a helicoper tour to the Grand canyon, landing in the canyon for breakfast. This was spectacular, we were picked up and returned in a limo and the whole trip was fantastic from beginning to end. The scenery will take your breath away. We then travelled back to San Fran via stays in Death Valley and Yosemite. death valley very hot and dry, Yosemite absolutely beautiful and perfect temperatures. We finished our trip with 3 days in New York. Bliss!
You will absolutely love it. We all love Disney but we all agree this was are best family holiday so far.

[sleepy]

I was in Malibu a little over a year ago. Here are some nice pics, and some amusing pics.



http://www.123imagehost.com/uploads/235-71-cliff.jpg http://www.123imagehost.com/uploads/235-977-flowerview.jpg http://www.123imagehost.com/uploads/235-733-meansnake.jpg http://www.123imagehost.com/uploads/235-480-donotclimb.jpg

[DisneySarah]

I was there in June last year, Las Vegas was very hot (110 degrees) Yosemite was lovely, clear blue skies and in the 80's but cold at night!! San Francisco was probably in the high 60's but lovely weather! In LA and Anaheim we had funny weather, it was cool and cloudy (We even had some rain) but sometimes the sun broke through in the early afternoon and it was in the high 70's/80's then, but from speaking to people who lived there that was pretty unusual weather for mid June :)

Forgot to add: We went on a bus tour the Grand Canyon from Vegas (I wouldn't recommend that it was soooo long, probably 7 hours each way) but my mum and dad did the helicopter/boat tour when they were there and thought it was great! They had a brekkie picnic by the edge of the canyon included too! :jump:

[Mazzy]

Sharon - thanks for telling me about your trip, sounds fantastic. :D You're giving me ideas about adding New York on now! ;) How old were your children? I'm just wondering if Las Vegas is going to be OK, you know, it's not too adult-orientated, if you get my drift? DD would be nearly 15 and DS would be 13 so I guess they will be old enough by then to handle it.

Sleepy - thanks so much for the pics, and those signs are so funny, especially the second one :D

Thanks for the info on the weather Sarah, sorry you had funny weather in LA, hope you still enjoyed your trip. Yes the coach trip does sound a bit too much for us, so DH will just have to grit his teeth and fly, hopefully he will be ok! ;D

[Claire_L]

June is good as SF is nice and pleasant and if you stay by the coast in LA you get cooler temps. As you say LV will be hot but as it is for a few days and aircon is everywhere not too bad! Went to LA in late March 1998 and hit El Nino, boy was it cold and wet, never again :(
Claire :wink

[Mazzy]

Thanks for that Claire, it sounds as as though DD Sam will have exams in May, as I rang the school and year 12 are doing exams at the moment, so looks like we might have to go for June instead. I would rather be hot than cold, and as you say, with the air-con we sound be OK. It is our wedding anniversary 3rd June so maybe we could maybe even do the canyon trip that day if we can work it out. That would make a nice change from the usual bunch of flowers! ;)

[Claire_L]

Mazzy we did a helicopter tour over SF for our wedding anniversary in 2003 :D
Claire :wink

[Claire_L]

Oh and we never had a single drop of rain during June 14th - July 5th 2003!! Had a little bit of sea mist in the morning but that is always a possibility on the West Coast especially around SF.
Claire :wink

[Mazzy]

No rain would be fantastic! :D

[sharon_banks]

Mazzy my daughters were 14 and 16 when we were there. There was plenty to see and do for all of us in Las Vegas, the spectacular hotels, shopping, wet and wild, various rides and shows. The only thing the kids couldn't do was enter the gambling areas (not that we wanted them to!) However my husband and I did go down to the casino in our hotel (Luxor) one evening for a couple of hours. We left the kids watching a film in the hotel room with lots of goodies and a mobile phone. The kids were insistent that we couldn't come to vegas and not gamble and they were right we had a great fun. Didn't really win anthing we just set ourselves a budget and when it was gone we returned to our room.

[spendleb]

Mazzy, we went from 28th April - 13th May and it was very warm, some days felt as hot as Florida without the humidity, like a hot summers day here, we only had rain twice, once at night and once on a morning at Disney but it cleared to give sunshine quickly. The nights were cool though but a light summer jacket was enough.

[Mazzy]

Sharon - glad you had a great time - we don't intend to gamble either, but like you, I'm sure we won't be able to resist a little flutter when we get there! ;)

Spendleb - thanks for the weather info. :D

After checking on Year 12 exams timetable, it looks like Spring is out of the question, so now I'm looking at either late September or October (maybe using one week of the half term if the prices are OK).