Itinerary - All advice welcome!

[Ruthy1604]

Hi
The index is here

We fly on Wednesday & I've just sort of finalised my plan. Some of the days involve quite a lot of driving distance which makes me a little nervous - especially when I read that you cannot trust the googlemap times. I have visions of us arriving at hotels at midnight.
This trip will me me, DH, DS14 and DD 13.
Any thoughts welcome.

13th August
Leave BHX 8.10am, land DUB 9.10am
Leave DUB 12.20, land SFO 15.20
Get taxi to Stanford Court Hotel (4 nights)
Explore area.
Dinner possibly at Nob Hill Café

14th August
Arrive at Pier 33 for 08.45 tour
Explore fishermans Wharf Area/Ghiradelli Square
Visit USS Pampanito (Groupon)
Cable Car back to Powell Street
Dinner in Chinatown?

15th August
Breakfast at Mamas?
Hire bikes (Groupon)& cycle Golden Gate Bridge
Lunch in Sausalito
Ferry back
Explore Presido/Lombard Street

16th August
Explore Ferry Buildings
Exploratorium?
Filbert Street Steps/ Coit Tower
See Bay Bridge Lights in evening

17th August
Check out of Stanford Court Hotel
Collect Car at Fairmont Hotel (across Street)
Drive to Santa Cruz (2 hours) & explore/ have lunch
Drive to Monterey (1 hour) & check in to Holiday Inn (1 night)
Explore area
Dinner at Hulas

18th August
Breakfast in Hotel (free)
Whale Watching Tour 9am
Leave Monterey & do 17 mile drive.
Scenic Drive down to Pismo Beach (4 hours)
Check into Pismo Lighthouse Suites (2 nights)

19th August
11am tour at Hearst Castle (1 hour)
Lunch at Sebastians
No fixed plans for afternoon/ evening. We might revisit places that we didn’t have time for yesterday or just chill by the pool/on the beach. Possibly visit Madonna Inn

20th August
Breakfast at Old West Cinnamon Rolls
Drive to LA with possible stops on the way – Solvang/Santa Barbara. (4 hours)
Check in to Loews Hollywood Hotel (1 night)
Explore area & shops. Do as many of the touristy things as we have time for

21st August
Early tour at Warner Bros Studios (9am) via taxi
Possibly do a Stars homes tour afterwards
Collect luggage & set off for Anaheim (1 hour)
Check into the Howard Johnson Anaheim (4 nights)
Dinner at House of Blues (restaurant.com voucher)

22nd August
Disney Day – not sure which park yet
Dinner at Garden Walk – possibly Cheesecake Factory

23rd August
Disney Day – not sure which park yet

24th August
Disney Day – probably revisit favourite bits & chill by the pool

25th August
Early Check out
Drive to Corona to visit the Fender Factory (1 hour drive) & do the tour
Drive on to Ontario Mills Shops & spend a few hours shopping
Drive to Comfort Suites Bakersfield (1 night) (3 hour drive)

26th August
Early breakfast at hotel (free)
Drive to Yosemite (4 hours)
Check in to Curry Village (2 nights)
Explore area (I have left this bit to DH so I’m not sure what the exact plans are)

27th August
Yosemite Day (I have left this bit to DH so I’m not sure what the exact plans are but I am sure it involves a very long hike)

28th August
Leave Yosemite via Tioga Pass.
Drive to Reno stopping along the way whenever we feel like (5 hours with no stops – yikes!)
Check in to Peppermill Resort (1 night)
Swim & enjoy the facilities (if time)

29th August
Drive to Lassen Volcanic Park (4 hours)
Walk the Bumpass Hell Trail
Drive to Oxford Suites Redding (1 night)(1 hour)

30th August
This day worries me a bit on the timings. We have quite a large distance to cover but the giant redwoods are on my bucket list ever since my dad got us an encyclopaedia as kids and I looked at the largest trees on earth .

Get up early and see the Shasta Dam (30 mins)
Drive to Avenue of the Giants & explore (4 hours)
Drive to Baechtel Creek In & Spa Willits( 2 hours)
Dinner at the Aztec Grill

31st August
Breakfast in the hotel (free)
Drive to SFO for 12 midday to fly at 15.00 (3 hour drive)

[SarahJayne]

Wow! That's one amazing and very full itinerary

Hope you have an amazing time - are you doing a trip report?

Would be good to know how he Howard Johnson is as we are planning on booking there for next August.

[HappyGoLucky]

You certainly have a lot planned - we fly on 13th - 31st too and we are at howard Johnson at the same time!

I couldn't do that many stops if I am honest , but my youngest is only 5 so that has a big impact on how much travelling we do.

I cant really comment on timings as this is our first time but I think so long as you share the driving it will be more bearable.
I am the only driver (only adult) so another reason I keep my driving down, but if you can share it then I think it should be ok.

[Ruthy1604]

Thanks for the input.

I won't be driving - thats down to DH, but I am the chief navigator. I honestly don't think I could cope with driving on the other side of the road. I can barely tell left from right as it is!

I probably wont do a trip report either - I will post back with highs and lows and will definately let you know what the Howard Johnson is like. We have booked a family suite with bunk beds so that the kids don't have to share, and we have a little more space.

I have butterflies now that its so close!

[Ruthy1604]

PS. We might bump into each other at the Hojo HappygoLucky. I'll be with one holding a cocktail & with two stroppy teens in tow. Please let there be wifi...

[SarahJayne]

Originally Posted by Ruthy1604

Thanks for the input.

I won't be driving - thats down to DH, but I am the chief navigator. I honestly don't think I could cope with driving on the other side of the road. I can barely tell left from right as it is!

I probably wont do a trip report either - I will post back with highs and lows and will definately let you know what the Howard Johnson is like. We have booked a family suite with bunk beds so that the kids don't have to share, and we have a little more space.

I have butterflies now that its so close!

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I never want to drive over there either - DH always does the driving! Although he is encouraging me to have a go next year we'll see!

Will look forward to your highs and lows then Hoping to book at family suite too - my two are a bit younger than yours (8&5) and love bunk beds!

Loving that countdown - have a fab time

[HappyGoLucky]

There is wifi- else i wouldnt have booked it! My 17yr old wouldn't be able to function otherwise and i dont think i would like it either- it lets me escape from the kids for a while!

[Ruthy1604]

Originally Posted by Floopy

I never want to drive over there either - DH always does the driving! Although he is encouraging me to have a go next year we'll see!

Will look forward to your highs and lows then Hoping to book at family suite too - my two are a bit younger than yours (8&5) and love bunk beds!

Loving that countdown - have a fab time

See more...

Lol - my DH has made me take my driving licence this year - just in case. He would have to break a leg before I would even attempt driving over there

[Ruthy1604]

Originally Posted by HappyGoLucky

There is wifi- else i wouldnt have booked it! My 17yr old wouldn't be able to function otherwise and i dont think i would like it either- it lets me escape from the kids for a while!

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Thanks for the info. Its so long since I chose all the hotels that I've forgotten all the details. My 15 year old will be happy

[SpectroGirl]

I'm writing this from our room at the Hojo after a busy day at Disneyland and can confirm that there is free wifi 😀 Also there doesn't seem to be a limit on the number of devices you can connect - all 4 of us have been connected at times, unlike Loews Hollywood which had a limit of 3 devices when we were there last week. I'm sure you'll love the extra space in the kids suite at Hojo - we had one last year and my DDs loved having their 'own' room - we also appreciated having a second bathroom.