We are a family of Husband, Wife and boys of 17 and 13. We love travel and particularly like multi centre, intensive vacations, either in the US or Europe. We are also totally theme parked out after 10 USA visits.
A theme parked out Family. August 2019.
We visited California in 2018. It was a disaster as the main attraction, the Pacific Coast highway was blocked by a mudslide. We resolved to return... and in Easter of 2020.
The infamous PCH Mudslide that took so long to sort out. In the end they built a new road over the top of it!
Our previous trip is subject of trippie ‘California N to South at Easter’ and may explain the planning for our itinerary and what would seem some very strange omissions.
I was at work and internet researching for flights to Larnaca next Summer (I am naughty). The best that I could find was £515pp with Thomas Cook(gulp!).
Just out of interest, I looked at into SFO and out of Vancouver during the Easter School Hols for next Easter. As said, I had missed the PCH and in addition, I have a former Army friend in Vancouver who I have not seen for 31 years, but keeps inviting me to visit. There it was! LHR to SFO on 30/03/20 and return from Vancouver to LHR on 10/04/20, Direct with BA at £395pp. That was too good to sneer at.. so I purchased it there and then after a call to my wife. (Shame I was on nights and she was in bed).
At this stage the planning had to begin and next morning I did the right thing, messaging Bill in Vancouver to warn him that after 31 years we would finally be coming. I hope that it was a pleasant surprise!.
I now had 11 days to divvy up, which as a return visit seems about right. It means we can see what we want to see before 3 nights with Bill at his place. I was wary of overstaying any welcome in Vancouver, figuring that if it went well, We could always return.
We sat down and worked out the ‘must sees’. We resolved to go no further south than San Luis Obispo as we did not like LA and figured we had reasonably well covered marvellous San Diego.
We settled on 3 nights in San Francisco. 2 nights in Monterey, 3 nights at the Madonna Inn, a flight to Seattle and a drive to Vancouver, crossing the border on passport. 3 nights to follow in Vancouver that will be entirely at the discretion of Bill.. (a mystery tour, if you like).
And now the finalised plan...
Friday 27 March .Drive up the A303 to Salisbury after the boys leave school/college and spend the night at Premier Inn.
Sat 28 March. A day looking round Salisbury and lunch with my son from my 1st marriage (Army RMP stationed at Bulford) before driving on to Chertsey and spending the night at Premier Inn.
Sunday 29 March. Either a day at Brooklands or Thorpe Park before we then drive to the Premier Inn at Bath Rd LHR.
Mon 30 March fly 1400-1700 LHR to SFO, BART to Embarcadero and taxi to Columbus Motor Inn where we have a 2 bedroom apartment. Possible walk down to Fishermen’s Wharf if not too tired.
Columbus Motor Inn
Tues 31 March. Hire bikes and cycle round San Francisco, taking in Golden gate park, Beach, etc if Mandie gets her way.. or over the bridge and out to Bonito Point if I get mine!
Night time trip to Alcatraz.
Alcatraz at night.
Wed 01 April (Mandie’s Birthday). The love bus SFO guided tour in an air cooled VW Camper playing 60s music etc. It takes in Haight Ashbury, which is important to me.
A love bus.
Evening, haunted and violent SFO tour from Union Sq. My son Matt is intrigued by the Zodiac Killer.
A haunted tour.
Thurs 02 April. Cable car to Powell where we will catch the BART to SFO Int and pick up our hire car.
Out through San Jose and Knotts Landing to Monterey where we check in to the Portolo Hotel.
Portolo Hotel.
Evening on Cannery Row.
Fri 03 April. A close to shore Kayak hire to take in Sealions , Otters etc before possibly a Whale watching trip, dependent on what is currently being seen. (We have not yet seen Blues or Orcas and never seen a Humpback actually breaching).
Evening on Cannery Row.
Sat 04 April. A long leisurely drive along 17 mile and then onwards with certain stops at Big Sur (hope to see whales), Pfeiffer, Bixby Bridge etc etc. If going well, a stop at Hearst Castle.. if not, then straight on to the Awesome Madonna Inn. Dinner.
17 Mile Drive
Big Sur
Bixby Bridge
The awesome, restrained Madonna Inn.
The Madonna Inn dining area.
The San Francisco Suite in which we are booked.
Sun 05 April. A look at Pismo and Monarch Valley if any are still there, Pismo pier and back up to Hearst if we missed it.
Monarch valley, Pismo.
Hearst Castle
Mon 06 April. Mandie goes horse riding with Dan and Matt. Afternoon free..
Tues 07 April. Drop hire car at SL Obispo airport and fly...
1150-1253 to SFO
1450-1830 to Seattle Tacoma and pick up hire car. and then hotfoot it to Langley BC.
Wednesday 08 April in Bill’s hands
Vancouver.
Thurs 09 April, in Bill’s hands.
Friday 10 April. In Bill’s hands during the day.
1800 drop hire car at Vancouver Int.
Fly 2055-1455 YVR to LHR .
Go to Premium Inn, Bath Rd and crash out for the night.
Sunday 12 April. Pick up car and drive home to Penryn.
This vacation would not suit everybody, but as I said, we saw most of the ‘must sees’ last time and this is about covering things we missed (plus the long awaited reunion in Vancouver). It is a fair bit to cram in, but hopefully rather relaxing!