For those of you who've been to the West Coast of the US

[Mazzy]

We did part of the West Coast of US 2 years ago, we went to San Francisco, Monterey, Carmel, Disneyland, Hollywood, Santa Monica, Venice Beach and had a great time.

We've thinking about going again next August. Of the places we visited we want to go back to Disneyland, Hollywood, Monterey (for the sea otters!) and Carmel. We will get an internal flight from LA area to Monterey, and our main flights will be to/from LA.

Apart from those places, we're looking for new places to visit between Monterey and Anaheim that we haven't been to before. Also wondering about San Diego.

DS will be 16 and DD will be 20 by next August, so it's practically 4 adults travelling now. Also, we're non-drivers over there so very interested in transportation options too.

I would love to hear about any other places in that area that Dibbers have visited, also where did you stay, and any pics if possible - I don't ask for much do I?

Thank you!

[Guest]

Our first West Coast trip was similar to yours although 'we' (DH that is) does drive and we included Las Vegas and Yosemite. Our second one we left out LV and San Francisco and stayed a week near San Diego. We loved Southern California so much that we're going back there next year. There are some photos in My Gallery and a trip report entitled 'California Here I Come'.

Kitty

[Mazzy]

Originally Posted by KittyKat

Our first West Coast trip was similar to yours although 'we' (DH that is) does drive and we included Las Vegas and Yosemite. Our second one we left out LV and San Francisco and stayed a week near San Diego. We loved Southern California so much that we're going back there next year. There are some photos in My Gallery and a trip report entitled 'California Here I Come'.

Kitty

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Thanks for your reply. DD Sam wants to leave Vegas until she's 21 and can have a gamble, lol, and also I want to do Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam etc, so hopefully we will do that from 2011 onwards when Sam is 'of age'.

Glad to hear you loved Southern California, so which places did you visit in your second trip, along with the week in San Diego? I haven't researched San Diego at all, what did you like about it so much?

Off to have a look at your trip report and photos - thanks.

[Tiggernut]

I was going to suggest Highway 1, Hearst Castle, San Luis Obispo and Solvang but then I read you were non-drivers so I'm not sure how you'd do these places without transport...

[Guest]

We loved San Diego..been back a lot, last time 2006
You will have seen the harbour in Soarin'

The Zoo and Sea World was beautiful

Seaport village was lovely, we visited the Coronado hotel (The Grand Flo is based on it) where they filmed Some like it hot.

We took a trip up into the mountains to an old town and they even had an old soda fountain. I cannot remember the name but it is famous for apple pie.

San Diego is Well worth a vist

if you like visit the more authentic not touristy Mexico by "tram"
and go to TJ.

[Mazzy]

Originally Posted by Tiggernut

I was going to suggest Highway 1, Hearst Castle, San Luis Obispo and Solvang but then I read you were non-drivers so I'm not sure how you'd do these places without transport...

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To be honest I think our DS might find that a bit boring anyway, lol, but thanks for the idea.

[Mazzy]

Originally Posted by Minnie28

We loved San Diego..been back a lot, last time 2006
You will have seen the harbour in Soarin'

The Zoo and Sea World was beautiful

Seaport village was lovely, we visited the Coronado hotel (The Grand Flo is based on it) where they filmed Some like it hot.

We took a trip up into the mountains to an old town and they even had an old soda fountain. I cannot remember the name but it is famous for apple pie.

San Diego is Well worth a vist

if you like visit the more authentic not touristy Mexico by "tram"
and go to TJ.

See more...

Ooooh, I didn't realise that was San Diego in Soarin', lol, you learn something every day! DD and I are big animal lovers, how long do you need to spend at the zoo, is it a full day? If we stayed in San Diego itself for a few days I wonder if we could get round by public transport? It's really starting to appeal to me now!

[Hal]

Originally Posted by Mazzy

... and our main flights will be to/from LA.

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Just a reminder to consider "open jaw" flights too - flying to LAX and back from SFO, or vice versa, for example - to save doubling back on yourselves.

[ali-s]

Originally Posted by Mazzy

Ooooh, I didn't realise that was San Diego in Soarin', lol, you learn something every day! DD and I are big animal lovers, how long do you need to spend at the zoo, is it a full day? If we stayed in San Diego itself for a few days I wonder if we could get round by public transport? It's really starting to appeal to me now!

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Yes, you can get around ok. We stayed at Embassy suites Downtown- just across the road from Seaport village and walking distance to the naval museum, ferry landing and Hortons Plaza mall . You can get a bus to Balboa park and the zoo- but we found the taxi rank outside the hotel too much of a temptation and ended up getting a cab there and back ! The hop on hop off bus is also a good way to see the sites. We only used it for one day, but you can get a 2 day ticket. We got off at Coronado Hotel/beach, Balboa park, Old Town and Hortons Plaza, if you had a 2 day ticket you'd have enough time to see those properly, we had 1 1/2 - 2hrs at each place.
Oh and we spent a whole day at the zoo, got there for opening and left about 1/2 hour before closing, we really enjoyed it.

[dave and lesley]

we've been to san diego, we thought it was lovely, really good, fab beaches, really worth a visit. they even had a dog beach. the zoo's brilliant, we spent a full day there. the old town is interesting .



by the way, why do you new avators always seem to feature food