California - Back to California after 3 years: 14 day honeymoon itinerary?

Did a trip with 2 other fellas 3 years back and thoroughly loved it, this time in jan 2013 it'll be with my wife!

You guys know best so maybe you can critique my rough itinerary?

We're flyin from Singapore to LAX, return from SFO. I Know it should be the other way round for a better time on the PCH but this Singapore airlines flight itinerary maximized our time on US soil within the same dates.

So anyway I didn't enjoy LA all too much, the live music and Disney was nice but I was much more smitten with SF and I think my wife would think so too.

Day 1 - LA

Perhaps just a night. We arrive in the morning so that's a day to just take in the city a little, catch up with an old friend living there.

Day 2 - enroute to grand canyon

Haven't been there so we really wanna go this time.
It's a crazy 8 hr drive n she doesn't drive so prob stop somewhere for the night before an early start to GC. We intend to bypass Vegas, not our thang.

Day 3,4 - GC, enroute to PCH

Prob spend the morning at GC, no serious hiking. Just awe at the grandeur. Enough time?

After lunch prob make our way back west toward the PCH.
don't intend to head back to LA n head up cos Santa barb Oxnard can be left out I feel.
I think we'd just link up to PCH at Hearst castle?
Think it'd be too much a drive so maybe spend a night in the middle near sequoia or death valley?
Is there even a route for this? Ha

Day 5,6 - PCH
Love this part so we'll slow down abit.
Carmel valley, monterey etc.

Day 7,8 - Portland
Drive to SFO to catch 2 hr flight to Portland
Friend highly recommended the city for its indie laid back feel. Which we love. No big chains, local cafes, unique stores etc.

Day 9 - coast starlight to SF
Enough driving, enjoy the 18 hr overnight ride for once

Day 10-14 - SF
LOVE this place, maybe a day trip to the valleys etc.

How's it look?
Thanks guys!!

Since this query is specific to one region, let's shift this over to the California forum for the experts there to chime in. Thanks! :) /JY1024, TravelBuzz co-moderator

Just be aware that the GC area will be pretty cold in January and if it's snowy or overcast you won't see much of anything. Flagstaff is a good place to stay the night before visiting the GC.

Would FS be near enough to head to GC for the sunrise?

Day 2 - enroute to grand canyon

Haven't been there so we really wanna go this time.
It's a crazy 8 hr drive n she doesn't drive so prob stop somewhere for the night before an early start to GC. We intend to bypass Vegas, not our thang.

Day 3,4 - GC, enroute to PCH

Prob spend the morning at GC, no serious hiking. Just awe at the grandeur. Enough time?

After lunch prob make our way back west toward the PCH.
don't intend to head back to LA n head up cos Santa barb Oxnard can be left out I feel.
I think we'd just link up to PCH at Hearst castle?
Think it'd be too much a drive so maybe spend a night in the middle near sequoia or death valley?
Is there even a route for this? Ha

Just be aware that the GC area will be pretty cold in January and if it's snowy or overcast you won't see much of anything. Flagstaff is a good place to stay the night before visiting the GC.

Would FS be near enough to head to GC for the sunrise?

Driving to the Grand Canyon and avoiding passing through the Los Angeles area on the way back to PCH is impractical.

Why don't you fly from LAX to PHX, stay in Flagstaff overnight and drive the see the Grand Canyon from there? Then, fly from PHX to SBA (http://www.flysba.com/flight_schedule), pick up a rental car and drive up north on PCH from there?

oh ok i see. i thought there might be some interstate across the middle or something..

mm so i assume then that i might not be missing too much on the drive between LA and GC?
would it be more cost effective that way too? i know fuel is getting pretty expensive, though still far from what it is here in Singapore.

Would FS be near enough to head to GC for the sunrise?

Yes, but again, the weather is unpredictable in January. Your sunrise may end up being nothing more than the dark night becoming overcast gray.

oh ok i see. i thought there might be some interstate across the middle or something..

mm so i assume then that i might not be missing too much on the drive between LA and GC?
would it be more cost effective that way too? i know fuel is getting pretty expensive, though still far from what it is here in Singapore.

Well there is the 40...but yeah the drive sucks from Flagstaff/GC area to the LA area.

Well there is the 40...but yeah the drive sucks from Flagstaff/GC area to the LA area.

Well, I-40 ends in Barstow.

From there to San Simeon [Hearst Castle] it is CA-58, a two lanes road, I-5 and CA-46, another two lanes road and site of James Dean's fatal crash (http://history1900s.about.com/od/1950s/qt/deandies.htm), to PCH.

All in all it is longer than 600 miles which Google Maps (http://goo.gl/maps/NRhZ) estimates will take almost 11 hours to drive.

Well, I-40 ends in Barstow.

From there to San Simeon [Hearst Castle] it is CA-58, a two lanes road, I-5 and CA-46, another two lanes road and site of James Dean's fatal crash (http://history1900s.about.com/od/1950s/qt/deandies.htm), to PCH.

All in all it is longer than 600 miles which Google Maps (http://goo.gl/maps/NRhZ) estimates will take almost 11 hours to drive.

Totally agree, never said it was easy or enjoyable but I have done it, 40-15-10, and it sucks.

Totally agree, never said it was easy or enjoyable but I have done it, 40-15-10, and it sucks.

You certainly did not mince words and did write that the drive sucks.

The OP wants to bypass the Los Angeles area. That will take him off the Interstate and divided highways and onto two lanes desolate desert and twisting mountain roads for a substantial portion of his drive.

Ok I think it was more a matter of coming back into the city n head up the part I didn't enjoy too much but defeats the purpose if the GC-pch route via the minor roads are terrible eh?

Perhaps leaving from LAX direct to GC? Then back to LA for that leg before headed up pch

Ok I think it was more a matter of coming back into the city n head up the part I didn't enjoy too much but defeats the purpose if the GC-pch route via the minor roads are terrible eh?

Perhaps leaving from LAX direct to GC? Then back to LA for that leg before headed up pch

To be honest, play it by ear. Don't get your heart set on the Grand Canyon because the odds of good weather will probably not be in your favor. If once you arrive the weather looks good, no storms over Flagstaff, northern AZ, etc, cool, go for it, I suppose. It's just not that easy to get there and back from the LA area.

Since it's honeymoon time, head down to San Diego and enjoy the weather.

To be honest, play it by ear. Don't get your heart set on the Grand Canyon because the odds of good weather will probably not be in your favor. If once you arrive the weather looks good, no storms over Flagstaff, northern AZ, etc, cool, go for it, I suppose. It's just not that easy to get there and back from the LA area.

Since it's honeymoon time, head down to San Diego and enjoy the weather.

A very, very ambitious itinerary. Rushed. A LOT of driving. My wife would kill me, but for some it'd be great (the rush, not her killing me). You need to account for weather delays.

I think odds you will get to the GC, but you need to be flexible. If you want to stay at the GC itself you MUST make reservations ahead of time. Nearest town is Tusayan, just outside the park, but places there can fill. Other towns include Flagstaff and Williams, about an hour from the canyon. We had reservaitons for two nights in January a couple of years ago, and hit a big snow storm just before Williams. I saw cars skidding so we stayed the night in Williams (early enough that the first hotel still had openings). Friends an hour ahead of us made it to the park (didn't see much due to limited visibility) and spent the night in Flagstaff. We got to the canyon the next morning and spent the night. The hotel reimbursed us for the night we missed, but technically it was non-refundable. There were lots of people at the park, and limited parking due to snow closing some spots. Note that car rental companies often prohibit the use of chains.

GC to PCH: Highway 58 over Tehachapi Pass can get snow though only rarely closes, and then usually briefly. Friends driving from SF to LA a year ago had to take it when I-5 over Tejon Pass closed due to snow.

Although it's also subject to storms, Yosemite would be a lot closer to the rest of your route than would be the Grand Canyon, and stunning in winter. Yosemite Valley is lower in elevation than the GC. If push comes to shove there is a bus from Merced to Yosemite Valley (unless storms close the roads briefly and that would obviously keep out a car, as well). Make reservations for accommodations ahead of time. If you have a big budget, consider the Ahwhahnee Hotel. But there's also the Yosemite Lodge and Wawona Hotel. Afterwards, there are also nice, Gold Rush-era towns along Highway 49 with historic hotels and romantic B&Bs. You'd have a heck of a lot less driving with this option. I like the GC, but frankly find Yosemite more stunning (and more dramatic).

I guess you know that PCH can get quite wet, and occasonally muddy, during winter storms. Allow time for slow driving. And that Portland will likely be cold and, at least part of the time, rainy, and maybe snowy. I was there a year ago March and enjoyed it, but I was cold and got some rain (no deluge). I took the train from Portland to L.A. Really enjoyable (I had a sleeper compartment to myself). I strongly suggest getting at least a "roomette," so you have a place to sleep other than just regular seats, and also access to showers. Meals are included. You might hit parts of the Siskiyous, at least Klamath Falls and beyond, if you took the train northbound, but the schedule on the Amtrak site now may change during the winter (it did temporarily when I took it, due to track work, etc.),

Been awhile.. decided to forego certain things and just streamline it.. hopefully this makes more sense! any advice'll be great!!

jan 1-3: LA
Jan 4: Disney (travel to oxnard after)
Jan 5: am: Channel island half day, pm; santa barbara
jan 6: Solvang - SLO
Jan 7: SLO
Jan 8: am: Hearst Castle pm: Carmel/Monterey - julia pfeiffer/Point Lobos
Jan 9: Monterey
Jan 10: Santa Cruz
Jan 11-13: Gilroy -Yosemite
Jan 14: Napa Valley
Jan 15-17: SF

Based on my last trip, i'd think we'd like a few more days in SF city so at least 14-17th, or maybe even 13-17th.

I'm not sure where I could sacrifice though, i've read good things about various places so if anyone could chime in it'd be great.
I've already taken out the extra day in Santa Barb cos I don't think it'd do that much for us, not to mention the cost of things there.

Monterey I've read could take a whole day, with a whale trip out and perhaps the aquarium.

So i'm thinking SLO or Santa Cruz could give way. If a morning at Solvang is enough, and a half day at SLO is enough, then we'd skip jan 7 at SLO and just move on to Carmel/Pacific Grove/Monterey for 7th night.

I'm also not sure we need a whole day at Santa Cruz. If a half day visit is all we'll need, we'd just move on to yosemite for the night after a half day shopping at Gilroy. so that'll give us 3 nights at yosemite, a night at napa, and either 4 or 5 days in SF.

If only 1 had to give way, would it be SLO for a day or Santa Cruz for a day?

Also at Napa, I'm thinking of either a balloon ride or a wine train excursion? Which is a more memorable experience in winter?

Thanks for all the help!

You're planning on doing all day at Disney and then driving to Oxnard, on a Friday? Not advisable IMHO.

Tough huh..
Just that I saw on google maps it was less than 2 hrs away.
How bout I do Disney on the 3rd. 4th head up to Oxnard slow n easy.

Not sure we'd do much in LA anyway. Or spend 1 more half day around LA before Oxnard in the afternoon.

Been awhile.. decided to forego certain things and just streamline it.. hopefully this makes more sense! any advice'll be great!!

jan 1-3: LA
Jan 4: Disney (travel to oxnard after)
Jan 5: am: Channel island half day, pm; santa barbara
jan 6: Solvang - SLO
Jan 7: SLO
Jan 8: am: Hearst Castle pm: Carmel/Monterey - julia pfeiffer/Point Lobos
Jan 9: Monterey
Jan 10: Santa Cruz
Jan 11-13: Gilroy -Yosemite
Jan 14: Napa Valley
Jan 15-17: SF


Thanks for all the help!

I agree with the other poster...trying to drive from Orange count to Oxnard on a FRiday night will be brutal.

The area of Solvang is worth exploring. Besides it being danish disneyland its also in the Santa Ynez Valley made famous by Sideways. Right around Solvang there are a bunch of wineries and just outside of town is an old spanish mission.

I suggest on the 6th to stay in Santa MAria area then on the 7th up to SLO.

I understand you want to do Yosemite...but please note....it is January, it is winter there amd thus cold. If there is a snow storm you may not be able to get into the park. If i recall correctly only one road into the park in winter is open because it follows the Merced river.

I suggest having a secondary option in case of weather.

Tough huh..
Just that I saw on google maps it was less than 2 hrs away.
How bout I do Disney on the 3rd. 4th head up to Oxnard slow n easy.

Not sure we'd do much in LA anyway. Or spend 1 more half day around LA before Oxnard in the afternoon.

Also with disney you may get better ticked deals if you do two days there.

If I were you, I'd spend an additional day or 2 wine touring between Solvang and Paso Robles, and skip Napa. I personally think the area is more scenic, and the wines are more varied than in Napa, and unless you are a hard core cabernet fan, you will enjoy the wines more in Santa Ynez/Solvang/SLO/Paso Robles than Napa in any case. You could certainly do the balloon ride in Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez or Paso as well (I'd personally pick Santa Ynez).

Also with disney you may get better ticked deals if you do two days there.

My cousin got us free tickets to Disney cos she's an employee at HK Disney so I think a day would be enough.

Ok you guys have convinced me =) here's a clearer breakdown

jan 1-3: LA
Grove, walk of fame, kodak, Disney (3rd)

Jan 4: Oxnard
am: LA pm: Oxnard

Jan 5: Santa Barbara
am: Channel Island
pm: Santa Barbara

jan 6: Santa Ynez
Santa Ynez Valley

Jan 7: San Luis Obispo
SLO

Jan 8: Carmel
am: Hearst Castle
pm: Julia pfeiffer/Point Lobos

Jan 9: Carmel
Monterey aquarium, whale watching, 17 mile dr

Jan 10: Santa Cruz

Jan 11-13: Yosemite
am: Gilroy (11th)

Jan 14-17: SF

Still wondering if Santa Cruz is worth a whole day or should I spend more time at Santa Barbara, or in SF.

As another poster said, be prepared to alter plans if the weather and/or roads around Yosemite are uncooperative.

I'm not sure accommodation is that easy to cancel at the last min?

When u mean altar plans do u mean find other programs around the area or pulling the plug on the accom n move on?

I'm not sure accommodation is that easy to cancel at the last min?

When u mean altar plans do u mean find other programs around the area or pulling the plug on the accom n move on?



January is winter....

If The Sierra-Nevada Mtns are hammered with snowyou may not be able to make it to Yosemite. In the winter there is only one road that is open year round...I dont recaoute but its the one that follows the merced river.

The hotel will understand if you cant make it weather. I also dont know what the requirements are on those road near Yosemite when it comes to chains on tires of it has snowed.

In case you cant get to there you need to have a backup plan such as exploracremento, spending more days in Napa/Sonoma....Im sure you could find a hotel room in Santa Rose for those days and use it as a base and explore.

Also on the whale watching.....

I think the etter place to see whales will be off Santa Barbara rather than Monterey in January.

... you may not be able to make it to Yosemite. In the winter there is only one road that is open year round...I dont recaoute but its the one that follows the merced river...
This is almost never true. Yosemite Valley is a year-round destination. It is only 4,000 feet elevation. This year, I was able to drive all the way up and take photos at Tenaya Lake on the Tioga Pass Road in January.

The highway you are thinking of is SR120 from Merced, the main bus route. SR41 from Fresno is almost always open, too. In a bad snow year (unlikely in this time of warm temps) you might need to carry chains but not getting to the Valley would be a rare occurrence. Using the park-n-ride option and riding the bus from Merced will get you into the Valley 99% of the time.

This is almost never true. Yosemite Valley is a year-round destination. It is only 4,000 feet elevation. This year, I was able to drive all the way up and take photos at Tenaya Lake on the Tioga Pass Road in January.

The highway you are thinking of is SR120 from Merced, the main bus route. SR41 from Fresno is almost always open, too. In a bad snow year (unlikely in this time of warm temps) you might need to carry chains but not getting to the Valley would be a rare occurrence. Using the park-n-ride option and riding the bus from Merced will get you into the Valley 99% of the time.

This past year was an unusually dry year when it comes to snowfall. Thus the Tioga Pass road happened to close rather late this year. Usually Tioga Road is closed in January.

http://www.monobasinresearch.org/data/tiogapass.htm

Only last year and in 1999 did it close in January.

I understand its open year round....but at 4,000 feet snow falls.

4,000 feet is around mountain pass level throughout the cascades and the sierra-nevadas....snow regularly falls at that level and it can fall in feet at a time.

Bad snow year happened winter of 2010-2011. Tioga Pass road opening was one of the latest ever in 2011. The park seasonal peaks(waterfalls, mountain flowering) for different things was delayed about 5-6 weeks.

But you dont need a bad snow year to have a bad snow snow storm that happens to hit on the same day they are planning on getting into Yosemite. It takes time to clear the roads off. A storm could also postpone their ability to leave Yosemite.

In January you get weather systems that hit california. You may get 2-3" of rain in San Fran but this translates to 1-2 feet of snow that falls in the mountains (including Yosemite and Lake Tahoe).

If you havent had experience driving in a ft of snow or more it isnt fun.

The other issue---if they want to travel there in January they need to understand its winter there where temps will be at or below freezing which is very different climate wise and dress than when they are in LA area even if they happen to hit it right that there is no snowfall.


im not saying that can;t go.....but they need to have contingency/back-up plans just in case they can't visit the park , delay visit by a day, or are stuck there an extra day. They need to look at the weather forecast right before they are due to travel there.

Thanks for the tips all ;)

I'll definitely have contingency plans up but
The ideal is still probably 3 nights (2 full days) for a place like Yosemite in good conditions yeah? Then I'll just plan to that and adapt accordingly instead of planning for the worst.

Now.. Should I bother staying at Santa Cruz a whole day? Mmm

Thanks for the tips all ;)

I'll definitely have contingency plans up but
The ideal is still probably 3 nights (2 full days) for a place like Yosemite in good conditions yeah? Then I'll just plan to that and adapt accordingly instead of planning for the worst.

Now.. Should I bother staying at Santa Cruz a whole day? Mmm


2 days in the valley should be fine. The area is pretty compact. Its basically a narrow valley.

i dont know what interests you in Santa Cruz.... Depending on weather there are some state parks you can do. In the bay area there are a few state parks that have the large Redwood trees that are in the SF Bay area. Off the top of my head i dont recall which ones do on the South side of San Fran Bay.

Mmm I Was thinking more of Santa Cruz city itself. We'd have a lot of other park visits so was thinking we'd walk the streets and harbor.