ontheuptick
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2014
Hello all - I've read lots of great trip reports and advice on touring California both here and elsewhere. What I'm struggling with is how to modify this trip to fit my large family with young kids! Lots of suggestions for SF or Yosemite seem to fit couples or older kids, so I need to modify.
Travelers: Me, DW, DS10, DD7, DD4, DS1.5
Current Plan:
2 Nights in SF, 2 nights in Monterey, 3 Nights in Yosemite, 4 nights in Disneyland
Questions on San Francisco -
Lodging - It seems like we would be best to stay IN the city, and use the MUNI to get around? Staying in the City would provide the added benefit of splitting up if small kids need more rest.
Transportation - Is public transportation and walking doable for a big family? If we want to see Walt Disney Museum, LucasFilm, Wharf, maybe Alcatraz, Bridge, etc - should we stay near the Wharf? I planned to NOT rent a car until the day we were leaving SF, and on that day we could see the Bridge.
Questions on Monterey -
Is it worth it to add the extra drive time, pack and unpacking at a new hotel, etc, to add in a stop at Monterey to see Big Sur, 17 Mile Drive, Aquarium, etc? Or, should I skip this and go straight from SF up to Yosemite and skip the PCH?
Questions on Yosemite -
Lodging - correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems like staying IN the valley would be very important with small kids? If we stay 40 minutes outside of the valley, the process of packing everyone up, driving into the valley for a short hike or tour seems daunting. But, if we were staying in the valley we could come and go to the hotel (looking at Yosemite Valley Lodge) fairly easily, and separate for hikes if need be.
Any other thoughts/recommendations for things I should do, places to see, stops to make, for this road trip?
Travelers: Me, DW, DS10, DD7, DD4, DS1.5
Current Plan:
2 Nights in SF, 2 nights in Monterey, 3 Nights in Yosemite, 4 nights in Disneyland
Questions on San Francisco -
Lodging - It seems like we would be best to stay IN the city, and use the MUNI to get around? Staying in the City would provide the added benefit of splitting up if small kids need more rest.
Transportation - Is public transportation and walking doable for a big family? If we want to see Walt Disney Museum, LucasFilm, Wharf, maybe Alcatraz, Bridge, etc - should we stay near the Wharf? I planned to NOT rent a car until the day we were leaving SF, and on that day we could see the Bridge.
Questions on Monterey -
Is it worth it to add the extra drive time, pack and unpacking at a new hotel, etc, to add in a stop at Monterey to see Big Sur, 17 Mile Drive, Aquarium, etc? Or, should I skip this and go straight from SF up to Yosemite and skip the PCH?
Questions on Yosemite -
Lodging - correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems like staying IN the valley would be very important with small kids? If we stay 40 minutes outside of the valley, the process of packing everyone up, driving into the valley for a short hike or tour seems daunting. But, if we were staying in the valley we could come and go to the hotel (looking at Yosemite Valley Lodge) fairly easily, and separate for hikes if need be.
Any other thoughts/recommendations for things I should do, places to see, stops to make, for this road trip?