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Old November 22nd, 2013, 10:22 AM posted to rec.travel.usa-canada
Terry Pinnell[_3_]
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Posts: 28
Default Recommendations for 8 days in California

"Graham Harrison" wrote:


"Terry Pinnell" wrote in message
.. .
Thanks a bunch all for those helpful later suggestions to my original
post, and my apologies for slowness in acknowledging. I'm posting this
as a new thread as it's been such a long time.

On Thursday 12th December I fly into LAX and intend to book 2 nights
in an LA hotel. Mid-range upwards, room wifi, shuttle bus to LAX so
that I can return to collect my rental car at 10 am on 14th. Any
recommendations welcomed please.

I'd also appreciate suggestions for one full day in LA please, Friday
13th. I have previously visited LA but saw little except Santa Monica.
Forty years ago I enjoyed Universal Studios and would probably do so
again unless better options emerge. (I note that it's only #20 in Trip
Advisor top LA attractions list, but most of the museums and parks
ranked ahead don't really appeal. Maybe a guided bus tour? No theme
parks etc as I'll get more than my share with grandsons around San
Diego from 21st December until flight back on 28th.

And for the evening? Concert, dinner, show, 'City Walk'? ...

I then have 8 days of touring, so far unplanned, apart from collecting
rental car from Avis at LAX and returning it in Carlsbad by 5 pm on
21st December.

Preferences are for scenic driving, canyons, desert, atmospheric
towns, comfortable motels (room wifi essential). Have previously
visited Joshua Tree, Temecula, Palm Springs, San Francisco (but too
far for this trip anyway), Bryce Canyon, Yosemite, Zion. Haven't
planned to book beyond LA because of current uncertainty about weather
forecasts on 14th Dec onwards. If accessible would love another look
at Grand Canyon, despite two previous visits. Or Canyonland, which
I've never visited. But open to any and all suggestions please,
including motels.

--

Terry, East Grinstead, UK


Carlsbad California or New Mexico?


California!
"...No theme parks etc as I'll get more than my share with grandsons
around San Diego from 21st December until flight back on 28th."

On reflection I suppose I've asked too many questions in one post,
hence the absence of replies. To focus, can I ask for considered
advice on a key question please, as time is now getting tight.

I'm wondering whether I should stay in LA at all?

To remind you, I land at LAX at about 19:00 on Thursday 12th December
and so hope to be out of the airport at say 20:00. My thinking was to
get a hotel shuttle bus to an as yet undecided hotel and probably have
dinner there if I'm hungry - time zone from UK and generosity of
Virgin Airlines will be factors. If not, maybe walk or get a cab to
say Venice or Santa Monica etc for a stroll and a drink before getting
to bed around midnight, latest.

The plan for the following day was/is even vaguer. See earlier post.
But I'm going off the idea of Universal Studios. Getting there from an
airport hotel could take too long for one thing. I'm still hoping for
some other attractive practical suggestions. Perhaps a bus tour,
starting from hotel or easily accessible place such as airport, using
hotel shuttle? Otherwise maybe I should just skip LA and hit the road.
If so I need to bring forward my car hire by one day, making it 9 days
instead of 8.

I rather like the idea of driving the PCH, as I enjoyed the scenic
Amtrak trip (Coastal Starlight?) I did with my wife in the summer of
201l from LA to San Luis Obispo. In any event, I'd like to go N or NE,
maybe heading out to Yosemite and/or Death Valley and/or Grand Canyon
and/or etc. But I'm beginning to stray...

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK