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California / Las Vegas Information
are there any other destinations that we should see while in CA?
San Francisco is a fantastic city to visit (in fact, a lot of folks would consider it a better tourist city than L.A.) To the south of San Franciso is the lovely Monterey area, where you'll find fantastic ocean views (especially on the "17-Mile Drive" scenic drive). Further south are more spectacular ocean views in the Big Sur area, and further south is Hearst Castle. James |
#12
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California / Las Vegas Information
"Anonymous" wrote in message ... LA to Las Vegas is a long boring drive, so consider flying on one of our discount airlines. The Grand Canyon is less than a five hour drive from Las Vegas. It is four hours from Phoenix, Arizona and there are more interesting things along the way. It's a one hour flight to Las Vegas. Checking in requires getting to the airport two hours early. If you check bags, you can easily wait 45 minutes to retrieve them. Taxi waits in Las Vegas can be as long as half an hour. That's four to five hours flying, or four to five hours driving. I'll take driving any time. Southwest Airlines currently has a special from the LA area to Las Vegas of $109 for airfare plus two nights at Circus Circus Hotel. Other discount airlines to check out are JetBlue, Frontier, Allegiant and ATA. Circus Circus is, without question, one of the worst hotels on the Strip. First, it is on the far north end, and not near anything. Second, it is over-run with families with children -- the kind of families who let their kids run wild (and who think bringing children to Las Vegas is a good idea). Southwest is _not_ a discount airline -- depending on market, its airfares can be the same or higher than the legacy airlines. Southwest also has no interline agreements with other carriers -- if they oversell or cancel, you're simply stuck. They'll refund your money or book you on another Southwest flight up to several days later. They are also the Greyhound bus of the skies -- a fitting partner for Circus Circus. 4. are there any other destinations that we should see while in CA? In the LA area, I suggest that you visit 1) Santa Monica and Venice Beach (take the Wilshire Blvd bus to the ocean), It's been a few years since I lived in LA, but when I did, this was one of the most dangerous bus lines in the city. Your suggestions for destinations, however, are good ones. 2) Old Town Pasadena (a short train ride from downtown LA), 3) the Getty Museum in Malibu (they keep their Greek and Roman antiquities there), 4) the Gene Autry Museum (www.autry-museum.org - cowboy museum north of downtown), 5) the San Diego Zoo (www.sandiegozoo.org), 6) Old Town San Diego, 7) Mission San Juan Capistrano (where the swallow return each year). If you venture to Northern California, San Francisco is fabulous, Monterey and Carmel are quaint, the Big Sur Coast is our Great Ocean Road, but, alas, we have no Apostles. Hearts Castle is a must see if you like architecture and art (www.hearstcastle.com). There are also a number of places along this route where you can stop and see seals and sea elephants. San Luis Obispo (where I currently live) is a nice place to stop and Santa Barbara is even nicer. |
#13
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California / Las Vegas Information
Hi Everyone
Thank you for all your help and assistance so far. We have gained some very useful information and destinations. We are both over 21, so no problems with checking out the casinos in Vegas. Sounds like hiring a car is the best option - just got to remember to drive on the "wrong" side of the road :-) My sister loves theme parks and thrill rides (not my cup of tea), although I've been wanting to visit Disneyland since a was a little kid. The film tours (Warner Bros, etc) sound interesting as does checking out a sporting event and, of course, plenty of shopping!!!! - although Tijuana is off the itinerary (travel agent recommended it). What is usually the best time of the year to visit CA and Vegas? The only reason we were looking at January is because I've got to take 4 weeks annual leave over this period and wanted to get out of Aus. Maybe we should postpone our US holiday until later in the year - is Sept/Oct better? Once again, thank you very much - it's greatly appreciated !!! wrote in message ... Hello We are two Aussie girls travelling to the US in early January. We will be flying into LAX and want to visit tourist areas of Los Angeles, Hollywood, Anaheim and San Diego. We want to visit the theme parks and zoos such as Disneyland, Universal Studios, Knott's Berry Farm, Seaworld, San Diego Zoo and Wild Life Park. We also want to see the famous Hollywood sign, the Stars Walk of Fame (or whatever it is called), Rodeo Drive and a shopping trip to Tijuana, Mexico. Can someone please help us with the following questions: 1. how long should we be spending in each destination? 2. what is the weather like in CA - I've read it's 20C, however does it rain a lot? I'm hoping it's similar to Qld, Aus in winter - "beautiful one day, perfect the next". 3. would you recommend hiring a car or catching public transport? 4. are there any other destinations that we should see while in CA? We also want to visit Las Vegas to experience the lights and sights and take a trip to the Grand Canyon. How long should we stay in Las Vegas for? We obviously want to see the Strip and catch a show (any recommendations?). What else is there to do in Vegas that you would recommend? All up, we are spending 5-6 weeks in the US and want to see as much as we can but not to the point where we are exhausted from our trip. We need all the help we can get - travel brochures and travel agents just don't have 'all' the answers - I've learnt that local input is the key ! Thank you very much in advance !!! |
#14
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California / Las Vegas Information
wrote:
Hollywood, Anaheim Nothing in Anaheim but DisneyLand. and San Diego. Balboa Park and its zoo are wonderful as is the hotel del Coronado. My opinion of San Diego is extremely low for a variety of reasons. I would avoid Tijuana and all other US/Mexico border towns. Disneyland, Universal Studios, Knott's Berry Farm, I would choose Knott's and Magic Mountain. Have a chicken dinner at Knott's even if you don't visit the amusement park. If you do, however, Montezooma is regarded as the best shuttle loop standing even though it must be older than thirty by now. 1. how long should we be spending in each destination? San Diego: A day for the park and zoo. Los Angeles: A day for Hollywood and Rodeo Drive. A day for Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park. A day for Magic Mountain in Valencia. A day for Universal Studios. A day for DisneyLand. I would also spend a day or two at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Peterson Automotive Museum, the Page Museum, and the Getty Museum. The Holocaust Museum needs a day, too. So for Los Angeles and San Diego about a week. 2. what is the weather like in CA I presume "CA" means CaliforniA. It's a thousand miles long and about two hundred miles wide with altitudes ranging from well below sea level to higher than fourteen thousand feet. On any given day, temperatures will have a range of greater than 50°F; air from pristine sparkle to thick with pollution, dust, snow, rain, and fog with winds too light to notice and too strong to stand. On any given "Winter" day, you can ski on water or snow does it rain a lot? El Niño is on his way. It's likely to be a wet year. 3. would you recommend hiring a car or catching public transport? Public transportation in the SouthLand isn't very useful. 4. are there any other destinations that we should see while in CA? I presume "CA" means CaliforniA. Yes! Many that I would recommend before even THINKing about Los Angeles, San Diego, and/or Tijuana. San Francisco, [The "Don't-miss sights in San Francisco" page http://geocities.com/iconoc/Articles/Sights.html has enough to keep you busy for nine twelve-hour days. It includes links to your best source of advice on where to eat here, the UseNet Group ba.food, and the quite-good sfSurvey. It also has a weather chart with a link to current conditions. [The best on-line map of San Francisco is an inter-active PDF created for the San Francisco Municipal Railway: http://geocities.com/iconoc/Grafix/CityWide.pdf. I recommend 150% or greater magnification. There's also a link that will tell you how to get There from Here via public transportation. Other links on the page, http://geocities.com/iconoc/Grafix/FlagMaps.html are a map of our cable car routes and a superb map of Golden Gate Park. [The frequently-updated SPECIAL EVENTS page has irregularly-scheduled music and dances as well as links to seven calendars of regularly-scheduled dances, a composite of five of them, and one of dance cruises and events around the world: http://geocities.com/dancefest/Specials.html ] Yosemite, Big Sur, the Gold Country, the Wine Country, the Big Trees, the Tall Trees, Death Valley, Lake Tahoe, and much more. How long should we stay in Las Vegas for? At least two nights. If one of 'em's a Monday, go to the Stratosphere for the Blues Jam at ten. the Strip and catch a show (any recommendations?). They're all good, so I hear. Those I've seen have been. What else is there to do in Vegas that you would recommend? Here's "A bit of non-gambling Las Vegas" with about a dozen useful links: http://geocities.com/iconoc/Articles/LasVegas.html You have apparently already booked flying into Los Angeles. If you can make a change, I highly recommend flying into San Francisco in order to make better use of the roads because, following my recommended route, you're on the wrong side of the road. After a week in Los Angeles and a day or two in San Diego, head to Palm Springs to go through the mountains up to Las Vegas. From 'Vegas, take three days to travel and visit the Grand Canyon. From 'Vegas, go to Pahrump and through Death Valley then up the Eastern Sierra Highway to Lake Tahoe (two or three days; you won't be able to get to Yosemite from the East), then down through Sacramento (visit the capital) to San Francisco (nine days). From here, follow the Driving Directions: San Francisco to: Pacifica-Half Moon Bay-Santa Cruz-Monterey/Carmel http://geocities.com/iconoc/Articles/DriveDir.html and then just continue on down the Cabrillo Highway (1) through Big Sur to the Pacific Coast Highway in Oxnard that goes directly to LAX (at least two days but more are better). -- __________________________________________________ ______________ "San Francisco is a pleasure. Los Angeles is a headache" Rita (NYC) http://geocities.com/dancefest/ --- http://geocities.com/iconoc/ ICQ: http://wwp.mirabilis.com/19098103 ------- IClast at Gmail com -- Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com |
#15
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California / Las Vegas Information
In article ,
wrote: Hello We are two Aussie girls travelling to the US in early January. We will be flying into LAX and want to visit tourist areas of Los Angeles, Hollywood, Anaheim and San Diego. We want to visit the theme parks and zoos such as Disneyland, Universal Studios, Knott's Berry Farm, Seaworld, San Diego Zoo and Wild Life Park. We also want to see the famous Hollywood sign, the Stars Walk of Fame (or whatever it is called), Rodeo Drive and a shopping trip to Tijuana, Mexico. Can someone please help us with the following questions: 1. how long should we be spending in each destination? 2. what is the weather like in CA - I've read it's 20C, however does it rain a lot? I'm hoping it's similar to Qld, Aus in winter - "beautiful one day, perfect the next". 3. would you recommend hiring a car or catching public transport? 4. are there any other destinations that we should see while in CA? We also want to visit Las Vegas to experience the lights and sights and take a trip to the Grand Canyon. How long should we stay in Las Vegas for? We obviously want to see the Strip and catch a show (any recommendations?). What else is there to do in Vegas that you would recommend? All up, we are spending 5-6 weeks in the US and want to see as much as we can but not to the point where we are exhausted from our trip. We need all the help we can get - travel brochures and travel agents just don't have 'all' the answers - I've learnt that local input is the key ! Thank you very much in advance !!! How much time do you have? You could easily spend two or three days a Universal Studios and not see everything there, and that's definitely true of Disney Land. Absolutely hire a car. Public transportation in Southern California is available in some areas, but it is not very good. A car gives you much more flexibility in that area than you could ever have by relying on public transportation. For Las Vegas, you can do without a car if you just want to see the lights and the Strip. The Strip is only a five minute drive from the airport and there are plenty of public transportation options in that area. For info on Las Vegas, a good web site is http://www.cheapovegas.com and a very helpful newsgroup just for Las Vegas is alt.vacation.las-vegas The weather is hard to predict, but it should be comfortable in the Los Angeles area. Bring light sweaters for Las Vegas. See the web site at http://www.weather.com for weather info. You might want to rent a car after you are finished seeing the sights in Las Vegas and tour some of the surrounding areas such as the Valley of Fire, Hoover Dam, and some of the other national parks. With 5-6 weeks of time, you should be able to do all those things without rushing. |
#16
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California / Las Vegas Information
Thank you for all your help and assistance so far. We have gained some very
useful information and destinations. We are both over 21, so no problems with checking out the casinos in Vegas. Sounds like hiring a car is the best option - just got to remember to drive on the "wrong" side of the road :-) At some locations, you also have to be at least 25 years old. I have no idea how common this is in California (when I was that young it wasn't an issue), but if you're under 25, you'll need to inform the rental company when making a reservation. If you're allowed to rent at your chosen location, don't be surprised if they charge you extra. Also note, when comparing car rental prices, that the base rate that the rental companies will quote you doesn't include everything. Not only is there tax on top, but there's a daily "loss damage waiver" charge which amounts to insurance against theft or damage to the car (they say it's not insurance, but that's a technicality). LDW is charged separately because it's optional, but you should only decline it if you have some other insurance that will cover this -- if you don't pay LDW and the car is stolen or destroyed, you're liable for the full price of it! (The term "CDW" is also used sometimes, meaning "collision damage waiver".) There are other insurance-type options as well, which are also daily charges. You may be able to get a rate that includes LDW and perhaps other insurance, and would be better than you can get from within the US, if you book the rental before leaving home. I don't know. You'll still need to mention your age if under 25. As to only having to remember to drive on the right, you might have a look at http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/hdbk/driver_handbook_toc.htm. (That's for California, but things are pretty similar as you go from one US state to another. In particular, the law about red traffic lights when turning right is the same in all states.) -- Mark Brader | "I always pass on good advice. It's the only thing Toronto | to do with it. It is never any use to oneself." | -- Lord Goring (Oscar Wilde: An Ideal Husband) My text in this article is in the public domain. |
#17
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California / Las Vegas Information
wrote in message ... Hi Everyone Thank you for all your help and assistance so far. We have gained some very useful information and destinations. We are both over 21, so no problems with checking out the casinos in Vegas. Sounds like hiring a car is the best option - just got to remember to drive on the "wrong" side of the road :-) A couple of points about driving -- Los Angeles is a nest of freeways with confusing naming conventions and, frequently, poorly marked exits. If you can, rent a car from Hertz, who can provide "NeverLost," a GPS navigation system that is quite effective once you get used to the female voice insinuating orders every few minutes. LA drivers also tend to be a bit on the crazy side. Once outside the city, driving is relatively easy, with mostly broad and well-maintained roadways. My sister loves theme parks and thrill rides (not my cup of tea), although I've been wanting to visit Disneyland since a was a little kid. The film tours (Warner Bros, etc) sound interesting as does checking out a sporting event and, of course, plenty of shopping!!!! - although Tijuana is off the itinerary (travel agent recommended it). Disneyland is certainly worth a day -- it is an American icon and, even if you're not taken with the rides, it is interesting enough as a sociological experiment. I'm not a theme park fan myself, though Knotts Berry Farm, by virtue of being one of the older parks, has some interesting features in addition to the thrill rides. I would avoid Six Flags - Magic Mountain unless you or your sister are hard-core thrill ride fanatics. Six Flags also attracts a significant gang element. Definitely check out the Warner Bros. tour. It may be more interesting than Paramount because Warner Bros. still has a back lot (it shares it with Burbank Studios). Paramount no longer does. I've never taken any of these tours, but I used to be an actor in LA and worked at all of the studios -- Warner Bros.' back lot has (or, at least, had) some interesting sets which, I'm sure, you'll recognize from many films and television shows. On the way down to Anaheim, there is a very large outlet mall that has many dozens of designer stores. I can't recall the name at the moment, but I'm sure someone else will know it. You should be able to satisfy some of your shopping cravings there. What is usually the best time of the year to visit CA and Vegas? The only reason we were looking at January is because I've got to take 4 weeks annual leave over this period and wanted to get out of Aus. Maybe we should postpone our US holiday until later in the year - is Sept/Oct better? Southern California and Las Vegas can get exceptionally hot in the summer. Unless you like roasting in the sun, I'd avoid the summer months, and even early September can get very hot. January weather is hard to predict for either Las Vegas or Southern California. It may be balmy and warm, wet and cold, or anything in between -- it will get quite cool at night, regardless. Are you interested in art museums? Someone else mentioned the Getty at Malibu -- it has a nice collection, but is interesting primarily because of the setting, a reproduction of a Palladian Italian Renaissance villa. The main Getty museum is in the Santa Monica mountains. Personally, I don't care much either for the collection or the campus, which is relatively new and rather spectacularly set. It's a little too much "Disneyland meets the old masters." LA has the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), which has an excellent collection, well curated and displayed, as well as interesting visiting exhibits. My wife and I always go when we're in LA. There's also the Huntington Hartford museum in Pasadena (and a visit to the rose garden there is always nice). If you're interested in architecture and music, you might visit the Disney Concert Hall in downtown LA. It was designed by Frank Geary (and looks it) and hosts world-class events. It's also across the street from the LA Music Center, if you're interested in attending an opera, ballet, concert or theater. Once again, thank you very much - it's greatly appreciated !!! wrote in message ... Hello We are two Aussie girls travelling to the US in early January. We will be flying into LAX and want to visit tourist areas of Los Angeles, Hollywood, Anaheim and San Diego. We want to visit the theme parks and zoos such as Disneyland, Universal Studios, Knott's Berry Farm, Seaworld, San Diego Zoo and Wild Life Park. We also want to see the famous Hollywood sign, the Stars Walk of Fame (or whatever it is called), Rodeo Drive and a shopping trip to Tijuana, Mexico. Can someone please help us with the following questions: 1. how long should we be spending in each destination? 2. what is the weather like in CA - I've read it's 20C, however does it rain a lot? I'm hoping it's similar to Qld, Aus in winter - "beautiful one day, perfect the next". 3. would you recommend hiring a car or catching public transport? 4. are there any other destinations that we should see while in CA? We also want to visit Las Vegas to experience the lights and sights and take a trip to the Grand Canyon. How long should we stay in Las Vegas for? We obviously want to see the Strip and catch a show (any recommendations?). What else is there to do in Vegas that you would recommend? All up, we are spending 5-6 weeks in the US and want to see as much as we can but not to the point where we are exhausted from our trip. We need all the help we can get - travel brochures and travel agents just don't have 'all' the answers - I've learnt that local input is the key ! Thank you very much in advance !!! |
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California / Las Vegas Information
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#19
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California / Las Vegas Information
My sister loves theme parks and thrill rides (not my
cup of tea), although I've been wanting to visit Disneyland since a was a little kid. There's a wide variety of things to do at Disney, so you and your sister will both have fun. I'd strongly recommend studying a good Disney guidebook before your trip, so you can make the best use of your time. There are also some Disney newsgroups and websites where you can get advice. When in Vegas, your sister might enjoy the rides on top of the Stratosphere hotel. What is usually the best time of the year to visit CA and Vegas? The weather is fairly consistent year-round in California, but the weather is cooler in the northern part of the state, and also at higher altitudes. At Yahoo Weather (and similar sites) you can find averages for any particular city. Just find the city, then click the "Averages" link. For example, here are the averages for L.A... http://weather.yahoo.com/climo/USCA0638_f.html Las Vegas has a very different climate, with the summers much hotter than the winters... http://weather.yahoo.com/climo/USNV0049_f.html The Grand Canyon will be cold and snowy in January, and trails may be icy in places. Some enjoy the Canyon in that weather; others prefer to visit when its warmer. Check the official site for more info. James |
#20
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California / Las Vegas Information
In article , wrote:
My sister loves theme parks and thrill rides (not my cup of tea), although I've been wanting to visit Disneyland since a was a little kid. You'll both be happy at Disneyland (DL/DCA), then. There are a few thrill rides (California Screamin', Space Mountain, Tower of Terror) that will keep your sister happy while you go on Soarin' and the other less-intense but very well designed rides. Or hang out and enjoy the entertainment at various places around Disneyland (both Disneyland Park and Disney's California Adventure). Magic Mountain, north of L.A., is better known for thrill rides, but there wouldn't be as much there to interest you. Besides, you've been wanting to visit DL, so by all means, do so! What is usually the best time of the year to visit CA and Vegas? The only reason we were looking at January is because I've got to take 4 weeks annual leave over this period and wanted to get out of Aus. Maybe we should postpone our US holiday until later in the year - is Sept/Oct better? There's certainly less apt to be rain in the early fall (although that's right about when it starts), and the weather will overall be warmer. But I've seen it in the 80sF in January in southern California, so you never know! Patty |
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