Ideas for 2017 - California

Hello lovely people

Time to plan next years holidays

We want to return to Disneyland LA which we last visited in 2013. We really liked the size of the parks and Cars Land was a big hit too , especially for our then 5 year old. We combined it with Maui and SFO last time.
We are looking at either the middle 2 weeks in April or the first 2 weeks in June, spending maybe 4 days in Anaheim. Not sure what to combine it with though ???
Don't want to go to Hawaii this time , but we do want to include a relaxation and possible beach part to the holiday.
We are 2 x 40 somethings and a 9 year old.
Any ideas ? Thinking possibly Mexico, or the Baja peninsular ? I don't think they are any nice beach resorts in CA ? Looking for somewhere with calm seas, nice pools, quiet ish nightlife.

Hubby has 300k VS miles so we would be looking to fly to a VS destination in US - I know that this will be a challenge in itself finding G's !

Thanks
L2H

Based around Anaheim, you could go east, Palm Springs, Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon, fly back from Vegas (difficult to get G's from there though, could fly to a better airport for Gs).

Head south, San Diego (with zoo). Nice beaches and stuff around there, apparently (only did downtown).

Up the coast (Amtrak goes all way to Seattle, btw), on the way to San Francisco, coastal drive or train up to San Jose/San Francisco. We've stopped in Santa Barbara. Yosemite National Park from there, Sequoia National Park on the way perhaps back to LAX. Or fly back from SFO.

Not so sure on beach holidays per se around there. Not a big fan of those.

Hi L2H,

There are some nice beaches in LA, Venice, Muscle etc. Have a look at San Diego a couple of hours down the highway.

We stayed there a couple of years ago it has two zoos/safari parks being one of best in the World, you have to get there as they open to see any animals as like all they are most active at night and asleep during the day, they will each take a day to visit, we found the Safari park the best. There is also a Sea World, think we got tickets before hand at a discount.

There are some beaches with lovely sand where you can go but very little in the way of facilities and the tide did not go out till midday, there is also a warship you can go round. Excellent hotels and food places as well As long as you have good walking shoes you will be fine. Hope this helps any more info just ask. Linda

Thanks both, some great ideas ! I went to Seaworld and the zoo many years ago and loved it, our 9 year old would love it too !
I just took a look at San Diego and found Mission Bay and the Bahia Hotel - Bahia is my maiden name
Has anyone stayed here ?

If you wanted to stay in California for the beach I'd recommend La Jolla, just outside San Diego. Unusually,for USA, it's very walkable, with some lovely cafes and restaurants. Beaches are calmer (well some of them), lots of coves. There's a beach there that's full of sea lions and seals too.
The beaches of Orange County are nice too, particularly Laguna Beach. Nice, calmish beach and again very walkable town with lots of independent shops, cafes and restaurants.
Be careful if you go June though coastal California can suffer from what the locals nickname "June gloom" when days are overcast and the coastal fog hangs around.

[honey lamb]

We are looking at either the middle 2 weeks in April or the first 2 weeks in June,

Easter Sunday next year is April 16 so bang in the middle of the middle two weeks. It will make finding Gs that little bit harder.

Be careful if you go June though coastal California can suffer from what the locals nickname "June gloom" when days are overcast and the coastal fog hangs around.

We went to the Pacific North West in August a few years ago and experienced this in a number of places. When we flew back from Seattle to San Francisco you could clearly see how far the fog extended inland.

June gloom - that's a new one on me ?!
Ok, thanks I am formulating a plan. May be we will have to get a connecting flight to to get those elusive G's.
We are restricted by school holidays but lucky that our son goes to an independent school and gets 3 weeks off at Easter and 2 for May half term.