Southern California loop - August 2023
Well it's been a long time since I was last outside of Europe (14 years by my reckoning!) but I am finally able to make a return to North America. Not on my own this time (there are now four of us) and things will have changed on the ground over that time, I am sure, so I would welcome any tips, suggestions or other thoughts. This is what I have planned so far but very happy to take advice on the driving times that I have estimated and interesting little diversions for fun roadside attractions (world's biggest, world's tallest, etc) or interesting movie locations (the kids favourites seem to be Back to the Future and Karate Kid at the moment but open to others).
I am wondering about the Hollywood sign - I think they'd like to see that - and hear about various spots to see it; what is recommended given where we are staying (Universal City). Google Maps (I know!) suggests this walking route which is about 2.3 miles each way with a 1,100ft elevation gain; does anyone know if this is realistic for two oldies with a couple of kids who are relatively inexperienced walkers? Something better? Parking nearer to the location somewhere? Maybe stick to seeing it from the bottom? Just seems a great view from up top?
I know the Skywalk is a tourist gimmick and I'd be better driving on to the national park proper but I am trying to limit my ambition when it comes to the miles as this will be the first time for my two (12 and 11 years) and don't want to turn them off to exploring with too much driving!
I am also particularly interested in suggestions for Channel Islands, Pinnacles and Joshua Tree national parks given the modest amount of time that we have available.
Also note that Magic Kingdom has purposely been left at the end of the trip to (hopefully) keep the kids enthused about the end of the trip (it's much much more their thing than mine!)
Finally, any thoughts on when the coast road through the Big Sur area will reopen? I have tailored the itinerary to that closure as best I can but would rather spend a day extra driving that section.
Tues 8th - Day 1
Fly London – Los Angeles
Collect rental car
Stop for food eg In and Out Burger or Chick-fil-A
Overnight accommodation booked: Tilt Hotel, Universal City
Weds 9th - Day 2
Relaxing morning settling in
Visit Hollywood sign from Griffith Observatory?
Old LA Zoo in Griffith Park?
Burger King in Burbank (BTTF)?
Movie locations?
Overnight accommodation booked: Tilt Hotel, Universal City
Thurs 10th - Day 3
Universal Studios
Overnight accommodation booked: Tilt Hotel, Universal City
Fri 11th -Day 4
Universal Studios
Overnight accommodation booked: Tilt Hotel, Universal City
Sat 12th – Day 5
Leave hotel and drive down to Santa Monica
After lunch follow coast road to Ventura
Overnight in Ventura area
Sun 13th - Day 6
Channel Islands cruise from Ventura – arrive back late PM
Drive to Solvang (+/- 1 hour)
Overnight in Solvang
Mon 14th – Day 7
Continue along the coast road toward San Francisco
Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo, Morro Bay, San Simeon (Hearst Castle/Elephant Seal viewing spot), Turn around at Ragged Point
Overnight outside Pinnacles NP (Soledad or King City)
Tues 15th - Day 8
Visit Pinnacles NP
Drive to Monterey (+/- 1.5 hours)
Take it easy for remainder of day
Overnight in Monterey or Carmel by the Sea
Weds 16th - Day 9
Whale Watching AM
Drive south to Big Sur area
Overnight in Monterey or Carmel by the Sea
Thurs 17th - Day 10
Leave early and drive to San Francisco via 17 Mile Drive (+/- 3 hours)
Golden Gate bridge viewpoint
Baker Beach
Fishermans Wharf
Lombard Street
Alcatraz Island
Cable cars
Overnight accommodation booked: Hotel Caza San Francisco
Fri 18th - Day 11
San Francisco
Overnight accommodation booked: Hotel Caza San Francisco
Sat 19th - Day 12
Drive to South Entrance of Yosemite National Park (+/- 4 hours)
6pm Moonlight train ride on Yosemite Mountain Narrow Gauge Railway
Overnight accommodation booked: Narrow Gauge Inn
Sun 20th - Day 13
Mariposa Grove hike (+/- 2 hours)
Explore west of Yosemite (Washburn Point, Glacier Point, etc.) then head in to the valley
Overnight accommodation booked: Curry Village (check in 4pm)
Mon 21st - Day 14
Yosemite Valley
Yosemite Falls
Half Dome
Leave Park via Tioga Pass
Overnight accommodation booked: Virginia Settlement
Tues 22nd - Day 15
Bodie State Park
Drive in to Death Valley National Park (+/- 4 hours)
Badwater Basin
Sunset Zabriskie Point
Overnight accommodation booked: Furnace Creek Ranch Cabin
Weds 23rd - Day 16
Explore Death Valley National Park
Overnight accommodation booked: Furnace Creek Ranch Cabin
Thurs 24th - Day 17
Sunrise Dantes View (leave hotel at 430am)
Drive to Grand Canyon West (+/- 4.5 hours)
Pass Las Vegas (hello Mark/Megan!) and quick stop at the Hoover Dam
Grand Canyon Skywalk
Overnight Grand Canyon West
Fri 25th - Day 18
Drive to Lake Havasu City to see old London Bridge (+/- 2.5 hours)
Continue on to Joshua Tree National Park (+/- 2.5 hours)
Overnight near Joshua Tree National Park
Sat 26th - Day 19
Roadside attraction: World’s Biggest Dinosaurs at Cabazon
Drive back to Los Angeles/Santa Clarita area (+/- 3 hours)
Do anything outstanding in north / east sides of LA
Overnight near Six Flags
Sun 27th - Day 20
Six Flags Magic Mountain
Overnight near Six Flags
Mon 28th - Day 21
Fly Los Angeles - London
Thanks in advance for any thoughts!!
Craig.
You were a single speed demon -- probably can't do that now!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
UKCraig
Yes, it's been quite a while, Mark! I am very much looking forward to it and just posted some tweaks; essentially a wee bit less time on our final day in Yosemite with a stop in Bodie in the afternoon then driving straight down to DV the next morning. Do you think that 4 hours estimate is about right from the place we'll be stopping (just along from the junction of 395 and the road that runs up to Bodie) in to Furnace Creek?
I had never heard of the Virginia Settlement until you mentioned it.-- Basically at Willow Springs. From the inn to Bodie is likely to be an hour or so. Depending on what happens to that road after the snow melts. Right now there is 2-3 feet of snow on the road.
By the most direct, it's probably 275 miles and if you add the time to drive to Bodie and back and look around -- you probably need to allow 7 hours of on-the-road time.
Quote:
Anyway, off on a tangent! This change will free up a day which will allow us a quick visit to Grand Canyon proper which is very cool. Just booked the lodge in the park itself so all set. The change in timings even allow for a night in the Wigwam Motel which the kids will (hopefully) love!
Sadly no time for a stop in LV this time but, who knows, if they enjoy this trip (and if there's any money left after!) maybe we will do something else next year!
Thanks for the tips about the eatery; will make a note of that :)
Sounds like fun.
Mark
No shortage of cool stuff to see on that road!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
UKCraig
Still, good location for us for the night after driving
out from Curry Village and poking around Bodie.
Craig, I must have misread the original post -- I thought you were going to drive to Bodie and then south to Death Valley the same day. If you are leaving from Willow Springs -- it would be the 4 hours or so to Furnace Creek.
I doubt you would have time to drive to Rock Creek Lake -- but it is an awesome side trip before you get to Bishop and if Sue is still baking...the best pies in the eastern Sierra!
Don't forget to get some yummy bread when you pass through Bishop. Actually Mahogany Meats has some of the best jerky in California and is also in Bishop.
Manzanar is worth a stop
StarWars Canyon is on your way -- and if the jets are flying--A don't miss photo opp.
Your kids might get a kick out of the redwood burl bar at Panamint Springs -- great photos too.
Mark
It's a one-way trip to see the Dam and the pedestrian bridge, but it's certainly cool
Quote:
Originally Posted by
UKCraig
All accommodation now booked other than day 7 which will depend upon the reopening of the coast road.
So here is the latest map from the PCH -- there are still thousands of tonnes of mountain sitting on the highway in a few places. I can't imagine that they will be able to reopen the road this year.
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...PCH-closed.jpg
Quote:
Originally Posted by
UKCraig
I suspect it'll still be closed sadly so we will likely try and dip in to the Pinnacles per the itinerary as above (not sure how a drive by visit will work there so open to other suggestions if we do go inland route)
I have only been there twice in 20 years, but brother goes at least once a month-- I will get some suggestions.
Here is a short article I wrote the last time I was there.
This may be too hot for your summer trip. This is what Dan had to say:
Quote:
Pinnacles NP is best enjoyed from the west entrance, off Hwy 101 at Soledad. It is a narrow road so plan on taking your time and there have been many washouts in the area. I haven't been to the NP since the atmospheric rivers started. Nice new Visitors Center and good hiking both at the visitor center and further in at the main parking area. Can't really go wrong. There should be plenty of water in the canyons, lots of wildflowers, and the poison oak is leafing out, so be cautious. You can also enter the park from the East side on Hwy 25. It is a very small NP and this time of year should be uncrowded and pleasant. Summer is way too hot and dry. Keep an eye out for California Condors, which can often be spotted.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
UKCraig
I particularly like the Starwars Canyon idea but I thought that got shut down after some sort of accident?
Yes, a jet crashed on the ridge and took out some photographers. Here is a video clip from the last time they flew through that I have been able to find.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wikdUo2le_I
I have my own story of "playing" with one of those F-15 Eagles--but that's a tale to be shared in person...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
UKCraig
One thing to ponder; we are staying just outside the south entrance to Yosemite; should we follow the route via Modesto, Merced and Mariposa or enter into Yosemite via Groveland and exit to the south? I would like in some ways to do the latter but I suspect the traffic possibilities are endless with that? Maybe it is also more dramatic for the first time visitors to allow things to build slowly coming from the south and seeing the various views along the Glacier Point Road before the crescendo in the valley?
I have driven the approach in all of the ways. My recommendation is to approach using either tCA-140 (Mariposa and El Portal) or the road from the south through Wawona.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
UKCraig
I am also wondering what the situation is with a quick (?) stop at the Hoover Dam these days? I went there years ago back before the bridge was built but can you still get down there relatively easily? I heard about security checkpoints? I believe there is a viewpoint which allows pedestrian access to the bridge now instead/as well? Is it possible to do both, perhaps?
Yeah, it is easy to do. The checkpoint is no big deal. Here is an article that Megan penned about the opening of the bridge in October 2010. You can see some of the photos taken from the pedestrian bridge. David Gomm has some awesome photos from there. I will look for them.
It's a one-way trip to see the Dam and the pedestrian bridge, but it's certainly cool.
Mark
Use the RTA Maps (Search Tools) for your Pinnacles NP part of the Route
Craig,
Another tool that you might find interesting would be the RTA Library Maps tool.
Go to the Advanced Maps page
and use the "Search for RTA Library Maps within" (200 miles) and click on the center of Pinnacles Park to see some of the possible routes.
Or you could just use the "Search for places within" (100 miles) and also click on the center of Pinnacles Park to see some of the possible attractions that we have written about.
The Bear Creek Driving road is on the way to Yosemite
And your kids might enjoy The Cowboy Museum in Oakdale Another really cool place is Railtown
Mark
your timing might be perfect...
Howdy Craig,
These were the rain reports posted this morning:
"As of 9 p.m. PT Stovepipe Wells 2.41” since 4 a.m. (Sunday) with an incredible .73” of this in just the past ONE HOUR (8-9 p.m.).
Badwater at 1.79” during the same period.
Furnace Creek at 1.55” so far today.
usually rainfall in these places is measured in "trace amounts" if any. So, the roads are no-doubt going to impacted.
There is still some local flooding going on in the Spring Mountains just west of downtown Las Vegas.
Valley of Fire State Park is pretty awesome and I haven't heard of any damage.
If you stay overnight in Las Vegas we could go for a hike in Red Rock Canyon.
I believe the 29 Palms area was hit hard too.
It is going to start drying out and your timing might be perfect -- mostly you need to get on the phone and see if those lodging locations will still be available,
Mark
Tonopah has some cool stuff
Quote:
Originally Posted by
UKCraig
Yep just picking that up as have been in Yosemite for a bit. Just picked up signal and about to head up Tioga Pass .
Sheesh, what was the road like to Bodie today? I would think it was sketchy at best. How was Tioga Pass?
Tonopah has some cool stuff and the roads are open.
The lower road to Bristlecone was open last week -- that would be awesome if it is still open.
Mark
i don't see the park opening any time soon.
Damage to DV is looking pretty significant.
i don't see the park opening any time soon.
Here are the paved roads that are closed.
State Route 190 (access to Furnace Creek, Stovepipe Wells)
Badwater Road (access to Badwater Basin, Artists Drive, Devils Golfcourse, Natural Bridge, Golden Canyon)
North Highway (Scotty's Castle Rd) (access to Ubehebe Crater)
Bonnie Clare Road and Scotty’s Castle due to flood recovery work . Unlikely to open before late 2025.
Load this page: [https://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/conditions.htm and scroll down to see the closed paged roads
Mammoth Lakes and Hot Creek and south on US-395
Bridgeport is a nice place to hang for a day or so.
I don't see any remaining issues on US-Hwy 395 -- so a stop over at Mammoth Lakes and Hot Creek would be a good alternative.
And then go south to points in Southern California.
Getting to Las Vegas is going to be tricky from US-395 without a lot of freeway driving.
Mark
Bristlecone Forest is inaccessible
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Mark Sedenquist
The lower road to
Bristlecone was open last week -- that would be awesome if it is still open.
Mark
I just checked the road conditions on CA-168 from Big Pine to Lida - the road sustained damage and is closed. Which also means, of course, that the access road to the Ancient Bristlecone Forest is VERY closed.
Alaskan Amber is a nice taste treat.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
UKCraig
where I had an enormous win... not seen this stuff for 15 years!!
Alaskan Amber is a nice taste treat.
(I've added a photo contributor's account for you, if you want to post larger photos. Check your Private Messages for login info)
Mark
