We have family which lives in Sacremento though you would additionally similar to to revisit Disney, Yosemite as well as a Ocean/beaches some-more in a south. We devise upon regulating a taxes to go though was wondering if any one has any thought as to about how most you should save up. We can go flattering uncomplicated upon food as well as lodging- no roach motels of course, though would similar to to unequivocally have a income for steer seeing. additionally were not certain if you wish to expostulate down or take a plane… would be good to expostulate so you had travel whilst there though dont know how a kids will hoop it
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California is an amazing place, but its really big. Transportation will be a significant cost. Luckily, Sacramento has a good airport so you can rent cars from right there. I would focus on cars that get good gas milelage, but are larger (maybe a sedan). SUVs will not only be pricey to rent but also pricey to fill up with gas. You could communter plane hop to save time, but it will likely be the same cost.
Plan a trip in a loop. This will save time criss-crossing the state – it’s really boring for kids in the middle of the state. You can begin with the beaches in Monterey Bay or Santa Barbara, head to disneyland, then head up to the Sierra Nevada national parks (Yosemite, Sequoia/Kings Canyon) – or head in the reverse direction. Also, as summer is prime travel time to California, plan your dates carefully. For example, a weekend in Yosemite will be busy, but a weekday will be less so.
For lodging, the cheapest place to stay is campgrounds. You will likely spend at least $60 a night for summer lodging, with prime destination spots costing considerably more. Campgrounds never exceed $50/night – and typically don’t cost more than $35. If you really desire lodgining and are willing to travel a bit, you can find cheaper rates for places outside of a 15 min drive to your destination – a hotel ouside of disneyland will cost $150/night but 15 min away will cost $50. (P.S. There is an amazing campground in the middle of Monterey called Veterens Memorial Park)
Invest in passes to help you get places. In San Diego, you can buy a one-day pass to all 15 museums in Balboa Park. You can buy an $80 pass for National Parks that lasts a year, and gets you into all of them for free. Also some passes for area attractions where you’re from may help you in California. Some science museums are part of networks where member cards will get you benefits at other locations.
Calfornia prices are much higher than the rest of the country. I would budget (excluding the plane flight) about $5000 for a two week trip with a family of 4. Picnics can save you a lot of money if you shop carefuly (maybe your Sacramento relatives can loan you an ice chest). Besides, kids of many ages, even teens, would enjoy a picnic on the beach.
Some tips for locations:
Beaches -
High Volumne areas – Los Angeles, San Fransico
Better Choices – Santa Barbara, Monterey Bay
Natural Lands
High Volumne areas – Yosemite Valley
Better Choices – the rest of Yosemite, Point Reyes, Sequoia National Park, east side of the Sierra Nevada
Amusements
High Volumne – Disney, Santa Cruz Boardwalk
Better Choices – not much, most other choices are busy too. Might consider Aquariums and Zoos – check out Monterey Bay Aquarium and the San Diego Zoo.
Final note for disneyland – bring refillable water bottles – prices for drinks in the parks are VERY expensive and summer is very hot. I spent $30 on drinks for myself alone (and that only bought 6 drinks)
Depends on how long you’d like to go for. Driving from Sacramento to Yosemite is about four hours, and then on to Disneyland is another six hours.
I would personally skip Sacramento altogether, but you say you have family here, so that might not be an option. You could possibly stay in San Francisco for a couple nights and have your family meet you there to see the sights. Your kids will be a lot less bored there.
There’s not much to do in Sacramento. Everyone says the best part about living here is that it’s only two hours from San Francisco, or to Tahoe in the other direction, but there’s nothing in between except strip malls and tract housing.
You might consider flying directly to southern California and maybe take a road trip to Sequoia National Park to see the big trees. There will be less people than Yosemite, too.
There’s actually quite a bit for kids to do in Sacramento, and depending when you come, the California State Fair might be going (last two weeks of August). There’s also Old Sacramento, William Land Park, and many kid attractions.
Yosemite is about four hours, and I really do’;t recommend going there in the summer. The crowds and traffic is horrible, and none of the waterfalls will be flowing much, if at all.
Going to Disneyland will be quite a trip, and you might want to consider a cheap flight from Sacramento to Orange County.
Personally, if you are going to visit Sacramento just for family, you are better off staying somewhere in the Bay (where the heat won’t take 20 years off your lifespan) and just having them meet you there.
Sacramento to Yosemite is a 4 hour drive, Sac to LA is a 7 or so hour drive (best to use Google Maps to compute these times). If you go to LA from Sacramento, take 5 all the way South, go through the Grapevine (it’s pretty cool, unless your car overheats!!)! Yikes!
I like driving it, it just takes a long time…as for costs, use Google Maps to find the times and distances, find the distance, divide that by average MPG for your vehicle. That number is how gallons of gas you will need…then multiply that by the market price of gas….adjust for inflation, BP sucking, having to give up your first born to the oil industry and add that all up.
It sounds like a lot of money, but well worth it. Really.