I'm putting my vote in for a week in San Diego. It is a GORGEOUS city, the weather is perfect (it's cooler since it's by the ocean), and there's so much to see. If you pick San Diego, I would include:

-- Old Town Trolley Tours (2 hours, covers the city + Coronado Island, you learn a lot of neat facts)
-- San Diego Safari Park
-- USS Midway
-- San Diego Zoo
-- A harbor bay cruise (we used City Cruise and learned a lot about the navy ships in the bay)
-- Sea World
-- Coronado Island
-- A baseball game at Petco Park (the San Diego Padres)
-- Head into the San Diego mountains for a day trip -- Palomar Observatory and Julian (famous for its apple pies)

These activities are expensive and add up so we did some research and ended up bundling things using a GoCity pass. Most of these activities would take up a day without rushing.

In other parts of the state, I would consider Calaveras County which is very much off the beaten track but full of history and things to see/experience:

-- Mercer Caverns (make sure kids are old enough, not younger than 5; sure-footed and a good listener)
-- Calaveras Big Trees State Park
-- Murphys - hidden gem, old Main Street, tasting rooms, must see public park Murphys Community Park
-- Columbia State Historic Park (panning for gold, etc.)
-- Jumping Frog of Calaveras County museum in Angels Camp https://www.gocalaveras.com/business/attractions/frog-hop-of-fame/
-- There are great AirBNBs in Arnold if you look at the Blue Lake Springs Community. Centrally located and with lake and pool activities in the summer.

Los Angeles area - the only thing I'd add is if you spend time here to reserve a day trip up to the San Bernardino Mountains where local LA people go -- Lake Arrowhead or Big Bear Lake. Excellent pizza at LouEddie's Pizza; sit outside amidst the trees on their deck. If your kids are into mountain biking go to the Skypark At Santa's Village.

We are local Californians, too, and find it hard to leave our state since there's so much to see and experience. Have fun planning! BTW I think the recommendation to spend a week in Hawaii is a great idea too. We didn't really get it until we moved to California but it's different enough and very special to be worth looking into (added expense etc.)

red wood forrest

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is anyone else hung up on how OP and her husband both have 5 weeks consecutive to vacation? Clearly I made some poor life choices.

Probably teachers?

Are teachers even paid enough to travel for five consecutive weeks in Canada? I would think camping would have to be part of it.

Love those off the beaten path recs. We just did Mammoth Lake and June Lake as spring break to ski. We missed Manzanar because we drove by it so fast. Really a bummer. I didn't realize what it was.
June Lake was my absolute favorite. I cannot believe that scenery is in the US. The best.

A week in Southern California and 4 weeks elsewhere. Trust me!
-southern Californian

Some off the beaten path recs. Mammoth Lake, June Lake, Crater Lake. Bodie (abandoned ghost town), Manzanar (Japanese Internment Camp). I would also drive allllll the way up to the Redwood National Park at some point. Have fun!

Anonymous wrote:Adding a week in Hawaii is a good idea!

Didn’t part of the PCH wash out or fall into the ocean recently? I thought part of it was impassable.

I think you can so SF-redwoods-Monterrey-Yosemite-Santa Barbara-LA. (Add in an Oakland to Hawaii flight before Monterrey). I wouldn’t do Tahoe but I understand the other point of view on this.

Yes various points have washed out the last few years. Right now a 15 mile or so section, starting 15 miles south of Big Sur (and going 15 miles or so south) is closed.

https://www.bigsurcalifornia.org/highway_conditions.html

But the areas north of Big Sur are open again, so it's not cut off like it was earlier this year.

Anonymous wrote:Is anyone else hung up on how OP and her husband both have 5 weeks consecutive to vacation? Clearly I made some poor life choices.

Probably teachers?

Anonymous wrote:Is anyone else hung up on how OP and her husband both have 5 weeks consecutive to vacation? Clearly I made some poor life choices.

Haha yep, me too

Anonymous wrote:You MUST see the Sequoias. Jaw-dropping, amazing creatures.

Where are these, and how do we get to them? Which airport and hotel do you recommend?

Is anyone else hung up on how OP and her husband both have 5 weeks consecutive to vacation? Clearly I made some poor life choices.

You MUST see the Sequoias. Jaw-dropping, amazing creatures.

Putting in a vote for Pinnacles National Park if you're nearby. It was HOT, but we were prepared with enough water and seeing condors in the wild was 100% worth it.

Muir Woods! We just came back and it was absolutely breathtaking. Do the canopy trail!! The cafe there is delicious! Berkeley has a Rose garden worth visiting too. The Sausalito house boats were cute! Palm Springs is cool, La Jolla was nice!

Adding a week in Hawaii is a good idea!

Didn’t part of the PCH wash out or fall into the ocean recently? I thought part of it was impassable.

I think you can so SF-redwoods-Monterrey-Yosemite-Santa Barbara-LA. (Add in an Oakland to Hawaii flight before Monterrey). I wouldn’t do Tahoe but I understand the other point of view on this.