Your help and advice on our first trip to USA/Canada would be greatly appreciated

[liamsal]

3 days in Winnipeg is too much imo (unless you and other guests of the wedding are meeting up the day before/after to catch up). I've been to Winnipeg 3 times now (last time was July 2016) and there's nothing to do there. I have family there which is the only reason Manitoba is on my itinerary - otherwise I would steer clear. Nothing to do or see there, nowhere near as nice as the other destinations that you're visiting

Also I only scanned through the other comments but by the sounds of things you're a Velocity member as all your flights (except Westjet) are partners of VA. Make sure you give you and your families FF numbers when you book and set up family pooling to credit all the points and status credits to one account.

Enjoy the trip!

 

[Justinf]

I would skip Vegas and spend more time on the west coast - Yosemite.

Youre spending a lot of time in airports.

Sounds like an exciting trip!

Having just done Vegas with a 16-year-old I would agree with this unless they into the Outlet shopping and unless you want to see a show. The kids won't be allowed anywhere near the casino floors other than the general walkways and they are VERY vigilant in policing this.
If you can shave a day off Winnipeg (difficult given the circumstances, I would in favour of another day in Vancouver.
Also for Universal Studios, it really is worth paying more and getting front-of-line passes.
I'm yet to get to it in my current trip report, but i HATED Disneyland (yes, unpopular opinion I know), but your kids will enjoy it so that's the main thing I suppose. Two hours and I was out of there.

 

[oh_lol]

I'd recommend taking Las Vegas out of your trip (and I go there every trip close to the west coast). Don't think it'll be as good, especially with little ones. There's a few things for children, but it's still essentially an adults playground.
Put those gained days into New York City AND/OR into a more leisurely drive up Route 1 stopping overnight somewhere.

Have no idea about Winnipeg, but it sounds like quite a bit of time there unless you're meeting with friends/family/have the wedding stuff there.

 

[Milboo]

I've done SF-LA via the coastal road and I am not sure if it's because I was sick at the time, but that road really tired me out. its seldom straight road and you're always turning and slowing down etc.
I did SF-Cambria in one day and I was shattered that drive was only like 5 hours. in comparison I've done Orlando-Dallas in a single drive stopping only for fuel and lunch that was 17 hours but its all highway plus i've done countless 12+ hour drives in the US in one go but never as tired as I was after that SF-Cambria drive.

I did the first day (to Monterey) with a raging sinus infection, strep throat and conjunctivitis and a $600 doctors bill! My friend had food poisoning from Chipotle! We hit peak hour traffic at Santa Cruz and I just remember wanting to pull over and hide!

It is not an easy drive and I am well used to driving NZ's winding roads. Add to that, stopping to view things and the concentration of driving on the other side then it's taxing.

I think it would be harder still going up the coast instead of down.

We also had thick fog from Santa Barbara to Santa Monica so had to reduce speed as we had limited visibility.

 

[Renato1]

Personally, I'd give New York a miss and go to Washington DC instead.
Regards,
Renato

 

[cove]

Make the drive between Los Angeles and San Francisco two days and make sure there is no big drop charge on the hire car.
Allow 4 hours or at least 3 hours at LAX so your connections are not missed.
Your air fares did not look particularly cheap so do some more checking.
One day at Disneyland is too little.
Las Vegas is more for adults than children but our children enjoyed it.
Get a Citibank debit card to avoid lousy exchange rates.It is free.

 

[clazman]

Personally, I'd give New York a miss and go to Washington DC instead.
Regards,
Renato

Great idea, but to do it justice you need a week in Washington

 

[Lord Mud]

My $0.02. The day you arrive in LA will be hell if you don't sleep on the plane. I hope you are not planning on a theme park on that day.

I cannot recommend the Cirque de Soliel show KA at MGM grand enough. Get tickets well in advance.