California vacation ideas

[cliftonite]

Planning on a vacation to California but am not sure where yet. Would you recommend going to San Diego then going to Santa Monica/Disney? Or head to San Fran and branch out from there?

 

[Ns1]

if you got the time start at either location and take the PCH to the other.

you get to drive through everything awesome, including and especially big sur

however it's like an 11 hour drive (if you take in the scenery like we did) and once you hit night you can't see shit.

I would avoid Disney if you can help it (maybe it's my SoCal jaded attitude towards Disney, who knows)

 

[fralexandr]

there's a lot of nice wineries in central California/Napa Valley
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napa_valley#Wine_in_Napa_Valley

but i guess that's out if this is meant for a family with kids, as the inclusion of disneyland might suggest

edit: maybe not if vegas is also a possibility

 

[cliftonite]

How about going to Vegas for 2 days, then driving to San Diego, Santa Monica, and Disney? Does that sound reasonable?

 

[Ns1]

How about going to Vegas for 2 days, then driving to San Diego, Santa Monica, and Disney? Does that sound reasonable?

Yes, but once again I question the desire for Disney. If you got time I would highly recommend a detour through Death Valley (LV -> SoCal)

 

[glenn1]

Planning on a vacation to California but am not sure where yet. Would you recommend going to San Diego then going to Santa Monica/Disney? Or head to San Fran and branch out from there?

My suggestion would be San Francisco, then branch to Monterey and Sequoia National Park. If you can swing it, a trip to French Laundry (if you can get reservations) or Napa/Sonoma would be nice addition as well.

 

[Ns1]

My suggestion would be San Francisco, then branch to Monterey and Sequoia National Park. If you can swing it, a trip to French Laundry (if you can get reservations) or Napa/Sonoma would be nice addition as well.

...keeping in mind that TFL is some $300PP and will take you 3-4 hours to complete.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Definitely recommend driving the PCH. I've driven it 7 or 8 times and it never gets old. Also, Yosemite is awesome.

 

[glenn1]

...keeping in mind that TFL is some $300PP and will take you 3-4 hours to complete.

Agreed, it's a splurge and not for everyone. But it is a foodie holy grail and a "bucket list" item for lots of people and to them worth every penny of the price. A lot of people seem to agree considering how hard it is to get a reservation there - you need to call at a set time 2 months to the day in advance of the day you'd like to eat, and hope you get lucky that your call is the one that gets through the jammed lines once they start picking up the phone.

 

[IronWing]

Lassen Volcanic, Mono Lake, Yosemite, Devil's Post Pile, Joshua Tree. Monterrey is a good place to see the ocean.

 

[dr150]

Skip all the coast shit.

Drive up the central valley, with a good stay in Fresno in deep summer.

Your welcome!

 

[cliftonite]

Ok so we have decided to go to to San Fran for a week (7 full days) and now need to plan the rest of the trip. We will fly in on 4/10 (afternoon) and fly out 4/17 (EARLY morning). We were thinking that we would spend a few days checking out things close to San Fran then head out on some wine tours in NAPA (do you need multiple days here?), check out Monterey, and the see Yosemite or Sequoia National Park.

Will we need to check out of our hotel to do any of these things? I know NAPA is about an hr away and MOnterey about 2. But Yosemite is about 5hrs away. Is it better to check out of our hotel and stay a night/day at Yosemite or do something like http://www.viator.com/tours/San-Fra...al-Park-and-Giant-Sequoias-Trip/d651-2402YNP?

Do you guys have any other suggestions as to what can be done/visited?

 

[zerocool84]

Skip all the coast shit.

Drive up the central valley, with a good stay in Fresno in deep summer.

Your welcome!

There's a reason why it's so cheap to live there. No one wants to go there.

 

[JulesMaximus]

How about going to Vegas for 2 days, then driving to San Diego, Santa Monica, and Disney? Does that sound reasonable?

Sweet! You've just planned at least 9 hours of driving into his vacation!

 

[Corporate Thug]

what the hell is there to see in Santa Monica?

 

[Sukhoi]

Ok so we have decided to go to to San Fran for a week (7 full days) and now need to plan the rest of the trip. We will fly in on 4/10 (afternoon) and fly out 4/17 (EARLY morning). We were thinking that we would spend a few days checking out things close to San Fran then head out on some wine tours in NAPA (do you need multiple days here?), check out Monterey, and the see Yosemite or Sequoia National Park.

Will we need to check out of our hotel to do any of these things? I know NAPA is about an hr away and MOnterey about 2. But Yosemite is about 5hrs away. Is it better to check out of our hotel and stay a night/day at Yosemite or do something like http://www.viator.com/tours/San-Fra...al-Park-and-Giant-Sequoias-Trip/d651-2402YNP?

Do you guys have any other suggestions as to what can be done/visited?

Although snow levels are low this year, Sequoia is going to be mostly snowed-in. Yosemite Valley will be completely open though.

 

[Sho'Nuff]

San Diego Wild Animal park is a must see. The zoo is alright. But the wild animal park? It is . . . something else.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

You could catch an A's or Giants game

head to Santa Cruz for a nice meal on the pier, feed the sea lions and walk the beach/boardwalk & ride the Giant Dipper before heading to Monterrey

Dim sum in China Town for breakfast/brunch

Tour of Alcatraz

Head up Hwy 1 across Golden Gate Bridge - Tomales Bay Oysters & a hike through the redwoods

Drinks at the top of the Sir Francis Drake at the Starlight Lounge

Take in a concert in the city or Oakland's famous Fox Theater

Overnight parking in San Francisco city hotel will be $40/night

If you go to Yosemite, check out of your hotel - enjoy 2-days up there but we have had a ton of rain/snow and more rain forecast this weekend. Might be a bit cold, snowy, soggy to see all of Yosemite.

 

[zinfamous]

what time are you talking about?

it's not sunny/warm up here in the North until late Aprilish into May.

well, in a dependable sense.

If you like the out-of-doors and wine and good eats, then visit Bay Area.

If you like sun and boobs and Disney stuff, then visit LA/SD

 

[zinfamous]

You could catch an A's or Giants game

head to Santa Cruz for a nice meal on the pier, feed the sea lions and walk the beach/boardwalk & ride the Giant Dipper before heading to Monterrey

Dim sum in China Town for breakfast/brunch

Tour of Alcatraz

Head up Hwy 1 across Golden Gate Bridge - Tomales Bay Oysters & a hike through the redwoods

Drinks at the top of the Sir Francis Drake at the Starlight Lounge

Take in a concert in the city or Oakland's famous Fox Theater

Overnight parking in San Francisco city hotel will be $40/night

If you go to Yosemite, check out of your hotel - enjoy 2-days up there but we have had a ton of rain/snow and more rain forecast this weekend. Might be a bit cold, snowy, soggy to see all of Yosemite.

best Dim Sum is in Daly City....or so they say.

I'd suggest SF and Little Saigon for a Phogasm.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

best Dim Sum is in Daly City....or so they say.

I'd suggest SF and Little Saigon for a Phogasm.

I quite like the Legendary Palace in Oakland - very authentic and cheap.

Yank Sing - expensive and good - but not traditional

Koi Palace - Daly City

 

[AznAnarchy99]

what the hell is there to see in Santa Monica?

Beach, pier, promenade, then head to Venice.

 

[zinfamous]

I quite like the Legendary Palace in Oakland - very authentic and cheap.

Yank Sing - expensive and good - but not traditional

Koi Palace - Daly City

Legendary Palace is quite good. I've only been there once, though. But god damn: it's crowded as hell, everyone is rude as shit, and they shove food down your throat until you leave.

It must be like Beijing at brunch, no?

:awe:

 

[DCal430]

This is what you should do.

Day 1/Night 1: Go to Joshua Tree National Park and camp, great and unique looking place.

Day 2/Night 2/Day 3/Night 3: Go to Sequoia/Kings Canyon Nation Park and camp for 2 nights, it gorgeous place, and the trees are something to behold.

Day 4/Nigh 4/ Day 5/ Night 5: Go to Yosemite and behold its beauty, it is a bit crowded in the summer though.

Day 6/Night 6: Go to Devils Post Pile, Mono Lake area and camp. Some great stuff to see here too.

Day 7/Night 7/Day 8/Night 8: Go to Lassen Volcanic National Park. Such an amazing place, be sure to climb to the top of Lassen Peak, because the view is great. Also Cinder Cone Dome should be seen. The subway tunnels (lava tubes) outside of the park should be seen too.

Day 9/Night 9/Day 10/Night 10: Go to Redwoods State and National Parks. Again an amazing place, the scenery will take you back.

Day 10/Night 10/Day 11/ Night 11: Drive down the PCH and makes stops along the way. Such a great scenic road.

Avoid the big cities, nothing special about them. Just a bunch people, buildings, cars, and pollution. Really see nature.

 

[djnsmith7]

You definitely want to make sure you visit Monterey, Carmel & 17 Mile Drive is a must! That area alone can easily take up a full day. I used to live real close to the area, so PM if you need more details.