California vacation ideas

[Lyfer]

Walmart!

 

[adlep]

If ur in San Diego, definitely take a tandem Paraglide ride at Torrey Pines. The ride is about 30 minutes. The views are great.

 

[glenn1]

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?

You could do a day trip to Monterey from SF, but you'll limit the amount of what you can do, and there's lots you will dearly regret not seeing if you shortchange yourself on time there. I'd suggest leaving SF after sunset and spending the night in Monterey (i'd recommend Stagecoach Lodge) so you have a full day to spend on the peninsula. It's one of the greatest places on earth and I so dearly miss living there.

 

[zinfamous]

If you can drive, you can easily have a solid day trip to Napa from SF, or from anywhere in the Bay Area.

I'd also encourage checking out Sonoma--same distance, but a bit more pleasant. Also make a much longer day trip down to Monterey and Carmel, Big Sur and such.

SF is great, but you might run out of things to do, depending on what you're into. There is, of course, plenty of great food to be had, and as far as touristy things go, you should reserve most of a day for Alcatraz. it is absolutely worth it.

I'd also suggest spending a day, cross the GG bridge, and drive up to Muir Woods, Muir beach, and/or Pt Reyes Seashore (a bit further north, but absolutely worth it. could take most of a day).

Also, consider crossing into East Bay and visit Berzerkeley.

 

[GoSharks]

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?

Yosemite as a day trip is dumb. And it is more like 4 hours to the Valley, pretty much from any starting point in the SFBA.

 

[ringtail]

.`

 

[ringtail]

a) Do this one around August. The areas this will take you into is closed most of the year (snow), open just a brief window, say July - early September. I enjoy this myself.

b) This one is good say May-Aug. You'll see migratory things during that time window. I'm out to that place every once in a while, really special.

Oldest proved human habitation in North America is there, dates to 13,000 years ago. Much older proved human presence, by thousand(s) of years, than other places around the USA touted as "old."

c. Tour the spectacularly beautiful horse / vinyard / winery country, by bicycle (how we do it) or by jeep.

d. Visit some of the great universities and take their guided tours. UCLA, Stanford, CalTech, Cal (Berkeley), others. There is a LOT to fascinate, captivate, on such tours. You'll see cutting edge labs, research, etc. e.g.; Cal, UCLA, UC Santa Barbara, Livermore National Lab, Jet Propulsion Lab, NASA Ames Lab, tons more

e. Intel Corporate Museum Los Angeles Zoo, San Diego Zoo, San Diego Sea World, San Diego Wild Animal Park, Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm, Griffith Observatory & Science Center, Railroad Museums in Sacramento and Los Angeles Griffith Park, Cowboy Museum by LA Zoo, Universal Studios Movie tour, Taylor Guitar Factory Tour (La Mesa inland San Diego, Edwards Air Force Base tour (experimental aircraft), go ride the Goodyear Blimp (Los Angeles), hot air balloon rides all over California, ride river rafts...I like the lower Kern River (South Sierras) because it's especially rough & wild, but great in far north Calif too-several places, go see the big stalactite/stalagmite caves in the Sierras, lots of hot springs you can explore all over the state, some wild, others developed, both in south & north Calif.

you'll never run out of another new thing to explore in California. Some cost, some free.

 

[OVerLoRDI]

Another vote for San Diego, PCH to SF (or farther).

A lot of people will tell you to stop at SF, and that is convenient, but there is so much more awesome north of there. Bodega Bay, Mendocino, and Avenue of the Giants for example.

If you are traveling with a lady stop in San Luis Obispo and enjoy the cute downtown. Especially if you land there on a Thursday night for farmers market. If you like cigars, swing by the Sanctuary Tobacco shop on Chorros street

zinfamous gives more examples of cool things north of SF. Sonoma is also great, just about the cutest downtown you can go to, plus tons of fantastic wine you can try.

 

[cliftonite]

So far this is what we are planning to do:

Day1: Land, check in to hotel (around 4/4:30), head to Fisherman's Warf, grab dinner and dessert (is this enough activity last from 6PM to Midnight?

Day2: Wine country. Planning on taking a tour with these guys: http://www.winetourssantaynez.com/santabarbarawinetours.html#

Day3: Check out San Fran hotel, rent car, drive to Monterey check into hotel there for night

Day4: Check out of hotel in monterey, continue exploring sorrounding areas. Drive back to San Fran at 8

Day5: Return car in the AM. Muir Woods/Sausalito. Is the best way to do this by going on a tour like http://www.viator.com/tours/San-Fra...ausalito-Day-Trip/d651-2660SFOSUP]Viator Tour Or would you guys recommend us heading to Golden Gate Park, Muir Woods, Sausalito by ourselves? Is this possible without a rental car?

Day6: Spend Alcatraz night tour http://www.alcatrazcruises.com/website/tour-comparison.aspx

Day7: Still undecided perhaps catch a Giants game.

Day8: Fly Out


How does this look and does anyone have any suggestions/improvements?

 

[tenthumbs]

So far this is what we are planning to do:

Day1: Land, check in to hotel (around 4/4:30), head to Fisherman's Warf, grab dinner and dessert (is this enough activity last from 6PM to Midnight?

Day2: Wine country. Planning on taking a tour with these guys: http://www.winetourssantaynez.com/santabarbarawinetours.html#

Day3: Check out San Fran hotel, rent car, drive to Monterey check into hotel there for night

Day4: Check out of hotel in monterey, continue exploring sorrounding areas. Drive back to San Fran at 8

Day5: Return car in the AM. Muir Woods/Sausalito. Is the best way to do this by going on a tour like http://www.viator.com/tours/San-Fra...ausalito-Day-Trip/d651-2660SFOSUP]Viator Tour Or would you guys recommend us heading to Golden Gate Park, Muir Woods, Sausalito by ourselves? Is this possible without a rental car?

Day6: Spend Alcatraz night tour http://www.alcatrazcruises.com/website/tour-comparison.aspx

Day7: Still undecided perhaps catch a Giants game.

Day8: Fly Out


How does this look and does anyone have any suggestions/improvements?

You're going to get a hundred more suggestions I'm sure but your plan is fine. Adding on to your Day 3 or 4, you should head further south into Big Sur. It's worth the trip. Eat lunch at Nepenthe (incredible ocean and coastal views).

On Day 5, another easy day trip is taking the ferry to Angel Island. There is no better 360 view of the SF Bay. Just across from Angel Island is Tiburon which is another excellent place for lunch and poking around on foot. Golden Gate Park has some cool attractions and you can do most by foot or bike if the day is nice.

Giants games usually sell out although it's not impossible to get tickets. Just an FYI. If you're into MMA Fighting, wear a Dodger Jersey to the game.

Organized wine tours are hit and miss. You're better off picking two or three wineries you want to visit, grab some picnic food, buy a bottle at one of the wineries and simply enjoy the scenery. Napa is crazy expensive and overly crowded. Sonoma is your best bet. Find Bella Vinyards and head in that direction. Nice area and the people are friendly.

 

[cliftonite]

You're going to get a hundred more suggestions I'm sure but your plan is fine. Adding on to your Day 3 or 4, you should head further south into Big Sur. It's worth the trip. Eat lunch at Nepenthe (incredible ocean and coastal views).

On Day 5, another easy day trip is taking the ferry to Angel Island. There is no better 360 view of the SF Bay. Just across from Angel Island is Tiburon which is another excellent place for lunch and poking around on foot. Golden Gate Park has some cool attractions and you can do most by foot or bike if the day is nice.

Giants games usually sell out although it's not impossible to get tickets. Just an FYI. If you're into MMA Fighting, wear a Dodger Jersey to the game.

Organized wine tours are hit and miss. You're better off picking two or three wineries you want to visit, grab some picnic food, buy a bottle at one of the wineries and simply enjoy the scenery. Napa is crazy expensive and overly crowded. Sonoma is your best bet. Find Bella Vinyards and head in that direction. Nice area and the people are friendly.

Thanks for the info. Can anyone else chime? Also can anyone recommend some restaurants that are on the beach or have a nice ocean view?

 

[Ns1]

Definitely big sur

 

[glenn1]

Thanks for the info. Can anyone else chime? Also can anyone recommend some restaurants that are on the beach or have a nice ocean view?

You shouldn't focus exclusively on restaurants right on the beach or with an ocean view; for example on the Monterey Peninsula I'd say Passionfish would be my top recommendation but that's in Pacific Grove and just out of ocean view by a block or two. Tons of places on the water or oceanview in San Francisco, but you'll of course pay for the privilege - Gary Danko will probably get the most recommendations here.

 

[Ns1]

Oh yeah. I thought fishermans wharf was a giant tourist trap. If you can swing saturday morning farmers market at the ferry dock (or whatever it's called), do it.

 

[cliftonite]

You shouldn't focus exclusively on restaurants right on the beach or with an ocean view; for example on the Monterey Peninsula I'd say Passionfish would be my top recommendation but that's in Pacific Grove and just out of ocean view by a block or two. Tons of places on the water or oceanview in San Francisco, but you'll of course pay for the privilege - Gary Danko will probably get the most recommendations here.

We will probably end up going to garydanko. Looks AMAZING. Thanks for the other suggestion.

 

[Sukhoi]

So far this is what we are planning to do:

Day1: Land, check in to hotel (around 4/4:30), head to Fisherman's Warf, grab dinner and dessert (is this enough activity last from 6PM to Midnight?

Day2: Wine country. Planning on taking a tour with these guys: http://www.winetourssantaynez.com/santabarbarawinetours.html#

Day3: Check out San Fran hotel, rent car, drive to Monterey check into hotel there for night

Day4: Check out of hotel in monterey, continue exploring sorrounding areas. Drive back to San Fran at 8

Day5: Return car in the AM. Muir Woods/Sausalito. Is the best way to do this by going on a tour like http://www.viator.com/tours/San-Francisco/San-Francisco-Deluxe-City-Tour-Muir-Woods-and-Sausalito-Day-Trip/d651-2660SFOSUP]Viator Tour Or would you guys recommend us heading to Golden Gate Park, Muir Woods, Sausalito by ourselves? Is this possible without a rental car?

Day6: Spend Alcatraz night tour http://www.alcatrazcruises.com/website/tour-comparison.aspx

Day7: Still undecided perhaps catch a Giants game.

Day8: Fly Out


How does this look and does anyone have any suggestions/improvements?

Pretty good list. Fisherman's Wharf is mostly tourist trap shopping. Go to Coit Tower or something.

Point Lobos State Reserve a bit south of Monterey is scenic.

Muir Woods is scenic, but extremely crowded. Could go to Big Basin State Park on your way back from Monterey instead to see big trees. No easy public transit to Muir Woods, though they run a shuttle bus from some parking lot when it gets busy. Certainly wouldn't go on a tour though if you have a car...it's tiny.

 

[Zeze]

Marked.