California pholks

OceanCityGirl · Post by **OceanCityGirl** » February 19, 2007 8:28 pm

do to a summer internship dd will not be able to take a planned trip to Ireland for a bit longer. So I offered to take her someplace else. I was hoping for NO but she picked Cali. At least we are considering cali. If you had ten days in the area what sort of agenda would you put together. Are there ways to save money? Can we plan a schedule that will help us to hit less expensive hotels? She wants to do San Fran and wine country. I want to do some beach area and maybe Universal Studios, ride around hollywood for a couple hours. We figure we can fly in, rent a car and tour from one end to the other.
If we want to, is there a way to do some public transportation. For ex. instead of renting a car for the whole ten days could we in some way get a car for a week but fit in three days in the beginning or end by train? I have never been on the west coast at all.

Brown Eyed Girl · Post by **Brown Eyed Girl** » February 19, 2007 8:44 pm

If you're going to be in SF and Napa, make sure you add in a day or two for Monterey/Carmel. It would be a beautiful drive down the coast to SoCal, but it's LONG. I'd also try to see the Redwood forest, there's nothing else like it. I'd talk to John, The Polly Roger, for tourist advice in SF. He has a lot of great info. And Nikki, Jeepgirl, is a travel agent and lives in Napa with Redwinemaker, they can also help you out, so be sure to PM them. Personally I think the whole Hollywood/Universal Studios thing is overrated, but that's just me....and I can see how you'd like to check it out on your first trip to Cali. San Diego is nice too. Don't count on public transportation here, trains are notoriously unreliable. You could probably get away with not getting a car for your time in SF, then getting one when you head out to Napa or wherever, that would probably save you some money. Nikki can help you with that.

I'll put my thinking cap on for more ideas...

Tequila Revenge · Post by **Tequila Revenge** » February 19, 2007 8:51 pm

"Wine Country," being the Napa, Sonoma, Santa Rosa area is pretty darn expensive. Did you see Sideways? That's from the Santa Barbara/Paso Robles area. Check the difference between flying into San Diego, Ontario, LAX and Burbank. San Diego really is a world class city with nice beaches and great food options. You can start at the lower end of the state and drive up to the Bay Area, stopping in cool citeis like Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Cambria and Moterey along the way. Give yourself a couple days in SF. If you are baseball fans, catch a Giants game. Tha park is amazing. From SF, you are only about 4 hours from Lake Tahoe and can plan your return from Reno or Sacramento. California does not have a great public transportation program like the east coast. Get the rental car with unlimmited milage.

ragtopW · Post by **ragtopW** » February 19, 2007 9:07 pm

Tequila Revenge wrote:"Wine Country," being the Napa, Sonoma, Santa Rosa area is pretty darn expensive. Did you see Sideways? That's from the Santa Barbara/Paso Robles area. Check the difference between flying into San Diego, Ontario, LAX and Burbank. San Diego really is a world class city with nice beaches and great food options. You can start at the lower end of the state and drive up to the Bay Area, stopping in cool citeis like Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Cambria and Moterey along the way. Give yourself a couple days in SF. If you are baseball fans, catch a Giants game. Tha park is amazing. From SF, you are only about 4 hours from Lake Tahoe and can plan your return from Reno or Sacramento. California does not have a great public transportation program like the east coast. Get the rental car with unlimmited milage.

you forgot to tell her that the only reason to visit Sac-Town is Fannie Annies..

Brown Eyed Girl · Post by **Brown Eyed Girl** » February 19, 2007 9:10 pm

Coming from the east coast it's going to be a lot cheaper to fly into a major airport than the others, unfortunately. It's worth looking into, but the regionals here are expensive.

And Napa can be expensive, but it is fun to see, even if you just do the wine train for the day. I love Cambria and Morro Bay too, and San Simeon, where Hearst Castle is. It's just a beautiful drive...and you can see the otters!

Tequila Revenge · Post by **Tequila Revenge** » February 19, 2007 9:16 pm

ragtopW wrote:
Tequila Revenge wrote:"Wine Country," being the Napa, Sonoma, Santa Rosa area is pretty darn expensive. Did you see Sideways? That's from the Santa Barbara/Paso Robles area. Check the difference between flying into San Diego, Ontario, LAX and Burbank. San Diego really is a world class city with nice beaches and great food options. You can start at the lower end of the state and drive up to the Bay Area, stopping in cool citeis like Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Cambria and Moterey along the way. Give yourself a couple days in SF. If you are baseball fans, catch a Giants game. Tha park is amazing. From SF, you are only about 4 hours from Lake Tahoe and can plan your return from Reno or Sacramento. California does not have a great public transportation program like the east coast. Get the rental car with unlimmited milage.
you forgot to tell her that the only reason to visit Sac-Town is Fannie Annies..

Good point

Hey! There's more reason to go to Sac than FA's

ragtopW · Post by **ragtopW** » February 19, 2007 9:24 pm

Tequila Revenge wrote:
ragtopW wrote:
Tequila Revenge wrote:"Wine Country," being the Napa, Sonoma, Santa Rosa area is pretty darn expensive. Did you see Sideways? That's from the Santa Barbara/Paso Robles area. Check the difference between flying into San Diego, Ontario, LAX and Burbank. San Diego really is a world class city with nice beaches and great food options. You can start at the lower end of the state and drive up to the Bay Area, stopping in cool citeis like Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Cambria and Moterey along the way. Give yourself a couple days in SF. If you are baseball fans, catch a Giants game. Tha park is amazing. From SF, you are only about 4 hours from Lake Tahoe and can plan your return from Reno or Sacramento. California does not have a great public transportation program like the east coast. Get the rental car with unlimmited milage.
you forgot to tell her that the only reason to visit Sac-Town is Fannie Annies..

Good point Hey! There's more reason to go to Sac than FA's

besides you??????? I really can't think of one..

Fultons is gone.. they tore the Dance floor out of the Union
and Los Padres has changed hands.

OceanCityGirl · Post by **OceanCityGirl** » February 19, 2007 10:02 pm

i'm open to any suggestions on this. If leaving wine country out would save a bunch of change we'd do it. It would also free up some time.
Is there a good basic travel book we could pick up?
Also, the universal/hollywood thing is up for grabs as well. The only non-negotiable is the sanfran/bay area and a day on a beach.
My son surfs and has spent tons of time in the SanDiego area. He's leaving for there tomorrow. So he has some tips for that area, but they're mostly surfers places.

ragtopW · Post by **ragtopW** » February 19, 2007 10:17 pm

OceanCityGirl wrote:i'm open to any suggestions on this. If leaving wine country out would save a bunch of change we'd do it. It would also free up some time.
Is there a good basic travel book we could pick up?
Also, the universal/hollywood thing is up for grabs as well. The only non-negotiable is the sanfran/bay area and a day on a beach.
My son surfs and has spent tons of time in the SanDiego area. He's leaving for there tomorrow. So he has some tips for that area, but they're mostly surfers places.

I don't know about the guide book .. but you can stay
on the fringe of the wine country and save some $$$

get up with Red and Jeep

Midnight Flyer · Post by **Midnight Flyer** » February 19, 2007 10:18 pm

San Diego is a GREATcity! For you beach time I eould strongly suggest SoCal because down here you can pretty much count on the weather being nice, farther North that's not the case. Maybe fly into San Diego, rent a car and work your way up to LA then take the train to San Francisco? I am currently temporarily retired and will be for a while. If you want a tour guide while your here PM me, I'll send my contact info.

OceanCityGirl · Post by **OceanCityGirl** » February 19, 2007 10:29 pm

You guys are great. We will be going either in early May or early August, depending on when my daughter's internship ends up being. As we get closer I will definitely ask for more personalized help and maybe some meets. What I'm first trying to do is narrow down a loose itinerary so I can start figuring on a budget.
This could also change if she accepts a job rather then a summer internship first. She graduates in May so it's a grad gift.
Like I said, one of my sons will be leaving tomorrow for San Diego. It's always nice to know some people in the area if he had an emergency that required adult help. Unlikely, since he's traveled alot and has alot of connections in the local surf community. He's staying with friends who attend Point Loma this trip out. Apparently there is some sort of Mardi Gras going on the night he arrives there.

Tequila Revenge · Post by **Tequila Revenge** » February 19, 2007 10:46 pm

OceanCityGirl wrote:i'm open to any suggestions on this. If leaving wine country out would save a bunch of change we'd do it. It would also free up some time.
Is there a good basic travel book we could pick up?
Also, the universal/hollywood thing is up for grabs as well. The only non-negotiable is the sanfran/bay area and a day on a beach.
My son surfs and has spent tons of time in the SanDiego area. He's leaving for there tomorrow. So he has some tips for that area, but they're mostly surfers places.

]

California has a lot more "wine country" than the Napa Valley area. There are great wineries along the central coast and the foothills. Guess where Napa buys a lot of thier premium grapes

Hope you have a great trip.

Oh, San Franciso will be a lot warmer in August than May

ragtopW · Post by **ragtopW** » February 19, 2007 10:50 pm

Tequila Revenge wrote:
OceanCityGirl wrote:i'm open to any suggestions on this. If leaving wine country out would save a bunch of change we'd do it. It would also free up some time.
Is there a good basic travel book we could pick up?
Also, the universal/hollywood thing is up for grabs as well. The only non-negotiable is the sanfran/bay area and a day on a beach.
My son surfs and has spent tons of time in the SanDiego area. He's leaving for there tomorrow. So he has some tips for that area, but they're mostly surfers places.
]

California has a lot more "wine country" than the Napa Valley area. There are great wineries along the central coast and the foothills. Guess where Napa buys a lot of thier premium grapes Hope you have a great trip.

Oh, San Franciso will be a lot warmer in August than May

or not..

I have froze my.................
off at the 'Stick in August

jonesbeach10 · Post by **jonesbeach10** » February 19, 2007 11:01 pm

What about the Pacific Coast Highway from the Monterey/Pebble Beach area to the Hearst Castle/Carmel area?

Lightning Bolt · Post by **Lightning Bolt** » February 20, 2007 12:22 am

OceanCityGirl wrote:Like I said, one of my sons will be leaving tomorrow for San Diego. It's always nice to know some people in the area if he had an emergency that required adult help. Unlikely, since he's traveled alot and has alot of connections in the local surf community. He's staying with friends who attend Point Loma this trip out. Apparently there is some sort of Mardi Gras going on the night he arrives there.

that would be Fat Tuesday in the Gaslamp District

when you're in San Diego, you're in America's Finest City
and we'll be ready to assist ya should you come on down our way!

..and all the other Cali suggestions are good ones, too.
I've taken my last 3 vacations all WITHIN my home state, because I realized
a lot of our country's most beautiful natural resources are right here.
The trick is deciding what you would really like to do when you're out here.
If you like seeing natural beauty of the landscapes and coasts, wining & dining, do the NoCal.
If you like the idea of themeparks, Hollywood, great beaches and palm trees, SoCal is the place.
Doing both ends of Cali will require a good 2 weeks, or else you'll never get to slow down enough to really enjoy where you're at!

OceanCityGirl · Post by **OceanCityGirl** » February 20, 2007 9:27 am

do i need to worry about the college son rolling into san diego at 11pm on fat tuesday? Should I give him bucks to take a cap from the airport instead of having possibly partying friends pick him up?

bumper · Post by **bumper** » February 20, 2007 10:26 am

Surprised nobody mentioned the central valley, Mammoth, Yosemite, King's Canyon. We have not gotten much snow this year so I'll bet the passes will be open in and around the park areasin May, Beautiful that time of year, hot though in August, maybe a 100 degrees or so.

If I had ten days to kill. Spots on the it list would be

A beach, take your pick but I like the So. Cal beaches better, Bolsa, Huntington, Laguna, Newport!! The beach culture in summertime, nothing like it. Main St. in Huntington in the summertime!!

Def. a trip through a National Park!!!!

San Fran is a must see, we've traditionally walked it, best way to see it and experience it.

Monterey and Carmel a must see and a walk kind a town.

LA. is okay, lots of culteral stuff, museums, Hollywood Bowl, theme parks, but those will be crowded come August!!!!!but I would still wanna see some them, I had a choice, would be old school Disneyland.

Pitcher House on Sepulveda in Redondo Beach is worth lunch and a cold beer, lots of history in that place.

Thirsty Isle in Long Beach on Carson for a huge burger and an Ice cold schooner.

Palm Springs nice in May, hot in August.......

San Dawg, a beautiful city and worth the ride down.

PCH Long Beach into Laguna in the summertime!!!! and lunch at Dave's in Seal Beach

Brown Eyed Girl · Post by **Brown Eyed Girl** » February 20, 2007 10:33 am

Bumper...I left out the central valley because I figured it would just be easier for them to stay on the coastal side of the state. I love my valley and there is no question that we have some of the most beautiful places on the planet here (and TR's right...we have phenomal wine as well!). I think you'd need a few days each to truly appreciate places like Yosemite, Sequoia/Kings Canyon and they don't have that kind of time if they want to see a variety. Keeping them on the 1/101 corridor for much of the trip will give them a lot of options...and they could still see the coast Redwoods at least.

bumper · Post by **bumper** » February 20, 2007 11:45 am

Coming down from Frisco you can cut across into Yosemite Valley, make a day out of it.

Swing by Santa Barbara/Goleta area while moving towards L.A. hang along the coast as long as you can into Malibu down into Venice Beach. hang a left along the 10 freeway into Beverly Hills..... Rodeo Dr. in Beverly Hills, Melrose, Santa Monica Blvd. Be prepared to drive in L.A despite mass transit lots of space to cover.

You can also take a walking tour of downtown L.A. proper, tons of history dating back to the late 1800's. Then swing into Chinatown for dinner.

The_Polly_Roger · Post by **The_Polly_Roger** » February 20, 2007 12:35 pm

Incoming PM!!!

Two pointers:

Don't call it "Cali"

and NEVER call it "Frisco"