British need help in California
Jun 29th, 2003, 10:36 AM
#1
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British need help in California
I just bought my family flights to San Francisco (2 wks), but am now starting to freak as to where we should go. I was told not to be too ambitious, & was thinking of 4 night stays in San Fran, Yosemite, MorroBay/Pismo Beach, Monterey.
Does this sound OK? I don't want to spend all vacation driving, but I don't want to miss out either. Our baby's only 2, so we won't be climbing mountains, or going sea kayaking. Any info from those in the know we'd appreicate, as this will be our furthest travel from UK.
Does this sound OK? I don't want to spend all vacation driving, but I don't want to miss out either. Our baby's only 2, so we won't be climbing mountains, or going sea kayaking. Any info from those in the know we'd appreicate, as this will be our furthest travel from UK.
Jun 29th, 2003, 11:14 AM
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With 2 weeks you will have plenty of time to see all of the places you mention and some other as well.
Since you are flying into/out of SF a nice two week loop would look something like:
Arrive SF - do not book your rental car until the last day of your stay in San Francisco. You can see pretty much everything in SF in 3 days using their good public transport. (And parking in SF is as difficult and expensive as in central London)
After 3 days in SF travel east to the foothills SE of Sacramento - theis is the Gold Rush country - stay one night somewhere along hwy 49. The on to Yosemite for a minimum of 2 nights - 3 is better. When is your holiday? if it is soon you will have a hard time finding accomodations in Yosemite. If it is this Fall - Book ASAP. Try Yosemite Lodge first.
From there it is less than a day's drive over to the central coast. Spend 5 or 6 days split between two different bases. To the south you can see Pismo Beach/Morro Bay/Cambria/San Simeon. Then from near Monterey you can see Big Sur/Monterey/Carmel/wineries/Santa Cruz.
Then you can head back to SF for the last night before flying home.
this would not be a rushed itinerary and you would see a LOT of amazing scenery.
Since you are flying into/out of SF a nice two week loop would look something like:
Arrive SF - do not book your rental car until the last day of your stay in San Francisco. You can see pretty much everything in SF in 3 days using their good public transport. (And parking in SF is as difficult and expensive as in central London)
After 3 days in SF travel east to the foothills SE of Sacramento - theis is the Gold Rush country - stay one night somewhere along hwy 49. The on to Yosemite for a minimum of 2 nights - 3 is better. When is your holiday? if it is soon you will have a hard time finding accomodations in Yosemite. If it is this Fall - Book ASAP. Try Yosemite Lodge first.
From there it is less than a day's drive over to the central coast. Spend 5 or 6 days split between two different bases. To the south you can see Pismo Beach/Morro Bay/Cambria/San Simeon. Then from near Monterey you can see Big Sur/Monterey/Carmel/wineries/Santa Cruz.
Then you can head back to SF for the last night before flying home.
this would not be a rushed itinerary and you would see a LOT of amazing scenery.
Jun 29th, 2003, 04:23 PM
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If you have two weeks, you can be very flexible and don't have to plan every small detail before you travel. Perhaps stay in San Francisco for a few days then either extend the stay longer, leave San Francisco, or come back for more at the end of the trip. You could make a hotel reservation for the 1st part in San Francisco.
If you have a car, you rarely have to make hotel reservations since you can drive further.
Yosemite may be somewhat hot but San Francisco is rarely hot for more than 1-2 days.
If you have a car, you rarely have to make hotel reservations since you can drive further.
Yosemite may be somewhat hot but San Francisco is rarely hot for more than 1-2 days.
Jun 29th, 2003, 08:18 PM
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I live in the Bay Area, plus have a weekend home in Pacific Grove on the Monterey Peninsula. You are in for a great trip.
SF Tip: Book the Alcatraz trip when you get to the city. They tend to book up and you need to be sure you have a reservation. Great tour...do it.
Monterey Peninsula: Check out Pacific Grove when you are in the area. Most tourists only know Carmel/Monterey. The best town is PG.
Any questions, email direct at [email protected].
SF Tip: Book the Alcatraz trip when you get to the city. They tend to book up and you need to be sure you have a reservation. Great tour...do it.
Monterey Peninsula: Check out Pacific Grove when you are in the area. Most tourists only know Carmel/Monterey. The best town is PG.
Any questions, email direct at [email protected].
Jun 29th, 2003, 10:34 PM
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2 weeks will give you plenty of time to see the places on your itinerary.
I would recommend:
3 nights in SF should be plenty as it is a relatively small city. On the way south of SF along the scenic 280, the Filoli Estate is an elegant Georgian Mansion with manicured gardens that has daily tours.
www.filoli.org
1 or 2 nights in San Jose. While in the area don't miss the redwoods in Big Basin, Tech Museum, Winchester Mystery House, and wineries in the Santa Cruz Mountains . Your boy would like the Children's Discovery Museum.
www.santacruz.winecountry.com
www.sanjose.org
2 nights in Monterey. Key sites there include the Aquarium, 17 Mile Drive, Point Lobos, and Carmel bt the Sea.
www.monterey.com
1 night in Cambria or Morro Bay followed by a tour of Hearst Castle. Pismo Beach is okay, but Shell Beach just north of there is nicer. Reservations for Hearst Castle are a must.
www.hearst-castle.org
4 nights in Yosemite. Make reservations early. Its most convenient to stay in the valley (Yosemite Lodge, Curry Village, or Ahwahnee Hotel). It will save you from a 30 - 40 minute drive into the valley.
www.yosemitepark.com
I would recommend:
3 nights in SF should be plenty as it is a relatively small city. On the way south of SF along the scenic 280, the Filoli Estate is an elegant Georgian Mansion with manicured gardens that has daily tours.
www.filoli.org
1 or 2 nights in San Jose. While in the area don't miss the redwoods in Big Basin, Tech Museum, Winchester Mystery House, and wineries in the Santa Cruz Mountains . Your boy would like the Children's Discovery Museum.
www.santacruz.winecountry.com
www.sanjose.org
2 nights in Monterey. Key sites there include the Aquarium, 17 Mile Drive, Point Lobos, and Carmel bt the Sea.
www.monterey.com
1 night in Cambria or Morro Bay followed by a tour of Hearst Castle. Pismo Beach is okay, but Shell Beach just north of there is nicer. Reservations for Hearst Castle are a must.
www.hearst-castle.org
4 nights in Yosemite. Make reservations early. Its most convenient to stay in the valley (Yosemite Lodge, Curry Village, or Ahwahnee Hotel). It will save you from a 30 - 40 minute drive into the valley.
www.yosemitepark.com
Jun 30th, 2003, 07:55 AM
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I'd make the hotel reservations ahead of time. Even though you wont be visiting in the height of tourist season, September is a beautiful time on the coast and hotels may fill up. And with a 2 year old, I can't imagine it would be much fun to spend your time driving around, looking for a place to stay. Definitely make your Yosemite reservations ASAP.
Jun 30th, 2003, 07:19 PM
#10
Definitely make your hotel reservations in advance. Janis' itinerary is great and eliminates a hotel problem you could encounter almost everywhere along the coast -- the two night minimum stay requirement between Friday and Monday. We've faced this well into October.
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