California, here we come! - the report
Jun 30th, 2006 | 03:50 PM
#1
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Joined: Mar 2003
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California, here we come! - the report
After driving more than 1,000 miles from SFO to SAN during our two-week California, here is the first part of our comments and observations regarding our trip:
Following a six-hour uneventful flight on Air Canada we landed at SFO, picked up our car from Budget and started on our first leg to Sonoma. One of the first things we wanted to do was follow Highway 101 to the Golden Gate Bridge and got lost along the way trying to find Van Ness Avenue. Everything turned out okay in the end and after a pleasant one-hour drive, we made it to Sonoma in one piece.
SONOMA
The Inn at Sonoma is everything that visitors say it is – and then some. The room itself was clean, spacious and attractively decorated complete with the chain’s signature teddy bear that welcomed us. A queen-sized bed plus lots of pillows and gas heating fireplace for chilly night set the mood for a memorable stay in Sonoma. The bathroom was a good size with nice linens and varied assortment of toiletries was a nice touch. They also provide visitors with plush robes for guests who use their whirlpool.
As visitors we appreciated the afternoon wine get-together where management serves complimentary wine from the region along with a generous sampling of hors d’oeuvres, which we enjoyed outside on the patio taking in the view. A few local birds dropped by to share in the feast. The location of the Inn is ideal with restaurants and shops within a two minute walk to the Sonoma Plaza (the center of town).
The breakfast as everyone who has visited the Inn will attest, is sumptuous with more than ample choices of breakfast fare. We recommend it highly and would definitely stay there again. On the day of our arrival (Tuesday) there was a small Farmer’s Market where local produce was on sale. A very friendly and festive atmosphere.
There are as many winery tours as there are wineries but we took a tour at the Benziger Family Winery in Glen Ellen, a few miles north of Sonoma. Included in the tour is an ‘A-Z’ explanation how the wine is produced from the picking and selection of grapes to the extraction process. Visitors are taken through the entire process while being transported on a small “putt-putt” train pulled by a tractor. The tour, which costs $10 per person, includes a wine sampling of two of their best reserve vintages, plus two more two-samplings at their nicely decorated tasting room. Definitely highly recommended. As a matter of fact since we arrived an hour early for our scheduled tour, we were treated to two additional complimentary tasting at one of their ‘sister’ wineries, the Imagery Estate Winery & art gallery, a few miles down the road.
For a good meal we recommend Glen Ellen Inn in Glen Ellen.
Upon our return to San Francisco we crossed over to visit Napa Valley using the Trinity Road, a picturesque road that winds up and down the mountain range to the next valley.
In as much as Sonoma is a lush country setting, we found Napa Valley to be much more commercial with wall-to-wall vineyards on either side of the 4-lane highway.
SAN FRANCISCO
We spent four nights in San Francisco staying at the Columbus Motor Inn and we were very pleased with our stay there. The location of the hotel is ideal for touring the town and the real bonus is that parking is included, which means we didn’t have to use our car. In fact we only used it once to take us to the Golden Gate Bridge for the traditional walk across the bridge and loosely following the 49 Mile Scenic Drive.
Our room was very, very clean and large with two Queen-sized beds, a sofa, which is always a bonus. We had a nice view of the SF skyline from our room. Excellent value for the money and would absolutely stay there again.
The drive through the Presidio National Park is lovely; if you have any extra time, also stop by the Palace of the Legion of Honor Museum in Lincoln Park. While in the park stop by the Cliff House and look for the Seal Rock, where seals act like seals.
A drive through the Golden Gate Park is well spent, as is a visit to the Haight-Ashbury district to reminisce about the ‘70’s. To see how the rich and famous live, drop by the Pacific Heights section of town.
Also accessible within easy walking distance is the popular (and famous) tourist destination, Fisherman’s Wharf. There is a bus stop directly in front of the hotel (number 30) that goes downtown. BTW – the Wharf is t-shirt and tourist souvenir heaven! If you are into seal viewing, stop by Pier 39.
This is a city that is best visited by foot and using their famous cable cars but there is also excellent public transportation links to all the major sites. Chinatown is a must see and experience for all visitors. In fact we used public transportation to take us to all the major sites including the Coit Tower, Union Square and the major downtown shopping area of Market Street. While visiting San Francisco it’s imperative to visit Alcatraz, which can only be accessed by a 10-minute boat ride. Put aside at least an hour on the island to properly visit this famous prison using the audio system – a must.
For an inexpensive and interesting breakfast, drop by the Pergamino Café, a short walk from the hotel which is a “blast-from-the-past” with its ‘oldies” songs from the 1950’s/60’s. The atmosphere is very laid back with good value for your buck including a “help-yourself” variety of refillable mugs of teas and coffee. Also worth checking out is Cafe Pescatore and Cioppino’s, both located in the Fisherman’s Wharf area. In Chinatown, don’t miss Cathay House. From the hotel walk south on Columbus Ave toward and around Washington Square, you will encounter numerous restaurants of all kind; after all this part of town is known as the SF little Italy district.
CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA/MONTERREY PENINSULA
A typical motel-style hotel, the Best Western Carmel Bay View Inn located on Junipero Avenue has a gas-propane fireplace and a recently updated bathroom. A nice breakfast is included in the rate. Located one block from Ocean Avenue, Carmel’s main street, it’s within easy walking distance of all the fashionable shops, restaurants and Carmel Beach. Be aware that the walk back up hill from the beach on Ocean Avenue could be taxing on a hot day. There is nothing tacky about Carmel! In fact we didn’t find any fast food restaurants on this part of the Monterrey Peninsula.
The drive through this small town is impressive with beautiful cypress tree-lined streets and very exclusive homes. Take the Scenic Drive to Carmel Point and you’ll see for yourself. For more amazing scenery and super views of five world-famous golf courses, take the 17 Mile Drive ($8.75 per car). The Mission San Carlos Borromeo is worth a stop.
A few words about Monterrey: the Fisherman’s Wharf is nice but nothing out of the ordinary. Lots of tourists, nice marina and boats and for those into whale watching – this is the place to take a boat to see them in their natural habitat.
Cannery Row is very “touristy” and not particular attractive. Overall, Monterrey can’t compare in any way to Carmel-by-the-Sea.
BIG SUR COAST/SAN SIMEON/ CAMBRIA
This 100 mile drive from Carmel to Cambria was one of the most awe-inspiring and magnificent leg of our trip. The road (CA 1) built on the side of the mountain overlooks the Pacific Ocean is mile after mile of nature seen at its best. We were lucky enough to drive on a magnificent sunny day, which gave us unlimited view of the ocean, the white surf and the mountain (BTW – we wouldn’t advise driving on this road on a rainy/foggy day or at night). The trip took much longer than expected since we made many more stops to take in the view at almost every bend of the road.
In San Simeon we stayed at the BW Cavalier Ocean Front Resort. This small stop-over/town is basically a grouping of hotel/motels for the express purpose of seeing the Hearst Castle. If you blink twice, you can miss it. Although it’s a beautiful area there’s not much to do but take in the scenery, take in the scenery and sleep. On the other hand the public pier and beach seems to be very popular with the locals. The Point Piedras Blancas beach located north of San Simeon is a popular hangout for local …
The hotel itself located directly on the beach is a motel style layout with very clean and good-sized room, in addition to two decent restaurants attached (breakfast not included). Being that the nights were on the cool side, the hotel sets up three bonfires where guests can gather around. A nice gesture. The beach itself is nothing special covered with stones and dark sand. On a personal note at checkout time we had a small issue regarding our bill, which was amiably settled i.e. good customer service.
North of San Simeon on the beach of Point Piedras Blancas is the local hangout of the elephant seals that spend their days sunning on the beach, with occasional head-raising and making a lot of noise.
Cambria is a beautiful little town with the main street divided into two separate shopping sections. Antique and gift shops abound in addition to a good selection of restaurants. The best way to see it is to park the car and take a leisurely stroll going from store-to-store. The shop owners were very friendly, easy going and very helpful.
As publicized in all the tour books Hearst Castle is everything it is made out to be. Located five miles up the coast on a mountain top, it can best be described as a man’s personal dedication to a lifetime of collecting works of art from all corners of the world. Throughout the castle are collections of statues (original and reproductions), ostentatiously-decorated buildings inside-and-out with guest houses to accommodate his famous visitors that were among the celebrities of that time period. Each one was more luxurious and spacious than the next. The Castle itself (Casa Grande) is quite an impressive building.
As recommended we only took the Tour no.1, (there are 5 different tours) which was an overall introduction to the complex. The exterior pool (Neptune pool) was quite impressive but the large interior pool (Roman pool) is something to behold with blue and gold tiles throughout. It’s the first (and probably last) time we walked on gold.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Following a six-hour uneventful flight on Air Canada we landed at SFO, picked up our car from Budget and started on our first leg to Sonoma. One of the first things we wanted to do was follow Highway 101 to the Golden Gate Bridge and got lost along the way trying to find Van Ness Avenue. Everything turned out okay in the end and after a pleasant one-hour drive, we made it to Sonoma in one piece.
SONOMA
The Inn at Sonoma is everything that visitors say it is – and then some. The room itself was clean, spacious and attractively decorated complete with the chain’s signature teddy bear that welcomed us. A queen-sized bed plus lots of pillows and gas heating fireplace for chilly night set the mood for a memorable stay in Sonoma. The bathroom was a good size with nice linens and varied assortment of toiletries was a nice touch. They also provide visitors with plush robes for guests who use their whirlpool.
As visitors we appreciated the afternoon wine get-together where management serves complimentary wine from the region along with a generous sampling of hors d’oeuvres, which we enjoyed outside on the patio taking in the view. A few local birds dropped by to share in the feast. The location of the Inn is ideal with restaurants and shops within a two minute walk to the Sonoma Plaza (the center of town).
The breakfast as everyone who has visited the Inn will attest, is sumptuous with more than ample choices of breakfast fare. We recommend it highly and would definitely stay there again. On the day of our arrival (Tuesday) there was a small Farmer’s Market where local produce was on sale. A very friendly and festive atmosphere.
There are as many winery tours as there are wineries but we took a tour at the Benziger Family Winery in Glen Ellen, a few miles north of Sonoma. Included in the tour is an ‘A-Z’ explanation how the wine is produced from the picking and selection of grapes to the extraction process. Visitors are taken through the entire process while being transported on a small “putt-putt” train pulled by a tractor. The tour, which costs $10 per person, includes a wine sampling of two of their best reserve vintages, plus two more two-samplings at their nicely decorated tasting room. Definitely highly recommended. As a matter of fact since we arrived an hour early for our scheduled tour, we were treated to two additional complimentary tasting at one of their ‘sister’ wineries, the Imagery Estate Winery & art gallery, a few miles down the road.
For a good meal we recommend Glen Ellen Inn in Glen Ellen.
Upon our return to San Francisco we crossed over to visit Napa Valley using the Trinity Road, a picturesque road that winds up and down the mountain range to the next valley.
In as much as Sonoma is a lush country setting, we found Napa Valley to be much more commercial with wall-to-wall vineyards on either side of the 4-lane highway.
SAN FRANCISCO
We spent four nights in San Francisco staying at the Columbus Motor Inn and we were very pleased with our stay there. The location of the hotel is ideal for touring the town and the real bonus is that parking is included, which means we didn’t have to use our car. In fact we only used it once to take us to the Golden Gate Bridge for the traditional walk across the bridge and loosely following the 49 Mile Scenic Drive.
Our room was very, very clean and large with two Queen-sized beds, a sofa, which is always a bonus. We had a nice view of the SF skyline from our room. Excellent value for the money and would absolutely stay there again.
The drive through the Presidio National Park is lovely; if you have any extra time, also stop by the Palace of the Legion of Honor Museum in Lincoln Park. While in the park stop by the Cliff House and look for the Seal Rock, where seals act like seals.
A drive through the Golden Gate Park is well spent, as is a visit to the Haight-Ashbury district to reminisce about the ‘70’s. To see how the rich and famous live, drop by the Pacific Heights section of town.
Also accessible within easy walking distance is the popular (and famous) tourist destination, Fisherman’s Wharf. There is a bus stop directly in front of the hotel (number 30) that goes downtown. BTW – the Wharf is t-shirt and tourist souvenir heaven! If you are into seal viewing, stop by Pier 39.
This is a city that is best visited by foot and using their famous cable cars but there is also excellent public transportation links to all the major sites. Chinatown is a must see and experience for all visitors. In fact we used public transportation to take us to all the major sites including the Coit Tower, Union Square and the major downtown shopping area of Market Street. While visiting San Francisco it’s imperative to visit Alcatraz, which can only be accessed by a 10-minute boat ride. Put aside at least an hour on the island to properly visit this famous prison using the audio system – a must.
For an inexpensive and interesting breakfast, drop by the Pergamino Café, a short walk from the hotel which is a “blast-from-the-past” with its ‘oldies” songs from the 1950’s/60’s. The atmosphere is very laid back with good value for your buck including a “help-yourself” variety of refillable mugs of teas and coffee. Also worth checking out is Cafe Pescatore and Cioppino’s, both located in the Fisherman’s Wharf area. In Chinatown, don’t miss Cathay House. From the hotel walk south on Columbus Ave toward and around Washington Square, you will encounter numerous restaurants of all kind; after all this part of town is known as the SF little Italy district.
CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA/MONTERREY PENINSULA
A typical motel-style hotel, the Best Western Carmel Bay View Inn located on Junipero Avenue has a gas-propane fireplace and a recently updated bathroom. A nice breakfast is included in the rate. Located one block from Ocean Avenue, Carmel’s main street, it’s within easy walking distance of all the fashionable shops, restaurants and Carmel Beach. Be aware that the walk back up hill from the beach on Ocean Avenue could be taxing on a hot day. There is nothing tacky about Carmel! In fact we didn’t find any fast food restaurants on this part of the Monterrey Peninsula.
The drive through this small town is impressive with beautiful cypress tree-lined streets and very exclusive homes. Take the Scenic Drive to Carmel Point and you’ll see for yourself. For more amazing scenery and super views of five world-famous golf courses, take the 17 Mile Drive ($8.75 per car). The Mission San Carlos Borromeo is worth a stop.
A few words about Monterrey: the Fisherman’s Wharf is nice but nothing out of the ordinary. Lots of tourists, nice marina and boats and for those into whale watching – this is the place to take a boat to see them in their natural habitat.
Cannery Row is very “touristy” and not particular attractive. Overall, Monterrey can’t compare in any way to Carmel-by-the-Sea.
BIG SUR COAST/SAN SIMEON/ CAMBRIA
This 100 mile drive from Carmel to Cambria was one of the most awe-inspiring and magnificent leg of our trip. The road (CA 1) built on the side of the mountain overlooks the Pacific Ocean is mile after mile of nature seen at its best. We were lucky enough to drive on a magnificent sunny day, which gave us unlimited view of the ocean, the white surf and the mountain (BTW – we wouldn’t advise driving on this road on a rainy/foggy day or at night). The trip took much longer than expected since we made many more stops to take in the view at almost every bend of the road.
In San Simeon we stayed at the BW Cavalier Ocean Front Resort. This small stop-over/town is basically a grouping of hotel/motels for the express purpose of seeing the Hearst Castle. If you blink twice, you can miss it. Although it’s a beautiful area there’s not much to do but take in the scenery, take in the scenery and sleep. On the other hand the public pier and beach seems to be very popular with the locals. The Point Piedras Blancas beach located north of San Simeon is a popular hangout for local …
The hotel itself located directly on the beach is a motel style layout with very clean and good-sized room, in addition to two decent restaurants attached (breakfast not included). Being that the nights were on the cool side, the hotel sets up three bonfires where guests can gather around. A nice gesture. The beach itself is nothing special covered with stones and dark sand. On a personal note at checkout time we had a small issue regarding our bill, which was amiably settled i.e. good customer service.
North of San Simeon on the beach of Point Piedras Blancas is the local hangout of the elephant seals that spend their days sunning on the beach, with occasional head-raising and making a lot of noise.
Cambria is a beautiful little town with the main street divided into two separate shopping sections. Antique and gift shops abound in addition to a good selection of restaurants. The best way to see it is to park the car and take a leisurely stroll going from store-to-store. The shop owners were very friendly, easy going and very helpful.
As publicized in all the tour books Hearst Castle is everything it is made out to be. Located five miles up the coast on a mountain top, it can best be described as a man’s personal dedication to a lifetime of collecting works of art from all corners of the world. Throughout the castle are collections of statues (original and reproductions), ostentatiously-decorated buildings inside-and-out with guest houses to accommodate his famous visitors that were among the celebrities of that time period. Each one was more luxurious and spacious than the next. The Castle itself (Casa Grande) is quite an impressive building.
As recommended we only took the Tour no.1, (there are 5 different tours) which was an overall introduction to the complex. The exterior pool (Neptune pool) was quite impressive but the large interior pool (Roman pool) is something to behold with blue and gold tiles throughout. It’s the first (and probably last) time we walked on gold.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Jul 2nd, 2006 | 05:16 PM
#4
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Have enjoyed reading the report thus far. We are planning a trip to the SF area hopefully next year so I will be reading all the posts about the city and the drive to LA over the winter. Good details and suggestions. Looking forward to the rest of the report.
Jul 2nd, 2006 | 06:58 PM
#5
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 45,322
Likes: 0
Jet29, your report is fabulous and quite a lot of information for those that want to visit California. I always admire those that can give such indepth details as you have. To Be Continued..great!! I am looking forward to your next installment.
Jul 3rd, 2006 | 02:45 PM
#6
Original Poster
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
PART TWO
Addendum to part one:
SF:
The Columbus Motor Inn in SF doesn’t have a pool but for us this was more than compensated with their free parking. The Inn also provides free High Speed internet access (wired and wireless); bring your own laptop.
CARMEL:
The Best Western in Carmel has a decent-sized, heated pool. If you’re looking for an inexpensive “early bird special” for family dining with excellent food and friendly service, drop by the Em Le’s Restaurant on Dolores Street. For something a bit more elaborate try Forge in the Forest Restaurant on Junipero Avenue.
SAN SIMEON/CAMBRIA:
The Cavalier Resort in San Simeon has a pool facing the ocean. A bonus is the coin-operated washer/dryer for use by the guests. All rooms come equipped with a data port. While visiting Cambria, drop by Roundup Pizza and Grub for an excellent pizza, in a western décor(!) On the other hand if you’re into salads and sandwiches, the Cambria Courtyard Deli boasts the “best sandwich on the Central Coast” and they’re right. Given the size of the village of Cambria it was interesting that there were so many realtors offices located on Main Street. Business must be good in this area.
LOS ANGELES/MARINA-DEL –REY
On our way to L.A. we drove through Cayucos where we found a beautiful view of Morro Rock.(you can’t miss it) on our way to San Luis Obispo. Too bad we didn’t schedule time to explore Santa Barbara properly, since it is a beautiful area and well worth the stop. Maybe next time.
While in L.A. we stayed for three nights at the Holiday Inn Express in Marina-des-Rey. Its location on Washington Avenue and Lincoln Blvd. is a safe area and very close to the main marina. The hotel is within walking distance to the unique Venice Beach.
At the end of Washington Ave. and Pacific Ave. there are plenty of good restaurants and we highly recommend Chez Marguerite, an excellent French bistro.
We reserved a one-bedroom executive suite with the bedroom separate from the living room area. There were two TV’s, a cooking area containing a small fridge, a microwave and coffee maker. The hotel provides a coin-operated laundry. There is an outside pool located on the first floor but too small to really swim - just get wet and to cool off, or get a sun tan seating on the terrace near by.
The breakfast was more than ample with a nice selection of cereal, hot rolls, eggs, etc. Overall, excellent service. We would definitely return if we had the opportunity.
Since we only stayed two full days in L.A. we had to be selective in what to see and visit. On the first day we drove to Hollywood, which took an hour to get there due to heavy traffic and construction on Santa Monica Blvd.. Hollywood on the whole was kind of disappointing. Besides the two blocks of Hollywood and Highland, the area is very run down and not in the least inviting. We did, however, see the big “Hollywood” sign and walked on the “walk of fame” where more than 2300 s*t*a*r*s are immortalized and a quick look at the Capitol Record Building. Saw the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and Kodak Theatre , home of the Academy Awards. The Hollywood Highland Center is quite an interesting shopping mall and worth a look around. Lately, there appears to be a concerted effort to renovate the old rundown buildings i.e. Hollywood and Vine, etc. On our way to Beverly Hills we drove to Sunset Strip, where there are lots of stores, restaurants and hotels.
If you’re going to visit L.A. then a stop to Rodeo Drive in BH (between Santa Monica and Wilshire Blvds.) is an absolute must see, but be prepared to bring along lots of $$$ and/or plastic. In other words if you ask for the price – you can’t afford it. Located in a couple of blocks are some of the most exclusive (and most expensive) shops in the world and home of Versace, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, DeBeer, Bulgari…all the biggies. The Via Rodeo fountain is worth a look and a photo op.
We then went on to visit the Farmers Market located on Fairfax and 3rd Street , an interesting place to spend some time shopping, tasting the local produce and other fine food. Not to be missed. The drive back to our hotel using Wilshire Blvd. through Santa Monica was a pleasant drive.
The second day took us to Santa Monica where were parked and walked along the “Third Street Promenade.” A closed to traffic promenade, you can browse to your heart’s content in the numerous shops and restaurants of all types to suit all budgets. The street itself is nicely decorated with flowers, palm trees and horticultural displays. On Saturday there’s a small and attractive market on Arizona Ave.in which local producers offer their crops including fruits, vegetables with lots of free tasting. All of the offerings were certified to be organically grown.
The Santa Monica Promenade on Ocean Avenue is a pleasant place to stroll, bike or skate. It overlooks the Santa Monica Beach and white surf of the ocean. A visit to Santa Monica would not be complete without a visit to the famous S.M. Pier. As you would expect there is the usual amusement park area, vendors selling souvenir items and people fishing from the pier. A nice place to visit.
What’s LA without a visit to the famous Malibu Beach, where the rich and famous are alleged to live. The average visitor, however, wouldn’t know this since the area is completely sealed off and only the backs of the luxurious beach-front properties can be seen. We took the Pacific Coast Highway to get there, which is a nice drive but we encountered a lot of traffic going there and back. There is a nice public beach located near the Malibu Pier with beautiful sand and lots of sun worshippers. On the way back we turned left on Sunset Blvd. and drove through Brentwood and on to Beverly Glen Blvd. in Bel Air and back to our hotel. A very nice drive that overlooks part of L.A. Brentwood appears to be an expensive and beautiful area.
What words can adequately describe Venice Beach? Quirky…interesting…unique with interesting characters, spring to mind. It’s tee shirt heaven along the promenade, spontaneous basketball games on the boardwalk, performance art by anyone and everyone who feels so moved, people walking dogs and the usual fast food stands for a quick snack. If Chinese food is your thing, try Mao’s Kitchen on Pacific Ave., for a very good meal with large servings in ‘unique’ surroundings.
As mentioned, given our time constraints, we had to be selective in what we wanted to see. For example the Disneyland attractions and/or Universal Studios, etc. were skipped since we already seen the equivalent in Florida. Our one regret was that we didn’t get to spend time in the Getty Center, which we are told is definitely worth a visit. Maybe next time…
SAN DIEGO
The drive on I5 from L.A. to San Diego is an experience in itself in that the amount of traffic is unbelievable. Imagine wall-to-wall cars driving 70 m.p.h. up to a 7 lane highway on either side (two-car-pool lane plus five regular lanes) and you’ll get an idea of what we’re talking about. Those driving at the legal speed are considered “public enemy no. 1.” Somehow, we managed to make it to San Diego in one piece.
We chose the Old Town Inn based on recommendations made by this forum and by TripAdvisor. Location-wise, this hotel is definitely out of the way, but well within easy walking distance to Old Town San Diego. Its location is less than ideal right in the middle of the heavy industrial sector of town facing the Sparwar plant and other industrial businesses. However, the hotel itself, an Spanish style L-shaped three storey motel-style building, is very attractive with a beautiful pool, free parking, excellent breakfast including make-your-own waffles and other breakfast goodies. There is a coin operated laundry. Our deluxe room came with 2 Queen-sized bed…very nice. It had a dataport connection but we used the free PC provided for guests located in the lobby (twenty-five cents per sheet for printing). In fact it we used to print out our Southwest Airlines boarding pass (Group A) for our flight to Las Vegas. This hotel rates are excellent taking into consideration the closeness to SD Old Town. Take note that this hotel is regularly featured in the discount coupon books that are found free of charge in the sidewalk dispensers. Staff is friendly and helpful with suggestions for what to see and where to go. In spite of the fact that on the weekend we chose to visit San Diego, the Rock’n’Roll Marathon SD (22,000 runners) ran by the hotel, almost stranding us from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on a Sunday. Still, we managed to get to Old Town trolley station, which took us directly into downtown SD, a 15-minute ride. Use Santa Fe Depot or America Plaza Station for downtown stops.
The Gaslamp Quarter of San Diego is very nice with lots of restaurants. We dropped by the Horton Plaza shopping mall with a myriad of stores on multiple levels. It could best be described as one of the most confusing malls we have ever visited.
While we were in the downtown core, we visited the harbour where the Midway Aircraft Carrier is permanently based, in addition to the Star of India and other ships that are open to visitors. On Coronado the famous El Coronado Hotel located on the Coronado “Island” in San Diego Bay, is a “must-see” landmark for visitors and the shops on Orange Avenue merit investigating. It was a short drive away from our hotel and worth the trip.
Since the hotel was located nearby we spent our evening touring historic Old Town SD area. It is reminiscent of the old Spanish settlement with lots of renovated buildings, memorabilia and museums depicting the SD early days. The place is rich in history and the Spanish influence on the growth of the city. There are lots of shops and fine restaurants dedicated to the tourist trade serving Mexican food, but other dishes are available too. We would recommend Casa de Reyes Mexican cuisine located in Plaza del Pasado, Café Coyote Cantina on the Old Town esplanade. For excellent coffee and/or ice cream, try Korky’s.
Again, due to the lack of time we couldn’t visit Balboa Park or the SD Zoo but we’ll catch them on our next visit.
LAS VEGAS
After dropping off our car in SD we flew Southwest for the 1 hr.10 min. flight to Las Vegas. The LV Airport is one of the busiest in the country with more than 40 million travellers going through every year. Consequently, it took us close to two hours to get to our hotel, one hour to leave the airport and grab a shuttle for a “hotel hop” before finally arriving at our destination, Bally’s. The day we arrived we were greeted with a close to a record temperature of 107 degrees, quite a shock to the system. Fortunately, the next day it cooled down to 105!!
What can be said about LV than hasn’t already been written many times over? The LV Strip is unique and lined with luxurious hotel casinos, one nicer and bigger than the other. Our hotel is located in the middle of the Strip connected to the Paris Hotel and across from Caesars Palace and the Bellagio, probably two of the most beautiful casinos in town. The Bally’s is one of the older hotels but it still maintains the air of luxury and provides some of the largest rooms in town. As recommended by Fodor-ites, we stayed in the north tower. Besides gambling, drinking, eating and catching shows, the favourite pastime of all visitors is to walk up and down the Strip, going in and out of the hotel/casinos. We “drop by” New York/New York, Monte Carlo, Aladdin, Paris, Bellagio, Caesars, Venetian, Barbary Coast and of course Bally’s. By then we were completely exhausted.
A trip to Vegas wouldn’t be complete without a night visit downtown Freemont St. The best way to get there is to use the double-decker Deuce busses. A must-see for visitors is the Freemont Street Experience, an electrical light and sound show. Quite a sight. It was nice to note that the original casinos are still around like the Golden Nugget, the 4 Queens, the Freemont and the Plaza. BTW, the Plaza offers one of the best and cheapest buffets in downtown LV. Not to be missed.
The Strip at night is a visual delight with free water shows, music and people strolling leisurely taking it all in. Don’t miss the water shows at the Bellagio, the Volcano at the Mirage and inside the Forum Shops at Caesars. Each Casino offers some great shopping and try the Forum Shops at Caesars for luxury buys, The Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian and the luxury boutiques at the Bellagio.
For a memorable dinner we highly recommend “Mon Ami Gaby” in the Paris, the best French cuisine (in our opinion) on the Strip.
On the second day of our visit we booked a tour to the Hoover Dam through our hotel ($49.95 incl. the Discovery Tour fee)) It’s a pleasant six hour bus visit to one of the most impressive human construction in North America. The only means in which to see it is through the Discovery Tour ($11) offered by the US Bureau of Reclamation.
We came, we gambled but we didn’t break the bank. On the other hand we didn’t loose our shirt, either. BTW, the wife is still gloating about her $22.50 gain at the nickel slot machines.
The last night of our stay we saw the show “O, an amazing production. We very highly recommend it. Other shows on the Strip worth seeing: Mama Mia at Mandalay Bay, Celine at Caesars and the new Beatles, “Love” at the Mirage (just opened after we left LV; too bad)
The next day we flew back home on Air Canada and back to reality and the daily grind.
CONCLUSION:
Hopefully, these notes will be helpful to others Fodor-ite travelers planning their trip to California, in the same way we used advice and comments of others who went before us. Feel free to comment on any aspect of our trip.
Addendum to part one:
SF:
The Columbus Motor Inn in SF doesn’t have a pool but for us this was more than compensated with their free parking. The Inn also provides free High Speed internet access (wired and wireless); bring your own laptop.
CARMEL:
The Best Western in Carmel has a decent-sized, heated pool. If you’re looking for an inexpensive “early bird special” for family dining with excellent food and friendly service, drop by the Em Le’s Restaurant on Dolores Street. For something a bit more elaborate try Forge in the Forest Restaurant on Junipero Avenue.
SAN SIMEON/CAMBRIA:
The Cavalier Resort in San Simeon has a pool facing the ocean. A bonus is the coin-operated washer/dryer for use by the guests. All rooms come equipped with a data port. While visiting Cambria, drop by Roundup Pizza and Grub for an excellent pizza, in a western décor(!) On the other hand if you’re into salads and sandwiches, the Cambria Courtyard Deli boasts the “best sandwich on the Central Coast” and they’re right. Given the size of the village of Cambria it was interesting that there were so many realtors offices located on Main Street. Business must be good in this area.
LOS ANGELES/MARINA-DEL –REY
On our way to L.A. we drove through Cayucos where we found a beautiful view of Morro Rock.(you can’t miss it) on our way to San Luis Obispo. Too bad we didn’t schedule time to explore Santa Barbara properly, since it is a beautiful area and well worth the stop. Maybe next time.
While in L.A. we stayed for three nights at the Holiday Inn Express in Marina-des-Rey. Its location on Washington Avenue and Lincoln Blvd. is a safe area and very close to the main marina. The hotel is within walking distance to the unique Venice Beach.
At the end of Washington Ave. and Pacific Ave. there are plenty of good restaurants and we highly recommend Chez Marguerite, an excellent French bistro.
We reserved a one-bedroom executive suite with the bedroom separate from the living room area. There were two TV’s, a cooking area containing a small fridge, a microwave and coffee maker. The hotel provides a coin-operated laundry. There is an outside pool located on the first floor but too small to really swim - just get wet and to cool off, or get a sun tan seating on the terrace near by.
The breakfast was more than ample with a nice selection of cereal, hot rolls, eggs, etc. Overall, excellent service. We would definitely return if we had the opportunity.
Since we only stayed two full days in L.A. we had to be selective in what to see and visit. On the first day we drove to Hollywood, which took an hour to get there due to heavy traffic and construction on Santa Monica Blvd.. Hollywood on the whole was kind of disappointing. Besides the two blocks of Hollywood and Highland, the area is very run down and not in the least inviting. We did, however, see the big “Hollywood” sign and walked on the “walk of fame” where more than 2300 s*t*a*r*s are immortalized and a quick look at the Capitol Record Building. Saw the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and Kodak Theatre , home of the Academy Awards. The Hollywood Highland Center is quite an interesting shopping mall and worth a look around. Lately, there appears to be a concerted effort to renovate the old rundown buildings i.e. Hollywood and Vine, etc. On our way to Beverly Hills we drove to Sunset Strip, where there are lots of stores, restaurants and hotels.
If you’re going to visit L.A. then a stop to Rodeo Drive in BH (between Santa Monica and Wilshire Blvds.) is an absolute must see, but be prepared to bring along lots of $$$ and/or plastic. In other words if you ask for the price – you can’t afford it. Located in a couple of blocks are some of the most exclusive (and most expensive) shops in the world and home of Versace, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, DeBeer, Bulgari…all the biggies. The Via Rodeo fountain is worth a look and a photo op.
We then went on to visit the Farmers Market located on Fairfax and 3rd Street , an interesting place to spend some time shopping, tasting the local produce and other fine food. Not to be missed. The drive back to our hotel using Wilshire Blvd. through Santa Monica was a pleasant drive.
The second day took us to Santa Monica where were parked and walked along the “Third Street Promenade.” A closed to traffic promenade, you can browse to your heart’s content in the numerous shops and restaurants of all types to suit all budgets. The street itself is nicely decorated with flowers, palm trees and horticultural displays. On Saturday there’s a small and attractive market on Arizona Ave.in which local producers offer their crops including fruits, vegetables with lots of free tasting. All of the offerings were certified to be organically grown.
The Santa Monica Promenade on Ocean Avenue is a pleasant place to stroll, bike or skate. It overlooks the Santa Monica Beach and white surf of the ocean. A visit to Santa Monica would not be complete without a visit to the famous S.M. Pier. As you would expect there is the usual amusement park area, vendors selling souvenir items and people fishing from the pier. A nice place to visit.
What’s LA without a visit to the famous Malibu Beach, where the rich and famous are alleged to live. The average visitor, however, wouldn’t know this since the area is completely sealed off and only the backs of the luxurious beach-front properties can be seen. We took the Pacific Coast Highway to get there, which is a nice drive but we encountered a lot of traffic going there and back. There is a nice public beach located near the Malibu Pier with beautiful sand and lots of sun worshippers. On the way back we turned left on Sunset Blvd. and drove through Brentwood and on to Beverly Glen Blvd. in Bel Air and back to our hotel. A very nice drive that overlooks part of L.A. Brentwood appears to be an expensive and beautiful area.
What words can adequately describe Venice Beach? Quirky…interesting…unique with interesting characters, spring to mind. It’s tee shirt heaven along the promenade, spontaneous basketball games on the boardwalk, performance art by anyone and everyone who feels so moved, people walking dogs and the usual fast food stands for a quick snack. If Chinese food is your thing, try Mao’s Kitchen on Pacific Ave., for a very good meal with large servings in ‘unique’ surroundings.
As mentioned, given our time constraints, we had to be selective in what we wanted to see. For example the Disneyland attractions and/or Universal Studios, etc. were skipped since we already seen the equivalent in Florida. Our one regret was that we didn’t get to spend time in the Getty Center, which we are told is definitely worth a visit. Maybe next time…
SAN DIEGO
The drive on I5 from L.A. to San Diego is an experience in itself in that the amount of traffic is unbelievable. Imagine wall-to-wall cars driving 70 m.p.h. up to a 7 lane highway on either side (two-car-pool lane plus five regular lanes) and you’ll get an idea of what we’re talking about. Those driving at the legal speed are considered “public enemy no. 1.” Somehow, we managed to make it to San Diego in one piece.
We chose the Old Town Inn based on recommendations made by this forum and by TripAdvisor. Location-wise, this hotel is definitely out of the way, but well within easy walking distance to Old Town San Diego. Its location is less than ideal right in the middle of the heavy industrial sector of town facing the Sparwar plant and other industrial businesses. However, the hotel itself, an Spanish style L-shaped three storey motel-style building, is very attractive with a beautiful pool, free parking, excellent breakfast including make-your-own waffles and other breakfast goodies. There is a coin operated laundry. Our deluxe room came with 2 Queen-sized bed…very nice. It had a dataport connection but we used the free PC provided for guests located in the lobby (twenty-five cents per sheet for printing). In fact it we used to print out our Southwest Airlines boarding pass (Group A) for our flight to Las Vegas. This hotel rates are excellent taking into consideration the closeness to SD Old Town. Take note that this hotel is regularly featured in the discount coupon books that are found free of charge in the sidewalk dispensers. Staff is friendly and helpful with suggestions for what to see and where to go. In spite of the fact that on the weekend we chose to visit San Diego, the Rock’n’Roll Marathon SD (22,000 runners) ran by the hotel, almost stranding us from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on a Sunday. Still, we managed to get to Old Town trolley station, which took us directly into downtown SD, a 15-minute ride. Use Santa Fe Depot or America Plaza Station for downtown stops.
The Gaslamp Quarter of San Diego is very nice with lots of restaurants. We dropped by the Horton Plaza shopping mall with a myriad of stores on multiple levels. It could best be described as one of the most confusing malls we have ever visited.
While we were in the downtown core, we visited the harbour where the Midway Aircraft Carrier is permanently based, in addition to the Star of India and other ships that are open to visitors. On Coronado the famous El Coronado Hotel located on the Coronado “Island” in San Diego Bay, is a “must-see” landmark for visitors and the shops on Orange Avenue merit investigating. It was a short drive away from our hotel and worth the trip.
Since the hotel was located nearby we spent our evening touring historic Old Town SD area. It is reminiscent of the old Spanish settlement with lots of renovated buildings, memorabilia and museums depicting the SD early days. The place is rich in history and the Spanish influence on the growth of the city. There are lots of shops and fine restaurants dedicated to the tourist trade serving Mexican food, but other dishes are available too. We would recommend Casa de Reyes Mexican cuisine located in Plaza del Pasado, Café Coyote Cantina on the Old Town esplanade. For excellent coffee and/or ice cream, try Korky’s.
Again, due to the lack of time we couldn’t visit Balboa Park or the SD Zoo but we’ll catch them on our next visit.
LAS VEGAS
After dropping off our car in SD we flew Southwest for the 1 hr.10 min. flight to Las Vegas. The LV Airport is one of the busiest in the country with more than 40 million travellers going through every year. Consequently, it took us close to two hours to get to our hotel, one hour to leave the airport and grab a shuttle for a “hotel hop” before finally arriving at our destination, Bally’s. The day we arrived we were greeted with a close to a record temperature of 107 degrees, quite a shock to the system. Fortunately, the next day it cooled down to 105!!
What can be said about LV than hasn’t already been written many times over? The LV Strip is unique and lined with luxurious hotel casinos, one nicer and bigger than the other. Our hotel is located in the middle of the Strip connected to the Paris Hotel and across from Caesars Palace and the Bellagio, probably two of the most beautiful casinos in town. The Bally’s is one of the older hotels but it still maintains the air of luxury and provides some of the largest rooms in town. As recommended by Fodor-ites, we stayed in the north tower. Besides gambling, drinking, eating and catching shows, the favourite pastime of all visitors is to walk up and down the Strip, going in and out of the hotel/casinos. We “drop by” New York/New York, Monte Carlo, Aladdin, Paris, Bellagio, Caesars, Venetian, Barbary Coast and of course Bally’s. By then we were completely exhausted.
A trip to Vegas wouldn’t be complete without a night visit downtown Freemont St. The best way to get there is to use the double-decker Deuce busses. A must-see for visitors is the Freemont Street Experience, an electrical light and sound show. Quite a sight. It was nice to note that the original casinos are still around like the Golden Nugget, the 4 Queens, the Freemont and the Plaza. BTW, the Plaza offers one of the best and cheapest buffets in downtown LV. Not to be missed.
The Strip at night is a visual delight with free water shows, music and people strolling leisurely taking it all in. Don’t miss the water shows at the Bellagio, the Volcano at the Mirage and inside the Forum Shops at Caesars. Each Casino offers some great shopping and try the Forum Shops at Caesars for luxury buys, The Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian and the luxury boutiques at the Bellagio.
For a memorable dinner we highly recommend “Mon Ami Gaby” in the Paris, the best French cuisine (in our opinion) on the Strip.
On the second day of our visit we booked a tour to the Hoover Dam through our hotel ($49.95 incl. the Discovery Tour fee)) It’s a pleasant six hour bus visit to one of the most impressive human construction in North America. The only means in which to see it is through the Discovery Tour ($11) offered by the US Bureau of Reclamation.
We came, we gambled but we didn’t break the bank. On the other hand we didn’t loose our shirt, either. BTW, the wife is still gloating about her $22.50 gain at the nickel slot machines.
The last night of our stay we saw the show “O, an amazing production. We very highly recommend it. Other shows on the Strip worth seeing: Mama Mia at Mandalay Bay, Celine at Caesars and the new Beatles, “Love” at the Mirage (just opened after we left LV; too bad)
The next day we flew back home on Air Canada and back to reality and the daily grind.
CONCLUSION:
Hopefully, these notes will be helpful to others Fodor-ite travelers planning their trip to California, in the same way we used advice and comments of others who went before us. Feel free to comment on any aspect of our trip.
Jul 3rd, 2006 | 03:03 PM
#7
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 45,322
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Again jet, what a delightful and informative trip report! How did you keep track of all the information? I have to learn how to do that..I am so bad about remembering restaurant and street names etc.
Jet, is it no long possible to drive a car to Hoover Dam and take a tour? Does one have to go by bus now? It has been ages since I toured Hoover Dam but enjoyed that afternoon so much.
Do come back. You will enjoy the Getty Center I am sure. And at that time you can explore Santa Barbara, old town Ventura and Ojai (a small artsy little city just 20 minutes inland from Ventura). It is always fun to have a reason to return to somewhere that one has enjoyed. Thank you again for sharing your trip!
Jet, is it no long possible to drive a car to Hoover Dam and take a tour? Does one have to go by bus now? It has been ages since I toured Hoover Dam but enjoyed that afternoon so much.
Do come back. You will enjoy the Getty Center I am sure. And at that time you can explore Santa Barbara, old town Ventura and Ojai (a small artsy little city just 20 minutes inland from Ventura). It is always fun to have a reason to return to somewhere that one has enjoyed. Thank you again for sharing your trip!
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Jul 3rd, 2006 | 04:46 PM
#8
Joined: Apr 2006
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Would just like to mention to all those going to the Hearst Castle, try and stay in Cambria, which is just a few minutes south of San Simeon. There are wonderful motels right on the beach, and the town itself has a lot of good restaurants and some nice art galleries. It's much more fun than staying in San Simeon itself.
Jul 3rd, 2006 | 09:56 PM
#10
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 45,322
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Hi LeeAnn, thanks..I was wondering if perhaps due to 911 that was no longer possible. When we do finally get together will your remind me to tell you a very funny story about my time at Hoover Dam, lol. Don't forget!
And wishes that you and your loved ones have a beautiful 4th of July!!
And wishes that you and your loved ones have a beautiful 4th of July!!
Jul 4th, 2006 | 06:04 AM
#11
Original Poster
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 165
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Loveltaly
We would definitely consider a return visit to the west coast but we doubt that our “win” of $22.50 at the casino would be of any help in budgeting for a new trip. However, it’s a start-lolol!
There’s no problem for cars and authorized buses to drive across the Hoover Dam. Only trucks are forbidden due to new security regulations since 9/11. There is a multi-level parking lot at the Dam. We took a guided bus tour not having a car at our disposal since we dropped it off in San Diego. Please be advised that all cars and busses crossing the Dam are stopped and subject to a search by security at a gate located just before entering the Dam. A huge by-pass is in the process of being constructed on highway 93, a short distance downstream from the Dam, which will allow all traffic to drive across. Once this is completed trucks will be able to drive directly across rather than make a huge detour as they presently do. Completion date is supposed to be 2008 and for sure it’ll be quite a sight to see the new bridge going from cliff-to-cliff across the Colorado River gorge and over looking the Dam.
Nancy1652
We also definitely agree that the village of Cambria located 6 miles south of San Simeon is a much better place to visit. As mentioned in our write up, in San Simeon there is nothing to do but visit the few shops that dot the hwy…and sleep. We can’t comment on the hotel offerings in Cambria (Moonstone Beach), since we weren’t there.
We would definitely consider a return visit to the west coast but we doubt that our “win” of $22.50 at the casino would be of any help in budgeting for a new trip. However, it’s a start-lolol!
There’s no problem for cars and authorized buses to drive across the Hoover Dam. Only trucks are forbidden due to new security regulations since 9/11. There is a multi-level parking lot at the Dam. We took a guided bus tour not having a car at our disposal since we dropped it off in San Diego. Please be advised that all cars and busses crossing the Dam are stopped and subject to a search by security at a gate located just before entering the Dam. A huge by-pass is in the process of being constructed on highway 93, a short distance downstream from the Dam, which will allow all traffic to drive across. Once this is completed trucks will be able to drive directly across rather than make a huge detour as they presently do. Completion date is supposed to be 2008 and for sure it’ll be quite a sight to see the new bridge going from cliff-to-cliff across the Colorado River gorge and over looking the Dam.
Nancy1652
We also definitely agree that the village of Cambria located 6 miles south of San Simeon is a much better place to visit. As mentioned in our write up, in San Simeon there is nothing to do but visit the few shops that dot the hwy…and sleep. We can’t comment on the hotel offerings in Cambria (Moonstone Beach), since we weren’t there.
Jul 6th, 2006 | 11:38 AM
#13
Guest
Posts: n/a
Hi jet29..
Sounds like you had a wonderful time but for the life of me I cannot understand why people on this forum and Trip Advisor recommend the Old Town Inn.. it is in one of the most crime ridden places in an industrial area under a major freeway and on either side of the motel is shanty motels that are used for prostuition and drug and gang related activity and living here in SD for the same price you could of gone to a much better area for the same price or cheaper.. We have some of the most gorgeous cities in SD and this motel sits underneath a freeway in a industrial area with homeless people and unsavory characters and that is why they have coupons..
I would be appalled if I came to beautiful San Diego and to find that some moron recommended this motel to me! Tourist have no idea how bad this area is..Yes, Old Town is a couple of blocks away but Old Town is so different since the change of ownership that it is basically a ghost town and most of the good restaurants have left and the shops are going bankrupt..it is very sad..
Sounds overall that you had a good time and please come back to our lovely city but I would suggest you stay somewhere else..
Sounds like you had a wonderful time but for the life of me I cannot understand why people on this forum and Trip Advisor recommend the Old Town Inn.. it is in one of the most crime ridden places in an industrial area under a major freeway and on either side of the motel is shanty motels that are used for prostuition and drug and gang related activity and living here in SD for the same price you could of gone to a much better area for the same price or cheaper.. We have some of the most gorgeous cities in SD and this motel sits underneath a freeway in a industrial area with homeless people and unsavory characters and that is why they have coupons..
I would be appalled if I came to beautiful San Diego and to find that some moron recommended this motel to me! Tourist have no idea how bad this area is..Yes, Old Town is a couple of blocks away but Old Town is so different since the change of ownership that it is basically a ghost town and most of the good restaurants have left and the shops are going bankrupt..it is very sad..
Sounds overall that you had a good time and please come back to our lovely city but I would suggest you stay somewhere else..
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