|
December trip from San Francisco to LA
Hi,
We will visit southern California from Dec 24 to Jan2 this year. I'll be driving around with my elderly parents and a teenage son (interesting combination, I know). I appreciate any suggestions about where to go and what to see. We all like nature, but hiking is obviously out of question. Maybe some light walking, but mostly it will be driving. Museums? Not so much... Shopping? Definitely not! So... Where should we go? We arrive to SFO and depart from LA. I definitely want to drive on highway 1 south of Monterey, and I would like to drive through Sequoia National Forest. What the weather is like there in December? Where else can we go? Death Valley? Yosemite? I prefer not to drive on snow - even if I'm from Canada... Not fun at all! All ideas are greatly appreciated! |
24th will be a clusterfart of traffic around SFO. Are you planning any days IN San Francisco or are you immediately headed southbound? And you you want any time in LA? One night? three?
|
I'm confused. San Francisco is in Northern California so what is your arrival date there, how long to do you plan to stay there, on the drive south and in LA? Your proposed places to visit are all over the map, literally.
If you arrive at SFO on the 24th and leave LAX on Jan 2nd, that's what you have time, for plus the drive between including Monterey. No time for Yosemite, Sequoia or Death Valley. Add another week and maybe. |
>>We will visit southern California from Dec 24 to Jan2 this year. <<
Is this the whole trip or just days you have set aside for Southern CA? If that is the entire trip -- then you only have 8.5-9 free days including two major holidays. You won't have time for SF, hwy 1, Yosemite, Sequoia, Death Valley and LA. Plus this is winter -- Yosemite and Sequoia may be snowed in. Most of the time they are accessible but snow chains may be required - which aren't allowed on rental cars. Now, there is one entrance to Yosemite which is usually accessible no matter the weather . . . BUT Christmas/New Years is very popular that and accommodations probably won't be available at this late date. One doesn't 'drive through' Sequoia. It is like a cul de sac -- you enter and leave through from the same direction. And Getting to Death Valle would entail a loooooooon butt ugly drive down through Bakersfield. So w/ such a short visit, I'd plan on SF, the Coast, and LA and leave it at that. And be prepared w/ plan(s) B in case of severe winter storms along the coast/Big Sur. |
Thank you all who replied!
I was sure that SF is considered to be in southern California :-) Sorry for the confusion. Yes, our whole trip is between Dec 24 and Jan 2 - 9 days in total. I didn't realize that there is snow in the parks :-( We start in SF and end our trip in LA. How many days in each city is up to me. I thought that 2 days in SF is enough to get an impression of the city, but I could be wrong of course. Yes, it's holidays, but unfortunately this is the only available time for me. I'll have to plan accordingly. So do you guys think that it's not a good idea to go to Sequoia or Yosemite? Then what would you recommend to visit instead? Janis, what entrance are you talking about that is open all the time? |
9 days total, but you are counting arrival day Dec 24 and departure day Jan 2. So you have 7 days to sightsee, practically speaking. And things will be closed on Dec25 all around San Fran so if you have attractions in mind you would have to stay the 26th as well. That gives you Saturday and Sunday and Monday to drive south, maybe stay 2 nights in Monterey/Carmel/Big Sur and then 1 night either Santa Ynez wine country or Santa Barbara. Tues is a travel day down to Los Angeles and then you have Wed (hellish traffic) and the holiday Thursday to explore L.A.
|
"So do you guys think that it's not a good idea to go to Sequoia or Yosemite? Then what would you recommend to visit instead?"
It would be possible in theory if you had more time, depending on weather. But as clark has outlined above, you don't have time. Concentrate on plans in SF, then down the coast to LA. What you do on the coastal drive depends, of course, on your interests, so do some research. Consider you've got 2 days in SF, 3 for the drive down and 2 in LA. Or some variation, if you find your interests dictate otherwise. There are so many possibilities all along the way that you must do the discovery work to know. Any suggestions here will be the things we like or the usual suspects, not necessarily anything of particular interest to you and your family. |
|
I think clarkgriswold has a good plan, however that time of year I would stop in Cambria or Pismo Beach instead, it is a long drive from Monterey/Carmel to Santa Barbara passing through beautiful Big Sur with so many places to stop and see things. Plus it gets dark early that time of year and you do not want to be driving that road in the dark.
Or you could do one night Monterey/Carmel, one night Cambria or Pismo Beach and one night Santa Barbara. |
Welcome to California. Consider that the time-frame for your visit is in our rainy season, and plan accordingly. The weather can be gloriously warm and sunny or cold and damp. Most likely you'll experience a combination of the two extremes.
|
I've spent 2/5 of my life in the LA area, and 3/5 in the San Francisco region. My opinions:
- You can see a lot of things in San Francisco in one day without wasting a lot of time getting from A to B. - You will spend a lot of time in LA getting from A to B, so you'll actually see less "stuff" in LA than you would in SF in a day. - You'll need a car in LA - You don't need a car in SF - The Coast (hwy 1) from Carmel to San Simeon is the best you'll likely see. My second cousin from Denmark is visiting us in February - for his first trip to the US. He is bringing his 8 YO daughter with him. This is what I plan to show them: - Day 1. We'll drive them around San Francisco, showing them the views of downtown SF from Treasure Island in the AM, the Embarcadero, Crissy Field, Ft Point and the surfers there, Postcard Row/Painted Ladies (Victorian Houses), walk Haight Ashbury, Golden Gate Park & Stow Lake & Conservatory of Flowers, Ocean Beach & the Cliff House/Sutro Baths, Golden Gate and Bridge views from El Camino Del Mar in Lincoln Park and also from Lincoln Blvd, drive over the Golden Gate Bridge, views of SF from Fort Baker, fabulous views from the Marin side north of the GG bridge in the GGNRA on Conzelman ave, Marin Headlands/Rodeo Beach and Marine Mammal Center in GGNRA, WWII batterys in GGNRA, fabulous views of the "wild" Pacific Ocean from GGNRA, Sausalito and views back to SF, views from Twin Peaks. Dinner at Mountain House in the Woodside hills/mountains - surrounded by redwood trees. - Day 2. Put them on BART into SF (we live in San Mateo). They'll get off at Powell and visit: . Westfield Center shopping (his father & aunt "loaded up" on stuff when they visited us a few decades ago) . Union Square & adjacent streets . Chinatown - Grant St and also the more "authentic" Stockton St north of the tunnel . North Beach/Little Italy . Fisherman's Wharf/Ghirardelli Sq/Cannery/Pier 39 for the 8 YO . Cable Car from Hyde & Beach back to Union Square - sitting on the east side of the car for best views. . We'll drive into The City and meet them in North Beach for pizza/dinner & drive them back to our house. - Day 3. Drive down to Carmel & visit. Pacific Grove, Spanish Bay. If we had more time - the aquarium. Pt Lobos, just south of Carmel. Down Hwy 1 to Big Sur. Dinner at Nepenthe. If we had more time and they were not from Europe - farther down Hwy 1 to San Simeon & overnight. Next morning Hearst Castle and then back up 101 to SF. Then they fly down to LA to catch their flight back to Copenhagen. tanyaden. This is really a "Northern Californian's (me) opinion, but with some knowledge of LA: If you are not interested in Disneyland, Universal studios, museums, shopping, seeing Hollywood and since it will be December - just stick to the region from SF to San Simeon. Then drive to LA & stay somewhere near the airport for your flight home. There are many more things to do & see in the San Francisco Area than I mentioned above. My cousin will only be here for 4 nights - so I have to skip a lot of stuff. Here are some more things to do in the area: http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...mendations.cfm Stu Dudley |
Thanks a lot for all of you, this community is amazing!
I'll read all suggested forums, and plan accordingly. I'll let you guys know about final plans (if anyone is interested). Thanks again! |
| All times are GMT -8. The time now is 08:42 AM. |