Girlfriend trip in California
Oct 5th, 2018, 02:41 AM
#1
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Girlfriend trip in California
I am organizing a trip for several friends. We are attending an event in San Diego in late August and want to spend about five or six days post event together. The group has decided to fly in and out of San Diego. I have suggested La Jolla and Santa Barbara. I did suggest Carmel/Monterey by air but that did not generate much enthusiasm.
About us:
all early seventies with no significant health issues
not a terribly active group so hiking, etc would not interest them
love shopping, good dining, historical attractions, museums
limited driving
Any suggestions for us? Thank you.
About us:
all early seventies with no significant health issues
not a terribly active group so hiking, etc would not interest them
love shopping, good dining, historical attractions, museums
limited driving
Any suggestions for us? Thank you.
Oct 5th, 2018, 03:48 AM
#2
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You should either repost this question or ask the monitors to move it to the United States” Forum which deals specifically with travel in the US. You’ll get a lot more responses there. HINT: Use the “Change Forum” link at the top of your thread.
This forum is for “general” travel questions and gets very little attention from the regular contributors on the forum.
This forum is for “general” travel questions and gets very little attention from the regular contributors on the forum.
Oct 5th, 2018, 09:01 AM
#4
"... limited driving..."
Driving San Diego to Santa Barbara could easily take 5 hours (and is fairly boring), and then you'd have to drive back to SD. Flying to/from SB would be quick but expensive. Going by train is pretty cheap but takes upwards of 6 hours. If you went by train, you might want to rent a car in SB for a couple of days to explore the Santa Ynez Valley, although there are probably some small-group day tours you could take. In August, temps in SYV will be high.
If your free days are in/around Aug. 9-18, forget Carmel and Monterey. That's Car Week. The area will be jammed with people, traffic, etc., and hotel rates will be ridiculous. I do think Carmel/Monterey would be a great destination, though, so if your dates are good I'd keep promoting it to your friends.
Driving San Diego to Santa Barbara could easily take 5 hours (and is fairly boring), and then you'd have to drive back to SD. Flying to/from SB would be quick but expensive. Going by train is pretty cheap but takes upwards of 6 hours. If you went by train, you might want to rent a car in SB for a couple of days to explore the Santa Ynez Valley, although there are probably some small-group day tours you could take. In August, temps in SYV will be high.
If your free days are in/around Aug. 9-18, forget Carmel and Monterey. That's Car Week. The area will be jammed with people, traffic, etc., and hotel rates will be ridiculous. I do think Carmel/Monterey would be a great destination, though, so if your dates are good I'd keep promoting it to your friends.
Oct 5th, 2018, 09:44 AM
#5
Why not rent a house in LA, San Diego/Pacific Beach/La Jolla or maybe Laguna or Newport Beach?
Examples (don't know your budget or number of people, so just guessing) -
Brentwood - https://www.vrbo.com/7131480ha
Beverly Hills/Farmers Market - https://www.vrbo.com/682124
Pacific Beach - https://www.vrbo.com/1296347
Balboa Island, Newport Beach - https://www.vrbo.com/1293898
Examples (don't know your budget or number of people, so just guessing) -
Brentwood - https://www.vrbo.com/7131480ha
Beverly Hills/Farmers Market - https://www.vrbo.com/682124
Pacific Beach - https://www.vrbo.com/1296347
Balboa Island, Newport Beach - https://www.vrbo.com/1293898
Oct 5th, 2018, 10:19 AM
#6
You don't need to go far from San Diego to find a fabulous location for your extended stay.
I think Santa Barbara is way too long a drive, especially since you have to return to San Diego. And "several friends" might indicate you'd need two vehicles.
La Jolla is a fabulous idea: great food (George's at the Cove), beautiful views, the Scripps aquarium https://aquarium.ucsd.edu/visit/
We love Laguna Beach and Newport Beach/Balboa Island, but I don't think you need to drive that far, either.
I think Santa Barbara is way too long a drive, especially since you have to return to San Diego. And "several friends" might indicate you'd need two vehicles.
La Jolla is a fabulous idea: great food (George's at the Cove), beautiful views, the Scripps aquarium https://aquarium.ucsd.edu/visit/
We love Laguna Beach and Newport Beach/Balboa Island, but I don't think you need to drive that far, either.
Oct 5th, 2018, 11:25 AM
#7
I would stay south, in the San Diego area. It's beautiful there & plenty to see and do without driving so far north (easy to accomplish "limited driving").
What about a side trip by ferry over to Catalina Island? https://www.catalinavacations.com/ge...land-san-diego
How about a visit to a historic California mission (Mission San Deigo de Alcala among others) https://www.sdcatholic.org/diocese/a...cmissions.aspx
What about a side trip by ferry over to Catalina Island? https://www.catalinavacations.com/ge...land-san-diego
How about a visit to a historic California mission (Mission San Deigo de Alcala among others) https://www.sdcatholic.org/diocese/a...cmissions.aspx
Oct 5th, 2018, 11:54 AM
#8
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Well, pretty sure LaJolla is part of San Diego. Laguna Beach is nice (although not my favorite OC beach town) but that time of year is the Pageant of the Masters (nice to see - once), Sawdust Festival and others so places will be crowded and possibly hotel rates will increase.
Santa Barbara is nice, very good food and a beautiful mission (much nicer than the San Diego one) plus wine tasting in the nearby Santa Ynez Valley.
Santa Barbara is nice, very good food and a beautiful mission (much nicer than the San Diego one) plus wine tasting in the nearby Santa Ynez Valley.
Oct 11th, 2018, 02:38 PM
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The Santa Barbara Eagle Inn has several casitas, with a living room as well as a bedroom. Breakfast (included in the rate) can be delivered or taken in the main part of the hote. The hotel is a short 2-block level walk from the beach and the shuttle route.
Oct 12th, 2018, 08:46 AM
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I imagine the objection to Carmel/Monterey was the distance if they have to get back to SAN, and flying. There is no easy way to get there that won't take up tons of time or money. I guess there is a small regional airport at Monterey but I wouldn't want to fly to/from there either. Alaska Airlines does fly there nonstop from SAN, though.
I'd rather take Amtrak to Santa Barbara as given how much time flying takes to get to the airport early, etc., it could be not that different in elapsed time as the flight itself is 1.5 hrs.
La Jolla doesn't sound that interesting to me, either.
That same train that goes to SB makes a stop in San Juan Capistrano. That's only a 1.5 hr train trip. Just an idea, I haven't been there myself.
I'd rather take Amtrak to Santa Barbara as given how much time flying takes to get to the airport early, etc., it could be not that different in elapsed time as the flight itself is 1.5 hrs.
La Jolla doesn't sound that interesting to me, either.
That same train that goes to SB makes a stop in San Juan Capistrano. That's only a 1.5 hr train trip. Just an idea, I haven't been there myself.
Oct 13th, 2018, 08:59 AM
#19
La Jolla is a distinct area, and I think most people consider it separately. It makes sense for your group of 8 women who don't want to travel far from San Diego (airport).
As I said above, "La Jolla is a fabulous idea: great food (George's at the Cove), beautiful views, the Scripps aquarium https://aquarium.ucsd.edu/visit/"
Be sure to eat at least once at George's outdoor patio, directly over the water.
These two hotels look nice, right in the heart of La Jolla:
https://thegrandecolonial.com
https://www.lavalencia.com
This place looks also nice, at Torrey Pines
https://meritagecollection.com/estan...sort-amenities
As I said above, "La Jolla is a fabulous idea: great food (George's at the Cove), beautiful views, the Scripps aquarium https://aquarium.ucsd.edu/visit/"
Be sure to eat at least once at George's outdoor patio, directly over the water.
These two hotels look nice, right in the heart of La Jolla:
https://thegrandecolonial.com
https://www.lavalencia.com
This place looks also nice, at Torrey Pines
https://meritagecollection.com/estan...sort-amenities
