louise1928

After the many replies to my previous post,(regarding our 10 year anniversary trip) I have narrowed it down to this for the USA....

California...San Francisco, San Diego or ???...

Now here is the problem? Which do I chose, or should we just go with LA????

I will start today by researching the above areas, I've already requested travel brochures from CA chamber of commerce, so I am well on my way...I will also start by visiting more message boards like this for suggestions and tips, as well as explore the many many websites about CA.. It seems a bit overwhelming, since CA is such a large state, but it is fun planning.

More suggestions are welcome.

rjw_lgb_ca

Hmmm.... If this will be your first time to California, I would be inclined to steer you away from LA, which is a HUGE city (think of a microcosm of the entire world, in a vast sprawling urban area). There are just too many possibilities in the LA metro area. Better to choose one more cohesive city and have a more finite set of choices.

San Francisco, despite any negative input you've gotten here on this board, has a lot going for it when you want romance. Carefully constructed, you can have an incredible time here. And you've got all sorts of day-trip destinations around it, so don't feel you have to stay in town.

La Jolla would be my second choice-- and a very close second choice at that. It's a very lovely neighborhood in San Diego, and this city has a lot going for it within an hour's travel time.

Then, Santa Barbara. Beautiful, somewhat laid-back, ritzy. Great for upscale R&R.

clarkgriswold

I may have missed it, but I haven't seen you mention how much time you have for this trip.

louise1928

We plan to spend at least 5-6 nights wherever we decide to go. If its CA, at least 5 nights...It depends on our budget, airline tickets, etc. I hate to add fuel to the fire but I just looked at a great website of Vancouver BC!! Never thought about that place. I have to consider that as well. But for now its CA.

Thanks

BAK

I've never been to San Diego.

Los Angeles and San Francisco are very, very different cities. Vancouver is more like SF than it is like LA, or maybe not. See far below.

My friends, before my trip, told me I'd prefer SF, but in fact LA is just my kind of a place.

But your personality and interests, and those of your husband, would make a big difference.

SF is smallish, you can leave your car in the parking garage, and use your feet and the cable car and some ferry boats and maybe a few cabs. It's more intellectual, in the sense that you would savor and analyse and look in details at the city.

LA is big and rambling and we seemed to drive and drive and drive. But it was a cioty that was up and alive and interesting, and I kept feeling the people I was meeting were sharp and aware and working at being good at what they did, even if they were working at sitting outside a house at Venice Beach, drinking beer.

LA can challenge a brain -- the Getty Museum and there's another big art gallery, too.

LA may be a big strokes city, SF afine motor skills city.

What about Vancouver? You'd split the time between Vancouver and Victoria, eat just as well as in California, but for less money. Vancouver is a walking city, too, but with more of an LA openness and sensibility.

At the strat of this, i wrote Van is more like SF, but later I was going to write Van is more like LA, so maybe it's the perfect compromise.

More beautiful scenery than either California city.

But, all three are great places, and whichever one you chose will be a good choice.

BAK

fussy_traveller

How about instead of going to a city, go to a spa ?

Or take one of the U.S. Orient Express trains .. there are several that run through the western states.

ucsun

you could spend 2 weeks and not get bored in LA. spend 4 days in LA and 2 in San Diego. best of both worlds. San Francisco will eat up a bit of travel time as it is around 350 (or so) miles away. just don't stay in Anaheim to do both because traffic will kill you both ways.

uhoh_busted

I'd suggest three nights in San Francisco and two nights out in wine country -- Sonoma is prettier than Napa, to my tastes. We stayed in Healdsburg which is a charming little town with great restaurants and pretty B&Bs. If you like wine at all, or even just a little you will truly enjoy visiting wineries. You can drive from the city to Sonoma up the Pacific Coast Highway for some of that stunning scenery.

Gretchen

I'm with uh-oh--go to San Francisco and do a couple of day trips up and down the coast. One up to Mendocino, going through Muir Woods. One down the coast to Pebble Beach. A day or so in the city--go to Berkeley and eat at Chez Panisse-- and a day and a night in the wine country. Or go to Yosemite for a day and a night--probably the 8th wonder of the world. I think LA is daunting but interesting in its own way--Hollywood, the museums. And San Diego is a truly beautiful city. But I would choose northern California and get a real feel for just that area.

GoTravel

I'm going to throw another idea out. How about the Wickaninnish Inn on Vancouver Island? I've never been but it looks like the most romantic place I've ever seen.

www.Wickinn.com

rjw_lgb_ca

C'mon people, let's please play nice. We're talking about a 10-year anniversary trip. It should be special, romantic, relaxing. And everyone knows I'm normally a big booster of the LA area, so when I say "LA's not a great choice for this trip", I mean it. You CAN find pockets of relaxation in this area, but for your first trip, especially one centered on "Love ya, look, we made it 10 years!!", find one spot, enjoy every minute of it, kick back!

I repeat: You can create a wonderfully romantic vacation centered on San Francisco. Yeah, it has some big city problems-- maybe because it's a BIG CITY. You can find romance and beauty in SF despite those problems. Millions of visitors do. And if you get tired of those old beautiful views from Nob Hill (which is where I'd stay), head to Napa or Sonoma.

You can also find romance in Santa Barbara or the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego. If you MUST hit the LA metro area, may I recommend Laguna Beach? Or even the luxo resorts in Dana Point, if you can deal with having nothing immediately around the hotel....

obxgirl

Louise, Congrats on your 10th anniversary! Hope you've gotten enough info to make a choice. There are so many beautiful places to see in the west you can't go wrong.

Goldenstatesperson, I really empathize with your frustration about Carder and his/her other aliases, but take a deep breath and repeat after me....I will not engage a nut job...I will not engage a nut job...

Pataskala

louise,

Since your anniversery is in July, I would not recommend going to San Francisco. The summer months (June through August) tend to be foog and cold (highs in the lower 60's). I lived in SF for about 10 years, and that was the only city where i had seasonal affective disorder in the summmer due to the lack of sunlight.

That said, you can't go wrong with San Diego or Los Angeles. The weather in Southern California is perfect and there are some great beaches there too. I have heard great things about Vancouver as well. You have hot some tough decisions.

rjw_lgb_ca

I'm sorry, but the cool weather up in San Francisco forms part of its charm. Breezy, keeping the air clean, a bit of snap in the evening-- perfect for walking close to your sweetie and dashing into a coffeehouse for something to warm you up. So it's not 80-- is that such a bad thing? I've gone up in the summer and had plenty of sun to keep me happy. The lovely views, the fun things to do, the fact that it's a break from southern CA (well, for me)-- I would certainly enjoy a 10th anniversary trip there.

ReneeS

Louise,

When you have narrowed down your choices start a totally new post and ask more questions. Plenty of are happy to be helpful but this post has unfortunately become infected.

Happy Anniversary!

louise1928

Thank you so much for the great replies!!...Just planning the trip is overwhelming, but fun. I will definitely post back here when I narrow it down to two or the big ONE!

Thanks again

Watsen

I too would nt choose San Francisco for a summer trip unless you don't mind the climate. June, July, and August are typically quite foggy and cool.

My first choice would be San Diego. Excellent weather and beaches. Santa Barabara is also very nice. If you go there you also might want to spend a day or two in San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay as well. Another idea is Vancouver with a sidetrip to Seattle.