New California First Trip PS to SF
 

Repeat since can't post reply to orig. link

I have 7 days April 2-9 to see as much of California as possible. Will begin driving from Vegas to Palm Springs and then up coast
to San Francisco. I wanted to include Capistrano, Hollywood walk of fame and Manns Chinese restaurant, Julia Pfeiffer State Park,17 mile drive w/stops in Monteray and Carmel, Santa Monica, Santa Barbara, San Jose Winchester House, Hearst Castle, RedWoods. There is just too much I need to see.

I have to start in Vegas And end in San Francisco. Is it possible to do all of this
comfortably or should I skip Palm Springs and start around L.A.? Thank you

Hi easytraveller
I chose capistrano for the famous
swallows and mission. Am travelling w/hubby. Interests are sightseeing, nature, architecture, little hiking,
decent food.
I have decided to cut out palm springs, capistrano, and start the trip from L.A.
Thanks to you and others for your help

Hi Benai,

I think that you should have a fine trip. Cutting out Palm Springs and starting in LA seems like a resonable move given your time constraints. On the way up Highway 1 in Big Sur stop at Nepenthe for lunch. The views are awesome. For hiking and nature you may want to stop at Big Basin off of Highway 17 on the way to San Jose.

Please post a trip report when you get back.

Hi, Benai!

I'm sorry your original post got closed down by Fodors! Hope you printed/downloaded the thread!

If you are interested in architecture, I would suggest looking into the possibility of stopping off downtown LA to see the new Disney Symphony Hall. Even better as a not-to-be-missed is the Getty Center, which will be very close to Santa Monica. The Getty Center architecture is phenomenal. You don't have to go into the museum, just go and wander around the gardens, the buildings, and the plazas. It's one of the few places on earth where the museum building itself is a piece of art. Normally, one just stares at a piece of art; you don't often get to ENTER a piece of art, enjoy it from multiple angles AND enjoy its collections of art as well! It is one huge sensory experience.

After enjoying the Getty Center you can still go to Santa Monica's Promenade and have dinner there. It's not far from the Getty Center.

Given your time constraint and your interests, I would cut out Venice Beach and go to the Getty Center instead. If you start out early from Las Vegas, you should be at the Getty Center by early afternoon (even with a quickie stop downtown to see the Disney building!). A few hours at Getty, then dinner in Santa Monica, then hotel, then up north the next morning.

As for the rest of the trip, I would stick with my suggestion that you hike in Big Sur at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park and at Point Lobos. Those would be "little" hikes. Big Basin is difficult to access and the great hikes are not "little". If you do decide on going to Big Basin, you need to slot one full day. And, if you do decide to go to Big Basin, you need to get a map as soon as possible of the Bay Area and plot out your course into and out of Big Basin Park. Big Basin will not be "on the way" as JPB or Point Lobos will be.

Hope this helps a bit! If you need more information, just come back and ask! AND please do post a trip report here after your trip! :)

Hi Easytraveller & Abi

I was unaware that Fodors closed the thread and thought only that the link was broke. Assumed the thread would still be available.

No i didn't print or download the thread
Naive Newbie! I guess I'll learn how this forum works the hard way.

So, easytraveller if you still have your post would you mind reentering it?

The Getty Center looks wonderful (didn't know of it)

Hi, Benai!

I'm afraid I didn't save it either! Lo!

Fodors is a very popular forum and every time a person posts, that post goes to Number 1, so your original thread is probably number 700 or 1000 by now!

I'm pretty much of a newbie myself and the only way I know of to print out is to highlight the entire thread on the right screen and then, when printing, select "options" and print out the "selection", i.e., the highlighted portion.

If I recall the original itinerary went somewhat like this:

Day One: Drive to LA from Las Vegas, [do the Getty], have dinner on the Santa Monica Promenade, stay overnight in Santa Monica or north of it.

Day Two: Drive to Santa Barbara, lunch there possible, drive to La Purisma Mission near Lompoc [this is one of the best restored missions, a lot to see there], continue on up the coast and overnight somewhere around Pismo Beach, Cambria. If you arrive early enough, you could do the evening tour of Hearst Castle.

Day Three - tour Hearst Castle. Start out northbound no later than noon. North of here is the Big Sur drive, slow, beautiful, windey roads. Stop at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, hike to McVey Falls (one hour). If daylight, stop for dinner at Nepenthe. If no longer daylight, then keep driving and arrive to overnight in Carmel/Pacific Grove/Monterey.

Day Four - in Carmel/Pacific Grove/Monterey - with a side trip to Point Lobos.

Days Five and Six - drive up to San Francisco and tour SF.

Hope this helps! And please save/print this thread! LO!

Benai;

I see that your original thread has been deleted so I'll try to answer your questions again: My recommendation would be:

Day 1: Arrive in LA from Las Vegas. The Getty Center is a must see, as well as the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Mann Chinese Theater, and the Santa Monica Pier.

Day 2: Leave LA in the morning for Santa Barbara and stay the night there. Santa Barbara has quite a few nice wineries.

Day 3: Drive to Cambria and stay over night there. There are lots of nice Bed and Breakfasts, restaurants, and shops in Cambria.

Day 4: Take a morning tour of Hearst Castle. Make reservations in advance. Drive up through Big Sur and on to Monterey. Stay the night in the Monterey Bay Area. I would advise seeing the redwoods at Big Basin rather than Julia Pfeiffer State Park. The trees in Big Basin are so much nicer. Access to Big Basin is not at all difficult. It's right off of Highway 17.

Day 5: 17 Mile Drive is one of those take it or leave things. If you are pressed for time, don't feel bad about skipping it. The aquarium is awesome as is fisherman's wharf. In the afternoon take a tour of Big Basin then drive to San Jose and stay the night. The downtown area is a great place to stay as many attractions are in walking distance. Otherwise, if all you want to see is the Winchester Mystery House, the Hotel Valencia at Santana Row is just down the street from the Winchester House.

Day 6: Winchester Mystery House. If you have time the Tech or Rosicrucian Museums are also worth a visit. Drive to SF.

Day 7: SF.


Have a nice vacation.

The original thread hadn't been deleted as of yesterday but Fodors did withdraw the "reply" option so the post keeps falling. Search under California and scroll back a few days. You'll probably find it.

Hi
Thank you all for your ideas. I need to mesh it all together. I'll let you know how I make out. Am off to find lodging, car rental and airfare from vegas to L.A.

Dan I tried a few times to locate original thread and still can't get to it.