My wife and I have decided that our next vacation will be to California. We will be coming from Colorado and would like to schedule something in October or November. Problem is we are not real sure where we want to go. I am hoping posters will help us out.

We are not really into mueseum stuff and not real active. We are more sightseeing by day, sports bar by night types. Beaches, national parks, sightseeing, nice tourist traps are our speed.

We will have a short week, so probably staying in one hotel appeals more moving around a bunch.

Can someone recommend both a time (oct - nov) and a destination?

San Diego in October. The city has everything you are looking for, and it should still be warm enough to enjoy the beaches.

I'd suggest early October in San Francisco. The weather should be fabulous (no fog, warmish days and not too chilly evenings). I live in the bay area and fall is by far my favorite time to get out and about and visit the city, the beaches and the parks that are within driving distance from my home.
-Bill

Carmel or Monterey. They are a 10 minute drive from one another, a 30 minute drive to Big Sur, and have everything you mentioned that you enjoy.

In either northern Calif (SFO, Monterey, etc) or in Southern Calif (San Diego, LA, etc) it is very possible to have pleasant, warm weather in the time mentioned, especially in October. The risk you have in northern Calif is that it may be cool to chilly with rain instead. The risk in southern Calif is it could be unseasonably hot (remember the large earthqauke in October 1986-the running joke at the time was we were the shake and bake capitol of the world (it was very hot that October). The closer you stay to the ocean the more likely it is to be nice in the south or cool in the north.

Have a great trip. With luck, you'll have perfect weather no matter which you choose.

jamq - how is the San Francisco weather in Feb - it will be our 50th and we are thinking of going then. Thanks.

SF in October. It doesn't get more beautiful than that.

applejack,
February is winter, so the weather won't be that great. It could be rainy. It could also be sunny and cool though. It is a bit of a crapshoot, but I would not let that sway you from not coming as our winters are faily mild when compared to the rest of the country.
-Bill

The rainy season in California starts in November. For weather, October should be perfect...anywhere in California!

Compared to many parts of the country, SF will be down right balmy in Feb.