chocaholic

I wanted to know how many days should I spend on these places I plan to visit in California.

I plan to arrive in San Francisco on a Saturday and depart on a Sunday in August (not sure which week yet). But not sure if Los Angeles is a better place to start my trip.

Places I want to visit:

1. Land in San Francisco
2. Point Reyes National Seashore ( 1 day, want to do a hike) Unless there is a better suggestion to where to hike along my route.
3. Do the 17mile drive. Do I need to stop a night at Carmel or Monterey?
4. Should I go to Santa Barbara?
5. Getty Center / Getty Villa. (1 day) Is one whole day enough?
6. Universal Studio? (1 day)
7. Browse around LA for a day? Any suggestions on what to see there?
8. Drive back to San Franciso and spend 2 nights there. I plan to drive back to San Francisco because I heard that the car rentals there is no free drop off like Florida. Is that true?

I think that is enough or too much.

And any hotels suggests would be great! Maximum budget $200.

Thanx.

Chocaholic

chocaholic

Ooops I forgot something already.
..
3
4.5. wanted to go to the Hearst Castle too at San Simeon.
5.

StuDudley

For only 7 days, I would just do Pt Reyes, San Francisco, Monterey/Carmel/Big Sur coast, San Simeon, then back up to Half Moon Bay (near SFO) for the night before departure from SFO.

LA, and LA back up to SF will add a lot of useless transit time.

I would spend 4 nights in San Francisco, and do a day trip to Pt Reyes on the least foggiest day. Then down to Carmel/Monterey for 2 nights. Head south along Hwy 1, stopping at Pt Lobos for a couple of hours and then on to Big Sur & stay there 1 night & explore the area. Last day, leave Big Sur just before noon (or after lunch at Nepenthe) & head to San Simeon for a visit. Then up 101 to 92 west to Half Moon Bay for your last night. SFO airport is 30-45 mins from Half Moon Bay.

I don't see how you could possible fit LA into this...

Stu Dudley

starrs

The best way to fit LA into this is to fly into SF and then out of LA. I did that a couple of years ago and it was a great trip.

christycruz

I would strongly recommend flying into one airport and out of another -- and pay for the car drop off. You have too much driving already. You'd have to subtract the cost of gas from any drop off fee anyway.

Stay for a night in the Monterey Bay area. The next day you can tackle Big Sur (you'll want to make a stop here, maybe hike), and get to San Simeon (you should get reservations for Hearst Castle).

You could hike Pt. Lobos in Monterey instead of Point Reyes. I love Point Reyes, but even though it's close to SF, it's a lot of driving around. It's not a place to speed through.

I lose my expertise after San Simeon. Someone else will have to help you with Los Angeles. Although it would be good to know what you like to do. Go to the beach, visit wineries, eat at 50's diners, visit surfing museums, whatever!

I don't think it matters whether you start or end in SF/LAX. Perhaps let air flight schedules/prices and rental car agency drop off fees decide that for you.

boom_boom

Stu has good advice. Your plan is possible, but all you'll do is drive point-to-point-to-point.
Day 1 arrive SFO spend the night
Day 2 drive to Point Reyes, do your hike then drive to Half Moon Bay for a really pleasant stay
Day 3 Drive to Monterey and the 17 mile drive, stay in Big Sur area.
Day 4 Drive to San Simeon, tour, the on to Santa Monica,spend the night
Day 5 Drive to Univeral Studios, tour,back to Santa Monica for the night
Day 6 Getty Center then leave town and spend the night in Santa Barbara
Day 7 back to San Francisco area
Day 8 Gone
That's not a schedule I'd recommend, but it can be done.

chocaholic

I just checked, the rental will cost $800 for drop off charges from Budget.

I wanted to point out I wanted to visit San Fran too. I was gonna stay 2 nights either in the beginning or the end of the trip.

Is Point Reyes worth while?

Is there a hiking place from San Fran to LA stop?

I gather I can add 1 or 2 more days to my trip. I am flexible. I just don't want to use up all my vacation days!!!

StuDudley

>>Is Point Reyes worth while?

Barblab

Try pricing your trip from LAX to SFO. I just did both ways on Expedia for the secod week in August, and it was $300 dollars less going south to north. This makes since because most people go north to south, but for the difference it is a good reason to reverse it in your case. I also think you could get the price down by returning it in SF (you don't want it in the city due to high parking rates). Also explore the option of picking it up not at LAX but the closest site to it. The cab fare may just off set the airport fees. Try at all costs to avoid returning to the same location as the return drive is a full, long day. Have fun!

SOCALOC

5. Getty Center / Getty Villa. (1 day) Is one whole day enough?
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You'll be pushing it but it's doable. Start early. I believe the Getty is open late on Thursdays. Check and maybe work around the day it's open late. You do know the Villa is in Malibu, whereas the Getty is in LA right?

Grassshopper

If you want to spend most of a day hiking, do the perimeter trail at Point Lobos. It is truly spectacular. Park outside the park, on the highway (you'll see other cars), walk in, when you get to the entrance station turn to the right and follow the external rim of the park. You can buy a map at the entrance station for I believe 50 cents.

SOCALOC

4. Should I go to Santa Barbara?
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Yes. I recommend it because you'll get an entirely different experience from the other places you are going. Lots of activity in Santa Barbara on State Street, young & old active everywhere along the promenade, well kept old Spanish architecture, nice weather & beaches, manicured landscapes, quaint but bustling etc.

chocaholic

OK, trying the expedia suggestion of flight and car and going from LA to San Fran. Thx Barblab. Just having technical difficulty with multi city trip. I'm sure I will figure it out.

StuDudley

Choc - unless you just want to just "sniff" the air in California, you don't have near enough time to visit Pt Reyes, San Francisco, Carmel/17 mi drive, Hwy 1, San Simeon, Santa Barbara, LA drive-arounds, Getty, lots of hikes, etc in 7 days.

Just do San Francisco to Hearst Castle OR LA to Hearst Castle - unless you enjoy spending your vacation in a car.

Stu Dudley

ronkala

After you make your car reservation, keep checking the prices. If you find a lower rate take it and cancel the prior reservation. My first quote through AARP/Expedia was $408.00 at SFO for a compact for eleven days. My fourth and final find was a full size for $218.00.

If you are going to Point Reyes you might consider stopping at Muir Woods to see the redwoods. It took us two hours to stroll the easier trails to bridge #4 and back.

We were in Point Reyes last week and took two easy trails from the visator center. First to Kule Loklo, a replica of the Miwok Indian village, and then the earthquake trail. The earthquake trail is a short paved loop that explores the San Andres Fault Zone.

We then drove to the lighthouse (50 minutes) but the wind was so strong it almost blew us over and we could not walk at all at that point.

LSky

Save LA for another trip. Northern California is gorgeous and there's a lot to do. Driving to LA for a day isn't worth it.

I like the Getty as much as anyone but the de Young museum in San Francisco will have a lot of paintings from the Musee d'Orsay this year. The Getty won't measure up to that.

Barblab

I think if you want to see it all go for it. Driving down as far as Hearst Castle and then driving back to SF is about the same number of miles as making it a one way trip and driving on to LA. Some people like to stroll, some people like to run.

janisj

It sounds like your mind is set -- but you really should listen to those saying you don't have enough time for all that. Even if you pay the high cost of a one way rental. And you definitely don't have time if you need to drive back from LA to SFO.

From Pt Reyes in the north to San Simeon in the south is MORE than enough to fill 7 days. especially if you want to do any hiking/exploring parks.

StuDudley

>>>>2. Point Reyes National Seashore ( 1 day, want to do a hike)
Is there a hiking place from San Fran to LA stop?>Some people like to stroll, some people like to run.

chocaholic

What if I added 2 more full days to my trip? Would that help?

Get LA on a Sat then depart SFO on a following Tuesday from San Fran.

That is arrive on August 14th and depart on August 24th?