Husband & I are visiting our son in San Francisco late October but having an 11 night trip away.
Plan is to drive to San diego and fly back.
We will go to Monterey (been before - loved it). No interest in Disney. Love wildlife.
Not convinced we want to so Los Angeles - how about we go round by the desert areas such as Palm Spring and Anza Borrego??

Ideas please

The drive down the coast is the best that time of year. You could spend a little time down towards Cambria/Pismo/Santa Barbara. Wine tasting in Paso Robles or Santa Ynez.

Palm Springs is also nice that time of year. Still a little warm, but off season. If we go back, that would be our choice of time of year. Loved the hiking in the palm canyons, eating/drinking in downtown PS. Tram up to Mt. Jacinto.

I hope this helps. Difficult decisions. There is no wrong choice.

Thank you Michelle. Lovely ideas. Any thoughts on whether we should go to Anza Borrego?

I have never been to Anza Borrego. Perhaps someone else can help.

What is also very nice that time of year are the Aspen groves up in the Sierras. If you just want to stay in Northern California.

Michelle, where are there Aspen groves in the Sierra? I would love to see them in the fall.

sf7307- we went late last October, around the 20th, above Sonora, over Sonora Pass to 395. We had just missed the peak of aspens. Those storms earlier in October, knocked off all the leaves. We met another couple from the Bay Area who were headed to Mammoth area. The trees further south were supposedly at their peak. All depends on the year. I have also seen great color around Halloween at Tahoe, but it just depends. Mono County tourism website would be a great resource.

http://www.monocounty.org