Sights/itinerary from San Diego to San Fran in December
Jul 29th, 2012, 04:32 AM
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Sights/itinerary from San Diego to San Fran in December
We are taking a family vacation, and want to see the sights of California. We want to end up in San Francisco, and possibly start in San Diego. We have 6 days. My kids are 17 and 20. Anyone have great ideas and/or an itinerary? Thanks!!!
Jul 29th, 2012, 04:58 AM
#2
6 days is not very long for what you want to do. Just the drive (not a bit of sightseeing - just the drive time) from san Diego to San Francisco up the coast takes two full days.
That only leaves you 4 days for San Diego, maybe Disney (?), Los Angeles, all the coastal sites, and San Francisco. If you want to spend ANY time in SD, LA, or SF you need to add at least 4 days.
It would be much more doable/reasonable to limit yourselves to either the southern bits (San Diego/Orange County/LA) or the northern/mid bits (San Francisco/Monterey/Carmel/Big Sur)
Plus there is the weather issue. December is usually OK (our rainiest months are Jan/Feb) but a winter storm can play havoc w/ a road trip.
That only leaves you 4 days for San Diego, maybe Disney (?), Los Angeles, all the coastal sites, and San Francisco. If you want to spend ANY time in SD, LA, or SF you need to add at least 4 days.
It would be much more doable/reasonable to limit yourselves to either the southern bits (San Diego/Orange County/LA) or the northern/mid bits (San Francisco/Monterey/Carmel/Big Sur)
Plus there is the weather issue. December is usually OK (our rainiest months are Jan/Feb) but a winter storm can play havoc w/ a road trip.
Jul 29th, 2012, 05:04 AM
#3
Oh - to clarify a bit. The drive all the way up the coast doesn't take 20 hours or anything like that. More like 12+ hours. But that is 'behind the wheel' time and when you factor in meals and breaks - it really is a 2 day drive.
Some mapping sites may calculate 10 or 11 hours-but in real life, it is hard to avoid heavy traffic/construction/delays.
Some mapping sites may calculate 10 or 11 hours-but in real life, it is hard to avoid heavy traffic/construction/delays.
Jul 30th, 2012, 03:40 AM
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Suggest you base yourself here in San Diego for a couple nights - where you can more easily get around - and/or to the beaches - Safari Park or the Zoo, Sea World, etc (check out the new roller coaster - Mantra) -
From here - it's an hour or so to Anaheim/Disneyland if that is of interest - and/or you could spend a night in LA (an hour's drive from Anaheim/Orange County if not during commute hours) - on the way north - maybe taking in the great Getty Museum, showing the "kids" Hollywood, etc - and then continue on your drive north.
I think the little town of Cambria (just south of San Simeon/Hearst Castle) is a cute stop - and check out Moonstone Beach - http://tinyurl.com/cpks6gb
and you might also enjoy the tour of Hearst Castle - http://www.hearstcastle.org/ which would take about half a day but if you could do it in the afternoon if you get to Cambria in time (it's about 3 hours from LA) - or do it in the morning.
Even if you took the Hearst Castle tour the next morning - you could still drive up to scenic Big Sur (hour plus) and maybe spend the night there - or continue another hour on into Carmel/Monterrey - and see the neat Aquarium, Cannery Row, etc.
From the Carmel area - it's about 3 hours to San Francisco, if you don't slug through commute traffic in San Jose.
Trust you will enjoy your drive up our beautiful California Coast. Double
From here - it's an hour or so to Anaheim/Disneyland if that is of interest - and/or you could spend a night in LA (an hour's drive from Anaheim/Orange County if not during commute hours) - on the way north - maybe taking in the great Getty Museum, showing the "kids" Hollywood, etc - and then continue on your drive north.
I think the little town of Cambria (just south of San Simeon/Hearst Castle) is a cute stop - and check out Moonstone Beach - http://tinyurl.com/cpks6gb
and you might also enjoy the tour of Hearst Castle - http://www.hearstcastle.org/ which would take about half a day but if you could do it in the afternoon if you get to Cambria in time (it's about 3 hours from LA) - or do it in the morning.
Even if you took the Hearst Castle tour the next morning - you could still drive up to scenic Big Sur (hour plus) and maybe spend the night there - or continue another hour on into Carmel/Monterrey - and see the neat Aquarium, Cannery Row, etc.
From the Carmel area - it's about 3 hours to San Francisco, if you don't slug through commute traffic in San Jose.
Trust you will enjoy your drive up our beautiful California Coast. Double
Jul 30th, 2012, 03:57 AM
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And here is what I would suggest for your itinerary:
Arrive San Diego - stay two nights, see the sights, maybe have a night bonfire at the beach, whatever. (Check other posts under California for what to do in San Diego, etc)
On 3rd day - drive up to LA - 2 hours if you avoid morning commute hour traffic - which is generally between about 6:30 AM and say 8:30 AM - leaving SD anyway) - see what you want and continue on to Cambria, another 3 hours or so - assuming you avoid rush hour traffic in Santa Barbara - which starts around 4 PM or so - so try head out of LA on the 101 North by 3 PM if you can.
Yes, that's not much time in LA but you can always come back for a weekend in LA some other time. For just a whirlwind tour of LA - head up I-5 and get off at the downtown area if you want to see that and then take surface streets on to say Hollywood for lunch - or just take the 101 from I-5 to the Hollywood exit directly. http://www.mapquest.com/maps?1c=San%...ollywood&2s=CA
You could get back on the 101 and head toward Santa Barbara - or you could drive Sunset out to the Beach and take the Coast hi way/Pacific Coast Hi way - up through beautiful Malibu and on to Ventura and then on into Santa Barbara.
Stay the 3rd night in Cambria - and take the Hearst Castle tour and then drive up to Big Sur/Carmel/Monterrey area for the 4th night.
After seeing the Monterrey Aquarium - maybe taking 17 mile drive etc - drive to SF for your 5th and 6th nights, and fly back from there.
Have a blast.
Arrive San Diego - stay two nights, see the sights, maybe have a night bonfire at the beach, whatever. (Check other posts under California for what to do in San Diego, etc)
On 3rd day - drive up to LA - 2 hours if you avoid morning commute hour traffic - which is generally between about 6:30 AM and say 8:30 AM - leaving SD anyway) - see what you want and continue on to Cambria, another 3 hours or so - assuming you avoid rush hour traffic in Santa Barbara - which starts around 4 PM or so - so try head out of LA on the 101 North by 3 PM if you can.
Yes, that's not much time in LA but you can always come back for a weekend in LA some other time.
For just a whirlwind tour of LA - head up I-5 and get off at the downtown area if you want to see that and then take surface streets on to say Hollywood for lunch - or just take the 101 from I-5 to the Hollywood exit directly. http://www.mapquest.com/maps?1c=San%...ollywood&2s=CAYou could get back on the 101 and head toward Santa Barbara - or you could drive Sunset out to the Beach and take the Coast hi way/Pacific Coast Hi way - up through beautiful Malibu and on to Ventura and then on into Santa Barbara.
Stay the 3rd night in Cambria - and take the Hearst Castle tour and then drive up to Big Sur/Carmel/Monterrey area for the 4th night.
After seeing the Monterrey Aquarium - maybe taking 17 mile drive etc - drive to SF for your 5th and 6th nights, and fly back from there.
Have a blast.
Jul 30th, 2012, 06:43 AM
#6
tom's plan is absolutely crazy making! San Diego to Cambria is a 7 hour drive if you don't hit even a bit of traffic (not likely unless you travel between 11PM and 6 AM.) There would be no time to stop in LA let alone "see" anything there.
And he suggests leaving LA by 3PM, but that you need to avoid the traffic in Santa Barbara starting at 4PM-ish. Guess what - if you Leave LA at 3PM you'll hit SB at 4:30 to 5PM.
That is simply not a 1-day drive. (but of course tom will now post that he has done it MANY times)
And he suggests leaving LA by 3PM, but that you need to avoid the traffic in Santa Barbara starting at 4PM-ish. Guess what - if you Leave LA at 3PM you'll hit SB at 4:30 to 5PM.
That is simply not a 1-day drive. (but of course tom will now post that he has done it MANY times)
Jul 30th, 2012, 08:27 AM
#8
To see anything in the LA area, like Disneyland or the Getty, you'd have to stay overnight.
You would be better, as others have advised, to stay in either So Cal or the Bay Area. In December, it will probably be a bit warmer and probably less rainy in So Cal, but this is going to be an El Nino year so all bets are off!
Your biggest problem is that there are enough "sights of California" to keep you busy for a month, and you'd still miss some. You need to decide what you realy want to see and organise your trip around them, taking long driving distances into account.
You would be better, as others have advised, to stay in either So Cal or the Bay Area. In December, it will probably be a bit warmer and probably less rainy in So Cal, but this is going to be an El Nino year so all bets are off!
Your biggest problem is that there are enough "sights of California" to keep you busy for a month, and you'd still miss some. You need to decide what you realy want to see and organise your trip around them, taking long driving distances into account.
Jul 30th, 2012, 11:16 AM
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Taking 2 young adults on a road trip that includes avoiding rush hour traffic from SD to LA and then from LA to Cambria, while taking time to take in the sites over 350 miles is akin to strapping Seamus on the roof of the station wagon.
Jul 30th, 2012, 12:09 PM
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Jul 30th, 2012, 01:50 PM
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Maybe some people in here drive slowly - and/or others who don't live in Califorenia - are sadly mis-informed - but the distance from San Diego to Cambria is only 300 miles - and you can do 70+ mph on a lot of that stretch. From Santa Barbara up to Solvang - the going is a little slower - but then it picks up again on into San Luis Obisbo and on into Cambria.
During the past two years - my sister traveled from SD to San Luis Obisbo at least a dozen times to take her daughter to college there - or visit her - and the average driving time from SD to SLO - or return - was about 4 and a half to 5 hours driving time.
She planned her travel to miss the commute traffic - but once did get caught in Santa Barbara evening rush hour traffic and that cost an extra half an hour.
As there will be more than one person in the car - you can also use the commuter lanes which can help save time if you do hit some traffic.
From San Luis Obisbo on to Cambria is about another 30 miles - half hour or so - so it's easily doable in a day.
If one left San Diego at say 8:30 -they could be in LA by 10:30 - see some of the sights - and leave there by 3 PM to be safe - and be in Cambria about 3 hours later. No problemo.
During the past two years - my sister traveled from SD to San Luis Obisbo at least a dozen times to take her daughter to college there - or visit her - and the average driving time from SD to SLO - or return - was about 4 and a half to 5 hours driving time.
She planned her travel to miss the commute traffic - but once did get caught in Santa Barbara evening rush hour traffic and that cost an extra half an hour.
As there will be more than one person in the car - you can also use the commuter lanes which can help save time if you do hit some traffic.
From San Luis Obisbo on to Cambria is about another 30 miles - half hour or so - so it's easily doable in a day.
If one left San Diego at say 8:30 -they could be in LA by 10:30 - see some of the sights - and leave there by 3 PM to be safe - and be in Cambria about 3 hours later. No problemo.
Jul 30th, 2012, 01:59 PM
#13
Tom STOP IT! Your itinerary is insane . . . Is it physically possible - just. Is it reasonable - no.
And if you even TRY 70 mph on hwy 1 (or even parts of 101) you'll end up being hauled back up on to the roadside in pieces by emergency services.
Your passive aggressive schtick is getting really REALLY old.
And if you even TRY 70 mph on hwy 1 (or even parts of 101) you'll end up being hauled back up on to the roadside in pieces by emergency services.
Your passive aggressive schtick is getting really REALLY old.
Jul 30th, 2012, 02:01 PM
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Just to be sure - you could leave SD by say 8:30 am - and heading north - you would pretty much miss the commute traffic and in two hours - you could be visiting Hollywood and have lunch there - and easily be on your way by 3 PM.
Or you could head up the 405 - past the LA airport - and see the Getty center - which is free but you do have to reserve parking and there is a nominal charge for that.
If you left either Hollywood (by say 1:30) - or the Getty by 2 PM - you could take the 10 freeway over to the beach - and drive up along the beautiful Malibu coastline - arriving in Santa Barbara by 3:30-3:45 or so - and still be ahead of the afternoon commute.
See: http://gocalifornia.about.com/od/top...alibu_hwy1.htm
Or you could head up the 405 - past the LA airport - and see the Getty center - which is free but you do have to reserve parking and there is a nominal charge for that.
If you left either Hollywood (by say 1:30) - or the Getty by 2 PM - you could take the 10 freeway over to the beach - and drive up along the beautiful Malibu coastline - arriving in Santa Barbara by 3:30-3:45 or so - and still be ahead of the afternoon commute.
See: http://gocalifornia.about.com/od/top...alibu_hwy1.htm
Jul 30th, 2012, 02:17 PM
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Now - as this will be in Dec - you could experience a big rain storm - but they are still relatively rare then - and if you watched the weather report - you could probably plan around it.
But hey - if a big one was blowing in for a few days - well - hey - just hang in San Diego.
BTW janis - where do you live again? Bay Area?
No idea why you think you are so knowledgeable about So Cal freeways/driving - but I/we have friends in Encino and Calabasas - and my brother in law lived in Westlake Village - with both Calabasas and Westlake being further out the 101 - so my wife and I have visited them/that area on average - twice a year for the past 30 years - and have driven 70 on the 101 many times, including past Hollywood.
That's different than going up PCH/Hiway 1 - but you can still hit 60 plus in places along there - especially once you get out by Pepperine - and from Malibu to Santa Barbara is easily doable in an hour and a half, even less.
Ergo - if you are on the PCH/hi way 1 by Malibu by 2:15 or so - you can be in Santa Barbara before the heavy afternoon traffic builds. Or - if you are on the 101 by 3 PM - same story - in Santa Barbara before the evening commute gets heavy. http://tinyurl.com/bq2ldau
But hey - if a big one was blowing in for a few days - well - hey - just hang in San Diego.
BTW janis - where do you live again? Bay Area?
No idea why you think you are so knowledgeable about So Cal freeways/driving - but I/we have friends in Encino and Calabasas - and my brother in law lived in Westlake Village - with both Calabasas and Westlake being further out the 101 - so my wife and I have visited them/that area on average - twice a year for the past 30 years - and have driven 70 on the 101 many times, including past Hollywood.
That's different than going up PCH/Hiway 1 - but you can still hit 60 plus in places along there - especially once you get out by Pepperine - and from Malibu to Santa Barbara is easily doable in an hour and a half, even less.
Ergo - if you are on the PCH/hi way 1 by Malibu by 2:15 or so - you can be in Santa Barbara before the heavy afternoon traffic builds. Or - if you are on the 101 by 3 PM - same story - in Santa Barbara before the evening commute gets heavy. http://tinyurl.com/bq2ldau
Jul 30th, 2012, 02:43 PM
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And to be very conservative about driving times, if you were leaving from Hollywood - to take the 101 to Santa Barbara - I would try to be on the freeway by 2:30 - as you are further away than if you are at the Getty - where you just zip up the 405 and are at the 101. Even at the Getty - to be uber cafeful - try to head out by 2:45 or so and it should be smooth sailing.
When driving around the greater LA area - I/we also tune into radio station AM 1070 - which gives traffic updates every six minutes during the day. Try and get a good road map of not only Cal but also the LA freeways - and it will help you if you have to navigate around a freeway that has a bad accident or some kind of serious backup.
When driving around the greater LA area - I/we also tune into radio station AM 1070 - which gives traffic updates every six minutes during the day. Try and get a good road map of not only Cal but also the LA freeways - and it will help you if you have to navigate around a freeway that has a bad accident or some kind of serious backup.
Jul 31st, 2012, 09:20 AM
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6 days with 4 people (two of them your 'kids' at ages 17 and 20) to cover San Diego to San Francisco? Waste of time, IMHO. You will be driving by all the great sites, and sitting in the car getting on each others' nerves. Awful.
You need to prioritize: Southern Cal, Central Coast, or Bay Area/Napa? There is so much to see in California, you would be happy spending 6 days in any of those areas depending on your preferences.
You need to prioritize: Southern Cal, Central Coast, or Bay Area/Napa? There is so much to see in California, you would be happy spending 6 days in any of those areas depending on your preferences.
