Hi all

I finally decided (with the help of Fodorites) that we are off to California in June (my husband has a conference in LA) and we are going to take probably an extra week there. Problem is, we are having trouble deciding where. I don't want to stay in LA longer than the few days of his conference - but would like to either head down to San Diego or even hop a flight to San Francisco. Here are some questions:

- how long is the flight from LA to SF?
- how long is the drive from LA to SD?

Are there any nice National Parks in either area that would be nice (and not overrun with people) at that time of year? We like outdoors stuff, but also city stuff, and good food (Asian especially).

Tips on where to go and which place might suit us better (I have always wanted to go to SF - hubby's been there)?

Thanks!!
KD

The flight to SF is about 45 minutes to an hour of flight time, plus all the airport stuff. The drive is about 6 hours if you take I-5, which is the inland route. By basing yourselves in SF, you can see the city and take a couple day trips to outlying areas to sightsee.

Between LA and SF is the Big Sur coast along Hwy 1, which is spectacular. Taking 2-4 days to drive from LA to SF via the coast is really great. If you wanted to do this, you could do a 1-way car rental and then either fly home from SF or hop a flight back to LA to fly home.

The drive from LA to SD is about 2 hours unless you hit traffic. You could also take the train.

All the choices are great. I don't think you can go wrong with anything you choose.

I concur with J_Corea, although two hours for getting to San Diego seems a bit optimistic for me if you start from the Western areas of L.A. because somwhere along your way you are most certain to hit traffic.
I would recommend to get onto PCH (Highway No. 1) on your way South, too, probably somwhere at Long Beach. From there you can idle down the coast through lovely beachside communities such as Belmont Shores, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach and, of course, Laguna Beach.
After hitting the 5 Freeway again for a short crossing of Camp Pendleton, you can then make it back onto the highway and take the coastal route from Solana Beach/ Del Mar via La Jolla into San Diego (if you don't want to stay somwhere in La Jolla, which is lovely). Hard to beat those towns for their scenic beauty IMHO!
That route will probably take just a hour more than the drive on the Freeway.

You've gotten excellent suggestions so far!

Depends on what you would like to do and see. San Diego has plenty to do and see - all kinds of museums in Balboa Park (RR Museum, etc.), Sea World, SD Zoo as well as the beach communities. You can find wonderful Mexican food in Old Town and also along the beaches. You can watch the sun set at Sunset Beach or from Coronado Island. You could park yourself at a restaurant at sunset and watch the world go by along the beach. La Jolla is terrific too.

Or you could drive up to San Francisco. I personally prefer driving between Southern California and Northern California. It's only 6 or 7 hours versus all the time and energy spent getting to the airport, etc. which could take 4-5 hours. Start out early, 5/6am and you should be able to get into SF for lunch.

Spend a couple of days in SF, then turn around and drive along the coast back down to Los Angeles. Big Sur is fabulous, give yourself plenty of time. Lots of hiking and fantastic views at Point Lobos, Pfeiffer Big Sur, and Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Parks.

Asian restaurants: in Los Angeles, try Yamashiro which will give you a fantastic view of all Los Angeles. Moderately expensive. For Chiense restaurants, try one of the Sam Woo restaurants which are scattered all around Greater Los Angeles. I have not been to all of them, but really like the one on Culver Blvd in Irvine. Or, if you are in the Pasadena area, try going along Atlantic Blvd - the biggest Chinese restaurant in that area is the Ocean Star, good for dim sum.

Not many Asian restaurants of note in San Diego. There are a few that I remember along University Avenue, kind of in a seedy part of town. Otherwise, big prices, so-so food.

In San Francisco: in Chinatown, try the New Asia Garden on Pacific Ave for dim sum, or the Far East Cafe on Grant for dinner. The "round-eye" favorite place for dim sum is Yank Sing. The "almond eye" favorite for dim sum is Harbor Village in the Embarcadero. Both at the expensive end of dim sum.

The best Chinese food in the Bay Area is at the Koi Palace in Daly City. You also get the worst service in the Bay Area.

For Japanese food, try exploring in Japantown.

Welcome to California! And happy dining!

Oops! There is no Atlantic Blvd in Pasasdena. You need to go to Montery Park, about 20 minutes south on surface streets to finde Ocean Star and many other good Chinese restaurants. But unless you are going to have a good reason to head to Monterey Park, I'd skip that.The traffic is very bad; it is not a pleasant drive from anywere in the basin. You can find many other excellent Asian choices all over the L.A. area. When you decide where you will be staying, come back for some specific suggestions closer to your base.

While you are in LA, there is the Angeles National Forest, the Santa Monica Mountains, Leo Carillo State Beach, Topanga and Mailbu Creek State Parks, the Antelope Valley Poppy Preserve, just to name a few. People think L.A. and they don?t realize that there are actually many parks and options for outdoor activities.

Assuming that when you ask "how long" you mean how much time, Flying LA to SF is about 43 minutes to 55 minutes, depending on the routing for noise abatement, and if the plane is put into a pattern. Total "flight time" should be 1:10 with taxi-ing. Add in the time to check in / security / check out and you're at 3 hours.

It could take the same amount of time to drive from LA to SD, however, the speed will be slower when traveling. On the highway, it's not uncommon to drive 80mph on the open stretches between major interchanges - if traffic is moving at that speed. You could also be slowed to a crawl - which is why some locals have 3 phone lines installed in their cars. Fax, Phone, Phone. Life in the fast lane? HA!