Week in LA & San Francisco
 

I'm planning a week vacation to LA and San Francisco in mid-August, and was thinking to do 4 nights in LA and 3 nights in San Francisco. Is that appropriate for each city? This is my first time in both places.
Also, what are the must-sees in each city? Keep in mind that this is for someone whose guilty pleasure is celebrity news and sightings :) For LA, I'd love to see the Hollywood Walk of Fame, do a tour of Hollywood, and perhaps Universal Studios. What's the opinion for these and other must-sees? I don't have a list for San Francisco, but would love to do what others consider the musts. I welcome any and all opinions! Thank you!!

For SF, I've heard mixed opinions about Sausalito/Muir Woods. Are those worth a trip to see? Also, not sure if it's better to do a day-tour of 17 Mile Drive, or a day-tour going to Sonoma and Napa Valley. Which tour is "nicer" and more worth the time? Thanks!

<I>I've heard mixed opinions about Sausalito/Muir Woods</I>

I like Muir Woods. I have zero interest in Sausalito, but it is a pretty town with a nice setting.

<I>not sure if it's better to do a day-tour of 17 Mile Drive, or a day-tour going to Sonoma and Napa Valley</I>

It sort of depends how much you like wine. I would choose Napa/Sonoma every time, but I am also a wine collector. For a day trip, I do think Napa is easier to manage than Sonoma (and half the distance of 17 mile drive). I would rent a car and spit rather than doing a tour.

<I>For LA, I'd love to see the Hollywood Walk of Fame, do a tour of Hollywood, and perhaps Universal Studios. What's the opinion for these and other must-sees?</I>

Given the guilty pleasure in celebrities, this sounds about right. I've done the Hollywood tour and enjoyed it. Universal Studios is fun too. The Walk of Fame is the one I'd skip if I ran out of time - at some point you realize it is just a sidewalk.

Thanks travelgourmet! Do shows tape at Universal Studios? Or is that strictly a theme park? That's a interesting point about the Walk of Fame.

For someone who is not big into wine, is Napa still a must-see kind of place?

I have no idea on the taping schedules or how to see one. But... Universal Studios is an active studio and you can do a backlot tour. It is not a theme park in the way the Orlando site is - the rides are much more limited.

As for Napa... it is pretty and l think a tour might be interesting to someone with only a casual interest (Mondavi has a great educational program), but it is hard for me to really comment as I'm so into wine. Sort of like asking a football fan if it is worth going to a football game, I guess. :)

Universal includes a 35 min tram tour around the studio, the rest is mostly "simulator" action rides and a few short shows such as a stunt show. The Warner Brothers tour has no rides/attractions but is a bit more in depth as a behind-the-scenes studio tour, they do have shows that tape in the evening (and Ellen during the day) but I think most shows are on vacation in August. You can check tvtickets.com and tvtix.com

3 nights in San Francisco gives you just 2 full days there and I don't think that's enough time to include a trip to Napa.

Opinions on "must see" places in both cities can be easily researched online or by doing a forum search here, obviously they are big cities with a huge number of attractions and what's interesting to you is an individual choice.

Los Angeles is vast so you'll want to stay close to at least some of your attractions, traffic can be daunting. Also August is usually a hot and the studio tours are in the hottest part of town, as your visit approaches, don't choose the predicted hottest-day-of-the-week for your outdoor tour...and maybe go at opening time in the morning when it's a bit cooler. San Francisco on the other hand is likely to be foggy & cool, & chilly at night.

If you're based near Hollywood, choose Burbank airport for your flight to San Francisco, it will be easier than LAX.

Thanks so much for your suggestions travelgourmet and Debbie!!

>>3 nights in San Francisco gives you just 2 full days there and I don't think that's enough time to include a trip to Napa. <<

Nor to Muir Woods IMO. If you had maybe 4 days (three full days at minimum) in San Francisco then it would be doable.

Like tg, I'm into wine, but if you're not, I think the decision between Napa/Sonoma and Monterey Bay comes down to whether seeing (more of) the ocean is important to you or not.

I think just one day in SF would be kind of paltry, but if you don't see very much of interest for you there, you could fill the other day with a day trip.

Will you have a car in Los Angeles? You don't need one for San Francisco, but it would really help for LA.

I don't think you have time for any "day trips" if you want even a glimpse of both cities in such a short time frame.

<i>3 nights in San Francisco gives you just 2 full days there and I don't think that's enough time to include a trip to Napa.</i>

While that might be the case, it all depends upon flight times. An early flight in from LA + late flight out/red-eye is closer to 4 full days than 2. Indeed, timing a trip to Napa with a flight into OAK, or a trip to Monterey with a flight into SFO would be a good way to maximize the trip.

Since you don't seem very interested in San Francisco, why not spend the entire week in Los Angeles (where there seem to be a lot of things you want to see & do)?

Debbie has given you good advice about where to get tickets for TV tapings but be prepared to spend half a day waiting in line, etc.
Universal is pretty much a theme park, for a real working studio visit Warner Bros or maybe Paramount.
Just about every show is on hiatus for July, some will resume in August while others like Ellen don't start taping new shows until September.
Hollywood only takes an hour or two, it is really not that big. It could even be combined with Universal if you did decide to visit there, Universal only has about 16 rides, mostly simulator rides.

>>decision between Napa/Sonoma and Monterey Bay comes down to whether seeing (more of) the ocean is important to you or not.<<

If (more of) refers to the LA ocean/beaches, they in "no way" compare favorably to Carmel, Spanish Bay, Pacific Grove, Pt Lobos, and the Big Sur coast.

Here are some ideas of things to do in the San Francisco area.
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...mendations.cfm

Stu Dudley

You may find this trip report useful to get some ideas and things to do.

http://www.lifeasweexplore.com/home/...nterey-10-days

Thanks everyone, for your opinions and suggestions!!

" For LA, I'd love to see the Hollywood Walk of Fame, do a tour of Hollywood, and perhaps Universal Studios. What's the opinion for these and other must-sees?"

Remember you asked for an opinion (:

I believe the Hollywood Walk of Fame is the most overrated "attraction" in Los Angeles, and I personally find Hollywood itself a pit (unless you like posing with Star Wars characters). That said, I know people love the idea of going there, so that's my two cents worth.

So many great places in L.A. area to see: Either of the Getty Museums, Griffith Observatory, Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens, The Broad, Manhattan Beach, Battleship Iowa, Descanso Gardens, The "old" Farmers Market, Hollywood Forever Cemetery (fun tours and summer movies), Reagan or Nixon Library, Walt Disney Concert Hall (free tours), LACMA and much more.

Below is a restaurant list I have compiled. If you are dtermined to go to Hollywood, at least stop by Musso & Frank Grill (famous old restaurant with grumpy waiters and great martinis). Lots of the restaurants on this list are terrific, but many need reservations.

Maccheroni Republic (nearly across from Grand Central Market) has some of the freshest pasta I've ever tasted (including Italy), and is reasonably priced. No reservations, opens at 5:30 and gets crowded early.

<B>http://travelswithmaitaitom.com/toms-dining/</B>

((H))

Maccheroni Republic's squid ink pasta is fabulous!!