California Road trip suggestions?

visidigi

So last year we did our first visit to Cali and fell in love with the place - an 11 day trip that took in LA, LV and San Diego, wrapping up in LA for a few days rest before the return.

It was that good we want to go back in a few months time and are planning to start from LA, go up to San Francisco via the 'quick' road, taking in Yosemite on the way.

After a few days in San Fran the plan is to come back down the Pacific Coast Highway, taking in Big Sur to LA again for a few days before the flight home.

Does anyone have any suggestions on places to stay between the two? We tend to stick to Courtyard, Hyatt Place or Hilton Garden Inn's but will go local if the recommendations are there.

Any suggestions on areas/places to go in San Francisco? We've got the Bridge, the steep hill (wiggly road!), trams and Alcatraz, but any others of note?


We've got 11 days, from the middle of May to fill, any suggestions welcome!

Bri1

Morro Bay on the 1 highway, very nice place, Monterey, Santa Cruz (where the lost boys was filmed on the board-walk seafront amusement park)

mgdavid

if you take in the Golden Gate Bridge, you could have lunch by the marina in Sausalito just over the other side.
A walk around Haight-Ashbury is a must if you have any interest in social history.
The Redwood state parks west of San Jose are well worth an afternoon drive; take Alpine road off Skyline Boulevard, to La Honda, and anywhere south of there. Hit the coast at Pescadero or San Gregorio, head north to Half Moon Bay for a good sunset.
Over to the east, near Danville, ISTR the drive up Mt Diablo was fun, and the view from the top is pretty good too. Close by is the Blackhawk Auto musuem, worth a look-in if you're a car guy.

visidigi

Thank you both, got them all noted down to include in plans - we learned from the LA-LV-SD trip that the little stuff adds up to alot if you miss it.

Anyone suggest the best way to do Sequoia or Yosemite?

gracie10

We spent 2 nights at Pismo beach on our drive up from la to Monterrey, lovely place right on the beach called Kontiki Inn. We had 2 nights in Yosemite after leaving San Fran and stayed at Camp Curry, basic but did the trick.

gracie10

There s a south west USA thread on here with loads of info, won't let me post the link for some reason, easy to search for though.

visidigi

I searched for California and nothing came up, I'll have a look for south west though, thanks!

jackieblack

gracie10 wrote: »

We spent 2 nights at Pismo beach on our drive up from la to Monterrey, lovely place right on the beach called Kontiki Inn. We had 2 nights in Yosemite after leaving San Fran and stayed at Camp Curry, basic but did the trick.

I'll second the Kon Tiki Inn recommendation

gracie10

Southwest USA & The West Coast (California, Arizona etc) - General Thread

danielley

There is a place near SF called Half Moon Bay that is supposed to be lovely and also Carmel which is the town that Clint Eastwood was Mayor of for a term.


My cousin lives in the bay area and these are her two top spots for day trips.

joebob

we did san francisco to san diego last year we stopped off at santa cruz for a night massive funfair on the front, pier with lots of fish restaraunts, nice little town centre with nice bars and quaint shops, we stayed in the hotel continental would not recomend it rather shabby and in need of some TLC. But santa cruz is worth a visit.
we stayed in carmel for 2 nights at the green lantern inn, fantastic place to stay in all little thatched rooms set in the gardens very oldy worldly good breakfast and afternoon tea, would definetly stay there again. carmel was nice too very upmarket and chic nice beech. monterrey is close by and well worth a visit lots of sealife and birds to see. also stayed at morro bay but not much happening there small fishing town ended up in local bar sampling there real ale.