Hi Boys and Girls,
any chance of some help? Me, the wife and 15 y.o.son are planning a 4 week jaunt from the UK to California next summer, probably August. Our outline plans are something life 'Frisco for 3 nights, Lake Tahoe-one week, Santa Cruz-one week, Santa Barbara-one-week, Joshua Tree - 3 days then fly back from LA.

Any thoughts or suggestions? We're not bothered about a) LA b) Casinos!

'Appreciate any help!

Make sure you travel south on the Pacific Coast Highway. Lots of beautiful vistas along the way. Your son might enjoy the Monterrey Aquarium too. As for Joshua Tree, that's close to Palm Springs - lots of things to do in this region like taking a tour of the San Andreas Fault.

Make sure Chuck Leavell isn't anywhere near you.

I just got home from a lovely vacation in California. I started a similiar topic about this before going, have a look through it, lots of great tips in there!
[www.iorr.org]

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DiscoVolante
I just got home from a lovely vacation in California. I started a similiar topic about this before going, have a look through it, lots of great tips in there!
[www.iorr.org]

That is a good thread, some good adivce there...
just be sure to wear your official IORR wellies before heading in.

Tahoe has great beaches, hiking, concerts and it's beautiful, a great kick back week.

I'd stay 2-3 nights in South Lake and the rest if the week in the North side of lake:

Fishing and golf are abundant in whole area.



SF is one of the more interesting cities anywhere- try and get on a sailboat if you can.

SF-
Eat at counter at Swans seafood

Ride cable car to the Buena Vista and have an Irish Coffee.

If you climb rocks or like to camp, I hear Joshua Tree is great.

Go to a Giants game



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013-02-17 19:55 by chelskeith.

Prepare for the August heat !

DiscoVolante, how did you get that tongue to be that size for your signature or whatever? I've always wanted to have that - that exact one I mean. Dammit!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012-09-24 18:06 by WeLoveToPlayTheBlues.

the best advice is: never ever say "Frisco" in the Bay area!

Heat in Aug is no issue in SF, Tahoe or Santa Cruz

Joshua Tree will b an oven

Sounds like you've got a good plan, especially avoiding LA.

in SF: --Tavich's Bar and Grill in the financial district.
--See a show at the Great American Music Hall and/or The Fillmore.
--Beware of Hotel/Motel charges for rental car parking (parking is
a competitive sport in San Francisco).
--Don't call the City "Frisco"

the drive from SF to Santa Cruz and then Big Sur is one of the best on the coast

On the way to Santa Cruz:

--Stop at the eco-resort www.costanoa.com , get a massage and book a horseback ride on the mountain ridges. Tell the head horse wrangler you are from IORR and you might just get a special deal and for sure a special ride.


In Santa Cruz:

--Drop the 15year old off at the Beack Boardwalk with some spending money and walk to the warf and have lunch or dinner at Gilda's

--Rent some kayaks on the warf and paddle around the ocean a bit to work off the days stress and the lunch.

--Hike the Santa Cruz mountains to check out old growth Redwood and Douglass
Fir trees

--Go to the Greatful Dead Archive Library on the UCSC campus while the 15 yr old checks out all the hotties on campus during the summer session.
Big Sur:

--Stop at The River Inn, get a good meal, then pull the chairs into the river and order up some cocktails while soaking your feet and deciding if you really need to hike much more because you've found the spot and don't want to give it up.

Everything south of Big Sur is another world and while Joshua Tree is nice, it's nothing like the lush forests and lonely beaches you have just come from.

Have a great trip. peace

Stay away from Yosemite.

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Koen
Stay away from Yosemite.

I was execting to see this: [www.earthmountainview.com]

.......make sure ya wear a Annette Funicello t-shirt where ever ya go



ROCKMAN

In San Francisco:

'The Saloon' is worth a visit at night for some good blues music

'City Lights Bookstore' is nearby

'Tommy's Joynt' is excellent for American diner food (located on Geary)

The Alcatraz tour is very interesting

Agree with the above re: the Buena Vista and an Irish Coffee !!

The cable cars are a good way to get around

Massive thanks for your suggestions people!
So just how hot/cold will it be in August along the coast from SF to Santa Barbara?

Maybe further south than you'll go, and I haven't been yet and maybe it's not your thing, but recently in Disneyland's "California Adventure" park opened the new CAR LAND section, whose theme is apparently sort of Route 66 come to life. The whole "California Adventure" park is everything California, if you want to see a fake Califorina along with the real one.

It's been hot here in Southern California. Two days ago between San Diego and L.A. I talked to a woman who said, "It's weird. I just took the train up from San Diego, and it's probably 20 degrees warmer up here." Further from the equator, but hotter. But, anyway, it's been pretty warm. Don't know about Santa Barbara.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2012-09-25 19:07 by Title5Take1.

If you're driving from SF down to LA be sure to take PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) from Santa Cruz around Monterey Bay down through Big Sur, it's breathtaking scenery, check out this link:

[www.myscenicdrives.com]

Btw, if you're driving from LA to Joshua Tree and you or the wife enjoy shopping, there's probably the best outlet mall in all of California right along the way. It's called Cabazon Outlet Center and it's located shortly before the exit for Joshua Tree on I-10.

Lose your dreams and you will lose your mind...



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2012-09-26 04:24 by Thru and Thru.

Be sure to check out Muir Woods just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. Eat a good meal at Scoma's in Sausilito while you're on that side of the bridge.

Please do not refer to the City as 'Frisco'.

Be sure to hit City Lights Bookstore.

In San Francisco, take the boat ride over to Alcatraz. They should still have tours of the prison. Walk around the Haight/Ashbury area. Can take pictures of the old Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane houses. Golden Gate Park is right there and who knows, maybe our favorite band may be putting on a free concert.

As others have said, drive down US1 along the coast from Santa Cruz to Santa Barbara. If you like castles, tour the Hearst Castle at San Simeon (I was there a few years ago).

While in the Santa Cruz area, may want to consider a day trip to the Monterey area and maybe find the location of the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival.

Santa Barbara is real nice but a week may be a little long (unless you have a specific reason to be there that long). Maybe 3 or 4 days. Have dinner out on the pier, (I've done that a few times). Drive along the roads in the mountains over looking the city. Real nice view.

May want to reconsider LA at least for a few days since you are flying out from there. A lot to do!

If you like castles, tour the Hearst Castle at San Simeon (I was there a few years ago).

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mccparty
Please do not refer to the City as 'Frisco'.

.

Why not? I always do....well sometimes I call it San Franzuskie.

...I am a native Californian

Since you're spending some time in Santa Barbara, here's another suggestion. If you enjoy wine, there's a lovely wine producing region about an hour or so inland from there, the rolling hills area 2000 LYFH mentioned. Beautiful country and many nice wineries to go have a taste at, around Buellton, Solvang and Los Olivos. If you like that sort of stuff you may even want to consider spending one night in that area instead of a whole week just in Santa Barbara.

If you do decide to spend some extra time in LA I can give you a few suggestions there too, I live in the area. You might even want to consider a roundtrip drive from LA down to San Diego, spend a day or two there and then take the inland route back up on your way to Joshua Tree and then back to LA. It'll be at least 20 degrees cooler along the coast as opposed to JT in August, it'll be brutal there!!!

Lose your dreams and you will lose your mind...



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2012-09-27 04:47 by Thru and Thru.

take PCH and drive. mailibu and venice are my hangouts.santa monica pier and the surrounding area for beach and shopping.

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BluzDude

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mccparty
Please do not refer to the City as 'Frisco'.

.

Why not? I always do....well sometimes I call it San Franzuskie.

You made me laugh out loud!

So sad that in 4 weeks you won't take time visiting the National Parks as:
- Yosemite. I know there was a virus earlier this year but you trip will be next year and the hard winter will be there).
- sequoia park
- death valley.
Last year, I had only 11 days to visit these 3 places. Spent 3 days in SF.
I plan to go back and spend much time visiting Lake Tahoe and others places.