10 Days in California- trip help wanted

[RadioFanatic]

So, for the first time, my dh and I want to go to California for 10 days over Thanksgiving. We want to fly into San Fran and out of LAX (or vice versa). We could use advice as to where to go, for how long and what to see. Probably leaving around Thursday or Friday 11/16 or 17 and returning 11/26 or 27. Also would love recommendations for hotel and restaurants. We would of course want one day at Disneyland (would we be able to see everything in one day?). We would have a rental car for at least part of the trip. If you had 10 days, what would your itinerary be?

I can't wait to see the responses - thanks!

 

[GoldenGate]

For San Francisco:

http://www.sfchamber.dpway.com/sfchamber/search.aspx

 

[damo]

We did that trip twice for my roller coaster fanatical son, so our stops all were based on coasters. There are some great ones!

 

[RadioFanatic]

thanks - anyone else?

 

[Uuaww]

oh for the love of god, fly into oakland NOT SFO, such as easier airport to manuver throughout the bay area, if you plan on ONLY staying in san francisco, then use sfo, but otherwise use oakland.

 

[Uuaww]

ok first off, this is what you need to do. start off by flying into lax, and do all that junk, im from central and norcal so i don't know much about socal. anyways, on your way up, you should spend one day in pismo beach/ san luis obispo. for one, the weather never leaves 70 during the day, its a beautiful part of california and many good winearies (SP?) and restaurants are nearby, it also is exactly halfway between san francisco and LA, so splitting the 8 hour drive in half is nice. if you saw the movie sidways, it was filmed somewhere in the central coast. next thing YOU HAVE TO DO is stop in salinas (halfway between san luis obispo and the bay area) or anywhere else you see an In and Out Burger. They are the best burgers and California only. Next travel up to the bay area, I'm sure youll want to do all the tourist things that you already know about. Here are some tips for things you can do otherwise. First off learn bart, its the bay area version of the subway. next go to berkeley, the campus is very nice, there is some shopping, but the food is rediculous. La Burrita is voted the best burritos in Berkeley, then theres a lot of used music and movie stores like Rasputin and Amoeba. Theres more stuff in Berkeley but thats all I usually do, oh the street that has everything is Telegraph, short walk from bart. The usual things to do in San Francisco: China Town (dim-sum is a must for authentic great chinese food) Fisherman's warf, Pier 39, and others, but I am sure you'll look into it. If you want theme parks in Northern California there are basically 2, Marine World in Vallejo (animals and roller coasters) which is about 2 hours from SF, and Great America (thrill park) in I think Santa Rosa which is about 90 minutes from SF.

If you have any questions, just ask, I know a lot of northern and central california.

 

[KatelynnsAuntie]

oh for the love of god, fly into oakland NOT SFO, such as easier airport to manuver throughout the bay area, if you plan on ONLY staying in san francisco, then use sfo, but otherwise use oakland.

Or San Jose

 

[KatelynnsAuntie]

If you want theme parks in Northern California there are basically 2, Marine World in Vallejo (animals and roller coasters) which is about 2 hours from SF, and Great America (thrill park) in I think Santa Rosa which is about 90 minutes from SF.

Actually Great America is in Santa Clara, very close to the San Jose Airport. I much prefer DL though.

 

[KatelynnsAuntie]

We would of course want one day at Disneyland (would we be able to see everything in one day?).

Personally I would recommend 3 days at DL, especially now that they have California Adventure.

 

[Magix]

I would, of course, recommend seing as much of SF as you can. Then, head a little south, through the Santa Cruz Mountains (there's a highway, I forget the number, that takes you through Woodside to Hwy 9). This will give you a chance to see (and smell) the Redwoods. Then, take Hwy 9 into Santa Cruz. While there, go to the Boardwalk and ride the Giant Dipper. Also, have dinner at the Saturn Cafe (vegan food, and very yummy), shop at Pacific Garden Mall (particularly Bookshop Santa Cruz) and have ice cream at Marianne's. Then, head South again to Monterey. Do the Aquarium and 17 Mile Drive. Then, take either the 101 or the 1 down to the San Luis Obispo area. See Morro Bay, visit Bubblegum Alley in SLO, visit Avila Beach and head over to Pismo Beach to eat at McClintock's Steakhouse (a family favorite as long as I can remember). Continue south to Santa Barbara and see the sights there (which I haven't done much of myself, but would love to sometime). Continue down the coast to LA and go to Hollywood (really, just drive through) and the beaches (Malibu, Santa Monica, Venice). Spend at least one day, maybe two, at DLR. Oh yes, and I agree with Uuaww, that you should have an In & Out Burger somewhere along the line. There are plenty in the LA/OC area. Fly home happy and madly in love with my home state.

 

[Uuaww]

DO NOT go to Bubble Gum alley if you are the slightest bit quimish...

 

[Uuaww]

Im just gonna explain it, bubble gum alley is an alley in downtown San Luis Obispo, and covering each wall head to to his used gum. I am not talking just a little bit, , you CANNOT find an open space of concrete. FYI though look for a PHI KAPPA PSI greek letters on the top right side of the wall, thats from my frat. HAHA

 

[MoniqueU]

I would highly reccomend a stop and tour at Hearst Castle in San Simeon. Followed up by lunch or an overnight at the Madonna Inn.
I would aslo reccoment maybe a day trip over to Catalina Island if you can swing it. And the Hotel Del in San Diego is cool for lunch.

 

[suzannen]

If heights make you at all nervous, you might want to start in LA and end up in San Francisco. This is because when you travel the beautiful Pacific Coast Highway through Big Sur, the roads are on very high, drop-dead gorgeous cliffs. If you are traveling north, you will be on the inside lane of the road hugging the mountains. If you are traveling south, you are on the outside lane beside the little, and I do mean little, road rails beside the sudden dropping cliffs. When we did this trip, which was fabulous, several friends had warned me about this and when we actually traveled it, I was SO thankful for that info!

I think 1 1/2 to 2 days in Disneyland is more than enough considering your time frame. You should definitely stop in San Luis Obispo or Santa Barbara on the way north from LA to break up the trip. We stayed at the Madonna Inn which is very kitchy (we had a rock shower). Personally, I would rather stay in Santa Barbara if I wanted to break up the trip. San Simeon (Hearst Castle) is truly something everyone should see. You can even order tickets online. Big Sur is unbelievable beautiful. We stayed at the Ventana Inn there - mountains on one side, the coast on the other. Carmel and Pebble Beach are great to stop for lunch (or golf, if you are into that). In San Francisco, I've stayed lots of places, but one of my favs is a little boutique hotel called The Orchard. It's in a great location and pretty reasonable for SF. And, if you have an extra day, add the wine country, it's beautiful, peaceful and so much fun to visit the vineyards. We stayed at The Auberge du Soleil in Rutherford. It's very expensive, but worth it for a very special romantic evening. Their restaurant is outstanding.

You will have a wonderful time. It's a fantastic trip!!

 

[Uuaww]

Madonna inn is one stop from SLO, its pretty sweet...

 

[minniecarousel]

ahhhh...the Madonna Inn - pepto-bismal pink! Each room is decorated in a different theme.

You've received some good ideas here. When in NorCal I highly recommend both the Carmel area and the Wine Country: Napa/Sonoma. They are truly representative of Northern California. The SoCal things are the usual: Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm, Universal City, Hollywood, Malibu. (Some of the theme parks in NorCal may not be open in November.)

 

[debabe723]

next thing YOU HAVE TO DO is stop in salinas (halfway between san luis obispo and the bay area) or anywhere else you see an In and Out Burger. They are the best burgers and California only.

Just a little OT, but In and Out Burgers are also in Nevada and Arizona now. And they are fabulous!

If you didn't want to do the coastal route, you can drive inland through the state and go to Yosemite, another 'must see' in California between LA and San Francisco. There is also a great Tech Museum in San Jose, along with the Winchester Mystery House.

Have fun whatever you decide.

Deb

 

[damo]

Make advanced reservations at Hearst Castle and Alcatraz to avoid disappointment. These tours sell out early.

We stayed at the Argonaut Hotel in San Francisco and loved it. Other popular hotels on our vacations were the Loews Hotel in Santa Monica and the Hyatt in Huntington Beach. Also the Hyatt near Six Flags Magic Mountain was very cute.

I wouldn't use up time to go to Knott's but use at least two days for Disneyland/CA.

 

[barkley]

if you are traveling in november and planning on doing the napa valley you will want to make reservations soon-it's one of the most popular months (due to the colors in the vineyards).

having grown up here, i would suggest doing southern california first and working your way up to northern. i would finish up with a couple of nights in calistoga to be all relaxed before you return home. calistoga is at the top of the napa valley and is a neat little wine town (you can drive into napa proper as well as st. helena and still do all of "touristy" things, but return to lodging that will allow you to be within a very short walk to some of napa's finest restaurants). i would reccommend doing "the works" at dr. wilkinson's hot springs (mineral bath, mud bath, steam, hot blanket wrap and massage) it is heavenly!

i'm not a big person for san francisco (i detest the traffic and congestion)-but if you are going to go there consider going to pier 39, doing the alcatraz tour (get reservations ahead of time), ghiradelli square-they are all down by fisherman's wharf in the same general location.

remember to realy plan on travel time-driving from southern to northern california (with short rest stops) will result in an entire lost day (because you will be tired out from the drive)-so it might be nice to stop along the way for a night and see whatever sights the area you stay in has to offer.

if you do end up winding down your trip in northern california there is also the option of the sacramento airport-it is the smallest international airport in the area and very stress free to access.

if you find any lodging in napa area and want a local's opinion p.m. me (i used to work in the tourist industry there-there are places no way worth the money they charge and little places that are awsome).

 

[Alice28]

The Highway to Santa Cruz is Highway 17 (coming from San Jose; Hwy 1 from the south on the coast)- Santa Cruz is a fun beach, with an old fashioned boardwalk with a great roller coaster.

Boudins bakery in SF is so yummy- great bread and sandwiches if you are near the wharf one day.

I suggest 3 days in DL/DCA too, but that's just me. To me, N. CA is no big whoop since I grew up there, but there are some very exciting things to do- San Francisco is easily a day, and please be sure to see Carmel, Monterey, even if it's just a drive-thru. The aquarium at Monterey is one of the best in the world.