So...we've decided to drive vs fly and here's the question

[jazzatola]

Yes do not stay in Stockton.

 

[caligirl stuck in va]

Stockton - I would do that differently - as in, not stay in Stockton. I know traffic can by iffy, but from Cottonwood to DLR is 8 - 10 hours. When I used to live in Seattle, we made it from Seattle to Cottonwood in 7-8 hours. If it were me, I would do Seattle to Redding and Redding to DLR. Of course, you may have more time in your schedule and not want to drive that many hours in one day, but it definitely is doable. Good Luck on your trip!

 

[caligirl stuck in va]

There's also a Best Western which is attached to Andersen's Pea Soup (It's actually Andersen's BW). A quick check on weekday rates in October makes it about $85 a night with tax, $30 less than the HII.

I haven't stayed there, but I can't imagine it not being great since the restaurant is so awesome. I figure it should be on a par with Granzella's in Williams, and the prices are about the same. I'd fully recommend Granzella's, but it's about 2 hours north of Santa Nella, so probably not close enough to DLR for you.

If you want another option though, you can check it out here. I love sending business their way, they are amazing folks. A few years ago I was on a charter bus on the way south for annual training with my Guard unit and we saw smoke coming from a building just off the 5. I remember saying "Oh please don't let that be Granzella's!" But we found out later that it was. The entire restaurant burned to the ground that day (although a firewall saved the sports bar and the big polar bear). Because they cared about their employees and their families, the Granzella family gave their employees two months pay, even though the building was a total loss and had to be completely rebuilt.

Another vote for Granzellas!! I was lucky enough to go home to Cali this summer and spent several wonderful meals at Granzellas (and it's a couple hours away from home). Love Love Love. And so happy they were able to rebuild after the fire - I remember getting the news of the fire and I was bummed all the way in VA.

 

[alleycatmom]

I feel kinda sorry for Stockton, but I wouldn't stay their either. Sometimes we stop there for gas or bathroom and that's bad enough.

I'm originally from Yreka, CA (about an hour south of Medford), and once you get through the (easy in good weather) mountain pass from Medford to Yreka, it's smooth sailing until the Shasta mountains, which isn't bad at all in good weather, and really the whole stretch to Sacramento goes really quickly. Unless you stop in Siskiyou or Shasta County for scenic reasons, I think you'll find that you can just keep driving well past Stockton.

 

[kylie71]

Another vote for Granzellas!! I was lucky enough to go home to Cali this summer and spent several wonderful meals at Granzellas (and it's a couple hours away from home). Love Love Love. And so happy they were able to rebuild after the fire - I remember getting the news of the fire and I was bummed all the way in VA.

I was in Williams last weekend, my brother lives up Hwy 20 in Clearlake... small world!

Lori

 

[DLRfan31]

I am so grateful for all your suggestions. This truly is the best place to get ideas answers and suggestions to make a Disney trip awesome!

You all rock!

We still have a couple months until we leave, so I'll keep adjusting plans as we go, I'm not an "organize down to the last detail" kinda girl. I used to be, but I found, for myself, that when things didn't work out like I expected, I'd be frustrated and disappointed.

So now I pretty much go with the flow, but definitely needed to know about Stockton because of all the neg reviews on tripadvisor. And you guys backed that up. We won't be stopping there for sure!

I will choose a place in Santa Nella, most likely. Andersen's sound like a great choice.

Again, thank you so much! I'm amazed at how generous and helpful everyone is.

 

[caligirl stuck in va]

I was in Williams last weekend, my brother lives up Hwy 20 in Clearlake... small world!

Lori

Hi Lori! We just went by your brother's place in June then - we went to Fort Bragg via the Clearlake route - I always forget how big that lake is until I get down there. LOVE California!

Amy

 

[kylie71]

Hi Lori! We just went by your brother's place in June then - we went to Fort Bragg via the Clearlake route - I always forget how big that lake is until I get down there. LOVE California!

Amy

The lake is pretty large! It was not too clear last weekend, the algae is taking over, with the heat. I grew up there, until 1986...

How was Fort Bragg? We used to go there for weekend trips when I was a kid. Lunch at Capt. Flints...... and beach time at MacKerricher state park.... fun times!

Lori

 

[MommyLove]

Whew! So glad you won't be staying in Stockton. The news is terrible coming from there. Last I heard on the news (maybe a week or two ago?) they'd just had their 39th murder of the year. Lovely.

It's been years since I've been to Anderson's... this thread is reminding me how yummy it was. Now I think we'll try and hit that on our way down!

 

[DLRfan31]

Whew! So glad you won't be staying in Stockton. The news is terrible coming from there. Last I heard on the news (maybe a week or two ago?) they'd just had their 39th murder of the year. Lovely.

It's been years since I've been to Anderson's... this thread is reminding me how yummy it was. Now I think we'll try and hit that on our way down!

39??!!! Scary

I wonder what the problem is there. Has it been like this for a long time?

 

[CamoMama]

39??!!! Scary

I wonder what the problem is there. Has it been like this for a long time?

Yup. My scary experience there was more than 20 years ago.

 

[cutedisneygirly]

DH is a paramedic in Stockton (we live in Elk Grove, which is about 35 minutes north of Stockton). Glad you decided not to stay in Stockton as I hear all sorts of stories after every night DH works. I mentioned this thread to him and he said, "Keep on driving!" Santa Nella or any where north of Stockton will be a much better choice.

As for why the homicide rate is so high, part of it may have to do with the major decrease in funding for the police & sheriff's department. There are fewer officers on the street, and they have had to greatly decrease the funding to their gang task force. DH has been on a few of the homicides this year. It's bad...

 

[mama2dutchies]

You just moved to Stockton and you highly discourage people from stopping there? Wow it must be bad. Hope you don't have to stay real long.

Right now I am checking out places in Manteca and Santa Nella per the other girls' suggestions. We'd like to drive at least halfway between Medford and Anaheim on our second night....even farther than half if there's a good place to stay. I haven't seen anything that might work on the map...anything maybe an hour farther down from Stockton. The close we get to DLR on Monday the better!

No it says don't let the VA on the left fool you.. VA=Virginia.. Here meaning we moved out east to VA.. sorry
Last I knew Stockton was on for a record of murders this year .. and that just the unfortunate deaths thats not the shootings or stabbings

 

[mrsheppo]

I'm another to say to avoid Stockton like the plague. I lived there from 1958 until 1980. It was nice until the mid 70's and then it started to turn violent. My dad was robbed at gunpoint in the parking lot of the post office, we had our windows shot out and my uncle was murdered in 1979. It wasn't long after that I got out. Have only been back 3 times and will never return again.

 

[PrincessIM]

We drove to DL in 2010 and on recommendations from the DIS boards stayed in Santa Nella at the Holiday Inn. There's not much around there exept for the Anderson's but it was perfect for us. After a long day of driving the kids enjoyed the pool and we also ate at Anderson's. It also made for a short drive to DL the next morning. I believe it was only 4 hours. We drove from Richmond BC to Eugene, Eugene to Santa Nella and we were at the GCH before 12.