Who's been to California

[tiggerwannabe]

I saw on the DIS a gorgeous sunset shot in Disney's California Adventure and wanted all of your opinions on where I can get the best Sunrise and Sunset shots at Disneyland & DCA?

I also would like opinions & suggestions for good scenics in San Francisco, San Jose, Anaheim, Hollywood/LA area & San Diego.

If you have some shots to show us...by all means, please do!

I am thoroughly impressed by the skills I've seen on this board, and am quite eager to hear your suggestions.

 

[Master Mason]

I also would like opinions & suggestions for good scenics in San Francisco, San Jose, Anaheim, Hollywood/LA area & San Diego.

How many years were you planning on spending out here? San Francisco has incredible picture possiblities..... San Jose, not so much. San Diego is good as well. LA area, depends on what you like to do.

In all cases, what are you looking to see??? How long are you going to be here etc??

 

[Groucho]

I've been a few times, the PCH is always a good place to find good scenery... but I haven't been enough to be much more specific than that. The couple times I've headed out looking for specific things, it's been stuff like the staircase used in the Laurel & Hardy "Music Box" 2-reeler. (The one where they haul the piano up the steep stairs... and yes, I found it. )

I hope to get another California trip in this year or the next, including a stop by DL... and probably DCA, but that place is really not all it should be. I am annoyed at myself that I didn't realize (last time we were there) that they have the Electrical Parade there... I'd enjoy seeing that again!

 

[tiggerwannabe]

May 24th
Fly to San Jose, DD and me-hang with friend, have lunch, get her kids from school and the family drives us up to San Francisco to our hotel.

My best friend and DDs best friend-fly to San Fran after DBF gets outta work, thn they meet DD and me at hotel.

May 25th
Day 2-Tour San Francisco, the Wharf, Pier 39, the Trolleys, the GG Bridge, Ghirardelli's, etc, etc, etc.

My 26th
Day 3-Finish touring SF, drive to San Jose. Go to movies with the Skjervens (my DIS cruising friends.) POTC III (it'll be the second day it's out)

May 27th
Day 4-Fly to Anaheim, check in at hotel and tour Disneyland, DTD and Disney's California Adventure.

May 28th, 29th
Day 5 & 6-Disneyland & DCA

May 30th
Day 7-Tour Hollywood & hit Universal Hollywood,

somewhere between day 5 and 7, try to fit in a live show. Preferaby The Price is Right.

May 31st
Day 8-Drive to La Jolla or Coronado Cali, for a day at the beach.

June 1 & 2 & 3
Day 9 & 10 & 11-Drive to and do San Diego; SD Zoo & Sea World.

June 4th
Day 12, Go home.

 

[Master Mason]

Got yourself a Southern California City Pass I did that last year with the family. Great trip.

Depending on the weather, go to the Golden Gate Bridge and get some pictures from there...

Lombard Street, thats the famous one that is really steep and curvy.

Go out to the ocean side of SF if the weather is good as well.

If you have time, drive to Montery instead of trying to find something in San Jose, much much nicer, about 1 hour south of San Jose

Big thing with LA is staying out of the bad areas at night, make sure you know which ones are the bad areas before hand.

Other that that, sounds like you have a full well planned trip to me.

 

[0bli0]

sounds like a typical california tourist book - you just need yosemite and it's complete.

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Yosemite would be a perfect addition...I'll save that for the next trip

This started out as a once-in-a-lifetime trip for me and my crew, but I know once I experience California, I *will* want to go back

I've seen the pictures of Monterey, it's gorgeous there! ...but the San Jose portion is for visiting friends, not so much for sightseeing.

We are definitely getting the Citypass! Considering it covers all the parks we want osee for an awesome price, that's a done deal.

LA & Hollywood, we will do during the day. I've been warned not to go there at night and I will heed that warning.

sounds like a typical california tourist book

Ouch! How can I make my pics seem not so touristy while still capturing the beauty of the area???

~I appreciate ALL your input here thank you and keep it coming....I would truly love to see some examples of how you all see California~

 

[boBQuincy]

DW and I travel to California every few years, mostly to Monterey Peninsula and Yosemite National Park (what can I say, we're tourists). We usually fly into San Jose, where there are some interesting photo ops nearby. The Rosicrucian complex is fascinating and not far from the airport, the Winchester House is also close. Roaring Camp and Cowell Redwood Forest are less than 30 minutes away, in Felton. Not so photographic but sure fun is Bonny Doon Winery, near Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz is great for sunset photos.

Further South, I had the opportunity to visit DL and DCA. The high point of California Screamin' gives a good vista of DCA and DL in the distance (hold on tight).
For sunsets it's hard to beat Newport Beach, with Catalina Island visible on a clear day.

 

[tinksdad]

I've seen some great sunsets from Point Loma in San Diego. The strand and Coronado Hotel area are fun and interesting as well. The old town area of San Diego has some potential shots too.

One place that I "have" to go see and photograph is the Disney Concert Hall. VERY cool architecture!!! Plus it's Disney!!

San Francisco is wonderful for photos. From the downtown area, Fort Winfield Park, across the Golden Gate bridge to Sausalito. Great opportunities for sunsets in many spots.

 

[Shifletjl]

...
May 31st
Day 8-Drive to La Jolla or Coronado Cali, for a day at the beach.

June 1 & 2 & 3
Day 9 & 10 & 11-Drive to and do San Diego; SD Zoo & Sea World....

My family and I will be in San Diego directly after you, June 7 - 12. Have you purchased a touring guide book? There are several good ones that include your destinations. You may even try looking for them at your local library. I purchased the Frommers: San Diego 2007 guide book. It describes the must see sights around the area and best views of the area (beaches, coronado island, old town, the gaslamp district). Torrey Pines has a glide port where you can watch paragliders and hang gliders surf the wind. Wouldn't it be fun to get some photographs of the gliders?

Anyway, I'm not much help, but thought I would pass along what little I have discovered so far. Have fun on your trip!

 

[nbodyhome]

We were just in SF, and you will have SO many photographic opportunities there - Alcatraz, the Golden Gate bridge, the city is amazing. I do have SF photos on my neesie.org site, I cannot wait to go back. It is also a wonderful walking city. I want to get there again in the next year, I have family there for 2 years (and I can do a walking/photo section).

San Jose is pretty, but SF is like a postcard everywhere you turn. Really! Go to the Lucas Arts buildings at the Presidio - it was cool seeing the Yoda fountain!

 

[argusp2]

LA and Hollywood at night is the same in any other city. Some places just screams "Stay Away" but there are a lot of places to get some great shots at night.
From Little Tokyo you can get a lot of great shots of the downtown skyline, not to mention Little Tokyo itself. The Music Center is a great location and it is adjacent to the Disney Opera House and the fountains of the Dept. of Water and Power fountains. From the west side of the 110 freeway, depending on what street you stop at, you have great views of the Bonaventure Hotel, the construction site (HUGE site) north of the Staples Center, the Staples Center and the Convention Center which are all lit up at night.
The Broadway Building has always provided tons of photos, though that's more of a day time thing...
There is also the Griffiths Observatory, which is open now. I usually reserve a time an hour or so before sunset.
I guess I am saying that don't discount LA/Hollywood at night. Enjoy!

 

[cryssi]

Hmm, you'd think being from out here I'd have a lot of suggestions...not!

I know you don't have time, but the Monterey Bay Aquarium is really great. I haven't been since field trips in high school, but I do want to go back one of these days. There's just no time when visiting family...

Downtown LA is kind of cool at night. I don't think there's anything really exciting nightlife-wise, but I remember in my lighting class we did a walking tour downtown (I went to architecture school, so it was to see the buildings). I do like the bonaventure...

BTW, DCA at night is simply amazing...or maybe I'm biased b/c our wedding pics were so fantastic...lol

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Wow!

Thank you all so much!

I just copied all this to word and am going to start a list of things to look for.

 

[DisGirlAllie]

I'm sorry I just had to share my photo. Enjoy Cali it rocks!

 

[Jeanne B]

DH, DD13 and I are making our first trip to CA in June and I'm really looking forward to going to DL after many trips to WDW (the closest I've been to DL is on Soarin' in WDW!!). My oldest sister moved cross country to CA a year and a half ago and since we were planning a trip to AZ this summer (our first there also) we decided we would fly to CA first and spend a few days with my sister since it's so close to AZ. We've been up and down the east coast so I'm pretty excited to be going to the west coast for the first time.

Between southern CA and the Sedona/Grand Canyon area I should have some great picture opportunities (and I'm going to drive DH and DD nuts with all my picture taking just like I do on every other vacation ).

 

[tiggerwannabe]

I'm sorry I just had to share my photo. Enjoy Cali it rocks!

Thank you! we will!

and

Thank you! Nice Shot!

 

[tiggerwannabe]

I totally agree with you on the photography part JeanneB!

Good thing my whole crew is used to me and my camera

And yes Shiflletjl, I got books!

I got the California Travel guide and ordered brochures from that,

I got the Birnbaum's Guide to Disneyland *and* the Passporters Guide to DL and Southern California.

I subscribed to the Southern Cali and Disneyland forums here on the DIS



oh yeah...and I got my friends from California to send me the Park brochures from both DL and DCA

 

[Emmo]

Ok, its not a sunset but it is about 7.10 am on an EE day and I love the way the sun catches the castle.

Enjoy your tour of CA, It's on a list of things we want to do, a long list!

 

[funhouse8]

Well this isn't really a sunset but it is when the sun was going down. Have a great time in Ca. We love it there, My sis lived in most of the state, SF, June Lake & now Bakersfield, so we have been often. We even went here on our honeymoon if I knew my Sis was moving here i would have went somewhere else though. LOL Enjoy your trip!