Advice on a Californian road trip!

I'm in Arizona, not CA, but we actually just got back from a trip to San Diego.  I was struck by how easy it would be to spend multiple days at Balboa Park and how much there is to do there.  We spent a full day at the zoo and quite honestly covered about half of it.  We didn't even do the Safari Park, and we've done some of the museums in the past but didn't on this trip.

 

Also, since I seem to recommend it to anybody who goes to San Diego one of my favorite restaurants ever is Rockin Baja.  I've only been to the one in Old Town San Diego (which you also really should visit while you're there), but it's amazing food in an amazing location (the restaurant is essentially outside with nothing but a tent over your head to highlight the amazing San Diego weather).  Also, make sure to try the honey chili butter they bring out with tortillas.

 

A couple of things to look into at least.  Since we're dragging 8 and 11 year old kids around with us it doesn't sound like a lot of the areas you intend to focus on.

If you're heading out to Tahoe drive carefully; god damned death drop in the one section leading into the lake area as you leave the mountainous pass.

Wife took me to Bodega Bay when I first moved down here from Canada. Nice seaside town. Some alright restaurant action. A clean beach. And if you're feeling up to it you can pretend the Birds are out to get you. Armstrong Redwoods State National Preserve is about 30-50 minutes north east of Bodega Bay - I haven't seen trees that epic since that trip outside of Naimo, BC (which sadly I've been told was cut down). Technically you don't want to go any higher than Novato/Santa Rosa or risk entering meth hillbilly country, that is the Clearlake region.

After you've seen the Northbay your next worthwhile stop is down the coast from San Francisco to see Carmel. My wife can't get enough of it and insists on dragging me down there for shopping, walking; it's all pretty. While on the way down to Carmel you have the option of stopping at Cannery Row (Monteray) to get your Steinbeck on, forgo the posh hotels and go hang out with some hobo's....I kid, but still it's along the way so why not?

That the extent of my northbay experiences. Have a safe trip out there and enjoy this god forsaken hot weather...which still applies even in October. It only starts raining heavily in November-March around these parts.
Edited by mongycore - 7/29/11 at 1:12am

Point Fermin Park in San Pedro (LA), "Sunken City"

 

 ... if you're in the area check it out. In the 1920's a neighborhood street was sinking into the ocean. They removed the houses and left the foundations and street. What remains is your California earthquake apocalypse fantasy. There is also a nice park, cliffs on the other side of the park and pretty nice views. 

 

The sunken part is a no trespassing section behind a fence at the park. Everyone goes back there every day. No one is ever hassled for being there. Check out photos on the internet. It's not a theme park but it's my most unique "California" place to take friends from out of town.

 

Some facts:

 

This is where they dump Donnie's ashes in Lebowski (it has changed a lot since that film. The land still moves to this day)

 

There is a huge Korean bell at the top of a kill near the park. This was featured in The Usual Suspects where the guys meet up.

 

(Also,  down town San Pedro is a pretty solid visit if you're already gonna be there. )

 

My wife and I drove up to Lake Tahoe last summer (we live in the LA area) it was an awesome drive because we drove through Yosemite. If you're going to Lake Tahoe you MUST at least drive though Yosemite it is beautiful beyond words.

 

Also, drive along PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) AKA Ca.1, if you can,  its so peaceful and serene. Though its more time consuming than taking the Interstate. If you do, check Santa Barbara, Montecito (Oprah owns a home there), and a small little town called Solvang. Its a Danish-type town with some wine tasting places, and some pretty good food. Its where they filmed most of the film Sideways. Also, if you're a carnivore, check out a restaurant called: The Hitching Post, its become real famous because they also filmed a scene from Sideways there.

 

If I think of anymore I'll let you know. Good Luck, have fun, and be safe!!  

Man, I love Solvang. It's like Disney's Fantasyland without all of the bullshit. You can spend a whole day poking around the surrounding areas of Los Olivos and Solvang and never run out of beautiful things to see.

Nah, there's an express bus from Santa Monica that goes into Hollywood, its about a 45 minute bus ride versus a 30 minute car ride. Add an extra thirty minutes to either of those numbers if you're travelling during rush hour.

Hey Bluelouboyle,

I did exactly that two years ago. Me and the missus did SF to SD via LA. Awesome time.

Our itinerary was almost a week in SF, then Monterey, Highway 1 all the way down to Pismo Beach (just a convenient stopping point, no other reason), 4 days in LA, 3 days in SD (not enough), 3 days in LA again. We pretty much hugged the coast, there is quite enough to do on there and whilst I'd have loved to do the Canyon/Tahoe/Yosemite, the extreme drive times required cut into your holiday massively and minimize the time you can spend at those sights anyway. Your instincts are right I think.

Have fun!

Statistically speaking there's only like a 1 in 4 chance that would happen to you during your trip.  Pretty good odds really.