From Arcata to LA ~ Photos From my Trip to California! (Pasadena: hotel, vacation home)

[North_Raleigh_Guy]

I recently made a trip out from Raleigh, NC to California for a week long vacation. Many folks here on city-data helped give me great suggestions on places to visit while I was there so I thought I would post a few pics. We started out with a visit with some relatives in Northern California in Arcata. While there we saw some new growth redwoods (We saw the really big ones last time we visited) and made a trip over to the beach at Trinidad. After a few days in Arcata we drove down to Sonoma with a brief stop in Mendecino for Lunch. While in Sonoma we stayed in the Sonoma Hotel right on the Sonoma Plaza. While in Sonoma we of course visited a few vineyards. A few that we hit were Ledson, Bezinger, Sebastiani, and Buena Vista. Of all of them we enjoyed Bezinger the most. A definite "must see" in my opinion.

After a few days in Sonoma we drove down to Santa Barbara and stayed in a hotel just off State Street. Wow, there is a ton to do on State Street. What a lively and fun place to go. The Wharf is very cool too. We really loved Santa Barbara!

Finally we drove down to LA and met up with some other relative in Pasadena at the Twin Palms for a great dinner together.

All in all we had a great time in CA. It truly is a beautiful state and we can't wait until we can come back for another visit. Thanks to all of you for your great recommendations. Here are a few picsk from our trip!

Arcata, CA











Trinidad











Travelling Along Highway 1





Mendocino, CA









Sonoma, CA























Santa Barbara, CA













Santa Barbara Farmers Market!

[nanannie]

Wonderful pictures,thanks for posting.We are heading up that way next month .Any place you can reccommed staying by Arcata? Which area did you like the most? The least? How was your weather up north?

[Pariah]

I love your photos! I LOVE the beach photos...I can easily imagine a mermaid perched on the rock in your 6th photo. I've only been in a landlocked state for not even three months and I'm already going nuts, haha.

[North_Raleigh_Guy]

Originally Posted by nanannie

Wonderful pictures,thanks for posting.We are heading up that way next month .Any place you can reccommed staying by Arcata? Which area did you like the most? The least? How was your weather up north?

We stayed at this little place called the Arcata Stay. This link show pics from the actual room we stayed in: Arcata Stay - Plaza Terrace Stay

It was right on the downtown Square in Arcata so we could walk to restaurants and bars, but I must wanr you if you are a light sleeper it may not be for you. Since you are right on the square you are exposed to sounds from the downtown Nightlife. We however enjoyed this immensly.

I really enjoyed Arcata and Trinidad which is only 20 minutes away.

[deuterdu]

WoW! Those pictures made my heart stop. I know Mendocino well and I used to have a vacation home in the redwoods. These are some of the things that I do miss. I don't regret moving to NC but I do miss Mendocino, Santa Barbara etc. Glad you had fun!