Vacationing in California in April - Help! (San Francisco, Napa: houses, school)

[warm heatherette]

My husband & I are visiting California in April/08 - we've never been & are looking forward to it immensely. We'll be exploring the Central Coast and also want to visit some primitive or undeveloped hot springs in the Sierras or the Mammoth Lakes area. We'll probably avoid the big cities of LA and SF, preferring to explore smaller historic towns and natural areas. That being said can anyone answer some questions about the areas we'll be visiting.

1. What's the weather like in April - along the coast; in the central areas

2. Which beaches along the coast are a 'must see' - prefer the natural to the highly developed.

3. We like historic homes and architecture. Which are the best historic towns. 'Ghost' towns in central CA would be fun to explore too. Any suggestions.

4. Wine - we're from a wine region that still uses a lot of pesticides, fungicides, etc. (yuk), so we're eager to find wineries that use organic or sustainable practices - suggestions.

5. Hot Springs - we've explored some undeveloped hot springs in British Columbia, and just love a soak in the wilderness. I understand that locals like to keep these things secret and unspoiled, & I get that. There's nothing worse than people who don't respect nature, its gifts and the community around them. Be assured we wouldn't be leaving trash or engaging in loud drunken partying or lewd conduct. That being said, can anyone tell us what's out there, or any we should definitely visit or avoid - I've heard of Deep Creek, Remington, Gaviota, Caliente (big & little), Sespe, and others around the Mammoth Lakes area.

6. Being from the north, there is often still snow skiing in April. Would that be the case in the mountainous areas of California - probably a stupid question.

Any other ideas or suggestions for things we should do or places we should visit. We appreciate all help.

[Charles]

There are a couple of books out like these:

Amazon.com: Great Hot Springs of the West: Arizona California Colorado Montana Idaho Nevada New Mexico Oregon Utah Washington Wyoming: Books: Bill Kaysing,Ruth Kaysing


Amazon.com: Hot Spring and Hot Pools of the Southwest: Jayson Loam's Original Guide: Books: Marjorie Gersh-Young


which give precise directions to remote hot springs. I tried a few in the Mammoth Lakes area several years ago. Now the books have GPS coordinates. The book I read had directions like "Get off highway 395 at Hot Creek Hatchery road and drive 3.4 miles north east. Turn right on dirt road and drive 0.5 miles and park. Hike 220 yards west, etc..."

Makes it real easy. A rock basin is constructed the correct distance from the hot water source to make the water flowing into the basin around 104F or so.

Kind of looks like this

[DMenscha]

Sounds like you might enjoy a trip down Hiway 395 in eastern CA, Mammoth Mtn will likely still be open for skiing, Bodie State historic Park near Mono lake is immensely interesting, Grover Hot Springs in Markleeville is a developed spring but I'm sure there are others up and down 395.

[kettlepot]

Bring the most powerful, allergy medications you can find with you and bring them in LARGE quantities (without looking like you're trying to stock up a meth lab! ). Your itinerary will take you through the Central Valley, and EVERYTHING on God's green earth will be in bloom and making your life miserable. The mountains and coastal areas should be more bearable, but to get from one to the other you will drive through Allergy Hell!

On the flip side, April is a GREEN month in California and quite beautiful. There very well may still be skiing in the mountains but the snow will be of a poor quality. The weather can be quite changeable that time of year in the interior. You could have day time temps that could be anywhere between the upper 50s to the low 90s (lower in the Sierras). It all depends.

[warm heatherette]

Thanks for the tips everybody.
I ordered one of the hot springs books Charles recommended.
We'll check out Hwy. 395 too.
I don't have allergies (at least here at home, I don't), but I'll bring some Clariton along just in case.

Anyone else got any suggestions on wineries, beaches and historic towns.

[Summertime]

Napa Valley, Calistoga, for wineries
and sometimes there are tours of them.

Carmel (near Monterey), for lovely beaches
and the village Carmel has shops and
restaurants to explore.

Mendocino for charm and Victorian houses
but not much to do there, in my opinion.

All of the above are on the west
side of CA, not near 395.

Calif. being such a huge state, long and wide,
it would take forever to see it all.

I have been to two 'ghost towns' and
they were Calico, in Southern CA

and Bodie, in Northern CA, both near
highway 395, if I recall correctly.

The Avenue of the Giants, redwood trees,
lovely to drive through, gift shops.
This is north of Mendocino.

April is a great month as it isn't too hot
nor too cold in any areas... and school
isn't out, so not as many tourists.

I have never been to Sequoia National
Park, but hear it is enchanting.
I always wanted to go to Three Rivers
but it was never 'on-the-way' to my destination.

[18Montclair]

I highly recommend San Francisco if youve never been to California. The things to do are endless and the ambience is pretty unique.

[DMenscha]

Come to Murphys CA for wineries, not so overbooked as Napa and no tasting fees (so far). You'll also get a look at a gold rush era community, or try Columbia State Park for a preserved gold rush town. Don't miss Yosemite either, the waterfalls in the spring time are AWESOME.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by warm heatherette

I ordered one of the hot springs books Charles recommended.

NO NO NO, get it at the library. You already paid for it.

[greatbasinguide]

April on the East side of the Sierra is still winter, you can easily get two or three feet of snow around the hot springs, the nights will be in the 20's.
The passes will still be closed, you can cross at 50 or 80 at Tahoe or 300 miles south at Walker or Tehachapi.