Tons of Questions (Los Angeles, San Jose, San Francisco: 2015, house, neighborhoods)

[CityOnDown5250]

Im coming to the SF Bay Area in January, this will be my second time out there. I have been waiting to go back for three years now. I have a lot of questions and I need your knowledge greatley
1. I will be staying with a friend in Stockton. What is this town like? What is there to do? How is the University of the Pacific?
2. How far is Stockon (driving) from San Francisco?, Sacremento? ,and San Jose?
3. What is the weather like during the winter?
4. Is Sacremento worth visiting?
5. Can we take day trips by car to the Bay Area or is it too far?
6. How far is Los Angleles by car?
7. Are there any other towns worth visiting (San Jose, Monteray, Modesto)
8. Is Stockon considered the Bay Area?
9. Is there anything else I should know about Stockton or traveling through Nor Cal?

Thanks

[humboldtrat]

San Francisco is about 90 minutes from Stockton, assuming good traffic conditions and yes you can make a day trip if you leave early and come back late. Stockton is not considered part of the SF Bay Area.

Los Angeles is about 6 - 7 hours away.

Winter is the rainy season in northern California. Ground fog is common in the Stockton area during the winter because it's in a valley. Daytime temps are often in the 50's. There's no snow in Stockton and the SF Bay Area.

Other places to visit are Yosemite Nat. Park which could be a LONG daytrip. Also Lake Tahoe (about 2 1/2 - 3 hours one way)

[humboldtrat]

I should have added something about Sacramento. There are a few places worth visiting. Sacramento is about 45 minutes north of Stockton:

The state capitol building www.capitolmuseum.ca.gov
Sutter's Fort www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=485
Old Sacramento and railroad musuem Old Sacramento - Offical Site of Old Sacramento! A great place for shopping, events, historic tours, dining, & activities!

You mentioned Modesto and there is nothing to see there.

[DMenscha]

1. I will be staying with a friend in Stockton. What is this town like? What is there to do? How is the University of the Pacific? The campus is in a nice enough area, but it doesn't have much else to offer a tourist. Stockton is a VERY diverse town, from the best to the worst is around. Many people on this board are down on Stockton, but I think it has some nice areas. They do have a minor league hockey team if that's something that would interest you.
2. How far is Stockon (driving) from San Francisco?, Sacremento? ,and San Jose? Stockton to the Bay Area can be problematic if you go during the commute hours. 90 minutes to SF, about the same to SJ and as Humboldt points out about 45 to Sacramento.
3. What is the weather like during the winter? If it has rained recently, you probably will encounter some pretty dense fog, otherwise it's reasonably temperate with freezing weather unlikely.
4. Is Sacremento worth visiting? Full of history follow Humboldt's links
5. Can we take day trips by car to the Bay Area or is it too far? Yes you can, but it will be a full day, again the commute hours can by trying
6. How far is Los Angleles by car? I think you can reach LA quicker than Humboldt does, I'd say 4.5 to 6 hours, but it's a BIG place so your mileage may vary.
7. Are there any other towns worth visiting (San Jose, Monteray, Modesto) Monterrey is going to be a slog as it's 45 minutes south of San Jose, but the Monterrey Peninsula is quite a tourist destination. No to any other places.
8. Is Stockon considered the Bay Area? Nope!
9. Is there anything else I should know about Stockton or traveling through Nor Cal? I'd echo Humboldt on Yosemite, but bear in mind that during the winter it does snow there and that could certainly make a trip much longer. From my house I can get to Yosemite and Tahoe in 2 hours in the summertime, wintertime can be twice that long.

Your friend can probably set you up with other things to do, that none of us have thought of. Welcome and enjoy your stay

[gizmo980]

Originally Posted by CityOnDown5250

1. I will be staying with a friend in Stockton. What is this town like? What is there to do? How is the University of the Pacific?

I did my Bachelor's degree at UOP, and lived there for a little over three years... the campus itself is very beautiful, with gorgeous architecture dating back to the mid-19th century. Outside of campus the town is iffy - some good parts, many bad parts. Basically you want to stay on/near campus, and probably want to avoid the south-central and south-east neighborhoods. There isn't a whole lot to do in Stockton, but there are some nice museums downtown, a little waterfront Delta, and lots of standard shopping/restaurants/etc. What kind of stuff do you enjoy doing?

2. How far is Stockon (driving) from San Francisco?, Sacremento? ,and San Jose?

Without traffic it's about 90 minutes to San Francisco, 30-40 to Sacramento, and at least 2 hours to San Jose... with traffic, you just never know! I used to drive back & forth from Stockton to the Peninsula (south of San Francisco) to visit my family, and I usually tried to leave after 8pm to avoid the traffic.

3. What is the weather like during the winter?

Depends on exactly where you are... in San Francisco it's pretty mild, usually with highs around 60F and lows around 50-55F. Not much of a range, eh? Stockton has slightly more seasonal weather, with highs anywhere from 55-70, and lows usually in the mid-low 40s. Once I even saw it drop to 28F in Stockton! We also get a decent amount of rain (in a good year), so bring a waterproof coat just in case.

4. Is Sacremento worth visiting?

It's not my favorite place in the world, but I guess it's worth a visit... I particularly like Old-Town Sacramento, which feels like you've stepped into the Old West. There are also lots of museums & cultural events, and you can visit the official state buildings there. It's a pretty quick drive from Stockton, so you might as well go if you're bored.

5. Can we take day trips by car to the Bay Area or is it too far?

Sure you can, if you time the travel well in accordance to traffic... otherwise you'll end up spending too much time in the car, and it wouldn't be a fun trip. If you leave either before 8am or after 10am, and then come back to Stockton after 7-8pm, it shouldn't be a big deal.

6. How far is Los Angleles by car?

At least 5-6 hours generally, often longer because of traffic - which is fairly impossible to avoid anywhere around Los Angeles.

7. Are there any other towns worth visiting (San Jose, Monteray, Modesto)

Lots of them! Not sure how far you're willing to drive, but I love Monterey/Carmel, Santa Cruz, Napa/Sonoma, Sausalito, Berkeley, and so many other places. Not sure where you got Modesto from, but that's not a place I'd bother going as a tourist... LOL.

8. Is Stockon considered the Bay Area?

Depends on whom you ask. It is considered the "greater Bay Area" by some, but to most that line ends around the Altamont Pass (Tracy/Livermore). I wouldn't call it the Bay Area, and never did while living there, but I grew up 12 miles from San Francisco - so my perspective might be a little skewed.

9. Is there anything else I should know about Stockton or traveling through Nor Cal?

Just be careful, especially while you're in Stockton... know the neighborhoods you are going through, map out your routes carefully, and don't be afraid to ask for directions along the way. Always be prepared for weather changes too, since you can get everything from wind to fog to ice and snow here. Have a great trip!

[gizmo980]

Oh, and if you have time for an overnight trip, go to South Lake Tahoe! I also lived there for a while, and it's a wonderful place to visit... only about 2-2.5 hours from Stockton, but it can be a harrowing drive if you hit snow/ice. And a nice day trip is the town of Sutter Creek, just around 20-30 minutes outside of Stockton off Highway 88. One of my friends used to live there, so I visited fairly often, and always enjoyed spending a day there - just a cute, quaint little town from the mining days, with lots of antique shops and wine. I also used to love driving up 88 between these areas, where you'll find all sorts of fresh-food open markets - YUMMMMMY produce and sweets from right off the farm. Try to visit the town of Waterloo, where my personal favorite market was.

[CityOnDown5250]

Is Stockon a earthquake zone? Should I be concered or worried when traveling around San Francisco or the East Bay, in anticipation of an earthquake?

How are the people out in the Bay Area and Stockton and Sacremento? Im coming from the big bad hostile Northeast, especially New York. Are they friendly? Are the girls stuck up? In terms of dating I mean, are they unapproachable? Or are they hospitable?

[CityOnDown5250]

Can I take a train from Stockton to San Fran? Does the Cal Train run over there?

[gizmo980]

Originally Posted by CityOnDown5250

Is Stockon a earthquake zone? Should I be concered or worried when traveling around San Francisco or the East Bay, in anticipation of an earthquake?

The whole Pacific Coast is "earthquake country," so you're better off not worrying about it! Do you think we walk around scared every day? We do have earthquakes on a fairly regular basis, but most are too small to feel - and even the bigger ones are usually over before you can react. Just follow a local's lead if anything does hit... most likely they'll ignore it, but in a biggie you get under a desk/table or hang out under a door frame. Don't stress, though, since chances are pretty slim that you'd be here for a major quake.

How are the people out in the Bay Area and Stockton and Sacremento? Im coming from the big bad hostile Northeast, especially New York. Are they friendly? Are the girls stuck up? In terms of dating I mean, are they unapproachable? Or are they hospitable?

I'm originally from the northeast, and my relatives still live out there - so I can say from experience that west-coasters are generally more friendly. Not that east-coasters are unfriendly, but they definitely have a more cold and rushed attitude. You know what I mean, I'm sure. The California attitude really is more relaxed, especially here in Northern CA... seems the farther north you go in this state, the more friendly and laid-back people are! Most San Franciscans will be happy to give you directions on the street, and will even tell you the best nearby burrito place.

As for dating and women, I really can't say because I'm a straight female - LOL. Some guys here complain about the dating scene, and so do a lot of women... but if you are a friendly dude, just be yourself and have fun! I can't speak for the other women, but I personally try to be approachable to nice guys.

[gizmo980]

Originally Posted by CityOnDown5250

Can I take a train from Stockton to San Fran? Does the Cal Train run over there?

Unfortunately no... Caltrain doesn't go north of San Francisco, and basically just runs up & down the Peninsula. I think you could take Amtrak, but it would most likely be expensive and slow. Amtrak

FYI: Looks like you can take an Amtrak train from Stockton to Emeryville (near Oakland)... costs about $9 and says it takes 1hr45min. Not quite as bad as I thought!