CA vacation advice please (San Francisco, Santa Barbara: houses, landscaping, college) - California - City-Data Forum

Bigfoot424 · 07-11-2011, 04:10 PM

I've received some help from one of the sub forums on here but thought this may be a good place to ask more questions. The wife and I are taking our first ever CA vacation this Sept or Oct. Please feel free to advise what month would be best. We would like to land at a major airport (hopefully direct from VA-I know I can fly direct on United from Dulles to LAX) Our plan is to tour the coast for at least 3-5 days. We'd like to see the 17-mile highway, Yosemite and we're still deciding on other areas. Knowing this, which city should we fly into to start this trip?

Thanks

Snort · 07-11-2011, 04:43 PM

Fly to SFO and explore Big Sur, once you've had your city fix. Skip 17-Mile Drive. It's just a bunch of hype and a poor reason to extract $9 from your wallet. Instead, park your car outside Point Lobos State Park, walk in for free and enjoy. Asilomar Beach and the drive around that area and Pacific Grove (don't miss Carmel and its beach) should also be on your list. Anyway, from there, head down Hwy 1 and stop at San Simeon to visit Hearst Castle (reserve now). Cambria is a nice town to explore before heading east on Hwy 46 for a stop at a winery. Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo would be next on your list. From here, either head south to Santa Barbara or head out to Yosemite and then back to SF.

Bulldogdad · 07-11-2011, 08:17 PM

I agree with this^^^^^^^^^^^^

jaijai · 07-11-2011, 09:15 PM

Yes, i'd say fly into San Francisco and take the coastal route (HWY1) south.
And yes, 17 mile drive is, imo, kinda gross.
Although if you're a golf fanatic you might want to visit Pebble Beach and then give 17 mile drive a looksy if you're into seeing that kind of display of wealth.
The aquarium is Monterey would be worth a visit.
Big Sur is a must visit.
October has always been a beautiful time but in the last 2 years, because weather patterns have changed, it's rained which is unusual ... or used to be unusual ... who knows these days.
I'd say that September is a good time to travel to CA ... after Labor Day especially if you want to see Yosemite as it will be less crowded than if you visited it in the summer months.

manimal · 07-12-2011, 01:07 AM

Since most of your targets seem to be in Northern California and you only have 3-5 days, I'd suggest flying into one of the Bay Area airports (SFO, OAK, or SJC) and sticking to Northern California. If you're going to properly see Yosemite that'll take at least two days between driving to and from the Bay Area and spending some time in the park. Add in a Monterey/coastal trip and I'm assuming some of the SF sites and you're just about filled up.

jeffredo · 07-12-2011, 01:17 AM

SFO (I'm sure there are many non-stops from Dulles). When I worked in Yosemite during the summer while in college I noticed that many bus tours (and individual travelers) did this "loop" to cover some of the high points of Northern California is a limited amount of time - San Francisco, Monterey, Yosemite, Lake Tahoe. While you're more flexible for time it appears its still a good starting point that you can flesh out with other spots (Wine Country, Gold Country, North Coast, etc...). Its a huge state - unless you have a large amount of time I would try to decide between Northern and Southern California so you can do the one you choose justice.

Bigfoot424 · 07-12-2011, 03:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by manimal

Since most of your targets seem to be in Northern California and you only have 3-5 days, I'd suggest flying into one of the Bay Area airports (SFO, OAK, or SJC) and sticking to Northern California. If you're going to properly see Yosemite that'll take at least two days between driving to and from the Bay Area and spending some time in the park. Add in a Monterey/coastal trip and I'm assuming some of the SF sites and you're just about filled up.

We'll actually have at least 10-12 days. We know though we want to see the coast and sightsee for at least 3 days or so on the coastline.

Bigfoot424 · 07-12-2011, 03:59 AM

I'm surprised what I'm hearing about 17-mile drive. Several others have said it is a must see.

jaijai · 07-12-2011, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigfoot424

I'm surprised what I'm hearing about 17-mile drive. Several others have said it is a must see.

It's a nice and easy way to view the Monterey Bay and also see a lot of expensive houses and landscaping.
I can see why people would enjoy it ... my 82 year old father visited some years back and we visited Pebble Beach and did the 17 mile drive drive and he enjoyed it.

Boompa · 07-12-2011, 11:07 AM

A few days in Monterrey, East Yosemite then up and over (east ) past Lake Tenaya, down Tioga Pass and a day or two in Mammoth. You might even drive south to Lone Pine where you will recognize the scenery from every Western movie you have ever seen. Then north on 395 to Lake Tahoe and Reno. Finall back to San Francisco