Visiting for 2 weeks. Need suggestions (Los Angeles, San Diego: house, restaurant, price)

[zammboss]

So i'm coming to CA for 2 weeks and driving the coast. Starting off in SF, going to Napa/sonoma then heading down to Santa Barbara, LA, Disney, Vegas, Irvine, San Diago.

Any suggestions of Must see/do while I am there? I have only been to SF once in my life. I don't want the typical tourist attractions and something more locals do.

Thanks a lot.

[ccm123]

In SF, visit de Young Museum, take a ferry to Sausalito and take in the views from the Cliff House.

[Bulldogdad]

Hit as many beaches as you can in Sonoma and Marin counties along HWY1. Point Reyes National Seashore is beautiful teasure. Get some fresh out of Tomales Bay Hog Island Oysters, Point Reyes Blue Cheese, Brick Maiden bread to go with your Napa or Sonoma valley wine. Dont forget to hit the Station House restaurant. Russian River area is also a must see.

[OwlKaMyst]

There are several hot springs just a little more north of Sonoma. Vichy and Orr are two in the Ukiah area, and also you could have lunch at the City of 10,000 Buddahs and check the place out. It's a Buddist campus open to the public with a cafe that is reasonably priced. Good healthy food. What is interesting is that the place used to be a mental institution.
Check out Big Sur, but be aware that it will add several hours to your driving time when headed south. Once on the coast on Hwy 1, south of Carmel, there is no crossing over until you get to Morro Bay, which you should also check out. If you decide to take that route, it is a tourist attraction, but worth seeing, Hurst Castle.
If you go 101 instead and like soup, especially split-pea, stop in at Andersen's Inn. They have a small museum (I believe it's of old toys) that is free.

[zammboss]

thanks guys

[ketch89]

If you just want to take a road trip that's cool, but if you really want to experience California and get a feel for it, I'd say either pick norcal or socal. Too much to do in two short weeks.

[Spikett]

I haven't been but hear it's fantastic - Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park

Julia Pfeiffer Burns SP

37 miles south of Carmen on Hwy 1

[Snort]

SF, Yosemite, Gold Country towns, Highway 1 (McWay Falls), Monterey, Carmel, Point Lobos, San Luis Obispo, wineries in the area, Santa Barbara, and skip Vegas, L.A. and San Diego.

[oddstray]

Vegas is out-of-the way from coastal Califronia, and is going to eat up a lot of your time. Maybe skip it and do it on a separate trip.

And why Irvine? I mean, it's a nice enough suburb, but what's there to see in Irvine?

Coming southward out of San Clemente, stop off at Trestles and watch the canonical SoCal surfers.

[bmw335xi]

From Santa Cruz, you should drive along PCH / CA-1 to San Louis Obispo and then take HWY 101 to Los Angeles. I'd suggest visiting the following cities:

Sausalito
Santa Cruz
Monterey
Carmel
Solvang
Santa Barbara
Santa Monica
La Jolla

You should see the elephant seals in San Simeon.