where should we visit before we relocate from New England?

[im4yanks]

i have come up with a rough itinerary to satisfy 'the pleasure' & 'the finding a place we would like to live' aspects of this trip. I'm ok with compromising on the congestion part of the equation; my significant other not so much. We would both be ok not having walkable entertainment (I care more about it in this case). As far as driving........

I'm not familiar with the parking situation in each place, but being from the east coast, I'm very familiar with paying to park at the hotel $30-$60/night & $20+ for parking garages during the day. I'd like to know if it's the same for all/most of my planned trip down the SoCal coast. Basically, should I rent one car to keep the whole trip, or ditch it when staying a few nights in some places because the area's walkable, and then rent again as needed? Haven't decided how many nights each place yet...just a general flow to the trip.....

Also, feel free to tell me what about this itinerary isn't feasible/a waste/just plain dumb. We have 8 days. May be able to do another trip in August....

1. fly into LAX (maybe stay nearby) -> hit calabasas & ojai on the way to santa barbara (stay here)
2. stop in malibu on the way to santa monica
3. explore venice & the beaches (all? some? marina del rey, hermosa, long beach, newport, laguna are on the list). (will stay here also)
4. stop in encinitas & del mar on the way to san diego (stay here)

return trip:
5. drive to Corona & Orange (stay?)
6. stop at monkery park, griffith park, studio city & sherman oaks (stay?)
7. fly out of LAX 11pm

Is a trip to joshua tree park (with/without palm springs) on the way back from San Diego out of the question?

[RosieSD]

Looks like a good but very busy itinerary. I'm sure you already know this but Del Mar, while beautiful, is one of the most expensive places to live in the U.S., and Encinitas will probably be out of range as well. Oceanside and Carlsbad are just north of Encinitas, so one option would be to get off of I-5 at Oceanside and drive down the coast on Hwy. 1 from there. That will take you through Oceanside, Carlsbad, Leucadia, Encinitas, Solana Beach and Del Mar. Just below Del Mar is Torrey Pines State Park, which is definitely worth a stop if it's still day light. Pay the park entrance fee and drive up to the top of the park, where you can do a short hike through rare pines out onto a sandstone bluff overlooking the ocean. It's one of the most beautiful places in San Diego -- don't miss it.

From Torrey Pines, you could continue into La Jolla, where you will find lots of great restaurants and lots more to see and do than in Del Mar. http://www.lajollabythesea.com/ You might consider spending the night somewhere in the La Jolla area, as this would be a full day of driving if you're coming from Venice.

I'd also probably skip Corona and spend an extra night in the San Diego area. If you can only give the San Diego area one night, and are planning to stay in downtown San Diego, consider having dinner at Panama 66, so you'll at least get to see a bit of the city's crown jewel, Balboa Park. http://www.balboapark.org/in-the-park/panama-66


However, looking at your itinerary, I think you already have a jammed pack schedule with what is on your list, so I'd recommend adding at least one at least two more nights if you want to visit Palm Springs and Joshua Tree. Honestly, if you can't add more time, I'd save the desert for a trip when you have more time (or for after your move!).

Have a fun trip!

[pacific2]

Originally Posted by im4yanks

i have come up with a rough itinerary to satisfy 'the pleasure' & 'the finding a place we would like to live' aspects of this trip. I'm ok with compromising on the congestion part of the equation; my significant other not so much. We would both be ok not having walkable entertainment (I care more about it in this case). As far as driving........

I'm not familiar with the parking situation in each place, but being from the east coast, I'm very familiar with paying to park at the hotel $30-$60/night & $20+ for parking garages during the day. I'd like to know if it's the same for all/most of my planned trip down the SoCal coast. Basically, should I rent one car to keep the whole trip, or ditch it when staying a few nights in some places because the area's walkable, and then rent again as needed? Haven't decided how many nights each place yet...just a general flow to the trip.....

Also, feel free to tell me what about this itinerary isn't feasible/a waste/just plain dumb. We have 8 days. May be able to do another trip in August....

1. fly into LAX (maybe stay nearby) -> hit calabasas & ojai on the way to santa barbara (stay here)
2. stop in malibu on the way to santa monica
3. explore venice & the beaches (all? some? marina del rey, hermosa, long beach, newport, laguna are on the list). (will stay here also)
4. stop in encinitas & del mar on the way to san diego (stay here)

return trip:
5. drive to Corona & Orange (stay?)
6. stop at monkery park, griffith park, studio city & sherman oaks (stay?)
7. fly out of LAX 11pm

Is a trip to joshua tree park (with/without palm springs) on the way back from San Diego out of the question?

Maybe you are already aware of it, but both Newport Beach and Laguna Beach are located in Orange County. Or, did you just plan on making a detour over to the city of Orange?

[im4yanks]

Originally Posted by pacific2

Maybe you are already aware of it, but both Newport Beach and Laguna Beach are located in Orange County. Or, did you just plan on making a detour over to the city of Orange?

yeah, I didn't want to veer too far off the coast on the way down. Gonna check out the city for potential living situation

[BeauCharles]

Originally Posted by blueskywalker

Sacramento has horrible air quality and is hot, hot, hot in the summer. Davis too.

Average high in Sac in July is 92. Average low is 58. Fairly low humidity too. You'd have to be an absolute pansy to not be able to hand that. Its not an hour from the ocean and the air can be dirty at times (its no L.A. though), I'll give you that.