Petula

Hi, we are in the middle of planning a trip to California this August and we are in need of some help. We are 2 couples in our mid to late 20's (my husband and I and my sister and her husband). We will be arriving in LA on August 2 at 4:30pm and departing from San Francisco August 13 at 10:30pm.
We are thinking of driving to San Diego first and spend a few days there then drive to LA for the weekend and then up the coast to SF for another few days.

We want to do the touristy things (no museums or theme parks). What are the must sees? This is our first time in California. Also, we need suggestions on where to stay (we can share a room and would like to spend around $150-200/night). We want to be near the action or have easy access to it.

We will have a car in LA and SD but will drop it off in SF once we arrive so we won't have to worry about parking.

I know this is a vague question but I am overwhelmed right now and don't know where to begin.

Thanks so much for all your suggestions.

jimshep

If you do not want to do anything touristy or go to any museum in California, you?ll be missing some great experiences (the Getty in LA, the Modern Art Museum in SF, the Hearst Castle, Old Town San Diego, the San Diego Zoo, Golden Gate Bridge, and much, much more).

Since you are arriving in the late afternoon, you might want to drive to San Diego via Highway 1 and spend the night at Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Dana Point, or some such place.

If there is a center in San Diego, I have not found it. We like to stay at the Best Western in Old Town.

In LA I suggest you stay in Santa Monica, which is near Venice. Cal Mar Hotel Suites should be just the ticket for you there.

When you drive Highway 1 to SF, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Pismo Beach, Cambria, Carmel, and Monterey are some of the places worth spending at least one night.

If you want to be in the middle of things in SF, stay in the Union Square area.

alaskafan

I would recommend driving down the coast on 1 South since you will be next to the ocean, while coming back from SD to SFO, you have traffic on the other side next to you.

In San Diego, definitely recommend the Wild Animal Park and/or the Zoo . Personally prefer the Wild Animal Park -more Safari like, check out their website sandiegozoo.org.

Petula

Jimshep,
I did not say we didn't want to do touristy things....I said we want to do touristy things we just don't want to go to museums or theme parks.

We want to do Hearst Castle, GG bridge, alcatraz, rodeo drive etc....anything else that we must do?

Thanks for your help so far!

bugocity

Petula, see the responses on the topic "So, how does this sound? (Coast trip)" That'll help you out with some of the Central Coast stuff....

SandyBrit

Petula:

We have stayed at the Ocean Park Inn, 711 Grand Ave www.oceanparkinn.com Hotel has 73 units, on the beach, complimentary continental breakfast, free underground parking, mini refrigerators. Best rooms face the ocean and try to get 2nd or 3rd floor. Easy reach to just about everything. We plan to stay at this hotel again.

On our first visit to San Diego we took the Old Town Trolley which is a narrated, sightseeing tour that features the high-lights of San Diego and Coronado. On-and-off boarding. www.historictours.com

The official tourist website for San Diego is www.sandiego.org - tons and tons of information here, including offers on special rates at hotels, reduced admission coupons etc.

Hope this helps you to get started.

Sandy

jimshep

Petula, I realized the error of my ways immediately after I posted my reply. I do hope you will consider visiting The Getty Center in LA (I think you?ll love the building and views) and the Museum of Modern Art in SF (the building and shows are great). Here are some other things I like. San Diego: Sea World, La Jolla, Old Town, the trolley ride to Tijuana. LA: Santa Monica, Venice, Hollywood, Warner Brothers Tour, and Melrose Place. Driving Highway 1 from Santa Monica and ending in San Francisco. Ventura: Staying at Bella Maggiore Inn and the walkway along the ocean. Santa Barbara: the mission, court house, historic buildings, shops. La Purisma Mission State Park, near Lompoc (which, with its many out buildings, provides insight into life at the missions). Cambria: motels on Moonstone Beach Drive, the town, Hearst Castle. San Francisco: Everything, but especially walking all over the city and getting back to the hotel via bus or cable car using a transit pass and transit map (available at the information office at the foot of Powel and Market Street).

Petula

This may sound like a stupid question but how far of a drive is Hearst Castle from LA? We want to leave LA early in the morning via Highway 101 to Santa Barbara (possibly stop for a couple hours) to San Louis Obispo and then cross over to Highway 1 for the rest of the drive.

I'm wondering if one night stop somewhere along the coast is enough. We don't mind driving for 5-6 hours at a time.

Thanks for the great suggestion thus far!

Petula

I answered my own question regarding length of time from LA to Hearst and where it is located

J_Correa

If you have the time, I would spend 2 nights (or longer) on the drive from LA to SF. Day 1 - Drive from LA to Cambria, stopping in Santa Barbara for lunch and a little siteseeing. Day 2, take an early tour of Hearst Castle and then head up to Monterey, stopping along the way at various spots in Big Sur. Day 3, either continue to SF or take an extra day in Monterey to relax and see the sights there and drive to SF the next day.