But, Sequoia National Park (IMHO one of the most insanely cool places on earth) is sort of between SFO & LAX and it's stunning in the snow.
Err I meant Sequoia, sorry.
I know both are out of the way-But how many times are you going to be driving in California? I think one of them is definitely worth the detour, IMO
Driving in SF isn't any worse than driving in London or New York. Maybe worse than driving in Boston, however.
No. Boston has the worst drivers in North America. They possess that special combination of aggressiveness and incompetence found only in a few places worldwide. Portugal, for instance.
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Highway 1 definately and stop over at Pismo Beach on the way south. An alternative route that is very scenic is to detour through the Carmel Valley and then cut back onto Highway 1.
+1 for Pismo Beach
Did SFO, Monterey, Pismo, Santa Monica on a first First last year.
No. Boston has the worst drivers in North America. They possess that special combination of aggressiveness and incompetence found only in a few places worldwide. Portugal, for instance.
I plead very tired, delayed and mildly PUTI at JFK last night. Of course Boston is the worst in the western world -- and I know. I meant to say something like at least it's not Boston.
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I did this trip in March this year - started in LA (flying CW - miles didn't stretch to F) - but we had 2 weeks. Oh - and we had our young teenagers with us - their first visit to the West Coast. We ventured more inland, rather than staying on the coast and did LA, Grand Canyon, Vegas - (flight to Fresno) - Yosemite and SFO. I would have missed Vegas, but we were meeting someone there. Highlights for me were the National Parks - Yosemite in the snow is rather special, and the waterfalls were at their best.
Think about driving inland rather than the coastal route. You can do Death Valley, the redwood parks and Yosemite. I found this much more interesting than the coat trip.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by whakojacko
Good advice about no having a car while staying in SF, but id say you can probably save even more and take BART unto SF for ~$9/person, which is walking distance from most major hotels.
I also agree with those saying you should start in LA and end in SF
I'd stay in a hotel near the airport. Plenty of them and usually they offer a free pick up. No need to have a car in SF - it is a compact city and easy to get around. Stay in Millbrae and from most hotels the BART station is usually within walking distance. Hire your car and pick it up at the airport when you leave the city. BART also stops at the Airport.
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I did this last summer. We flew into LAX but didn't hang around there. The trip was:
1 Santa Barbara - 3 days (Inn at the Spanish Steps)
2 Paso Robles - 1 Day (Marriott Courtyard) There was a country show on with Rodeo (!) Got hoovered in the bar with a band called the Outlaws! There are great wineries here.
2.5 Joined the PC1 at San Simeon, stopped off to see Hearst Castle
3 Monterey - 3 days (The Clement) Wonderful hotel
4 San Francisco (IC Mark Hopkins) Another fab hotel
As an aside, if you want to go to Alcatraz (and I recommend you do), make sure you book the tickets well in advance otherwise you might be disappointed. You can do this on the web.
We had a great trip (hired a convertible mustang) but as others have said there are so many great places on the way. We want to go back and do it again!
Driving within San Francisco is not much fun, but not like trying to drive in Boston or Paris! If you're not going to leave the city, then I agree - don't get a car. But if you want to explore outside the city -- drive over the Golden Gate Bridge into Marin County (Sausalito, Mill Valley) then you'll want a car. If you don't get a car, if the weather isn't too bad, take the ferry from San Francisco to Sausalito (the Golden Gate Ferry) -- it's a fabulous trip and you'll get fantastic views! Really lots more interesting than driving across.
Driving in SF isn't any worse than driving in London or New York. Maybe worse than driving in Boston, however.
Although Boston is pretty bad , I'd rather drive round Boston, the West End of London and Manhattan than say Nob Hill and Chinatown in the dark.
Each to their own I suppose.
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I did this trip in March this year - started in LA (flying CW - miles didn't stretch to F) - but we had 2 weeks. Oh - and we had our young teenagers with us - their first visit to the West Coast. We ventured more inland, rather than staying on the coast and did LA, Grand Canyon, Vegas - (flight to Fresno) - Yosemite and SFO. I would have missed Vegas, but we were meeting someone there. Highlights for me were the National Parks - Yosemite in the snow is rather special, and the waterfalls were at their best.
As someone who was born and raised 60 miles from the south entrance to Yosemite National Park, the statement by BlackBerryAddict concerning Yosemite in the snow brings back so many pleasant memories. Actually, I consider mid-to-late March as the very best time to visit Yosemite. By that time, the roads are usually sufficiently clear of snow that tire chains are not required, and best of all, the park is at its most pristine - the "spring awakening" is something to behold, unspoiled by the summertime crowds that mar the overall experience.
Back to the Coastal route: Most visitors choose to drive in a southerly direction, for the simple reason that the non-driving passengers have the maximum opportunity to look at the view (the driver needs to concentrate on her/his driving, therefore, stops to take photos etc. should also the the occasion to change drivers). Also be aware that slides during rainy weather will occasionally close the road. Caltrans (the state department responsible for roads and highways) does a good job of keeping the roads open, but an occasional major slide may close the road for an extended period - be sure to have a "Plan B" in mind should you encounter one of these (thankfully infrequent) events.
One last comment about Los Angeles (where I went to college) - it has to be remembered that, until about the 1890s, less than 5,000 people lived in in the greater Los Angeles area. So while L.A. does not have the extended history of other world cities, it certainly has attractions of a more current vintage that visitors can certainly find rewarding.
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that visitors can certainly find rewarding.
