Originally Posted by
dhuey
Sure, it's fine for that. Maybe have dinner at the Basque restaurant I mentioned:
Wool Growers Restaurant
620 East 19th Street
Bakersfield, CA 93305
Huell Howser loved the place.
I'll definitely check it out.
Originally Posted by
CDTraveler
Those drive times seem incredibly optimistic to me.
I would suggest that your group get together with a couple large scale maps of California and study the geography. California is
big. If the group starts looking at the maps (not Google maps!) and calculating routes and realizing the actual distances, factoring in things like narrow, windy mountain roads,
traffic - the LA area has world class traffic jams almost 24/7, you will likely come to see that the "base" idea is not workable. Going to and from the "base" will mean driving the same less-than-exciting stretches of road repeatedly and spending time in an area with nothing to recommend it. Going point to point will allow you to spend more time at each point, no backtracking, less sitting in traffic, less time on nausea inducing mountain roads, etc. If you can book rooms in Yosemite Valley you'll be able to enjoy the simple pleasure of sitting in the magnificent valley and staring up at the stars over the valley, and maybe even see a bear stroll by.
Personally I would be all over point to point as it's a good way to requalify my hotel status. Unfortunately the base is a must. We stayed at 14 hotels last year out of a 19 day trip and the majority of the party, grumbled and complained the entire time about re-packing luggage (never mind that I was the one who was physically carrying the luggage to/from the car and lifting them).
They have no problems with long drives. That's part of the purpose of the trip; to see the scenery. 4 hours each way is quite fine. We will not be in LA traffic so won't have that to worry about. I did pass bakersfield going into L.A last December and I found 1:45 to be spot on; avoiding rush hour traffic of course.
I was thinking about Yosemite Valley but the elevation is a problem. The person with the oxygen concentrator freaks out at having to sleep at a high elevation. She starts complaining about her oxygen dropping, yada yada. It ruins it for everyone else. She uses one of those finger devices that tells your oxygen count/heart rate and watches it like a hawk.
The good news is all they really care about is scenery. I can carry them to any mountainous part of California, tell them that's Yosemite and they are quite happy.
Originally Posted by
cblaisd
While many will turn their noses up, Bakersfield has a fascinating Country Music Museum honoring the town and its artists' very important contribution to one of American country music's most dynamic streams.
http://www.bakersfieldmusichalloffame.com/
The Hampton Inn near the Bakersfield airport (used to love flying in and out of there) is a very nice place to stay, with very nice staff.
Thanks cblaisd. It's definitely going to be a Hilton branded hotel so I can re-qualify my Diamond status. I'm looking at the Homewood Suites. The full size refrigerator will be a must.