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Planning a Holiday/Road Trip to the USA(West Coast)

J

Johnny M

Active Member
Morning All,
I am planning a holiday to the USA in August with my gf. We have never been to the west coast so we are going to road trip for a few weeks.

Here is my initial plan.

Fly from Ireland to San Francisco
2-3 Days in San Francisco. From there do the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, etc
4-5 Days in Yosemite Park. Touring and camping. Visit Lake Tahoe.
Hire a Car then head south on Highway 1
2-3 Days in Santa Barbara. Go Sup Boarding, Whale watching, etc
1-2 Days in LA. Do the usual tourist stuff.
2-3 Days in San Diego then head towards Las Vegas.
2-3 days in Las Vegas. Do the Grand Canyon, Casinos, etc etc
Then fly to New York for a few days and home to Ireland.


Here is a rough route plan on google maps. You will have to zoom out to see the route.

http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=San+Francisco,+CA,+United+States&daddr=CA-89+S%2FChristmas+Valley+Rd+to:38.03715,-121.36636+to:36.44208,-121.92254+to:Santa+Barbara,+CA,+United+States+to:Los+Angeles,+CA,+United+States+to:San+Diego,+CA,+United+States+to:Las+Vegas,+NV,+United+States&hl=en&ll=37.147182,-120.481567&spn=2.850215,4.235229&sll=37.483577,-120.234375&sspn=5.674102,8.470459&geocode=FVJmQAIdKAe0-CkhAGkAbZqFgDH_rXbwZxNQSg%3BFUxIUAId8q_Y-A%3BFZ5mRAIdqBjE-CmVZOC8bwmQgDFafX4TQ0eitg%3BFeAPLAIdFJy7-CmRNgtY3euNgDG1Fs3YSATnHw%3BFV44DQId8ozd-CnVgy1vxxTpgDFIdrrXZDrRyA%3BFYqYBwIdm77z-CkT2ifcXcfCgDH0CEYlb98v4g%3BFUEy8wEdeVIE-SlLHpKtD1PZgDF53xX9_SE6DQ%3BFdYQJwIdMJoi-SnRffWkgre-gDGjebPV5tXMOg&oq=Tahoe&mra=dme&mrsp=1&sz=7&via=2,3&t=m&z=8

So if you have any tips on places to stay/visit, local knowledge, advise on places to go and places not to go then please let me know.

Any connections in car hire? (looking to hire a convertible mustang!)

Thanks in advance.

Johnny
 
Thats great Johnny !!
I hope to do this within a couple of years.Maybe next year.
I expect a full vacation report here on the fix.
Tip i can give you : take me instead of your GF ?????? ( watch out for those NorCal dudes !!! Especially the ones driving mustangs !! )
Have a very beautiful vacation overthere , Johnny !!!!
 
"B67FSTB" said:
Thats great Johnny !!
I hope to do this within a couple of years.Maybe next year.
I expect a full vacation report here on the fix.
Tip i can give you : take me instead of your GF ?????? ( watch out for those NorCal dudes !!! Especially the ones driving mustangs !! )
Have a very beautiful vacation overthere , Johnny !!!!
Click to expand...

Hahah Thanks Bruno,
I am really looking forward to it. I will post a full report and hope to see a few Stangs when i am over there.
 
Johnny,

Cool!

I can give you a lot of things to see in Santa Barbara and the Ventura County area. I live here!

PT me your email addy and I can give you a lot of prospective places to see and their websites.

Examples include, The Palace Grill in Santa Barbara, the Ronal Reagan Presidential Library in Simi, CA, the San Diego zoo and/or Sea World, the USS Midway museum, etc.
 
"opentrackerSteve" said:
Johnny,

Cool!

I can give you a lot of things to see in Santa Barbara and the Ventura County area. I live here!

PT me your email addy and I can give you a lot of prospective places to see and their websites.

Examples include, The Palace Grill in Santa Barbara, the Ronal Reagan Presidential Library in Simi, CA, the San Diego zoo and/or Sea World, the USS Midway museum, etc.
Click to expand...

Brillant...You really can't beat local knowledge. PM on the way :thu

We should try and meet up for a beer when i am there. :lunc
 
Oh so you're coming to NorCal and thought you would just slip in and drive by did ya?

Ain't gonna happen. I know of at least 4 fastbacks that will stop you in your tracks.

Let us know the dates and will get an action plan going.
I do a hell of a Bullitt tour....in my Suburban :shrug.

As for Alcatraz...I suggest making plans/date and get your tickets online before you get here. Sometimes waiting for the tour time that is available when you get to the ticket office ruins your day plans.

Your route south is good. I live 1mile off of 101 in Morgan Hill and Craig is even closer to 101 in Menlo Park.
 
Mike I'll chase you in my Charger, real fun!!! ;(

Seriously though I would be up for a Fastback cruise along the coast.
 
"KBMWRS" said:
Oh so you're coming to NorCal and thought you would just slip in and drive by did ya?

Ain't gonna happen. I know of at least 4 fastbacks that will stop you in your tracks.

Let us know the dates and will get an action plan going.
I do a hell of a Bullitt tour....in my Suburban :shrug.

As for Alcatraz...I suggest making plans/date and get your tickets online before you get here. Sometimes waiting for the tour time that is available when you get to the ticket office ruins your day plans.

Your route south is good. I live 1mile off of 101 in Morgan Hill and Craig is even closer to 101 in Menlo Park.
Click to expand...

Nice one...I love it when a plan comes together. At the minute I am looking to arrive in San Fran on the 1-3rd August but I will know for sure once i get flights booked.

So what else is worth visiting around NorCal? What do you think of my idea of going to Yosemite and Lake Tahoe?

I owe Craig a beer or 6 so meeting up with you guys will now have to be mandatory. :beer
 
Johnny,
Seriously, I would reconsider bringing your GF, at least to San Francisco, for us NorCal Fixers have had the tendency to bring out a different personality from those out of town visitors and I'm not too sure she would like what she might see.
:shee

Just trying to save your relationship :shrug


But if you insist, you'll be in good hands :bowdown
 
May I suggest a walk or train ride in the redwoods.
You can experience them here by walking free or take a train ride (loop). The state park is adjacent to the train place.
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=546

http://www.roaringcamp.com/

Or for the biggest trees in the world
http://www.nps.gov/seki/index.htm
This is south of Yosemite NP.

Remember this is a big state and you will be here during the peak tourist season. Plan well and expect delays.

Sf to Lake Tahoe about 5 hours. Lake Tahoe to Yosemite about 2-3 hours.

Oh and we will cruise the coast...... :thu
 
"KBMWRS" said:
Remember this is a big state and you will be here during the peak tourist season. Plan well and expect delays from visiting The Condor Room, The Hanky Panky Gentlemen's Club and other fine establishments of San Francisco.
Click to expand...
 
Hey I am south of LA. Let me know what days you are going down this way. We could do a car show or be tourist and get on one of those buses that takes you to the celebrities houses. If you guys want to.

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk
 
Johnny, good luck with your trip. We'll see you shortly here on the East Coast when you realize where normal people live.
 
"blue65coupe" said:
Johnny, good luck with your trip. We'll see you shortly here on the East Coast when you realize where normal people live.
Click to expand...

I did warn you Johnny about the NorCal gang !!!
Its not too late to let your GF and ME go to the west coast !!! :thu
 
Your timing couldn't be more perfect...for Hot August Nights!

Aug 3-5 in South Lake Tahoe; Aug 7-12 in Reno, NV (not too far east of Lake Tahoe). We'll be there and it would be great to see you if we don't meet up first in the Bay Area!

Info: http://www.hotaugustnights.net/
 
Guys,
Thanks for all the advise...All great stuff. I will digest over the next few days and no doubt i will come back with a few more questions.

Craig,
Haha I like the sound of these fine establishements you talk about...should i be doing any training to perpare me for them? Maybe spend more time on the daily thong thread? :yah

"David67" said:
Hey I am south of LA. Let me know what days you are going down this way. We could do a car show or be tourist and get on one of those buses that takes you to the celebrities houses. If you guys want to.
Click to expand...
Brillant.. I will let you know once i have dates set. It'll be great to have some local knowledge on LA as it looks pretty massive.

"KBMWRS" said:
May I suggest a walk or train ride in the redwoods.
You can experience them here by walking free or take a train ride (loop). The state park is adjacent to the train place.
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=546

http://www.roaringcamp.com/

Or for the biggest trees in the world
http://www.nps.gov/seki/index.htm
This is south of Yosemite NP.

Remember this is a big state and you will be here during the peak tourist season. Plan well and expect delays.

Sf to Lake Tahoe about 5 hours. Lake Tahoe to Yosemite about 2-3 hours.

Oh and we will cruise the coast...... :thu
Click to expand...

Thanks, this is great advise. This is exactly the sort of thing i want to do.

"Sacbill" said:
Info: http://www.hotaugustnights.net/
Click to expand...

This sounds great....if the dates line up then we will try and make it.
 
Another Southern Californian chiming in. The wife and I are in for some touristy action, we don't mind travel time so keep us in mind.

Venice and Santa Monica boarwalks are a must as well as Long Beach and San Pedro. LA is definitely a big town with lots to do. If your into hiking, there is a great single track trail(hiking only) that starts over by universal studios all the way to the Hollywood sign on the correct side of the fence so you can touch it if you want. A lot of Hollywood stuff that can be done, rodeo drive, Kodak theater, Chinese Mann theater and the Griffith park observatory. I heard the la brea tar pits are cool but have not had the chance to check them out yet. During summer, the wife and I attend cinespia's movie showings at the Hollywood forever cemetery after dark, we love it.

Santa Barbara is a place that you will never forget, absolutely beautiful. The wife and i frequent it often as it reminds us of NorCal. A lot of good food out in Santa Barbara as well.
 
"abrahamfh" said:
Another Southern Californian chiming in. The wife and I are in for some touristy action, we don't mind travel time so keep us in mind.

Venice and Santa Monica boarwalks are a must as well as Long Beach and San Pedro. LA is definitely a big town with lots to do. If your into hiking, there is a great single track trail(hiking only) that starts over by universal studios all the way to the Hollywood sign on the correct side of the fence so you can touch it if you want. A lot of Hollywood stuff that can be done, rodeo drive, Kodak theater, Chinese Mann theater and the Griffith park observatory. I heard the la brea tar pits are cool but have not had the chance to check them out yet. During summer, the wife and I attend cinespia's movie showings at the Hollywood forever cemetery after dark, we love it.

Santa Barbara is a place that you will never forget, absolutely beautiful. The wife and i frequent it often as it reminds us of NorCal. A lot of good food out in Santa Barbara as well.
Click to expand...

Thanks a million. All great advise. I like the idea of hiking up to the Hollywood sign. I will be in touch ones i get dates sorted.
 
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