The California Road Trip Ideas Thread
Discussion
Hi All,
Rather than start another thread specific to my up coming trip, I thought I'd do a generic one for all of us to share ideas about this type of trip, much like the Vegas thread. The subject comes up fairly often on here (usually with added request on how to hire a Mustang!) so lets see if we can have one location for all the ideas.
So, what are your 'must see' locations / trips / attractions in relation to this part of the world? Lets ignore a visit to Vegas for the purposes of this thread. And rather than try to do someone a specific itinerary.. lets share our hints and tips!
Cheers
Rather than start another thread specific to my up coming trip, I thought I'd do a generic one for all of us to share ideas about this type of trip, much like the Vegas thread. The subject comes up fairly often on here (usually with added request on how to hire a Mustang!) so lets see if we can have one location for all the ideas.
So, what are your 'must see' locations / trips / attractions in relation to this part of the world? Lets ignore a visit to Vegas for the purposes of this thread. And rather than try to do someone a specific itinerary.. lets share our hints and tips!
Cheers
Going to keep my eyes on this - I'm off on a road trip in September... 
Itinery is:
Flight to LA and pick up hire car (cheap.. saving the Mustang for the latter stages!)
2 nights LA
1 night Palm Springs
3 nights Vegas
1 night Death Valley
2 nights Yosemite
3 nights San Francisco
2 nights PCH1 (in a Mustang)
Flight back from LA
Any suggestions of things to do en-route, or must see's that I may not have thought of would be welcomed
Itinery is:
Flight to LA and pick up hire car (cheap.. saving the Mustang for the latter stages!)
2 nights LA
1 night Palm Springs
3 nights Vegas
1 night Death Valley
2 nights Yosemite
3 nights San Francisco
2 nights PCH1 (in a Mustang)
Flight back from LA
Any suggestions of things to do en-route, or must see's that I may not have thought of would be welcomed
We had a little road trip back in March. Covered alot of ground which was great fun. We hired a cheaper car for week 1 then a Mustang for the Pacific coast. As it turned out we got upgraded to a V8 Camaro SS which was nice!
Leg 1 LA to Vegas (for NASCAR)
Leg 2 Vegas to San Diego (Visiting relatives)
Leg 3 San Diego to San Francisco (Looong day but it gave us an extra day in San Francisco)
Leg 4 Pick up Camaro and drive San Francisco to LA on PC1
Plenty of stops along the way and we had a fantastic time!!
Leg 1 LA to Vegas (for NASCAR)
Leg 2 Vegas to San Diego (Visiting relatives)
Leg 3 San Diego to San Francisco (Looong day but it gave us an extra day in San Francisco)
Leg 4 Pick up Camaro and drive San Francisco to LA on PC1
Plenty of stops along the way and we had a fantastic time!!
I hired a Dodge midsize from Budget, when we went to pick the car up from San Fran, we got offered the Mustang. We were planning on upgrading anyway, but I got the price down to $8 extra per day by saying I wasn't that interested in the Mustang...
If you're anywhere near I think Salton Sea is worth a look at, it's such an unusual place.
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g28...
If you're driving from L.A. to San Diego, it's well worth a stop off at Carlsbad.
On the point of hire companies, Budget were not too bad, our original car was good enough, but then we got a puncture. Took it to the service area asked for them to fix it, they told us to go and stop it at the nearest airport. It ended up taking 2 hours to get a car swapped over.
They swapped us into an complete dog, got in the find the engine management light on, so back to the desk to sort it out! Eventually got a car, which still wasn't as good as the first.
Another thing, when I agreed to the Mustang, they promised a near brand new car. To that I then questioned if it was the new shape, 'Yes sir, brand new'.
It wasn't it was a several year old, old shape. Whereas I believe Hertz were offering the new shape.
In all though, I couldn't complain, they were so much cheaper. If I remember correctly that was because they offered a lower Young Driver's fee.
If you're anywhere near I think Salton Sea is worth a look at, it's such an unusual place.
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g28...
If you're driving from L.A. to San Diego, it's well worth a stop off at Carlsbad.
On the point of hire companies, Budget were not too bad, our original car was good enough, but then we got a puncture. Took it to the service area asked for them to fix it, they told us to go and stop it at the nearest airport. It ended up taking 2 hours to get a car swapped over.
They swapped us into an complete dog, got in the find the engine management light on, so back to the desk to sort it out! Eventually got a car, which still wasn't as good as the first.
Another thing, when I agreed to the Mustang, they promised a near brand new car. To that I then questioned if it was the new shape, 'Yes sir, brand new'.
It wasn't it was a several year old, old shape. Whereas I believe Hertz were offering the new shape.
In all though, I couldn't complain, they were so much cheaper. If I remember correctly that was because they offered a lower Young Driver's fee.
Fly to SF
Car - 2 or 3 nights in SF (go north up into Wine Country and see Muir Woods, maybe a race at Sears Point!)
Drive to Yosemite, overnight
Day in Yosemite
Drive to Grand Canyon (there's nothing to see, so it doesn't matter if you do most of it in the dark)
Day at GC
Day at Zion NP
Drive to Vegas (taking in the Hoover Dam)
As long as you like in Vegas (a couple of days maybe)
Drive through Death Valley and Sequoia National Park
Overnight somewhere like Delano, Fresno or Bakersfield
Take 1, 101 or Hwy 5 to Monterey (1's prettier but will add hours, maybe add in an overnight along the way)
Stay in Monterey (The best place in California, I think )
Route 1 up to San Francisco
That's what we did some years ago and it was a great trip (I'll admit not EVERYTHING's in CA, so sue me!
)
What no LA? No, because it's a s
thole
M.
Car - 2 or 3 nights in SF (go north up into Wine Country and see Muir Woods, maybe a race at Sears Point!)
Drive to Yosemite, overnight
Day in Yosemite
Drive to Grand Canyon (there's nothing to see, so it doesn't matter if you do most of it in the dark)
Day at GC
Day at Zion NP
Drive to Vegas (taking in the Hoover Dam)
As long as you like in Vegas (a couple of days maybe)
Drive through Death Valley and Sequoia National Park
Overnight somewhere like Delano, Fresno or Bakersfield
Take 1, 101 or Hwy 5 to Monterey (1's prettier but will add hours, maybe add in an overnight along the way)
Stay in Monterey (The best place in California, I think
)Route 1 up to San Francisco
That's what we did some years ago and it was a great trip (I'll admit not EVERYTHING's in CA, so sue me!
)What no LA? No, because it's a s
thole M.
Edited by marcosgt on Tuesday 28th May 19:48
I just did this in april with wife and 2 kids
My itinerary:
SF 3 nights
Monterey 1 nght
santa barb 1 night
Santa monica 2 nights
San diego 3 nights
Palm springs 3 nights
Death valley 1 night
Yosemite 2 nights
Sf - heathrow
We rented a huge chevy suburban pn day 3 to get around
Hightlights:
SF and santa monica.
Driving through Death valley
Dantes view particularly memorable
views of LA & burbank from mulholland drive at night (the ET shot)
Views of LA from The griffith observatory, gobsmacking
Seaworld in san diego, amazing day out from a person who doesnt like theme parks that much
Eating and mooching around the gaslamp district in san diego
Swimming at furnace creek at 7pm but 100 degrees F
The Ahwaahnee hotel (esp. If you like the film the shining)
Early morning stroll down the beach at santa monica to venice beach
Views of SF from the golden gate bridge, up the with the pyramids/parthenon/NY skyline/Rio etc..
Eating on mission beach in san diego watching the sun go down
Yosemite falls
Breakfast at the Hollywood cafe at fishermans wharf
Old fashioned glamour at Tropicale in palm springs (count the face lifts !)
Driving the big sur
We had to have suites in most locations so the kids had their own connected room. Happy to give recommendations for hotels. Best hotel we had was the georgian right opposite santa monica pier ... Fabulous art deco city hotel. Also in palm springs we hired a large house with a big pool, diving board, hot tub etc. backing onto a golf course. Wonderful place and worked really nicely as 3 days chillout by the pool and a welcome break from eating out 3 times a day with some basic self catering !
My itinerary:
SF 3 nights
Monterey 1 nght
santa barb 1 night
Santa monica 2 nights
San diego 3 nights
Palm springs 3 nights
Death valley 1 night
Yosemite 2 nights
Sf - heathrow
We rented a huge chevy suburban pn day 3 to get around
Hightlights:
SF and santa monica.
Driving through Death valley
Dantes view particularly memorable
views of LA & burbank from mulholland drive at night (the ET shot)
Views of LA from The griffith observatory, gobsmacking
Seaworld in san diego, amazing day out from a person who doesnt like theme parks that much
Eating and mooching around the gaslamp district in san diego
Swimming at furnace creek at 7pm but 100 degrees F
The Ahwaahnee hotel (esp. If you like the film the shining)
Early morning stroll down the beach at santa monica to venice beach
Views of SF from the golden gate bridge, up the with the pyramids/parthenon/NY skyline/Rio etc..
Eating on mission beach in san diego watching the sun go down
Yosemite falls
Breakfast at the Hollywood cafe at fishermans wharf
Old fashioned glamour at Tropicale in palm springs (count the face lifts !)
Driving the big sur
We had to have suites in most locations so the kids had their own connected room. Happy to give recommendations for hotels. Best hotel we had was the georgian right opposite santa monica pier ... Fabulous art deco city hotel. Also in palm springs we hired a large house with a big pool, diving board, hot tub etc. backing onto a golf course. Wonderful place and worked really nicely as 3 days chillout by the pool and a welcome break from eating out 3 times a day with some basic self catering !
Edited by jackal on Tuesday 28th May 22:21
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