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

There's a TON of stuff to do in CA, but don't get bogged down trying to do/see too much. I had forgotten about Hot August Nights, and it sounds like you may be there anyway. Keep that in mind when planning lodging.

Highway 1 is a great drive, but takes longer than 101.

Have a great time, and I hope to see you at some point.

Frank
 
Sounds like a good plan. I recommend two things:

1) Use google maps so you get a good idea of the drive times you are in for. California is pretty long.

2) Use Yelp to find some local spots to eat at, there is no reason to eat a chain restaurant unless you really want to try it.
 
Yosemite Valley is, IMHO, the most beautiful spot on the planet and well worth it. I drag my family to Yosemite for a backpacking trip every year. It will be crowded in the valley in August, but if like to dayhike you can get away from the crowds. In the summertime it is difficult to get hotel rooms anywhere nearby without several months advance notice. The Ahwanechee is the unique and expensive hotel in the valley. All of the others are a little outside of the park on Highway 140. The little town of Mariposa is an option but farther away. Don't speed as you go through Mariposa - the local officers are notorious for running a speed trap to generate revenue for the city coffers.
 
Ok, the good advise just keeps coming.

"Neglected68" said:
Yosemite Valley is, IMHO, the most beautiful spot on the planet and well worth it. I drag my family to Yosemite for a backpacking trip every year. It will be crowded in the valley in August, but if like to dayhike you can get away from the crowds. In the summertime it is difficult to get hotel rooms anywhere nearby without several months advance notice. The Ahwanechee is the unique and expensive hotel in the valley. All of the others are a little outside of the park on Highway 140. The little town of Mariposa is an option but farther away. Don't speed as you go through Mariposa - the local officers are notorious for running a speed trap to generate revenue for the city coffers.
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Yea, that is my reason for heading to Yosemite. I want to do some hiking and see some of the scenary. If you can recommend any routes for a hike that would be great.

"dodgestang" said:
You know.....I have a little BBQ on August 11th over in Maryland......
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Yea....i've seen the pics and as tempting as it sounds i wont make it on this trip....maybe next year :shrug

"crustycurmudgeon" said:
There's a TON of stuff to do in CA, but don't get bogged down trying to do/see too much. I had forgotten about Hot August Nights, and it sounds like you may be there anyway. Keep that in mind when planning lodging.

Highway 1 is a great drive, but takes longer than 101.

Have a great time, and I hope to see you at some point.

Frank
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Thanks Frank. I am wary of that. I want to have time to absorb the whole trip and not be rushing from place to place or spending too much time behind the wheel. I might end up ditching the car for part of it.

Overall we would like to see some of the major tourist stuff but not all of it.

On the Must see/do list so far
San Fran - Alcatraz/Golden Gate
Yosemite - Hiking/Sequoia trees/train ride
Highway 1 in a Mustang
Santa Barbara
LA/Hollywood - Hike up to the Hollywood sign/maybe a baseball game
Vegas- Casinos/Very Drunk/Gun Range
Grand Canyon
and obviously some stang related activites along the way.

On the subject of gun ranges should i wait till Vegas or is there better places to do that along the way? It is almost impossible to shoot fully automatic weapons in this country.
 
"abrahamfh" said:
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.
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Abe, you KNOW how to take care of that problem......Just move back up here.
 
you're welcome to stop by Kentucky, there isn't much to see but at least it will be really hot and humid in August. :roll
 
"Neglected68" said:
Yosemite Valley is, IMHO, the most beautiful spot on the planet and well worth it.
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You obviously haven't been to Palatka, Florida.
 
I sent Johnny a bunch of ideas and places to see in socal.

I also had thought of getting some fo the socal-ers together for a lunch. Abe, David67, Chris (blu67) and others could join in. I was thinking of getting together at a fish market in the Channel Islands harbor for fresh crab, shrimp and fish. I can bring local strawberrries.... Other ideas welcome as well.....
 
"opentrackerSteve" said:
I sent Johnny a bunch of ideas and places to see in socal.

I also had thought of getting some fo the socal-ers together for a lunch. Abe, David67, Chris (blu67) and others could join in. I was thinking of getting together at a fish market in the Channel Islands harbor for fresh crab, shrimp and fish. I can bring local strawberrries.... Other ideas welcome as well.....
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Steve and all your guys have been more than helpful so far...I am geeking out and putting it all into one document so i can start making a solid plan.

Really liking this idea Steve.

Craig,
I hear the crabs over there in SF are hard to shake off once they get a hold of you.
 
"opentrackerSteve" said:
I sent Johnny a bunch of ideas and places to see in socal.

I also had thought of getting some fo the socal-ers together for a lunch. Abe, David67, Chris (blu67) and others could join in. I was thinking of getting together at a fish market in the Channel Islands harbor for fresh crab, shrimp and fish. I can bring local strawberrries.... Other ideas welcome as well.....
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Steve;

I've eaten at that restaurant, great sea food!
 
"JeffTepper" said:
Steve;

I've eaten at that restaurant, great sea food!
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My family has our annual Mother's Day lunch there every year. We then retire to our home where I serve berry creme brulee for all so we can fall asleep during the NBA playoffs in a food coma......

8^)
 
Here are some details to the hike up to the HOLLYWOOD sign the wife and I did, it follows the ridge so you get great views of the San Fernando valley and the LA basin.
 

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"Johnny M" said:
Yea, that is my reason for heading to Yosemite. I want to do some hiking and see some of the scenary. If you can recommend any routes for a hike that would be great.
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The official Yosemite site has some good information
http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/index.htm
as well as brief trail descriptions
http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/hiking.htm
http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/valleyhikes.htm

Hiking out of the Valley is not exactly a walk in the park - the elevation of the Valley floor is 4000 feet and the trails climb up another 2000 feet.
I like the four mile trail the hike past Vernal Fall to Nevada Fall, and the Panorama trail. The waterfalls will be a little weaker this year since we've had little rain, but they will still be flowing.
Do not do the hike to the top of Half Dome. The last part of the climb up the back of the bare granite dome is very crowded and dangerous. Clueless people bring their kids up there to cling to the steel cable while they are paralyzed with fear. At least one person falls to their death off of Half Dome every year. My BIL and SIL, who worked for the park service doing backcountry trail maintenance for 10 years in Yosemite say they would never have gone up Half Dome themselves if they didn't have to install the steel cables in the spring.

I can't give you much help on where to stay - I always stay in a tent out in the wilderness.
 
"Neglected68" said:
I always stay in a tent out in the wilderness.
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Silly question alert.... but i am guessing there will be snakes and bears and other things that might make me a little "dead" out there?
 
"Johnny M" said:
Silly question alert.... but i am guessing there will be snakes and bears and other things that might make me a little dead out there?
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...and owls.
 
"Johnny M" said:
Silly question alert.... but i am guessing there will be snakes and bears and other things that might make me a little "dead" out there?
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I'd call you a pansy but being worried about bears seems a bit more of a legit concern than that of our resident ornithophobiac.
 
"Horseplay" said:
I'd call you a pansy but being worried about bears seems a bit more of a legit concern than that of our resident ornithophobiac.
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The most treatening animal in this country is a bull or an angry dog.....

I would hate to end up being known as that "Thick Paddy" that got eaten by a bear.
 
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