Vacation to California?
Hey, im going on a vacation to california this summer. I want to know what to experience or feel when I arrive there. Any cool destinations i can see?Any area or county in particular i should go to ? And why should I travel there in the first place??
3 Responses
Toucan Sam
09 Apr 2010
Miss Vida
09 Apr 2010
Obvious things are in San Francisco, walking the mile across the golden gate bridge, going to Alcatraz which is cool, but no longer a guided tour. You can go to China town, Pier 39 is rather famous for shopping and there is an area where you can see all the sea lions lounging. The Golden Gate Park is huge and has botanical gardens, and hiking trails, etc. You can go up to the redwoods. One of my favorite places in the world is Fern Canyon up the coast a bit. It is awesome and right next to a beach.
http://www.redwoodvisitor.org/showrecord.asp?id=476
You need a car for anything outside of San Francisco as well (Fern Canyon is outside of San Francsico). In SF, you can pretty much get around by public transportation. SF is a bit expensive as well.
A really nice area, probably about 4 hours east of SF is Lake Tahoe. It is an enormously lovely natural lake that is super clear and blue. It is up in the mountains and there are water sports, camping (or hotelling), mountain biking, tons of hiking. I love that area, but you need a car to get there and get around, but it has a nice beach, rentable kayaks, boats, etc. I like Baldwin Beach a lot too.
I would find a Lonely Planet guide for California and flip through that. It might have some good ideas! All in all California is an amazingly diverse State and has mountains next to desert, near the ocean, by forest… It’s all close by!
Nickki
09 Apr 2010
San Francisco is absolutely incredible! We actually just were there this past July on our annual family trip. My favorite vacation yet! I don’t even know where to begin but I’ll start with the city: San Francisco is such an eclectic mix of ethnicities and cultures that you will surely find much to do regardless of your interests. However, there are certain areas not to be missed. Definitely check out Hawk Hill for, in my opinion, the most impressive view of any skyline in the world. Simply awesome! Take a stroll or ride down Lombard Street, go by the picturesque Victorian homes, enjoy the largest urban park in America in Golden Gate Park (go to the Japanese Tea Gardens here!), and of course immerse yourself in the beauty of a beckoning sunset amidst the Golden Gate bridge. You may like Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39, and Alcatraz if you feel interested in those. These are a little touristy, but I found them all enjoyable and part of the quintessential SF experience.
Next, in contrast to the hectic pace of city life, we took off for Yosemite National Park. Once again, unparalleled beauty in this area. I suggest staying inside the park if possible due to the excessive driving we had to endure. It was indeed a hassle to drive so much, but well worth it! Hikes not to miss: Half Dome, Bridalveil Falls, and Sequoia National Forest was wonderful as well. The giant trees were remarkable! Yosemite is one of the premier national parks in our country, so this should not be missed!
Highway 1 Along Big Sur: This was my favorite part of the entire trip! I must give you a warning though. Coastal California is known for having massive blankets of fog, especially in the summertime. Luckily we had perfect visibility our entire stay, but we ran into others who were far less fortunate. Some couldn’t even see the beauty of the coast because the fog was so dense. Having said that, I would NOT miss this drive. Also consider stopping in Monterey and unquestionably stay in Carmel. This town was so quaint and beautiful.
If you are considering traveling to California, look no further than NorCal, as Northern California is called. It really is a different state than its neighbor to the south: SoCaL
Hope this helps and have a wonderful time on your vacation if you decide to go! You won’t regret it!
Here’s my list of best places:
1) San Francisco – the most beautiful city on Earth, and I’ve been to most of them. Haight-Ashbury, the Golden Gate, Pier 39, Giants’ games, there is more to do here than you’ll ever have time to do it. Its an expensive place, but if you do your research, you can do it for alot cheaper than people realize. Bring a jacket though, its gets COLD, especially in Summer.
2) Yosemite – the most beautiful place on Earth, I’d say its neck and neck with SF for places to go, arguably better. Yosemite Falls, Bridalveil Falls, the place is like a real life painting. Just see the place for yourself, its even better in person. http://www.nps.gov/yose
3) Kings Canyon/Sequioa National Park – amazing place, see the largest, second largest, and third largest trees on Earth. Kings Canyon is so big, its hard to believe its even real.
4) The Redwoods – I’ve never been there myself, but I hear its almost as good as the places above.
5) Monterey – a little San Francisco, just without all the crowds. The Aquarium is a must see, and take a look at Pebble Beach if you get a chance.
6) San Diego – an often overlooked place, but Old Town is very cool. Its a nice city, alot of history, but bring a jacket here too, it gets cold. Not like SF, but still cold.
Here’s my list of places to avoid:
1) Los Angeles – not a good place to visit, Hollywood is the pits, and the rest of the place doesn’t offer much. The place is a big disappointment, so I save yourself time and go elsewhere.
2) Pretty much anywhere between Santa Barbara and San Diego. Its all hype, don’t believe it. People don’t live there because they want to, they live there because they have to. Why would you want to visit that?
3) Fresno – I believe the city’s motto is "The city that has nothing to offer to anyone." You’ll have to endure it to get to Yosemite and KC/S unfortunately.
4) Napa Valley – more hype. Overpriced, and the wine isn’t that good. If you want good wine, go to the Santa Ynez valley just north of Santa Barbara, vineyards as far as the eye can see and way better wine. There’s a reason "Sideways" didn’t take place in the Napa Valley.