Travel In August

[jmleahy]

My family (husband and 2 daughters,19 and 22) are planning a trip to Califronia in August and we would appreciate any input on sites and lodgings. We would like to start in San Francisco and travel south on the coast. Any suggested itinerary would be greatly appreciated. We are looking at 7- 10 days. Thanks for any suggestions.

[wetwillie05]

A stay in and around San Francisco (California's most beautiful city)for a few days is a must. You can get around very well on the MUN. or via Cable Car. No need to tell you where to go there... there is so much to see.

Many folks love to take the south bound route on Scenic Highway 1 and I recommend that. Exit S.F. at Daly City and head south. You'll encounter sleepy little beach towns on your route to Santa Cruz / Monterey Bay. Worth a day or so of poking about.

There is a giant redwood grove near Felton just north of Santa Cruz (Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park) worth seeing. You might also take a surf lesson in S.C. too.

Past Monterey and Carmel (a great little town!) you'll enter the grand Big Sur coast. Take your time, and you will, because of the twistiness of the roads and because at every turn there is a splendid new vista.
Don't miss the protected Elephant Seal rookery, and at the lower end of the Big Sur is the fantastical Hurst Castle, and the sleepy little town of Cambria.

The coastline and towns on California's Central coast like Morro Bay and Santa Maria, and the surrounding countryside give a bit of an idea what all of California might have looked like before the U.S.A. stole it away from Mexico.

The wine country around Santa Barbara is now famous due to the fine wines produced there as well as from the popular movie, "Sideways" filmed locally.

You must decide early if you want to spend any time in L.A., seeing the multitude of attractions there, because the preceding rough guide could easily use up a week. If you want to speed things up so you'll have time for Tinsel Town, the drive from S.F. down highway 1 can be done in 2 or 3 easy days. I recommend the slower pace, because, well you're on vacation!

No matter how quick you get there, you cannot see everything in L.A. in even a week, so pick one or two must see's and stick to that.

Hope this helps
Cheers, Bill
Bill & Diane Staggs
Vintage Surfari Wagons
bus4hire-at-vwsurfari-dot-.com
949.716.3135

Relax, enjoy life.............take the Bus!

[zaolee]

See the Hearst Castle on the way south.

[zaolee]

Sept. is the hottest month in Calif. but San Fran should not be that hot