December Trip suggestions

[dawg1001]

Howdy folks!

Firstly, a great forum here with some very helpful folks around :-)

Me & my wife (from Singapore) are planning a road trip (could be car/ bike, not decided) in the last week of December. We will be in California for 5 days & 6 nights.

Could anyone suggest an itinerary or point us in the right direction? How is the weather going to be like, will it be too cold to be on a bike or convertible? Is it a good time of the year to drive along the west coast (hwy 101?)

We love to be on the road and soak up nature. Any/all suggestions welcome. Thanks in advance

Sam

[dawg1001]

Anyone?
Thanks in advance!

[pcardenas]

cold? not really. Just a bit though.Perfect time to drive around the beaches.

[mandarin.mint]

OOOOOOO I HAVE THE PERFECT ITINERARY FOR YOU. I am planning this with my boyfriend in March (probably better weather then. . .at the end of December it might be a bit rainy and wet)

Basically it's a drive up from Los Angeles/Orange County area and finally a stop at Sonoma (Napa Valley). The trip is basically along 101/highway 1 (it turns from 101 freeway to highway 1 a little north of Santa Barbara).

Basically we start out in Los Angeles. . .if it's your first time in California, you should visit Disneyland with your wife. Head out and drive over to Santa Barbara/Santa Ynez for the wineries. PLEASE visit Solvang. . .it is a little Danish town that is seriously out of Europe/Disneyland! The souvenirs there are expensive but the food is great. The bakeries are TO DIE FOR, so buy some baked goods to pack up with you on the road.

Next, stay the night in San Luis Obispo (it's cheaper here) because you are going to want to visit Hearst Castle in San Simeon. The tours are about 1 hour long each, but believe me, they are SO WORTH it. The "castle" (which is actually Mr. Hearst's RANCH is absolutely amazing.) I was blown away, if you love art and architecture, this place is definitely hands down a place to visit.

Next, visit Carmel-by-the-Sea, it's like a little English village next to the sea with hotels shaped like little cottages. The shopping and dining there is quaint yet very fun and a little on the higher-end.

Next, go to Monterey Bay and visit the aquarium there, you will not regret it! I love the sea otters!

While you're driving up along highway 1, you can make a stop at Santa Cruz (it's a little ghetto, and it's a college town with a lot of hobos, so maybe you can skip it. . .there's not much there). Or you can just head over to San Jose and visit Santa Clara for Valley Fair Mall or Santa Row (both shopping places. Your wife might enjoy it).

Spend a day in San Francisco of course to go shopping, sight seeing, and then if you have enough time, drive up further north and visit the wineries in Napa/Sonoma!!!

I calculated it. . .you can go from Los Angeles to Sonoma in 4 days and three nights. You'll probably have to give yourself at least a day or two in San Francisco, so I think you can do it in 5 days and six nights. A lot of these places you can visit two or three cities in one day, so enjoy and be safe!

Good luck!

[pcardenas]

That sound amazing. I don't know if it would take that many days, but if you want to take it ALL in, then go for it.

[Shinok87]

must visit north and south california... see san fran and monterey... hollywood and san diego!!!

[rasel2008]

Basically we start out in Los Angeles. . .if it's your first time in California, you should visit Disneyland with your wife. Head out and drive over to Santa Barbara/Santa Ynez for the wineries. PLEASE visit Solvang. . .it is a little Danish town that is seriously out of Europe/Disneyland! The souvenirs there are expensive but the food is great.