From: pete@carrera.wvus.org (Pete Gregory)
Newsgroups: rec.travel
Subject: re: CA coast
Date: Sun, 12 Apr 92 18:17:45 PDT
Organization: Private System

After seeing subsequent "my mail to you bounced", I decided to post
my reply to the group before my system deleted the outgoing mail...

ajw@decoy.uucp (25482-siegel) writes:

> My husband and I are planning a trip to the other side of 
> this country (from New Jersey).  All we know so far is that 
> we will start in San Franciso area and need to end up in Los 
> Angeles about 1-2 weeks later (grandmother visit in LA).
> 
> Anyway, I was wondering if anyone could help provide any tips/pointers 
> on places to stay, things to see, etc. 
> We were thinking of  driving down rt 1 for at least part of the way, 
> but were also considering taking a side joint to yosemite (or other parks).

I've travelled all parts of the California coast, but not all at once - I'm
quite envious...

First, I'd recommend you travel as much of Hwy 1 as possible.  You'll make
better time on US101, but it's not near as scenic (though not bad by any
means).  Recommended stops:

* San Francisco - don't rush out of town!  You could easily (well, I could!)
  spend two weeks there.  If nature's your bag, visit Muir Woods (25 min.
  north near Mill Valley), one of the world's most beautiful redwood groves.
* Big Sur - but I don't know much about it (fiancee says Nepenthe - a
  restaurant - for either lunch or dinner);
* Monterey/Carmel/Pacific Grove - a beautiful area with much to offer.  Kind
  of touristy, though, in places...
* Morro Bay - nice little fishing town - great seafood restaurants (but
  being from NJ, you know all about that - I hope!);
* Hearst Castle - huge (bigger than you can imagine) mansion built in
  the 20's (?) - make reservations days in advance;
* Solvang - a cute Danish town;
* Santa Barbara - just a nice little city;

...some recommendations irrespective of location:

* visit some California Missions - the best are: Carmel, Santa Barbara.

...I heartily recommend you visit Yosemite!  Especially since you're from
the East (I didn't say there was anything wrong about that), you'll find
Yosemite fabulous beyond imagination and description.  At least give 
yourself half a day IN YOSEMITE VALLEY (not counting any travel time).
Avoid weekends at all costs.  Bring film and Ben Gay (for the sore neck
you'll get looking straight up at El Capitan and other incredible vistas).
Unless you make reservations now (I forget when you're coming out), you
won't be camping in Yosemite - all campsites booked months (years in some
cases/locations) in advance.  At least visit the Ahwahnee Hotel - I
recommend lunch ($$) or dinner ($$$$).  Take time to walk away from the
park roads and sit in a meadow with a view and take it all in.  The peace
and splendor really take a few minutes to sink in - if you just drive
around from place to place, it'll be something like Cape May in summer.

...I've no experience with camping anywhere on the coast (I've done all mine
in the Sierras), but fiancee recommends Big Basin Redwood Forest outside
of Santa Clara.

...buy a California tour book - I recommend AAA's if you can get one.
Otherwise, buy a Fodor's/Frommer's California tour book in a bookstore (buy
more than one book to get more complete information).

If you're travelling in peak season (you didn't say when, I don't think),
you'll need some reservations in advance, at least to get you started.

Let me know how your trip goes.


Pete Gregory, at home

pete@carrera.wvus.org
ames!elroy!wvus!carrera!pete