please dont move it till ive got some ideas!

[adomakin]

right, youve got to move fast on this before one of the dads moves this post: im getting married on the 29th of december and have naturally booked three weeks on the west coast of america for the honeymoon. we are doing (in this order) sanfrancisco, L.A., sandeiago, vegas (we are at each for about four nights i think) we get to sanfrancisco on new years eve. and we are driving everywhere.
if you hadn't been to the west coast before where would you go? we are gonna do the canyon and yosemite park and im gonna shot some big guns in vegas (can't wait) i fancy seeing some top fuel drag racing too. is there any big porsche events going on anywhere?

PLEASE HELP!!

ANDY

UK

[Paul Franssen]

Congratulations Andy (why should you have it any better than the rest of us married suckers! )

For your automotive driving pleasure
-The highway down the California coast
-Columbia river valley area up in Oregon for some of the best driving in the USA --(local guys can you make this more specific please!)

Natural scenery
Bryce canyon
Oak creek canyon
Monument valley
...be sure to get some desert driving in, for a special non-Euro feeling...

[sscates]

Congrats. If you've never been here before, I would definitely drive down the 101 (Pacific Coast Highway) from San Francisco. You will have some great scenery and pass some pretty cool landmarks on the way (Parks and Herst Castle). You will want to stop in Santa Barbara on the way down. Go to Brophy Bros. restraunt on the wharf. Great seafood and atmosphere if that's what you're looking for. I'm sure there are some Porsche events going on in So Cal at that time. Look on the Porsche Club of America sites (SD and LA). Since you are on your honeymoon, take the Harbor Dinner Cruise in San Diego. It's a pretty good dinner with a couple hour cruise out by the Cornado Bridge. When you go to Vegas get a tour of the Hoover Dam. If you decide to take a helicopter tour of the strip (very cool), go to Maverick Helicopter at Mc Carren Field. Ask for Greg, he'll give you a good deal. When you're at Yosemite, go to Half Dome (I'm sure you knew that). I did the same thing on my honeymoon 4 years ago. Started in Vegas and ended up in San Diego via Death Valley, Tahoe, San Fran, Santa Barbara. Good luck. I'm sure this thread will get a good response.

[Emission]

Congrats!

Do your research, and plan accordingly (give yourselves plenty of extra time too!).

I wouldn't miss the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam (pretty damn cool), Yosemite, Death Valley, and the Highway 1 drive. California is very diverse, in climate, scenery, and people. You'll sample a bit of each if you drive to these places.

Enjoy the trip, and try to relax.

[Bobboloo]

Congrats Andy.

If it were me I'd spend the whole time around the Bay Area or maybe just the Bay and Vegas.

The Bay Area has so much. There's San Francisco (Height/Ashbury, Chinatown, Goldengate), Muir Woods, Point Reyes, Sonoma (wine country), Monterrey Bay (Carmel, Monterrey Bay Aquarium, and Point Lobos) Big Sur.

Don't get me wrong, I love L.A. It's a great city to make a living and enjoy great weather year round but just not a vacation spot in my opinion. San Diego is nice.

A few of must do's.

1. Driving the beautiful hills of Sonoma County planning on stops at some wineries for some wine tasting and maybe a nice dinner in Napa.$$ By the way Sears Point Raceway is in Sonoma.

2.Driving down the coast to Monterrey Bay and Big Sur. Plan on a stop at Point Lobos State Reserve. It is the most beautiful piece of coastline that I have ever seen. Breathtaking. Ansel Adams photograghed there.

3.Dinner in Chinatown (House of Nanking for lunch. It's a hole in the wall but the food is awesome)


P.S. Hearst Castle may be a big deal to us Yanks since we don't have any "real" castles but I can imagine anyone from Europe being very impressed, except for the fact that it's made from concrete.

[layzee]

Agree about LA not being much of a vacation spot - although the other 'big' CA attractions are simply stunning.

Yosemite is spectacular, some of the most amazing scenery I have ever seen.

The variation between the lushness of Yosemite and the death valley desert is really surprising. Like being in a different country.

I wish I'd seen more of the PCH. For two days of the drive we did it was soaked in fog. Couldn't see a thing. Santa Barbara is very nice though.

As for Vegas - make sure you stay in a 'name' strip hotel for the full on experience. Paris and Bally's have good location and vfm imo. www.hoteldiscount.com for cheap rates.

[rs911t]

Congrats Andy. That's a good day to get married - this coming 29th is my 24th anniversary.

[Elombard]

If you come down the coast highway one of the tours at the Hurse (sp?) castle is really cool ( he was a newspaper magnate in the early 20th century, also his daughter, Patti is famous for joining a cult and robbing a bank).

If you are going to LA I would have to stop by TREs shop -

ohh the LA Auto SHow will be starting I think in Early JAn. Thats the biggest in the world (my wife would kill me on the honey moon though).

Also, I would stop in at The Pelican Store.

I think Newport Beach area is a must see, I enjoyed driving through Beverly Hills a little and its the wrong time of the year but there is crazy stuff at that Muscle beach (cant remember the name).

[Jeremy Cottrell]

We wlcome you here at TRE. If you want Top Fuel drags, check on the NHRA Winternationals in Pomona. It may be in early February, but a great reason to extend your trip.

[Jeremy Cottrell]

Oh, if you do the Hearst Castle, stop first at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey!

[trj911]

Are you staying in San Diego? Stay at the Hotle Del Coronado on Coronado Island. Ask for a room with a full view. You will love it.

[Hugh R]

Andy,

You've got a PM

[Joe Bob]

Yosemite in January is not really a nice thing unless you are FULLY prepped for winter....snow is cold. Think Donner Party.

Drive the PCH HWY from SF down to San Diego and stop where you feel like. Big Sur Hearst Castle....bring a laptop, sign for a cheap dialup like NetZero and post your itinerary and I would bet P-Heads would meet you along the way.

[yelcab1]

Andy.

I have lived in San Francisco for 20 years. Don't wanna go anywhere. This is what you have to do.

Day 1: check in to a nice hotel down town, have meals, walk about downtown, see China town, North Beach (it is not a beach), enjoy some Hunan cuisine (the opporsite of UK food)
Day 2: See the Golden Gate bridge from the North end over the Marin Headland, drive over the Sausalito enjoy the view, walk about.
Day 3. Drive to Sonoma county, check out Gloria Ferrer winery, make it a leasure day, drive back to SF and have some eccentric food at the Mission district. The Zuni cafe is good.
Day 4: relax, get a massage, have lunch at the China Basin area (now totally renovated for yuppies like you).
Day 5: start your drive down Highway 1 (not Hi-way 101). It is a 8 hour driver to Santa Barbara, stay for the night, enjoy the good weather.
Day 6 continue your 6 hour drive to San Diego. This time take highway 101 all the way to LA, merge into highway 5 and continue your madness drive to San Diego. Bypass LA, do not stop, do not collect 100 bucks, do not even get out the car.
Day 7, stay in San Diego, have lunch at DelMar by the beach. Have dinner at Dobson's (French food) down town San Diego.
Day 8, check out the nice beaches around town, do some sun tanning (yes, it is possible). If you are adventurous go to Mexico (5 miles away).
Day 9, Drive to Grand Canyon in Arizona.
Day 10, stay in AZ for 3 days, skiing, enjoying the most beautiful canyon in the world. Don't think there are any in the UK.
Day 14-16, waste your life away in Vegas. Gotta do this once in your life. Lose your shirts, your pants, your money, and maybe even your new wife. Then get on a plane, broke, broken, and go home with or without the wife.

[EdT82SC]

Congratulations, Andy! I agree with Mike Z about driving down the coast. If you drive on Pacific Coast Highway (Hwy 1) you have a view of the water for most of the trip. Yosemite can be cold this time of year, but at least you don't have to worry about bears. If you like skiing or other winter sports go to Lake Tahoe. There are over a dozen ski resorts surrounding the lake, and the lake is on the California/Nevada border so you can ski during the day, and gamble at night at the casinos. I prefer the north side of the lake because it is less crowded, but the casinos are smaller too. If you like wine then Napa and/or Sonoma Valley should be on your list for sure.

[JavaBrewer]

You'll need 2 days for Santa Barbara. Day one spent downtown State Street and beach area on Cabrillio Blvd where you can rent bicycles. Drive through the local foothills for dramatic scenery and stop by the Santa Barbara Old Mission. Tons of good eats in town - Stearns Warf is pretty touristy - but most of SB is. We always eat at this little place right in the downtown marina - don't recall the name but its on top of some shop. The fishing fleet parks right below it. Great views of the harbor, SB, the ocean, and the famous mountains. Second day should include more relaxing on the coast and then a drive over the pass to Santa Ynez to visit wineries. On the way back stop at Cold Springs Tavern for a drink - very cool hangout. Congratulations!

[surflvr911sc]

I have to disagree w/ advice to stay away from LA. Living in So CA, it’s easy to forget how much LA has to offer. The scenery may not be as beautiful but there is a lot to do, Hollywood, museums, amusement parks, theater. Definitely worth checking out if you have never been here, imo.

All the other suggestions are right on too.

[adomakin]

thanks for all the advice blokes, think i need three months rather than three weeks-i can't wait to get over there!
happy xmas

Andy

UK

[limble]

San Fran, LA and SD are all great places to visit.

San Fran a little cold but drive over to Parts Heaven to warm up. It's kinda sad seeing those Porsche's all smashed up but such is the cycle of life.
www.heritageclassics.com/porsche.html

HERITAGE CLASSICS
8980 SANTA MONICA BOULEVARD
WEST HOLLYWOOD
CALIFORNIA, 90069
Has some really great looking cars for sale. Pick one up for the new little lady.

Up and down Sunset even in a rental car is a blast. Mulholland drive is fun.
Pacific Coast Highway (Hwy 1) greatest road in the US.

Vegas. No place like it in the world. It doesn't matter what you do there. It will be an experience.

congrats!!

[addictionMS]

unlimited laps is running a track day at Laguna Seca Jan 3rd, I will be there with my 911, and feel pretty sure if you are there I can get you and wife into a passager seat for a few laps.

http://www.unlimitedlaps.com/

Jim