My parents are going from Seattle to San Diego, Recommendations?

[wcc]

After our trip to San Diego my parents have decided to check it out. So they are starting in Seattle and mainly driving down the coast to San Diego and back to LA to fly home. They may detour out to wine country along the way but they are just gonna wing it for the most part. So any suggestions or MUST see stuff from you California guys would be great. You guys sure helped make our trip a memorable one.

If you have questions I'll do my best to get answers as I'm just the middle man.

Links are great so if you have them post them up and I'll forward them along...

EDIT: They are going for pretty much a whole month and I've already forwarded along the links from our San Diego trip.

Thanks in advance!

[Rick Lee]

Be sure to stop at the Hearst Castle, which is on the way in San Simeon. And stop by Sammy's house and ask to use his garden hose.

[red-beard]

Dammit! Rick beat me to it! I was also going to suggest Sammy's Garden hose...

[wcc]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Be sure to stop at the Hearst Castle, which is on the way in San Simeon. And stop by Sammy's house and ask to use his garden hose.

Looks nice, I'll forward on the castle info. Thanks!

[unclebilly]

Do NOT stay at the Queen Mary in Long Beach. It seems like a good idea, but it's not.

[elwood-914]

San Frandico and Napa for some wine tasting.
Monterey and Carmel

[tabs]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Be sure to stop at the Hearst Castle, which is on the way in San Simeon. And stop by Sammy's house and ask to use his garden hose.

FKIN DITTO...

Tell em to visit some of the Missions....San Juan Capistrano

Just S of San Luis Obispo...The Madonna Inn for a great piece of Black Forest Cake...nice stop to stretch the legs, get a cup of coffee and cake

Also Solvang Santa Barbara..... Nice drive down 101.

Santa Barbara Winery on Anacapa St west of 101...

If they dare...in East LA...on Evergreen St...[Wabash and Soto..out by USC Med Center) Manuel El Tepachya (closed on Tuesady)....Machaca Burrito or Taquitos...to kill for..at lunch expect to wait in line as the Gringos line up..eg lots of Benzs in the parking lot..been going there since 78.

Laguna Beach

[red-beard]

Do not stay in the Best Western in Hollywood....

[dan88911]

The Portola Hotel & Spa at Monterey is a nice place. And the Sheraton on the bay in San Diego.

[wcc]

Great info guys... I forwarded it on to them. Keep em' coming....

[Zeke]

All of NorCal, coastal and inland is good country to look around. Once past Santa Barbara, be selective. There's at once too much and too little to see. Resume trip in Laguna Beach.

[strupgolf]

Yea, head south.

[wcc]

Bump.... That's it? C'mon guys give me some more ideas for them...

[Scott Douglas]

If they've never been before the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal park are must sees if you ask me. Tell them to plan on a full day at each.

[Walter_Middie]

mainly driving down the coast

Make sure they know what they are getting into. Most of the coast is a great drive - but Northern to Central Oregon coast is a parking lot of motorhomes and stop light after stop light. Then there is Northern California where the twisting road never seems to stop. It's tiring even in a sports car - especially if you are trapped behind slower traffic. Very hard to get anywhere - this is more entertainment than actually getting to where you are going. I'd be more selective as to when they drive the coast and when they head inland for some touring and wine tasting.

Speaking of wine tasting. McMinville just SouthWest of Portland is worth the time to visit.

[dan88911]

Of course all of the great sites in the San Franciso bay area are worth seeing. Restaurant choices are endless. The Chiffhouse at lands end, Scomas restaurant just to name two, across the bay in Berkeley there's Angeline's and many more to choose from. Can't speak for socal the Getty Museum is worth a look from what I hear. I was impress with the USS Midway in San Diego.

[wcc]

Originally Posted by Walter_Middie

Make sure they know what they are getting into. Most of the coast is a great drive - but Northern to Central Oregon coast is a parking lot of motorhomes and stop light after stop light. Then there is Northern California where the twisting road never seems to stop. It's tiring even in a sports car - especially if you are trapped behind slower traffic. Very hard to get anywhere - this is more entertainment than actually getting to where you are going. I'd be more selective as to when they drive the coast and when they head inland for some touring and wine tasting.

None of us ever been there so they don't really know what to expect. But that is good to know.

Thanks for all the info guys. I'll forward it along, I'm sure it'll come in handy..

[Scooter]

A few good spots along the coast from North to South:

Evergreen Air museum in McMinnville Oregon (Spruce Goose is there)
Golf at Bandon Dunes in Southern Oregon
Skunk Train in Fort Bragg
Stay at Albion River Inn in Mendocino County
Museum of Modern Art San Francisco
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Hearst Castle
Getty Museum in LA
San Diego Zoo

[vash]

HWY 1 is all "OOH's and AHHH's" for about 10 miles, then it gets flat out boring. i say, do HWY 1 thru areas where they can see the ocean..say half moon bay and down. going thru Tomales bay area, HWY 1 is good to. have them stop at a grocery store for some Charcoal. during a weekday, stop at the TOMALES BAY OYSTER COMPANY. they can buy oysters by the dozen or in 50ct bags..shuck some, bbq some...they have decent picnic areas equiped with grills. coming south, they would have already blasted thru some of the best wine areas..so having some good glasses and a decent bottle will seal the deal..your parents may never leave. from there, blast into Petaluma. stop by the RUSSIAN RIVER BREWERY to buy their wonderful son some TEMPTATION ale. aged in wine barrels. beer that drinks like wine. from Petaluma..get onto HWY 101, head south..cross the golden gate bridge..and hey..it's the free direction!! go into san francisco. prep for some hairy traffic at the other side. we are tearing up and retrofitting the bridge approach. consider it part of the experience.

now they are in SAN FRANCISCO. the marina district. unless they are total yuppies..tell them to leave..the area. head down to union square and post up for the night in some small boutique hotel.

restaurant recommendations will need it's own thread!!

[Amail]

If they like architecture, stop in Pasadena and see the Gamble house. In San Diego, see the Marsten house in Balboa Park.