7ish days in California end of November

Megahurtz400 · 28 Feb 2019 at 23:41

Have a wedding in San Francisco on the 23rd November so might as well make a trip of it. Probably flying in on the 21st, spend the 22nd in San Francisco.

I’d like to get to the comedy store in LA on the Monday to see a live podcast I like, and maybe a football game in LA or SF on the following Thursday, which is thanksgiving obviously.

Never been to USA, but thinking of renting a car and sticking to motels, as I don’t have the biggest budget and will just be looking for somewhere to get my head down before heading out exploring again.

Prefer nature and less touristy places over museums etc.

Any tips, ideas on places to go, absolutely anything would be a great help

timmeh · 28 Feb 2019 at 23:52

You might be best heading over to the Motors forum, there's a good Road Tripping the USA sticky in there that is full of great information around LA and SF

My tips would be to do Highway 1 and stop in Carmel, Monterrey, Santa Barbara. We hired bikes around SF which was pretty good fun and a nice way to get around the city/countryside. I didn't particularly like LA so didn't spend all that much time there and I don't think I'll be in a hurry to go back.

Megahurtz400 · 28 Feb 2019 at 23:54

timmeh said:
You might be best heading over to the Motors forum, there's a good Road Tripping the USA sticky in there that is full of great information around LA and SF

My tips would be to do Highway 1 and stop in Carmel, Monterrey, Santa Barbara. We hired bikes around SF which was pretty good fun and a nice way to get around the city/countryside. I didn't particularly like LA so didn't spend all that much time there and I don't think I'll be in a hurry to go back.

I get the feeling I’ll feel the same about LA tbh, however am a massive comedy fan so almost have to go to the Comedy Store if I’m close

Thecaferacer · 1 Mar 2019 at 06:35

Get out to Yosemite Park. I stayed in a little campsite called The Bug and was really cool.

LA is a driving hell so decide where you want to visit and get Ubers. I liked Venice Beach and Albert Kinney boulevard. My wife didn't and felt quite intimidated at times (I'm a tattooed ex skater who fitted right in). In general we both didn't like LA at all.

San Diego is worth a visit. I had mixed feelings on San Francisco but the Alcatraz visit was great.

JBod · 2 Mar 2019 at 01:45

LA is a strange place, if you don't know it or have a guide it is difficult to see anything nice or interesting. Its like going to Croydon and saying "I don't like London!".

Megahurtz400 · 2 Mar 2019 at 10:50

JBod said:
LA is a strange place, if you don't know it or have a guide it is difficult to see anything nice or interesting. Its like going to Croydon and saying "I don't like London!".

I'm normally not a massive fan of cities and prefer to be out in the sticks, so i'll imagine i'll dip in and out of LA in a day or two, and save it for another time so I can properly do it

Scam · 2 Mar 2019 at 12:14

If you go to LA I'd just hit Santa Monica and Venice to get a feel for it. The rest is a bit meh. Certainly don't bother with any Hollywood touristy stuff, it's like walking around Oxford St.

JBod · 2 Mar 2019 at 19:25

If you are a beer drinker the Art District in Downtown LA is an awesome afternoon/evening on day drinking around different breweries, all walking distance which is unusual for LA. If you are wine then head out to Malibu Winery, which is an awesome middle of nowhere mountain location - where the wildfires were late last year.

For a nice day trip walk from Santa Monica to Venice then Uber or rent a scooter up to Culver City. One other amazing beach side location is Manhattan Beach, but its further south (still in LA county). If you continue heading south then you eventually get to Long Beach, stick to the coast and you have the Pike outlet village for some really good clothes shopping and loads of restaurants/bars.

The piece that surprises everyone is that LA is a driving city. So all the stuff you see in movies/TV shows is spread far far apart.

SPG · 2 Mar 2019 at 19:45

LA

Santa Monica
Peterson motor museum
Griffith observatory (sounds daft go at night)
LA Muesem of modern art
Getty museum
Dana poinr (whales, dolphin trip)
LA kings (ice hockey)

You will need a car.

Megahurtz400 · 2 Mar 2019 at 22:29

Scam said:
If you go to LA I'd just hit Santa Monica and Venice to get a feel for it. The rest is a bit meh. Certainly don't bother with any Hollywood touristy stuff, it's like walking around Oxford St.

Yeah that’s kind of why I’m more thinking of getting out and about in the countryside. I prefer to see smaller more local towns than cities and I find then all much the same.

JBod said:
If you are a beer drinker the Art District in Downtown LA is an awesome afternoon/evening on day drinking around different breweries, all walking distance which is unusual for LA. If you are wine then head out to Malibu Winery, which is an awesome middle of nowhere mountain location - where the wildfires were late last year.

For a nice day trip walk from Santa Monica to Venice then Uber or rent a scooter up to Culver City. One other amazing beach side location is Manhattan Beach, but its further south (still in LA county). If you continue heading south then you eventually get to Long Beach, stick to the coast and you have the Pike outlet village for some really good clothes shopping and loads of restaurants/bars.

The piece that surprises everyone is that LA is a driving city. So all the stuff you see in movies/TV shows is spread far far apart.

Some good tips! Will see how time is for these bits thanks

SPG said:
LA

Santa Monica
Peterson motor museum
Griffith observatory (sounds daft go at night)
LA Muesem of modern art
Getty museum
Dana poinr (whales, dolphin trip)
LA kings (ice hockey)

You will need a car.

A kings game would be cool! Would love to see a Lakers game but I can’t even imagine how expensive they’d be

Current plan is to fly into San Francisco on Sunday 24th, mooch about LA till Tuesday morning and then start driving back towards San Francisco as my flight back is on the 1st. Anyone have any ideas or experience for things between LA & SF? Yosemite is looking like a good option but is quite out of the way.

SPG · 2 Mar 2019 at 22:46

I would skip Yosemti, its out of your way as you say, you could always head down the coast road, hire a mustang but not a softtop would will bake

or more sensible would be fly from san fran to LA explore what you need hire a car then head off to Joshua tree national park on the way down to san dieago and palm springs. Palm springs is very funny, lots of people with a great deal of money who are waiting for god

Bag yourself a cougar and you could be quids in

gronf · 3 Mar 2019 at 01:20

LA, San Fran, and San Diego are all dumps mostly. The best Cali has to offer is away from the cities, i.e. Yosemite, parts of the coast, etc.

iamtheoneneo · 3 Mar 2019 at 07:39

You need a car
LA is not a nice place and a day will be fine.
Go anywhere else
You won't be able to see a football game as it will be all sold out
Go anywhere else.

Megahurtz400 · 3 Mar 2019 at 07:48

viathinair said:
LA, San Fran, and San Diego are all dumps mostly. The best Cali has to offer is away from the cities, i.e. Yosemite, parts of the coast, etc.

iamtheoneneo said:
You need a car
LA is not a nice place and a day will be fine.
Go anywhere else
You won't be able to see a football game as it will be all sold out
Go anywhere else.

As I’ve said, I’m all about getting out of the cities. Is there you recommend places outside of them?

D.P. · 3 Mar 2019 at 09:16

Yosemite in winter is nice, but most roads and campground closed, there is likely snow on the ground.

DampCat · 3 Mar 2019 at 10:55

Highway 1 is a nice drive although in November you might not get the best views. Swing through Santa Cruz. Sports wise SF has Warriors basketball, Giants baseball and 49ers football, personally I'd recommend watching Oakland Raiders over 49ers (it's a short drive over the bridge from SF in the same place as Golden State Warriors). Raiders are typically the worst team in the league but the fans are a lot of fun because of that.

killem · 4 Mar 2019 at 10:02

If cities are not your thing and you do rent a car then you could head up to lake Tahoe. It has a 75 mile coast line and is on the Nevada border.
At that time of year you could do some Skiing/ boarding if you are into that and hit the casinos just a step over the state line in the evening. Highlight of my trip was a steam boat ride across the lake as the sun came down behind the snow capped mountains drinking light beer and listening to a 3 piece band playing cover versions of American rock classics. You could also do a guided snowmobile drive.

Terminal_Boy · 4 Mar 2019 at 10:04

SF is an utter tip. Avoid at all costs.