San Francisco / California driving holiday - any recommendations?

Raider · 12 Jan 2011 at 10:19

In September me and my GF are planning a circular driving holiday based around San Francisco. We aim to go for 14-16 days, and stay at 4 or 5 places for a few days each (rather than driving large distances every day and stopping somewhere different every night).

So far we're looking at something like:

5 nights in San Francisco
2 nights up in Napa Valley
2 nights around Lake Tahoe
4 nights around Yosemite
3 nights in Monterey / Big Sur (to see the best of the Pacific coast highway)
Back upto to SF to fly back.

We don't want to drive huge distances to go to Vegas, LA or Death Valley, preferring to stay within a 200 mile-ish radius of SF. I'm looking for any suggestions for cool places to visit around this area, or suggestions for an alternative route? Yosemite and Monterey are kind of fixed, but open to any other places?

Also we're looking to do the cliched thing of hiring a convertible, but sadly the main option is a Crysler Sabring... anyone know a rental place that can guarantee a Mustang or something a bit more interesting?

Ta!

POB · 12 Jan 2011 at 10:33

Jelly Bean Factory is tasty and free:

http://www.jellybelly.com/visit_jelly_belly/california_factory_index.aspx

Devrij · 12 Jan 2011 at 10:39

Big Sur has some awesome driving. Nice twisties under dark pines, with the ocean on one side and the hills on the other. Wonderful. Just pray there are no rock slides as we had to ride 50 miles back the way we came to get round one!

Azza · 12 Jan 2011 at 10:44

Check out Fox's thread...

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18227057

Jedeye · 12 Jan 2011 at 10:50

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_world's_largest_roadside_attractions#United_States_of_America

Freefaller · 12 Jan 2011 at 11:24

Did something similar to your itinerary a few years ago when I was out there for a summer of skydiving.

Actually, I'm going to San Fran this April for a week's holiday. Staying around the Bay area though - love San Fran.

HEADRAT · 12 Jan 2011 at 13:06

You must go to the Tadich Grill in the Financial District, fantastic seafood.

[TW]Fox · 12 Jan 2011 at 13:10

Azza said:
Check out Fox's thread...

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18227057

Absolutely, I've answered quite a lot of the questions about how to get the car etc etc in there.

Do think this is an odd way of going about it though, if you do the Big Sur part of Highway 1 you are half way to LA already, and 5 nights in San Francisco is both overkill and eye wateringly expensive.

tigerstyle · 12 Jan 2011 at 13:18

[TW]Fox;18209085 said:
d 5 nights in San Francisco is both overkill and eye wateringly expensive.

Plus dull and a bit gay.

Raider · 12 Jan 2011 at 13:21

Well it's only an early plan at the moment, and yes I do realise that'd we'd be doubling back a bit with the Big Sur bit. Also we might only do 4 nights in SF.

I guess I just figured that I don't have too much desire to see LA, so thought I'd avoid venturing too far south. But I'm not ruling anything out, if people can suggest nice places to stop on the way down! Maybe we could fly out of LA international, not sure.

Freefaller · 12 Jan 2011 at 14:30

[TW]Fox;18209085 said:
Absolutely, I've answered quite a lot of the questions about how to get the car etc etc in there.

Do think this is an odd way of going about it though, if you do the Big Sur part of Highway 1 you are half way to LA already, and 5 nights in San Francisco is both overkill and eye wateringly expensive.

For a driving holiday I'd agree.

However, San Fran is a wonderful city! However I guess different things appeal to different people.

I didn't find it particularly expensive though...

tigerstyle · 12 Jan 2011 at 14:37

Freefaller said:
For a driving holiday I'd agree.

However, San Fran is a wonderful city! However I guess different things appeal to different people. I didn't find it particularly expensive though...

I liked the bridge, I liked the prison, I liked the big hills and the cable cars, I didn't like the amount of scum and bums everywhere though!

Freefaller · 12 Jan 2011 at 17:13

I'm used to it living in London!

[TW]Fox · 12 Jan 2011 at 17:24

Raider said:
Well it's only an early plan at the moment, and yes I do realise that'd we'd be doubling back a bit with the Big Sur bit. Also we might only do 4 nights in SF.

I guess I just figured that I don't have too much desire to see LA, so thought I'd avoid venturing too far south. But I'm not ruling anything out, if people can suggest nice places to stop on the way down! Maybe we could fly out of LA international, not sure.

LA is pretty crap, yes, but the places around it are very nice indeed. Plus Death Valley is WELL worth seeing.

Flying into and out of LAX will save you money on flights, too.