A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

Looking for Calif vacation ideas, perhaps group tour.

Posted: Feb 26, 2012

A friend and I would like to go to Calif this summer, but neither of us have been there and are thinking a tour group/guided bus type of vacation might be a good idea. I'm not finding anything like that on the AAA website. Besides that, any ideas what areas we should visit? North? South? Coastal? TIA. ;

CA vacation - Calgal

[ In Reply To ..]
Well, I live in Northern California, so naturally that would be my recommendation. We have the wine country, the coast, the Sierras, and San Francisco. I would imagine that there are plenty of available tours that would include some or all of these locations. Perhaps you need to check out other sites, California Visitors Bureau, maybe? By the way, the best season here is September through October. Summer can be cold and foggy, especially in San Francisco.

California vacation - SF girl

[ In Reply To ..]
Depends on what you want to do. Disneyland, great beaches, sailing, more sun in the south. If you like to hike and camp, check out Big Sur or Yosemite. To wine and dine, go north. You could spend a great week and hit a bunch of great spots from central coast Monterey/Carmel up through San Francisco then to wine country and on up to the North Coast Redwoods. And then there's Lake Tahoe -- great place to spend a few days.

Looking for California vacation ideas - greyhound mom

[ In Reply To ..]
Maybe you can email the Chamber of Commerce where you will be staying or when you get to your destination, just pick up brochures from a hotel lobby. If you are not staying at a hotel, you can still go in the lobby and pick up the brochures. Hope you have a good vacation.

Caligirl - travelinmt

[ In Reply To ..]
The previous posters have pretty much summed it up.

SoCal has more sun, Disneyland and Calif. Adventure, Hollywood, Sea World, Long Beach and Scripts aquariums Santa Barbara and Temecula have wine country but it doesn't compare to NorCals wine country.

Norcal has more lakes, Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks. Sonoma and Napa wine country, San Francisco, Big Sur. It really depends on what you are looking for in your vacation.

Thanks for the tips. - Rainy

[ In Reply To ..]
You gave me lots to think about. At this point, we are collecting info. Our interests are a little different. She's loves crowds and amusement parks; I love nature and being outdoors. It's amazing we stayed friends for 30 years. :) Thanks again.

I KNEW I could depend on the most helpful group out there! - Rainy

[ In Reply To ..]
Wow, there is a lot of terrific info offered. Thank you all so much! I'm really excited about planning this trip now. Unfortunately, now I want to visit ALL of the spots this summer. : )

If you like the outdoors, I would recommend - Inyo county and the Eastern Sierras

[ In Reply To ..]
If you go in the spring, the wildflowers in Death Valley are spectacular, plus the weather there is nice in the spring, not too hot (like the summer) and not too cold (like in the winter). You can check out Scotty's castle while you are there, which is pretty neat. Not too far from that is Mt. Whitney, which is the tallest mountain in the continental U.S. It is beautiful. With the Kern River, Kennedy Meadows, Mammoth ski resort and the ghost town of Bodie all within driving distance, it is a gorgeous place to go. If you would rather see the coast, I like the central coast with Morro Bay, Pismo Beach, Avila Beach and San Luis Obispo all nearby. You can also drive up to San Simeon and check out Hearst Castle or down to Solvang. Montana de Oro is a wonderful place to hike. As you can tell, I like the historical stuff, but it's all great fun!

Almost forgot, if you do Death Valley and Mt. Whitney - you have to check out the Alabama HIlls,

[ In Reply To ..]
just north of Lone Pine. That is where a ton of the old western movies were filmed, with all of the really cool rock formations. Great for a hike and beautiful.

And the bristlecone pines. Can't skip those. Or the - trail of 100 giants.

[ In Reply To ..]
Shucks! You're making me homesick. The tallest thing around here is an overpass. I miss the Eastern Sierras and Owens Valley.

Visiting Calif. - -sm - Meerkat

[ In Reply To ..]
I wish you could have visited this February! We were blessed with the warmest, driest Feb. on record.

I see tour busses everywhere, so likely you'll have plenty of great tours to choose from. The one thing I would recommend is trying to work it out so you have at least a day or two at some of the places where you know you'll want to get out and spend a day exploring.

Southern CA: I would skip the Hollywood Stars' homes tours, unless you're REEAAALLLLY into that sort of thing. The Beverly Hills/Bel Aire areas have lovely homes, but most are behind big walls and gates, and you can't really see much of them.

San Diego has lots of great beaches, a world-famous zoo, a wild animal park, and a nice "old-town" district.

And of course, there is Disneyland!

The Santa Monica area also has amazing beaches, the Pier, with an old, restored, indoor carousel, etc., and a great view back towards land, and of surfers below. Between Santa Monica and Marina Del Rey lies the Venice Beach area. If I had a week to spend anywhere in S. Calif, it would be Venice! The bike path there goes for MILES, and you can rent bikes. The people-watching can't be beat. There are lots of cool, funky little shops where you can buy just about anything.

Santa Barbara: Beautiful gem of the Calif. coast! Some hotels are right on the beach. There's a bike path there, too, and great walking and eating. Every weekend there's a big art festival along Cabrillo Blvd. on the beach. Downtown Santa Barbara is another paradise for walking, shopping, eating, etc. Just a ways north of Santa Barbara is Goleta, and the U.C. Santa Barbara college campus. ANOTHER stellar place to explore by bicycle! It also has some of the most amazing, secluded beaches I've ever visited.

About 45 min. north of Santa Barbara (still along Highway 101, on the coast) is Solvang... a Danish town. Very touristy, but for those who like to walk and window shop (and EAT!) it's a great place to visit. It's pretty crowded on weekends, but if your tour stops there on a weekday, that's the best time to go.

Further north is the town of Pismo Beach. Wide beaches, even sand dunes for dune-buggy rides, and one of the most stunning ocean views along the CA coast.

Turning West onto Highway 1 in San Luis Obispo, you can head out to Morro Bay, and then north on Hwy. 1 for the most dramatic coastline in Calif. A must-see along that route is Hearst Castle. The castle is so big that it's divided into different tours: Upstairs, downstairs, etc. (I've only been on the upstairs one, and it does involve going up and down a lot of steps). On clear day, the view out the windows at the hills below and ocean in the distance is to die for. I love all the history of the place, as well.

Continuing north, you go through Big Sur and Carmel. Beautiful areas worth seeing. Carmel is full of touristy shops, like Solvang, but is a great place to stretch your legs. Parking is tight there on the weekend; you'll be thankful you're taking the bus! Beautiful golf courses there, and also lots of trails through the woods in the area that make for some great walks.
If you like to ride horseback, the Pebble Beach Equestrian Center has horseback tours through the woods.

Just north of Carmel is Monterey. That's another must-see, in my book, because of the proximity to Carmel, the fabulous ocean and beaches, Cannery Row, and best of all, the Monterey Bay Aquarium. My boyfriend & I visited the Aquarium a number of years ago, thinking we'd just stay for an hour or so. We were so fascinated, we were there all day, until they closed down!
Needless to say, the Aquarium is REALLY crowded on weekends.... best to go there on a weekday.

Continuing north on Hwy. 1, you come to Santa Cruz. Great college/beach town, with an old boardwalk area with one of the country's oldest wooden roller coasters.

North of Santa Cruz is more great seascapes, light houses, etc.

Hopping over the mountains to the Peninsula in the Bay Area, a great place to visit/walk/bike is the Stanford University campus. It has more things than you can see in one day: fountains, a beautiful church, the Rodin garden and the Art Museum, the New Guinea garden with all sorts of carved totems, and all sorts of other wonderful paths, nooks and crannies to explore.

At the northern end of the Peninsula is San Francisco. Visiting there is a no-brainer! I live near San Franciso, and it's my favorite city in the world. Spend at least 2-3 days there.

There are bus tours, boat tours (such as to Alcatraz or Angel Island), walking tours, etc. The Embarcadero (the waterfront area between the baseball stadium and Fisherman's Wharf, has great views (especially of the Bay Bridge at night), walking, coffee shops, etc. That part of the city is level, too - no hills. Fisherman's wharf is touristy, but still beautiful. Be sure to get a look at the sea lions near the back of Pier 39.

Chinatown has lots of odd little shops with interesting trinkets to buy. And of course, there's a variety of good food all over the city. From the top of the hill at Coit Tower, you can see the whole bay.

Golden Gate Park is the jewel of the city. Green, lush, and larger than NY's Central Park. On weekends the main drive through the park is closed to cars, and you can rent bikes and tour the park by bike. Or walk its many sidewalks, or paths through the woods. The park is also adjacent to the famous Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. There's far too much to see and do in the park to cover it in just one day, but popular attractions include The Conservatory of Flowers, the outdoor roller rink, the new Science Museum and De Young Art Museum (which has a tower you can go in for free to get a bird's eye view of the whole park). In the summer the bandshell plays music around noon. There is the Hippie Hill drumming circle, the Japanese Tea Garden, Stow Lake, and more. The park stretches all the way to the Pacific Ocean and the Great Highway. You can rent bikes and ride across the Golden Gate Bridge, or walk across. INCREDIBLE view! (If it's not foggy). July can be one of the coldest months in SF - when you visit there, be sure to LAYER! We have micro-climates, and it can go from 70 degrees at the baseball park, to 50 degrees in the western part of Golden Gate Park. At the same time!

Sausalito, just north of the Golden Gate. Wonderful place to stop for lunch or dinner, with unparalleled views of SF (if it's not foggy).

North of SF on Hwy. 101 is great scenery, some cute towns. Petaluma is popular for all its antique stores. Near Healdsburg is the Alexander Valley, the "other Wine Country". I think Alexander Valley is more beautiful and less touristy than Napa. Further north are amazing coastal views on Hwy. 1, and redwood forests on Hwy. 101 & offshoots.

On a more inland tour, a great place to hike and explore (in early spring, late fall) is Pinnacles National Monument. In summer it'll be too hot. There are even caves to explore there.

In the Sierra Nevada mountains are Sequoia National Park, and Yosemite National Park. Both very crowded in summer, but worth seeing. The waterfalls in Yosemite always astound me. (However, we're in a drought this year, so unless a miracle happens this spring, and we start to get some rain, the falls in Yosemite won't have much water in them.) Still! Yosemite Valley is a great place for a bus tour, and to get out and walk or ride a bike, because it has paved pathways and it's flat. Highway 49 in the Sierra Gold Country has lots of interesting sights, downs, and history.

The central valley is like a blast furnace in summer - hot, hot, hot! But it's also the heart of most of California's farming industry. In Sacramento, CA's capitol city, there is an "old town" to explore, and the American River runs through the town. Starting in Discovery Park, the American River Parkway runs along the river for 32 miles, to Folsom Lake. A premier place for a bike ride. There's ample shade available in summer, but it's hot at midday. Best time to visit would be early morning, evening.

Along I-80 between Sacramento and San Francisco is the town of Davis. The U.C. Davis campus is there, and it's a great place to explore and... you guessed it... ride a bike. Bike paths all over that town and campus! You can ride the bike path west, along Russell Ave., out into farmland and ranches.
Further west, in Fairfield, is the Jelly Belly factory, which gives tours of the jelly bean factory.

At the far north end of the Central Valley is Mt. Lassen a still-active, but dormant, volcano. That is one of the state's least-spoiled, cleanest, and less-visited national parks. Not far from there is Mt. Shasta, another giant volcano.

East of Sacramento is Lake Tahoe. I would call that a must-see area. In the summer, it's cool and refreshing up there. South Lake Tahoe has experienced a building boom of late, since Vail Skiing Co. bought Heavenly Valley Ski Area. One upside to that is from the village at the base of the ski area, you can take a gondola up to the top of the mountain, year-round. So you can ride up, hike around in the mountaintops, then ride back down again. Just across the state line, in the Nevada side of S. Lake Taho, are all the big casinos, with shows, gambling, etc. There's also a sternwheeler paddle boat that gives tours out on the lake. North Lake Tahoe, around Tahoe City, has more locals, less tourists. Nearby is the Squaw Valley Ski Area, where you can also take a gondola up to the top. At the top there is even an outdoor ice skating rink, though I'm not 100% sure if it's open in summer. Northstar-at-Tahoe recently enlarged its base village, and in summer there is golfing, hiking, and lift-served mountain biking available there.

East of North Lake Tahoe, on I-80, you will come to Reno, Nevada. That's a great spot for casinos, too, but it'll be hot in summer. Going south of Reno on Hwy. 395, is the high desert side of the Sierras, with a more dramatic view of the mountains, which are steeper on that side.

The old ghost town of Virginia City is a great stop for a few hours. There's an old narrow-gauge steam train you can ride (it's a short ride). A mine tour, and when I was there one summer, they were having a firemen's muster. That was really fun.

If you like ghost towns, then further south on Hwy. 395 is the town of Bodie. It's a real old-west ghost town, kept in a state of "arrested decay" (which means they're not going to let it just disintegrate into nothing). It could be hot as blazes in the summertime, but maybe not. But go early in the morning, and walk the self-guided tour of all the old homes, saloons, the graveyard, etc.

South of Bodie on Hwy. 395 are the towns (and ski areas) of June Lake and Mammoth Mountain. Great alpine climate, with hiking trails galore. I believe Mammoth also has lift-served mountain biking, as well. In a good snow year, (which this isn't, so far), it's often possible to ski at Mammoth up until the 4th of July).

Popular desert places include Palm Springs, Joshua Tree National Monument, and Death Valley. Needless to say, you DON'T want to be visiting Death Valley in July, unless you're in an air-conditioned tour bus... it can get up to 120 degrees there during the day! But it would make an interesting side-trip if you were headed towards Las Vegas.

That list is long, and doesn't include lots of the lesser-known, but equally interesting, spots where a bus tour of California might take you. Depending on your personal interests, I'm sure you'll be able to find something that's perfectly suited to you.

You can learn about all sorts of interesting and odd little side-trips in CA by looking online for videos of "California's Gold" with Huell Howser - a popular PBS TV show about the state and it's hidden history & treasures.

I hope you enjoy your visit to California!

Meerkat - CalGal

[ In Reply To ..]
Wow, Meerkat, you hit all the "high" points! As a native Californian, I salute you for a wonderfully well-written and inclusive intro to the Golden State! Made me realize all over again how much I love living here!!

Thank you! LOL - as I was writing it, I realized how - much I love it here, too! - Meerkat

[ In Reply To ..]
And there's still so much I haven't seen or done, yet! I have a relative coming to visit this summer - I'm looking forward to being a tourist, myself, as I show her some of the sights.

Meerkat... - Rainy

[ In Reply To ..]
While I greatly appreciate all of the suggestions from all of the posters, I wanted to tell you how much I appreciate you taking so much of your time to type this out. The info is just, well, wow! Thank so much!

You're welcome. Actually, if was fun.. sort of a "mind - trip" across the state! :)

[ In Reply To ..]

Similar Messages:

May 10, 2012
My hubby and I are taking two full weeks off and heading to Colorado on our Gold Wing motorcycle in July. We live in Ohio so we are either going to head north through Michigan and the UP to go to Mt. Rushmore on the way (or on the way back depending on what July weather brings). We will be going through Wyoming, S. Dakota, Colorado and are hoping to get to see the National Arches in Utah (the average temp there in July is 90+ so that may not happen!). We are going to see the sand dunes on Colora ...

Jun 19, 2014
All I know about him is that he's from Bakersfield. Bakersfield. :( (Sorry, Californian here with first-hand knowledge of...Bakersfield). Anyhoo, should be interesting to see how he fits in. Wiki about him is in the link. ...

Jun 03, 2011
This is one of the funniest stories by a so-called reporter that I have read in a long time. 'It's like following Princess Diana' By: Kasie Hunt June 3, 2011 09:14 AM EDT SEABROOK, N.H. — Sarah Palin’s bus is plastered with a mock-up of the U.S. Constitution. But her entourage — both the three-vehicle motorcade that includes the bus and the smaller, two-SUV version she uses for smaller events — hasn’t been very res ...

Sep 28, 2012
A coalition of current and former employees at companies purchased by Bain Capital will spend the next month rolling through the swing states of Ohio, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Virginia protesting Bain's business practices and the economic plan of its founder and longtime chairman, Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney. ...

Jul 22, 2013
Is that political? ...

Nov 16, 2009
With Sarah Palin out there getting so much exposure with unscripted answers, the conservatives may realize what a ditz she is and not nominate her for el presidente. ...

Mar 29, 2013
nm ...

Jan 24, 2014
Obviously the government knows they are in the wrong and want to put out more lies. ...

Aug 05, 2017
Are all Obama-haters who constantly complained about Obama's vacations and Obama's golf going to say anything about Trump's vacations and golf? And please don't say he is not costing the taxpayer any money because he is on his own property because he and his family are costing the taxpayer more than the Obamas ever did. I guess he needed this vacation because "the White House is a dump." ...

Aug 05, 2012
We took our Goldwing motorcycle, rode 5,167 miles in 15 days. We live in Ohio and went to Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North & South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Kansas, and Missouri. We rode the train to the top of Pike's Peak, we saw Mount Rushmore, the Badlands, Devil's Tower, Monument Valley, Arches National Park and did a lot of scenic riding. We saw a moose, curled horn sheep, a coyote, a deer-like animal that we still ...

Sep 03, 2012
I was on an "extreme wilderness vacation" for the last week. Canoeing the mode of transport, sleeping in a tent, no cell phones, no TV. It was great; however, I admit I was looking forward to getting home and finding out how the Republican convention went and especially "The Donald's" special surprise. I was rather disappointed when I found out that the Trump embarassment was quashed by Trump's cancellation due to Hurricane Isaac. I have to give the power of prayer over climate cha ...

Aug 09, 2014
The question was asked below, does it bother anyone that congress is on vacation for five weeks? Yes, it bothers me. It bothers me because I'm afraid the president is going to use his pen and phone to grant amnesty to the illegal invaders during that time. I actually think he's been looking forward to this opportunity. ...

Jan 03, 2011
x ...

Feb 18, 2017
I see someone is trying to push the story that Bo was flown specially for vacation. I posted the Snopes article link refuting this because I know you all respect Snopes so much, but you can also find it on FactCheck, etc., should you actually want to verify. Carry on. ...

Nov 29, 2012
Note the "TAXPAYER-funded" vacation. All presidents take vacations, but none this extravagant during such a poor economic time. I guess it's okay, because after all, he "cares" about us. And at least he's "trying." http://www.whitehousedossier.com/2012/11/29/obama-slated-hawaii-cliff/ ...

May 12, 2015
I have made plans for months, literally months about what I plan on doing this summer. I am taking my friend and her 3 children for a trip to Florida to start off. The woman and 2 kids have never been and they are in for a real surprise! The scenery so different from where we live 1 state over it's like being in a different world. I have everything paid for, everything except food and gas. I pay in advance in installment plans on big items and then smaller places to visit I pay at one time. ...

Jun 16, 2011
I haven't even left town and my son and ex-husband (his father) are at each other's throats and calling me! My 10yo daughter and I have planned a fun little get away this weekend for a family reunion plus some fun in the sun at a water park. This evening, my daughter and I are staying over at my mother's because we are riding together and leaving early. My mom took my daughter and went shopping and I have this nice quiet, empty house to do one last evening of wor ...

Aug 19, 2016
on U.S. trade and campaign finance, but has been far less aggressive in disclosing his own personal finances. Now his wife and campaign confidante, Jane O'Meara Sanders, is defending the senator's decision not to file a candidate personal finance disclosure and talking about the purchase of a new vacation home. Sanders and his campaign asked the Federal Election Commission for two 45-day extensions, in mid-May and late June, on filing the personal finance disclosures candidates are ...

Feb 01, 2012
regarding job creation? I have heard the now debunked "less taxes and less regulations for the wealthy WILL create jobs" myth. Anything else? Do you think he is waiting until he is up against Obama to put forth plans? ...

Feb 24, 2011
If you found a charge on your husband's credit card statement for a flower shop - how would you gather information? I don't want to ask him out right and get excuses. If I call the flower shop - will they give me that information?? TIA ...

Dec 23, 2009
My daughters are grown, mid-20s and married. I have obtained the few things that they put on their lists but I am looking for some ideas for some "extras," unexpected things. Anyone have some good ideas? Thanks so much!!! ...

Dec 28, 2010
I will be celebrating at home this Friday with my 5-year-old son and 8-month-old son (and hopefully hubby when he\\\'s off work) Just wondering what everyone does to celebrate, if you have any fun ideas for us, such as food, games, etc. My 5 yr old is really looking forward to it!! Thanks for you help and ideas!! ...

Dec 20, 2010
Just wondering what everyone uses as stocking stuffers besides the usual fruits and nuts. I read another post under the DH/SO post about the sweet gifts in a stocking so just thought we could share some tips too. I usually just fill ours with the usual: Fruits, nuts, chocolates, batteries to accompany gifts, candies. My 18-yo informed me that bobby pins would make great stocking stuffers so I might add that this year! I also am thinking of playing a trick on my kiddos, ...

Mar 08, 2012
My dental hygienest and I decided to do 1 random act of kidness each month, but it cannot be donate money somewhere. It actually has to be to do something, like work in the soup kitchen, or volunteer at the pet shelter to walk dogs or clean cages. Can anyone post some creative ideas to get us going? Thanks in advance. ...

Sep 02, 2012
Adhering to the Constitution and pride in country should never become "an outdated idea." ...

May 20, 2013
I have a chest of drawers that is still useable but unsightly. Am trying to think of a way to have in a girl's room, some sort of cover but do not care to refinish it or paint. Any ideas at all? TIA. ...

Jul 30, 2013
So left leg starts swelling..Go to doc, rule out DVT said my valves are bad. His answer, take a baby aspirin a day (I look like I have been in a fight Im so bruised) and yesterday at end of shift my leg is tight swollen and my foot. Of course I elevated it and this morning it is better (not totally down) but I know by end of shift it will be bad again. Anyone have any ideas. Personally I would rather have it fixed then deal with this, I have 3 more years to work at this job and I'm only ...

Dec 03, 2013
I need ideas for a 'cute something' for an 80th birthday gathering. They are having a few of friends gather for the celebration at a wknd hotel. Thought some sort of 'name tags' or 'funky decorated hats' would be adorable so they are noticed all wknd. (or maybe not) so I am searching for ideas/thoughts/creativity. I believe there will only be 4-6 people in the party. ...

Dec 06, 2013
My significant other is forever sleeping on the sofa because he works second shift and it looks bad. You cant reverse the cushions on this one and those throw over things keep falling down. Any suggestions. These cushions are fixed but you can get behind them. I put a sheet on it but it looks a bit odd in the living room. I was thinking maybe a flat top flannel sheet or something that would look half decent. I believe it will stay tucked in or can someone give ...

May 03, 2014
I'm sick of candy, chips and peanuts. I know of apples, grapes etc. I go online to look up healthy snacks and get the usual 3 pretzels wrapped in one piece of proscutto with a pretty toothpick sticking out of it (something like that), or they have a piece of weird bread topped with strawberries drizzled with some white stuff (probably yogurt)...blek! (though I do like yougurt and strawberries, but not into gourmet looking snacks. Looking for some different ideas, Not look ...