US Trip

[The Puss]

Hi guys,
Heading to the US at the end of September with my wife to celebrate our silver wedding, feck knows how she put up with my nonsense that long.
4 days in Memphis as she is a big Elvis fan and then onto see to cousin in LA for 12 days.
Looking for tips on eats, places to stay, things to see though mainly in California.
Also I so want to go to a range and fire some live rounds as this is just not possible in Scotland unless I start drug dealing.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions. 

[Steelgrave]

^So is starting drug dealing off the table then?  8)

If you are going to be in LA, of course there are a million sights to see. But if you get the chance, consider driving south to San Diego to eyeball a beautiful harbor that will likely have Navy ships in port, or drive north towards Santa Barbara. The coastal view going north is simply amazing! Cliffs, beaches and the homes of the rich and famous as you approach Malibu. The beaches just north of Santa Barbara are classic and a great way to spend a day.

4 days in Memphis seems a long time though. Get out of the city and drive east towards Nashville and enjoy Music Capital USA. Oh, and eat Barbeque while you are in Tennessee. I can't recommend a specific place but BBQ is a Southern thing :)

[MetalDog]

My signifigant other lived in Memphis for a while.  She basically says to do your sightseeing by day.  If you're going to be out at night, stay where it's well lit.

I've not been to Southern California, so I will have to second Steelie's ideas.  Just on the strength of the fact that he's Steelgrave :-)

[Greybriar]

....4 days in Memphis seems a long time though. Get out of the city and drive east towards Nashville and enjoy Music Capital USA. Oh, and eat Barbeque while you are in Tennessee. I can't recommend a specific place but BBQ is a Southern thing :)

My better half toured Elvis' mansion while I stayed in the car with the dog. We left Memphis as soon as she finished the tour. Whether or not you do as Steelgrave suggested and play tourist in Nashville, there are many alternatives that I believe would be better than spending all that time in Memphis. Even heading west toward California and seeing some sites on the way would be a better plan, I think.

[Gusington]

Redwood Forest in CA is awesome, especially if you're a hiker.

[junk2drive]

If her cousin has lived in LA for a while, she will point you in the right direction. I agree with getting out to San Diego, Santa Barbara and maybe somewhere in the desert. A lot of people from crowded places can't imagine how far everything is in the US.

There used to be an open shooting area near Lytle Creek, NE of LA off of I-15.

[bayonetbrant]

Here's the biggest question: are you driving from Memphis to LA?
Second - how much of LA are you having planned for you and how much are you in control of?
Finally - how far form LA are you willing to venture?

If you can get us those three answers, you can get a lot better guidance :)

[Steelgrave]

BTW, Metaldoggie touched on this but....Memphis has a pretty high crime rate. Use some situational awareness while you are there.

[MIGMaster]

You may want to contract Jarhead out for some private security !  ;)

[The Puss]

Hi Brant

Here's the biggest question: are you driving from Memphis to LA?

We are flying Memphis to LA

Second - how much of LA are you having planned for you and how much are you in control of?

Arrive LA 2nd October and leave 16th October. Whilst I want to spend time with my cousin and her family I do not want to impose as they have their working lives. I was looking at having 7 to 8 days where we did what the heck we wanted.

Finally - how far form LA are you willing to venture?

This is an interesting question when you look at Scotland and what I would call a long drive compared to what a US citizen would. As long as I can break the journey up then I am open.

[The Puss]

My signifigant other lived in Memphis for a while.  She basically says to do your sightseeing by day.  If you're going to be out at night, stay where it's well lit.

BTW, Metaldoggie touched on this but....Memphis has a pretty high crime rate. Use some situational awareness while you are there.

I was aware of this and at night when we go out was going to get a taxi to Beale Street and then a taxi back to the hotel, will that help?

[The Puss]

I should have added that in the past I went San Fransico and San Diego but that was 32 years ago. Also did Disney, Magic Mountain, Knotts Berry Farm, Redondo, Malibu, Venice and the likes.

[bayonetbrant]

Understood...  here are a few suggestions:

1. don't be overwhelmed by LA's size.  The LA metro area is probably unlike any you've ever experienced (unless you've been to Rio or Tokyo or Calcutta).  You can get on Interstate 10 in Riverside, start driving west at 60 mph, and get to Santa Monica about 2.5 hours later, and never leave urban areas.
That doesn't mean you can't get around without too many problems, but always build in time for traffic.

2.  Go to the observatory at Griffith Park.  It's a nice nature spot in the middle of the urban area, and the setting for a bunch of movie scenes, including Rebel Without a Cause, and Dragnet.  Plus, the planetarium show is pretty cool.

3.  On the 4th, head up to Santa Barbara for the First Thursday Art Show.  They turn downtown into a big walking plaza with a whole lot of art, food, wine, etc.  It's a great casual atmosphere with a ton of local flavor.  If you can, plan to stay the night in SB, and try to get a hotel near the waterfront.  It'll make for a much more pleasant time that evening if you don't have to fight work traffic to get back to LA.

4.  If you want to venture a little further north, head up US 101 past Santa Maria to San Luis Obispo.  (You'll pass Pismo Beach, where Bugs Bunny is always trying to get to).  Downtown SLO is a great walking area and the old Mission there is in remarkable shape.  From SLO head north/west out to Morro Bay and Cambria for some great oceanside driving and a few good wineries.  If you make this an overnight (or two) then make sure you stay in Cambria and go to Hearst Castle.  The views and the buildings are phenomenal.'

5.  You're probably too far to take a trip to Monterey/Carmel/Pacific Grove, but you're really wanting to take 2-3 nights and head up there, PM me and I'll get you hooked up with where to go, what to see, etc.  That's my wife's hometown, and I've lived there about 7 years over my life, plus we still have family in the area that can play 'tour guide' for you if needed.

6.  While everyone will tell you that you need to go to Disneyland, just to say you've been to Disneyland, the rides are much better at Magic Mountain.

7.  You can do most of "Hollywood" in one day.  The studio tour, the stars on the sidewalk, picture of the sign, etc, shouldn't take more than one day, unless you get stuck in traffic coming/going.

8.  The Santa Monica pier is pretty cool, but it's crowded any time the weather is nice.  Which is most of the time.

9.  San Diego can be fun, but if you're going, it would mainly be for the Navy base and some ship tours.  The zoo is first-class, but it's a zoo, and it's not like it's the only one in the world.  However, before you trek down to the base, try to find out if there are actually tours available for any of the ships in port.  No point driving down there just to drive down there.

10.  Do not, under any circumstance, ever, ever let anyone talk you into going to Fresno, for any reason whatsoever.

[Smuckatelli]

Arrive LA 2nd October and leave 16th October. Whilst I want to spend time with my cousin and her family I do not want to impose as they have their working lives. I was looking at having 7 to 8 days where we did what the heck we wanted.

This is completely a shot in the dark...is her name Kirsten?

San Diego should be on your list...roughly 100 miles south of LA but an easy drive.

http://www.sdmaritime.org/b-39-submarine/

http://www.midway.org/

http://www.gaslamp.org/

http://www.mcrdsd.marines.mil/

[The Puss]

This is completely a shot in the dark...is her name Kirsten?

Err no but she has a niece with that name who served.

Is this a Fortune Teller shot in the dark???