US Trip

[bayonetbrant]

Puss - any thoughts on your itinerary?

[The Puss]

Puss - any thoughts on your itinerary?

Sorry Brant, your suggestions are awesome and we are looking into all of them. Could not ask for a better tour guide.
Smuck threw me a little bit of a curve ball plus some internal shit meant my concentration went slightly off.
Santa Barbara now looks like a must, San Diego less so.
This I want to do

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.'

Is this doable?

[junk2drive]

I haven't stayed in Santa Barbara since around 30 years ago. Then we stayed at the Peppertree Inn for a weekend. Saw the Mission and art on the beach. Good times.

http://www.bestwesternpeppertreeinn.com/

San Diego, stayed here 15 years ago, another good time. Took the train from Fullerton to SD. It runs along the coast. Return on Sunday was at sunset along the coast. Didn't need a car. Walking distance to some things and mass transit it good. Embarcadero had a left handed shop.

http://www.resortkonakai.com/

[bayonetbrant]

Puss, it's very doable as a 2-night get-away.  Here's what I would recommend:

Thursday mid-morning: let rush hour subside, then drive north up the 101 to Santa Barbara.  Find your hotel, chill at the beach for an hour or two, and get ready for the Art Walk.  Enjoy Art Walk.  A trip to the Mission is nice, but not essential since you're going to see the on in SLO.

Friday morning / mid-day: get up, leisurely breakfast and mellow drive north to San Luis Obispo.  Lunch downtown, along with a walk around the Mission.  Also the SLO History Center has some pretty neat local history books.

Friday Afternoon: From SLO, get on CA-1 (the Pacific Coast Highway) and head west to Morro Bay.  Stop, take picture of giant rock (must be seen to be believed), then keep heading up CA-1 to Cayucos.  There's an awesome little winery there called Cayucos Cellars, right up against the beach.  We used to have them ship us cases of wine to Ohio and NC.  They do free tastings, and make sure to grab a few bottles for the rest of your trip.
Head up to Cambria and laager up there for the night.

Saturday morning:  Take a tour of Hearst Castle.  Take two.  Take three if they let you.  There are several different ones, and they're all very cool.

Saturday afternoon: Lunch back in Cambria.  And here things diverge for you
1.  You can head back to LA, and stop at the places you didn't stop on the way up: Lompoc Mission, Pismo Beach, etc.
2.  You can head north to Monterey up the PCH, but this is going to add 2 nights to your trip.  If you want to do this one, let me know and I'll send you a separate itinerary.

[airboy]

I would not stay 4 days in Memphis.

I would eat BBQ there.  It is an American staple.  Memphis has one of the major US styles of BBQ.  Here is a link.  Although it is not my personal favorite, but Rendevouz BBQ is an exemplar of the dry rub BBQ style.

http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/the-seven-best-memphis-barbecue-joints

If you want to shoot, you probably should hook up with someone in the US that has firearms.  Most US firing ranges require you to bring your own guns.  Some have rentals, but that is not common (excepting perhaps Urban indoor ranges).

The Shiloh battlefield is pretty close to Memphis.

[The Puss]

I would not stay 4 days in Memphis.

I would eat BBQ there.  It is an American staple.  Memphis has one of the major US styles of BBQ.  Here is a link.  Although it is not my personal favorite, but Rendevouz BBQ is an exemplar of the dry rub BBQ style.

http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/the-seven-best-memphis-barbecue-joints

If you want to shoot, you probably should hook up with someone in the US that has firearms.  Most US firing ranges require you to bring your own guns.  Some have rentals, but that is not common (excepting perhaps Urban indoor ranges).

The Shiloh battlefield is pretty close to Memphis.

Thanks Airboy, having looked at the schedule it is weird because due to flight times we are in Memphis for 4 nights be only really have 2 whole days to sight see. The Shiloh thing would be very cool to do just have to convince the wife.
Please somebody tell me that 4 nights in Memphis is bearable???????????

[The Puss]

Awesome Brant, just awesome. Definitely doing this, looking into the next options but heading north is very appealing. 

Puss, it's very doable as a 2-night get-away.  Here's what I would recommend:

Thursday mid-morning: let rush hour subside, then drive north up the 101 to Santa Barbara.  Find your hotel, chill at the beach for an hour or two, and get ready for the Art Walk.  Enjoy Art Walk.  A trip to the Mission is nice, but not essential since you're going to see the on in SLO.

Friday morning / mid-day: get up, leisurely breakfast and mellow drive north to San Luis Obispo.  Lunch downtown, along with a walk around the Mission.  Also the SLO History Center has some pretty neat local history books.

Friday Afternoon: From SLO, get on CA-1 (the Pacific Coast Highway) and head west to Morro Bay.  Stop, take picture of giant rock (must be seen to be believed), then keep heading up CA-1 to Cayucos.  There's an awesome little winery there called Cayucos Cellars, right up against the beach.  We used to have them ship us cases of wine to Ohio and NC.  They do free tastings, and make sure to grab a few bottles for the rest of your trip.
Head up to Cambria and laager up there for the night.

Saturday morning:  Take a tour of Hearst Castle.  Take two.  Take three if they let you.  There are several different ones, and they're all very cool.

Saturday afternoon: Lunch back in Cambria.  And here things diverge for you
1.  You can head back to LA, and stop at the places you didn't stop on the way up: Lompoc Mission, Pismo Beach, etc.
2.  You can head north to Monterey up the PCH, but this is going to add 2 nights to your trip.  If you want to do this one, let me know and I'll send you a separate itinerary.

[LongBlade]

I would not stay 4 days in Memphis.

I would eat BBQ there.  It is an American staple.  Memphis has one of the major US styles of BBQ.  Here is a link.  Although it is not my personal favorite, but Rendevouz BBQ is an exemplar of the dry rub BBQ style.

http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/the-seven-best-memphis-barbecue-joints

If you want to shoot, you probably should hook up with someone in the US that has firearms.  Most US firing ranges require you to bring your own guns.  Some have rentals, but that is not common (excepting perhaps Urban indoor ranges).

The Shiloh battlefield is pretty close to Memphis.

Thanks Airboy, having looked at the schedule it is weird because due to flight times we are in Memphis for 4 nights be only really have 2 whole days to sight see. The Shiloh thing would be very cool to do just have to convince the wife.
Please somebody tell me that 4 nights in Memphis is bearable???????????

You'll be fine in Memphis. The food is great. There is a fantastic zoo there...and it has Pandas. Worth the trip. Graceland is there. I'm not a huge fan of Elvis, but my mom was and we took a tour. By today's ostentatious standards Graceland isn't mind-bobblingly over the top, but for the 70s it certainly would be. It's worth seeing. There are also a number of other museums, and there is a big music scene there.

I did a quick Bing search and found 129 things to do there. All but my last visit there was due to business, and the last one we only spent a couple of days there, but you'll find plenty to do. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g55197-Activities-Memphis_Tennessee.html

Make sure to ask around if there's some kind of a festival - food or music. They're not uncommon and you might get lucky with the timing of your trip.

[Steelgrave]

Awesome Brant, just awesome. Definitely doing this, looking into the next options but heading north is very appealing. 

Puss, it's very doable as a 2-night get-away.  Here's what I would recommend:

Thursday mid-morning: let rush hour subside, then drive north up the 101 to Santa Barbara.  Find your hotel, chill at the beach for an hour or two, and get ready for the Art Walk.  Enjoy Art Walk.  A trip to the Mission is nice, but not essential since you're going to see the on in SLO.

Friday morning / mid-day: get up, leisurely breakfast and mellow drive north to San Luis Obispo.  Lunch downtown, along with a walk around the Mission.  Also the SLO History Center has some pretty neat local history books.

Friday Afternoon: From SLO, get on CA-1 (the Pacific Coast Highway) and head west to Morro Bay.  Stop, take picture of giant rock (must be seen to be believed), then keep heading up CA-1 to Cayucos.  There's an awesome little winery there called Cayucos Cellars, right up against the beach.  We used to have them ship us cases of wine to Ohio and NC.  They do free tastings, and make sure to grab a few bottles for the rest of your trip.
Head up to Cambria and laager up there for the night.

Saturday morning:  Take a tour of Hearst Castle.  Take two.  Take three if they let you.  There are several different ones, and they're all very cool.

Saturday afternoon: Lunch back in Cambria.  And here things diverge for you
1.  You can head back to LA, and stop at the places you didn't stop on the way up: Lompoc Mission, Pismo Beach, etc.
2.  You can head north to Monterey up the PCH, but this is going to add 2 nights to your trip.  If you want to do this one, let me know and I'll send you a separate itinerary.

The only thing I can add to Brant's awesome road trip guide is that Morro Bay is a really cool place to park and walk among the shops. There is a section of town near the water which is dedicated to this and it is a pleasant way to spend a couple of hours. Also, driving north past Cambria there are places to watch sea lions. I don't remember exactly where but I remember there are a couple of beaches marked for this. And Cambria.....you have to walk out on the pier and enjoy the Pacific. I've never been there when there weren't a dozen or so folks surfing. If all of California was like the Pismo to Cambria stretch....well, it would still be an overtaxed welfare state I guess. But it's a great place to visit  8)

[bayonetbrant]

The only thing I can add to Brant's awesome road trip guide is that Morro Bay is a really cool place to park and walk among the shops. There is a section of town near the water which is dedicated to this and it is a pleasant way to spend a couple of hours.

I left out downtown Morro Bay b/c Cayucos is very similar, but with 1/2 the people and better wine ;D
If I wasn't sending them north to Cambria, then I'd stop 'em in Morro Bay.

[The Puss]

Saturday afternoon: Lunch back in Cambria.  And here things diverge for you
2.  You can head north to Monterey up the PCH, but this is going to add 2 nights to your trip.  If you want to do this one, let me know and I'll send you a separate itinerary.

Hi Brant, we are going to head north and do this so any recommendations are welcome. Also from Monterey it looks like we will head on up to San Francisco for a couple of days. How long will it take to drive back down from San Francisco to LA? Are there cheap flights form SF to LA or any epic rail journey?

[bayonetbrant]

Can't tell you about flights or rail, since I always drove it.  Depending on traffic, it's about 6 hours back down the 101 from SF to LA.  DO NOT go back down PCH.  It'll add 4 hours to the trip.

As to the Monterey Itinerary, I'll work up a few options for you and post them later today (for you, or anyone else who wants to head that way).

A few questions: What sort of hiking / walking are you up for?  Are you willing to spend an entire afternoon at the aquarium?  Any particular restaurant favorites / avoidances?

[MikeGER]

if you happen to drive through Ventura on your trip, i highly recommend a stop at Battlefield Adventures in 47 Oak Street.
they offer all kind of military grade equipment, so if you are in hiking / mountaineering / outdoor sports / shooting / survival / 'zombie precaution' ;-) / (or get deployed and the gov-issued doesnt do it) ... you can stock up there.
because they do not ship international not even Canada, a webshop doesn't help.
very friendly and helpful staff too.
(i even got a '5000 miles from home discount', when i produced my shopping list and told them that i detoured my stay in California in a way to be there in the opening hours of the shop... or they just like my US-travel haircut ;)) 

i got a H.A.W.K. (the mil version), an instructors belt, and some more bags/clothes/hats stuff from them.           

[The Puss]

A few questions:
What sort of hiking / walking are you up for?
Both of us have dodgy knees but as long as there is rest points along the way then what the hell
Are you willing to spend an entire afternoon at the aquarium?
As long as it has enough interesting things to justify an afternoon, better than a zoo
Any particular restaurant favorites / avoidances?
Part of the fun is trying just about anything food wise within reason, no kangaroo gonads. Funny enough the alcohol aspect is quite important along with any sort of entertainment

Thanks for all your help.

[bayonetbrant]

OK - Monterey...

From Cambria, head north up CA 1, the Pacific Coast Highway.  Budget a good chunk of the day for this, as you'll want to stop and take a lot of pictures, and you'll inevitably get stuck behind some dweeb in an RV who doesn't realize he's got 30-odd cars stacked up behind him.
Assuming you're leaving from Cambria, you're headed north in the later morning.
If you don't grab a bite before you leave Cambria, then lunch somewhere in Big Sur.  Lots of restaurants along there.  Best bet, though - grab something to go at a bakery and sit out on an overlook somewhere and enjoy a meal outdoors.  You can't get edge-of-the-continent experiences like this is too many places.

As you approach the south side of the Monterey Bay, you'll pass through the Carmel Highlands, Carmel, and then Monterey.  There are several options for places to stay.
Lodging
-- Pricey, but can't beat the location:  Portola Hotel & Spa.  Used to be a DoubleTree, not sure when it changed names.  Right in the middle of downtown where you can walk to almost anything
-- Small classy joint near the highway: Mariposa Inn.  Across the street from the mall (outdoor mall, but several of the main stores have left over the years)
-- Or a B&B in Pacific Grove: The Jabberwock (Alice-in-Wonderland theme); Seven Gables (best view you'll ever have at a hotel); Andril Cottages (I knew the former owner, family stayed there when they came for our wedding)

Day 1 in Monterey - Sunday
Breakfast at The Red House.  Order the apple juice.  Be amazed.
Drive to Carmel and visit the Carmel Mission.  If you limit the missions you go see in California, go to SLO and this one.  The others are just gravy.  My wife and I got married at the Carmel Mission (that was actually our church when we lived there), and it's a fantastic place to visit with a very nice museum and impeccable grounds.  You will need to work around services, that just adds a bit of vibrancy to the place.
Mid-day
Some folks would tell you to go walk around downtown Carmel.  Not a bad suggestion - lots of cute little boutique shops and such, but it's still just shopping.  If you need to do it to maintain domestic bliss, then do it.  Otherwise, grab some sandwiches at Carmel Bakery and head south about 4-5 miles to Point Lobos and enjoy a nice walk and look for the sea lions.
For dinner, head back into town and head up Fremont St in Seaside to Golden China.  Doesn't look like much, but it's been there for 30+ years (seriously, we went there regularly when my father was stationed in Monterey in 1981-82).  If you'd rather not do Chinese, you can get some excellent German food around the corner at Stammtisch.  I've eaten a LOT of German food in my time, and this is one of the 4-5 best I've ever eaten at.
Pick up a bottle of wine somewhere, and relax back at the hotel and watch the lights come up on the bay.

Day 2 - Monday
Pack the camera.  Breakfast at Paris Bakery.  You could grab it to go, if you want, because you're going for a short drive up past the airport to Jacks Peak County Park.  Jacks Peak is named for David Jacks, the guy who invented Monterey Jack cheese, and is the highest point on the peninsula.  Take the short Skyline Nature Trail as your main stroll (PDF map here).  You'll get awesome views looking over Monterey / Seaside to the north, and Carmel / Carmel Valley to the south.  Linger.

Drive back into town park down near the wharf.  There's a big parking lot at the municipal wharf.  From there, walk towards Fisherman's Wharf and grab LUNCH somewhere on Fisherman's Wharf.  You have to get the clam chowder in the bread bowl, or they escort you out of town.
Continue your ramble up the recreation trail onto Cannery Row.  There are some great stops for views near the Coast Guard pier, and near the old Portola Cannery.  You're headed toward the aquarium, so if you want to spend more time in the aquarium then don't waste too much time on the trail. 
If you're OK skipping it, there's no shortage of things to do, so take your time and explore some of the shops and pubs along here.
One completely out-of-way thing to see...  There's a set of 3 restored fisherman's shacks long a connector trail between Cannery Row and the rec trail.  They're set up to look like they did back in the 1910s or so.  Not a major attraction in and of itself, but an example of the nice touches they put into showing off the history of the area

If you skip the aquarium, then there's a variety of things to do along the rec trail:
-- rent a bike and pedal down to Lover's Point
-- explore some of the wine tastings and boutiques along the waterfront
-- head back to Portola Plaza at the base of Fisherman's Wharf and check out the museums there (Customs House and Maritime Museums)
Either way, plan to have dinner and drinks down along the municipal wharf at the Sandbar and Grill

Day 3 - Tuesday
You've got a tough call to make here...  if you stay Tuesday night in Monterey, then you'll be in town for the Farmer's Market downtown.  It's about 50% produce and food, and 50% street party.  But it starts at 6pm, so you're not really getting out of town afterwards.  My recommendation, if you're staying thru to Tuesday, is to hit the aquarium on Monday afternoon, and do the walking stuff above on Tuesday.
Whether you stay in town or not, grab breakfast at Old Monterey Cafe.
If you're a golfer, skip Pebble Beach (I know, heresy, right? bear with me) and head over to old Fort Ord and go play either Blackhorse or Bayonet instead.  Both are top-notch courses, and are less-crowded with better views.
If you're not a golfer (like me) then go take a short cruise on the bay with one of the sightseeing charters from Fisherman's Wharf.
Relax and enjoy the Farmer's Market.  Go to bed early.  Canoodle.

Get out of town day
This is either Tuesday or Wednesday after breakfast.
Get on CA 1 and head north to Santa Cruz. 
Watsonville is the home of Driscoll's and you'll see a lot of roadside produce stands.  Don't be shy - eat some.  You'll never find produce as cheap (or as good) as you will in these parts of CA
Stop in Capitola at Gayle's and pick up lunch on your way, and stop somewhere out along the coast for lunch.
The Santa Cruz Boardwalk is fun for the younger set, and it's interested b/c it's the boardwalk where a lot of scenes from The Lost Boys were filmed, but it's not that happening in the daytime.  Keep driving up CA 1 through Half Moon Bay and approach SF from the West.  You'll actually drive very close to The Olympic Club, where this year's US Open was held.
Find hotel, relax.

San Francisco
You've said you've been there before, so I don't have a lot of recommendations for you on a day-by-day itinerary, but here are a few things to go do that are worth it.

-- Coit Tower - great views and a nice place for a picnic lunch
-- The Westin Hotel - ride the exterior elevator to the top and back 2-3 times, just for the view
-- You used to be able to eat at the Ft Mason Officer's Club, but I can't find reliable info about whether or not it's still open.  I've stayed there before, back when it was still a military facility and had rooms to rent upstairs.
-- Maritime National Park - one of the US' smallest national parks, but very fascinating.  A bunch of different boats from different eras, all incredibly well-preserved.  The rangers give excellent tours, too.

When it's time to head south, get on US 101 and take it all the way back to LA.  You'll pass through a variety of wine country areas.  Heading south from Morgan Hill through Salinas toward San Ardo and San Miguel, you'll start driving through a salad bar as you head south through the Salinas River Valley.
Gilroy - Garlic
Watsonville - Strawberries
Castroville - Artichokes
Salinas - lettuce
Gonzalez - onions and carrots
Soledad - state prison... and some other produce, too
Greenfield - broccoli
King City - Onions and tomatoes

When you get to Paso Robles, you can make a call on a short side excursion.  Just outside of town is Cholame, CA, where James Dean died in his car crash.  It's easy to get to, but is going to add time to your trip.
Once you back to SLO, CA 1 and US 101 merge again for the drive south through Pismo Beach toward Santa Maria and Santa Barbara.  You're slowly leaving the best parts of CA to head back to the alternate reality that is the greater Los Angeles area, but you've had 7-10 of the best days of your life.

Enjoy!  Just typing that out makes me want to hit the road with my wife!