Things to do in California when you’re Sam

[KS]

have been to the USA 58 times, of which 50+ to California. Best bit for me? San Diego. Great park (Balboa) with superb car and aviation museums. Just do it.

[sng45]

As noted earlier, Alcatraz is well worth a visit, I've been twice and really enjoyed it. We stayed at the Madonna Inn at San Luis Obispo which is a bizarre place and interesting to say the least. If you go that far Carmel ( famed for Clint Eastwood having been Mayor ) and also Solvang , a Danish settlement and exact replica of a Danish town are great places to visit.

[sng45]

As noted earlier, Alcatraz is well worth a visit, I've been twice and really enjoyed it. We stayed at the Madonna Inn at San Luis Obispo which is a bizarre place and interesting to say the least. If you go that far Carmel ( famed for Clint Eastwood having been Mayor ) and also Solvang , a Danish settlement and exact replica of a Danish town are great places to visit.

Some years ago we also stayed at the Beverley Wilshire Hotel, famous for being the hotel that featured in the "Pretty Woman" film, worth going just for a coffee and for the kids to say they've been and opposite Rodeo Drive for a bit of shopping !

[23e Heure]

I’m just back from another LA and Vegas work trip.
As Feroz says, if you are going to do the PCH, check for road closures.
North of Santa Monica it’s blocked as they deal with the aftermath of the fires.
You could head south on PCH instead.
Orange County (and the whole coastline anyway) is amazing with all the coves etc.
Worth checking on 914world before you go too: the SoCal guys often do Sunday morning drives, you could post that you’re there and tag along.
Plenty of (modern and classic) cars and coffee events every weekend too.
Petersen worth the entry cost if you’ve never been and want to tick it off, although I think once is enough.

[hot66]

Personally, I don’t like LA. If you’re there with kids / teens .. deffo do a day at universal studios and stump up and pay for the fast passes.

Santa Monica pier was interesting on an evening

Sedona is a superb place to visit, the scenery is so different to anything you’d get in Europe .

SF ..again as a city not my cup,of tea, but a visit to Alcatraz is deffo worth doing

[sladey]

+1 on Alcatraz

[Sam]

Everyone loves Alcatraz!

Thanks for all this, it’s excellent stuff. Just what I needed.

[Sam]

Fun fact.

We decided to make one of our stops on this trip Monterey and pop in to the practice day at the Indycar GP at Laguna Seca on the Friday.

Grandstand tickets for the Friday at the British GP are £169.

For the same at Laguna Seca £7.50.

Not the same event, I know. But still.

[RobFrost]

Mrs Sam, the three teenagers and I are going to California for 3 weeks in July. I’ve never been to the west coast.

We’re hopping off the plane at LAX with our dreams and cardigans, then over to Vegas to see some NBA for my youngest’s birthday, then thinking Grand Canyon - Death Valley - Yosemite - San Francisco - back to LA. The usual tourist route I guess.

I’m guessing a load of you wealthy jet setters have done all that before so would welcome any pointers to interesting stuff to do please. Car and non car.

If visiting Yosemite then go to Muir woods. If you're in Colorado it'd be rude not to go up Pike's Peak although you will have missed the hill climb in June. Also drive through Garden of the Gods. This can all be done from Colorado Springs which is a beautiful town.

If in California, San Francisco was amazing 20 years ago although I've heard many residents complaining about their Fentanyl-related crime problems.

I would go to an NBA match and a baseball match if they're taking place.

I love LA having spent some time working there. Venice beach and muscle gym are great places to go. Hire some roller blades and skate the length of the beach - there's a concrete track but leave before it gets dark.

Looks like the Indy cars are at Laguna Seca while you're there.

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[Sam]

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[sladey]

[Ian Gunney]

When my wife was expecting our son (19 years ago) we flew to San Francisco 4 nights there (Alcatraz, Lombard Street usual things there), down highway 1 through Carmel, stayed in Monterrey (fabulous), then down to San Luis Obispo. Headed inland to Sequoia (amazing), then Yosemite for a few days, one night in Fresno (not very pleasant as I recall), then Lake Tahoe (awesome), Napa Valley then back to SF. Best holiday ever for me.