3 nights no car west hollywood or h/wood

Hi all, we are a m\c in mid forties staying in USA for the first time, we are not into clubs or rap but love to walk to pubs ( bar%26#39;s ) cafes and restaurants.

we are looking at Chamberlain w\h or Renaissance hollywood, any suggestions for people our age.

We will be doing as much touristy stuff as we can universal, Guamans,walk of fame etc.( thats what we came for )

We also want to see Santa Monica, we were going to spent 2 nights S M and 2 night Hollywood but don%26#39;t want to change Hotels too many times. Is it possible to take public trans to SM in morning and get a cab back to hollywood, rough price for cab if they go back late evening. p.s. were going to stay at either Loewes or shutters so if cab is less than $100 I call that saving money.

If your wondering about rental, I am on vacation and will have drink with lunch, afternoon drink and drink with dinner etc. ha ha Anyway your steering wheel is on the wrong side of car.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions

Paul and Deb

3 nights no car west hollywood or h/wood

Stay at the W hotel in Westwood.

The Flyaway coach takes you and your luggage to Westwood, picks up right outside your airline terminal($4). Then, if your luggage is heavy you have a $5 cab ride to the W, or you can walk the 4 blocks with wheeled luggage.

Public transp from here will take you to Santa Monica in 12 minutes, Bev Hills in 7 minutes, along the sunset strip to Graumans in 20 minutes (plus one block walk up La Brea)....Universal can be done at the same time via 5 min metro ride from Graumans.

You also have a 5 min bus ride to Getty Center (a must for Fri or Sat dinner)....and a quick Flyaway Coach back to LAX airport (20 min).

Best of all, the hotel is walking distance to pubs, restaurants, bookstores, souvenir shops. Maybe 50 places to eat within 3-4 blocks. Very safe neighborhood next to the University and Hospital.

Hilgard House is the other hotel in the immediate area, more budget-friendly than the W but no pool.

3 nights no car west hollywood or h/wood

If you want to walk to bars, cafes and restaurants, then you really should stay in Santa Monica. I wouldn%26#39;t look elsewhere.

Visiting Walk of Fame takes about an hour, tops, so it doesn%26#39;t make sense to stay in that neighborhood just to see something that takes no time at all, and you can have a tour pick you up from your hotel (wherever your hotel is), and take you there, combine it with Universal -- all for less than the cost of a taxi.

If you must stay in Hollywood, then Renaissance is a great hotel, but the bus will take forever to get to Santa Monica for the day (over an hour or so). West Hollywood is better, and the Chamberlain gets great reviews, but consider looking at hotels along Sunset Blvd.

A second vote for the W in Westwood. This is a central location between Santa Monica and Hollywood. Westwood Village, the adjacent grid of streets that is next to UCLA (Univ of California, L.A.) has some great bars and resrtaurants. Within an easy walk from the W, consider Palomino for drinks and the Napa Valley Grill for dinner.

Have fun!

For what you are looking for the Sunset Plaza area of West Hollywood or Santa Monica would be perfect.

There are plenty of hotels on the Sunset Strip that are close to great bars and restaurant that all have outside patios to enjoy the scenery

Santa Monica is a walking town, Third Street Promenade, Main Street, Montana Ave are all full of restaurants, bars and shops so Shutters would be near perfect for yor stay

IT is not that hard to get from Shutters for example to Hollywood buy bus. No need for a taxi

The #720 Wilshire Bus leaves two blocks from your hotel every couple of minutes. You take that bus to Fairfax Ave(where you could also check out the Los Angeles County Museum) and transfer to the # 217 Fairfax bus that drops you off on Hollywood/Highland, which is basically downtown Hollywood

Both buses run frequently late way into the night. So you would not even need to take a taxi getting back to your hotel

Forgot to mention that if you take the bus, get a $5 daypass from the driver which let%26#39;s you take any bus/subway in the area all day long. That way you could also stop on 3rd/Fairfax and enjoy the Farmers Market and Grove shopping

You could even take a quick subway ride from Hollywood/Highland after exploring the area to Union Station and visit Olivera Street, which is the birthplace of L.A. All for $5

I%26#39;m an aussie and I%26#39;ve been to the States twice now. I would recommend staying at Santa Monica too. Lots of restaurants, pubs, etc and a beautiful beach with many others near by.

On one trip we relied on public transport and the next visit we rented a car.

LA is a great place to drive a car and you will have no problems at all. The public transport (whilst slow) gives you an opportunity to view the suburbs of LA whilst getting to your destination. As stated by another poster - you get all this for $5 - its a bargain!

enjoy your trip!

Thanks everyone for such great info, I did not even know about Westwood, so will check that out as well.

More homework to do now, can%26#39;t wait till June.

Cheers

Hollywood is perfectly safe to walk around at night. As you stated, tons of tourists do so each and every night

What is safe, and what FEELS safe to a visitor, well, that%26#39;s two different things. If you%26#39;re from a small town and you git skeered in big cities because of all the tattoos and baggy pants and homeless wanderers and nose piercings, then Hollywood is not the most comfortable place to spend your hard-earned vacation days.

Compton is ';perfectly safe'; most of the time, too...that doesn%26#39;t make it a great place to spend your vacation, even if it had a walk of fame and some disney characters prancing around.

Accomodation Help

I am so confused as to where we should stay in San Diego, we will arive on 14th September for 3 nights, want to go to Sea World, the Zoo, and some nice restaurants/bars. We will have a hire car but would consider returning it on arriaval if we can use public transport. We are looking to spend around $150 a night!!

Any suggestions welcome

Accomodation Help

downtown/gaslamp area is great for restaurants/bars and shopping. easy to get around, everything%26#39;s within walking distance except the zoo and seaworld. not sure about public transportation, i think riffsmon can help out with that.

Accomodation Help

You have a lot of choices and the car just gives you even more possibilities.

At the beach there%26#39;s the Ocean Park Inn and the Pacific Shores Inn. In this location there are many relaxed beachy bars and restaurants.There%26#39;s a more upscale restaurant nearby called JRDNs.

Even at an upscale place here you can wear casual clothing.

IN this area you%26#39;d have to take buses everywhere and I think a car just makes it easier BUT it IS possible to get places by bus.This area is not far by bus from La Jolla Cove or Sea World and only 15min by car from downtown but longer Maybe 40min)by bus.

In our Hillcrest neighborhood,surrounded by tons of good restaurants is the Sommerset Suites.You%26#39;d use buses here too but it%26#39;s closer to downtown,Balboa Park etc.

Then at the Crowne Plaza ,which is a hotel with a tropical feel (although the area is not scenic)you could use the hotel shuttle to our public transportation lightrail electric train that we call the trolley. This is centrally located and not far from a mall with restaurants but you%26#39;d have to travel to get to our gaslamp entertainment district downtown. They charge $10 per day to park your car which is very low for a hotel here.

Downtown there%26#39;s the Best Western Cabrillo Garden Inn which is a great location without a car but there has been some construction nearby lately and I don%26#39;t know if it is finished.

All these hotels are in your budget but I don%26#39;t know what type you usually like. $150 per night is not a lot here.

IF you keep hte car you could drive to all sorts of places as opposed to taking longer on the bus.there is also a very good hop on hop off tour you could use without the car if you stayed downtown or at the Crowne Plaza. Let me know what you think.

It%26#39;s funny that you arrive on Sept.14 an dthat%26#39;s the date I am leaving for Italy. Happy traveling!!

vb

Looking for Downtown Hotel in San Jose

Hi,

I will be visiting San Jose 6/15- 2 nights. My son has orientation at San Jose State and I%26#39;m looking to be near the University, not looking for a pricey hotel, but a safe place near shopping, museums etc. I am from NYC area. Also will have a car since we are travelling from San Francisco since the flights were more convenient

Looking for Downtown Hotel in San Jose

Hello,

I have stayed at the Marriott Downtown. It was very nice. The staff had a bit of the snobby, don%26#39;t bother me-type vibe, but the room was clean, comfortable and had all needed amenities. The campus is easily within walking distance.

spap

is lake tahoe more of a winter destination?

i see a lot of pictures of snow. is this maybe a winter destination? are there things to do in august? i don%26#39;t want to be alone. plus it%26#39;s a long drive from san francisco isn%26#39;t it?

is lake tahoe more of a winter destination?

Oh my goodness no! I go way more often in the summer and spend longer periods of time there. I much prefer summer since I like water sports more than skiing. Not a long drive at all. Probabaly only 4 hours. The last hour or so is very pretty.

Here%26#39;s my usual list of what to do in the summer:

What to do on the East side from north to south:

Sand Harbor is a fantastic beach. You must go there for at least one day or for a visit.

Sand Harbor also has the Shakespeare festival every summer. Right on the lake.

http://www.laketahoeshakespeare.com/

Tour Thunderbird Lodge. Quite Historic and amazing:

http://www.thunderbirdlodge.org/

Better yet do the cruise and come in from the lake side. So pretty form the lake:

www.tahoeboatcruises.com/tbirdlodgetours.htm

Heading out south you’ll get to Zephyr Cove which is good for lake cruises and you can rent water craft or walk on the beach.

http://www.zephyrcove.com/

Things to do in South Lake Tahoe:

There are of course the casinos. You can shop and eat at the village area, take a scenic ride on the Heavenly gondola or visit the casinos. Here’s info on a gondola trip:

skiheavenly.com/lake_tahoe/…

Some great beaches in SLT that are worth a visit are Pope, Camp Richardson and Baldwin. All of these are past the Y (way past the casinos, past the grassy area next to the lake, past the outlet store) which is really now a 4 way light but habits are hard to break!

You should visit the Tallac site.

www.fs.fed.us/r5/ltbmu/recreation/tallac/

Also if you are interested in fish this is pretty interesting:

fs.fed.us/r5/…streampc.shtml

Hikes to take near South Lake Tahoe are the Moraine Trail which is a pretty easy hike of 1 mile (one-way) Walk a relatively flat trail through the forest and along the shore of picturesque Fallen Leaf Lake. Take Highway 89 to Fallen Leaf Road. Continue approximately 2/3 of a mile to Fallen Leaf Campground. Drive through the campground and park just before campsite #75 on the right. There is no fee for day use. Look for the trailhead sign near the parking area.

Another hike is Angora Lakes which is an easy hike and hikers are rewarded with several lakes. In the summer you can rent row boats or just swim and lay around on the sandy beach. It’s only ½ mile and the scenery when you get there is great. The lake is surrounded by cliffs and giant rocks. Take Highway 89 to Fallen Leaf Lake Road and turn left. Turn left at the first paved road. Continue to Forest Service Road 12N14 and turn right. Watch for bicyclists along this road. Continue past Angora Lookout to the road%26#39;s end at the parking lot. There is a small parking fee.

Things to do on the West Side:

Rent bikes and ride along the bike path from Tahoe City southward all the way to just south of Sugar Pine (the bath ends/begins just prior to Meeks Bay) or north to the River Ranch. Where ever you go the bike path is very nice.

River rafting out of Tahoe City. Take an ice chest full of your favorite beverage and food supplies. Rafting is completely weather dependent. Some years when there is too much or too little snow the rafting season is affected. Check to see when rafting begins. Here’s a link to one of the companies with an online coupon:

truckeeriverraft.com/tahoe/…

South of Tahoe City is:

Homewood: Chambers Landing – It has 2 beach sections. One part is roped off as private and the other part is open to the public. Not really great sand, and the shore is rocky. The best part is the dock with the historic Chambers Bar at the end. This place will be hopping on that weekend. Many people boat in and the dock is like a party at happy hour, reduced Chambers Punch prices.

Just south of Tahoma is Sugar Pine State Park with the Ehrmann Mansion. In the summer there are tours: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=510

A little further south is Meeks Bay – great beach, there is a grill shack right on the beach. Paddle boats and tricycles available for rent. Beautiful views of the lake.

Next up is DL Bliss – nice beach but very hard to get into so if you go get really early start. There is a path to the right of the parking lot as you are looking at the lake. It offers amazing views of the lake which are not available from the road.

After Bliss you come to the well known Emerald Bay. Vikingsholm, a replica of a Scandinavian castle sits on the shore. You can take the Vikingsholm Trail to see the castle. Not the Tea House which is on the island but the castle that’s on the shore of the bay. The trail starts at the parking area on the north side of Emerald Bay, on Highway 89. It%26#39;s a wide, well-maintained trail, but fairly steep, about 2½ miles round trip. At the bottom of the trail is a picnic area. http://www.vikingsholm.com/

Or you can take a short side hike to Eagle Falls or Cascade Lake %26amp; Falls

Eagle Falls / Eagle Lake Trail starts at Eagle Falls Picnic Area, highway 89 across from Emerald Bay. Permits are required on this hike and a self-registration station is at the trailhead. The hike is only about 2 miles round trip to Eagle Lake (only about 1/3 mile to the falls); the terrain varies from steep to flat and crosses beautiful Eagle Falls on a steel footbridge.

Cascade Lake %26amp; Falls – Turn into the Bayview Campground across fro Emerald Bay Inspiration Point, drive to the end and park at the trailhead. Take the trail that veers left. Spectacular views of the 200 foot high falls and Cascade Lake can be seen from this short trail.

Now if instead of heading south in Tahoe City you headed north you could visit Squaw Valley. Our kids always enjoy a day at High Camp. Take the tram up to the giant pool and Jacuzzi. They can also ice skate. There is a pool side grill and palapa bar as well.

http://www.squaw.com/summer-squaw

While you are in North Lake Tahoe:

Stop in at Carnelian Bay at Garwoods which is a great lakeside restaurant. Order up a Wet Woody – Rum drink.

You can go mountain bike riding at Northstar. northstarattahoe.com/info/summer/biking.asp

Check out the Fire Lookout for amazing views of the lake:

Near the Biltmore casino turn north on Reservoir Road. Then turn right onto Lakeview Ave. Continue on this road, if it forks stay left and do not turn onto Tuscarora. It will bend back before you reach the parking area for the short walk to the lookout. The lookout provides you with really beautiful views of the area and lake.

Hang out at the beaches in Incline.

There is still more.

You can rent a boat for a day, go sailing…

is lake tahoe more of a winter destination?

Lake Tahoe is in the mountains; therefore, you see the snow on the pictures :-) Don%26#39;t be afraid - July and August are our high peak months. Summer is more popular here than winter, great weather (not too hot and not cold), many things to do. If you drive fast you can make it in 2.5 hours from SF, but with speed limit 3.5-4 hours. And believe it - it is WORTH IT!!!! I have traveled a lot around the world and so far there is no place like Tahoe. Enjoy!!!!

thanks so much for all the info.

I can%26#39;t imagine how you could ever make it to Tahoe in 2.5 hours from SF. It%26#39;s 190 miles. What speed would you actually be going and who would you put at risk to save such a small amount of time?

agreed - my best time from the bay bridge to my house in south lake is about 3 hours...and that is with no traffic. either way it%26#39;s certainly worth the drive in august to come up here, tons to do like the first post called out and the weather is amazing! lake is warm enough to comfortably swim / snorkel in august too.

winter is why people come to tahoe, summer is why they stay!

We spent a week in Tahoe every summer when I was growing up, it%26#39;s gorgeous in the summer! Our last visit to the area was this past May and we had a wonderful time. The beaches all around the lake are very scenic, there is also the MS Dixie Cruise around Emerald Bay that is fun to do in the summer. :)

Oh my syrahgirl, I%26#39;ve written that I spent every summer growing up at Tahoe here many times, yet I%26#39;ve never seen you write that before. Recovered memory?

Alexia from Rome, you will love Lake Tahoe in summer. It%26#39;s about a 4 hour drive from San Francisco (probably depending where you start and where you end)

If you are visiting this August, you should start looking right now to make reservations. July and Aug. are very busy months at Tahoe.

The south shore, where the casino hotels are, can be very crowded that time of year. The north and west sides are other options to check into, as well.

this is why i love trip advisor. everybody helps make people%26#39;s vacations better. thanks to everyone who helped. any suggestions for a hotel that is not too expensive but respectable?

Check out the Marriot Timber Lodge in South Lake Thaoe, very nice property. We stayed here 3 nights last May and loved it! We have also enjoyed stays at the Inn by the Lake which is directly across the street from the lake, some rooms have lakeviews and they have a great bi-level spa there and outdoor pool. :)

Bart to Emeryville

Hi - I am a solo traveller and I checked out the BART website and this looks like this is a fairly straightforward trip. $5.80 and much cheaper than a shuttle or taxi.

I have 2 questions:

1. Is the transfer at Oakland City Centre straightforward?

2. Are there taxis waiting around for passengers at the Ashby station?

Thanks to any and all help. I%26#39;m leaving tomorrow and I am so looking forward to visiting!

Bart to Emeryville

Hi Frenchie,

I have transfered many times, though not very recently, at the Oakland City Center station. It is very easy and straightforward. Signage is excellent.

I doubt very much that there will be taxis waiting around at the Ashby station. You will probably have to call for one.

spap

Bart to Emeryville

When are you arriving? Because there is a free Emeryville shuttle from the MacArthur BART station that runs until 10 pm. That station is actually the closest to the hotels in Emeryville, if that is where you are going. The shuttle stops at all the hotels.

If for some reason you do decide to take a cab from BART, then City Center may be your best bet, as the Oakland Marriott is right there and should have cabs available.

need food suggestions for 2 adults and 2 kiddos

hi everyone i am hoping someone can give me some suggestions on places to eat with my 2 kids. i am lucky enough to have very adventurous kids when it comes to food so dont hold back! I am not much of a seafood fan (except sushi style) and money isnt a problem. what i dont want is something that kids will not be comfortable or where i need reservations. they are well behaved so that isnt a concern but i dont want to have to explain which fork is used for what to them. i am not a stuffy person so those places are not my cup of tea if you know what i mean. i dont want kiddy places either bc their eating style is not normal kid stuff (i applaud myself for that). local flavor would be excellent or something i cant normally find anywhere else, and if you think they wouldnt be interested in it go ahead and name it bc they probably will. Thanks in advance.

need food suggestions for 2 adults and 2 kiddos

You pretty much need reservations everywhere in San Francisco - unless you want to wait in line or dip down into the diner category (even then, some of the good diner type restaurants benefit from reservations).

Two that I think are good food and kid friendly are Restaurant Lulu and Zuni Cafe (both available for reservations on opentable.com

Grand Cafe has also got a good atmosphere - and kids seem to love the whimsical statues.

You might also try Green%26#39;s at Fort Mason. It%26#39;s a vegetarian place (think lots of pasta dishes) with an mazing view of the Golden Gate if fog doesn%26#39;t interfere.

(Even if I%26#39;m headed someplace at the spur of the moment, I%26#39;ll still take the time to check opentable.com to see if it will accept reservations. It%26#39;s like being allowed to cut in line.)

need food suggestions for 2 adults and 2 kiddos

pig - First, reservations are not needed ';everywhere';. You are looking for some of the hundreds of family friendly places here. What area of town will you be visiting? I would probably try Chinatown (Henry%26#39;s Hunan and Chef Jia%26#39;s are my favorites). There are food courts like Rincon Annex (South of Market) which is frequented by office workers has lots of choices of restaurants in a fun building. I usually take visitors with kids to Khan Toke Thai (on Geary Blvd, a 20 minute bus ride away from downtown) because you have to check your shoes at the door, and that gives them a big kick. Perhaps if you are more specific location-wise, you will get more specific responses.

Here are a few eateries that come to mind.

I second Green%26#39;s - good food and atmosphere and def, family friendly

Westfield Center - food court that has a good selection of quality meals

Mel%26#39;s Diner - burger %26amp; shakes

Max%26#39;s (located on Van Ness Avenue)- lunch or dinner (it%26#39;s fun watching the servers sing ;-))

Naan N%26#39; Curry - good Indian %26amp; Pakistani food; casual %26amp; good prices

Squat %26amp; Gobble (located at West Portal neighborhood which is a 15 minute MUNI train ride from Powell Station) - Crepes (sweet or savory), sandwiches, salads %26amp; a menu for children too

Sukhothai - (located in the Inner Sunset on 9th Ave - one block from Golden Gate Park %26amp; about a 20 minute Muni ride (N Judah train) from Powell Station) - very good Thai food and family friendly

Definitely restaurants in Chinatown are all used to getting families with kids. They%26#39;d probably have fun with dim sum.

Chenery Park is also very kid friendly, especially on Tuesday nights. http://www.chenerypark.com/

Firefly too. http://www.fireflyrestaurant.com/

Luella has a kids menu on Sunday nights. http://www.luellasf.com/

Pacific Catch in the Marina or Sunset has one too.

http://www.pacificcatch.com/

I%26#39;ve also heard that Zuni Cafe gets a fair amount of kids too, probably more kid-friendly the earlier you go.

Just thought of another: Taylor%26#39;s Automatic Refresher in the Ferry Building.

http://www.taylorsrefresher.com/

Our kids who are also love to eat out and not off of kids menus - LOVED Dim Sum. They also enjoyed getting bowls of clam chowder in sourdough bread bowls and eating it outside watching the sea lions.

I%26#39;ll second the recommendations for Naan n%26#39; Curry and Chef Jia%26#39;s. Hunans Home is also good. Another favorite is Tomasso%26#39;s (get there early or you may have a long wait). We also love La Corneta in the Mssion (in Glen Park weasily reachable by BART).

i am seeing a lot of food court suggestions, are they different there or something? our food courts around here consist of cheap (quality and price) food, is it better quality there? are there any neighborhoods to avoid with the kids or any that will not be as welcoming to a couple with kids? i have not decided where to stay bc there are so many nice B%26amp;B places. we will have a car so driving isnt a problem, here we cant walk anywhere bc of how far everything is from each other. the traffic there when i was in San Diego and driving the Hwy wasnt anything like around here. so I understand having to drive for a long time and getting practically no where. is the Pier worth the time and what about the Ferry Building? I love farmers markets and there seem to be a lot there, are there any worth taking the time out to go check out? thanks to everyone for the suggestions!

I think people recommend food court mainly for its convenience. Their price are not cheap, and the food are only passable. The one exception is the Ferry building. Its food and the view totally standout from other mainstream food courts.

With kids I will avoid the really high end restuarants because the ambience is just not right. Otherwise they are welcome pretty much anywhere. And you usually don%26#39;t need reservations in those mid range places.

Chinatown, North Beach are great. Polk St around California St is great. Clement St in Richmond has so much varieties that you can eat there for a month without repeating restaurants.

Thank you wtung for clearing the food court question up for me. i wanted to go to the Ferry Building but i have read mixed reviews about the worthiness of it. but i think i will go ahead and give it a try. Thanks everyone.

living nature

first time visir

Hi there, i%26#39;m coming from london england( not sure when, or whats the best time to visit is) on my own, and want suggestions on certains things.

i want to stay in an area where i can get to disney, universal studios, knotts berry farm, hollywood, and the beach, plus all the other main attractiosn and sightseeing things

I dont drive so will i be able to get around to all of them by public transport(bus/metro)?

Where would be the best place to stay centrally, and not expensive. all i need is a basic room with shower, bed and tv.i will be in LA for 2 weeks hopefully, and would be happy if any of you can give me suggestion on the best places to see and go, and best places to go for outlet shooping malls.

Also, how far is the nearest airport away from the main city?

To be honest, i havent read up anything on the city, and would like as much info as your all able to give.

prices, directions, places of entertainment, etc?

many thanks, A Parke

first time visir

Start by reading our FAQs section (at the top of the TOPIC list) thoroughly. The section called ARRIVAL / DEPARTURE TRANSPORTATION discusses the 5 area airports (Bob Hope Airport in Burbank is the closest to downtown L.A.) and the section called LOCAL TRANSPORATION has an area map which shows you the locations of the attractions you%26#39;re interested in. The section called ITINERARY IDEAS shows suggested tours by car as well as via public transit.

Los Angeles is extremely spread out, not unlike London. However our public transit pales in comparison. In addition some attractions are outside of the city limits of Los Angeles, e.g. Disneyland and Knotts are southeast of the city (about 40 minutes by car, longer by public transit) in the city of Anaheim in the neighboring county, Orange County. Universal is also outside of the city limits (although it is JUST outside and the beach areas of Santa Monica and Malibu are also outside of the city of L.A. adjacent to its western boundary.

So, it%26#39;s hard to pick an area that is conveniently located to all of these areas except to say that the two neighborhoods that are the most central and have the best public transit are:

1. Downtown L.A. (which, surprisingly, is not in the center of our city but is, rather, near its eastern boundary)

and

2. Hollywood

Pick up a travel guide for Los Angeles. There is a British Company called ';DK'; which has ';Eyewitness'; guides for L.A and many, many other international cities. Google them:

DK EYEWITNESS

You can also look at the city of L.A.%26#39;s Tourist Board%26#39;s website:

www.latourist.com/index.php…

You can visit L.A. almost any time -- our weather is fairly mild most of the year. (We do have a ';cooler'; winter with some rain so you might want to skip Dec through February. June, July and August are ';high season'; (most expensive rates). May and September are very nice times to visit and a little less expensive than summer.

After reviewing all of the above, post a NEW Posting with any further questions you may have. Include your dates or travel and your nightly budget for a hotel (Sorry, we don%26#39;t know what ';not expensive'; means to a Londoner in view of the devalued U.S. $).

first time visir

Please take the advice above and get a book!

It%26#39;s like me asking you where to stay when I want to visit London, Brighton, Liverpool - and be in a central location, just one location. There%26#39;s just no such thing. And while your destinations look fairly close on a map, they are about an hour or two apart, each way, at a minimum.

It%26#39;s impossible to provide a meaningful response to your question. The answer to most is that it%26#39;s either not possible or too difficult. You should first read a free guidebook like www.frommers.com/destinations/losangeles to get an idea of where things are located and how spread out this part of the world is. Some of the things you%26#39;re talking about are literally an hour or more drive away from one another. You also need to provide a price range per night for hotel suggestions. Have you considered a hostel as well?

There are thousands of websites about Los Angeles, just google it. A spread out place like Los Angeles is hard to visit if you dont do a little homework beforehand. We can always assist you with more detailed questions that you might have

many thanks for your suggestions. I%26#39;ve never really noticed the size of california but think i will have to do a few trips to take it all in.

I always thought you could get to evrywhere by metro, but your saying some of the theme parks are a couple of hours away!.

when i mean inexpensive for a hotel..i%26#39;m looking at bout $80 a night(is that reasonable?)

Some the sights i want to visit are:-

Disney

Universal

Knotts Berry Farm

Ripleys,

Hollywood walk of fame

Rose bowl

Guiness book of records

Rodeo Drive

Beverley Hills

Farmers Market

shopping malls

maybe a beach.

i%26#39;d be travelling every day for 2 weeks, so what sort of pass would i need if i was in downtown hollywood or in downtown LA?

again many thanks, A Parke

- $80 is not reasonable for a hotel in LA. You can only get a motel for that price and not in a nicer area by the beach etc. That%26#39;s basically the cost of a private room at a hostel.

- LA has a very limited underground metro. From everything you listed, it only goes to Pasadena and Hollywood. You have the take buses for the rest. Getting from Hollywood to the beach areas for example takes 1 hr and 2 buses. Getting to Pasadena takes about 45min from central LA and an hour from beach neigborhoods. LA is huge and spread out. And Disneyland, Knott%26#39;s etc are not in LA at all. They%26#39;re in another county. Think of California as the entire UK. It%26#39;s that big.

- Your trip will be most convenient with a car, especially for such a long stay. If there is nothing preventing you from driving, rent one. It%26#39;s cheaper for extended periods of time anyway. And Southern California is a car city.

- The only theme park that%26#39;s actually located in Los Angeles itself is Universal Studios. All the other ones are a 45-60 min drive away in other cities. There is no easy way to get to them by public transportation. Most of that will require several connections and a 2-hr commute each way. You can go on an organized tour that includes admission to the park, but those tend to be expensive (i.e. it%26#39;s cheaper and more convenient to rent a car and go there yourself). There is a ~$20 shuttle (each way) that can take you to Disneyland either directly from the airport or twice a day from some of the major hotels in the area.

- FAQs on this forum describe each neighborhood you can stay in. Check them out and see what appeals to you. You basically need to decide what you%26#39;d rather be near, whether walking to bars is important, whether a nicer looking area is important, whether being by the beach is important, and whether you will rent a car. With a car, your options of where to stay increase tremendously.

- Btw, you should consider a hostel, especially if you%26#39;re relatively young (under 30) and traveling alone. It%26#39;s easy to meet people that way and the do lots of organized tours to popular sites and outings to bars and clubs. Check out the USA Hostels Hollywood website for example to see what they offer. You can get a private room for around $60-80, so you won%26#39;t have to share.

- Also, considering going up to SF. It%26#39;s a much smaller city and is actually walkable. Public transporation is good there, so you won%26#39;t need a car. You can take a train or fly (same price around $50 one way) from LA to SF and spend 4-5 days there easily. It%26#39;s a 50 min flight away.

Active family fun in SD?

I almost forgot...Fiance has family in Riverside who have never been to SD. We are thinking of possibly going to SD on Thursday 5/15 w. them. Our group will consist of a 44/f, 17/m, 16/m, 22/f, and 24/m. Would prefer to do something active, although open to any suggestions. Also, is there parasailing on any of the beaches?

Active family fun in SD?

I don%26#39;t know if this will be a satifactory answer for you, but visiting the San Diego Zoo can be very active. It%26#39;s hilly and there is alots of walking. There is also a very nice aviary to walk through. If they have never been to San Diego, this would be a good introduction. Tell them to wear good shoes! Walking in Balboa Park is nice too, as well as on the beach in Coronado.

Active family fun in SD?

A day at SeaWorld would be fun, I loved riding my Del Sol beach cruiser around Coronado, they have some nice trails in the back of the Hotel Del. You can rent them on Coronado at the bike shop there in downtown Coronado. :)

a walk/hike through torry pines reserve is absolutely beautiful. wouldn%26#39;t take all day. after, spend a day @ the beach with surf lessons in la jolla, del mar, encinitas or carlsbad.

What about kayaking in La Jolla?

www.lajollakayak.com

Maybe seafishing%26gt; If you like to fish, even a little, it%26#39;s fun. You don%26#39;t have to take your own fish of the hook either. You can buy food and beer on the boat.

www.seaforthlanding.com

Caltrain & the Giants

We will be taking the caltrain in to see the Giants %26amp; Whitesox play Friday May 16. I printed off the schedule and noticed it said the train will leave 1/2 hour after the game ends. Should we in the bottom of the last inning or is it a fairly quick walk? My aunt and mom don%26#39;t walk really fast and I certainly don%26#39;t want to miss the train back.

We are sitting in section L130R. What gate should we use?

Caltrain %26amp; the Giants

I meant to say should we LEAVE in the bottom of the 9th!

Caltrain %26amp; the Giants

I%26#39;ve never taken Caltrain after a game, but you would have plenty of company. The closest entrance to your seats is the 2nd/King one. That is a 2 block walk. What you might do is, in the last inning, work your way towards home plate, then exit at the 3rd/King (Willie Mays) entrance. Then you are one block (albeit a bit longish) from the depot. A half hour should be plenty of time if you exit that way, since you are on the first level. Be sure to explore the park during the game. You can walk around the right field arcade, sight of the renowned ';splash hits';, and take in the views as well as the various foods available.

鈥lb.com/sf/downloads/sf_entrances_06.pdf

what I would do is start moving to section 119 by the bottom of the 8th. If you want to see the Sox last at bat, there should be some seats near the last rows, or you can stand behind the seats and watch, but auntie and mom may want to sit. There is an escalator going down, but will be exclusively for Club level after the game for 5 minutes. I%26#39;d be descending after the Sox at bat, gives you a head start.

The schedule I have says there are two trains after evening games (and the May 16 game is an evening game), one leaving 15 minutes after the end of the game or when full (and it will be full!) and then expressing to San Carlos. Since you%26#39;re staying in Burlingame, you will not want that one, even if you did make it in time. The second train leaves 25 minutes after the game and makes all stops from San Francisco.

These are special game trains. There are regularly scheduled trains at 10:30 and midnight. The game ';starts'; at 7:15, but assuming it doesn%26#39;t really start until 7:30 or so, and lasts about 3 hours, that puts the special trains leaving at around 10:45 and 10:55, give or take half an hour. If you miss the second train you would still be able to make the midnight train. Unless the game goes into marathon extra innings and doesn%26#39;t end until after midnight.

Thanks a lot! I%26#39;ll print this thread and stick it in with my tickets and travel binder. I didn%26#39;t realize there was also an express train. I will make sure to note which one we need to take.

I am not sure anyone really cares if we see the last Sox at bat as we are all Cubs fans anyway ;)

I have a soft sided cooler I was going to bring for water and soft drinks. I saw the notice on their website that it has to be certain measurements. My daughter snagged mine on her last visit home from college and used it to clean out my fridge so I don%26#39;t have the measurements in front of me. Are they that picky or does it just have to be a 12/pack size?

No joke...they are very picky about what you bring into the ballpark.

you will walk right by a supermarket, Safeway at the corner of 4th St at King, across from Caltrain, load up there.

Zoo & Legoland

My family is arriving in San Diego on Sunday, May 11. We are spending the first half of the week at Disneyland. We would like to visit the zoo and Legoland during the second half of our visit. We have Thursday through Saturday to fit these in. Which day would you recommend at which park? Thanks in advance.

Beth

Zoo %26amp; Legoland

I would do the zoo on Thursday and Legoland on Friday. Out of the 3 days, Thurs and Fri will be the LEAST busiest - Use Saturday at the beach!

Zoo %26amp; Legoland

you will pass legoland coming and going from Disney Land. Maybe go to legoland the day you drive back from Disney.

I should add that we will actually be staying in Carlsbad for the second leg of our trip.

Beth

4th of July & best place for steak

We%26#39;ve got rooms at the Best Western Beach Resort for the 4th of July...will we be able to see fireworks from the hotel or would we have to drive closer to Fisherman%26#39;s warf? I would assume traffic would be crazy so suggestions are appreciated.

Also where%26#39;s the best place to get a steak?

Thanks in advance...

4th of July %26amp; best place for steak

I don%26#39;t know about the fireworks, but definitely check out the Whaling Station in Monterey for the best steaks in the area! :)

4th of July %26amp; best place for steak

We have spent 4th of July in Monterey many a times. During the summer months there can be a lot of fog. It can be typical for you to hear the fireworks boom, but only see fog. They are shot over the bay, so if its clear, you can see them from anywhere. If your room faces the bay, you will be able to see them from there. We ';listen'; for them up the hill from the bay in Monterey.

Don%26#39;t know about steak. Not usually not on my entree list. More of a fish gal.

I know that you can see the fireworks from the beach at the Best Western and I kind of doubt that trying to get closer to the Wharf would be worth the hassle with traffic and parking. The main problem we have with fireworks around here is fog. If it%26#39;s thick, you have to pretty close to see them. If we%26#39;re having a lot of fog, ask their opinion when you get to the hotel. I%26#39;m sure they%26#39;ll know.

Thank you for your suggestions...well lets hope it%26#39;s not foggy then :-))

Last year I watched them from my room%26#39;s balcony at the Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa. We%26#39;ll be there again this year.

montereyplazahotel.com/accommodations.html

The fireworks were set off down at the harbor last year with no problems with fog. I hope we%26#39;re lucky again this year!

During the day (any day except the 4th because they close it off to the public to prepare the fireworks) you can seals and otters enjoying themselves in the water. So cute!

living nature

networking

Special weekend hotel advice

Hi guys.... I am an Anaheim local, and am planning to spend a couple of nights in a hotel by the disneyland area. .. it%26#39;s for may 29th to june 1st, and i say it is special because I will see IRON MAIDEN !! that weekend, on the 31st to be exact. I am debating on which of the following hotels I should stay in, because i want to surprise my girlfriend also, who is coming with me... advise please..

- Doubletree guest suites

- Marriott residence inn garden grove

- disneyland hotel

- grand californian

- embassy suites south

also, is concierge floor at the disney hotels worth it? Thank you, and have a great one!!

Special weekend hotel advice

I think it depends on your girlfriend%26#39;s tastes. There are only two among the ones you listed that I would choose, if this is a romantic type weekend. They would be the two Disney hotels. The Grand Californian if she would enjoy a mountain lodge type hotel and the Disneyland Hotel if she has a fun personality. I like the looks of the pool at the Disneyland Hotel at night. If she is really into Disney stuff, the Disneyland Hotel would be nice. The Grand Californian seems to have more of a sophiscated ambiance. Of course, staying at either one of these hotels means you could always go over to the other one easily for a while.

Special weekend hotel advice

We loved our stay at the Grand Californian, it is really a majestic hotel, we dined at the Napa Rose this past December for our anniversary dinner, it was fantastic! There is also a wonderful pool area there, the Storyteller%26#39;s Cafe for breakfast, a spacious lobby and it opens right out to Downtown Disney with all the cool shops. I vote for the Grand! :)

HI guys... I have made my decision. After much reading on here and other sites about the hotels, and realizing my focus for our trip is for Iron Maiden and not necessarily Disney and also considering my budget ( tax checks upcoming or not. ..), i have decided to stay at the residence inn garden grove through a package by getaway today. 3 nights, two park hopper tickets, one character dining experience, and i guess lots of new things to look forward to in that weekend, what with Iron Maiden being the focal point and all. .. Thanks for the feedback so far. I got a few more questions, though, now that I have booked this package:

- has anyone been to the Goofy%26#39;s Kitchen for dinner, and can you please share your experiences there?

- IS there anything i should know or look out for in regards to the residence inn? i never stayed at a marriott before, and i just signed up to their rewards program (and hilton%26#39;s too. .. guess i%26#39;ll be travelling around my hometown a lot *lol*). please do share any relevant tips for that. ..

- and lastly, this is not totally related to hotels and tourism, but for the concert iteself: any tips you guys can give to a couple of heavy metal concert novices would be appreciated. . :)

Thank you once again, and as always, Trip Advisor rocks!!

Which one should I do?

I am contemplating on

1. Staying at the Hotel Del ($250 up) and not renting a car. Just going around the place by walking or taxi.

or

2. Staying at a cheaper place ($120/night). Then renting a car. If we rent a car, we would drive to see my family (in Orange County).

I just can%26#39;t make up my mind. So your help is appreciated. Just tell me if I should do one or the other. Thanks!!

Which one should I do?

It%26#39;s really your call, but I personally like the freedom that comes with renting a car. There%26#39;s a lot to see in San Diego and the surrounding area. Besides, I%26#39;m sure your family would love to see you. However, you can probably take the train and have them come pick you up somewhere as well.

Which one should I do?

Well, the Del has a Hertz desk so you could rent for one day if you want. If you are a AAA Club member you will get a discount on your car rental.

The Del is rarely only $250,maybe in the winter.

I have rented a car for about $12-$15 a day by bidding on www.priceline.com soooo you could spend more than $120 per night and still afford a car.

Flag Retreat

Can someone tell me what time this takes place? I really would love to attend, as my dh is a retired veteran and I think it would be a special time for him. Thanks as always!

Flag Retreat

Almost always at 4:30 PM, some special events might force a change, so you can check City Hall when you arrive for the exact time.

Flag Retreat

This is a really nice thing to participate in. The last few times I saw it, they played a shortened version of the various Military Branch Songs.

When they played the Marine Corp Hymn several marines (in regular clothes) that were at the park steped forward and stood at attention. The same when they played the Army song, etc. When they got to the Navy song a really old man stepped forward and I thought I was going to cry.

I%26#39;m an Army vet. and I just stayed back and watched, but it was very patriotic and moving.

Well this is something else I%26#39;ve never heard of. What is it?

It is basically a patirotic ceremony, which includes the lowering of the American and California State flags.

Depending on the day, you have the Dapper Dans singing, the Disneyland Band playing, or both.

It is basically honoring US Veterans from all services, followed by the lowering of the flags, then the folding of the flags, and finally marching the flag off of Main Street. Takes about 15 minutes.

You can find some photos of the event at the end of this recent album...

鈥mugmug.com/gallery/4776431_gdptu#P-38-12

mrsdisney68,

If you are planning a trip to Knott%26#39;s Berry Farm during your visit you might also be interested to know that at park opening they play the National Anthem (and recording) and say a few words to honor our country%26#39;s servicemen and women. Of course, DL%26#39;s Flag Ceremony is better, but just thought I%26#39;d let you know.

We were at Knott%26#39;s Berry Farm this morning at opening. While waiting for the gates to open, they played the national anthem, then opened the gates. What disappointed me was the fact that as I looked around only two boys and one man noticed the anthem was playing and paid respect. Everyone else in line just kept jabbering on......

Yeah, when I was there at Christmastime I just happened to be looking at one of the windows of the Snoopy Headquarters (in the Marketplace) at openning and didn%26#39;t realize this was going to happen. It was a really great moment for me because I was away from the crowd at the entrance! I was able to stand still and put my hand on my heart and even sing along, but I could tell there was quite a bit of activity over by the entrance. You really do have to be away from the actual entrance and turnstiles to get away from that lack of respect.

I really am excited about this. We have lived on military bases here and overseas and it is a solomon time when the flag is being lowered. I never realized they did it there. Thanks for everyones help.

Pls advice!!!

Hi, we will be going on our own to USA on the 28th Dec 2008, for 10 to 12 nites. We are a family of 3 pax with a 3 yr old boy, and it will be our first trip to US. We will be flying in to San Francisco and out from Los Angeles airport. Can anyone help me to plan our itinerary? We thought of staying SF for 3 nites, Las Vegas for 3 nites, n 2 nites in Anaheim and 2 nites in Los Angeles. Will it be too rush for us? What abt the travel time? I understand SF to Las Vegas takes abt 10 hrs by bus. Maybe we should stop one place for 1 nite. Any good travel agency or bus company which we can use? ie. Greyhound. And any reccommendations on hotels? Thanks alot..

Pls advice!!!

It makes more sense to fly from SF to LV. The flights are in a very similar price range if purchased in advance. The bus ride is 14- 15 hours. It appears you plan to fly to vegas on new years eve or new years day. That will be very busy. YOu may want to think about that departure or plan on purchasing tickets as soon as they become available.

Pls advice!!!

I was just looking at bus schedules, and it looks like it takes 14-15 hours to go from SF to Las Vegas by Greyhound bus. Ouch. The other bus companies go through Los Angeles, which would make the total time even longer.

You might want to look into flying. To give you an idea of the price difference, tickets for Greyhound between SF and LV are listed at $51 per person for Jan. 1, while tickets on Southwest Airlines are currently $73 per person for the end of October. (Southwest doesn%26#39;t let you check prices more than six months out.)

Or you could hire a car and drive yourself. I usually don%26#39;t like telling people to fly to Las Vegas, because I%26#39;ve heard so many people from outside the US say driving through the desert was one of the highlights of their trip. Driving yourself would probably be 10 hours.

Other than that, given the number of days you have available in the USA, I%26#39;d say your schedule looks good.

I definitely agree- rent a car for the trip to Vegas. Greyhound/bus system on the west coast is not very efficient.

driving? coming from a right hand drive country, we have doubts driving in the US.. but we might look into it as an alternative. Can we rent a car fr SF and return the car at Las Vegas? Maybe we should jus fly there instead..:)

szun worried 芦coming from a right hand drive country, we have doubts driving in the US.禄

As well you should but with an alert passenger you should be OK. Don%26#39;t even think of going a block without that passenger!

芦Can we rent a car fr SF and return the car at Las Vegas?禄

Yes.

芦Maybe we should jus fly there instead..:)禄

Yes, but if you decide to drive, please visit the DRIVING DIRECTIONS page geocities.com/touringsfo/鈥riveDir.html where some of your questions are answered. It%26#39;s augmented by a report linked to the TouringSFO site at http://geocities.com/touringsfo/ entitled ';A Trip to Las Vegas鈥?quot;

You should also take a look at A BIT OF NON-GAMBLING LAS VEGAS also linked to the TouringSFO site.

The drive between SF and Las Vegas is mostly freeway, so it wouldn%26#39;t be that complicated or difficult. I don%26#39;t personally have any trouble driving on highways or motorways when driving in places like Britain, New Zealand or Australia. Big cities are a different matter though. If you do drive, you might want to get a car at the airport, so you don%26#39;t have to deal with the streets of San Francisco. Las Vegas is a pretty easy city to drive in.

The more I think about it, maybe flying between SF and Las Vegas is the way to go. If you%26#39;re going by bus or car between Las Vegas and LA, you%26#39;ll experience driving through the desert, so there%26#39;s probably no reason to drive between SF and Las Vegas.

The idea of taking a bus between SF and Las Vegas is too terrible to comprehend.

i%26#39;m the very BEST passenger alert......stil doing it back here in the UK with mrs. Tom haha.... (bloody women drivers LOL)

thanks alot.. after much discussion wif my hubby, we decided to take the plane.. coz i m a terrible passenger! anyway, how is the weather during that time? and how many nites should i stay in San Francisco? Is 3 nites sufficient to c the city?

3 nights in SF in fine...really depends on what you like to do activity wise.

Weather during this time of year is generally highs in the 50s and 40%ish chance of rain.

I just have a friend from Malaysia do a similar West Coast trip last year.

Have fun!

szun said 芦we decided to take the plane禄

Not a bad idea.

芦how is the weather during that time?禄

There%26#39;s a temperature chart at the bottom of the DON%26#39;T-MISS SIGHTS page at geocities.com/touringsfo/Articles/Sights.html 芦and how many nites should i stay in San Francisco?禄

You need nine 12.7-hour days for a proper visit.

芦Is 3 nites sufficient to c the city?禄

No.

Things to do around Lake Tahoe from May 18 to 23

My wife and I are staying in South Lake Tahoe from May 18th to 23rd. We are looking for some day trips or things to do in and around the area. We would like to make it to Yosemite but realize the mountain passes may still be closed. Can anyone guess as to when the passes will open this year? We have rented a Chevy Trailblazer and hope to be able to drive up into the mountains for some short hikes and picture taking.

Things to do around Lake Tahoe from May 18 to 23

The mountain passes that you refer to may be closer to Yoemite, like Tioga Pass %26amp; Sonora Pass. The area around the lake is all open. The one area around the lake that is closed today is 4 which connects part of 89 to 395. In actuality you can cross the Sierra using other closer roads to Tahoe than 4. I don%26#39;t see that closure, if it still exists after mid May, as being a hinderance to any visit you will make.

Many usual activities at Tahoe will not be available until Memorial Day but here are some things to do around the lake:

You can shop and eat at the village area in South Lake Tahoe or visit Zephyr Cove for lake cruises and watercraft rentals or walk and hang out on the beach.

Check out the estates at the Tallac site in Camp Richardson. The tours won’t start until after Memorial Day but it’s a nice area to walk around in and is interesting nonetheless.

If you are interested in easy hikes here are some near South Lake Tahoe

The Moraine Trail, which is a fairly easy hike of 1 mile (one-way). It’s a relatively flat trail through the forest and along the shore of Fallen Leaf Lake. Take Highway 89 north approximately 3 miles from South Lake Tahoe to Fallen Leaf Road. Continue approximately 2/3 of a mile to Fallen Leaf Campground. Drive through the campground and park just before campsite #75 on the right. There is no fee for day use. Look for the trailhead sign near the parking area.

Another hike is Angora Lakes, though the area south of the lake was affected by the fire last year, you should be able to hike to the lake and still see the beautiful area. It is an easy hike, and hikers are rewarded with several lakes. It’s only ? mile and the scenery when you get there is great. The lake is surrounded by cliffs and giant rocks. Take Highway 89 north approximately 3 miles from South Lake Tahoe to Fallen Leaf Lake Road and turn left. Turn left at the first paved road. Continue to Forest Service Road 12N14 and turn right. Watch for bicyclists along this road. Continue past Angora Lookout to the road%26#39;s end at the parking lot.

Also on 89 on the west side is:

Vikingsholm at Emerald Bay probably won’t be open during your visit but you can still enjoy the outside and peek through windows. The trail starts at the parking area on the north side of Emerald Bay, on Highway 89. At the bottom of the trail is a picnic area, as well as world-famous Vikingsholm, a replica of a Scandinavian castle. Be warned though it’s a super steep trip down which means a steep walk back up. It’s about 2.25 miles round trip and the path is wide and well-maintained You may find you prefer to enjoy it from above or on a lake cruise

http://www.vikingsholm.com/

You could take a short side hike to Eagle Falls or Cascade Lake %26amp; Falls

Eagle Falls / Eagle Lake Trail starts at Eagle Falls Picnic Area, highway 89 across from Emerald Bay. Permits are required on this hike and a self-registration station is at the trailhead. The hike is only about 2 miles round trip to Eagle Lake (only about 1/3 mile to the falls); the terrain varies from steep to flat and crosses beautiful Eagle Falls on a steel footbridge.

Cascade Lake %26amp; Falls – Turn into the Bayview Campground across from Emerald Bay Inspiration Point, drive to the end and park at the trailhead. Take the trail that veers left. Spectacular views of the 200-foot high falls and Cascade Lake can be seen from this short trail.

Further north on 89 you can find any or all of the following:

DL Bliss – nice beach with great lake views. There is a trail you can take that provides views that can not be seen from the road. The trail will eventually get you back to Emerald Bay but you don’t have to walk it all. You can do part of it and then go back to Bliss..

Meeks Bay – great beach, during the summer there is a grill shack right on the beach. Paddle boats and tricycles available for rent. Beautiful views of the lake. We go there almost every day when we visit during the summer and on Mother’s Day we hang out on the beach. Though it will be quiet and deserted it’s still a great sandy beach to enjoy a book and the view.

Sugar Pine Point – Beautiful grounds. Though the Mansion Tours will not be offered when you are there it’s still nice to walk around. You can walk down to the boat house and peak in at the silver boat. Even in the summer we can only peak at it.

You can rent bikes pretty much anywhere around the lake but if in Tahoe City you have more trail choices. You can and ride along the bike path that runs from Tahoe City southward all the way to just south of Sugar Pine (the path ends/begins just prior to Meeks Bay) or ride north along the Truckee to River Ranch where you can have some refreshment right on the River.

On the north side at the state line:

When you arrive at the state line, you can take a brief detour to see the old fire lookout. Turn north on Reservoir Road, which is next to the Biltmore. Then turn right onto Lakeview Ave. Continue on this road, if it forks stay left and do not turn onto Tuscarora. It will bend back before you reach the parking area for the short walk to the lookout. The lookout provides you with really beautiful views of the area and lake.

Check out the lovely Hyatt in Incline Village. Stop in at eh Lone Eagel Grill for lakeside dining.

On the north side southeast of Incline Village

As you continue on the north, side of the lake Sand Harbor is just outside Incline and is a great Beach. This area of the lake is really beautiful and the rock and water are amazing.

Other lakeside dining:

Garwoods in Carnelian Bay – North

Sunnyside – near Tahoe City – West

West Side Café – Homewood – West

Beacon Bar %26amp; Grill – Camp Richardson – South

Riva Grill – South Lake Tahoe at the Marina

Things to do around Lake Tahoe from May 18 to 23

A drive around the lake would be a fun day trip, we did this last May and had a great time, making stops at Zephyr Cove, Sand Harbor, Incline Village (the Hyatt for lunch and spa treatments) Camp Richardson and the lookout at Emerald Bay.

We also enjoyed the 2 hour scenic cruise around Emerald Bay which leaves from Zephyr Cove. You can have lunch on the ride, we had some yummy appetizers and lemonade during our cruise. Great places for meals are: Evan%26#39;s Gourmet Cafe, Cafe Fiore and 19 Kitchen up at the top of Harvey%26#39;s Casino.

Have a wonderful time in Lake Tahoe! :)

Thank you for the information, we have done the route #4 pass on a previous trip. I am hoping the Tioga pass will be open by the time we get there. I did find some information on plowing this route on the Yosemite National Park web site. We have drove around the lake on a previous trip but we will probably do it again this time to get some pictures. We have some pictures of the lake from route #50 and Emerold Bay but I have a new camera to play with this time.

Have you been to Virginia City? Fun place to visit.

Never been there, I will keep it in mind, thank you for the information.

They are plowing the Tioga Pass road right now. If there isn%26#39;t a lot more snow, it may well be open by the time you are there. And even if it isn%26#39;t, you can get to Yosemite via Highway 49.

It%26#39;s too far for a day trip either way, though. If you want to see Yosemite, plan for at least one night there.

If tioga pass is open by then you could get up early drive down to yosemite (it%26#39;s 2 hours from south lake to the park gate at tioga pass) go out to olmsteam point for some good views, hike around there for a couple hours and then head back out... stop at mono lake if time permits. On your way back stop in walker for either a burger or at the bbq place there. Then when back in tahoe relax from that long day trip! I%26#39;ve done that day trip many times when visitors are in town and it never dissapoints.

If you plan to do the drive the last poster suggest and are looking to google more information on the place, it%26#39;s called Olmsted Point and it really is an amazing place on Tioga Pass Road.

We are looking into staying a night near Yosemite. We have been there once but it is a remarkable place and I would like to be able to enjoy it without having to rush back to Tahoe.

If you go through Walker, the BBQ is a must stop. The food is awsome and the people very friendly.

graphics animation

help planning college visits

We are planning to see University of San Francisco on a Saturday, spend Sunday having fun, then we want to visit Santa Clara University and University of the Pacific.

I had thought we would pick up a car and drive to UOP on Monday and then drive to Santa Clara and spend the night, seeing SCU on tuesday and fly home late tuesday from San Jose. So a one way car rental.

Any ideas about thisplan welcome. We need to see SCU on Tuesday as school will still be in session and we would like to see students there. This will be during Memorial Day weekend.

help planning college visits

Sounds like a good plan to me.

help planning college visits

I%26#39;m probably too late to recommend this- but if it saved you a bunch on rental costs, flying out of SFO instead of San Jose wouldn%26#39;t have added that much time.

Will you be able to see much of UPO on Monday? Won%26#39;t it be closed, too?

BTW, while USF is accessible by MUNI bus, it might be easier/ faster for you to visit, and then drive around to see the sights on Sunday, if you have a car from your arrival. Normally we don%26#39;t recommend that folks rent a car in the city, but given what you%26#39;re doing and your time frame, you might want to. If you stayed in one of the nicer motor inns along Lombard St. your parking would be free.

Also, if you are done with your tour of USF early enough in the day, you would be in a good position to visit Golden Gate Park, the De Young Museum, and Haight-Ashbury. You%26#39;re also close to Alamo Square, home of the famous ';painted Ladies'; Victorian row houses. Expect every place you visit to be busy, as it%26#39;s a holiday weekend.

I am not sure if you have made hotel reservations, but if you check the Universities websites, they might direct you towards hotels that offer discounts for school visitors. It has been too long since my sons campus tour so I can%26#39;t remember which hotels offered the discount. I do remember that it was a big enough discount that it trumped my corporate discount though!

Great ideas! I had not thought about flying into SF as have always come into Oakland but will look at that and renting a car from there. I do know the U has links to hotels closer. We have always stayed near Union Square and did not know if getting from the hotel to the school would take long or not.-?We could fly in on Friday night insead of early Saturday.

We are hoping to pick up a tour at USF in the afternoon. UOP will be just us walking around as it will be closed on Monday. SCU will be open on Tuesday so a tour will be available.

2manyjules-I grew up in Ft. Wayne. Visited last summer after 19 years. It has changed so much that I seriously did not recognize the downtown!

I%26#39;m a USF alumni (class of %26#39;03)! Hope you enjoy your visit there, I loved going to school there for four years and most of all fell in love with the city. Your plan to visit UOP and SC seems like it should work well. The tour at USF doesn%26#39;t take that long so you will probably have a lot of time to explore on Sat too. Go to Haight for lunch, there%26#39;s lots of great little restaurants and it%26#39;s walking distance from campus.

noddlesportland - you really would not recognize it now. They are building the new Harrison Square (shops, hotels, condos %26amp; baseball stadium) right by the Embassy!

My son goes to USF and absolutely loves it there. He is graduating this spring -Summa c*m Laude :)

If you do have lunch in Haight, try Magnolias Brew Pub. Their burgers are fantastic.

krislecl-how large were your classes?

2manyjules-I worked at Hutner%26#39;s Paris when I was a teen-seems a lont way a way and time ago!

living nature

Torrey Pines Gliderport

Can anyone help this thrifty Scotsman looking for inexpensive B %26amp; B in TP/La Jolla, Short Pragliding holiday 7-14 May ?

Torrey Pines Gliderport

Billymac,the area surrounding the gliderport is a very expensive one so I am not aware of any inexpensive B%26amp;Bs although this one may be a possibliity.

http://www.redwoodhollow-lajolla.com/

It would require a fairly short bus ride if you have no car.

There are some regular hotels closer to the gliderport but they are not inexpensive.

See:Torrey Pines Hilton,Residence Inn La JOlla,Sheraton La Jollaand a little furhter away but closer than redwood hollow,Hotel La Jolla at the Shores.

Torrey Pines Gliderport

Many Thanks, most places don%26#39;t like/cater for a single traveller, I might be better travelling with my small tent and visiting a campsite cose to the Beach.

Cheers

Billy

Hotels here do not charge extra if there is only one person in the room. I understand though that it is expensive. You cannot just pitch a tent on the beach there are only some which allow camping.

And remember when it comes to beach camping in San Diego, the few that do allow camping require reservations and book up months in advance.

Catalina Wedding Ideas?

My daughter is starting to plan for a Catalina wedding in 04/09. She is looking to do something very simple, casual, and inexpensive, but we may still have at least 60 - 80 guests. Most likely a brief outdoor ceremony and then a very casual lunch. She is not interested in too much wedding ';foo-foo'; (flowers, gazebos, tulle bows, etc). We are aiming for a theme of relaxed and fun! We have started looking at venues near the water that also have dining facilities to rent for a group - Mi Casita has a private courtyard and the Landing seems to offer a variety of small, casual banquet options. Anybody out there with any other suggestions or options that we can explore? Recommendations for someone to perform the ceremony? Do%26#39;s, Don%26#39;ts, or Pitfalls? Weekend house rentals? Have never been to Catalina, so we are in the dark.....any advice is welcome.... Thanks!

Catalina Wedding Ideas?

You should look into Two Harbors, it is less populated and alot more scenic in my opinion.

Catalina Wedding Ideas?

I have seen weddings at Descanso beach, the Casino, the grounds at Hamilton cove, and ocean front on the street right in the center of town. Hamilton cove would be a great place to rent condos. They are expensive but would be off season rates in April (I think)The island won%26#39;t be crowded that time of year. Weather may be an issue but April has been fabulous this year.

We got married at the Banning House Lodge at Two Harbors in 1991. It was perfect setting for a wedding. We too like casual but we also had to tend to a few traditions do to my mother in law. We had about 85 guests. The immediate family and wedding party stayed at the lodge for both night (rehearsal dinner and party on Friday) and some guests stayed in Avalon and either took the boat or bus over to Two Harbors. The rest of the guests came over on the Catalina Express. We catered the food from The Reef restaurant and brought the cake over from the mainland. We rented chairs from the Catholic Church in Avalon and also used the florist in Avalon. Anyway, it was the perfect wedding, very private and the the familty and guests loved it! PM me if you have any questions....

BTW, we took our kids to The Banning House Lodge last summer. It still looks great and the kids (now 6 %26amp; 9) loved seeing where mommy and daddy got married.

Raddison LA Westside culver city

Hi

My partners daughter has been recommended this location before she works at a summer camp.

She has a few days in LA to kill is this a good location,will have no vehicle.

Cheers,

Pomlea

Raddison LA Westside culver city

It is a ok location and sure a fine hotel but Culver City is really not central to sights most visitors would like to see while vacationing in L.A.

What are her interests? Culver City is close to beaches like Venice or Santa Monica which she could reach by bus. Other sights like Beverly Hills/Hollywood/West Hollywood would be harder to reach without a car(although totally possible)

Ask her what she wants to do while here and i am sure we can help out

Raddison LA Westside culver city

It%26#39;s not a good location for someone without a car. There is nothing but chain store shopping malls in that area. It%26#39;s a cheap option, but I would never stay there without a car.

Is being near her summer camp site important? If not, what parts of LA is she most interested in seeing? She basically has the option of staying in central LA to see Hollywood/West Hollywood/Beverly Hills or by the beach to see Santa Monica/Venice areas. Of course, she can see both, but I would stay where she plans to spend most of her time since the commute between the two is an hour via the bus.

What is her price range per night?

Well, Culver City has a bunch of excellent bars and restaurants that opend in the past 2 years, so it%26#39;s not just chainstores there.

We just need to know what she would like to do while here in her free time and what the budget for a room would be to give better advice

Also, please tell us the address of the summer camp!

This hotel is nowhere near Downtown Culver City where a bunch of restaurants and a movie theater are (which is fun for dinner and a drink, but not really to hang out for days anyway). It%26#39;s around Fox Hills where chain store shopping centers are. Marina del Rey is actually closer to that area than Downtown Culver City.

Hi guys

Thanks for all the help

Apparently this is where her compulsory meeting is before summer camp.Her camp is in Philadelphia.She has 2 days spare in LA and is travelling with a mate.

This should make accom a bit less expensive.

I will get back to you guys when i find out what she would like to do in LA.

Cheers,

Pomlea

what to do in Yosemite: orientation film

If anyone is trying to get a brief overview of the park and its primary visiting areas/activities, there%26#39;s a relatively new orientation-like movie online. It%26#39;s 15 minutes. Starts with some very general information, and then gets into a few activities/sights.

First movie listed here: Experience Your Yosemite

nps.gov/yose/photosmultimedia/multimedia.htm

what to do in Yosemite: orientation film

An excellent resource! I hope our TA visitors do all take the time to visit the nps website- check it first, then come to us with any specific issues or questions.

networking

Transport - Anaheim San Diego Return in the same Day

Can someone please advise on the above. We intend to purchase a So Cal City Pass so in need of transport for SD Sea World. Not fussed on the SD Zoo and even leaving out this we appear to still make on the deal with bus travel on top $40.00 return per person (haven%26#39;t checked out Amtrak%26#39;s prices).

The bus will have us back at Howard Johnson Anaheim between 9 - 9.30pm.

Are their other carriers we should be looking at? LuxBus departures from SD are early afternoon too early for us.

Is Amtrak worth the effort when considering the transfers tied up with this option?

All help much appreciated.

Transport - Anaheim San Diego Return in the same Day

Which bus are you looking at?

Grayline(not Greyhound) has a tour going to Sea World and I remember reading that for those who have the So. Cal City Pass you just have to pay a transfer fee, not the tour fee to do that. Perhaps someone else knows for sure and will post. In the meantime, here is their website and you can email them.

http://graylineanaheim.com/

I%26#39;m pretty sure that Amtrak only stops in downtown San Diego, near San Diego Bay. This is really close to the zoo, but far away from Sea World, which is on the Mission Bay part of San Diego. I think it would be time consuming to get there from downtown.

Transport - Anaheim San Diego Return in the same Day

Redlands - Yes it is Grayline I%26#39;m speaking of in regard to the $40.00 same day return.

Thanks for clarifying the Amtrak drop off point. Will go with Greyline.

For others looking at this option they actually have a special at the moment - free same day return transfer Anaheim to SD Sea World so long as So Cal Pass is purchased through them - expires shortly..... I don%26#39;t mind paying $40.00 in September.

Hi

in the CityPass book there is a coupon you can buy $72 transport pass from Greyline 3 transfers which go to the zoo, seaworld and universal- which is cheaper than 2 transfers. You need to buy this whne you arriive.

We bought the 4 day transport pass $129 from Greyline ($125 at anaheimoc.org) which also includes airport transfers 2 day ART pass plus you can add a day tour. This worked out very cheap. It does not have to be used on consective days either- so it compliments the city pass.

If you decide to miss one of of the citypass venues you could take an extra day tour which includes La, Tijuana or the OC. For what is worth we found the zoo was great and would miss seaworld.

M

Thanks for that Warratah. We wouldn%26#39;t get the use out of the 4 day transport or transfers as Anaheim is not our first or last port of call unfortunately and we will be staying very close to Universal. Two trips up and down to San Diego is not for us.

Consider spending the night in San Diego (even if you have to book hotels in both areas on the same night!) You%26#39;re on holiday -- relax, enjoy yourself. You can find an inexpensive place for the overnight, take a small bag with a change of clothes and have the opportunity of seeing a little bit more of San Diego whilst you are there.

FYI, you can take the amtrak train to san diego%26#39;s main rail station, then transfer to Sea World fairly easily. For example, if you arrive in SD at 10:00 (departing Union Station at 7:59), you could transfer to the local ';Blue Line Trolley'; at 10:13 for the 12 minute ride to the Old Town Station. At Old Town, take the #9 bus to Sea World (departing 10:37 and arriving 10:51).

San Diego Public Transit info is available at:

www.sdcommute.com/Tripplanner/index.asp

The address of the main rail station is 1050 Kettner Bl

For the return, you can pick up the Amtrak train at Old Town Station (there are 3 late afternoon/early evening departures) or you can transfer back to the main station for more choices.

Amtrak will cost a little more than the bus but you%26#39;ll have:

1. The flexibility of coming and going when you want.

2. A much more comfortable ride on the train where you can walk around, have a snack, etc.

3. A method of conveyance that isn%26#39;t subject to traffic jams.

4. A much more pleasant view than on the motorway (freeway) via the bus.

parking an RV in SF

We are picking up an RV at lunchtime this saturday and wanted to park somewhere in town to have a walk about before heading off at about 4. Can anybody suggest aa easy place to park thats not far out of town (the rv is 31 feet)

Thanks

parking an RV in SF

The only place that comes to mind would be the parking area at Ocean Beach on Great Highway. But, it%26#39;s smack on the opposite end from downtown. You could have a nice walk on the beach, venture into Golden Gate Park and have lunch at the Beach Chalet or Cliff House. You%26#39;d need to take public transpo from there to get downtown.

parking an RV in SF

How about Pier 30? It%26#39;s at Bryant %26amp; Embarcadero. I sometimes go to the little dive place there for lunch during the week, Red%26#39;s. There has always been plenty of room for an RV, and it%26#39;s free. I don%26#39;t know what the access is like on the weekend though, or how long you%26#39;re allowed to park. Maybe someone else does? Go into Red%26#39;s and buy a hot dog, then you will be Ok to park there I think. Anyone know for sure?

I just found this.......

Short Term Motorcoach Parking in the Fisherman鈥檚 Wharf Area

Two-hour parking is permitted on:

* The west side of Mason Street between Beach and North Point Streets

* The north side of North Point Street between Mason and Taylor Streets

* The east side of Hyde Street between Jefferson and Beach Streets

* The east side of Jones Street just north of Beach Street

Please obey signs that indicate hours of parking restrictions for street cleaning.

Overnight Motorcoach Parking

* Overnight parking is available for a fee at Pier 30 located on The Embarcadero between Brannan and Bryant Streets just south of the Bay Bridge. The private lot is managed by Imperial Parking, 415.227.0114 ext. 21.

* AT%26amp;T Park Parking Lot Area: Terry Francois Blvd. (formerly China Basin Street) on the east side of Pacific Bell Park Parking Lot A, opposite Pier 48. Access is difficult during events. Call 415.227.0114 for fee and event schedule.

* Union Square/South of Market: Mint Street between Mission and Jessie Streets. Three spaces available for overnight parking. No charge.

For updated information, please call the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) 415.701.4500

from

www.pier39.com/LocateUs/directionsparking.htm

thank you so much for all advice , we ended up parking in sausilito and getting the ferry to and back from the downtown which was a great sucsess (2 babies included!) Had a brilliant day SF is fantastic just wish we%26#39;d allowed for longer!!

living nature

what are the ';must see'; things in Yosemite

I hope to visit Yosemite in mid June. I%26#39;ll be driving from Vegas. I hope to enter the park from the east side over the pass that is normally closed except during summer months.

I plan to be there for two to three days. I don%26#39;t do much hiking so it will have to be withing a 1/4 mile of the road.

I also plan to visit the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

what are the ';must see'; things in Yosemite

There%26#39;s plenty in Yosemite to do, even if you don%26#39;t want to hike.

As you drive in from the east side, stop at the Tuloumne Meadows Visitor Center...and that general area. You can take a couple leisurely, flat strolls to take in the scenery. Allow yourself a couple of hours to continue driving into Yosemite Valley. Between Tuolumne and the Valley, stop at Tenaya Lake. Enjoy the beach (very close the parking lot) and maybe dip your toes in the water. Keep on going to the next big parking lot on your left which is Olmsted Point. Great view of Half Dome. And if you choose, there%26#39;s a short somewhat steep trail down from the parking area out to some granite (probably less than 0.25 miles). By stopping and enjoying the scenery along the way, you could easily make a day (or almost a day) of that drive.

The other two definite places to hit are the Valley (waterfalls/el capitan/half dome) and Glacier Point (panoramic view of the park). In the valley you can take a guided tour from Yosemite Lodge (yosemitepark.com/Activities_GuidedBusTours.a鈥?/a>), or you can ride the free shuttle bus around stopping at the scenic points. I%26#39;d strongly recommend doing the Lower Yosemite Fall walk...it%26#39;s at most an hour roundtrip, and it%26#39;s wheelchair accessible to give you an idea of what it%26#39;s like.

They rent bicycles in the Yosemite Valley at the lodge and Curry Village. There%26#39;s a paved (mostly flat) trail that loops around half the valley. It%26#39;s a nice way to take in the scenery.

www.yosemitepark.com/Activities_Biking.aspx

It%26#39;s about a 1 hour drive from Yosemite Valley to Glacier Point. This is a nice place to take in the sunset. Grab a sandwich or other picnic, possibly a jacket, and drive up there. It%26#39;s a viewing area, so some walking, but not really hiking.

There%26#39;s always more, but this is a good start.

It sounds like you may not have lodging yet? If not, I%26#39;d try and get that asap. Things book up extremely quickly. You might consider one night on the east side in Lee Vining, and then another night on the western side somewhere, or souther depending on where you%26#39;re going next.

what are the ';must see'; things in Yosemite

Marmot%26#39;s hit on some of the high points, esp. for your drive in from the east. When you get to Yosemite Valley, you may want to use the following ';Inside Page'; from here at TA to help you hit the highlights of the valley sights:

tripadvisor.com/Travel-g61000-c2636/Yosemite鈥?/a>

One last ';must see'; for a relatively quick visit is to see one of the groves of giant sequoias. Since you aren%26#39;t up for much hiking, your best bet (and the largest grove in the park) is the Mariposa Grove near Wawona and the southern entrance to the park. It is well worth the drive, and you can pay for a tram tour that will take you through the grove and teach you something about these amazing natural wonders- the largest living things on earth!

The ';must sees%26#39; are the things that YOU want to see, and the only way you can determine that is to do some research on WHAT there is to see and do. I could tell you that Mirror Lake is a ';must see'; and you would go there and say ';HUH?';

Get the point?

What to wear?

I%26#39;m coming to San Francisco this september, and I%26#39;m wondering about clothing.

One concern is weather- what type of weather should I dress for?

The other concern is appearance in general- I%26#39;m something of an amateur clothing designer who loves to wear her handiwork. I vastly prefer kimono to sundresses, and cloaks to windbreakers. My mother is convinced that wearing anything more daring than plain pants and t-shirts around San Francisco will get me labelled a tourist and assaulted or worse. Is she right, or are her fears groundless?

Don%26#39;t worry, I%26#39;m not going to wear my kimono with the long, flowing sleeves to Alcatraz. And I%26#39;ve been told that wearing a full length cloak across the Golden Gate Bridge is getting pretty close to parasailing. So for that, I%26#39;ll be sure to bring a funky short jacket.

What to wear?

weather temps can range from 60s-F to low 80s-F in September and there%26#39;s never much of rain; probably plenty of wind between 5pm-8pm and some fog but mostly sun for the majority of daylight.

you can wear whatever you please that makes you feel great and people hardly care about how one looks if they stand out, but definitely will look at you.

San Francisco is a city of expressing one%26#39;s own individuality and being proud of who you are as an individual. If someone doesn%26#39;t like it, well, it%26#39;s really none of their business and they either embrace it or just move on, unless it is completely offensive or politically incorrect; you%26#39;ll hear about it if it is either of the latter.

What to wear?

Lady, my daughter wore her wildly modded garb in San Francisco, and the only crosswise looks she got were from tourists! You%26#39;ll see all states of dress, and nobody pays much attention.

It%26#39;s not such a bad thing to be labeled as a tourist in San Francisco. People saw us with our Citypasses on the bus and immediately asked where we were from, were we having a good time, had we tried this and that restaurant or seen this and that landmark, and did we need any help or directions? Much friendlier to the wayfarer than in my home town.

Pug

That%26#39;s funny- if you wore tees and shorts around downtown, I think you%26#39;d stand out more like a tourist! But really, the thing about SF is that people really do their own thing and have a high tolerance for difference.

Wear what you like and I%26#39;m sure you%26#39;ll have a great time. I%26#39;m willing to be you%26#39;ll get a ton of compliments too.

Weather in September is generally warmer, but it can change at any time. Definitely bring layers.

Your clothes sound great...you may get noticed but it will be in a positive way. Like any other big city people tend to be more creative in dress..stay away from the fanny packs. SF is filled with tourists from all over the world...you will find a United Nations of clothing choices...have fun!

Lived in San Francisco for a spell. As for style, wear whatever makes you feel good. For warmth, in September take layers. Could be very warm, could be chilly. Could be cold in the morning and hot in the afternoon. I usually take a few tee shirts, blouses and sweaters to wear with skirts and pants or jeans. Depending on the weather forecast I might take boots or sandals. I usually spiff up a bit for dinner. Add a nice jacket to jeans or skirt, blow off the sport shoes.

LadyAmanita is concerned about 芦weather- what type of weather should I dress for?禄

The paragraph that introduces the weather chart on the DON%26#39;T-MISS SIGHTS in SAN FRANCISCO page is about dressing. You%26#39;ll find it on the TouringSFO site at http://geocities.com/touringsfo/