Question For any Califorites out there

[lensman]

So I'm planning our trip out in calif....

We're starting out in San Diego... (Any sights we should see?)
We're already looking at the Sea World exhibits that open that weekend, and possibly swim with some dolphins...

and then we're thinking of heading up the coast to San Fran, (Any other suggestions?) So which would be the best way to do that... From looking at the maps it looks like it's about 300 miles or 4.5 - 5 hour drive. Is that right? would driving be better or should I look into getting a train?

If we drive would it be better to head up along the coast, or take the highway?

Comments

[yummygirl.livejournal.com]

San Diego to San Francisco is more like an 8 hour drive FYI (lived in the bay area for 10 years).

Thanks

[lensman.livejournal.com]

The web maps I was looking at didn't show thigs very clearly.

I guess I'll end up splitting the drive into two days, so we can take our time and see the sights... Now, that just means finding an extra place to stay somewhere in the middle.

[ninjarat.livejournal.com]

Yeah, San Diego to San Francisco is more like 8 hours. The roads aren't straight. A shuttle flight from LAX to SFO is about an hour.

Things to see: Legoland, Wild Animal Park and Balboa Park. Probably lots of others.

And then there's fodors.com for finding stuff. I found the print guide to be quite useful when I was sent out there for a week at my previous job.

Thanks

[lensman.livejournal.com]

Yeah, and unseelie pointed out the the direct route goes through mostly desert. I was hoping to have a bit more of the costal view, so we're not planning on hopping a flight.

He also said that the trains dosn't run as well out there. So it's by car and we'll split things up into two days.

I guess maybe we could stop in Hollywood or something.

Re: Thanks

[ninjarat.livejournal.com]

Just to give you some sense of scale, think "Portland, ME to Baltimore, MD". That's about the same as San Diego to San Francisco. It's about 500 miles on the road.

Depending on how much time you have and when you go, you could drive up to Fresno or thereabouts, stay over there, and then hop up to Yosemite National Park. That's 3.5 hours drive east of San Francisco (~190mi). If you do go that route then I recomend finding lodging east of San Francisco and Oakland, like maybe Pleasanton, and take the rapid transit trains in. Driving and parking in SF are comparable to Boston -- which means don't if you can avoid it.

[grovegoddess.livejournal.com]

Won't correct you on the time as everyone has already done that. I will mention that the coastal route although prettier, will take WAY longer. We used to do this trip at least once/month back in the day when Caid was still a principality of the West. We took I-5 (the inland route) and it alwasy took 8 hours. It is all desert but there is this great place right in the middle, The Harris Ranch. Its a pretty swank hotel and there's this great restaurant that serves the "famous" Harris beef. I've seen it in the grocery store on occasion. Its to die for.

Other sights would definitely be Hollywood, Queen Mary/Long Beach area if you want ultra tourist or maybe even the Sequoias. Those are quite awesome and you know your girl and trees. I don't remember the town, and I know its kind of pricey but there is this great B&B/Hotel type place with these fabulous themed rooms. Its supposed to be really neat.