What are some must go places in San Fansisco and Los Angeles area? We are planning to drive from San Fran to LA and would appreciate any suggestion.

This is our first time to the West Coast so we're quite excited. Please share your travel experience.

Thanks,
Trek

My 2 cents:

Take higway 1 where you can otherwise 101 is pretty cool too. Do not make a mistake of taking I-5.

I dont know much about LA or SF, but if you come down to San diego, I can definitely tell you places to see.

Thanks guys.....

When I look up the map, I see I-5 as the shortest route but you say it's a mistake? What's wrong with I-5? What would be the best scenic/fun/short route from San Fran to LA?

Paradise City, was planning to drive down to San Diego and then go to Las Vegas but don't have too much time :( I would love come to SD though.... we'll see....

TrEk!

trek,

you have two options: route 101 from SF to LA will be an adventure. its a route by the ocean and santa barbara. but the traffic will be very heavy especially during the weekends. be prepared to get stuck for a couple of hours especially when you get to the barbara area. I-5 would've been a better route if it weren't for those never ending farms and livestock smell ;). pick and choose!

places to be in SF: bay bridge, golden gate, alcatraz island, downtown driving (have you ever seen such steep roads?), lombard street, pier 39 etc. you can get on a cruise to tour the bay as well.

in LA: hollywood blvd, beverly hills area, rodeo drive, griffith observatory (if you want to take a photo with LA downtown in the background), malibu beach, laguna beach, disneyland, universal theme park.

what bout sunset strip>> don't miss sunset srtip on saturday night...

I heard about Sunset Strip and will definitely visit the place......midwestdude, thanks for the info on the routes. I do plan on taking Rt. 1/101 as you had suggested. Are there are good wineries on route 1/101?

Thanks,
Trek

Napa weather is amazing this time of year . Don't miss to visit wineries there.
While in SF visit monterey beach n 17 mile . It's amazing.

But NAPA is north of SF, right? How far is it and any wineries you recommend? I think there are a couple of wineries in Monterey too so maybe I should just drive through Monterey for Beach + Winery?

Also how long is the detour if I take Rt. 1 / 101 instead of Interstate - 5? Please advise.

Thanks.

Take 101, the scenary is beautiful. Here are the wineries of my choice in Napa.

Girgich Hills, Whitehall Lane, Opus One, Caymus, Peju, Silverado, Rombauer, Rudd, Silver Oaks.

Whitehall and Girgich close around 4.30-5 and Peju is open till 6. Rest close around 4.

Most of the wineries let you test for free but most the above mentioned wineries will charge you somethig. Opus One is $25 per taste. If you can get a wine list from a restaurant and can talk about wine, then they will treat you differently and might not have to pay either.

If you go to other wineries, make sure you try their Cabernet. Napa has the perfect climate and soil for Cabrenets.

Take 1 south via half moon bay to san luis obispo, after slo take 101s... if you just take 1 than that will take you about 10 hrs but if you mix it up than you will spend around 6-8hrs... this is a very scenic route, u will see santa cruz, monterey bay, big sur, san luis obispo, beach towns, and etc... just an awesome scenic route...

things to do in LA... getty museum!!! awesome view of l.a and santa monica... admission is free but you havta pay for parkin ($8), universal city (parkin $10 and dont forget your id because after 10pm there's a curfew), PASADENA!!! (check out the nepalese/tibetan restaurant, if not there r plenty of good places to eat at and stores to shop at), VENICE BEACH (you get the vibe of the early 90s), don't forget to eat at PINK'S HOT DOG!!!, sunset blvd, and other places the guys above recommended...

well have fun in the trip!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


for sf, go to marine county and check out muir woods...

I5 takes 5 hrs --- i have driven this freeway 10000000000 times and it pretty much sucks... close to kettlemen city, you will see 10000000000 cows and u will probably smell their shit from miles... but ofcourse it's a good route if you have no time but the semi trucks will annoy the shit out of you...
101s takes 6 hrs --- you catch the traffic after you hit santa barbara...
1 takes 10 HRS --- you won't have a constant speed and after a while it gets annoying but this only applies if you're the only driver...

by the way i have driven on all the routes from sf to la thousand times by myself... and all i have to say is that GAS PRICES R FUC KING EXPENSIVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE...

howz ana goin down there ay l.a.