I am going to be around the San Francisco area for a week. I didn't have much time to plan, it is to use up use it or lose it time. Do you guys have any car guy must sees? So far on the list is Monterey, Hearst castle and Alcatraz.
Any areas I should stay far away from. How is traffic and navigating in the city?
Fishermans Wharf is cool, but really touristy. Hearst Castle is amazing! (there are like 5 different tours [each a small portion of the estate], and each one can eat up to 3 hours). Alcatraz is cool, but the tour can eat most of a day (how long do you really want to be there for?) I like Sausalito [just across the bay from alcatraz/san fran] for just walking around and cool scenery. Make sure you get to drive at least a portion of US Hwy. 1 (PCH).
Having lived in the area in the '80s, I think I'd go with Sausalito over Alcatraz. Strangely, I never made it to Hearst Castle. Monterey can take up a good part of a day, depending on when you are going.
How long do you have, over what timeframe?
It's probably worth taking a look at Laguna Seca and Infineon. NASA will be at Infineon this weekend.
Monterey is far enough away from SF, that I'd spend a full day there. If you're going to spend a full day in Monterey, check out the Acquarium. Go to fisherman's wharf for lunch or dinner.
For the best clam chowder in Monterey (and that's saying something) go to Fisherman's Grotto. It's on the wharf, on the left. They have a counter out front where you can get chowder in a bread bowl. Wander over to the far right-hand side of the wharf, on the other side of the shops. Very little foot traffic, and you can sit on a bench and enjoy chowder while watching the boats.
In San Francisco, they just opened up a new venue for the California Academy of Sciences. It's supposed to be fantastic. I would also hit Fisherman's Wharf for dinner. There's a really good restaurant, that I can't remember the name of, that specializes in Dungeones Crab. You must have Dungeoness Crab while you're in SF.
If you decide to drive to Montery/Laguna Seca, I suggest you take the scenic route down highway 9 through Big Bason State Park and Santa Cruz. 9 is a spectacular fun road. You have be care on weekends though. There are fair number of organ donors riding crotch rockets through there.
Take a drive down a segment of Hwy 1. Gorgeous and fun.
While you're doing that, maybe check out Big Sur.
Don't forget Chinatown. Marin Headlands is also really neat. Neither one is a car place, but both are worth some time.
Hearst castle is near San Fransisco!?... not really. It's actually about half way between San Fransisco and Los Angeles on the coast (probably a good 4 hour drive at least). Big Sur is of course north of there (and south of Monterey) so you could hit a lot of interesting areas, but it would not be a day trip.
Within San Fransisco there is also the Exploritorium (near the palace of fine arts). I haven't been there in forever, but it is a kind of cool hands on science museum / learning place. You might also want to head out to the north side of the Sunset district (west side of town), kind of a neat sea view, the cliff house, and if you head up to the naval hospital and get to the coast side, a good unique view of the golden gate.
I would also suggest the Marin headlands. I believe there is even a semi-working Nike missile base there somewhere (kind of a retro cool cold war kind of experience).
Type Q said:If you decide to drive to Montery/Laguna Seca, I suggest you take the scenic route down highway 9 through Big Bason State Park and Santa Cruz. 9 is a spectacular fun road. You have be care on weekends though. There are fair number of organ donors riding crotch rockets through thereHey Thats my daily drive!
And yes it is a fantastic drive 
You'll only be about 3 1/2 hours from Yosemite National Park. I drove out there on the last day before I left San Francisco and I could have spent a month there.
Salanis wrote:How long do you have, over what timeframe?
For the best clam chowder in Monterey (and that's saying something) go to Fisherman's Grotto. It's on the wharf, on the left. They have a counter out front where you can get chowder in a bread bowl. Wander over to the far right-hand side of the wharf, on the other side of the shops. Very little foot traffic, and you can sit on a bench and enjoy chowder while watching the boats.
I am there this Thursday through Wednesday. I thought at worst I could travel up and down US-1 if I went there. I got to explore southern Cali last year. You guys gave me some great recommendations last time like decker canyon for some twisty roads. Driving all the canyon roads and the coast in a new miata was pure ecstacy. I could have done that for the rest of my life. Unfortunately they don't rent miatas anymore so a econobox with pumped up tires will have to do.
I will have to pick up some chowder in Monterey, I love that stuff.
Woody wrote:You'll only be about 3 1/2 hours from Yosemite National Park. I drove out there on the last day before I left San Francisco and I could have spent a month there.
Is it worth it to go without hiking? The last time I hiked was when I was 12. I am not unathletic, but I have not experience hiking. Doing it alone doesn't help.
