Luckily, after yesterday I don't have much to write about. Work is slooooow right now, but we still have to act like we're busy. So, I've decided to work on planning my trip that will take place in almost exactly four months. First I figured out all of the million things I wanted to do and places I wanted to go, then I started honing it down to a more realistic list of things and places.Of course, it's all subject to change, but right now it looks like this: I'll get off work at noon on a particular Friday and get out of town by one. I'll drive as far as I possibly can and hopefully get through much of Nebraska in the dark. I was going to stop in Denver, but we've been to Colorado before and I'd rather spend that day somewhere else. If anyone knows of a fun place to go to in Wyoming, just off of I-80, let me know. If not, we'll wait until Salt Lake City to stop for a day. After that we'll head to Reno/Lake Tahoe and check out that scene. Now, here's where I had to make a decision. Did I want to go North and check out Napa and the the redwoods in Mendocino and Humboldt where I used to live, or would it be better to go South and see Yosemite, and Sequoia/Kings Canyon and then head to the coast and follow it up, checking out Santa Cruz, Carmel and Monterrey?
If I was going with my girlfriends, I might opt for the Northern route so we could go wine tasting and hang out at a spa. Since I'm going with my daughters, I figure I'll head South and get all different kinds of awestruck by the natural drama.
We'll then spend the rest of our trip in the San Francisco area. Coadster really wants to go to the Haight and Stinky is in eighth grade, so she thinks going to the Hard Rock Cafe sounds super neato. Now, if anyone else has any decent suggestions, I'd love to hear them and check them out on the web from the confines of my very beige cubicle in Iowa, during the coldest Spring I've ever experienced here. Believe me, it really helps to plan on going somewhere far, far away.
18 comments:
Churlita,
I'd have to say that in all my travels, California was the best place ever. However I've only traveled it from San Diego to Frisco. I suspect you and the girls will enjoy wherever you end up.
rel
i vote to go see yosemite
By now, just the idea of going to the airport to go somewhere else sounds pretty nice.
I have never been to California, but if I ever did or when I eventually do, my first stop would probably be in San Francisco. It looks like an exciting place.
You should go to Yosemite and Kings Canyon. It just feels right.
must sees in SF:
http://www.fogcitydiner.com/
and Fisherman's Wharf at Pier 31.
Alcatraz might be fun - I never made it there all the years I lived in CA. Of course you must see Chinatown,hop on a cable car, have an Irish Coffee at The Buena Vista Cafe and sample the chocolates across the street. Ok. Where do I sign up?
There are only a few stops that are worth while between Lincoln Nebraska and Salt Lake. My favorate is Vedauwoo NFS area, it is an unusual spot with fantastic rock climbing and vistas. It is between Cheyenne and Laramie. Laramie is not too bad, for a small collage town.
Yosemite and Kings Canyon because it's breathtaking in every way and the Sequoias sort of cover the Redwoods thrill.
But ALSO, if you head south, and swing up through Santa Cruz, it'll make up for how lame the Haight is now. My nephew (all of 16) goes VERY often because his girlfriend (oh yeah, they're all homeschooled) lives up there and he's totally into the nouveau-hippy thang going on. Point is, kids LOVE that place. And how, exactly, can you go wrong in Monterrey? I hear the aquarium is unrivalled. They have little rooms where the real ocean fishies can float in. Oh. And there's a Henry Miller museum there.
Wow, if you go to Vedawoo or however you spell it, you need to try climbing. OR, do it in Yosemite. And make sure you take time to take a hike in Sequoia. Just being amongst those giants is so awe inspiring.
In SF - go to the Schaffenberger Chocolate factory. I didn't make it there, but oh boy is the chocolate wonderful. You could also do the sake tasting I did...
You will lo-o-o-o-o-ve Tahoe. Take a jacket.
No matter where you guys end up going, I know you will have a great time.
It is always so, so cool having something to look forward to.
Hurray!!! I love planning travel, like fun good travel, not the kind for work. It always gives me something to look forward to no matter how crappy things are I know I've got an escape hatch if I can just hold on...
I vote for Yosemite too. So peaceful.
Why don't you see about at least one night in a cool cabin at Yosemite like we did all those years ago. I loved that whole experience. I will help pay for a night if that helps. Look online for details.
Sissy
That sounds like big trip. I haven't seen Yosemite since I was a kid. It's pretty impressive stuff. Have a great time!
I have to agree with Another Good Thing, I have heard good things about Fisherman's Wharf. The Golden Gate, of course, and Alcatraz. Take plenty of pictures and have fun.
This sounds like my type of trip, drive long distance.
I could not tell you much about the west, I have not ventured out that direction very much. Enjoy the trip, keep us posted, and take lots of photos.
As an avid American traveler I would love to offer a travel suggestion. Since you have extensive SF experience, I figure you know what to do there.
After Denver instead of going Northernly towards Wyoming, go South-West and hit Southern Utah (Bryce Canyon NP and Zion NP) that is my FAVORITE spot in America, then head through Vegas/Hoover Dam, take the small highway through Death Valley NP, which will put you on the back of Sequoia NP and Kings Canyon NP, head North again into the Southern entrance of Yosemite NP then continue on to San Francisco. You can hit Tahoe and Wyoming on the drive back home.
I did this route in 1999, but kept going North up to Denali NP in Alaska.
Now you've got me all worked up and I am going to have to post about this.
Oh, down at Fisherman's wharf, go see the seals at night. You walk by there, and hear a ghostly sound in the fog, and then see all these seals playing, sleeping, barking, etc.
I'd have to say Yosemite and onto the coast. Yosemite is so beautiful and Monterrey breathtaking (that's where I proposed to TLB).
REl,
i'm sure we will too.
Margaret,
I think we'll go there for sure.
Tara,
I wish we could fly, but I think it will be a very long drive for us.
Another,
I think we have all those things on the list. Plus the Mission because that's where I used to live. We do have room for one more...
Anonymous,
Thanks for the tip. I'll be checking that out sometime this week.
Booda Baby,
A Henry Miller museum? that's sounds awesome. the haight was lame when I lived in SF in the 80's . I can't imagine it's gotten any better.
Nor,
I've climbed and repelled before. I'd love to do some more, but I don't have the necessary equipment for it.
Fringes,
We will. We'll need one for SF anyway.
LauraB.,
I love having soemthing to look forward to. for sure.
Lady,
That's exactly how I look at it.
M,
That was fun. I'm checking out all of our options. We'll camp and stay at cheap motels. It might be too late reserve cabins at this point.
MinjonB,
Thanks.
AlienCG,
Don't worry. You know me. There will be tons of pictures taken.
Evil-E,
You got it.
Killer,
I already thought bout Utah and then ruled it out because of time. You're making me change my mind now thoguh.
Nor,
I love those sea lions.
Brando,
That's so sweet. I love your proposal story.
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