Vacationing In California

[TYNI]

My wife and I have decided, and booked a vacation to California for the last 2 weeks of July with our two teenagers. We will be flying into San Diego, and flying out of San Francisco.

We have a complete itinerary booked, but was wondering if anyone had any "MUST SEE" or "MUST DO" while there. Being from Canada, we have never been to that part of the US, and have done some research. A short list of what we are visiting:

San Diego Zoo
Hearst Castle
Alcatraz (at night)
Big Sur
Laguna Beach
LA (Dodgers game), Sunset Blvd, Rodeo Dr etc...
Yosemite (2 day excursion)
Redwood forests (north of San Fran I think...)

If anyone has any crab shacks, taco stands, hole-in-the-wall-great-eats-places, or must see items, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance - Ty

[SaskatchewanScreamer]

Ty you've mentioned most of the places we went to (many, many moons ago). Also check at your local library for a copy of Lonely Planet and Frommer's guides (many others as well) in case you don't get many replies here.

[vbhoutex]

In San Francisco don't forget Fisherman's Wharf, the Golden Gate Bridge(you have to cross it to get to the Redwoods-Muir Woods National Monument) and ride the Cable Cars. A side trip to Monterrey might be fun also.

[arkess7]

SAN DIEGO ZOO!!!!!!!!! go for sure!!! i was there when i was 11...with my grandparents...i will never forget it..we only had one day...we went on the ride cuz it will take u 3 days to walk it! for real...i have a book from there too....tells u all about the zoo and everything! geez i feel old..thats close to 20 years ago but i member it like yesterday! my daughter looks at the book all the time...HAVE FUN!!!!!

[TYNI]

Thanks all for the great responses! I forgot the GG Bridge, although my wife didn't.

Sask - my wife bought all the guide books, and a great one called Southern California, Day by Day - Published by Lonely Planet!

[brunota2003]

I'm got some friends that live in Daly City, and some family in Alamo...been to Alcatraz, the GG (quite a site), got to ride on a trolley, been to Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39, all the sea lions at Pier 39 was quite a sight! Though sometimes there are a lot of them, and sometimes only a few.

[mf_dolphin]

There used to be an outstanding chocolate shop on Pier 39. I hope it's still there.

[gtalum]

We did a similar itinerary in reverse back in March. One thing I'd add for sure is Monterey. The aquarium there is spectacular.

In San Francisco, wander Chinatown, and go a block or so off the main street to find any of the many hole in the wall chinese restaurants. Look for one where nobody is speaking English to get the really good authentic stuff.

[vbhoutex]

We did a similar itinerary in reverse back in March. One thing I'd add for sure is Monterey. The aquarium there is spectacular.

In San Francisco, wander Chinatown, and go a block or so off the main street to find any of the many hole in the wall chinese restaurants. Look for one where nobody is speaking English to get the really good authentic stuff.

Ah yes, how could I forget Chinatown?? One of my favorite places in San Francisco. Chinatown is a must do in SF.

[gtalum]

Also, if you're up for a long but beautiful walk, take a bus to the SF side of the Golden Gate Bridge, then walk across the bridge and all the way down into Sausalito. Once there you can take in some of the town, maybe have breakfast or lunch there, then take a ferry back to SF. The area is gorgeous and it's a really nice walk, and the ferry ride is really scenic too, and cheap. Be aware that there is no sidewalk for about a mile or so on the road into Sausalito.