Airport shuttle

Hi,

I have a three hour lay over in San Francisco and I was wondering how far it is from the airport to downtown or if there is something worth visiting near the airport.

Thanks

Airport shuttle

If your layover is truly 3 hours (from the time your inbound flight arrives to the departure of your connection), 3 hours is a little tight (depending on time of day and day of week).

If you feel you have 3 hours to burn, BART into SF takes about 35 minutes. Fare is $5.35 each way. Exit at Embarcadero station and walk through the Ferry Building, lots of shops and restuarants.

Terminal 3 (United) has a ';museum'; of sorts along the concourse which frequently has some interesting exhibits. But it%26#39;s past security so only accesible if you%26#39;re flying United.

Not much to see in close proximity to the airport.

Airport shuttle

Thank you. Yes, it is exactly three hours. From 3 pm. until 6 pm. on a Monday. I would be coming from Las Vegas and have to change planes in San Francisco to come to Calgary. How much would a taxi be from the airport to Golden Gate Bridge and how long would it take? We are three people.

I wouldn%26#39;t risk it. If you take BART, you won%26#39;t have time to see anything other than the area near the Ferry Terminal. You can see the SF-Oakland Bay Bridge from there, but not the Golden Gate Bridge.

You could probably have a cab drive you to the Golden Gate Bridge, but once you go there, you%26#39;d have to immediately turn around and head back to the airport. The return trip to the airport will occur during rush hour.

A cab to the bridge would be about $50-55 dollars but the drive at the best of times would take 40 minutes.

With the amount of time you have between flights, I don%26#39;t think it%26#39;s adviseable to leave the airport.

Thanks. We will see the museum at the airport then.

Wharf Inn Penthouse?

I will be traveling to San Francisco in July 2009 with 6 people. I am looking for a hotel near the Wharf because once we park the car my husband does not want to move it. The things I want to do are; go to Alcatraz at night, the science academy, Chinatown (possibly the Wok tour), ride the cable cars, walk across the bridge, and any other National Park stuff. I read that the Wharf Inn has a penthouse that will sleep 6, full kithen, and free parking. I have a quote of $467. Does anyone know about tihs room.

Wharf Inn Penthouse?

We visit the city often for theater and stayed at the Wharf Inn last fall. We usually stay in Union Square, but conventions took up most of the rooms in that area.

I don%26#39;t know about their %26#39;penthouse%26#39;, except that the AAA tour guide describes it as a ';two-bedroom suite with kitchen';. AAA gives it two diamonds.

We were comfortable enough there for one night, but I find the location very busy and noisy.

If you want to look into a Union Square location, here is a website for Grosvenor Suites..this is on the cable car line.

http://www.grosvenorsuites.com/

You would not need to move the car to get to the locations you mention, as San Francisco has an excellent public transportation system.

However, parking is free at the Wharf Inn and the reviews on this forum are mostly positive. You should check them out if you have not done so.

Good luck.

staying at squaw creek resort

we will be staying there this weekend. Any good restaurants close, tips, activities we should know. We are planning to ski on Fri, I%26#39;ve gotten classes for us and kids. I know they have a pool and jacuzzi hopefully we can use it. Thanks

staying at squaw creek resort

The Resort at Squaw Creek has a beautiful pool area! I think you%26#39;ll really enjoy your stay. The rooms have incredible views.

There are good restaurants at the resort, I like the bbq by the pool for the setting. My favorite restaurant is Graham%26#39;s, on Squaw Valley Rd. by the post office. It%26#39;s upscale and quiet, don%26#39;t know if that would work for your kids. Plump Jack Cafe is really good for casual eating. Mamasake has yummy, but pricy, sushi. Blue Coyote has delicious burgers, fish tacos and salads, but the worst nachos.

The Village at Squaw has some cute shops to browse in. It%26#39;s fun to make candles at Waxen Moon. I enjoy wine tasting at Uncorked and browsing in the bath shop. I like a day at Trilogy spa even more! Kids love the bungee trampoline.

beauty

Buena Park Hotel

Sorry I posted this under the Buena Park forum, but did not receive a response.

I have booked the Inn and Suites Hotel in Buena Park. Does anyone know if this hotel is located in a safe location? It seems to get good reviews, but there aren%26#39;t a lot of them.

Thanks!

Best outlet mall around LA

Can somebody recommend a good outlet mall around LA.

We have a car so we can drive there, I鈥檓 serious need of some serious shopping.

Today we are going to the Fashion District, but still I need to do some outlet shopping! :)

Kris

Best outlet mall around LA

Ordinarily, I%26#39;m a fan of outlet shopping but in view of our failing economy, I%26#39;d recommend hitting the regular malls (and boutique shops, too) first since all of the retailers are overloaded with merchandise that was unsold during the holiday shopping period.

Also, look at the mini-outlets like Ross, Loehmann%26#39;s and Marshalls (all within the Beverly Grove neighborhood between the Beverly Center shopping mall on the west and the Farmers Market/the Grove on the east.

If you%26#39;re still hungry for outlets after that, consider the Camarillo Premium Outlets (about 1 hour northwest of central L.A.).

Good luck!

Best outlet mall around LA

Have to agree, all the stores around LA are full of merchandise with great discounts. Get a copy of the LA Times, coupons for more money off already on sale items at stores like Macy%26#39;s, etc.

Camarillo Premium Outlets are the closest to LA.

I would suggest the Citadel Outlet, which is just east of Downtown LA. There are 50 stores there. Not as many stores as at Camarillo, but it%26#39;s fun and much closer, especially to the fashion district.

It is located off Interstate 5 at Atlantic Blvd North

anything you find at a department store, on sale, is of a higher quality, and more current, than what you%26#39;d find at an outlet mall. Outlets carry merchandise made specifically for those stores, of a lower quality, and also carry merch from seasons ago.

Prices are better at the Beverly Center and SM Promenade. And they%26#39;re closer.

Unfortunately, all the ';good'; outlet malls are about an hour away from the ';L.A. area.'; The Citadel is close, but not that good and not that big, according to the wife! The best ones are Camarillo and Cabazon. Both are about an hour away in opposite directions.

Desert Hills outlets in Cabazon is the best outlet mall in Southern California. It has many high-end(YSL, Gucci, Dior, ect.) retail shops along with many mid-end shops. It is near Palm Springs which is a 90 minute drive from LA but if you are serious about shopping then it there.

In the LA/Orange county area your best choices for deep discount clothes are Off 5th(located at the ';Block at Orange'; shopping center) in Orange County. This is a Saks Fifth Ave. clearance store and the clearance racks at this store have amazing prices on high-quality stuff.

Nordstrom Rack in Glendale, Reaseda, or Costa Mesa. The Reseda and Costa Mesa stores get some of the best reviews for selection. High quality clothes from Norstrom. Clearance racks here are very good. Lots of shoes here too.

Loehmanns near the Beverly Center mall has the same sort of stuff as Off 5th and Nordstrom Rack, although I like the other two stores better. Clearance Racks here are decent.

www.yelp.com/losangeles has reviews for all of these places. Just enter the name of the store in the searchbox.

I agree with yogachik,

All the department stores are hurting for business so they are slashing prices. If you venture south of LAX you can have a great day of shopping at the Del Amo Fashion Center (which used to be the biggest mall in North America before the Mall of America opened.) Del Amo has 2 Macy%26#39;s branches, Sears, J.C. Penney, T.J. Maxx, Old Navy and a multitude of smaller stores. There is new outside section with more upscale stores too. Within a 15 minute drive of Del Amo is the South Bay Galleria (near Artesia Blvd.)which has Nordstrom and Macy%26#39;s. The area along Hawthorne Blvd between the 2 malls also has a Loehmann%26#39;s, Marshall%26#39;s, another T.J. Maxx, a DSW (Designer Shoe Warehouse) and a restaurant row (near Torrance Blvd.)

Head to the South Bay and make a day of it!

Just for the record Del Amo is a shadow of it%26#39;s former self. For whatever reason it went from one of the best malls in the 1980%26#39;s to a strip mall today.

handling exceptions

Driving from LA to Grand Canyon South Rim

We are wanting to drive from LA to GC South Rim and based on posts back so far we are no longer going via Las Vegas.

Looking at Google Maps we have decided to go via Victorville (I-15) then onto the I-40 to Williams.

My queries are whether we could do this drive in a day (leaving LA by 8am) or whether we need to overnight on the way. If we need to overnight on the way there seem to be 2 places that show up on the map - Needles %26amp; Kingman. Which would be the better place to stay or does anyone else have other recommendations.

Driving from LA to Grand Canyon South Rim

Well, according to Mapquest, it%26#39;s 6 1/2 hours from my house, so that seems like you could do it in one day. Stay in Williams and get up the next morning and drive to the Grand Canyon. There%26#39;s not really anything to do in Needles or Kingman, so if you decided to stay in either one, I%26#39;d pick Kingman b/c you%26#39;d get there later in the day and you%26#39;d be that much closer to the Grand Canyon.

Driving from LA to Grand Canyon South Rim

I would drive to GC in one day, as the previous poster states it is easily done in one day and none of the towns on the way have anything much to recommend them although they have adequate and reasonably priced motels (Kingman is nicer than Needles). There are some interesting side trips such as the ghost towns of Calico and Oatman, but these are not directly on I-40. Be sure to book your lodging in GC well in advance, see www.grandcanyonlodges.com

I%26#39;ve done this drive three times. It is about 7 hours to the actual South Rim. You can definitely do this in a day. And everyone is right....there isn%26#39;t anything much worth stopping to see on the way.

Actually, drive straight to the rim and you%26#39;ll be certain to catch sunset. The light is magnificent at this time!

Thanks everyone. We will definately drive direct from LA to South Rim.

Glendale - Good base or pay extra for W Hollywood/S Monica?

Hi,

This follows on from a previous post of mine.

I have been looking at the Embassy Suites in Glendale as a base for 5 nights in August. We have also been looking at accomodation in West Hollywood and Santa Monica. We%26#39;ll be visiting Universal, the beaches and having a good look around Beverly Hills, The Grove etc. I have read from a previous post that Glendale is a real community with a nice downtown, lots of restaurants and a brand new theme mall called Americana. It also said it is near to Universal but not the beaches. How far away (as in time driving) is Glendale from the beach? and would you say it was worth staying in Glendale in order to save $100+ per night or better to pay the West Hollywood/Santa Monica rates.

Thanks.

Glendale - Good base or pay extra for W Hollywood/S Monica?

It%26#39;s OK - Ignore this post! The hotel was only $100 cheaper than the WHollywood/SMonica hotels for only one of the nights of our stay so I don%26#39;t think there%26#39;s any point in considering Glendale anymore.

Glendale - Good base or pay extra for W Hollywood/S Monica?

Even if you were to get a savings, it%26#39;s not worth it. The drive is about an hour or so each way, in heavy traffic, top all the sights you list except Universal, which is about 30 minutes. And, it%26#39;s extremely hot, about 20 or so degrees hotter, in August.

An hour from Glendale to Universal? MAYBE and I mean MAYBE during rush hour IF there is an ACCIDENT/road construction. Glendale is......9 miles away from Universal.

You can drive an extra 5-10 miles and save an extra five hundred dollars on a Room over a 5 night stay.

holidaynut- If you don%26#39;t mind paying $275 to $300/per night then great. It is worth it if you are happy with it. West Hollywood has all those great Suite hotels(London, Le Parc, Chamberlin, and Le Montrose)and the area is fun, clean, lively, and safe.

Le Parc and possibly others have kitchenettes to help save on always eating out. If you get a place with a kitchenette you can easily save $50 to $75 per day instead of eating out for every meal for a family of 4.

Glendale is not to far and a nice little town with plenty of things to do at night.

That said, i would not consider it a ';base'; while vacationing here. Most attractions a visitor might want to see or experience while in town are on the other side of the hill. West Hollywood is a great place to ';base'; yor7uself, especially iof it is just a couple of $ more

Pay extra for West Hollywood or Santa Monica. You%26#39;ve listed things which are mostly on the west side. Makes sense to stay there and minimize the traffic headaches. I always prefer the beach in the morning.

I%26#39;d recommend for one day heading north on the Pacific Coast Highway from Santa Monica and visit Zuma Beach.

HTH

Driving and parking for the Rose Bowl

Okay. I need you guys to be brutally honest with me here.

We have reservations in Redondo Beach. We know this is, like, 40 miles away from Pasadena. We know the parade starts around 8:00 am on New Years Day.

How long should we expect to be on the road getting to the parade? Where is the best place to park, espcially if we%26#39;re running late? We%26#39;re planning on going to the parade and then, if we can get tickets outside the stadium, we%26#39;ll be going to the game too. If not, we need to be able to get back to our car for a day of sightseeing.

I know it sounds crazy, but this is the plan for now. Any advice you could give would be awesome!

Driving and parking for the Rose Bowl

You do realize the parade and game are not on the same day, right?

If you don%26#39;t care about being near the end of the parade, showing up fairly late is fine. The bands may not be at their best and some of the floats may be towed but my lazy parents used to wake up lat and take us to the tailend fairly often. Go to the official tournament site for a map and estimated time of the parade%26#39;s start at various locations along the route.

Driving and parking for the Rose Bowl

Boy am I a doofus. This year it is on the same day. It has gotten so screwed up the last few years with Sunday%26#39;s, championship games etc, it seems like it hasn%26#39;t happened in awhile.

Good luck getting tickets, I%26#39;d say it is unlikely unless you are willing to lay out a LOT of cash.

That%26#39;s so funny about the tickets. We%26#39;ve been hearing that since both teams are so luke warm about being at the Rose Bowl at all that people will be selling their tickets for like $10 to $20. Well, I guarantee you we won%26#39;t ben buying them for face value.

You nearly gave me a heart attack with the whole ';not on the same day'; bit! But thanks for the direction. I will check out their website.

My friends really want to go see it, but I%26#39;m thinking ot might be over rated or not worth the trouble to go see. We%26#39;re from New Orleans, so going to a parade and not coming back with armloads of beads is definitely going to be a different experience!

You will enjoy it. The Rose Parade is a completely different experience from any other parade I%26#39;ve been to, and I%26#39;ve been to a couple of Mardi Gras Parades. You can *smell* the floats.

Going to the parade is definitely doable if you are willing to get up a bit early. Try to leave by 7 at the latest. The traffic early in the morning should not be too bad, and you will find it much easier to find a place to park and see the parade if you go to a point on the eastern part of the parade route (it goes for several miles). As a previous poster said, the parade will arrive there later, and the crowds will be thinner. However, as they also mentioned, a few floats may have broken down, the floats and bands will be spaced out a bit farther, and a few of the bands may look a little tired... but that is part of the fun, and it will be different than seeing it on TV that way!!

Take the 405 freeway (south, I think... check this with the hotel) to the 110 Freeway North, towards downtown LA and Pasadena. Take this freeway until it ends, about 10 miles north of downtown Los Angeles. It will become a regular street called Arroyo Parkway. Continue north on Arroyo Parkway to California Blvd (not far). Turn right on California Blvd. My suggestion would be to turn left on Hill Avenue; get as close to Colorado Blvd as you can before parking. It is possible that there will be parking available at Pasadena City College, at Hill just a block or so south of Colorado. You may have to wander around a little bit to find a place to park, if PCC doesn%26#39;t have space in their huge lots.

Do not get directions to the parade on Mapquest. It will give you directions that will put you on the 134 freeway, which will be jammed. You want to stay SOUTH of the parade route while driving and parking.

Look at the website for the Tournament of Roses: tournamentoroses.org. Get a street map of the San Gabriel Valley from the auto club if you can.

I live in the area, and take a different route from my house, so I have not actually driven this route... others may have better ideas. But I would think it might be okay as it skirts the northwestern, most hectic area of the parade.

Another possiblity would be taking the Gold Line into Pasadena from Downtown LA (parking at Union Station, might cost a lot but be worth it). The website may give info on public transportation alternatives.

Re the tickets: I have no idea. Probably very tough. SC fans are...loyal, to say the least.

BTW, I do NOT recommend bothering with buying grandstand tickets to the parade. Its a hassle... you have to find your way to a specific location, next to impossible. Unless they are fantastic seats or you aren%26#39;t able to stand up, I just don%26#39;t see the advantage. Just walk up and see the parade.

Another good reason not to buy parade tickets is that you might have a particularly festive night on New Year%26#39;s Eve... and then you don%26#39;t have to feel guilty about wasting money for unused tickets, if you sensibly decide to watch the parade from the comfort of your hotel bed!

We would show up about an hour before the parade and be fine. Many people stay all night, but by the morning they were not feeling so great after a night o%26#39; fun on the parade route. We would slip in and take their spots on the curb. If you did go to then end of the parade route, you could get there later.

Hey Trojans Fans,

Where can I Park for under 20 bucks for the Game on Tuesday? What street should I Park on?

Hey Trojans Fans,

Where can I Park for under 20 bucks for the Game on Tuesday? What street should I Park on?

hotels suggestions for West Hollywood area or nearby

my bf and I plan to visit LA in July and looking on the rock city website there are some great rock clubs around West Hollywood and Hollywood...

During the day we will be using the car but it would be nice to just jump in a cab at night to a bar etc...also is this area ok in for wanderin around at night if you are not sure of the area?..and if not can someone suggest an alternative close by?

can anyone suggest some nice hotels in the area please?

Pricewise I want to be fairly cheap and stay below $170 a night.

Thanks

hotels suggestions for West Hollywood area or nearby

What are your travel dates? Prices vary from season to season.

Hollywood and West Hollywood are 1.5 miles (2.4 km) apart. That%26#39;s a taxi ride of 5 or 10 minutes (depending on traffic). There is also bus service between the two areas.

In West Hollywood, the nightlife is along Sunset Bl between Doheny Drive %26amp; Crescent Heights Bl. (Gay nightlife is along a parallel Road (Santa Monica Bl) between Fairfax Av %26amp; Doheny.

These areas are well lit and well populated into the wee hours of the morning.

In Hollywood, the nightlife is along Hollywood Bl between La Brea Av and Vine St (and, on intersecting roads, steps from Hollywood Bl). Hollywood is also ';up late'; -- so no worries as far as wanderin around is concerned.

You can look up hotels here on Trip Advisor. Here are the Hollywood Hotels:

and the West Hollywood Hotels:

Link and SCROLL DOWN for a list of hotels -- first in the list is the %26#39;most recommended%26#39; and so on. Click the orange %26#39;check prices%26#39; button for competitive bids from different booking agencies.

hotels suggestions for West Hollywood area or nearby

Oops! Forgot the links:

Hollywood:

tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g32655-zfn6-Los_Angel鈥?/a>

West Hollywood:

tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g33252-West_Hollywood鈥?/a>

beauty

How to get to LAX from San Clemente (w/ no car)

I need to get to LAX early on Wednesday January 14th....for a 12:30 flight out

Not renting a car on this trip, I%26#39;m totally confused as to how to make this happen.

Thanks for any advice!!

How to get to LAX from San Clemente (w/ no car)

I take Super Shuttle(www.supershuttle.com). Give them the flight time and they will pick you up at the appropriate time.

Since San Clemente is the end of the line then you will probably pick up other passengers on the way to LAX, but they will get you there on time.

How to get to LAX from San Clemente (w/ no car)

Thank you so much for the info!

I might just go and stay near LAX the previous night and do a little exploring.....but sure appreciate this info.

Another option, which is much cheaper and probably doesn%26#39;t take any longer: From San Clemente, take the Metrolink Orange County Line train (http://www.metrolinktrains.com) north to Los Angeles Union Station. There, transfer to the Flyaway bus (http://www.lawa.org/flyaway) for a non-stop ride to LAX. The train will cost $11.75, and the bus will be an additional $6. Compare to $65 for Super Shuttle.

from keratosis pilaris

please help me

I need advice on traffic from sacramento to south shore tahoe on new years eve 2008. I%26#39;ve never driven that way on new years. Do u think from 3-7pm there will be alot of traffic or will most travelers be at their destinations by then?

please help me

I imagine the traffic will certainly be heavier over a normal Wednesday. I drove up to Lake Tahoe last Friday, and it took me an extra 90 minutes. The biggest jam up was in Placerville with the signals.

You mention driving on New Years Eve, and then the next sentence you say New Years. If you have a choice, New Years Day will be a much better day to drive to Lake Tahoe between 3-7PM.

If you are traveling on New Years Eve, plan on a slower trip.

Where to stay that is reasonable priced?

Hi, we will be coming to Monterey next summer. We will stay in San Francisco a few nights, then head down to Monterey and places in between. Where would be a reasonably priced hotel to stay? We could even stay on the outskirts of Monterey as we will have our SUV if that is more reasonably priced. We would like to find something $150 or lower but nice and clean. 2 Beds. We always figure the room is only to sleep in and hate to spend alot on that and would rather spend our money doing fun things. :)TIA

Where to stay that is reasonable priced?

We were happy at the Howard Johnson express on Munras Avenue. Basic for sure, but nice and clean and a decent location. In San Francisco we like Columbus Motor Inn because it%26#39;s nice and clean %26amp; parking is included in the rate.

Where to stay that is reasonable priced?

Thank you, I will check the HOJO out. Columbus Inn is what I have been looking at for San Francisco. The free parking does help. We will be driving from Eastern WA.

I would recommend either the Monterey Beach Resort or Monterey Lodge. Both should be in your price range, and they are both nice, comfortable places. The Beach Resort is the only lodging located directly on the beach, and they often offer specials--less so in the summer, of course, but it pays to book early. If you%26#39;re thinking about going to the aquarium, both offer aquarium packages that can save you quite a bit of money.

I would also recommend the Columbus Inn in North Beach in San Francisco. They have free, covered parking, are within walking distance of Fisherman%26#39;s Wharf and there are several good breakfast restaurants within three or four blocks.

This part of Columbus Avenue, by the way, is a pretty tree-lined stretch.

We usually stay in Union Square because we have season theater tickets, but when the conventions filled up the hotels we tried the Columbus Inn, and I recommend it.

Another vote for the Monterey Beach Resort, it is so nice being right on the ocean, great for evening or morning walks. The hotel has nicely appointed rooms, a restaurant on-site which is pretty good and a nice outdoor pool area. Snacks are set out in the lobby in the afternoon and they offer a beverage service at the bar there. The lobby is beautiful with full oceanviews and a fireplace. Have fun at the coast! :)

Thanks for all your great suggestions. Just a question. Is the Monterey Beach Resort listed on hotels under Best Western Beach Resort Monterey? This is all I can find.

Thanks for all your great suggestions. Just a question. Is the Monterey Beach Resort listed on hotels under Best Western Beach Resort Monterey? This is all I can find.

Yes, same place. :)

That%26#39;s the one, momof5boys.

It%26#39;s the ONLY hotel in Monterey directly on the beach. I have stayed there twice in years past and enjoyed it both times. Loved hearing the roar of the ocean as I fell asleep. It%26#39;s also a short drive into Monterey from this location.

Thanks!! I just looked it up and it keeps saying no availability to get pricing. I also went to the Best Western home page too, and get no availability. Surely they can%26#39;t be booked up already for July 2009. Do you think maybe they just don%26#39;t take reservations online this far in advance, and that%26#39;s why it says that?

Best route from Bakersfield?

We%26#39;ll be coming in (Presidents%26#39; Day week-end) after an overnight stay in Bakersfield, and it%26#39;s hard to tell from the map which way is quicker (we%26#39;ll have two nights at the Furnace Creek Ranch). Is it quicker to take CA-178 from Bakersfield, or CA-58 then CA-14? The former seems to have fewer miles but be somewhat windier on the map. And from the CA-178/US-395 junction, is it quicker to go up US-395, then cut off at CA-190, or just go all the way with CA-178? Thanks!

Best route from Bakersfield?

The 58 will be quicker than the 178.

The 178 takes you through the very narrow Kern Canyon on a windy road along the Kern River. The other downside to the 178 is the fact that you have to drive through part of the city of Bakersfield before you hit freeway. The freeway goes for about 7 miles before it becomes a two lane highway.

The 58 through Tehachapi is your best option.

Your only real threat to your trip is if a major storm passes through the mountains. Then it will be slow no matter what.

Best route from Bakersfield?

I just took 178 today, returning from DV. It is a beautiful scenic route along the Kern River Canyon, several small resort towns, and Walker Pass, but it will take more time. As Kibblesmom said, it%26#39;s more curvy, and some of it can make people nervous. I saw a car being recovered that had gone over the side; don%26#39;t know if it went into the lake, but it took a tow truck with a special hoist to lift it straight up and out.

Tehachapi Pass isn%26#39;t exactly dull, but it%26#39;s less spectacular than 178. It does have green hills as well as more ';typical'; desert landscapes. If you have time, you can take a side trip to see Tehachapi Loop, an interesting railroad grade. Because of the steepness of the inclines and the need for gradual elevation gains so one or two locomotives could haul a train up, the road was built in a circle. A long train literally passes itself going around the loop, like a snake chasing its tail.

With either 178 or 58, continue to Ridgecrest and Trona. North of Trona, you have another choice: Trona-Wildrose Road or Panamint Valley Road. I always suggest Wildrose because it is such a surprise to many DV newcomers. It%26#39;s a mountain road, with a short stretch of gravel that%26#39;s fine for any car driven carefully. The Park Service just grades it as needed; they can%26#39;t keep it paved because flashfloods and runoff from a spring keep tearing it up.

Along the way, you can see the ghost town of Ballarat, a settlement founded on gold strikes in the western Panamint range. You can also see Wildrose Charcoal Kilns, where local wood was roasted into charcoal to use in the smelters at a mining operation on the other side of the Panamint Valley, which was too low in elevation and had no local trees. That mine, the Modoc, was owned by the father of William Randolph Hearst.

There are several other historic mine sites along Wildrose Road, so if you%26#39;re interested I can give you more details later.

Part of Wildrose is narrow and curvy, and vehicles over 25%26#39; are not allowed. It%26#39;s pretty; you%26#39;ll see real trees, and probably snow on the surrounding mountains. The season for snow at road level will be mostly over by then.

Panamint Valley Road is more typical DV scenery, with sweeping views of the mountains. It is more similar to much of what you%26#39;ll see in the park, which is why I suggest Wildrose.

Going up 395 to 190 is a longer trip, which isn%26#39;t worth the time unless you want to see Owens Lake. It was once navigable aand boats actually ran on it, but the river that feeds it was diverted into the Los Angeles Aqueduct so the lake is now a shadow of its old self. If you follow my Trona route, you%26#39;ll see Searles Lake, which is also a desert marsh and a lucrative source of minerals that are harvested from the briny water (yes, there%26#39;s water, but not enough to make it navigable). In Trona, you%26#39;ll see a huge refinery that pumps out the brine, extracts and processes the minerals, and returns the water to the lake to maintain the water table.

great massage

My daughter and I had wonderful service with Marla and Lori at SouthLakeTahoeMassage.com . The price was very reasonable. We both requested deep tissue and were very satisfied. Lori got the knots out of my shoulder and neck. Very enjoyable experience well worth the money.

Metro riding after dark

We are coming to Pasadena for the Rose Bowl Game. On December 31st, we would like to travel to Universal Studios using the Metro. It appears we can pick up the gold line in Pasadena and then change to the red line at Union Station which will take us to Universal Studios. Our return trip will be after midnight. Is this a safe trip to make after midnight on the Metro?

Metro riding after dark

Yes it%26#39;s safe with cameras everywhere and lots of other riders. Use the same precautions that you would in any big city. Metro runs all night on Dec 31st so you won%26#39;t have any deadline to watch out for.

Metro riding after dark

Perfectly safe, I use it all the time after midnight and new years eve it will be probably very busy even late at night

Especially the gold line on NYE/NYD. The gold line is very busy all night with people heading to the parade.

beauty

built in hdd password

Backstage at Bracebridge at the Ahwahnee

We just got back from spending a few glorious days after Christmas visiting the park, and getting to be ';extras'; in the world famous Bracebridge Dinner at the Ahwahnee Hotel.

I have always wanted to experience Bracebridge somehow, but both the timing and the price made it difficult for us. However, this year, thanks to our many friends who are performers at the event (in my real life I work in the theater,) my family and I were finally able to get a ';taste'; of what the Bracebridge experience is all about.

So first of all, a little background. The Bracebridge Dinner is a musical pageant that goes back to the first year the Ahwahnee was built, 1929. Ansel Adams was one of the early performers and authors, and some of the set pieces date back to those early days. Today the pageant and dinner are offered 8 times in the last 2 weeks of December, and includes a 7 course meal and entertainment from some of the Bay Area%26#39;s finest performers. If you can manage it at least once in your lifetime, I would recommend it heartily. Be sure to get your tickets as part of a package with accommodations, because apparently the hotels (including the Wawona) will bus you there. Since the dress code is strictly formal, being dropped off at the front of the Ahwahnee is a big help! Once there, you will gather in the great room, sometimes with some entertainment and sing along to keep you busy, until you are ushered into the dining room which is done up to look like a 16th century English manor.

However, if you can%26#39;t quite swing the price of a ticket to the event, I did learn some useful facts that can give you a taste of the Bracebridge experience for FREE!

1) If you are visiting the park on Dec. 13th, have lunch at the Ahwahnee. It is the first dress rehearsal for the show, so you will get to see and hear many of the performers (sometimes repeatedly!)

2) on the weekends before and on Christmas Day, the performers sing in concerts at the Ahwahnee Great Room. Some are classical concerts, some Musical Theater, and of course, on Christmas, there is a Christmas concert. I%26#39;ve noticed that up to now, these concerts aren%26#39;t advertised, but if you are in the park during those times, be sure to check in at the Ahwahnee and see if and when the performances are happening.

We had a wonderful time and are very grateful to the folks at Bracebridge who gave us such a memorable experience.

Backstage at Bracebridge at the Ahwahnee

Thanks for sharing - this is on my list to do sometime as it sounds so wonderful. Thanks for the tips.

Backstage at Bracebridge at the Ahwahnee

We were there on Christmas Day for the concert and the day after Christmas singing carols in the Great Room. What a way to experience Christmas!

Maybe someday we can afford to actually attend a Bracebridge Dinner but for now we get to savour the memories of this latest Christmas.

Wasn%26#39;t the Valley absolutely spectacular this weekend?

Thanks for the hint about the 13th. We will have to put that on our calendar.

I think we did cross paths Macjack. Were you in the Great Hall on the day after Christmas singing Carols, or at the concert on Christmas Day?

While you were singing carols downstairs (assuming this was the evening) I was up on the mezzanine getting dressed to be one of the ';forest folk'; of Bracebridge Manor.

If you happened to have seen a family trying to get their car unstuck in the parking lot, or a woman who took a nasty fall in the aforementioned lot, that was me as well. And I have the black and blue marks to prove it.

I hope you are ok!

I did see many people getting stuck and unstuck but didn%26#39;t notice any particularly nasty falls.

We were in the same building at the same time , just on different floors.

Actually, my wife was upstairs at the ladies room. She said she was enjoying seeing the people getting ready for the show. If you noticed a pretty lady in a pink coat with white fur trim trying to get the knots out of her beautiful long curly hair, that was her.

How often do you do the Bracebridge and who do you have to know to get to be a ';Forest Folk';? ;-) My wife and I have both been involved in the theater. We were having fun watching all the people coming down the stairs in costume.

We had a fantastic Christmas there!

Macjack, thanks for this report! Glad you had a lovely time up there. Anddddd...hope your bruises heal quickly. My family has taken many the nasty fall in the winter time there.

new years eve 2008

I%26#39;m planning on driving from sacramento to south shore on new years eve. The worst part is that i cant leave until 3pm! i%26#39;ve never been up that way for new years. at that time would u expect alot of traffic still or are most of them already off the roads and having fun by then. please reply fast , i%26#39;m desperate. THANX

new years eve 2008

Bad news? There will be lots of traffic. There will be lots of traffic all night. Good news, the roads will be clear.

Posible touring itinery - is is possible?

initial thoughts on the order of our visit I%26#39;m thinking of the following (i%26#39;ve put rough days spent there, not taking into account travel time) is this enough tme in each place, can some have less?

Fly from UK into San Francisco (2days)

to Yosemite (2days)

to Death valley (1night en route?)

to las vegas (1night)

Zion national park, Bryce canyon and Monument valley (poss 1night some point across these three)

Grand Canyon \9hoping to avoid traffic congestion by arriving from the opposite direction to everyone from LV (2 days)

Hoover Dam (not really a stop over but something to see on the way but would need to stop smewhere between here and LA)

LA (1night)

Big Sur/Monterey (1 night)

fly out from SF

did want to include Kings Canyon but that meant a lot of back tracking. Any suggestions for Giant trees anywhere on that route?

I%26#39;m sure this is almost impossible on a 14 night trip but would it be too little for 3weeks 9assuming i can get that much off work)

many thanks

Posible touring itinery - is is possible?

I sure hope you like to drive!

When are you planning this trip? Summer? Three weeks would make this a very do-able itinerary. You%26#39;d need to add some time to the Las Vegas, Zion, Grand Canyon piece if you hope to see anything.

What are your main goals? Scenery? Hikes? Cultural? A bit of everything? Are you more of a ';drive by, take a photo, move on'; type of traveler or a ';get out, walk, visit, absorb'; type of traveler?

Details......Giant trees ~ the easiest access is the Tuolumne Grove in Yosemite. Assuming this is a summer trip, you%26#39;d drive right by on your way out of the Park up to Tuolumne Meadows %26amp; Tioga Pass. There is a hike in, but the location is convenient. There is another larger grove in Yosemite, Mariposa Grove, but it takes about an hour to get there from the Valley and might not really be on the way for you. (Check a map. You can enter the Park through the South Entrance, see the Mariposa Grove, drive to Glacier Point, and end the day in the Valley. Or you can go in the Arch Rock entrance directly to the Valley.)

Get lodging in Yosemite as soon as you set your itinerary. It%26#39;s very popular.

Posible touring itinery - is is possible?

In regards to the trip, this will work between June and end October when Tioga Pass is open. As long as that is the case, Yosemite to Death Valley works. Death Valley is about a six hour drive from Yosemite Valley. If you do want to stop, people either like to stay in Mammoth Lakes (mountain, lakes, etc.) or in Lone Pine (its where you take the road into Death Valley; view of Mt. Whitney - tallest mountain in the continental United States.

Hoover Dam is about one hour to 90 minutes outside of Las Vegas. People generally stay either in Las Vegas or Boulder. There is really not any lodging directly at the dam. Another place you might want to consider staying is Laughlin, Nevada. There are casinos on the river - which can be fun.

I would plan an overnight in the Zion, Bryce, Mounment Valley portion. Zion is nice to stay at overnight, but you might want to also consider some place near Monument Valley depending on the order in which you plan to see the parks. Bryce can be seen in the shortest amount of time.

I think you can see all of htis in that amount of time, given you are concentrating on outdoor areas, and not spending a lot of time in the cities. Enjoy planning your trip.

thank for your comments so far.

This will probably the only time we visit california (if not it%26#39;ll be the only time for a very very long time) so we want to see as much as possible, without cramming in too much.

I think we%26#39;d like to try a few hikes around yosemite and GCanyon but are there some sights that can be enjoyed en route to other places which we can incorporate into the drives?

all other coments are most welcome.

I cannot imagine ';doing'; Zion,Bryce Canyon AND Monument Valley in one day,or even 2. You will basically be driving through without really experiencing anything and even that is too much.

You mentioned that you%26#39;d probably not be in California again for a while but these particular attractions are in the states of Utah and Arizona not California.

IF you are not planning to hike, you could stop and see most of the viewpoints at the Grand Canyon all in one day although staying there overnight would be spectacular!!

The drive from Las Vegas/Hoover Dam to LA is easy to do in one day so no need really to stop in between unless you have lots of time.

Be sure to make your in park reservations as early as possible since they book up far in advance!!!

Having made these loops on different trips, I would also suggest trimming the itinerary. It is sometimes hard to grasp how big this piece of the country is, but I%26#39;m afraid you will be bleary eyed with blurry memories if you attempt this Zion/ Bryce/ Monument Valley/Grand Canyon segment. A couple of suggestions:

1) Add Muir Woods National Monument in Mill Valley to your SF days schedule to get your giant trees in. It%26#39;s 11 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge and there are wonderful Giant Redwoods there. It%26#39;s not Sequoia, but it will fit very nicely with your busy schedule.

2) Since you are going to the Grand Canyon, the grandest of all, I would eliminate Bryce Canyon. This will shorten your drive and allow you more time for Zion %26amp; Monument Valley.

3) Do see Hoover Dam, but you don%26#39;t need to plan a stop between there and LA.

Look forward to watching your plans develop!

I would suggest skipping LA, except you want to see something particular

Where to stay for an extra night

Following posters feedback we have changed our itinerary and now it looks like this:

Day 1 Drive from LA to South Rim and stay at lodgings at the rim

Day 2 Enjoy a day of Grand Canyon tours. Should we then stay another night at the rim or maybe stay at Flagstaff or Sedona?

Day 3 Drive from Flagstaff or Sedona to Tucson

Day 4 Spend 1/2 day at PIMA museum and balance of day sightseeing in Tucson

Day 5 Drive from Tucson to Anaheim

Day 6 Disneyland with the kids

Day 7 Disneyland with the kids

Day 8 1/2 day at Disneyland with kids then drive to airport to catch late PM flight back to Oz.

I think this itinerary is probably more relaxing than the first one. What do you think??

Just not sure whether to spend 2nd night actually at GC South Rim or move to Sedona as we%26#39;ve heard and read that it is also a beautiful place to be at sunset.

Where to stay for an extra night

I would opt to go to Sedona - its pretty. And you can enjoy most of the sites of the Grand Canyon in the day...it also shortens the trip then to Tucson.

Day Trips from Sausalito?

My husband and I will be staying in Sausalito for about six days in April, and we%26#39;re looking for day-trip suggestions. Will have a car for traveling, and will also be near the Sausalito ferry to SF. Ideas welcome, as are restaurants, vineyards, parks and sights. Thanks

Day Trips from Sausalito?

While you%26#39;re in Sausalito you should really check out the rest of what Marin county has to offer. Head out to West Marin, in particular. Besides the famous Muir Woods (go early to beat the crowds), there are spectacular beaches in the Point Reyes National Seashore. Drive up the coast and visit the little coastal towns of Olema, Marshall, Stinson Beach, etc. If in Marshall, be sure to stop at the general store for fresh oysters.

Other ideas: head up the coast to visit the redwoods, take the boat to Angel island, and make the most of your time just across the bay from the greatest city in the world.

Day Trips from Sausalito?

Here are a couple of ideas for day trips:

1) Drive from Sausalito to Sonoma. Its less than an hour. Tour Benzinger Vineywards:

http://www.benziger.com/

Imagery (sister winery of Benzinger)

http://www.imagerywinery.com/

and BR Cohn Winery

http://www.brcohn.com/

(Note there are others if you have ones you want to visit.)

Walk around Sonoma town square, being sure to stop at the Sonoma Cheese Factory for cheese tsating.

http://www.sonoma.com/

Have dinner at The Girl and the Fig

thegirlandthefig.com/html-sonoma/index.html

*********************

2) Another idea is to go to Muir Woods in the morning - take a walk and see the Redwoods.

http://www.nps.gov/muwo/

Afterwards go to Point Reyes National Sea Shore

www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/directions.htm

Also stop at Pt. Reyes and go to Cowgirl Creamery:

http://www.cowgirlcreamery.com/

For dinner, book reservations at Olema Inn.

http://www.theolemainn.com/chron3.html

****************************************

3) Day in Napa

Go to Napa and visit wineries there.

Have a picnic lunch at V. Sattui Winery

In the evening enjoy a nice dinner out before returning to Sausalito. there are so many good ones...a few to choose from are;

Ad Hoc

http://www.adhocrestaurant.com/

Bistro Jeanty

http://www.bistrojeanty.com/

Ubuntu Napa

http://www.ubuntunapa.com/

(Just ate there the other night - very good.)

and many more

*******************************************

Drive up to Healdsburg....visit Healdsburg

http://www.healdsburg.org/

Drive out Westside Road and visit the wineries there

russianrivertravel.com/wineries/westsideroad…

Continue and go to Armstrong Redwoods State Park

http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=450

Head over to Sonoma Coast

http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=450

and then down to Bodega Bay

http://www.bodegabay.com/

Have dinner at Tides Wharf for a good view of Bodega Bay and also most likely sea lions swimming in the bay

http://www.innatthetides.com/tideswharf.html

or for a more elegant meal

The Duck Club

www.bodegabaylodge.com/hotel-dining.html

Return to Sausalito

******************************************

Another:

Drive to Budweiser Brewery and do a brewery tour

http://www.budweisertours.com/toursFAIR.htm

Then visit a Jelly Bean Factory Tour

jellybelly.com/visit_jelly_belly/california_…

Go shopping at Vacaville Premium Outlets

www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp…

Drive back to Napa and have dinner at Celadon

http://www.celadonnapa.com/

****************************************

Another:

Go to Discovery Kingdom in Vallejohttp://www.sixflags.com/discoveryKingdom/index.aspx

Or go to Safari West

http://www.safariwest.com/

***************************************

Of course spend part of the vacation also visiting San Francisco....

******************************************

Drive from Sausalito to Santa Cruz on Highway 1. Cross the Golden Gate; go to Half Moon Bay

http://www.halfmoonbaychamber.org/

Also go to Mavericks and watch the surfers

http://www.mavsurfer.com/main_page/

See Pigeon Point Light House

virtualcities.com/ons/ca/h/as/cah79a24.htm

Walk out and see the elephant seals at

Ano Nuevo

http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=523

Stop by Bonny Doon Winery

https://www.bonnydoonvineyard.com/

Continue down to Santa Cruz; see Santa Cruz Boardwalk

http://www.beachboardwalk.com/

Have dinner at Shadowbrook

http://www.shadowbrook-capitola.com/

Return to Sausalito

*******************************************

One afternoon drive to Berkeley; see the campus; have dinner at:

Chez Panisse

http://www.chezpanisse.com/

***********************************888

There are lots and lots of other trips you can take....but above are just an example. If you have more questions, please do ask. Enjoy planning your trip.

Dear tunkiemo -

Sounds like you have gotten many good suggestions. Perhaps to consolidate them you could do:

one day - Marin county sights including Sausalito, Mill Valley, Tiburon, Muir Woods, Marin headlands

one day - Napa Valley

one day - Healdsburg or Sonoma

one day - West Marin (Stinson Beach, Bolinas, Point Reyes, Bodega Bay, etc.)

a couple of days - San Francisco

At night when you are back from your travels, there are lots of good local restaurants in Marin County. I live in the next town up the highway, Mill Valley, so I will list a handful of local favorite restaurants for you:

Sushi Ran in Sausalito for Japanese food, Harmony Restaurant for dim sum in Mill Valley, lots of Italian Restaurants including Poggio in Sausalito, La Ginestra and Vasco%26#39;s in Mill Valley,

American restaurants including Buckeye Roadhouse, Bungalow 44 in Mill Valley, Picco and Lark Creek Inn in Larkspur. Tiburon has Sam%26#39;s Cafe for burgers on the water, Scoma%26#39;s and Spinnaker both have beautiful water views for seafood in Sausalito. Favorite daytime sandwiches at Emporio Rulli%26#39;s in Larkspur and Rooney%26#39;s cafe in Tiburon. There is a new restaurant near the base of the Golden Gate Bridge called Murray%26#39;s at Cavallo Point. There are plenty more restaurants, but these are a few to start with. You can make reservations easily on Open Table for most of these places.

Have fun and welcome to the neighborhood.

Hi, Tunkiemo --

First of all, I think you have gotten really good input thus far. If I%26#39;m reading screen names correctly, AnnMV is the editor of one of the top regional food blogs (';Anna%26#39;s Cool Finds';, easy to find if you Google it), and she has a far-reaching knowledge of the area.

I wanted to ask you some questions to help us zero in on the best answers for you.

Which of the following activities are your top priorities on this trip, and which elicit a yawn? (You can highlight this part of my post, right click it and select ';copy';. then paste it in to a reply. Then you can erase the boring things and keep the good ones and save some typing.)

Eating at Michelin-starred restaurants

Eating at consumer-site high-scoring restaurants

Eating at places the locals typically eat

Eating at places with great views

Eating at a certain kind of ethnic restauarnat (Italian, Chinese, etc.)

Wine tasting

Champagne tasting

Touring a winery

Cheese tasting at the source

Modern art museum

Classical art museum

Asian art museum

African and Polynesian art museum

Aquarium

Planetarium

Arboretum with exotic plants and flowers

Flower gardens with lots of varieties

Attend a symphony

Attend a play

Attend a Major League Baseball game

Hiking for a full day

Hiking for an hour or two

Seeing big gorgeorus redwood groves

Renting bikes and riding around

Throw frisbess on a gigantic lawn

Walking across the Golden Gate Bridge

Walking along a popular beach

Walking along an isolated, almost empty beach

A long drive along a twisty coastal road with great views of the ocean, cliffs, rocks and islands

Shopping in unique little shops

Discount shopping for quality items

Designer label shopping

Attending farmers markets

Walking through the booths of street vendors

Seeing places that are part of California history

Seeing street performers

My specialty is very much Sausalito, since that%26#39;s the area our ComeToSausalito.com website covers, but I%26#39;m a native of the area and am happy to share ideas.

We look forward to having you visit Sausalito!

girl and the fig is a nice suggestion for Sonoma, if you do go to Healdsburg Cyrus is an amazing place to dine there. Happy New Year! :)

Dear CometoSausalito -

I appreciate the great compliment that I might be a Regional Food Editor- but I am just a Sausalito neighbor that eats out a little too much!

AnnMV

Sorry about that, Ann! In any event, I think your suggestions are excellent.

Great selections to choose from. I went through the list myself, then with my husband, then kept those entries for which there was some agreement. (For example, my husband said he%26#39;s more interested in eating someplace where he can get great cioppino than eating in a five-star restaurant ... I agree.) Any suggestions are wonderfully welcome.

Eating at places the locals typically eat

Eating at places with great views

Wine tasting

Touring a winery

Modern art museum

Classical art museum

Aquarium

Planetarium

Attend a play

Walking along an isolated, almost empty beach

A long drive along a twisty coastal road with great views of the ocean, cliffs, rocks and islands

Shopping in unique little shops

We happened to dine at Poggio, in Sausalito, a couple weeks ago when up in the area visiting family for the holidays. We enjoyed our meal very much, and would return.

Hi, Tunkiemo --

I%26#39;m going to pull together some recommendations for these categories -- some are places that I or some of my fellow editors have been going to since we were kids.

We%26#39;re doing our monthly update of the Sausalito restaurant and hotel rankings at ComeToSausalito.com this weekend and have to wrap that up first, so I wanted you to know ';Holmes is on the case'; even if you did not see an immediate reply.

We%26#39;re looking forward to having you visit this place we love so much!

E.D.

pets

Venice Beach Christmas and New Year's Eve

Hi

Next year for Christmas (2009) and New Year%26#39;s Eve (2010), I am looking to go on a two week holiday to LA. My sister in law will be travelling the world at that point, so my husband and I are going to come out and meet her to spend Christmas and New Year%26#39;s Eve with her.

I%26#39;m 7 months pregnant at the moment so our baby will be 9/10 months old by the time we get to LA.

I%26#39;ve found a cheap apartment to rent on the beach at Venice Beach.

I just wondered what people%26#39;s opinions were of this before I book it. We won%26#39;t have much money, which is why i thought being close to the beach would be good for free entertainment!

Will Venice Beach be suitable for us? I know there%26#39;s nothing much going on at night but with a young baby that%26#39;s not really an issue, and we will be hiring a car anyway so can travel to santa monica/downtown LA go to nice restaurants etc.

Oh but are babies allowed in restaurants?

Would there be anything for us to do on christmas day or new year%26#39;s day?

Any advice on any aspect of this would be greatly appreciated before I book everything!

Thanks a lot

Stef

Venice Beach Christmas and New Year's Eve

Where exactly in Venice is the apartment? Some parts of Venice are not so great.

Venice Beach Christmas and New Year's Eve

Hiya

There%26#39;s two that i%26#39;ve found now, they%26#39;re not exactly detailed in their descriptions but here goes:

1) Venice Beach apartment on a quiet %26#39;walk street%26#39; that is just steps to the beach and famous Venice Beach Boardwalk

2) 2 blocks to Marina %26amp; Mothers Beach 6 blocks to beach %26amp; Pacific Ocean 1.5 blocks to beautiful Venice Canals About 200 yards from the Marriott in Marina Del Rey

The second one looks preferable to me because it has a garden and a washing machine and stuff, not sure about the location though?

It%26#39;s all about the location.

The first one, on a walking street, should be okay. The second one is going to be on a busy street - most likely Washington and is pretty far from things, but you say you don%26#39;t mind driving?

This is a year away, though, so why are you booking now? I would wait and see how prices come down (they will) and what%26#39;s what, later in the year. I also highly recommend looking for an apartment in Santa Monica, rather than Venice. Did you check vrbo.com? But again -- wait. Don%26#39;t do this yet.

Yes, babies are allowed in restaurants.

Hi Yogachick

I thought it would be best to book early because our budget is really limited and i wanted to get a good deal (both of these are $750 per week for the four of us), i would expect prices to go up the closer you get to the time, or for all the bargains to be snapped up or is this not the case?

The apartments in santa monica seem a lot more expensive, but i haven%26#39;t been on VBRO yet - thanks for the tip!

Why would santa monica be better?

Is staying near the beach a good idea at this time of year? will it be freezing cold? will it be busy or really quiet?

All advice gratefully recieved!

my reasons for my holiday are really no one else%26#39;s business, but since you ask. my child will have spent very little time with it%26#39;s mother as I have to work full time to support my family, my husband will be a stay at home father. If we stay at home over christmas we will have to spend time pleasing everyone and not getting quality time with our child which is of upmost importance to me due to our circumstances.

If we stay at home we are also stuck in the house/indoors due to the cold weather outside. If we go abroad we will be able to spend every waking second with our child without having to please/entertain others and the warmer weather means that s/he can get plenty of time outdoors in the fresh air. Plus s/he gets to spend some time with his/her aunt who we are meeting out there as she will be travelling the world at that point and won%26#39;t have had the chance to get to know our child.

As for the long-haul flight, we%26#39;ve all shared one with a baby and if I%26#39;m not on the flight, someone else will be, everyone gets their turn at taking their child on a flight and annoying%26#39; other people - personally it%26#39;s never bothered me. you can%26#39;t stop your family from having a holiday because of other people%26#39;s intolerances to children.

I thought i would get some good and friendly advice on here on how to have the best holiday possible for my new family, not a critique on how to live my life.

I think unless you really really really HAVE to book now, you can wait 3-6 months to finalize your plans. Do take a look at Santa Monica if that%26#39;s in your budget and please check back here before booking b/c we want to make sure you end up in a safe location as close to shops, restaurants, and the beach.

Another reccomendation: Su Casa in Venice Beach.

http://www.sucasavenicebeach.com

You have to call for rates but it%26#39;s probably pretty reasonable in December. I live in Venice just a few blocks from Su Casa and would reccomend it to people visiting me. They have a few suites which are great for people with kids. You can probably find reviews for it on sites such as Yelp as well. Good Luck.

OMG how rude are some people? good job people like that are not in charge, it would be illegal to leave the house untill you turn 18 in case you offend somebody!

some babies and children can be a little annoying, I have 4 of my own so i should know, but personnally I find Adult body odour and sour faces far far worse!!

Stefni I hope you and your family have a wonderfull holiday, please ignore the comments of ignorant and rude people!!

Your baby will fall in with the holiday routine very quickly, they adapt far quicker than adults,

Thanks for the advice guys, i%26#39;ll definitely check out Su Casa.

thanks for the reassurance ShelJim.

beauty

LA/SoCal Advice please

This board has contributed some outstanding vacations.

My wife and two young children (5 %26amp; 3) will be arriving in LAX in March. Now please feel free to critique my choices...so that i make an informed decision.

3 nights at Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire - visiting santa monica/venice, universal studios, some shopping, and ???

2 nights and 3 days in Disneyland - trying to decide whether to stay off site...or at one of the Disneyland hotels. We have stayed at the Grand Californian and found it to be costly for the convenience. suggestions are appreciated...thanks.

7 nights in San Diego - staying at Four Seasons Aviara...

and leaving out of San Diego airport.

we have a friend in santa barbara and would like to visit her. any convenient way how/where we can incorporate into our trip?

also thought about doing laguna beach (should this be chosen in lieu of bev hills?) or can we do this as a day trip when we are in san diego?

we thank you in advance for your suggestions/advice.

ps. if any of you need advice on vancouver/whistler - please ask...

LA/SoCal Advice please

Youcan do Laguna Beach on your way to San Diego, Santa Barbara is the opposite direction and about 1 1/2 hour outside of L.A., so it would not work with a visit to Beverly Hills but as a daytrip from L.A.

Seven Days San Diego is a lot, maybe skip a couple of days there and add it towards your visit to L.A. There sure is enough to see and do in the area that would warrent a stay longer then 3 days///

LA/SoCal Advice please

I agree that you can do Laguna Beach on the way from Disney to SanDiego OR you can do it as a day trip from SanDiego as well.

Since you have very young children, I think spending the extra time in San Diego is a very good idea.

The 4 Seasons Aviara will put you near Legoland which is the perfect place for your younguns with its interactive play areas in addition to some low key rides. The city of SanDiego will be about a 35-40min. ride south. There%26#39;s also a train you can take which might be fun for the children if they have not had that experience.

The train also goes north to Santa Barbara from LA if you should choose to do that as a days activity.

I%26#39;d add a day to LA IF you plan to do the trip to Santa Barbara too.

thanks for the suggestions thus far. it certainly helps having a local perspective...

our concern was whether we should stay 3 nights in beverly hills wilshire. is it too geared towards adults and not enough to do for the children? is it a central base from which to do the l.a. activities?

Four Seasons Beverly Hills is an excellent hotel. Many families stay there. But children do enjoy a pool, and the other Four Seasons has a better pool. Both are centrally located and convenient for an LA visit.

Santa Barbara is a day trip from LA, but you don%26#39;t have the time, really. Unless you add a day to LA and take one from San Diego...

Disneyland can be visited while staying in LA, rather than staying in Anaheim, if you%26#39;re only visiting DL for one day. If you want to spend more than just one day there, you should stay in Anaheim. Then visit Laguna Beach, then off to San Diego.

I would use one of your LA days to ask her if she could meet you half way since that is a very long hard ride for the kids. If she does not have kids, maybe she would even meet you in Santa Monica. I would go to Disney while in LA too. I don%26#39;t know if your kids are really old enough to enjoy Universal - it%26#39;s more of a big kid place. They would probably have more fun going to the La Brea Tar Pits, and a day at the Santa Monica Pier. It does seem to me that although the BH Wilshire is nice, it could easily stifle the kids.

As much as I love Laguna (I live in OC), I%26#39;d head to the full week in San Diego and make that your home base. You%26#39;ll get similar experiences at La Jolla, can go to the zoo, legoland, sea world - all better for children of that age (I have raised two here). You will not run out of fun for them. Balboa park is a great free place to just run wild and picnic. Cabrillo National monument can be a fun trip. There is also an excellent children%26#39;s museum in SD.

Yes, 5 and 3 is much too young for Universal Studios.

If you drive to Disneyland from Four Seasons BH it is about a 45-50 minute drive each way which isn%26#39;t that long, but with traffic it is longer.

If you do decide to stay at Disneyland the Hilton Homewood Suites is nice and inexpensive.

I think you could stay in Laguna Beach(which is close to Disneyland) for 1-2 nights or Santa Barbara for 1-2 nights. I am thinking 7 nights in San Diego might be a bit long. Most people who come here stay between 4 and 5 nights.

Have a good trip.

I would stay in Laguna Beach, there is a Best Western Hotel called the Laguna Reef that is very nice for families. It is in a beautiful area of the coast, right across the street from the amazing Montage Resort where we have stayed. The Laguna Reef has a swimming pool, jacuzzi and complimentary breakfast. You can book on www.lagunabeach.com for good rates. Have fun and Happy New Year! :)

7 days is a long time for San Diego, you should consider 6, and a night in Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara has a nice sea center on the pier...perfect for 3 and 5 yr olds, also a small zoo %26amp; a bird sanctuary worth visiting. You could do a whale-watch boat as well.

Be sure to visit Legoland just north of San Diego!

With kids that age, I%26#39;d spend the $$$ on 2 nights in a Disneyland hotel, and then stay somewhere other than the Four Seasons Beverly Hills. Maybe something in Santa Monica.

thanks for the many ideas. would this be a better option? staying at shutters in santa monica for two nights and three nights in disneyland. one of the messages suggested switching out of bev hills in favour of santa monica. thoughts on this please? thanks again.

Priceliners get the crappy rooms at Westin St. Francis?

Hey guys, I just won a bid for $93 to stay in the Westin St. Francis. I know this is a good deal but I%26#39;m a little concerned. I%26#39;ve been reading reviews that suggest that Priceliners get really small rooms in the Old part of this hotel. Is this true? Is there anything I can do to get a better room?

Thanks

Priceliners get the crappy rooms at Westin St. Francis?

When you book any room at a discount rate on priceline or other web site you never know which room you will get. It depends on how busy the hotel is and which rooms are empty when you check in.

I always call or e-mail the hotel and ask for what I want before I get there ie.-no. of beds,early check in,high floor etc. Then when I arrive I am always polite and ask again. MOST of the time it works but there is no guarantee. After all, you have gotten a room at a price that is MUCH lower than the rackrate.

Another thing you can do is to check the hotel web site to see what rooms are still available for sale.

Then you have some idea of what to expect.

Priceliners get the crappy rooms at Westin St. Francis?

use your charm and ask politely for a nice room with a view, if possible when checking in at the front desk...worked for me recently (though at Le Meridien, not St. Francis)...great bar in your hotel, Clock Bar--enjoy.

I%26#39;ve stayed at the Westin Twice on Priceline bids.

Your charm won%26#39;t get you two inches at check-in as far as a better room goes.

I stayed there last in June of 2007 and the first room was literally a closet with worn..I mean really worn furniture.

Well they offer an upgrade if you pay more and i%26#39;ve found that it makes sense to do that. For $35 they either put you in a much nicer room in the historic part of the hotel or a tower room. They didn%26#39;t offer the tower room last time.

Asking for an upgrade your charm will help. Be very calm at check in and when they assign you a room ask what an upgrade would cost. I%26#39;d definitely take it as you probably still will be at half the rack room rate even with %35 more.

My experience was far different than the previous poster, but perhaps they were different a few years ago. We booked with Hotwire, I believe, and called a few days later to speak with a front desk manager. We kindly put in a request for one of the tower rooms facing Union Square, and he/she nicely offered to book a specific room for us that met our requests. When we checked in, we left a Starbucks gift card for the manager who had booked us the better room. I think it%26#39;s all about who you talk to and how you go about it. I find that your best bet is always calling before you arrive and speaking with a manager, as they have the most power to help you and have nothing to lose if they%26#39;re not completely booked. That said, there%26#39;s NEVER any guarantee you%26#39;ll get any requests met when you book with Hotwire or Priceline. Good luck!

I will definitely try to call and use my southern charm. LOL. Thanks for the advice.

';Priceliners get the crappy rooms at Westin St. Francis?';

Reminds me of something that happened a few years ago.

I was flying from Mauritania to Paris (Air France) on a company paid for ticket and I wanted to try and get an emergency exit seat.

I went into the AF office to see what I could do, where the assistant asked to see my ticket.

He took one look at it and said

';You%26#39;ve only paid this much for a ticket, and you still want a good seat';.

I didn%26#39;t get the seat!!.

Ok guys, I called the Westin and talked to a manager. I was told that I will be given the option for an upgrade if rooms are available. Fingers crossed X.

History of Victorville

Does anyone know the history of Victorville? How was it established and when? How far back does the history go? What was the motivation that got people out here? It couldn%26#39;t have been the agriculture, beaches, lakes, or mountains...and especially not the job market. Presently, it%26#39;s the low cost of living and housing. But I know this wasn%26#39;t always the case. What in the world motivated people to move out here?

History of Victorville

Here%26#39;s a short summary article that you might find interesting:

digital-desert.com/victorville-ca/history.ht…

And here%26#39;s one on Route 66

www.legendsofamerica.com/CA-Victorville.html

Hope you find these interesting....

Have a graet summer!

New Years 2009

What is a great restaurant, club, bar, event for New Years Eve to ring in 2009 in Sonoma?

New Years 2009

Check and see if girl and the fig has anything going on, it%26#39;s a great restaurant with a bar, you can check availability on opentable. Sante @ the Sonoma Mission Inn is also very good, there is a bar there and a gorgeous lounge area, this is a beautiful resort where we have enjoyed 4 stays. Have fun and Merry Christmas! :)

New Years 2009

Thanks so much. The Girl %26amp; The Fig is definitely on our list. I just didn%26#39;t know if they will ring in the new year there. We are four single ladies. What are your top 5 picks of wineries in southern Sonoma?

I love Gundlach-Bundschu, Bartholomew Park, Buena Vista, Sebastiani and Ravenswood. All of these places have beautiful tasting rooms, excellent wines and friendly staffs. Ravenswood is especially nice for Zins. Enjoy! :)

Definitely check out what the restaurant will have on offer for NYE. Menus and prices are generally tailored to take advantage of the NYE demand.

Thanks for posting this. My guy and I and our two dogs just moved to the Bay Area and are checking out Sonoma tomorrow night....any community events open to public tomorrow night? Fireworks, etc?

You might want to look at this article for New Years Eve happening in the Sonoma - Santa Rosa area:

鈥bout.com/od/attractions/a/sonomanewyear.htm

The event at the Hotel Headsburg sounds really fun, we have stayed here before, it%26#39;s a gorgeous hotel right in downtown Healdsburg. Let us know what you decide on and have fun! :)

channel

Christmas Trip Report

Day 1- December 24, 2008 ( Christmas Eve)

Drove from Sacramento to Mariposa (3 hrs.) and stayed at the Best Western. Our rooms were nice and clean and new. Went to eat at Savoury’s. It was very good. I would definitely recommend it to anyone in the area. Mariposa is a cute but small town with a few restaurants and shops. It was a good spot to stop close to Yosemite Valley.

Day 2- December 25 (Christmas Day)

Got up early (early for my nightowl wife anyway) and drove up to the Ahwahnee arriving at 8:59 am for our 9 am reservation for Christmas Breakfast. It started snowing just before the park entrance and we were able to get there before we had to put the chains on.

We got a window seat and a wonderful breakfast while watching the snow pile up outside, a very idyllic setting. Breakfast was great! The food was great, the service was great, the setting was great, everything…great. You have got to try the Pecan Sticky Buns, mmmmmm.

We hung around the hotel taking pictures and snooping, then we found out there was going to be a concert at 2 pm. We changed our reservations for the 2pm Valley Tour to tomorrow since we won’t be able to see anything in the snow storm today anyway. We stuck around for the Christmas Concert. It was fantastic. During the concert we met a young lady with a 4x4 that was kind enough to give us a ride with all of our luggage to the Yosemite Lodge at the Falls. This helped out tremendously since our front wheel drive economy car was now thoroughly buried in snow. We just left the car at the Ahwahnee and took the free shuttle from then on.

Upon arriving at the Lodge we changed our one night reservation to two nights. Fortunately for us there were some cancellations. There were no single rooms available for the extra night so we had to pay for a little higher priced room on the second night. However, they upgraded our room for the first night without cost so we would not have to change rooms during our stay. The staff at the Lodge was very helpful.

We returned to the Ahwahnee for our only disappointment of the weekend, Christmas Dinner. The service was a little on the slow side which can be expected with a larger crowd, although the dining room didn’t appear to be that full. The food was mediocre. Actually, the Prime Rib was dry and completely flavorless and the Turkey was just ok. The only thing that was really tasty was the Chocolate Torte. For a $100 per person I expected much more. Now I can stop complaining because everything else was great.

Day 3- December 26

I got up early and was awestruck when I stepped out our door. Everything was covered in white and the sun was just hitting the tops of the peaks on the north side of the valley.

We got about 18” of snow in the last 24 hours. Our room has an excellent view of Glacier Point and Sentinel Peak from the balcony. The Lodge has many amenities; restaurant, bar, store etc. It is very a central and convenient place to stay. I had B-fast in the café, it was ok for cafeteria food.

I went on a hike to the Lower Falls. Came back and took my wife on the same hike. I had fun hiking through the snow hand in hand with my wife and singing ‘Walking in a Winter Wonderland’.

We returned from our hike just in time for the Valley Tour which meets right in front of the Lodge. Our driver/guide said that this was one of the most spectacular days he has seen in the 13 years he has lived in the park. It was a crystal clear day with bright blue skies and pure white snow everywhere. Absolutely beautiful!

We went back to the Ahwahnee for dinner in the bar, heard they had really good Chili… it was true! Their service was very fast too. Fortunately we happened to get there just as the Caroling started in the Great Hall. What a fun surprise. Took the shuttle back to the lodge and got Hot Cocoa to go at the bar then took it back to our room.

Day 4- December 27

Got up and went to get the car from the Ahwawnee. I decided to take a detour and go see the Lower Falls again. While standing on the bridge at the base of the falls three deer came up on the bridge and walked warily right past me, about 4 feet away. It was an incredible sight.

Now, back to the car… how do you put these chains on again? It comes back to you kinda like riding a bike. Got back to the lodge in time for checkout and then took my bride on a walk to the Swinging Bridge (which doesn’t swing anymore). Classic views of the valley, I think we must have taken 800 pictures this weekend. We stopped at the Visitor Center and Ansel Adams Gallery for awhile then headed back to the Ahwahnee for more Chili and a few more pictures of Half Dome at sunset.

Took the shuttle back to our car and headed home.

All in all it was a once in a lifetime quintessential Christmas experience.

I love Yosemite!

Happy New Year

TJ

Christmas Trip Report

My goodness, tripjunky, we were practically in each other%26#39;s footsteps! We didn%26#39;t arrive until the 26th but on the 27th we also did the loop around the lower falls and out to Swinging Bridge. My pictures from that day make me and my little Canon Powershot look like Ansel Adams! And yes, it was one of the most beautiful days I have ever seen in Yosemite, too.

Glad you enjoyed the concert! I know a lot of those folks and they are extremely talented.

Christmas Trip Report

Sounds great, what an experience. We were in Yosemite this time last year, so I can picture the snow covered beauty you saw. We had a really good meal at the Ahwahnee and also had a window table.

Thanks for taking the time to write a report and Happy New Year to you, too!

Thanks for sharing your travels with us, sounds like a great time! We were in Yosemite a couple of years ago on New Year%26#39;s Day and a very nice meal at the Ahwahnee, the Trout is really good here and my husband loved their buffet. Yosemite in the winter is so spectacular. :)

It sounds like your trip pretty much went off without a hitch! I%26#39;m glad Yosemite showed herself off for you so well! There%26#39;s really nothing like the Valley in snow. Thanks for sharing.

March 09

Like so many others - I am somewhat nervous with my trip in early March - I know that there is always some thing that could be closed but it just seems sooo much this time - will main street still be open even though they are working on the tracks - it is one of my favorites places to spend time while we are there - the calendar for March will be out in Feb - will it change even after that - I have to decide in Feb whether to go or not or I loose my positive space tickets for our flight. Thank ya all for your patience with me kinda asking redundant questions but it really helps me!!!

March 09

I am not sure exactly when Main Street is to be repaved, but I have read that when it is there will be barriers along the sidewalks to prevent anyone from going into the streets. So the stores along Main Street will be open and, most likely, all the eateries. Of course, if you love the Main Street USA atmosphere It won%26#39;t be the same, since the vehicles will not be operating. Passing through the stores instead of just along the sidewalks should allow you to get through easier. The barriers may be tall ans spoil your view of the area. I thought I heard that the rails are not going to be worked on, just repaving the street. If it is one of your favorite places to spend time, I would suggest not going during the repaving. This is just a suggestion from someone who likes the atmosphere of Main Street so much that she doesn%26#39;t even like when the horse-drawn trolley is not working.

March 09

I see from another thread the official word is the tracks are being worked on, not necessarily repaving, although I thought that was going to happen in preparation for repaving. In this case, according to Disney standards, those barriers may actually be high and block the view of the street in order to hide the work that is going on in the street.

Thank you RedlandsRedhead for always answering with such detail - I really can%26#39;t cancel our vacation because we bid on the time and then we have to take it and I really don%26#39;t want to go anywhere else so I am just going to go and what ever is open is open - we are going back in Sept. so then we can see all the progress - I have to look at it that way - it will still be fun - I like the fact that ya all let us know what to expect so we don%26#39;t get there and feel all mortified :) Thanks once again!!!!!

eye makeup remover

Harding Park Golf Course

how hard will it be to get to this course and what is the best transportation to the area?

Harding Park Golf Course

If you are staying downtown, you can take the L-Taraval MUNI train (it%26#39;s below ground all along Market St. and then goes above ground once you get to the West Portal neighborhood). You can disembark at the end of the line, which is a few blocks from the Zoo, but then you%26#39;ll still have a 1/2 mile walk to the golf course.

My advice...take a cab, or drive if you will already have your own rental car.

Harding Park Golf Course

With public transportation take the L Taraval as previous poster mentioned but get off at Sunset Blvd. and transfer to the #29 Sunset bus. Exit at Lake Merced Blvd. Cross the parking lot and there will be a short bridge across a section of Lake Merced which will take you right to the clubhouse.

Cab would be about $25-30 from downtown. You might have to wait 15-25 minutes to get a cab back from the course.

Palm Springs or Palm Desert

Hi

I%26#39;m planning our holiday for next September and am looking for some advice/ opinions; we are a married couple, over the last few years as part of our trip we have spent 4/5 nights in Palm Springs we thoroughly enjoy staying close to downtown and being able to walk from our hotel to good restaurants and bars.

This year we aren%26#39;t sure whether to try Palm Desert or a similar area during the day we have the car but we like to be able to walk in the evening and have a choice of bars/ restaurants - I%26#39;m not looking for night clubs just nice bars and people watching.

What shoulld we do stick to what we know - Palm Springs or try something new? Where would you suggest and why?

Please help, I%26#39;m looking forward to your thoughts.

Thanks.

Palm Springs or Palm Desert

Palm Desert is more car oriented. The main shopping area of ElPaseo is a recreation of the downtown Palm Springs Palm Canyon Drive with much of the elegant shopping which used to be in Palm Springs.

Palm Desert is excellent for the large destination resorts and the golf courses. There are many of the best restaurants in the desert.

If you like the atmosphere of downtown Palm Springs then repeat it. It%26#39;s lovely in the downtown area with the mountains against the city.

It%26#39;s a pity that Palm Springs can%26#39;t revive the excellent shopping which it had in the downtown area years ago,. However, it still is charming.

Palm Springs or Palm Desert

Since you like to walk to restaurants, I%26#39;d stick to downtown Palm Springs. We prefer Palm Desert now, after years of going to PS, but we need to take our car to the shops and restaurants. So many great restaurants to try up and down Hwy 111.

Next September, the weather will still be hot, and resorts will have good prices. Esmeralda, Hyatt Grand Champions, Rancho Las Palmas are all good ones.They all have very nice pool areas.

Thank you.

The decision is made we are going to stick with downtown Palm Springs.

From your experience would you book now or hold of for a last minute deal?

Any hotel recommendations would be appreciated; stayed at Zoso for the last few years, love the location but won%26#39;t a change of scene.

I would sure wait until the rates go down in summer before booking a Sept. stay. Give the Chase Hotel a look.

http://www.chasehotelpalmsprings.com/