California Coast!

[Scott & Lai 12]

A meet sounds great! Lots of great travel ideas so far; I'd definitely recommend the Getty Center - the buildings and grounds are themselves works of art, and the views up there are truly awesome, especially on a clear day! I'd add the Queen Mary and the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, and the Maritime Museum in San Diego - home of the ship from Master and Commander. You might also consider a day-trip to Catalina Island. For a quick thrill in Laguna Beach, drive the hill on 3rd street; it puts many, if not all, the famed steep hills in San Francisco to shame. I understand that it is as long as legally allowed for its steepness.

I've been wanting to go there for awhile.

...as for 3rd Street...holy #######! I made the mistake of driving up on it with a stick shift on a busy morning taking my kids to school! There was this burning smell from my clutch!

I've been to the aquarium twice so far; definitely a must see. Here's a pic of a ray. You can touch them - this one really seems to enjoy it, actually goes looking for people to pet it

This is a video Lai took in December as I drove down the hill, with a view looking back at it from the bottom. I always expect my front end to hit the pavement as when I reach the level ground at the bottom I still have dreams that I'm convinced are partly inspired by that hill, where I'm driving up impossibly steep, narrow, and often twisted roads that are like something out of a Dr. Suess landscape

http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y281/catt...nt=MVI_4948.flv

[no name 1]

I've been to the aquarium twice so far; definitely a must see. Here's a pic of a ray. You can touch them - this one really seems to enjoy it, actually goes looking for people to pet it

That ray sure is up close & personal! Kinda creepy...

I swear in Silverlake there's steeper hills. There was one I wouldn't even drive up, I was freaked my car would roll!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

On the basis of an article I read in a UK sunday supplement magazine - I had this idea of doing a road trip along the coast into Baja. There's some amazing scenery that way (like something from a David Lynch movie) but you can't really do it without devoting a week to do it. I hear the roads down there are quite treacherous though - very narrow and if you get forced off the road you can easily total your steering and front axles.

[Nancy2015 2]

Rey and I just got tickets to spend Jan 8-17 in California. We fly into San Francisco and out of San Diego. We want to drive Highway 1 and stuff but also go to San Diego because I went there once when I was little and have been desperate to go back for about 17 years. And I need a few days in LA to spend with one of my best friends. So those are our parameters. Guidebooks are nice, but who has some fun ideas for what to do on our trip?

This is exactly what we have been planning to do with my hubby Haven't got to it yet...

Highway 1 is awesome all the way, but we've never been further south than Monterey, so I can only suggest that you definitely visit Santa Cruz and Monterey! Others have given you plenty of ideas to work with already

[no name 1]

ooh, it's going to have to be a weekday evening because they are in SF on June 8(Fri) & out the following weekend at SD. Still works though.

[sarah and hicham 3]

It's called PCH(Pacific Coast Highway).

Do NOT MISS Santa Barbara!!

Monterey is pretty too.

Gonna be chilly then tho!

I live in Santa Barbara!

It's heaven!

[Alex+R 0]

Hm, I hope something like June 13 or 14 works for you guys. When I started taking into account all the things I wanted to do on this trip, I can't believe we only planned 9 days. But I guess it's best for the budget. But anyway that means our time has to be a bit regimented or else we won't make our flight. My friend lives in Echo Park, but I have no idea where that is.

[no name 1]

My friend lives in Echo Park, but I have no idea where that is.

Hipster/Latino land, East LA by downtown.

You bet I'm meeting you, sister!

[Alex+R 0]

My friend lives in Echo Park, but I have no idea where that is.

Hipster/Latino land, East LA by downtown.

You bet I'm meeting you, sister!

Hehehe, of course he lives in some sort of hipster enclave! He graduated from Sarah Lawrence, spent a year in a rented room in Minneapolis not working and just painting, and then moved out to Echo Park. Gotta love him.

[eric&gen 0]

We've gone to Pier 39 a few times in San Francisco also another good place to visit for good viewing is Golden Gate Park, you can see alcatraz from Pier 39. Now, since we have our son the only stop would be the SF zoo and the Ocean Beach afterwards (which is just across the street from it). Aquarium of the Bay is one good place to visit too. There are boats which leaves from there which would take you for about an hour cruise which would take you across the Golden Gate bridge to Angel island and a few other places.

Edited May 24, 2007 by eric&gen

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

If it's June, I'm not sure I can make it but keep me posted. My friend is arriving from Australia and we'll be doing a road trip of our own, Thelma and Louise-style. We're going Vegas-north rim of the Grand Canyon-Bryce-Zion-Vegas.

Road trips in the western states are the best!

There's a new Brazilian mall that opened on Venice Blvd in Culver City. I don't know if this is of interest at all, but I'm reliably informed it's very good.

[mawilson 2,133]

We seriously should make an effort for some kind of meet up when Alex + Rey travel through here.

Any ideas about a restaurant and location where we could all meet?

Yeah right, like that's gonna happen.

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

We seriously should make an effort for some kind of meet up when Alex + Rey travel through here.

Any ideas about a restaurant and location where we could all meet?

Yeah right, like that's gonna happen.

eh?

[eric&gen 0]

Oo oo Southern California meet-up, anyone?

that might be cool....

For sure!

Then you would see how lovely & friendly I truly am!

It would be nice We live too far from LA we live in the North bay.

We seriously should make an effort for some kind of meet up when Alex + Rey travel through here.

Any ideas about a restaurant and location where we could all meet?

Yeah right, like that's gonna happen.

eh?

huh

[Peikko 1,575]

The Getty Villa is also a great place, the docent tours are great, particularly highlights and discussing a main piece, but you need to get 'tickets' in advance. (ie, the limit the number of visitors per day, but it doesn't cost you anything, well, not on top of the $8 parking which is the same as the Getty Centre)

If you like hiking, there is a great hiking group in OC and you can get to see some wonderful places that way. There are some suprisingly nice wilderness parks around here

Laguna Beach is fab and if you like sculpture there are some really nice pieces of outdoor art along PCH (actually, all around Laguna Beach if you have time to spend there) It's a suprising place, very small town feel and while it is touristy, it's also very relaxing. The rock pool beaches are great.

I love San Diego too, don't miss the red trams (not the trolley buses), they are cheap and a great way to get around SD. Mission Bay is nice and La Jolla is well worth the visit (as menioned)

I will be in the UK from 10 June so will not be able to hook up with you guys, a shame as that would have been fun