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Author Topic:   Spring Break Trip to California

PeteB88 posted 03-14-2015 04:05 PM ET (US)
[I am] heading to [California] first week of April for a road trip down [Pacific Coast highway], the Big Sur. [I] don't want to go to Disney or malls. [Seeks] out of the way, cool places, obscure best. Last few days in [San Diego]. I wish Tony were still around. RIP. Any ideas would be appreciated.
dfmcintyre posted 03-14-2015 08:42 PM ET (US)
Pete--If your looking for an interesting place to stay in San Diego, check the following link. Interesting place. We stayed there on our sons recommendation, while he was a student out there.
Regards - Don
http://www.lapensionehotel.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=la%20pensione%20hotel&utm_campaign=Main+-+Brand
17 bodega posted 03-15-2015 01:07 AM ET (US)
Monterey Bay and Big Sur--on a weekday. Yosemite, or a drive down the back side of the Sierras (Highway 395) following the water from Mono Lake to L.A. county.
So many options. Catalina Island off Los Angeles is a fun ferry ride. Stop by and visit the Bodega homeys.. I can put you up here in Nor Cal. Bodega cruise included.! April is California Salmon season.
Enjoy your trip!
jimh posted 03-15-2015 09:05 AM ET (US)
Pete--are you driving from Michigan to California? That is quite a trek on the highway. I'd think you'd be ready to stay put someplace once you got to the coast. I don't think there are any cool and obscure places left in California--they've all been discovered already.
PeteB88 posted 03-15-2015 10:40 AM ET (US)
[Plans to travel by] airplane ride to [I think Pete is using airport codes instead of city names, so he meant San Francisco--jimh] then road trip down Pacific Coast highway, a couple of days in San Diego, then fly back: Ellen's Spring Break. There are plenty of hideaways in California. They just don't tell folks unless they've lived out there or Oregonians or Baha.
Thanks 17, will check in. Have fam[ily] in Petaluna, Grass Valley and Truckee but not planning anything at all East of the fault line [by] less than 25 miles maximum. If she blows, we're ridin the Tsunami.
fluke posted 03-16-2015 10:11 AM ET (US)
Pete the drive down highway one from SF through Santa Barbara is a must, just don't be in a rush and stop as often as you can. Big Sur, Nepenthe has an amazing view for a, little coffee stop, to many places to mention you will love it.Santa Barbara is great fun too!

Mark
msirof2001 posted 03-16-2015 04:48 PM ET (US)
I live in Southern California. I too would, and do avoid places whose names end in 'land, 'flags, 'oo, 'world, and 'studios. I avoid Hollywood, myself, and places like Beverly Hills. Because I like stress free and interesting trips.
I agree with all of the people suggesting a Route 1 trip from Monterey to Santa Barbara.
I also agree aboou Catalina. I've been there over 200 times on my Outrage 21. Great place, but not in Summertime. I also look on the web to make sure the days I go to Avalon (Catalina's primary town) are not the days a cruise ship is parked and present.
In Malibu, take Westward road to its end at Westward beach (Pt. Dume). Really pretty spot. You might recognise it from many movies, shows and ads. There is a trail over the point to a great marine reserve. Zillions of tidepools whenever the the low tide is below +0.05.
I like Newport beach. That's where I keep my boat. Mullarkey's serves a mean plate of S.O.S., Navy style. Sabatino's sizzling sausage platter is high on my list.
Enjoy your stay!
17 bodega posted 03-17-2015 10:54 PM ET (US)
Pete... let's not get carried away with the fault line stuff... Petaluma is my backyard and Bodega Bay is waiting for you!
But now that you mentioned fault lines shall I scare you more?? There is a fault that runs right through Bodega Bay...Bodega Head sits on the Pacific plate (which is the geological land mass that Japan sits on), then the transition zone, or actual fault is about a mile wide on the east..which the land changes from rock and dirt to a sandy dune area.. Then on the East side of the fault lies the north american plate.. Amazing stuff if you are a geology geek... Tomales Bay actually sits on top of the fault too... and many folks have boats moored in there 365 a year..

Sheila probably remembers our short visit when she came to bodega. It's a great place, along with all the other harbours you will see on your California trip. I would take the coast and see all of them if you can. Especially Monterey, Big Sur and Santa Barbara.

But even if the biggie hits...unless you are standing at the base of an old brick building (which even most of those are retrofitted at this point) you are still safe.. Enjoy your trip bro!
17 bodega posted 03-17-2015 11:03 PM ET (US)
I missed Malibu and Pt Dume this latest LA trip... but I remember the place well. What is the name of the small beach just south of Zuma? In the 80's it was a wildlife refuge and illegal nude beach. I was a teen ager when I stumbled upon that...
andygere posted 03-18-2015 12:27 AM ET (US)
Let me know if you will be rolling through Santa Cruz. If you take Highway 1 south from San Francisco, you will be within a few blocks of my home (and a good local brewery as well).
msirof2001 posted 03-18-2015 07:47 PM ET (US)
"I missed Malibu and Pt Dume this latest LA trip... but I remember the place well. What is the name of the small beach just south of Zuma? In the 80's it was a wildlife refuge and illegal nude beach. I was a teen ager when I stumbled upon that... "
That beach is Pirate's Cove. It is a tiny cove within an indentation South of the tip of Pt. Dume. To the South from there is Paradise Cove (where Fonzie jumped the shark on Happy Days). At the end of Westward Road, you can take a hiking trail over Pt. Dume and down the South (Paradise Cove) side and there is an expansive tidepool area. It is a must if you are into that thing.
Tom W Clark posted 03-18-2015 09:09 PM ET (US)
Pete,
If you have the chance to connect with Andy and Janet Gere, you should do so. My wife and I stayed with them in Santa Cruz when we passed through a few years ago and they could not have been more gracious.
Also, do not forget the ever-gregarious Rob Schmidt, who is a hoot. On one California driving adventure I recall an evening in Tiburon with my wife, Rob and his wife, drinking far too much and having way too much fun.
California is good.
PeteB88 posted 03-20-2015 11:06 PM ET (US)
Thanks everyone - it's going to be a great trip for sure. Dialing in the plan.
andrey320 posted 03-23-2015 01:30 PM ET (US)
Channel Islands.
From Santa Barbara / Ventura / Channels Islands Harbor - short ride to some of the most beautiful islands in the world. Whale watching season may still be on.
andrey320 posted 03-23-2015 01:31 PM ET (US)
If you go to Catalina, go to Two Harbors as well as Avalon if you can.
PeteB88 posted 03-23-2015 05:41 PM ET (US)
Back to my desktop, thanks for sure - Mirrassou promised a cruise in Montauk to Catalina sometime. This will be tight but always fun for sure.
msirof2001 posted 03-23-2015 08:03 PM ET (US)
Whales are in full swing right now. The Gray Whales run north tight to the coast. The aforementioned Pt Dume (Westward beach) trail takes you to the summit of the point and you should be able to see them from there if you wait long enough.
If there is a normal sea breeze, do the Montauk to Catalina run in the morning, not afternoon/evening.
www.wrh.noaa.gov/lox
For the notrhern channel islands (Anacapa/Santa Cruz/Santa Rosa/Note:San Miguel is closed), check out "Island Packers" in Ventura. They are the National Park Service's go-to organization for Island transportation.
Should see whales on a to/from trip to the northern Channel Islands.
ratherwhalering posted 03-24-2015 08:40 PM ET (US)
Hey Pete, give me a shout if you are passing through Marin and I'll give you a tour of the bay! Time is limited on the weekends...cub scouts, baseball, girl scouts and swimming have replaced hammering down beers with TC, but I'm still good to sneak off for a few hours.
--Rob--
I just did the Monterey to Santa Barbara drive a few months ago. If you get a chance, stop by the Elephant Seal Rookery in San Simion. It will blow your mind, we intended to stop for 15 minutes and spent over 2 hours watching them.
PeteB88 posted 03-25-2015 12:17 PM ET (US)
Thanks Rob - Itinerary is now coming together. We will be in Bay area for, what looks like, three days. Ellen has family she hasn't seen and I told her I cannot sit around so I'm gonna be movin around. then we do the road trip to San Diego with a stop or two on the way. I think we are staying in Petaluma one or two nights. Things will evolve for sure. More asap and thanks to everyone who's helped with our trip.
andygere posted 03-25-2015 06:26 PM ET (US)
If schedules align, there is boat time and anything else of interest in Santa Cruz. Same disclaimer as Rob, but I'm always motivated to make a CW visit work. If you are interested in seeing the redwoods, skip Muir Woods and the tourist crowds and come to Henry Cowell Redwoods SP. Low key, same trees, easy ride from Santa Cruz, and near several decent breweries. http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=546
jimh posted 03-30-2015 06:22 AM ET (US)
[Moved to TRIPS and RENDEZVOUS. Please use this forum for planning trips and rendezvous.]
PeteB88 posted 04-03-2015 01:01 PM ET (US)
Well, we'll be arriving Oakland 9 am tomorrow and driving around for part of the day. We are meeting up with Ellen's sibs and talk is to drive someplace on Bodega Bay for something in afternoon. Apparently they live within 20 minutes Forecast is brisk and cool from what the outlaws out there told me this morning. Then we hang out S part of M then head S. Would love to meet up with any of the crew out there, I've been put on a plan..... I guess.... or whatever but everyone knows I get to looking over the rim rock and can't sit still.
I know it's Easter weekend and fam obligations but down for whatever we can pull off. Got no prob posting my ph 517 202 1053.
Throttle down. Or is it up?
PeteB88 posted 04-14-2015 02:34 PM ET (US)
Well....fam time in Petaluma sucked up any chance of meeting up w/ crew members as well as short time and ambitious agenda. Nevertheless, we had a fantastic trip, great for Ellen to see it all and clear plans to spend more time West Coast, Oregon and California in the future.
We had the entire thread printed out and with us the entire trip and relied on it often. Many thanks to you guys who pitched in and next time we'll hang out, have a few beers and talk and back talk.
OH!!! We planned three days in San Diego for sun and beach time but forecasts (correct) called for mid-60s best case. So we bailed on San Diego and went to Palm Springs and had a great time, three days in the hot sun. Guess who was in Palm Springs???? None other than Mr Only in America himself John Mirassou and a whole battalion of his kids and their pals. Had some margaritas with him, watched the sunset over the rimrock at the Lawrence Welk Resort - Great time with John. Next time: Montauk to Catalina.

Thanks again!!!!
Mambo Minnow posted 04-19-2015 01:42 PM ET (US)
I was in San Diego on business the first week in April. I did not get to do any recreational boating, but I did hang out with an old shipmate that lives aboard his sailboat down on the Strand. It was so sunny and dry compared to New England this winter!
PeteB88 posted 04-21-2015 12:49 AM ET (US)
It's nice Mambow. My #2 nephew, golf state champ in HS, is there doing some PGA golf academy and living it up.

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Author	Topic: Spring Break Trip to California
PeteB88	posted 03-14-2015 04:05 PM ET (US) [I am] heading to [California] first week of April for a road trip down [Pacific Coast highway], the Big Sur. [I] don't want to go to Disney or malls. [Seeks] out of the way, cool places, obscure best. Last few days in [San Diego]. I wish Tony were still around. RIP. Any ideas would be appreciated.
dfmcintyre	posted 03-14-2015 08:42 PM ET (US) Pete--If your looking for an interesting place to stay in San Diego, check the following link. Interesting place. We stayed there on our sons recommendation, while he was a student out there. Regards - Don http://www.lapensionehotel.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=la%20pensione%20hotel&utm_campaign=Main+-+Brand
17 bodega	posted 03-15-2015 01:07 AM ET (US) Monterey Bay and Big Sur--on a weekday. Yosemite, or a drive down the back side of the Sierras (Highway 395) following the water from Mono Lake to L.A. county. So many options. Catalina Island off Los Angeles is a fun ferry ride. Stop by and visit the Bodega homeys.. I can put you up here in Nor Cal. Bodega cruise included.! April is California Salmon season. Enjoy your trip!
jimh	posted 03-15-2015 09:05 AM ET (US) Pete--are you driving from Michigan to California? That is quite a trek on the highway. I'd think you'd be ready to stay put someplace once you got to the coast. I don't think there are any cool and obscure places left in California--they've all been discovered already.
PeteB88	posted 03-15-2015 10:40 AM ET (US) [Plans to travel by] airplane ride to [I think Pete is using airport codes instead of city names, so he meant San Francisco--jimh] then road trip down Pacific Coast highway, a couple of days in San Diego, then fly back: Ellen's Spring Break. There are plenty of hideaways in California. They just don't tell folks unless they've lived out there or Oregonians or Baha. Thanks 17, will check in. Have fam[ily] in Petaluna, Grass Valley and Truckee but not planning anything at all East of the fault line [by] less than 25 miles maximum. If she blows, we're ridin the Tsunami.
fluke	posted 03-16-2015 10:11 AM ET (US) Pete the drive down highway one from SF through Santa Barbara is a must, just don't be in a rush and stop as often as you can. Big Sur, Nepenthe has an amazing view for a, little coffee stop, to many places to mention you will love it.Santa Barbara is great fun too! Mark
msirof2001	posted 03-16-2015 04:48 PM ET (US) I live in Southern California. I too would, and do avoid places whose names end in 'land, 'flags, 'oo, 'world, and 'studios. I avoid Hollywood, myself, and places like Beverly Hills. Because I like stress free and interesting trips. I agree with all of the people suggesting a Route 1 trip from Monterey to Santa Barbara. I also agree aboou Catalina. I've been there over 200 times on my Outrage 21. Great place, but not in Summertime. I also look on the web to make sure the days I go to Avalon (Catalina's primary town) are not the days a cruise ship is parked and present. In Malibu, take Westward road to its end at Westward beach (Pt. Dume). Really pretty spot. You might recognise it from many movies, shows and ads. There is a trail over the point to a great marine reserve. Zillions of tidepools whenever the the low tide is below +0.05. I like Newport beach. That's where I keep my boat. Mullarkey's serves a mean plate of S.O.S., Navy style. Sabatino's sizzling sausage platter is high on my list. Enjoy your stay!
17 bodega	posted 03-17-2015 10:54 PM ET (US) Pete... let's not get carried away with the fault line stuff... Petaluma is my backyard and Bodega Bay is waiting for you! But now that you mentioned fault lines shall I scare you more?? There is a fault that runs right through Bodega Bay...Bodega Head sits on the Pacific plate (which is the geological land mass that Japan sits on), then the transition zone, or actual fault is about a mile wide on the east..which the land changes from rock and dirt to a sandy dune area.. Then on the East side of the fault lies the north american plate.. Amazing stuff if you are a geology geek... Tomales Bay actually sits on top of the fault too... and many folks have boats moored in there 365 a year.. Sheila probably remembers our short visit when she came to bodega. It's a great place, along with all the other harbours you will see on your California trip. I would take the coast and see all of them if you can. Especially Monterey, Big Sur and Santa Barbara. But even if the biggie hits...unless you are standing at the base of an old brick building (which even most of those are retrofitted at this point) you are still safe.. Enjoy your trip bro!
17 bodega	posted 03-17-2015 11:03 PM ET (US) I missed Malibu and Pt Dume this latest LA trip... but I remember the place well. What is the name of the small beach just south of Zuma? In the 80's it was a wildlife refuge and illegal nude beach. I was a teen ager when I stumbled upon that...
andygere	posted 03-18-2015 12:27 AM ET (US) Let me know if you will be rolling through Santa Cruz. If you take Highway 1 south from San Francisco, you will be within a few blocks of my home (and a good local brewery as well).
msirof2001	posted 03-18-2015 07:47 PM ET (US) "I missed Malibu and Pt Dume this latest LA trip... but I remember the place well. What is the name of the small beach just south of Zuma? In the 80's it was a wildlife refuge and illegal nude beach. I was a teen ager when I stumbled upon that... " That beach is Pirate's Cove. It is a tiny cove within an indentation South of the tip of Pt. Dume. To the South from there is Paradise Cove (where Fonzie jumped the shark on Happy Days). At the end of Westward Road, you can take a hiking trail over Pt. Dume and down the South (Paradise Cove) side and there is an expansive tidepool area. It is a must if you are into that thing.
Tom W Clark	posted 03-18-2015 09:09 PM ET (US) Pete, If you have the chance to connect with Andy and Janet Gere, you should do so. My wife and I stayed with them in Santa Cruz when we passed through a few years ago and they could not have been more gracious. Also, do not forget the ever-gregarious Rob Schmidt, who is a hoot. On one California driving adventure I recall an evening in Tiburon with my wife, Rob and his wife, drinking far too much and having way too much fun. California is good.
PeteB88	posted 03-20-2015 11:06 PM ET (US) Thanks everyone - it's going to be a great trip for sure. Dialing in the plan.
andrey320	posted 03-23-2015 01:30 PM ET (US) Channel Islands. From Santa Barbara / Ventura / Channels Islands Harbor - short ride to some of the most beautiful islands in the world. Whale watching season may still be on.
andrey320	posted 03-23-2015 01:31 PM ET (US) If you go to Catalina, go to Two Harbors as well as Avalon if you can.
PeteB88	posted 03-23-2015 05:41 PM ET (US) Back to my desktop, thanks for sure - Mirrassou promised a cruise in Montauk to Catalina sometime. This will be tight but always fun for sure.
msirof2001	posted 03-23-2015 08:03 PM ET (US) Whales are in full swing right now. The Gray Whales run north tight to the coast. The aforementioned Pt Dume (Westward beach) trail takes you to the summit of the point and you should be able to see them from there if you wait long enough. If there is a normal sea breeze, do the Montauk to Catalina run in the morning, not afternoon/evening. www.wrh.noaa.gov/lox For the notrhern channel islands (Anacapa/Santa Cruz/Santa Rosa/Note:San Miguel is closed), check out "Island Packers" in Ventura. They are the National Park Service's go-to organization for Island transportation. Should see whales on a to/from trip to the northern Channel Islands.
ratherwhalering	posted 03-24-2015 08:40 PM ET (US) Hey Pete, give me a shout if you are passing through Marin and I'll give you a tour of the bay! Time is limited on the weekends...cub scouts, baseball, girl scouts and swimming have replaced hammering down beers with TC, but I'm still good to sneak off for a few hours. --Rob-- I just did the Monterey to Santa Barbara drive a few months ago. If you get a chance, stop by the Elephant Seal Rookery in San Simion. It will blow your mind, we intended to stop for 15 minutes and spent over 2 hours watching them.
PeteB88	posted 03-25-2015 12:17 PM ET (US) Thanks Rob - Itinerary is now coming together. We will be in Bay area for, what looks like, three days. Ellen has family she hasn't seen and I told her I cannot sit around so I'm gonna be movin around. then we do the road trip to San Diego with a stop or two on the way. I think we are staying in Petaluma one or two nights. Things will evolve for sure. More asap and thanks to everyone who's helped with our trip.
andygere	posted 03-25-2015 06:26 PM ET (US) If schedules align, there is boat time and anything else of interest in Santa Cruz. Same disclaimer as Rob, but I'm always motivated to make a CW visit work. If you are interested in seeing the redwoods, skip Muir Woods and the tourist crowds and come to Henry Cowell Redwoods SP. Low key, same trees, easy ride from Santa Cruz, and near several decent breweries. http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=546
jimh	posted 03-30-2015 06:22 AM ET (US) [Moved to TRIPS and RENDEZVOUS. Please use this forum for planning trips and rendezvous.]
PeteB88	posted 04-03-2015 01:01 PM ET (US) Well, we'll be arriving Oakland 9 am tomorrow and driving around for part of the day. We are meeting up with Ellen's sibs and talk is to drive someplace on Bodega Bay for something in afternoon. Apparently they live within 20 minutes Forecast is brisk and cool from what the outlaws out there told me this morning. Then we hang out S part of M then head S. Would love to meet up with any of the crew out there, I've been put on a plan..... I guess.... or whatever but everyone knows I get to looking over the rim rock and can't sit still. I know it's Easter weekend and fam obligations but down for whatever we can pull off. Got no prob posting my ph 517 202 1053. Throttle down. Or is it up?
PeteB88	posted 04-14-2015 02:34 PM ET (US) Well....fam time in Petaluma sucked up any chance of meeting up w/ crew members as well as short time and ambitious agenda. Nevertheless, we had a fantastic trip, great for Ellen to see it all and clear plans to spend more time West Coast, Oregon and California in the future. We had the entire thread printed out and with us the entire trip and relied on it often. Many thanks to you guys who pitched in and next time we'll hang out, have a few beers and talk and back talk. OH!!! We planned three days in San Diego for sun and beach time but forecasts (correct) called for mid-60s best case. So we bailed on San Diego and went to Palm Springs and had a great time, three days in the hot sun. Guess who was in Palm Springs???? None other than Mr Only in America himself John Mirassou and a whole battalion of his kids and their pals. Had some margaritas with him, watched the sunset over the rimrock at the Lawrence Welk Resort - Great time with John. Next time: Montauk to Catalina. Thanks again!!!!
Mambo Minnow	posted 04-19-2015 01:42 PM ET (US) I was in San Diego on business the first week in April. I did not get to do any recreational boating, but I did hang out with an old shipmate that lives aboard his sailboat down on the Strand. It was so sunny and dry compared to New England this winter!
PeteB88	posted 04-21-2015 12:49 AM ET (US) It's nice Mambow. My #2 nephew, golf state champ in HS, is there doing some PGA golf academy and living it up.