Planning a trip to Seattle Washington, and I need help?

Need help planning a trip: Los Angeles to Yosemite

• Greetings! I am planning a road trip in about 3 weeks from Los Angeles to Yosemite and would like some suggestions on points of interest that we can stop off along the way. I don't mind taking a slight detour (less than 100 miles) if the attraction is interesting enough. Round trip will be about 7 days with 2 of those days at Yosemite. 2 adults, no children. I don't need a lot of research, just some suggestions for stopping perhaps for a few hours to a full day. No need for hotel/motel suggestions. A one or two sentence overview on each stop will suffice. Perhaps locating personal websites written by people who have taken this route (or even part of it) might be a good starting point. Not necessary, but just a suggestion. So far, we're planning on stopping in Santa Barbara, Solvang and Hearst Castle, but I'd like to hear more suggestions. Any and all comments from people who have taken this trip/route or might live along the way are welcome! Thanks for your help.

• Answer:

  Hi Respree, I'm a native Californian who's lived and traveled the state extensively for over 40 years. I'm now a denizen of the foothills of the Sierras, close enough to Yosemite to practically be within spittin' distance. I'll be happy to point you to some of my favorite places and routes. Philip Greenspun has a wonderful website describing his travels in California, liberally decorated with his marvelous photographs. I find it very easy to share many of Philip's picks and opinions. The Central Coast http://www.photo.net/ca/central-coast The Sierra Nevada (including Yosemite) http://www.photo.net/ca/sierra Santa Cruz http://www.photo.net/ca/santa-cruz My own recommendations are the pick 'n choose variety - too many for one week's vacation, but my very favorites. Solvang - Not really -that- Danish these days, 'cept for the special festivals, but lots of fun to browse. Stroll through Mission Santa Inez. Look for poppyseed tebirkes [tee-BUR-keys] or cinnamon snail weinerbrød [VEE-ner-bwodd] at the bakeries. Try Abelskiver (fresh hot donuts smothered in raspberry sauce) or look for Rød grød med fløde [rude glued med flued], red fruit with cream dessert, on the cafe menus. It's obvious I associate Solvang with Danish sweets. Solvang Photos http://www.miksen.dk/UCBerkeley/Roadtrip.html Picnic Spot(s): Nacimiento-Fergusson Road, about 36 miles north of Hearst Castle offers spectacular views from the top. Ideal for a broad vista of the Pacific. Or, Julia Pheiffer Burns State Park. A short trail leads to a beach and waterfall overlook. Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park http://jrabold.net/bigsur/road5.htm#pt080 Guide to California's Big Sur - Nacimiento-Fergusson Road http://jrabold.net/bigsur/road9.htm Point Sur Lightstation Sunset and Moonlight Walking Tours 19 miles south of Carmel on Hwy 1 http://www.lighthouse-pointsur-ca.org/ Monterey Aquarium has been on our favorites list since its beginning. Lots of great fish to see. The aquarium was one of the filming locations for Star Trek IV - The Voyage Home. For fish to eat, just stroll along Steinbeck's (now gentrified) Cannery Row. Locals like the Tinnery. I like the Bucket 'o Boat Trash and margaritas at Bubba Gump's. Tinnery at the Beach http://www.critics-choice.com/restaurants/tinnery/ Monterey Bay Aquarium http://www.mbayaq.org/ For the flavor of the Sierra's follow the 49er Highway south from Placerville to Yosemite. It'll take about a day to traverse the route, stopping along the way. Special treats include... The Gold Bug Mine - walk into this small hard rock mine in Placerville, once known as Hangtown and home of the Hangtown Fry. "Supposedly created in 1849 during the California goldrush, possibly at the Cary House in Hangtown (now Placerville). Food was expensive in the mining camps and towns, and oysters and eggs were the most expensive. Either a miner with a bag full of nuggets wanted the most expensive meal he could order, or it was the last request of an outlaw about to be hanged. The Hangtown Fry is eggs, oysters and bacon cooked together as a scramble or an omelette." Gold Bug Mine Park http://www.goldbugpark.org/history.html Hangtown Fry (Google Cache) http://216.239.33.104/search?q=cache:ZPixUkmtTRwJ:www.foodreference.com/html/fhangtownfry.html+hangtown+fry Murphys - A tiny gold rush town, a bit off the beaten track. Cool your feet in the town park creek, peek into the old Murphys Pokey, and read the E Clampus Vitus Wall of Comparative Ovations. Murphys Main Street http://www.oro.net/~lindberg/murphy22.htm Volcano - Another small Gold Rush gem http://amadornet.safepages.com/directory/travelers/cities/volcano/ Volcano Theater Company http://www.volcanotheatre.org/ Sutter Creek and Angels Camp offer some of the best Gold Rush antique shopping. The working blacksmithy in Sutter Creek is a throwback to the 49er era. Angels Camp is the setting of Mark Twain's "The Jumping Frog of Calaveras County." Knight's Foundry Museum http://www.asme.org/history/roster/H182.html Jamestown - Stroll down this historic mainstreet. Restaurants are a cut above the average. The town's hotels and B&B's have all been wonderful experiences over the years. Close to Columbia State Park, also. Jamestown http://www.jamestown-ca.com/ Railtown 1897 State Historic Park - Jamestown http://www.csrmf.org/railtown/default.asp River Rafting - I'm a fan, and a former river guide. Central Sierra rafting can be as exciting or relaxing as you choose. Excellent one day rafting trips are available on the Tuolumne and American Rivers. The Tuolumne offers spectacular scenery and a very exciting ride. Many tour operators offer a relaxing and educational floats along the South Fork of the American River past the California Gold Discovery Site. At the very least, take along an innertube and float along the peaceful portions of the Merced River in Yosemite Park itself. Yosemite Valley Rafting Advice http://faculty.deanza.fhda.edu/donahuemary/stories/storyReader%2425 Yosemite National Park - I love the Park and surroundings. I have an annual pass, used once a month or more often. My favorite places... Hetch Hetchy Valley http://www.redtailcanyon.com/items/12398.aspx Tuolumne Meadows http://www.nationalgeographic.com/destinations/Yosemite_National_Park/Tioga_Road_Tuolumne_Meadows.html The Ahwahnee Hotel - Lunch or Afternoon Cocktails http://www.yosemitepark.com/ Glacier Point - Hike or Drive from the Valley http://www.yosemitefun.com/glacier_point_hiker_bus.htm My Favorite Valley Hike - Glacier Point to Half Dome http://www.localhikes.com/Hikes/halfdome2_0000.asp South from Yosemite Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad offers a four mile train excursion through the forest, on a narrow gauge railway. Moonlight Melodrama excursions include dinner and old fashioned Good Rush entertainment. Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad http://www.ymsprr.com/ Mariposa - "Headed to Yosemite on Highway 140? It's worth a stop in Mariposa. Mariposa was named by a Spanish explorer who found tons of butterflies, "mariposas," in the area. Mariposa is the county seat for Mariposa County, also called the "Mother of California Counties." When California became a state in 1850, Mariposa County was the county, one fifth of California." Two noteworthy museums, California State Mining and Mineral Museum, and the Mariposa Museum and History Center. The History Center was named one of the best small museums in America by the Smithsonian. Mariposa Museums http://www.travelforkids.com/Funtodo/California/Gold_Country/mariposa.htm http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUrl-g32685-d108155-r854888-e__2F__Attraction_Review__2D__g32685__2D__d108155__2D__Reviews__2D__California_State_Mining_and_Mineral_Museum__2D__Mariposa_California__2E__html-California_State_Mining_and_Mineral_Museum-Mariposa_California.html Sierra Vista Scenic Byway - Start from the Nelder (Redwood) Grove end and work your way south. Lovely day's drive through the Central Sierra. This is the closest you can get to hikin' on wheels. Sierra Vista Scenic Byway http://gorp.away.com/gorp/activity/byway/ca_sierr.htm Erna's Elderberry House - the best dining anywhere near Yosemite. Put yourself in the hands of Chef James Overbaugh for lunch or dinner. Erna's Elderberry House http://www.elderberryhouse.com/house_main.asp http://www.elderberryhouse.com/chef.asp Locals like: Castillo's, Oakhurst, Ducey's On The Lake (Bass Lake), and Oka Japanese Restaurant, again in Oakhurst. There's a brand new casino/resort, south off Highway 41, in Coarsegold. Chukchansi Gold http://www.chukchansigold.com/ Further south, Sequoia and King's Canyon National Parks are worth the loop from King's Canyon (Fresno) to Visalia. The drive east into the mountains takes you through many of the orchards of this superb agricultural region. Pick a fruit stand in the middle of nowhere and enjoy the biggest, juiciest peach you've ever eaten, fresh from the tree. Sequoia King's Canyon Virtual Visitor Center http://www.nps.gov/seki/mainvc.htm Sequoia/King's Canyon Chat http://www.sequoia.national-park.com/wwwboard/sequchat.htm Highway 99 South will bring you back to Interstate 5. Dead Tree Guidebooks ---------------------------------------------------------------------- AAA Hidden Highways of Northern California http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1569752362/ Rough Guide to California http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1858285399/ Extras ------ Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk http://www.beachboardwalk.com/ Rocky Point Restaurant - 10 Miles South of the Carmel, overlooking a dramatic part of the Big Sur coast. Lunch and dinner. http://www.rocky-point.com/index.htm Manzanita Lake http://www.yosemitefilm.com/1590.htm Golden Chain Theater - Oakhurst http://www.goldenchaintheatre.org/ Hog's Breath Inn - Carmel http://www.hogsbreathinn.net/ Carmel to Santa Barbara Map/Travel Guide (.pdf format) http://www.binggeli.ch/hochzeit/hochzeitsreise/pdf/carmel_santabarbara.pdf Fork's Burger http://www.theforksresort.com/forks_resort.htm Homepage Travelogues ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Yosemite Adventures for Non Campers http://www.clevermag.com/travel/karenyose.htm Watching the Shooting Stars (warning: Music) http://www.megspace.com/travel/maryjomw/Yosemite2000bbbb.htm California Coast Vacation (Yosemite/California Coast http://www.rockcitynews.com/pages/california/vacation99.1.html http://www.rockcitynews.com/pages/california/vacation99.5.html http://www.rockcitynews.com/pages/california/vacation99.6.html Yosemite Firefall - History and Memory http://yosemitefirefall.org/ California Here We Come http://mred.sytes.net/vacation/california.html Kim and Morgan's Sequoia/Kings Canyon Adventures http://sepwww.stanford.edu/sep/morgan/adventures/seki/ Google Search Terms: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- travels backroads california central yosemite "our vacation" yosemite "our vacation" "big sur" "our vacation" california "highway 1" OR "hwy 1" "our vacation" "california gold rush" "highway 1" jolon road hetch hetchy valley tinnery pacific grove sequoia kings canyon adventures OR vacation mariposa california museum Too verbose, probably. Can you tell I love my home state, in spite of some of the crazy characters who share it with us? As always, any questions, or non-working links, please speak up. I hope you have a fantastic trip. ---larre