Vacation in California

[s.ga.rider]

Anyone been to Yosemite or San Fransisco? We are leaving atl Saturday morning for a week in Cali. I have The first 3 nights booked at Yosemite, the 4th night along hwy 1 after a day of scenic driving then the rest in san fransisco. What are some cant miss sites whille I am there?

[Georgiacbr]

Anyone been to Yosemite or San Fransisco? We are leaving atl Saturday morning for a week in Cali. I have The first 3 nights booked at Yosemite, the 4th night along hwy 1 after a day of scenic driving then the rest in san fransisco. What are some cant miss sites whille I am there?

I was raised in Clovis near Fresno which is gateway to the Sierra Mts and Close to Yosemite. There is a lot of places to visit in California one week wouldn't show all of it. Here's a few examples on what to expect.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calaveras_Big_Trees_State_Park

That's a lot of driving from the sound's of it and good luck. If I have anything else to add I might give you some more links. I plan on returning home this summer as well. Have a safe trip.

[TroyBoy30]

I was borned in california.


first there was loosed now borned!

[Spicoli]

I was born and raised in the Bay Area. If you are going to be near Yosemtie take a drive up to Big Trees, check out pics on google.

http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_ID=551

If you are staying in San Franciso, do the usual Fisherman's Wharf, Ghiradelli, Alcatraz stuff in one day to get it out of the way. Eat as much dugeness crab and Boudin sourdough as you can. Golden Gate park is beautiful - Palace of Fine Arts is a must see. Lots of cool museums there. Have sunset drinks and a meal at the Cliffhouse and walk on the beach - the food is ok, the view is best. Drive over the Golden Gate and hike Muir woods, then take 1 into Stinson beach. Hit Sausilito. Point Bonita. Take Bart to Berzekeley and cruise Telegraph Ave. Drink Peet's coffee. The SF zoo is pretty good. Go to Chinatown. Hit North Beach for drinks at night. Go to Napa for the day, eat at Taylor's Refresher. For edgier night life scene go to the Mission District or SOMA in the Folsom Area...

If you are takin 1 south - go to Monterey / Carmel. The Monterey Acquarium is awesome and worth it. Cannery Row is a lot like Fishermans Wharf - t-shirt and souvenier shops. If you have the time go to Santa Cruz and Capitola.

[bigb996]

san fransisco is a great trip, i went 5 years ago and loved it. Flew into san jose and drove up the coast to san fran, hit up sonoma valley, drove to reno, then out to tahoe for some skiiing. Theres some great food in san fran, and definatly go to fishermans worf.

Im taking the same trip again next spring.

[Georgiacbr]

san fransisco is a great trip, i went 5 years ago and loved it. Flew into san jose and drove up the coast to san fran, hit up sonoma valley, drove to reno, then out to tahoe for some skiiing. Theres some great food in san fran, and definatly go to fishermans worf.

Im taking the same trip again next spring.

Guys in California is Called "Fishermans wharf" sorry I guess a local would have to say the correct term's.
Worf is used in star track
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worf

Not to be Nazi like most on here lol (how's that for proper)

[ramm]

first there was loosed now borned!

:lol:

[s.ga.rider]

Thanks for the tips. The only thing that would make it better is if I could take the bike.

[bigb996]

Guys in California is Called "Fishermans wharf" sorry I guess a local would have to say the correct term's.
Worf is used in star track
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worf

Not to be Nazi like most on here lol (how's that for proper)

my B i was typing in a hurry, didnt spell check it.

[maxleanangle]

Just a great place to spend a week. Could go on and on, but here are some quick thoughts.

House of Prime Rib and Scoma's in SFO. HPR needs no explanation, just awesome and not terribly overpriced. Scoma's is on the water and has best seafood available about anywhere (with prices to match).

(More SFO) Eddie Rickenbacker's is legendary as well. Great bikes as part of the decor, good burgers and beer. And drive by legendary biker hangout Zeitgeist - decide for yourself if you want to stop.

If on your way to SFO you pass Walnut Creek stop at San Francisco Creamery (ironically not in SFO). Awesome ice cream. Been featured on Travel and Food Network multiple times.

If you pass Walnut Creek you're coming into Oakland. Consider a stop at GodSpeed. Combination Motorcycle hop-up shop, tattoo parlor and hangout for the East Bay Rats. If its getting towards sunset they can point you to 'The Wall', a legendary hang out and nightly gathering place for riders to watch the sun go down over SFO.

If you are going through Napa Valley on 29 make a point to drive Oakville Grade Road from Rutherford over to Sonoma Valley (from the Sonoma side it is Trinity Road off Sonoma Hwy). Awesome road on 2-wheels. I bet you get the brakes smoking on the rental car, wheee!!!

[whorepedo]

Anyone been to Yosemite or San Fransisco? We are leaving atl Saturday morning for a week in Cali. I have The first 3 nights booked at Yosemite, the 4th night along hwy 1 after a day of scenic driving then the rest in san fransisco. What are some cant miss sites whille I am there?

Wow - if you had waited a few weeks i could've told you all about the place. I'm moving to a town called Lemoore about an hour and a half from Yosemite. Already got a ride planned to go up there.

San Fran is a lot dirtier than i ever imagined.

[Georgiacbr]

Wow - if you had waited a few weeks i could've told you all about the place. I'm moving to a town called Lemoore about an hour and a half from Yosemite. Already got a ride planned to go up there.

San Fran is a lot dirtier than i ever imagined.

Lemoore California Know it very well (close to Fresno) have fam out that way . Check out Sanger it's a small town but has decent road's to ride into and close to the mountain roads. Sf is indeed very dirty I agree but it has some decent places to visit like the others Mentioned. Overall Sf would ideally be a day trip for me . If your not a city person try out the state parks and they have a lot to offer in California.
Also try this link below it's California hidden sercret been there a few times and loved it. The park's name is Montana De Oro State park and would be found near San Luis Obispo. The beach has a light house ,sand dunes to ride your 4wd in and a list of other activites to do. It's not too buzy like santa Cruz which is similar to Panama City Florida or Daytona.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Luis_Obispo,_California

[TWI]

3 nights may be a little much in Yosemite. Depends on what you want to do there.

In an around San Francisco:

Healdsburg CA (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=healdsburg,+CA&sll=37.055177,-95.668945&sspn=9.06068,19.753418&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Healdsburg,+Sonoma,+California&z=12) is the best of the "wine country" towns. Get lunch at the Oakville Grocery, sit on the deck which is just off of the square. Buster's Southern BBQ (http://www.busterssouthernbbq.com/) in Calistogia is my favorite place for Tri-Tip. Don't let the "southern BBQ" name fool you. Tri-Tip is a purely California creation.

In San Francisco, if you are a sushi eater don't miss Sanraku Sushi on Sutter Street (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=sanraku,+sushi+San+Francisco+CA&sll=38.610466,-122.869161&sspn=0.138698,0.308647&g=healdsburg,+CA&ie=UTF8&hq=sanraku,+sushi&hnear=San+Francisco,+CA&ll=37.79093,-122.411857&spn=0.016686,0.038581&z=15&iwloc=A). In my humble opinion, the best sushi in San Francisco. For "Chinese" food, House of Nanking on Kearny St (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=house+of+nanking,+san+francisco+CA&sll=37.791066,-122.410011&sspn=0.066743,0.154324&ie=UTF8&hq=house+of+nanking,&hnear=San+Francisco,+CA&ll=37.803952,-122.405376&spn=0.066731,0.154324&z=13&iwloc=A) is awesome. For "farm to table" in San Francisco, I recommend the Slanted Door in the Ferry Building (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=slanted+door,+san+francisco+CA&sll=37.803952,-122.405376&sspn=0.066731,0.154324&ie=UTF8&hq=slanted+door,&hnear=San+Francisco,+CA&ll=37.803681,-122.393532&spn=0.066731,0.154324&z=13&iwloc=A) (which is also home to an AWESOME farmers market and food fest on either Saturday or Sunday, I cannot recall) and Lulu on Folsom St (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=lulu,+san+francisco+CA&sll=37.803681,-122.393532&sspn=0.066731,0.154324&ie=UTF8&hq=lulu,&hnear=San+Francisco,+CA&ll=37.785911,-122.406578&spn=0.033374,0.077162&z=14&iwloc=A). My favorite bar in San Francisco is teh Rouge Public House right off of Washington Square (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=rouge+public+house,+san+francisco+CA&sll=37.785911,-122.406578&sspn=0.033374,0.077162&ie=UTF8&hq=rouge+public+house,&hnear=San+Francisco,+CA&ll=37.808563,-122.410698&spn=0.066727,0.154324&z=13&iwloc=A) and from there you can walk over to the Mario's Bohemian Cigar Store Cafe (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=bohemian+cigar,+san+francisco+CA&sll=37.808563,-122.410698&sspn=0.066727,0.154324&ie=UTF8&hq=bohemian+cigar,&hnear=San+Francisco,+CA&ll=37.806529,-122.40984&spn=0.066729,0.154324&z=13&iwloc=A) for the best damn foccicia sandwich.

If you want to go south from SFO, you owe it to yourself to go to alice's restuarant in Woodside (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=alice%27s,+los+gatos+CA&sll=39.189691,-120.882568&sspn=4.189088,9.876709&ie=UTF8&hq=alice%27s,&hnear=Los+Gatos,+CA&ll=37.398528,-122.086945&spn=0.282018,0.617294&z=11&iwloc=B). Great biker hangout.

I've got a VFR that lives in downtown San Francisco, so I spend a little bit of time there.

Tal

[s.ga.rider]

The trip went great. I could have easily spent a week in each place we visited. California is a beautiful place.