GRcade

Thinking of doing a big family trip to California next year - any ideas on the main things to do and see around there?

A few places that are must sees:

Alcatraz Island
Yosemite
San Francisco

How easy is it to travel around and see places? Is getting a car the best idea?

Go to Six Flags: Magic Mountain. It's incredible! Check out Universal Studios and Disney Land too. If you're not big on theme parks, you should at least spend some time in Downtown Disney. It's got loads of Disney themed shops and some great restaurants so you get the park experience without waiting around for ages.

We always rent a car when we go to America and I'd recommend it because it makes traveling around a lot easier.

[iup=3619971]gamerforever[/iup] wrote:Thinking of doing a big family trip to California next year - any ideas on the main things to do and see around there?

A few places that are must sees:

Alcatraz Island
Yosemite
San Francisco

How easy is it to travel around and see places? Is getting a car the best idea?

Your three picks are good. Spend a good few days (I could spend a lifetime there) in SF. So much good food and nightlife, not to mention CULCHA.

Alcatraz is a good afternoon out. Try and find a tour guide that gives you a bit of insight into Capone. Fascinating.

Car - Yes. And relatively cheap too.

Avoid LA like the plague (unless all that Disney crap turns you on, but still avoid the city itself). The Hollywood thing takes an afternoon and then that's about it. Waste of time.

I would also recommend going to the valley of fire. Beautiful scenery.

San Diego zoo is good, but a long way south to go for essentially a theme park (albeit a good one - Better than going to see the mouse).

[iup=3620013]Dark Dragon 64[/iup] wrote:It's got loads of Disney themed shops and some great restaurants

To be honest, don't go to mouse land if you want to eat well. It's OKAY, but your money will go much further (stupid "Disney dollars") and on far better quality than by feeding Eisenberg's corporate machine. If you like all the tacky theme park crap or like big rides, fair enough, but don't be pretending Disney is somehow culture!

Thanks guys, appreciate the help - any more ideas?

I echo staying out of the city of LA.

Redwood forest is good. North of SF.

OK, looks as though we will be going exclusively to San Francisco only as it's a vast country and we will only have a few weeks. May possibly go nearby too, but not overly far out. Is the Yosemite Park anywhere near?

Half a day drive so yes. Stay a night there.

Plenty to do in SF and a great place to use as a base. If it interests you, head to napa valley to do the wine thing.

[iup=3620052]mrspax[/iup] wrote:

[iup=3620013]Dark Dragon 64[/iup] wrote:It's got loads of Disney themed shops and some great restaurants

To be honest, don't go to mouse land if you want to eat well. It's OKAY, but your money will go much further (stupid "Disney dollars") and on far better quality than by feeding Eisenberg's corporate machine. If you like all the tacky theme park crap or like big rides, fair enough, but don't be pretending Disney is somehow culture!

You sound like loads of fun.

If you are into beer do a visit to Stone Brewing, they are one of the best US craft brewers.

http://www.stonebrewing.com/home.asp

Return_of_the_STAR wrote:

[iup=3620052]mrspax[/iup] wrote:

[iup=3620013]Dark Dragon 64[/iup] wrote:It's got loads of Disney themed shops and some great restaurants

To be honest, don't go to mouse land if you want to eat well. It's OKAY, but your money will go much further (stupid "Disney dollars") and on far better quality than by feeding Eisenberg's corporate machine. If you like all the tacky theme park crap or like big rides, fair enough, but don't be pretending Disney is somehow culture!

You sound like loads of fun.

I like to think so. My friends tend to agree so that's good. It's a good job that thinking theme parks are tacky overpriced and overrated doesn't affect that either. Would be a shame if society judged people solely on their opinion of Disneyland.

Besides, if you don't think I can keep up with your required level of fun times, don't worry, I'm not too worried about us not hanging out.

Visit the address below.

1065 La Avenida
Mountain View, CA 94043

Is that google's headquarters?

EDIT: Ah, Microsoft's.

[iup=3621218]Moggy[/iup] wrote:Visit the address below.

1065 La Avenida
Mountain View, CA 94043

No chance!

[iup=3621682]gamerforever[/iup] wrote:

[iup=3621218]Moggy[/iup] wrote:Visit the address below.

1065 La Avenida
Mountain View, CA 94043

No chance!

[iup=3620963]mrspax[/iup] wrote:

Return_of_the_STAR wrote:

[iup=3620052]mrspax[/iup] wrote:

[iup=3620013]Dark Dragon 64[/iup] wrote:It's got loads of Disney themed shops and some great restaurants

To be honest, don't go to mouse land if you want to eat well. It's OKAY, but your money will go much further (stupid "Disney dollars") and on far better quality than by feeding Eisenberg's corporate machine. If you like all the tacky theme park crap or like big rides, fair enough, but don't be pretending Disney is somehow culture!

You sound like loads of fun.

I like to think so. My friends tend to agree so that's good. It's a good job that thinking theme parks are tacky overpriced and overrated doesn't affect that either. Would be a shame if society judged people solely on their opinion of Disneyland.

Besides, if you don't think I can keep up with your required level of fun times, don't worry, I'm not too worried about us not hanging out.

Wow just realised someone took this comment a bit too seriously. Some people enjoy disneyland, some people don't. Doesn't make anyone more 'cultured' than the next person.

I don't like Disneyland because I got run over by an electric wheelchair at the fireworks display.

Return_of_the_STAR wrote:

[iup=3620963]mrspax[/iup] wrote:

Return_of_the_STAR wrote:

[iup=3620052]mrspax[/iup] wrote:

[iup=3620013]Dark Dragon 64[/iup] wrote:It's got loads of Disney themed shops and some great restaurants

To be honest, don't go to mouse land if you want to eat well. It's OKAY, but your money will go much further (stupid "Disney dollars") and on far better quality than by feeding Eisenberg's corporate machine. If you like all the tacky theme park crap or like big rides, fair enough, but don't be pretending Disney is somehow culture!

You sound like loads of fun.

I like to think so. My friends tend to agree so that's good. It's a good job that thinking theme parks are tacky overpriced and overrated doesn't affect that either. Would be a shame if society judged people solely on their opinion of Disneyland.

Besides, if you don't think I can keep up with your required level of fun times, don't worry, I'm not too worried about us not hanging out.

Wow just realised someone took this comment a bit too seriously. Some people enjoy disneyland, some people don't. Doesn't make anyone more 'cultured' than the next person.

Agreed.

Neither does it make anyone more or less fun.

Sleighamorph wrote:I don't like Disneyland because I got run over by an electric wheelchair at the fireworks display.

Coffee all over the place.

You can't drop that and not tell the details!