Planning a trip to California (LA-SF-LV): Need recommendations!

[Mr. M]

Hey all!

This December I'll be spending two weeks in California!

Finally after spending way too much time dreaming about the place, I am going there to see what it is all about.

I really want to see automotive-centric sights, like common car meet gathering spots or places to see great cars making their way around. Anybody living in SoCal can recommend anything?

Also, what else should I see in this season, seeing as I would want to avoid the snow (am driving) and also to make the most of the season? I am not really a museums person so I would love to see scenery, cityscapes, or significant places of historical interest or popular interest (eg. Alcatraz Island in SF).

Thanks in advance!

M

 

[MoSs]

That's great, I hope u will find a good place to stay, it's not that warm out here, but I'm sure it's better than anything else lol.

Btw LV is in Nevada not California, a 4 hour drive from where I live (Los Angeles)

 

[Mr. M]

It can't be that bad, I am in London and its way colder I would think!

Anything you would recommend to see in LA?

 

[Zafiro]

I did a roadtrip 2008 in California.

You can read about it here + photos

http://www.germancarforum.com/sightings/24236-my-roadtrip-usa-california-2008-a.html

 

[Sunny]

I would definitely recommend a drive along 1 (Pacific coast highway). Breath taking scenery. There are nice little towns along PCH - Carmel and Mendocino are two of my favorites. They are small towns, so you probably don't want to stay there too long especially if your trip is only 2 weeks. Nappa is also nice, especially if you are into wine tasting. If you want to see nice cars, go to Rodeo Drive in Beverly hills. As for Vegas, I hate that place since I discovered Montreal .

 

[Centurion]

I used to study in Orange County. You should check out cars and coffee.

 

[Zafiro]

Carmel

I've been there. Home of Clint Eastwood. Beautiful place


Another place I enjoyed is Santa Barbara.

 

[Mr. M]

I would definitely recommend a drive along 1 (Pacific coast highway). Breath taking scenery. There are nice little towns along PCH - Carmel and Mendocino are two of my favorites. They are small towns, so you probably don't want to stay there too long especially if your trip is only 2 weeks. Nappa is also nice, especially if you are into wine tasting. If you want to see nice cars, go to Rodeo Drive in Beverly hills. As for Vegas, I hate that place since I discovered Montreal .

Thanks Sunny! We are definitely going on Highway 1! My friend actually drives a C63 in LA so we'll be doing the whole trip in an AMG.

Yep, Carmel is definitely in our itinerary already. Will check Mendocino and Nappa out. We're just going to Vegas because my friend is quite the high-roller I think in all the sense of the word!

We kinda struck a big problem now. We planned:

14-15 Dec LA
16 LA-Carmel
17 Carmel-SF
18-20 SF
21-23 ??
24-26 LV
27-28 LA

We're not quite sure what to do on 21-23 as our initial plan of going to Yosemite proved too ambitious, what with the snow and treacherous conditions! Can you or anyone else recommend anything to do while we make our way from SF to Vegas? Apart from Yosemite & Death Valley I don't see much else to do other than going down highway 1 again.

I used to study in Orange County. You should check out cars and coffee.

Is Cars & Coffee a car show? Or a cafe of sorts? Is this the one: Cars and Coffee™ Irvine

I've been there. Home of Clint Eastwood. Beautiful place


Another place I enjoyed is Santa Barbara.

Really so many places to go along the coast! But I am going in winter which would probably dampen things a little.

 

[Mr. M]

I did a roadtrip 2008 in California.

You can read about it here + photos

http://www.germancarforum.com/sightings/24236-my-roadtrip-usa-california-2008-a.html

Argh I am so jealous that you went in the summer! Yosemite is beautiful! Did you drive on Highway 120?

 

[Sunny]

We're not quite sure what to do on 21-23 as our initial plan of going to Yosemite proved too ambitious, what with the snow and treacherous conditions! Can you or anyone else recommend anything to do while we make our way from SF to Vegas? Apart from Yosemite & Death Valley I don't see much else to do other than going down highway 1 again.

.

You could go to Mendocino, it is about 3 hours drive N of SF. CA128 is some of the best back roads I have driven in. You could also go to Lake Tahoe. It is in between CA and Nevada. But weather/road conditions will be a factor again especially if you are in an RWD AMG - take chains. Same applies if you plan on driving from SF to Vegas. Also keep in mind some of the passes in the Sierra mountains close during winter. I got stuck once while coming back from Vegas and had to take long ass detour.

The other thing you could do is drive to Phoenix and see the Grand Canyon.

 

[Zafiro]

Laguna Seca track is in the neighbourhood, take the AMG there for a few laps I drove past the place but we had Ford Escape so its no good for the track

 

[Mr. M]

You could go to Mendocino, it is about 3 hours drive N of SF. CA128 is some of the best back roads I have driven in. You could also go to Lake Tahoe. It is in between CA and Nevada. But weather/road conditions will be a factor again especially if you are in an RWD AMG - take chains. Same applies if you plan on driving from SF to Vegas. Also keep in mind some of the passes in the Sierra mountains close during winter. I got stuck once while coming back from Vegas and had to take long ass detour.

The other thing you could do is drive to Phoenix and see the Grand Canyon.

Wow, Mendocino sounds perfect. You mean it's possible to meet into adverse weather conditions even between SF and Vegas? Thought it's all pretty ok as long as we don't head up to the Sierra.

Yup Grand Canyon is already in my plan!

Laguna Seca track is in the neighbourhood, take the AMG there for a few laps I drove past the place but we had Ford Escape so its no good for the track

We're passing by, but doubt my friend would want to bring his car to the track because tyres are expensive!

 

[Zafiro]

Yup Grand Canyon is already in my plan!

Good! its a beautiful place. But its chilly and windy there so bring hot clothes.

Yosemite - also beauitful but the roads are dangerous close to edge and its goes up and down. Bring a good set of tyres if there is snow.

 

[Sunny]

Wow, Mendocino sounds perfect. You mean it's possible to meet into adverse weather conditions even between SF and Vegas? Thought it's all pretty ok as long as we don't head up to the Sierra.

Depends on the route you take - the safe route is to take 5 south all the way down almost back to LA and then going E to Vegas. That route should be fine. The Northern route involves crossing the Sierra mountains - it is the more scenic route, but weather will be an issue at this time of the year.

 

[Mr. M]

Depends on the route you take - the safe route is to take 5 south all the way down almost back to LA and then going E to Vegas. That route should be fine. The Northern route involves crossing the Sierra mountains - it is the more scenic route, but weather will be an issue at this time of the year.

Alright, thank you very much. I think we'll take 5! It's too risky to drive through the Sierra.

Can't wait, I am flying this Wednesday!

 

[Zafiro]

Me and my friends are aleady planning another roadtrip in USA, in about 2-3 years. Then New York, Florida, that side of USA.

Have fun Mr M, it will be a blast!

 

[Gullwing]

Going from SF/northern CA to Las Vegas I would take the I5 or 99south to Bakersfield and then take the 58 east to the I15 north. You will bypass all the LA traffic. Tahoe, Yosemite or anything else in the Sierras I wouldn't try unless I had 4wd, snow tires or chains.
When in LV stop by the Imperial Palace and check out their automotive collection.
In LA try the Peterson automotive museum.

If you want something more ummm grown up you can stop by Pahrump NV and try the other thing NV is known for.