Going to California~ Suggestions?

I have a reunion to attend in Southern CA in April, and after debating on whether or not I could be bothered to go back for it, I have decided to go. Denis (my Brit BF) is coming along and it will be his first CA visit. We will be in socal for about a week and then are driving up PCH to San Fran.

I lived in socal for almost 20 years, and I honestly am having a hard time remembering what people like to see/do in CA from a tourist point of view so all suggestions are welcomed. He does not want to do the theme parks (thank god!)

Ideas suggested/considered so far:
Santa Monica pier
Hollywood
Olvera Street
Getty Center
Torrey Pines
Mission at Capistrano
Big Sur/Nepenthe
Hearst Castle
Beach Blanket Babylon (SF)
Alcatraz
Muir Woods
Winery Tour
Whale watching

Anyone know any hidden gems for food/accommodation from San Simeon going north? (We are staying with friends in socal.)

Have a wander around Chinatown?

After San Simeon you can travel through Big Sur to Carmel towards Monterey and spend the night there. Monterey has Cannery Row full of different restaurants and shops and 17-Mile Drive through Pebble Beach and Pacific Grove... gorgeous drive!! Plus you can find whale watching tours from here.

On your way to north, stop at Mission San Juan Bautista... it's just 4 miles off Highway 101. It is one of my favorite missions and a nice flavor of Californian culture few tourists see.

Definitely stop and find a Mexican restaurant in the Central Valley. Also, that region is growing as a wine tasting destination so you can even find a few wineries there. Many of the wines up north are either blended or made from these Central Valley grapes.

Stop in Gilroy for some garlic and outlet shopping.   

Are you driving the entire PCH? It's a long windy way and not as scenic in my opinion going up as it is going down. I like the central coast bit and Half Moon Bay to SF is nice. All in one go sounds romantic but definitely something to reconsider especially if you are crunched from time or it is raining.

Have a great time!!

Good suggestions, Olive Oyl, looks like you've pretty much covered it.  And if you're going through Half Moon Bay, I would recommend stopping for lunch or dinner at the Moss Beach Distillery, good food, can sit outside, have drinks and watch the ocean while wrapped in a warm blanket they provide... and it's haunted. 

socal wise, i've taken visiting folks out to catalina island. i also do the restaurant tour with them -- philippe, super mex, titos tacos. depending on the person, i'll go to a mission or a rancho.

it's been almost 10 years since i lived in long beach full time, though, so my memory's fading a bit on that front, too.

i did the pch drive a few years ago. we were in a chevy uplander (a monstrosity of a car that is somewhere between a minivan, suv, and truck) with a bunch of boxes in the back. it wasn't too bad until we hit the really windy part, where there's no turning back, and it started pouring rain.

as much as it's almost admitting defeat, i think i'm going to purchase a socal tourist book before i go back there in june, when i'll be acting as a tour guide.

No good suggestions here, but I just wanted to say that DF and I are planning a trip to SF for our honeymoon, and the suggestions y'all have made are definitely worth checking out for our "day trips" (we're planning to drive down to Monterey and up into Marin as well as seeing SF - I've been to SF once, back in 2003, and Chris has never been).  Thanks!

I'm sure Anne will have some more tips for you! Especially about vineyards!

While in socal, take him to Tijuana - then he gets two countries for the price of one!

I have one huge suggestion:

Go to the J.Paul Getty Museum! I drove out with two friends last year during spring break just to go see it (it was my second time) because it's a wonderful museum. It's free ($7 to park your car in the garage with a cool tram ride up the mountain to the museum) and they have a wonderful permanent collection.

http://getty.edu/

Current exhibitions: http://getty.edu/visit/exhibitions/

Unless museums are not your thing If not, ignore me! Haha

After San Simeon you can travel through Big Sur to Carmel towards Monterey and spend the night there. Monterey has Cannery Row full of different restaurants and shops and 17-Mile Drive through Pebble Beach and Pacific Grove... gorgeous drive!! Plus you can find whale watching tours from here.

On your way to north, stop at Mission San Juan Bautista... it's just 4 miles off Highway 101. It is one of my favorite missions and a nice flavor of Californian culture few tourists see.

Definitely stop and find a Mexican restaurant in the Central Valley. Also, that region is growing as a wine tasting destination so you can even find a few wineries there. Many of the wines up north are either blended or made from these Central Valley grapes.

Stop in Gilroy for some garlic and outlet shopping.   

Are you driving the entire PCH? It's a long windy way and not as scenic in my opinion going up as it is going down. I like the central coast bit and Half Moon Bay to SF is nice. All in one go sounds romantic but definitely something to reconsider especially if you are crunched from time or it is raining.

Have a great time!!

I also think going to Monterey is a very good suggestion as well. when My DH & went out to vist my Best Friend in California we went to Monterey to Cannery Wharf & San Francisco Pier 39 there was alot of shops & restaraunts there as well. I highly recommend the Hard Rock Cafe Restaraunt at Pier 39 they have great food there. if you love Seafood then you you will like Bubba Gump Shrimp Factory Restaraunt its at Pier 39 as well. we also went shopping in Gilroy they have alot of Outlet shopping malls there. we got some great deals at the outlet stores there. we had a great time at all the places we visited. have a great time on your trip whatever you do.

Fabulous ideas!

I have driven HWY 1 in both directions at different points over the last 20 years, and I agree it's more scenic in some places than others. I certainly don't mind having to do it again for the sake of the boy though. 

Because of the trip timing, we have to go south to north. I found this place: http://treebonesresort.com/index.html  I don't remember seeing it the last time I went through, but it looks like fun. I've never slept in a yurt before.

I had forgotten about Gilroy! TJ is also good for our socal week as well as the Getty. Catalina, yes! Forgot about that. Mission San Juan Bautista~ Have always wanted to stop and didn't.

So much fun to plan a trip for virgin CA eyes! 

Any suggestions on a good place to stay just outside of SF? The in city hotel rates/parking are ludicrous and it might be nicer to stay just outside so we can explore the area rather than just the city itself.

It's been years since I've been but isn't there a Jesus statue on top of a hill in San Diego?  I loved watching the sunset up there.

And the pier in Oceanside.  Oh, I think it was Oceanside.  Very cool to watch the surfers there.

My friend took me to that BBQ place where they filmed part of TopGun as well.

Go over the bridge to LaJolla and see the seal beach.

Don't know anything about heading north on the PCH.  Only been in San Fran for minimal hours on a layover before.

~BEG

It's been years since I've been but isn't there a Jesus statue on top of a hill in San Diego?  I loved watching the sunset up there.

Also in SD, Balboa Park is really interesting




~BEG

Are you thinking of the cross on top of Mt. Soledad? I lived just down the hill from there. Great for watching sunsets!

Im not sure what your budget is, but there are some great little boutique hotels in the city. As far as staying outside of SF, how close are we talking. IMHO, the surrounding cities aren't the greatest. How far are you willing to be from SF?

While in SF, you must drive over the Golden Gate bridge; its just timeless.

There are a few wineries that I just adore: I Love going to Mumms, sitting outside enjoying some wonderful champagne. April can be so beautiful in Napa. Near Mumms is Miner Family Vineyards. I love their tasting room, and you get an amazing view to boot. I adore their red wines, as well as their white. I also suggest Cliff Lede Vineyards. Very quaint and the grounds are gorgeous. My sister found bothe Miner and Lede totally randomly, and they both make the most delicious wines.

http://www.cliffledevineyards.com/ [nofollow]
http://www.minerwines.com/index.html [nofollow]
http://mummnapa.com/ [nofollow]

In Yountville, which is right near Napa, you HAVE to go to Bouchon bakery. The last time we went, we stopped off for some wine tastings, picked up a couple of bottles and went to Bouchon for some sandwiches and sweets. Absolutely delicious. There is a main restaurant, but I am talking specifically about the Bakery, which is next door.

http://www.opentable.com/rest_profile.aspx?rid=1179&ref=321 [nofollow]

If you really are thinking about Alcatraz, make sure to book your trip before you leave. You never know how busy they will be.

And if it is a great spring day in the city, I know its seems a bit cheesy, but nothing beats sitting outside Fisherman's Wharf, enjoying fresh seafood with the amazing Bay Area sun and air. I have lived here my whole life and it is one of my favorite things to do still.

I am not sure how adventurous you are, but in the city I would suggest hitting up Asia SF. It is a riot and the food is really very good. Check out the website.

http://www.asiasf.com/ [nofollow]

For whale watching, Monterey has some good tours. Im sure you can find them online.

Also cheesy but nice: Irish coffee at the Buena Vista?