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 The Mad Random Road Trip - Part I (USA), Wanna come? |
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| wakingdream |
 Jan 6 2007, 12:32 AM
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Rolling Stone
Group: Local Expert
Posts: 5853
Joined: 18-August 06
From: Guelph, Ontario
Member No.: 13336
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Oh! I wanna go!!!! Really! I do! But, ahh, I can't!! Shoot! I loved San Francisco, for everything wonderful thing it has to offer, it's one of the coolest cities I've been to by far, and have to say it will always be one of my favourites. Scott, the Cheese came into the picture there, on the drive down the Pacific Coast Highway creating a soundtrack to unforgettable memories. Great music, absolutley breathtaking scenery, the salty air, the mesmorising swells of the ocean, the abundant wildlife and just the free spirit flying down the highway all the way to good 'ole San Diego and a final trip into Mexico, enjoying every single minute of it!! I figure there is just so much to do around those parts that you could go on and on, and nothing could really be a bad choice!
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~Susie
'Yesterday's the past and tomorrow's the future. Today is a gift - which is why they call it the present.'
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| wakingdream |
Jan 6 2007, 03:16 PM
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Rolling Stone
Group: Local Expert
Posts: 5853
Joined: 18-August 06
From: Guelph, Ontario
Member No.: 13336
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Okay, well, I've thought on it a bit, and though you'll make your own trip, I thought I'd share some things I really enjoyed about San Fran and also about the drive down the Pacific Coast Highway. Might be a little long, so bear with me!
San Francisco will forever be in my mind, and it's one place I will surely make it back to. Some of the things we both really enjoyed ( and there are loads of things to enjoy there!!) are;
Chinatown( I've visited alot of Chinatown's and this is one of my faves), Bay Aquarium although it is not much compared to the Monterrey Bay Aquarium which had me awestruck, Museum of Modern Art, M.O.A.D., Museum of African Diaspora, Presidio National Park, San Andreas Faultline was neat to see, Lombard Street which is the "crookedest street in the world" and wild to drive on, Golden Gate which is a given, Telegraph Hill where you have the best view of the S.F. Bay Area, Vesuvio's, a famous haunt of the beat generation including dear Jack Kerouac and full of cool memorabilia from back then(visit in the day to get the full feel as it's really crowded at night), Haight-Ashbury was a big thing for us b/c of the music and artists of that time, Angel Island State Park, North Beach and basically we saw a ton of live music shows so check your lsistings b/c there is sure to be a band you love or at least like that's playing as the music scene is full force here and I could go on but you get the point! It is howvere, also quite expensive in California so doing some research is a good idea, but I'm sure you're way ahead of me there.
Day trips to;
Muir Woods with it's massive coastal redwoods is a definite must-see, but you can see the redwoods in some other areas as well. Monterrey and Carmel-By-The-Sea was the area where my cousin was married and is really, really beautiful as well. A wine country tour to Napa or wherever, take your pick as there are tons and a wine tour is a surefire way to spend a day or 4!!
We toured south from San Fran and drove through to S.D. A motorcycle ride would be a dream here as long as your not nervous about plunging coastlines! We toured down through Monterrey and Carmel, Santa Monica, Santa Cruz ( which I wasn't that keen on) Santa Barbara which was phenomenal, Big Sur which you shouldn't miss for all it's natural beauty if your in those parts. It was a highlight for us for sure. Marine Del Ray, Napa Valley, Sonoma County and wine tours. Ventana Wilderness Area which was spectacular and Los Padres National Forest where you can see some giant redwoods as well.
There were other places I would've liked to see, and depending on your interests, there are tons more things to see and do. If you do drive the coast,do not miss the infamous "14 Mile Drive". Sea Lions abound, and all other types of wildlife, the full gammit really, plus absolutely breathtaking scenery is everywhere. It is an assault of beauty on the eyes and sometimes just so unbelievable it's like you're living in a dream!!!
You are going to have so much fun no matter where you go and what you see!!!
Rich, if you get the chance, do go and explore. It was worth every penny, but you're right, a pretty penny it can be!
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~Susie
'Yesterday's the past and tomorrow's the future. Today is a gift - which is why they call it the present.'
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| wakingdream |
Jan 6 2007, 03:45 PM
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Rolling Stone
Group: Local Expert
Posts: 5853
Joined: 18-August 06
From: Guelph, Ontario
Member No.: 13336
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Well, we were going to go, and it is definitely a huge atrraction, but never quite made it over. My cousin's went and said it was okay, pretty interesting to see inspiring very dark and foreboding feelings of what it was like to be a prisoner there, but not really something to write home about. Ofcourse, that's just their opinion. You can see Alcatraz, a very dark and ominous building, if you walk anywhere near the waterline. I've read some history on it before we went, and I found with the history and just seeing the building itself, that was enough to spark my imagination, though when we go back I think we'll likely check it out.
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~Susie
'Yesterday's the past and tomorrow's the future. Today is a gift - which is why they call it the present.'
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