West Coast Vacation...any ideas???

Hardcorvette · 07-12-2003, 05:35 PM

The wife and I are heading to the west coast for 2 weeks starting July 19. We will be in San diego a few days, then head north up to the Seattle, Wa. area...strictly sight seeing, etc. Any auto related must see areas? Any decent resturants i.e. New Mexican, Italian, etc??? Also, Micro breweries/Pubs...can't forget the that.
TIA! :cheers:

KurtK · 07-12-2003, 06:10 PM

Let's see..the drive up Hwy 1, Carmel/Monterey(Monterey Bay Aquarium)/Big Sur, Mendocino. Napa Valley/Sonoma for wineries and restaurants. There is the Behring/Blackhawk Auto Mueseum in Danville, the Peterson Mueseum in LA.

Muir Woods, or Redwood National Park, maybe Yosemite or Sequoia or KIngs Canyon. Mt Lassen and the surrounding area is interesting.

If you want to be different, you can cruise up the eastern side of the Sierras, the western side of the Great Basin, high desert, see BIG mountains!) Hwy 395, go through Lake Tahoe/Reno, and then go west towards Hwy 5.

You'll find no shortage of places to go to, just a shortage of time....

[Modified by KurtK, 5:13 PM 7/12/2003]

CALVette · 07-12-2003, 08:17 PM

Stop by and watch the C5-R http://www.searspoint.com/news_flash/home_1/366529.html

rocco16 · 07-13-2003, 09:43 PM

Where in SD are you staying?
Generally, Old Town has some good eateries. There are good spots all over the city, too many to list (hence, the first question) Safe recommendation: Anthony's, for seafood, and any of the little, hole-in-the-wall Roberto's for real/good Mex.

Not much of a car town, but Aerospace we got...!

Aerospace Museum in Balboa Park.
The usual attractions: Wild Animal Park, SD Zoo, Star of India, my house with its C4, Tijuana(if you are so inclined...)

Famous Carlsbad Raceway (prepare to be disappointed)
Home of both Kinesis and HRE wheels (Vista). They will give you a tour...just give the wife your checkbook, the tempations are extreeeeme.

Have fun and IM if you don't know anyone here, I'll give you my phone number.

Larry
code5coupe
:seeya

[Modified by rocco16, 1:46 AM 7/14/2003]

Crash99 · 07-14-2003, 10:57 PM

If you are driving through California and happen to be going from Sacramento toward Oregon, make sure to stop in Chico at the Granddaddy of all microbreweries, Sierra Nevada. If you love beer and good food, this is the place. Great tour of the facilties too. IM for directions and more info...

Crash

Hardcorvette · 07-15-2003, 01:37 AM

Thanks guys for the replys! I've been to the West Coast a few times. This will be our 2nd trip together to the West Coast. We are going to have the In-laws with us while in San Diego, then they will head back home to Phoenix...so Tijuana is not likely. Although I've been there a twice and had a blast both times. We have not yet decided where to stay yet while in San Diego, although I'm sure it will be nothing too extravagant (my wife is an Accountant:)). I'd definitely like to check out the Old Town, and we will probably do the Zoo/Sea World again. I'll keep an eye out for Anthony's and Roberto's.
After the In-laws depart, we will head to LA and do the Peterson's Museum again, we were there once before...the place is awsome! Then Venice Beach/Santa Monica area. We tried getting tickets for the JayLeno Show, but no luck. I'd also like to check out West Coast Choppers if we have the time.
As for Sierra Nevada Brewery, that is definitely on the agenda if time allows....I LOVE S/N Pale Ale! We will try to swing by there after leaving Yosimite. After that, we will head over to San Francisco and take the PCH northbound. So many things to see and do...so little time. :cheers:

McShagger · 07-15-2003, 02:23 AM

If your asking auto related... Try the Marconi Museum in Irvine California. Write them an email to make sure you can go. They often hold private events or school field trips when you wont be able to go. I dropped by the other day to find out they were closed remodeling(they seem to do that a lot too.) I try to go there about once a year.
http://www.marconimuseum.org/default.htm
http://www.fast-autos.net/features/marconi/

About beer. There are pretty good micro brew pubs and restaurants all over. Just ask around and there is bound to be a few good places in driving distance. There are even chains that arent bad at all.

Towelie · 07-15-2003, 04:21 PM

Don't forget to bring a towel. It's important!

-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
...You wanna get high?

Caboboy · 07-15-2003, 05:28 PM

If you find yourself in the San Fran area on any Thursday nite, there is a weekly get together of forum people (read Nice Corvettes here) in the east bay at a local hamburger joint. Real informal and a lot of fun! :cheers:

HummelS · 07-15-2003, 11:50 PM

Hope you have a chance to give me a call while you're out here - if you're in the SandyEggo area on a Friday or Saturday, Stone Brewing in San Marcos is open for tastings - best beers on the West Coast, imho. :cheers:

[Modified by thevettenet CA, 7:51 PM 7/15/2003]

mozin · 07-16-2003, 02:04 AM

You mentioned Yosemite. Don't bother to take the road East West through it because it is a waste of time. From Yosemite I would suggest you pick a route to Lake Tahoe and then take highway 89 all the way to Weed. From Weed take highway 97 to Klamath Falls OR and 140 on to Crater Lake. From Crater you can go back to 97 or head over to I-5. You could then stop in Portland, the famous home of micro brew pubs, head East either up the Columbia Gorge on I-84 or around Mt. Hood on highway 26to cross into Washington at Biggs Junction and head up 97 for the Washington wine country. From Yakima you can head for Rainier National Park and into Seattle. Avoid I-5 in the Seattle area if at all possible, any time, any day!

I have traveled 48,000 miles in my C5 in the past 28 months.

If you want more information on brewpubs in Oregon or about wineries to visit I can fill you in further. Email me.

rcolling · 07-16-2003, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Stone Brewing in San Marcos is open for tastings - best beers on the West Coast, imho.

Thanks to Steve I have been drinking Stone's for the last couple of years.
An article in the LA Times a few weeks ago said that in International competition Stones came in 3rd in the world. Right behind a couple of Bavarian breweries. :cheers:

Hardcorvette · 07-17-2003, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Hope you have a chance to give me a call while you're out here - if you're in the SandyEggo area on a Friday or Saturday, Stone Brewing in San Marcos is open for tastings - best beers on the West Coast, imho. :cheers:

We should be getting into San Diego Sunday night or Monday morning. I'll keep an eye out for Stone Brewing.
And thanks Mozin for the info. on Yosemite...I'm sure it will come in handy!

[Modified by Hardcorvette, 12:27 AM 7/17/2003]

HummelS · 07-17-2003, 05:31 AM

Stone is a working brewery, and they are only open to the public on Friday afternoon 3-5 and Saturday 11-3. But I have a small collection of some of the more "interesting" brews here at the house, and I'm sure we could set up a little par-tay for the visitors, and show some West-Coast hospitality.

Pick a night, and we will have an open-house up here in La Costa! :cheers:

CALVette · 07-17-2003, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Stone is a working brewery, and they are only open to the public on Friday afternoon 3-5 and Saturday 11-3. But I have a small collection of some of the more "interesting" brews here at the house, and I'm sure we could set up a little par-tay for the visitors, and show some West-Coast hospitality.

Pick a night, and we will have an open-house up here in La Costa! :cheers:

:iagree: :party: :hurray: :party:

propwash · 07-17-2003, 04:37 PM

Once you get out of Cal. you'll be in Oregon " home of the micro brewery's" and some of the most beautiful and dramatic coast line you'll ever have the chance to see ( and I grew up a Socal Surfer) Then while in Seattle check out the Ferry's expecially the one that will take you and your car to the San Juan Islands, Man that is some beautiful sight seeing, you may start thinking about trading the C-5 for a Sail Boat . :flag
Have fun
Steve

Hardcorvette · 07-18-2003, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Once you get out of Cal. you'll be in Oregon " home of the micro brewery's" and some of the most beautiful and dramatic coast line you'll ever have the chance to see ( and I grew up a Socal Surfer) Then while in Seattle check out the Ferry's expecially the one that will take you and your car to the San Juan Islands, Man that is some beautiful sight seeing, you may start thinking about trading the C-5 for a Sail Boat . :flag
Have fun
Steve

About 3 years ago we took the PCH from San Francisco, south to San Diego...awesome ride! I've heard the ride north of San Fran is better yet!
I fiqure with a steady diet of caffeine and a few beers, I might have a chance to see/visit most of the places you guys mentioned. :D
Thanks for all of the input! :cheers:

[Modified by Hardcorvette, 9:11 AM 7/18/2003]