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On Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:55:51 -0700, "Calif Bill"
wrote:
SD is just as expensive as here in the places I want to live. North of
SF,
except for the Marin Peninsula is more affordable than the areas in SF and
the East Bay where I reside.
We are going to be out there on one of our Fky/Drive vacations, into
SFO, down the coast highway a ways and then over the woods out east,
flying out of Reno.
We plan on spending most of our time in Yosemite, Kings canyon,
Sequoia and points north. Is there anything we should see over on the
coast?
A drive down to Carmel and then a ways down to Big Sur is always a treat.
Not many 600' cliffs to the ocean on the East Coast. Quality Inn (next to
the Clarion) in Monterey is where my kids stay. Very reasonable. Clean and
neat. Much cheaper than Carmel, and is only a couple miles. You can take
whale watching trips out of Monterey or out of Pillar Point Harbor in
Halfmoon Bay. Drive up Highway 1 from Monterey to San Francisco is a nice
drive. Go through Santa Cruz and HMB and end up in the City. If in San
Francisco on a Sunday Stern Grove has some great shows. Free.
http://www.sterngrove.org/ Lots of good eats in Monterey. Since the
economy is down, the Monterey Wharf has early bird specials all evening.
Politics aside with Julie Packard, the Monterey Bay Aquarium is very good.
You could do this is a couple days. Get your senior Golden Age pass if you
do not have one as you enter Yosemite. Free entry to most Federal parks.
You will probably go to Kings Canyon and Sequoia before Yosemite, as not
real way to get there from the east side. Have not been there in years, so
no recommendations. See Yosemite Valley and then drive over Tioga Pass to
the east side. About 30 miles south of Lee Vining is June Lake and the June
Lake Loop. We are going to be there next weekend. Beautiful area. And
another 2o miles south in Mammoth Lakes. If you get to Mammoth Lakes, go
east to the Hot River and visit the hatchery and the hot springs. Very nice
geologic features. This is the Owens River area which Los Angeles dewatered
in the 1930's. Vis the movie China Town. Near Lee Vining, in Mono Lake.
Large Alkaline lake with nesting Ospreys. Go to the South Tufa viewing
area. Your Golden Age pass gets you in free. Maybe a 1/2 mile walk and
they have docents. You can look in the water and see all the brine shrimp
(Sea Monkeys) that attract millions of birds. Travel north on 395 to Reno.
Stop in Gardnerville for Basque food. JT's on the left is good, closed on
Sundays. Others recommend the one across the street from JT's but I have
not eaten there. We go to the Carson Valley Country Club on Sunday for
dinner when we drive over from Lake Tahoe. San Francisco, take the bride
to the Cliff House if it is open, they are doing a refurb. Or to the Beach
Chalet which is down The Great Hiway (road along the beach) about a mile and
watch the sunset. This is the Western end of Golden Gate Park. Beach
Chalet is a brew pub and was built by CCC and great downstairs museum. You
can eat in the bar easier than in the dining room. As you go north on the
Great Hiway just past the Cliff House, if you look over the side, you will
see the original Sutro Baths. Large swimming pool where the life guards
rode in dingys. GG Park has some great places. If either is in to flowers,
the Conservatory of Flowers is good. King Tut is back at the De Young
Museum. California Academy of Sciences new digs are impressive. The
aquarium is now there, but not as good as the old one IMO.
http://www.calacademy.org/ If time drive over the Golden Gate Bridge and
visit Sausalito. Very upscale commuity. The yacht of a Montana Billionaire
was anchored there last week in Richardson Bay.
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12841782 Larry Ellison docked his old smaller
boat there at times. Have a great time. Any questions email me.