Places to cover in Bay Area / California / West Coast and Tour Service Providers

[karagg]

Just relocated to California SFO Bay Area and parents are visiting us

Please advice the places to visit (no kids and all are adults) [LIST=1]

In and around Bay area

In and around California

In and around West Coast
[/LIST]in that order.


Also please advice on any economical and effective tour service providers to cover the above areas

Thanks!

[vampire]

san francisco : pier 39, alcatraz , golden gate
Napa,mendocino
santa cruz,
monterey
yosemite
Los angeles (disney, universal studios)
sandiego (sea world)
Las vegas
grand canyon

if you have more time i would recommend

crater lake
yellowstone

[karagg]

san francisco : pier 39, alcatraz , golden gate
Napa,mendocino
santa cruz,
monterey
yosemite
Los angeles (disney, universal studios)
sandiego (sea world)
Las vegas
grand canyon

if you have more time i would recommend

crater lake
yellowstone

How about adding Lake Tahoe to the above list

[vampire]

yeah.missed that.. lake tahoe is also a good place to go..

[poofygoogle]

@karagg - this has already been discussed in multiple threads, Here are the links. Hope this helps..

http://www.r2iclubforums.com/forums/showthread.php/6923-Sight-seeing-near-Bay-Area

http://www.r2iclubforums.com/forums/showthread.php/15689-Site-seeing-places-in-BayArea

http://www.r2iclubforums.com/forums/showthread.php/11568-Bay-area-sightseeing-for-visitors-from-India

[samv]

san francisco : pier 39, alcatraz , golden gate
Napa,mendocino
santa cruz,
monterey
yosemite
Los angeles (disney, universal studios)
sandiego (sea world)
Las vegas
grand canyon

if you have more time i would recommend

crater lake
yellowstone

That is a good list.

1. Remove Yellowstone from the list. Too far from west coast :)
2. Definitely spend at least one afternoon on the beach in Southern California in June-Sept.
3. If you have interest, sample food in SF/chinatown
4. If there is time drive on highway 1 from BayArea-LA

[M V]

Just relocated to California SFO Bay Area and parents are visiting us

Please advice the places to visit (no kids and all are adults)
- In and around Bay area

The Mount Madonna Center in Watsonville is worth a visit. Time the visit to the Hanuman Temple around the daily Aarthi time. Now, they require advance reservations. If not interested in attending the aarthi, can take a walk around that time, and it is divine to be in that hilly area, looking at the Monterey Bay in the distance, with the aarthi and temple bells ringing in the background. Chai/coffee and decent Indian snacks are available to buy at certain times and eat in the cafeteria area itself or take to a spot a little far away and enjoy.

There is also a Buddhist temple/monastery nearby worth a visit to experience the peace. There is a tall Buddha statue, and in the late afternoon, the sun's rays shine from behind the statue, and there are tall redwoods all around...

[karagg]

Please advice the primary attractions in Half Moon Bay with the pointers to the address/direction to reach there.

A quick look at the Wiki shows the following local attractions:

Montara Mountain, located North of Half Moon Bay, is a popular outdoor recreation spot, and home to the old Highway 1. Visitors to the Harbor have the chance to purchase freshly caught sea food straight off the boat.

Fitzgerald Marine Reserve located just North of Half Moon Bay past the small airport, is a natural refuge for plants and animals adapted to live at the edge of the ocean.


Half Moon Bay, and the areas immediately around host several state parks and beaches, including:

Half Moon Bay State Beach

Venice State Beach

Poplar State Beach

San Gregorio State Beach

Pomponio State Beach

Not sure which one is worth looking at and how to get there through 92 West

[layman]

Don't spend too much time on half moon bay. It is just another beach. Spend some time in half moon bay state beach and move on. There are lot more things to see. If you are visiting other beaches you can even skip Half moon bay. Instead you can go through 17 miles drive in Monterey and spend more time in Monterey.

Please advice the primary attractions in Half Moon Bay with the pointers to the address/direction to reach there.

A quick look at the Wiki shows the following local attractions:

Montara Mountain, located North of Half Moon Bay, is a popular outdoor recreation spot, and home to the old Highway 1. Visitors to the Harbor have the chance to purchase freshly caught sea food straight off the boat.

Fitzgerald Marine Reserve located just North of Half Moon Bay past the small airport, is a natural refuge for plants and animals adapted to live at the edge of the ocean.




Half Moon Bay, and the areas immediately around host several state parks and beaches, including:

Half Moon Bay State Beach

Venice State Beach

Poplar State Beach

San Gregorio State Beach

Pomponio State Beach

Not sure which one is worth looking at and how to get there through 92 West

[M V]

Don't spend too much time on half moon bay. It is just another beach. Spend some time in half moon bay state beach and move on. There are lot more things to see. If you are visiting other beaches you can even skip Half moon bay. Instead you can go through 17 miles drive in Monterey and spend more time in Monterey.

That is true. It is just another beach, and there is nothing nearby to also see in the visit. If the group likes to try out seafood, then there are some famed restaurants in Half Moon Bay including Sam's Chowder House and Barbara's Fish Trap. The latter's clam chowder, fish & chips, and dungeness crab sandwiches are to die for (or drive miles for :-). Can get directions to either from the web and the beaches are about 1-3 miles from it. We mostly go to Venice State Beach. If I remember right, it has the cleanest restrooms.