Hi fellow Carpokes members.
My name is Peder Fallbom and live in Sweden. Some may know me here as Pefa and mostly on the transaxle areas nowdays.
I am taking my family on a vacation to CA USA when I turn 50 4th January 2025. We land just before Christmas so plan is to stay in LA area the first week and celebrate Christmas and new years eve.
Plan is to rent a flat in Huntington beach or tips on a better place? and make daily trips from there.
Would love info on cars and Coffee gatherings or other interesting "carpoke" gatherings in the LA area. Maybe they are nonexisting that time of year? Tips much appreciated.
We will travel around by car for 2 weeks after that and want to see San Francisco, yosemite, grand canyon. If you have any info on say a place to stay that is especially nice or a great place to eat anything like that I would appreciate it.
Thanks!
Peder
Celebrating 50 with trip to CA, USA. Tips wanted
Hey there Peder,
You may already be aware of the HWY 1 issues up here in Central California, if not make sure you check. HWY 1 between Big Sur and Ragged Point have suffered from landslides and complete road closures after heavy rains. We've dealt with two complete road closures this winter and currently HWY 1 is shut down between Gorda and Ragged Point until November 2024. When traveling to San Francisco from LA, i recommend driving up HWY 101; it's less traveled, less anxiety inducing and more direct than taking Interstate 5
You may already be aware of the HWY 1 issues up here in Central California, if not make sure you check. HWY 1 between Big Sur and Ragged Point have suffered from landslides and complete road closures after heavy rains. We've dealt with two complete road closures this winter and currently HWY 1 is shut down between Gorda and Ragged Point until November 2024. When traveling to San Francisco from LA, i recommend driving up HWY 101; it's less traveled, less anxiety inducing and more direct than taking Interstate 5
No I did not know that, thanks alot! Great infobpalajac wrote: Mon Apr 08, 2024 12:36 pm Hey there Peder,
You may already be aware of the HWY 1 issues up here in Central California, if not make sure you check. HWY 1 between Big Sur and Ragged Point have suffered from landslides and complete road closures after heavy rains. We've dealt with two complete road closures this winter and currently HWY 1 is shut down between Gorda and Ragged Point until November 2024. When traveling to San Francisco from LA, i recommend driving up HWY 101; it's less traveled, less anxiety inducing and more direct than taking Interstate 5
I live in the east coast and I’ve made that trip twice with my family. Loved it. Been to LA and San Francisco many times.
True that parts of coastal highway is currently closed. But I would recommend checking right before your trip as things might change, you can’t miss that drive. If you have driven around the Norwegian fjords or other European mountain roads then it will be easy for you. If parts of the road is closed then drive as much as you can before taking a detour. It’s a fantastic drive and the highlight of the trip. If it’s open stay here.
https://www.raggedpointinn.com/gallery.php
Yo can also stay in Carmel. Great little town on the coast.
LA is so vast so it depends what you want to see. As a tourist I would recommend West Hollywood for your first time. But keep in mind you are going to drive everywhere in LA, and nothing is close but West Hollywood gives you a lot of options. I stayed here last time, was nice and great view.
https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/l ... 79c79310b0
In San Francisco I recommend staying in Tiberon. Still minutes from the city, great views, and great access to northern part of San Francisco like Muir Woods. I’ve stayed here, great location. And you get to drive over Golden Gate each time.
https://www.lodgeattiburon.com/?utm_sou ... edium=yext
Feel free to message me if you have any questions or ask here on the thread. I’m sure folks have many suggestions.
True that parts of coastal highway is currently closed. But I would recommend checking right before your trip as things might change, you can’t miss that drive. If you have driven around the Norwegian fjords or other European mountain roads then it will be easy for you. If parts of the road is closed then drive as much as you can before taking a detour. It’s a fantastic drive and the highlight of the trip. If it’s open stay here.
https://www.raggedpointinn.com/gallery.php
Yo can also stay in Carmel. Great little town on the coast.
LA is so vast so it depends what you want to see. As a tourist I would recommend West Hollywood for your first time. But keep in mind you are going to drive everywhere in LA, and nothing is close but West Hollywood gives you a lot of options. I stayed here last time, was nice and great view.
https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/l ... 79c79310b0
In San Francisco I recommend staying in Tiberon. Still minutes from the city, great views, and great access to northern part of San Francisco like Muir Woods. I’ve stayed here, great location. And you get to drive over Golden Gate each time.
https://www.lodgeattiburon.com/?utm_sou ... edium=yext
Feel free to message me if you have any questions or ask here on the thread. I’m sure folks have many suggestions.
Thank you! Very good info and great places!944m3 wrote: Mon Apr 08, 2024 6:24 pm I live in the east coast and I’ve made that trip twice with my family. Loved it. Been to LA and San Francisco many times.
True that parts of coastal highway is currently closed. But I would recommend checking right before your trip as things might change, you can’t miss that drive. If you have driven around the Norwegian fjords or other European mountain roads then it will be easy for you. If parts of the road is closed then drive as much as you can before taking a detour. It’s a fantastic drive and the highlight of the trip. If it’s open stay here.
https://www.raggedpointinn.com/gallery.php
Yo can also stay in Carmel. Great little town on the coast.
LA is so vast so it depends what you want to see. As a tourist I would recommend West Hollywood for your first time. But keep in mind you are going to drive everywhere in LA, and nothing is close but West Hollywood gives you a lot of options. I stayed here last time, was nice and great view.
https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/l ... 79c79310b0
In San Francisco I recommend staying in Tiberon. Still minutes from the city, great views, and great access to northern part of San Francisco like Muir Woods. I’ve stayed here, great location. And you get to drive over Golden Gate each time.
https://www.lodgeattiburon.com/?utm_sou ... edium=yext
Feel free to message me if you have any questions or ask here on the thread. I’m sure folks have many suggestions.
I were I CA in 1996 but we didnt go on the coastal highway that time and hopefully we can this time, always been a dream for me. That Ragged Point inn looks really nice aswell
Will check available accomodation there.Is it easy to park in LA and San Francisco if one makes daily trips there from outside?
Thanks
Peder
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ROB III
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Regarding easy parking, that depends on what you are accustomed to, compared to New York, it might be considered easy, if you are going to a known attraction, finding a parking garage or an open parking lot shouldn't be too difficult.
HWY 1 is beautiful for scenery but can be frustrating as noted by the posts above. If you are caught behind a motorhome, it will probably keep you slow and relaxed. If you are pressed for time Hwy 5 between LA and SF is faster, but its a boring interstate that moves quickly.
When in LA, you might look into Peterson Automotive Museum....(https://www.petersen.org/) Take a look to get a feel for what will be on display.
Huntingtin Beach, sometimes called Surf City is a very pleasant area with open beaches, you might also consider Laguna Beach which is smaller, more concentrated, probably more expensive, but perhaps more international in flavor judging by the diversity of languages you will hear....
As you will be there for Christmas, you might look into boat parades in Newport Beach, Huntington Harbor, and Long Beach, Google Parade of Lights or Festival of Lights for each city to get an idea of what that is all about. Here are some links:
https://newportlanding.com/lights.htm
https://www.cruiseoflights.org/
https://livethecrest.com/get-your-glow- ... ong-beach/
That had always been an entertaining and relaxing experience.
For Cars and Coffee, try https://www.southoccarsandcoffee.com/. There used to be a big weekly meeting at the US Mazda HQ where the 405 and 5 FWY meet, but that appears to have morphed into the south OC Cars and Coffee. I moved away from there in 2006 but I'm sure you can find several smaller venues in the area around and south of Huntington Beach.
If you are thinking of the Grand Canyon, drive time there from LA is about 7.5 hours, SF to Grand Canyon is about 12 hours. As I stated earlier, I moved from Southern California to Tennessee in 2006, but I'm thinking much of what I've stated still holds true. Hopefully those that live in The SoCal and SF areas will chime in. Please fell free to send me an IM if you have additional questions.
HWY 1 is beautiful for scenery but can be frustrating as noted by the posts above. If you are caught behind a motorhome, it will probably keep you slow and relaxed. If you are pressed for time Hwy 5 between LA and SF is faster, but its a boring interstate that moves quickly.
When in LA, you might look into Peterson Automotive Museum....(https://www.petersen.org/) Take a look to get a feel for what will be on display.
Huntingtin Beach, sometimes called Surf City is a very pleasant area with open beaches, you might also consider Laguna Beach which is smaller, more concentrated, probably more expensive, but perhaps more international in flavor judging by the diversity of languages you will hear....
As you will be there for Christmas, you might look into boat parades in Newport Beach, Huntington Harbor, and Long Beach, Google Parade of Lights or Festival of Lights for each city to get an idea of what that is all about. Here are some links:
https://newportlanding.com/lights.htm
https://www.cruiseoflights.org/
https://livethecrest.com/get-your-glow- ... ong-beach/
That had always been an entertaining and relaxing experience.
For Cars and Coffee, try https://www.southoccarsandcoffee.com/. There used to be a big weekly meeting at the US Mazda HQ where the 405 and 5 FWY meet, but that appears to have morphed into the south OC Cars and Coffee. I moved away from there in 2006 but I'm sure you can find several smaller venues in the area around and south of Huntington Beach.
If you are thinking of the Grand Canyon, drive time there from LA is about 7.5 hours, SF to Grand Canyon is about 12 hours. As I stated earlier, I moved from Southern California to Tennessee in 2006, but I'm thinking much of what I've stated still holds true. Hopefully those that live in The SoCal and SF areas will chime in. Please fell free to send me an IM if you have additional questions.
Rob
89 944 Turbo
Musik-Stadt Region
89 944 Turbo
Musik-Stadt Region
The Norton Simon art museum in Pasadena is top of the list if you like art. The Getty museum has some epic views, but Norton Simon has better art. Also, Huntington Gardens and Musuems, and the LA County Arboretum, are lovely places for a stroll. Griffith Park and its observatory are also popular. If you are looking for fun driving options, Angeles Crest Highway is a typical one, and for good reason. Go up to the Mt Wilson observatory. Also head over to Tujunga Canyon. I’ve never had any real fun in the Malibu canyons because of the traffic. If you want to stretch your legs and see some neighborhoods, look on the internet for hidden stairway hikes in LA. Driving north from LA to SF, if you are looking for a driving experience, take CA 33 north from Ojai and buckle in.
Food requires several chapters. LA and SF have endless options. In between, well, you may have to set the bar a little lower, though spots like Carmel will have great options.
Food requires several chapters. LA and SF have endless options. In between, well, you may have to set the bar a little lower, though spots like Carmel will have great options.
Several chapters for food is right, where do you begin!
Having said that, I’ve been to Tucson, AZ, San Antonio, TX and Austin, TX. Outside of Mexico, this the best Mexican I’ve had. The odd thing is that it’s in Koreatown LA lol
https://www.ilovemole.com/
But I openly admit that you can probably throw a rock and hit a good Mexican place in LA.
Having said that, I’ve been to Tucson, AZ, San Antonio, TX and Austin, TX. Outside of Mexico, this the best Mexican I’ve had. The odd thing is that it’s in Koreatown LA lol
https://www.ilovemole.com/
But I openly admit that you can probably throw a rock and hit a good Mexican place in LA.
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Tom
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Rob's post reminded me about the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena on January 1 -- it's the nation's de facto New Years kick off event. It's a family friendly bucket list type event -- or you can see the floats without the big crowds the day before near the Rose Bowl stadium. (Bonus trivia: the college football Rose Bowl game was invented as a promotional event to help promote and fund the parade. It was a marketing ploy that ended up spawning an industry that now features the RoofClaim.com Bowl 
)
If you end up in Carmel, the Monterey Bay Aquarium is spectacular; Laguna Seca is close by; and you need to have breakfast at the Wagon Wheel! Someone here posted this picture in the Wagon Wheel parking lot...
)If you end up in Carmel, the Monterey Bay Aquarium is spectacular; Laguna Seca is close by; and you need to have breakfast at the Wagon Wheel! Someone here posted this picture in the Wagon Wheel parking lot...
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ROB III
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DANG!
I'm embarrassed that I didn't even think of the Rose Parade! Maybe that's a statement of my mindset. Additional trivia point is appreciated as well.
Thanks Tom!
I'm embarrassed that I didn't even think of the Rose Parade! Maybe that's a statement of my mindset. Additional trivia point is appreciated as well.
Thanks Tom!
Rob
89 944 Turbo
Musik-Stadt Region
89 944 Turbo
Musik-Stadt Region