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California BsOTL

S

smokelaw1

Cigar Ambassador
Joined
Aug 8, 2005
Messages
3,348
Location
West Hartford, CT
Hey all,

I am going to be in CA next week, and need some advice. I'll be in LA for a few days, then am renting a convertible, and driving up to Yosemite for a few days of hiking. I was going to do the drive in one long push, but last night it was requested that we stop somewhere around the ahlfway to more than halfway mark for the night. Looking for something cool, romantic, fun, etc, that would be ROUGHLY halfway between LA and Yosemite. I could take the more coastal route and then cut inland, or take the eastern route, skirting the east side of the sierra, then going through the park (I'm staying at a private cabin in Foresta on the west side of the Park).

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Many many thanks,

Josh
 
I am not sure if you enjoy wine or not, but if you drive up the coast the central area such as Cambria, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo has some great wineries (actually come to think of it starting in Santa Barbara and all the way up. Great food, Bed and Breakfast's as well beautiful coastline too. The problem with the foot of the Sierra's is that. again unless you like that sort of thing is the area is more remote sort of outdoors like. Such as fishing communities Bishop is great from there, you can go in several different directions to see the lakes and reseviors such as Mono Lake. The central California drive will leave more to be desired amongst the three sections, only because it is agricultural and not much to see. Again unless you like farming and agriculture. If there is anything else I can help you with please do not hesitate to ask. Yosmetie is beautiful country and you will enjoy. :thumbs:

Adrian
 
Thanks. I haven't been to Yosemite in almsot 20 years. I can't wait to get back. last time I was there I was a pretty strong young rockclimber, and carried an external frame pack with an ungodly amount of gear for 5 days in the backcountry.

I'll look into some B&B/wine combos up in that area. I may be PMing you with some specific questions.
Just realzied it is 8am out there....might get a better repsonse a little later.
 
smokelaw1 said:
Thanks. I haven't been to Yosemite in almsot 20 years. I can't wait to get back. last time I was there I was a pretty strong young rockclimber, and carried an external frame pack with an ungodly amount of gear for 5 days in the backcountry.

I'll look into some B&B/wine combos up in that area. I may be PMing you with some specific questions.
Just realzied it is 8am out there....might get a better repsonse a little later.
Click to expand...

I almost threw the 0800 part in earlier :laugh: . Again anything you need feel free to PM me. Sounds like you are ready to take on "El Capitan." BTW since it is only 0800, I expect you will here from some other later. :laugh:
 
LOL. El Cap? No, the captain is most certainly more than I can handle at this point. Well, and at any point in the past. When I was strong enough, I didn't have the technical knowledge. Now that I have the knoweldge and other skills, I am no where near strong enough. The two might over overlapped for a year or so there about a decade or so ago.

When I get some possibilities, I'll shoot you a PM.
Thanks.
 
The only recommendation I've got is to make sure to compensate for extreme water loss.
The air's real dry, if you're in a convertible I suspect you'll plow thru a gallon a day at least. Make sure to pick up water for the drive etc! (And beer!)

Rob
 
Good grief ..... you want us to answer your posts at what time in the morning?! :laugh:

I'm not sure how leisurely you want to be about your drive from LA to Yosemite but those places that Opus mex mentioned are great for the romance department. Santa Barbara is one of my favorite spots to hang out and there is a lot of things to do, expensive but well worth it. My second favorite place would be Paso Robles, check out the Paso Robles Inn in historic Paso Robles with its in room mineral spa's ;) . Plus, if you have some extra time there are some fantastic wineries in the area to visit. We've also spent some time in Mariposa but that may be too close to Yosemite already.

For "real" romance there's always the Madonna Inn with its themed roooms ..... ugh .... the caveman room ...

137a.jpg


or the Love Nest room are always an option as well :laugh:

183.jpg



Serves you right for missing NorCal amigo :laugh:


:cool:
 
I was hoping you were going to chime in. being too close to Yosemite might not be a bad thing, it would enable us to have a great day there, and then hit Yosemite early in the day.
Thinking about PCH to Paso Robles, spend the night, then head into Yosemite in the morning. Like Opus said, that drive east won't be the nicest drive, but we'll have had 4 hours on the coast the day before.

Thanks for the input. I might be back to both of you with more questions.
PS--I think this is the best batch of TJ yet...you?
 
mysterea said:
The only recommendation I've got is to make sure to compensate for extreme water loss.
The air's real dry, if you're in a convertible I suspect you'll plow thru a gallon a day at least. Make sure to pick up water for the drive etc! (And beer!)

Rob
Click to expand...

"Yeah, but it's a *dry* heat..." :laugh:

You won't be too bad up there on the way to Yosemite, especially this time of year. Now, if he were in full gear at 29 Stumps... :whistling:

I've not been to Yosemite in years, but along the way, I'd definitely hit Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, etc., depending on which route you're taking. Taking the PCH as long as I could would be my route. Used to ride that from SF to LA routinely by motorcycle.

Enjoy your trip.
 
If you were going up to Paso, would you take the PCH even further, or cut inland after that? It would be further and longer of a drive, but more time on the PCH.
 
smokelaw1 said:
I was hoping you were going to chime in. being too close to Yosemite might not be a bad thing, it would enable us to have a great day there, and then hit Yosemite early in the day.
Thinking about PCH to Paso Robles, spend the night, then head into Yosemite in the morning. Like Opus said, that drive east won't be the nicest drive, but we'll have had 4 hours on the coast the day before.

Thanks for the input. I might be back to both of you with more questions.
PS--I think this is the best batch of TJ yet...you?
Click to expand...

Paso's nice and there getting some nicer restaurants in as well. I'll get you recommendation on wineries if your interested as well. They've had an explosion of growth in recent years but I do have a few of my personal favorites.

Oh damn, that TJ is off the charts this time around!


:cool:
 
NorCalCigarLover said:
smokelaw1 said:
I was hoping you were going to chime in. being too close to Yosemite might not be a bad thing, it would enable us to have a great day there, and then hit Yosemite early in the day.
Thinking about PCH to Paso Robles, spend the night, then head into Yosemite in the morning. Like Opus said, that drive east won't be the nicest drive, but we'll have had 4 hours on the coast the day before.

Thanks for the input. I might be back to both of you with more questions.
PS--I think this is the best batch of TJ yet...you?
Click to expand...

Paso's nice and there getting some nicer restaurants in as well. I'll get you recommendation on wineries if your interested as well. They've had an explosion of growth in recent years but I do have a few of my personal favorites.

Oh damn, that TJ is off the charts this time around!


:cool:
Click to expand...

been on the website, and have reserved a room, can always cancel if not going. I'd love some of your thoughts on wineries.
Thoughts on the rest of the drive? How to maximize our enjoyment of the drive? We are staying just inside the Rt 41 entrance to the park.
 
smokelaw1 said:
If you were going up to Paso, would you take the PCH even further, or cut inland after that? It would be further and longer of a drive, but more time on the PCH.
Click to expand...

I would stay on PCH as long as I could. It's absolutely gorgeous. Besides, ask yourself this, when is the next time you're going to be out on there and have the ability to drive it? Based upon whatever response you have to that, either maximize or, perhaps, minimize your time on it. While there though, I'd have to take it as far as I could.
 
Good call. I'll be back out in September, but only going an hour or so north of my brother's place in Santa Monica (he's a block or two off the PCH).
 
NorCal..Opus, MC..anyone else....
Can you think of someplace in Cambria (or, more importantly, right on the PCH, basically) that would be nice and romantic like Paso Robles and very near really good wineries and food? Further up the coast would be good, too, closer to say, Monterey, which is where it looks like I will swing eastward to head to yosemite.

Many thanks...
 
Pull in at "Big Sur". Stay at Big Sur Lodge If you like hiking, you will do it among the Red Woods, amazing.


While you are there book a massage at Esalen it's the only way you will get in there. They allow you
to go in about 1 1/2 hours before your massage, take off your clothes and sit in one of the hot tubs that overhangs the cliffs, fed from natural springs ..mind blowing.

Brian
 
smokelaw1 said:
NorCal..Opus, MC..anyone else....
Can you think of someplace in Cambria (or, more importantly, right on the PCH, basically) that would be nice and romantic like Paso Robles and very near really good wineries and food? Further up the coast would be good, too, closer to say, Monterey, which is where it looks like I will swing eastward to head to yosemite.

Many thanks...
Click to expand...

If you are going all the way up to Monterey, I would make it a point to stay in Carmel. Look around and Google some B&B's and hotels there, assuming you don't want to go straight for Pebble Beach/The Lodge right on 17 Mile Drive. You can truly not find a nicer spot in that area...absolutely gorgeous and me and the little wife hit it at least once a year.
 
Big Sur will have to wait, thanks though, Brian. We are heading to Yosemite for a few days of hiking. This part of the trip needs to be the romantic wine sipping good eating probably get a massage night.
 
smokelaw1 said:
Big Sur will have to wait, thanks though, Brian. We are heading to Yosemite for a few days of hiking. This part of the trip needs to be the romantic wine sipping good eating probably get a massage night.
Click to expand...
Pity, look at the map. If you do go to Carmel, it's about 45 minutes from Big Sur.

Brian
 
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