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California Girls
DH and I are getting excited for our big trip to California this summer! For anyone who lives in or has visited California, can you give me some tips on things to see and do while we're there and/or restaurant recommendations? Crystal and Michelle, I so appreciate all the tips you gave me when I first started planning. I had saved the information from that post, but unfortunately, I had a problem with my hard drive and lost some documents, and I no longer have it 
. Here's our itinerary:
San Diego: 2 nights
LA (hoping for Santa Monica): 1 night
Santa Barbara: 1 night
Morro Bay: 1 night
Monterey: 2 nights
Yosemite: 3 nights
San Francisco: 4 nights
Also looking for recs in between destinations, as we drive up the coast. Oh, and we're probably going to do a day trip from San Francisco to Napa or Sonoma, so any thoughts on that would be great too! Thanks in advance, ladies!!
Re: California Girls
Oh my I have so much to say! Let me collect my thoughts and post tonight!
I PPH Santa Barbara!! Ok, so jealous of this whole dang trip!
Are we fb friends? I have California albums.
I've been to San Diego, LA-- you want to stay in Santa Monica, Santa Barbara, San Fran.
I'd suggest stopping in Malibu -- we went on an awesome hike.
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Now I can't wait to see what your advice is! I don't think I'm FB friends with any of you ladies. I sent you a PM with my full name, if you want to friend me.
As for LA, I definitely want to stay in Santa Monica. I do have a hotel booked in Redondo Beach that I'm probably going to cancel. I'm just waiting on DH to decide if he wants to stay with his aunt who lives in SM or stay in a hotel. Then I'll try to get a good deal on priceline/hotwire.
Definitely planning a stop in Malibu on our way from LA to SB. I'd love to hear more about your hike!
Lemme see if I can find my old post somehow. The nest is so messed up...
Malibu is beautiful for hiking. DH loves the show MASH, so we go on the hike to the set out in Malibu quite often. Check out Malibu Creek State Park, Backbone Trail, etc.
El Matador beach in Malibu is gorgeous and pretty secluded.
I went to college in Malibu - and we would often go to a little shack called Malibu Seafood on PCH. Yummy!
You're a genius! I found it! I didn't even think about searching b/c the Nest search is so awful, but good ol' Google turned it up. Thanks so much!
http://community.thenest.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/60197166.aspx
If you've got anything to add now that our itinerary is more nailed down, I'd love to hear it!
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I'd probably take the overview one. They take you to the pools guesthouse and the main house. Now they let you stay and take photos. Then you board the bus to go back down when you're ready!
Thanks! Is that this one? I don't see where they mention the guesthouse, but I think that's the closest match?
http://www.hearstcastle.org/tours/tour/grand-rooms-tour
It looks like they changed the tours a bit - yes, that's definitely the one I would take.
The gardens are gorgeous!
When you're on the tour bus, be on the lookout - there are zebras on the ranch. Sometimes you can see them from the highway out front as well.
San Diego: 2 nights
My favorites to do in San Diego are Seaport Village, Mission Bay (if you want to stop for a quick lunch at the cafe at Paradise Point Resort, it has amazing views... I loooove Sea World, Old Town is fun, Balboa Park is awesome... Oh and check out Coronado Island, tour around Hotel Coronado... beautiful and some long history there.
On the drive from San Diego to LA is a town called Laguna Beach... amazing beach/tidepools, etc... stop in at a restaurant called Las Brisas... beauuutiful, romantic and amazing views... you can do a casual patio/bar lunch or an inside, fancy dinner... either way, there are rose gardens, a gazebo and you can walk the steps down to the beach, walk along the beach, see the tidepools, walk out on the rocks, etc... it's where I took my E pics
Also, Huntington Beach is fun if you just want to go to the beach, lay out, grab a bite... etc. Long Beach has a cool downtown area too... looots of places to stop. Are you taking the 101 up the coast? It's a little longer but MUCH prettier drive. I'm assuming you are since you're stopping in SB, Morro Bay and Monterey. 
LA (hoping for Santa Monica): 1 night
I saw your post about Redondo... Redondo is fun. There's a pier there that's super fun though Santa Monica pier is fun, too. Go on the Ferris Wheel and eat at one of the restaurants on the pier with a view... If you want to see craziness, either bike or drive down to Venice (2-3 miles south of the SM pier)... personally, it's not all that but some people like to see the crazy... it's super fun though to rent bikes and bike along the bike path, great views, stop at the little shops along the side or grab a hot dog or something. In Venice you can play tennis, basketball, handball and other stuff (super busy on teh wknds though so I wouldn't try if you'll be there on a Sat). If you go to Santa Monica (On Lincoln just north of the 10 fwy) and want an amaaazing sandwich, search Bay Cities Deli (trust me personally - best deli sandwich ever... was on diners drive-in and dives for a reason).
Santa Barbara: 1 night
I defer to Michelle here, lol
Morro Bay: 1 night
Definitely go to Hearst Castle and make sure you see the pools... again, Michelle got this covered.
Also Cambria is a small little town around there that is super cute/quaint and fun to walk around in.
Monterey: 2 nights
Scenic 17 mile drive... plan to take your time and bring a camera and some snacks or a picnic...
Monterrey also has a cool aquarium if you're into that and it's in the shopping district with lots of little shops/restaurants... there's a yummy seafood place there by the aquarium with a great view... can't remember the name, but sure it's all good
Yosemite: 3 nights
Never been, no knowledge
San Francisco: 4 nights
Fisherman's Wharf, Ghiradelli Square for desert (Ghiradelli chocolate shop), Pier 39 (make sure you see the sealions at the end of the pier and just mosey and go in/out of shops on the pier), get a sourdough clam chowder bowl or go to Boudin's... ummm, ride a cable car, go to Alcatraz, Chinatown can be fun... there's a LOT to do... I'll try to think of some other things... maybe catch a Giants game if you're into sports... my absolute favorites are Pier 39 and the Fisherman's Wharf area for seafood... but there is a ton to do!
Have fun!!