Help - What to See and Photograph in Southern California?
May 29, 2013 15:29:52 #
My wife and I are traveling to Long Beach California in late June to attend the wedding of our friend's son. We plan to stay an extra week to 10 days to tour the area before departing LA for home.
We will have a rental car and hope to get away from the city and explore some scenic locations, towns, and drives and find several picturesque places to stay for a night or two.
The wedding is on a Saturday (June 22nd) , so we will head out on Sunday (23rd) and spend the week, with tentative plans to fly back home the following Sunday. But we are flexible. If something is worth seeing, we will take more time.
We would love to hear some suggestions from the UHH community about what they consider places we should visit, things we should do, and photo opportunities in the SoCal area.
I need to figure out just how much gear I should lug along.
Any and all suggestions most appreciated. Thanks!
We will have a rental car and hope to get away from the city and explore some scenic locations, towns, and drives and find several picturesque places to stay for a night or two.
The wedding is on a Saturday (June 22nd) , so we will head out on Sunday (23rd) and spend the week, with tentative plans to fly back home the following Sunday. But we are flexible. If something is worth seeing, we will take more time.
We would love to hear some suggestions from the UHH community about what they consider places we should visit, things we should do, and photo opportunities in the SoCal area.
I need to figure out just how much gear I should lug along.
Any and all suggestions most appreciated. Thanks!
May 29, 2013 21:23:29 #
LaJolla south of lA the whole town is beautiful, seaside cliffs, amazing sunsets an aquarium, tide pools ... I could go on for pages.
May 29, 2013 23:13:37 #
OK, let's figure that you are not interested in places like Disneyland or Knott's Berry Farm.
In the greater So. Cal. area (Santa Barbara to San Diego) there are 7 of the 21 old California Missions. Nice photo ops.
In San Diego there is the world famous San Diego Zoo, Safari Land, and wonderful Balboa Park. Also the Bay, and often many Navy ships. Great photo ops.
A boat trip to Santa Catalina Island can be fun and provide nice photo ops.
If you can find it, the Huntington Library in San Marino. Stunning gardens, and some great art (home to the original "Pinkie" and "Blue Boy" paintings).
Beach areas of Newport Beach, Balboa Island, Corona Del Mar, and Laguna Beach. Also interesting photo ops.
In the greater So. Cal. area (Santa Barbara to San Diego) there are 7 of the 21 old California Missions. Nice photo ops.
In San Diego there is the world famous San Diego Zoo, Safari Land, and wonderful Balboa Park. Also the Bay, and often many Navy ships. Great photo ops.
A boat trip to Santa Catalina Island can be fun and provide nice photo ops.
If you can find it, the Huntington Library in San Marino. Stunning gardens, and some great art (home to the original "Pinkie" and "Blue Boy" paintings).
Beach areas of Newport Beach, Balboa Island, Corona Del Mar, and Laguna Beach. Also interesting photo ops.
May 30, 2013 01:44:40 #
mooseeyes wrote:
In the greater So. Cal. area (Santa Barbara to San Diego) there are 7 of the 21 old California Missions. Nice photo ops.
I heartily second the recommendation for a tour of the missions. They not only reflect the northward march of Christianity, but the surrounding areas include many other historical sites, deliberately built adjacent to the missions.
May 30, 2013 04:06:20 #
May 30, 2013 06:04:03 #
TimS
Loc: GA
If near San Clemente, you have to try a great little Mexican joint. La Tiendita. Looks like a hole in the wall joint but fantastic and cheap food. The mission San Juan Capistrano is nearby, too. Cliffs that overlook the pacific but I guess you'll find that everywhere along 'the 5.'
May 30, 2013 07:00:13 #
May 30, 2013 07:07:29 #
TimS
Loc: GA
ddeufemia wrote:
There is a reason why Ansel Adams lived in Yosemite for 25yrs.
Cheap rent?
May 30, 2013 07:46:03 #
Festina Lente wrote:
My wife and I are traveling to Long Beach Californ... (show quote)
Might be a bit of a drive for you, but I've always found the Joshua trees interesting. I understand that is the only place they grow. I know they are protected.
May 30, 2013 08:40:10 #
JBTaylor
Loc: In hiding again
There's a lot to see in the San Diego area. One thing I did years ago was to drive east on the freeway to a scenic drive (on 79, I think) through the mountains to Julian. Then I took another scenic drive down the mountain and through the desert back to the freeway. It's not that far out of San Diego and only took most of a day. It's a change of pace from the coastal stuff. If you have more time, it's not much farther to visit the Anza-Borego Desert State Park. That was almost ten years ago and a forest fire came through the next day. The scenic road is now named after a firefighter who died in that fire.
May 30, 2013 09:00:47 #
May 30, 2013 09:13:20 #
Wow! A lot of good ideas here; some of which we were not aware of. Thanks!!!
My bride is "Googling" them to get more information and to plan a driving route and identify places to spend the night. It already looks like we may add another 5 or 6 days to our trip just to sample as much as we can without making it a marathon.
My bride is "Googling" them to get more information and to plan a driving route and identify places to spend the night. It already looks like we may add another 5 or 6 days to our trip just to sample as much as we can without making it a marathon.
May 30, 2013 10:08:04 #
Bear2
Loc: Southeast,, MI
From LA head North!
Take Coast Hwy up to Monterey. Past Hearst Castle in San Simeon, probably the prettiest coast line in America.
Also if you want some mountains, head West from LA on I-10 to Ontario, CA and drive North up to Mt. Baldy. Bring a jacket.
Take Coast Hwy up to Monterey. Past Hearst Castle in San Simeon, probably the prettiest coast line in America.
Also if you want some mountains, head West from LA on I-10 to Ontario, CA and drive North up to Mt. Baldy. Bring a jacket.
May 30, 2013 10:50:21 #
If you go to Mission San Juan Capistrano you need to go to the large brick parking structure by the train station. It serves as the entrance to the Los Rios District. It is full of quaint houses and a couple of adobe buildings over 200 years old. If I remember correctly, it is the oldest continuously occupied area in California. Lots of great photo ops, some great restaurants and shops selling some nice items.
May 30, 2013 10:55:33 #
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