Help plan our grad trip to Califormia!

Parent Cafe
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<p>Great itinerary. I love Monterey so very much. I could spend all day watching the sea otters. </p>

<p>As for Yosemite, if you can’t get lodging in the park, I recommend driving up via Highway 41 (north of Fresno) and staying in Oakhurst. It’s such a lovely town. You would also be close to the Mariposa grove of Sequoia trees, which I think is a must see if you aren’t making it to Kings Canyon/Sequoia Park.</p>

22

<p>Yes, rent the car after you have seen most of what you want to in San Francisco, you can get to most places on public transit. Also, a car rental that originates at any place other than the airport will be a lot cheaper.</p>

<p>Also, for SF-- a light jacket won’t do it for anyone in our family. We were wearing heavy fleece when visiting last June and darned near froze. It was overcast and WINDY most of the time. </p>

<p>Look online for any of your groups special interests, maybe the quilt show? tall ships festival? festival of arts and music? You might be there at the same time that something fab is going on.</p>

<p>Looks like most of the great destinations are already listed. Did someone mention the Cal Academy of Sciences at Golden Gate Park?</p>

23

<p>Order your Double double “Animal style” at In-N-Out
Yummy</p>

24

<p>-If you are in SF on May 15, the Annual Bay to Breakers footrace/walk is something one must at least see, if not do, once in a lifetime…
-Beach Blanket Babylon is also a must (under 21 on Sundays only)
-order In-N-Out protein style: no bun, just a fabulous burger wrapped in lettuce–Yummier!</p>

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<p>And Carnaval…S.F.'s version of Mardi Gras is a terrific parade/party over Memorial Day weekend…</p>

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<p>Someone mentioned going to a Farmer’s Market in San Francisco. If you’re here on a Saturday, the market at the Ferry Building is great. If you are here on a weekday, the building itself is worth a visit and if it’s a nice day, you can buy food and eat outside by the water.</p>

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<p>Keep in mind that Northern California doesn’t have the ‘sunny beachy California’ that Southern California has. Northern Cal has beaches of course, but the ocean water never gets warm enough to be able to play in it without a wetsuit and chances are very good that it’ll be overcast and cold at the beach regardless of the weather a mile inland. I’m just pointing this out just in case a member of your family is expecting the beaches there to be like ‘Baywatch’ or something.</p>

<p>While the beaches up north aren’t so swimmable, they can be quite scenic and you can find stretches of beach with no one on them - even in the summer. </p>

<p>If you have time, find a beach area with some good tidepools, bring your camera, and see what you can snap a picture of in the tidepools.</p>

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<p>Last year in June in on a day trip to San Francisco…relatives had to buy long pants and a fleece tops…it was freezing. Had travelled from San Jose area where it was in the 80’s.</p>

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<p>Gosmom mentioned the Bay to Breakers on May 15th- this year will be the 100th anniversary and it will be packed- it is such a fun event- lots of costumes, and runners and walkers of every possible persuasion. Great fun!</p>

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<p>ucsd<em>ucla-dad’s post reminded me that you can see some of the best surfing in the world at Steamers Lane in Santa Cruz.
<a href=“http://www.surfline.com/surf-report/steamer-lane-central-california”>http://www.surfline.com/surf-report/steamer-lane-central-california&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/em&gt;4188/travel/&lt;/p&gt;