My (soon to be) wife and I have decided to honeymoon in California from Aug 1st thru 8th. We're going to visit San Fransisco & San Jose at some point, but our plans are open other than that. Are there any good car shows, etc that we should check out? Maybe some local attractions that we shouldn't miss? Anyone want to drink a few beers with the newlyweds? Thanks, Ed
I'd love to share a beer with the newly weds. But I'm not going to be in CA. If you get to San Francisco you should wander an hour north to Santa Rosa and check out Tardels place.
In Frisco, take your wife on the cable car ride from Powell and Market street to fisherman's wharf. Beware, parking is expensive and hard to find in Frisco. You can get everywhere by trolleys and busses tho. Drive across the Golden Gate bridge. When you climb the hill on the north side there are some great senic turnouts that show off the bridge and San Francisco. Lots of stuff north and northeast of San Francisco. Vallejo has a Lion Country Safari and Sea World now. Tardel's and the Napa Valley wine country north of that, Sears Point raceway to the west of Vallejo towards Petaluma. http://www.infineonraceway.com/ Sacramento Raceway. http://www.sacramentoraceway.com/ Redwoods up towards Oregon. The coast highway N of Frisco is a great drive. Cliffs and ocean views. East of Vallejo you can cross Donner Summit into Reno Nevada. When is Hot August Nights in Reno?" http://www.hotaugustnights.net/ While looking up stuff I found this. I spent a lot of time at Vallejo Speedway... Gone, but not forgotten... http://www.lokent.com/hardtops.html
Ha ha ha.... I already put my feelers out for a visit to the Prune Orchard Garage. It was the first thing that came to mind when we decided to go to California. Ben -- If our flight has a layover in MO, I'll give you a call (BTW, the fuel pump pushrod got here. Thanks!) Ed
[ QUOTE ] The coast highway N of Frisco is a great drive. Cliffs and ocean views. [/ QUOTE ] As well as south on HWY 1 from Monterey to Cambria. I think Big Sur is one of the most beautiful spots on the CA coast...if you like the outdoors.
To bad you arent coming a couple of days sooner the Rock And Rod Revival is July 31st in Fresno, only a couple of hours from San Jose. The show was great last year and this year is supposed to be even bigger. The best thing about it is it's FREE to enter your car!
If you're here long enough to get off the plane I'll be there. You're always welcome here. Glad you got the rod. Only one? Oh well...
Ed -- Don't recall what I said in my reply to your PM about visiting Tardel's, but I trust I wasn't rude. Anyway, some of Smokin Joe's reccos prompted me to think about some very special non-hot-roddin' sites you might enjoy that can be visited in a single day. If you've never seen old-growth redwoods you can have the full experience about a half-hour's drive West of Tardel's, at Armstrong Grove near Guerneville, just a couple of miles north of the Russian River. Easy to get to and well worth your time and attention. On the hottest of Summer days the "climate" in the grove is cool enough to warrant sweatshirts or sweaters if you plan to be there for a while. It's a beautiful and humbling experience. After Armstrong, return to Guerneville, turn right at the intersection on 116 and head for the Coast, turning right when you get to the intersection where Jenner is one of your choices. Don't be in too big of a hurry as you climb up Highway 1 to Jenner; pull off and pause on any of the informal outlooks on the ocean side of the road to enjoy the view of the Russian River estuary. Like as not you'll see California sea lions basking on the sands. Continue up Highway 1 through Jenner, up to Fort Ross, the southernmost Russian outpost before we had an "understanding" with them in the 1800s. The fort is wonderfully preserved, not overdone with "cutesy" trappings and shennigans, and can be well appreciarted in an hour's time. Head back down Highway 1, across the estuary at 116, and head for Bodega Bay and the "Tides" restaurant on the wharf. Try to plan this so you're there at sunset. In addition to an incrediable view of the end of the day, count on spectacular seafood entrees that will knock your hat in the water! Don't p*** up the soup prior to the main dish; it's a clam chowder that will bring tears to your eyes, served with a sourdough bread from Santa Rosa's very own Franco-American bakery -- the bakery that makes San Francisco's best sourdoughs seem like Wonderbread. And be sure to enjoy wine with your dinner -- excellent Sonoma County wine, the equal of any and superior to most wines made on the planet. All this sounds rather boastful, doesen't it? Well, we're rather proud of and pleased with this place where we live -- its incredible natural beauty, its history, the bounty the land and the sea provide, and the distinct cultures that live and work together to make it happen.
Winchester Mystery house is kind of a cool place to visit. Mechanically minded people get a kick out it. The other two towns you should visit if you have the time are Santa Cruz (They have the "Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk" and some cool historical type stuff as well as some cool clubs at night with live music, not to mention spectacular views; and Monterey: they have Cannery Row, the Steinheart Aquarium, Fisherman's wharf. Just depends on what kind of stuff you want to see
Neal -- That picture is GORGEOUS! Allie (the lady in question) is more of a city person than I am, but I'm hoping to drag her out to see some nature. AV8 -- Wow! Thanks for the long reply. I think we're gonna check out all that stuff out whilst we're in the area to see Vern's shop.. maybe we'll even make two days out of it. PabstBelly -- The Winchester house sounds like a good time. Where is it located? Allie chimed in that Santa Cruz is indeed beautiful and we will likely be visiting. So no one who actually lives in CA wants to drink a beer with the newlyweds? I figured after all of my sarcastic comments, subtle insults, and low-ball offers on your cars, someone would want to punch me at least. Ed
Ed, give me a PM as the date gets closer. I'm in San Jose...Winchester Mystery House is great, Santa Cruz rocks, and if you're at all into old Egyptian stuff...there's the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum right in the middle of SJ...grew up, like, five blocks from there! Neat place. I think it's the biggest collection of Egyptian artifacts outside of Egypt itself! -Taylor
ed.. this is the ONE area we didnt spend enough time in last year.. we were in san fran for half a day and I could have easily spent a week there alone... cathie and I are planning to fly out there sometime in the next few years.. (in fact we'll be looking to you for ideas) have a great time. sawzall
I would love to toss back a couple in the city or something with ya. I'll find more out about The Winchester Mystery House if ya want. PM me or email me as august comes a little closer.
I PM'd you my phone #. Give me a call when you're in town. As long a junior doesn't show up too early, I could probably do a beer or two. There's a few more of us around here, too. The Mystery House is a kick. I can't really think of anything else in San Jose worth seeking out, unless you're a total geek and check out the computer museum in Mountain View. It's actually really friggin' cool from a vintage standpoint. Tubes rule! Skip Santa Cruz and spend the extra time in San Francisco. Unless you're a total beach-head or a hippie (not that there's anything wrong with that. Oh wait, that's gay...) There's way better beaches on this coast than SC anyway.
Santa Cruz is a good stop on the way to Monterey ,Roaring Camp has redwoods and a cool train that you can ride to the beach to do the rides at the Boardwalk , also a great flea market , also antique shops in Moss Landing on the way to Monterey the Monterey Aquarium is not to be missed and can eat up a day by its self .
Too bad you're taking the Mrs. becuse the Mitchell Brothers Theater is a great place to spend a couple hours... unless your wife wants a lap dance too.
Ed: If you and the new wife want to come down our way and visit Monterey, Carmel and Big Sur give me a call. We have a spare room and I'm sure the wife won't mind if I offer it to you! I'll PM you with my address and phone number. Ted
Enjoy San Francisco... she'll like that. the wharf-the seafood and streetcars..I think we would go back again.
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