So, we’re thinking about escaping to California for a bit, at the end of February/beginning of March.
Itinerary as yet undetermined, but it will involve some driving, a lot of photos, a lot of relaxing and almost certainly some eating out.
If anyone has any delightful insights/hidden gems/insider tips they want to share about places to stay/eat/see/take photos etc in or around San Francisco, Napa Valley, Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, Redwoods or the North California Coast, then please do say something in the comments.
Yosemite is amazing but you may have trouble getting in that time of year. If the passes are open, the Eastern Sierra on the other side of Toiyabe Pass is the best of California, especially for photography. That’s Ansel Adams country.
Where do I begin about San Francisco?
Mission Street has the BEST burritos in the world. My fav is El Tapa on Folsom and 18th has wicked-cool prawn burritos!
If you like curry than def also give Shalimar a go for some cheap and authentic indian/pakistani curry. Its on Polk and Pine.
f.
The Winchester Mystery House.
I would suggest a long drive down/up Hwy 1 (Pacific Coast Highway), especially through Big Sur, Carmel, Cambria, etc. Lots of windy roads with outstanding views. Yosemite may still feature a blanket of snow depending on our wacky weather, and not as crowded as peak season. In San Francisco the Sutro Baths are mildly interesting to some (including me) located on the coast near Golden Gate Park, also a great place to picnic and people watch.
if you have ANY geekyness in you, go to the computer museum in Santa Clara for a real treat and a great history tour
Try to get up to Crater Lake National Park just over the border into Oregon: stunning. There will still be plenty of snow there in March.
There is a guidebook called “PhotoSecrets San Francisco & Northern California” ISBN 0-9653087-1-5. It shows the place and time and angle for hundreds of beautiful shots of the area (SF, Napa, Yosemite, etc). It is a decent guidebook that contains lots of maps and guidebook tips and information for the traveller, but more important it is an excellent reference if you want, for example, to know the good places to shoot the Golden Gate Bridge or the classic views of Yosemite. Think of it as the stock photographer’s guide to the region. http://www.photosecrets.com.
I personally recommend: Point Lobos state park on the coast just south of Carmel. The coast drive from SF down to Big Sur. The Marin Headlands for the views of SF. Use Priceline.com to book hotels in SF (try asking for a 5 star hotel for $79). The SF Museum of Modern Art is exceptional. The SF Ferry building food court and Saturday farmer’s market is great. Ride the historic streetcar line from The Castro to the Embarcadero. See a movie at the Castro theater - great old movie palace. Have coffee (or tea) at Peet’s rather than Starbuck’s. Eat at Green’s in Fort Mason. Use chowhound.com for restaurant recommendations.
If you go up north, consider going to the Mount Shasta region. Excellent spot to snap some pictures…
Going South? Escape from reality in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park!