Any advice for this trip: No. Cal, Yosemite, OR coast

[DBBean]

The Hershey Factory is closed. Not sure if this was mentioned. I LOVED this place. So sad to see it go.

 

[mamacatnv]

Yes, I did recently make the switch. Having posted on here and trip advisor I got a lot of feedback that it was too much time driving to the North Coast and suggested going to Lake Tahoe. It will save a lot of money since we will pick up and return our car in the same location (OAK) and we can stay for free everywhere using Hilton points (except Yosemite ). I still want to visit the N. CA coast and the OR coast, but maybe a romantic trip w/o our kids!!
Thanks for this info! I really didn't have any ideas yet for the South Lake Tahoe area! I think we will enjoy this!

"The Gondola's out of S. Shore to the top of Heavenly is worth the time and money. If you want to learn a lot of lake history, the Tahoe Dixie cruise is worth the time. The views cannot be beat and the access into Emerald Bay is beautiful. A drive down into Squaw Valley is also a fun trip, they have a gondola and a swimming pool and lots of Olympic history."

Couple of things to know - Tahoe is at a fairly high elevation and outdoor exercise ie hiking, swimming etc. needs to be approached with caution as well as with a good layer of sun screen. There are a ton of activites one can do from shopping to parasailing on the lake. You can rent boats, wind surfing gear etc. There are several beaches along the shores of the lake. Sand Harbor in Incline Village area, Kings Beach in N. Shore and there is another large beach in S. Shore (I can't remember the name) There is also river rafting on the Truckee and if you are so inclined you can come into Reno where there is a white water park in the middle of downtown and you can take kayaking classes.
Personally, I think Virginia City is cheesy and while it has a lot of NV. history I would put it low on my places to visit list.

 

[mamacatnv]

The Hershey Factory is closed. Not sure if this was mentioned. I LOVED this place. So sad to see it go.

Rats, I remember going there as a kid.

 

[The Blue Parrot]

Check out this story from the Modesto Bee about the former Hershey location in Oakdale: http://www.modbee.com/2133/story/261003.html

Another chocolate company, Sconza Candy is expanding it's operations and will move from Oakland to Oakdale this year to the former Hershey location. And they do have plans for a retail store in Oakdale, hopefully to open in 2009.

Nevada is a place that has far more to it than the casinos.

And yes, Virginia City is more than a bit "touristy". But the history is there and worth taking in. If you want a mining community that is somewhat a museum, Columbia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia%2C_CA in California's Mother Lode area in Tuolumne County is a state park. While it has some tourist shops, it is better preserved that Virginia City.

Virginia City has seen a tough life as a boomtown through bonanza and borrasca (or bust). At it's peak, it was the City between Chicago and San Francisco, with over 30,000 residents - today it has about 1,000. It had the first elevator between thos cities as well. Yet much of the city was destroyed by a series of fires and only somewhat rebuilt. When Silver mining played out, much of structures of the city were already gone or in serious decline. So, what you see today is either the remains of the town or recreations.

As someone who has had family in the Silver State for over 150 years, I'm naturally attracted to the Comstock. Oddly enough I don't know of any of them who lived and worked in or around the mines or anywhere in the area during it's bonanza days. Yet I have spent a fair amount of time around Northern Nevada.

In Virginia City, places I would recommend include Pipers Opera House http://www.pipersoperahouse.com/ (pretty much as it was), the Fourth Ward School http://www.fourthwardschool.org/ic/, the Chollar Mine http://www.chollarmine.com/ (a great way to see a Comstock mine, safely) and the Virginia and Truckee Railroad http://virginiatruckee.com/. The V&T is a nice ride over the original railroad right of way and has great views of the area.

The main street in Virginia City is indeed one set to separate tourists from their money. But some places can be fun. Just don't take it too seriously.

Carson City is home to the State Museum http://dmla.clan.lib.nv.us/docs/museums/cc/carson.htm in the former US Mint and the Nevada State Railroad Museum http://dmla.clan.lib.nv.us/docs/museums/rr/ccrr.htm. Both are worth a visit for real history of the Silver State.

 

[Juliah]

We stayed at the Embassy Suites Seaside just a few weeks ago. The breakfast was very busy, and they were having some trouble keeping up with the demand for food, so I suggest getting down to breakfast early. Also, leave yourself a little extra time for the elevators--at busy times, it was sometimes hard to get one that wasn't already full.

We used coupons from this site to get $2 off tickets for the Monterey Bay Aquarium: http://www.visitcalifornia.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Fun_Spots

 

[mamacatnv]

OP: Over the weekend I caught the tail end of Rachel Rays Tasty Travels and she was in Lake Tahoe. I cannot find any info on the FoodNetwork web site so I am assuming it is a current show and not archived. They tend to replay their shows, if you can find it, record it, there were some nice tips.

One of the attractions she mentioned that looked family friendly was: http://www.zephyrcovestables.com/

 

[CPM]

Great thread! Maybe you guys can help me out a bit.
I am in the process of tweaking my upcoming CA trip.
Some things just cannot be changed. I booked flights a year ago into LAX RT, that can't be changed. Also my Yosemite reservations cannot be changed. And, my DH has a convention in Anaheim at the end of the trip.So, here is what I have right now.

July 15 fly into LAX at 11:30 AM, drive to San Luis Obispo, staying at the Embassy suites. I had the Seaside Embassy booked, but I think the drive will be too long. According to Map Quest, this will already be a long 5 hour drive. But, I want to get the drive over with.
I booked three nights here. So ,we will tour from here. Hearst Castle, Monterrey and coastal stuff.

July 18th head to Yosemite. We are booked at the Yosemite Lodge for 3 nights, I wanted 4, but didn't get the 4th night (yet).

July 21st check out of Yosemite. make our way to Anaheim.
Is there anywhere we can stop for 2 nights worth seeing?

July 23rd check into Embassy Suites Anaheim for the duration of trip, possible San Diego add on at the end to go to the zoo, or just drive to and from Anaheim.
Plan on going to DL, USH, Knotts

We've already done SF, Tahoe and Napa, so this trip won't include those places. BTW, the Embassy Suites resort in Tahoe is just beautiful. I love Tahoe.

Thanks for any help.

 

[CPM]

Anyone?

 

[mamacatnv]

Anyone?

Giant Sequoia Nat'l Monument http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sequoia/gsnm.html

Grizzly Falls http://www.waterfalls-guide.com/ca_grizzly_falls.htm

To the N.W. of Yosemite up near Modesto outside of a small historic town called Knights Ferry http://www.riverjourney.com/
We used to raft this river when I was a teen - loved it

Fresno is South and might be a good place to land:
http://www.fresnocvb.org/

I would get the AAA Central Calif guide, they always have out of the way things to see and do.

 

[CPM]

Thanks.
I can't go north. I booked something in Fresno. I would like to visit Sequoia, but I think I'm too late for reservations.
I'll order that guide today. Thanks.

Does anyone know how the smoke factor is in the Yosemite area these days? I hate to spend all that money and just see smoke. I have heard it's been bad.

 

[IASWAM]

June 16th-18th Newport, OR (or should I pick a different town?)
June 18th-20th Cannon Beach, OR (The Ocean Lodge)

Newport is pretty fun. There's the Oregon Coast Aquarium, Ripley's Believe It or Not, and a wax museum, as well as all the standard little shops and restaurants along the waterfront. The Ocean Lodge @ Cannon Beach is spectacular! We had the chance to stay there when they first opened. Seaside is about 10 miles north of Cannon Beach, and is also a fun coastal town to visit. There are arcades, an old carousel, and many shops and restaurants around the area. It's a popular place for families. Hope that helps!

P.S. Make sure to stop at the Tillamook Cheese factory (right on 101 in Tillamook) on your way from Newport to Cannon Beach. Good cheese and LOT'S of ice cream!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Thanks.
Does anyone know how the smoke factor is in the Yosemite area these days? I hate to spend all that money and just see smoke. I have heard it's been bad.

Sorry - I don't know how the smoke is, but can comment that in Reno we've had both clear days and smokey days so it would probably be just the luck of the draw. Many years ago I visited Yosemite when there was smoke and actually ended up with some very cool pictures!

 

[CPM]

Thanks Kathy.

 

[BillyFan]

To the OP, your plan is really looking good! But I would make the suggestion to line up at the Monterey Aquarium before it opens, so you can get in there as early as possible. As the day progresses, the lines get really long, and the crowds get a bit unmanageable.