Going to California end of july...(what to do ?)

[bzzztobee]

Will be staying there for 2 weeks and most probably will stop at LA, San Diego, and San Francisco. This will be my first time ever going to California so i was just wondering :

1- what are the most interesting places to go (please state the city)

2- Which beach in LA is a must-stop at

3- What are the best and cheapest places to shop at

4- How likely am i to meet a celebrity there and what places should i go to look for them?

5- Apart from the cities listed above, are there any others cities that i should visit while i;m there and state your reason why.


If anyone can help me out by answering one or all of my questions, i would really appreciate it! thank you!

[kingkelly]

I went to san diego couple summers ago, and it is the BEST place ive ever travelled to. Be sure to go to Downtown san diego, where the streets are letters and numbers. Everything is walkable, and its like toronto without traffic.

Everyones super friendly, the bums say hello and dont ask for money, and the taco stands are the greatest inventions ever. You can also take a trolley for 2.50 from san diego into tijuana. TIjuanas dirty though ahah.

The zoo there is the best ever, and theres lots to do in Balboa park, where the giant zoo is located. And the temperature is always great. Always a slight breeze from the water, never humid. Take a ferry to coronado island, and go to their beach. One of th best in the world, has little bits of gold floating in the water.

Be sure to check out the outdoor mall there, all the little shops and club/bars int he gaslamp quarter. Theres little italy there too which is great. Newport beach is a great strip along the boardwalk which has tons of things to shop for. You can see the fireworks every night at 10 from sea world too!

Bottom line, everyone there is super chill, no attitude, and its just a nice place to stay. Lodging can be a bit expensive though.

[Shaner]

Why not try out surfing. Some of the best surfing in the world is out in Cali.

[JewelsT]

Bring a pair of good walking shoes to tour.

The family went to SF in Oct. Kids loved Fisherman's warf, boudin bakery (tours, taste test and the shop are all at the same location) the free museums..we didn't have time for Alcatraz (the island which was a jail is now opened for tourists..allow the whole day).

Chinatown was decorative and the food was tasty but it's nothing like Toronto's Chinatown.

Take some pictures of the Golden Gate.

If you can stay by the fisherman's warf, it will safe you some money. If not, downtown is a little pricer but the shopping is good. Macy's will allow you a discount 20-30%? when you apply for it as a "tourist" coupon but it's took some time to get it..they send you to an upper floor to customer service desk... Oh, you'll have to check out the curviest street...when we were there a limo got stuck..if you're driving, ensure your car isn't too large to handle the curves. Otherwise, walk down the street and take pictures.

Have fun!

[l69norm]

I went to san diego couple summers ago, ..


Also take a tour of the USS Midway
http://www.midway.org/site/pp.asp?c=eeIGLLOrGpF&b=3038957

[pmc]

I'm in SF from the 26th, i'll be staying near the rub n tugs...LOL

Union Sq is there with boutique shopping, then there's that mall westfield, japan town, chinatown which is really scummy imo, the windy road on that hill lomabard St, which i think is a local watching spot for locals to see dumb tourist (they should put in speed bumps there) LOL...fisherman's Wharf is a noisy place, i'd rather stay at a hotel closer to the rub n tugs:D

The BART and MUNI system are easy to use and yes, they have 3 and 7 day passes, get lost as much as you like but get home before nightfall...some places get scary at night especially those dark quiet alleys in Chinatown :D

not at the rub n tugs though, there's always something scooting out of the shadows AWAY from you and the B&W that's going to stop you and ask you for ID and why are you walking around there at that time, till you PULL OUT your ALL day pass for the MUNI...and they call in a tourist alert LOL

[JeffTaylor1985]

Alcatraz is an amazing site to see. This used to be a prison, and it is on its own island but now they have tours of it. Went on one of these before and even if you're not a history buff it is pretty interesting.

http://www.nps.gov/alcatraz/ has all the details!