My Gf goes to Pepperdine and I'm planning to go visit her for 6 days - 5 nights in November. I thought it would be fun to do a road trip. I've always wanted to go to Yosemite and would love to rent a cabin or stay in a rustic hotel for a night or two without breaking the bank.

Now Yosemite is puushing the distance envelope for sure, but do able since it is Yosemite. Right?

Any other NP, or worthwhile place, to go that would be fun for the both of us and romantic all at once?

She's done San Francisco, and San Diego.

Trying to buy plane tickets soon so...

Thanks.

And no, I won't post pics...well maybe if you all come up with a bad ass suggestion.

Hollywood for the Chinese Theater/starwalk. It's like a smaller crapier Time Square with more bums and prostitutes. It may not be much, but if your girl likes old movies like mine does, then seeing things like Marylin's and Humphrey's shoe prints really scores points with you.

If you do go to Hollywood Blvd, I would suggest stopping at a place called Lickity Split (or something along those lines). It was a great place, and their frozen custard is AMAZING.

There is also the beach. Those are the only two 'free' things I know of in California that are worthwhile to go to and romantic enough to pull a date off with them. Don't forget that there aren't a whole lot of great zoos, and most girls love animals so the San Diego Zoo is a good place, though it's basically as pricey as going to an amusement park.

Have fun.

IF you're going to Yesomite, make sure you book reservations, many people book reservations a year in advance. If you go, takes some good hiking boots, there is a very nice scenic walk to Vernal and Nevada Falls.

From Pepperdine, drive up the Coast Highway CAlif Highway 101, it run along the pacitic ocean, really pretty scenery but very winding. Stop by the city of Carmel, it very pretty.
How about a trip to Monterry Bay Aquarium. You probably need probably 2-3 days here. This is just outside of Cannery Row as made famous by write John Steinbeck(they no longer can fish here, now it is just a shopping mall).

Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific about an hour's drive south from Pepperdine.

A bicycle ride along the bicycle beach path starting at Redondo Beach Pier to Marina Del Raye, 1 day easy. When my wife and I did it, we started early in the morning between 7-9am, at the Redondo Pier, rode north on the bike path, stopped along the way at the Taco Bell next to the path, ate a snack, continued to Marina Del Rey, which is a shopping center like place, walked around, ate lunch. Arrive back at Redondo Pier about 3-4:30. Ate a crab steam dinner under the pier and packed up the bikes and went home. There bicycle rentals. This is a very LIESURELY ride.

Be warned:

-Going up from Malibu up to Carmel is a whole day's drive.

-The Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific, though much closer, is nothing compared to the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Thanks for all the ideas. We're planning on doing Hollywood one day, was looking for something more liek a get away kinda thing.

Red Rock national park is relatively close, I think.

The aquarium idea might work as we're both AVID divers. Kind of how we met.

Thanks again.

Pepperdine has an outstanding location with view.  Yosemite is a long way but it is unforgettable.  Hollywood is yucky.

Well, looks like Yosemite might be out due to the time of year. Her car wont be able to handle it if the weather is that cold then.


Now we're looking at a weekend in Carmel, or Sonoma.

Bought the ticket, 6 days 5 nights.

Quoted: Be warned: -Going up from Malibu up to Carmel is a whole day's drive.

Really? Mapquest shows it as ~ 6 hours

Quoted: Quoted: Be warned: -Going up from Malibu up to Carmel is a whole day's drive. Really? Mapquest shows it as ~ 6 hours

6 hours if traveling at the posted speed limit. Throw in rush hour traffic and congested locations and that time frame will easily jump up an hour or two. You could even possibly hit rush hour in the morning and the afternoon if you are (un)lucky. Not to mention the drive back...

Well I would have suggested the Reagan Library, not all that far away.

Monterey is only about 6 hours IF you drive 101 the whole way.  But if you drive 1 between San Luis Obispo and Carmel you can add about two hours assuming good weather.  BTW , Carmel is a great destination and I would recommend driving up Highway 1 or at least driving down to Hearst Castle and back one day.    (I just spent my vacation at San Simeon State Beach and Limekiln State Park in Big Sur. so I made the trip between Cambria and Monterey about 3 times in a week and a half)

101 takes you through Steinbeck Country, King City, Salinas.  From Carmel you're within easy driving distance of several interesting places.  The Roaring Camp & Big Trees Railroad is a narrow gauge railroad that runs from Felton (by Santa Cruz) into the Redwoods, San Juan Batista is a small town that  has maintained a lot of the buildings from the 1800s and has a variety of nice watering holes and shops.  

If you take 1 driving North puts the driver on the scenic side, but you really have to watch the road.  South lets the passenger see the views and driver concentrate on staying alive.

If you have the time stop at both Limekiln and Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Parks.  At Limekiln take the hike (about 3/4 mile) from the parking area up to the Limekilns and Waterfall, a nice easy hike into some real nice redwood groves.   We also saw Blue and Killer whales from the turnouts just south of Limekiln several times.

At Burns take the hike out to the overlook, or stop at the turnout just north of the entrance to see the waterfall.



this is the only place on the coast a waterfall falls right into the ocean.

If you go south to Hearst Castles just about 4 miles north of there is the Elephant Seal rookery on the beach at Piedras Blancas and the herds of Elephant Seals should be coming ashore in November.  Ano Nuevo State Beach just north of the north end of Monterey Bay is also an Elephant Seal rookery, but may need reservations.  Piedras Blancas is right at a turnout on the highway.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Be warned: -Going up from Malibu up to Carmel is a whole day's drive. Really? Mapquest shows it as ~ 6 hours 6 hours if traveling at the posted speed limit. Throw in rush hour traffic and congested locations and that time frame will easily jump up an hour or two. You could even possibly hit rush hour in the morning and the afternoon if you are (un)lucky. Not to mention the drive back...

If you want get to Monterey Bay quickly, and don't want to sight see the Calif coast line, go up north via I5 freeway. It's the quickest because it is pretty much a straight shot, but not as scenic. I will be going through a lot of farmland and cattle country. Near the city of Los Banos(that Spanish for "toliet"), there is a large cattle feedlot operation, and the of course the "country smell" associated with it. Maybe you can go up one way and come back the other, but the Coast Route 101 looks different going and coming, and morning and afternoon.

Big Sur/Hearst Castle

Carmel

Pismo beach and rent ATVs one day and the next go into Paso Robles and do some wine tasting if you two are old enough.  (damn I feel old after typing that and I'm only 31)  My wife and I did this one weekend and had a blast.  Paso Robles turns out some top notch wines and is my favorite region.

Monterey Bay aquarium and 17-mile drive in Pebble beach.

While the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach might not be as good as Monterey, it's quite nice (and only 10min from my house!)  I love going there.  Lot's of places to eat down there as well if you are in the area.

 Very close to the Aquarium in Long Beach is the Queen Mary, if you wanted to try to do a few things in one day.

I just remembered, you can catch a boat to Catalina Island.  Might be a little cold for snorkeling but you can hike or rent bikes, take tours, eat and get drunk (again if you are old enough) and even camp over night.  I took a helicopter there two weeks ago and went snorkeling for the day.  A lot of fun.

Quoted: I just remembered, you can catch a boat to Catalina Island.  Might be a little cold for snorkeling but you can hike or rent bikes, take tours, eat and get drunk (again if you are old enough) and even camp over night.  I took a helicopter there two weeks ago and went snorkeling for the day.  A lot of fun.

Cool. This trip is actually about 2 weeks after her 21st so we're good to go. She's really digging the idea of a B&B in Sonoma. So that'll probably be the route I take.

Sonoma -

Ft. Bragg and Mendocino coast, definitely hit some of the redwoods.  Also  Sacramento  River Delta, Old Sacramento area (the RR museum is pretty impressive).  The Tahoe Casinos are not all that far away, weather permitting.

Yosemite in November?
Kings Canyon is closer.

PLAN YOUR VISIT
Yosemite Operating Hours & Seasons
http://www.nps.gov/yose/pphtml/planyourvisit.html

The park is open 365 days per year, 24 hours per day. Reservations are not needed (nor are they available) to enter the park.
The Tioga, Glacier Point, and Mariposa Grove roads are closed from October/November through May/June due to snow (the Mariposa Grove Road may be closed for a shorter period). All other parks roads generally remain open all year, though chains are frequently required.

Some hotels and campgrounds in Yosemite Valley and Wawona, and the Valley Visitor Center are open all year.

You should head to the Death Valley area, November it will be warm during the day and "chilly" at night.