Advice/Tips For November Road Trip To California

[Nehkara]

Me and my friend are doing a two week road trip from November 3rd to 17th to Anaheim for BlizzCon.

We are planning to go from here directly to the coast (probably Whiterock or Surrey will be our end point for the first day), down the coastal highway to Anaheim. We need to be in Anaheim by the evening of November 7th. We will be there for the 8th and 9th.

On November 10th or 11th we will go to Las Vegas and we will be there until the 13th. On the 14th we will begin our trek home roughly via interstate 15. I hope to see the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, and Yellowstone National Park on the way home.

Anyone know some must-see attractions along this route? I know that winter road conditions are going to be an issue in some spots. Does anyone know what my access will be like to Yellowstone in the second week of November?

Thanks for any help you can give me!

Here is our current proposed route (likely to be altered many times). http://goo.gl/4pS2GJ

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Nehkara

Me and my friend are doing a two week road trip from November 3rd to 17th to Anaheim for BlizzCon.

We are planning to go from here directly to the coast (probably Whiterock or Surrey will be our end point for the first day), down the coastal highway to Anaheim. We need to be in Anaheim by the evening of November 7th. We will be there for the 8th and 9th.

On November 10th or 11th we will go to Las Vegas and we will be there until the 13th. On the 14th we will begin our trek home roughly via interstate 15. I hope to see the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, and Yellowstone National Park on the way home.

Anyone know some must-see attractions along this route? I know that winter road conditions are going to be an issue in some spots. Does anyone know what my access will be like to Yellowstone in the second week of November?

Thanks for any help you can give me!

Here is our current proposed route (likely to be altered many times)

That link appears to start at someones home address, you might not want that on the internet for all to see.....or maybe you do who knows.

Zion is amazing.

That's all I got, enjoy your trip.

[troutman]

That time of year, travel can be dicey in some of the high mountain passes.

[Nehkara]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

That link appears to start at someones home address, you might not want that on the internet for all to see.....or maybe you do who knows.

Zion is amazing.

That's all I got, enjoy your trip.

Thanks man, I totally didn't even clue in.

I changed the link in my original post. Can you change it in your quote as well? Thanks.

[Nehkara]

Originally Posted by troutman

That time of year, travel can be dicey in some of the high mountain passes.

Yeah, that will probably be the most challenging part of the trip. I will have 4 Blizzak tires on my car for the trip but we will still be in a car. Here's hoping we stay on the road.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Nehkara

Thanks man, I totally didn't even clue in.

I changed the link in my original post. Can you change it in your quote as well? Thanks.

Done and done

[CarlW]

Hearst Castle if you have the time. Loved that place, too many separate tickets to purchase but still an amazing place to visit with a neat history.

[Nehkara]

Originally Posted by CarlW

Hearst Castle if you have the time. Loved that place, too many separate tickets to purchase but still an amazing place to visit with a neat history.

Thanks! We will be driving right by there so we'll have to check it out.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Nehkara

Yeah, that will probably be the most challenging part of the trip. I will have 4 Blizzak tires on my car for the trip but we will still be in a car. Here's hoping we stay on the road.

Buy chains in advance. They may require you to use them or send you back. Just an FYI as this happened to us when we first started living here.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

Buy chains in advance. They may require you to use them or send you back. Just an FYI as this happened to us when we first started living here.

Yup. They don't care if you have 4 season tires.

Also, I really think Red Rocks is pretty cool.... worth checking out.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

As for your trip...

Portland is cool. A stop at Voodoo Donuts is a must.

You obviously should stop in SF on your way. The whole bay is nice, but the city is a lot of fun and there are great restaurants everywhere and fun watering holes. I still recommend doing the Alcatraz tour, but you need a few hours and probably should buy your tickets in advance. Fisherman's Wharf is really touristy, so beware.

Santa Cruz is nice enough but nothing super special unless you're into surfing or being a hippie. BUT, if you have time to do the Mystery Spot, do it. It's fun and weird and kinda cool. Makes for great photos.

Drive to Nepenthe Restaurant on your way down the #1 highway through Big Sur. Some of the best beauty is in that area. Carmel is nice, but full of blue bloods, so if you want a more laid back approach go with Big Sur. The drive alone will be worth it.

You may be coming during the mating season for the elephant seals. As you go down the coast road toward San Luis Obispo, you will come across a few beaches where they are and there are spots for tourists to come and see them. Really cool sight if you're into that kinda thing.

Hearst Castle is awesome...definitely take the time to do it.

Once you're in SoCal it's a mixed bag, but there are plenty of hip spots in L.A. I'll let someone else advise you on that since it's not my area.

Have Fun!!!

[Ragz]

Make sure you allot your time for the southen part of Highway 1, I drove it a few years ago, could easley add 3 to 4 hours on your trip, beautiful highway , but a narrow road and a lot of twist and turns. If you are a golfer, check out Pebble Beach.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

You obviously should stop in SF on your way. The whole bay is nice, but the city is a lot of fun and there are great restaurants everywhere and fun watering holes. I still recommend doing the Alcatraz tour, but you need a few hours and probably should buy your tickets in advance. Fisherman's Wharf is really touristy, so beware.

Just expanding on this, I think going to the Tues/Thurs/Sat farmers market (pier ~13? or so) is one of the best cultural experiences in the city. That the the mission. Fisherman's Wharf is a bit of a dog and pony show.

On LA, just quick notes... Santa Monica is my fav part of the area, note that parking garages (free/cheap) on 3rd street might be completely full but then go down 1 street to 2nd and they are 50% occupied. Kind of funny how that is. Obviously, the promenade and pier are both really popular and fun. There is a Italian place down PCH that, when we went, saw a lot of celebs. On the outside it looked really ordinary; go inside and you are a can of sardines with famous hollywood people. Funny how that is.

Around UCLA, tons of food to eat at collage prices. My girlfriend did undergrad/grad school there so she knew all the great places to go. The most popular is this cookie ice cream sandwhich that has mile long lines even at 1am. No idea why. Seems other UC's and now Stanford picked up that chain and ridiculousness. Bella Pita makes a really good medaterrainian (wowosha?) burger... thats my personal fav. I'm told the 3 things to try in LA... Tito's Taco's (West LA).... dang forget the other 2, have to ask my girlfriend.

[Nehkara]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

Buy chains in advance. They may require you to use them or send you back. Just an FYI as this happened to us when we first started living here.

Really? I thought no one would have a problem if I had four excellent winter tires on. Alright, I'll start looking into buying chains. Thanks!

[#-3]

I have been considering a the same trip some time in the next couple of years, once my kids are old enough to handle it.

But I was thinking I would do it in the opposite direct, and skipping the Washington coast in favor of Mount St Helen & Portland. There is still the Oregon coast.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Nehkara

Really? I thought no one would have a problem if I had four excellent winter tires on. Alright, I'll start looking into buying chains. Thanks!

One thing you'll find about this place is, they really are all about the rules. I believe some areas might let you off the hook if you have 4WD, conditions depending... but tires and where you are from, no.

Careful doing the standard "10 over the limit" ... in Cali, you are ok. In Utah, over 5mph still gets you busted. FYI. Hopefully you get some snow in time for Zion/Bryce, its much better with snow.

Oh and if you go by the area, Moab is awesome. One of my favorite places in the USA, maybe even the world. Utah in general is one of my fav places in the world. Awesome desert towers (see: Alex Honnold, Citibank commercial... on youtube)

[MRCboicgy]

I was going to suggest a trip up to Crater lake, but at that time of year, it will probably be closed/rough - and the drive over from the Oregon Coast is gonna be tough

[tvp2003]

Just curious -- where would you require the use of chains? The WA/OR coast? Utah?If it was me I would avoid going to BC coast entirely (unless you have to) -- drive through Cranbrook/Spokane/Seattle to get to the Coast as opposed to going through the Rockies (the mountain passes aren't nearly as bad IMO). Gas is cheaper too.

Also, I wouldn't spend a lot of time in the big cities like SF and LA -- it's easy to fly back there if you want to visit again. Consider maximize your time in more remote places that will only be accessible via car because you'll only be able to do those again if you do another road trip.

[Nehkara]

Also, I am curious... It looks like California only requires chains (for my Honda Civic) for the front tires, as it is front wheel drive.

Are there any places that would require all four tires have chains, or will one pair for the drive wheels suffice?

[sa226]

I'm going to piggy back on this to ask a question. I have some time at the end of August and I was thinking of doing a 3 day drive of the Pacific coast highway from SFO to LA. But my time off is over a weekend.

Is it utter insanity to do that drive over a summer weekend?