Planning A California Trip... What To Do

[Deleted]

Oct 6, 2017 0:33:44 GMT clapham said:

Keep in mind that those beach cities get pretty pricey "in season" and traffic picks up significantly as well. My suggestion for saving both money and significant travel time is to go before Memorial Day or after Labor Day. Also, don't plan on traveling at peak times like Friday afternoons. My suggestion is to start in Day 1 in SAC. Day 2, I5 south will take you through Stockton, but you wouldn't have to spend more than a couple of hours there before heading west to Danville. Since you are on a tight schedule, after seeing Danville, I think on Day 3, I would head on down south to Santa Barbara/ Goleta. Day 4, finish in Goleta, stop in Ventura, and get to Orange County by mid afternoon. Spend the rest of that day in Laguna Niguel, and on day 5 is Irvine. It's a lot to cover in 5 days, but this is how I would do it.

This is so cool, I was thinking of doing this a week or so before Halloween in 2018. Either way, it's going to be a full year from now before we go do this. Some of us are talking about going earlier like in July-September range but I know I will not be ready by then. I'd actually like to be there in Goleta on the anniversary of the Queen Anne attack and leave CA the following day, but that's just me at this point. Also, I would probably be wise to add an extra day to rest somewhere and possibly connect with some sleuths. Maybe a pub or restaurant from back then that still exists today? 

I'm going ahead and planning to see as much as possible, so this will likely be the itinerary I will follow unless someone thinks of something better. Thanks clapham! 

[arlington]

Sept 28, 2017 13:03:39 GMT @murdoc said:

Sept 28, 2017 2:37:04 GMT arlington said:

Bring or rent a small drone with a camera for aerial neighborhood photos.

Now THAT is a good idea!

A business associate of mine returned from a trip yesterday to U.K. and Germany, he brought his drone and the photos from the air he took were amazing.

On a side note and unrelated to this case, if you're in the San Jose area in late October as you mentioned potentially, do the Halloween tour of the Winchester mansion, pretty cool place. Cheers.

[woofytreats]

Oct 6, 2017 2:44:31 GMT @murdoc said:

Oct 6, 2017 0:33:44 GMT clapham said:

Keep in mind that those beach cities get pretty pricey "in season" and traffic picks up significantly as well. My suggestion for saving both money and significant travel time is to go before Memorial Day or after Labor Day. Also, don't plan on traveling at peak times like Friday afternoons. My suggestion is to start in Day 1 in SAC. Day 2, I5 south will take you through Stockton, but you wouldn't have to spend more than a couple of hours there before heading west to Danville. Since you are on a tight schedule, after seeing Danville, I think on Day 3, I would head on down south to Santa Barbara/ Goleta. Day 4, finish in Goleta, stop in Ventura, and get to Orange County by mid afternoon. Spend the rest of that day in Laguna Niguel, and on day 5 is Irvine. It's a lot to cover in 5 days, but this is how I would do it.

This is so cool, I was thinking of doing this a week or so before Halloween in 2018. Either way, it's going to be a full year from now before we go do this. Some of us are talking about going earlier like in July-September range but I know I will not be ready by then. I'd actually like to be there in Goleta on the anniversary of the Queen Anne attack and leave CA the following day, but that's just me at this point. Also, I would probably be wise to add an extra day to rest somewhere and possibly connect with some sleuths. Maybe a pub or restaurant from back then that still exists today? 

I'm going ahead and planning to see as much as possible, so this will likely be the itinerary I will follow unless someone thinks of something better. Thanks clapham ! 

I think the best thing about this is trip is that you've got a full year to parse out and refine what you want to do and your itinerary. Can you stretch the trip a day or two?? I'd agree that adding a day to rest, travel, or focus on one or two things you're really interested in would give you some breathing room. I've gotta think that building in some cushion time ( even if it's only a day ) will make your trip less hectic and allow for any problems that might come up without destroying your itinerary.

[Deleted]

Oct 6, 2017 15:43:00 GMT woofytreats said:

Oct 6, 2017 2:44:31 GMT @murdoc said:

This is so cool, I was thinking of doing this a week or so before Halloween in 2018. Either way, it's going to be a full year from now before we go do this. Some of us are talking about going earlier like in July-September range but I know I will not be ready by then. I'd actually like to be there in Goleta on the anniversary of the Queen Anne attack and leave CA the following day, but that's just me at this point. Also, I would probably be wise to add an extra day to rest somewhere and possibly connect with some sleuths. Maybe a pub or restaurant from back then that still exists today? 

I'm going ahead and planning to see as much as possible, so this will likely be the itinerary I will follow unless someone thinks of something better. Thanks clapham ! 

I think the best thing about this is trip is that you've got a full year to parse out and refine what you want to do and your itinerary. Can you stretch the trip a day or two?? I'd agree that adding a day to rest, travel, or focus on one or two things you're really interested in would give you some breathing room. I've gotta think that building in some cushion time ( even if it's only a day ) will make your trip less hectic and allow for any problems that might come up without destroying your itinerary.

Agreed! This is why I opted for a full year instead of sooner, not only to save the money but to shop around at places to stay and what have you. bob's idea with airbnb's is sounding nicer and nicer, especially considering the possibility that others might want a chance to say hello, visit and talk shop,,, I'm definitely open to adding the sixth day just to unwind but if I pushed it any further I would be setting myself up for too many missed days at work. It'll be up to where that occurs in the coming months. 

Also the driving is out of the question now sadly lol, as I am seeing things from a practical stand point now. 

[bob]

If you're in LA around Halloween, go to Disneyland on Bat Night. Early September is a good time to travel, all the locals are getting ready for back-to-school etc.
Rates in AirBnbs are fairly steady year round. You can pick up something on the beach cheap.

[Deleted]

Second deposit made! So excited bruh

[morf13]

Good luck with this trip Murdoc! Sounds super awesome especially if you are meeting up with some of the wonderful people from this site

[Deleted]

Oct 22, 2017 0:27:13 GMT morf13 said:

Good luck with this trip Murdoc! Sounds super awesome especially if you are meeting up with some of the wonderful people from this site

You should come along too Morf ! Nothing like a road trip !

[morf13]

Oct 22, 2017 0:29:26 GMT @bthekid said:

Oct 22, 2017 0:27:13 GMT morf13 said:

Good luck with this trip Murdoc! Sounds super awesome especially if you are meeting up with some of the wonderful people from this site

You should come along too Morf ! Nothing like a road trip !

So far out, man I would love to. Two young kids makes that a challenge logistically, financially, every kind of way   I'd be down for it 'on paper', but I think I may even need 2 full weeks, one for the EAR crimes, one for the Zodiac crimes too. I'd have to visit with my law enforcement friends in both southern CA and in the bay area and buy them coffee, so I'd really have a packed schedule

[Deleted]

Oct 22, 2017 0:34:10 GMT morf13 said:

Oct 22, 2017 0:29:26 GMT @bthekid said:

You should come along too Morf ! Nothing like a road trip !

So far out, man I would love to. Two young kids makes that a challenge logistically, financially, every kind of way   I'd be down for it 'on paper', but I think I may even need 2 full weeks, one for the EAR crimes, one for the Zodiac crimes too. I'd have to visit with my law enforcement friends in both southern CA and in the bay area and buy them coffee, so I'd really have a packed schedule

I totally understand... I have three year old twins along with a couple teenagers! It would be great to have you come visit if you can make it !

[Drifter]

Since murdoc is definitely going anyway, I think the rest of us should hitch a ride with him. He can pay for the gas, the hotels, and other expenses. And we'll do our part by keeping him company, agreeing to be in his videos, and purchasing the wine. A fair and equal allocation of resources, I think.

D.

[thatmillergirl]

I have lived in Sacramento, Santa Clara (San Jose), and in Manhattan Beach (L.A.) and I can tell you this.... If you love to experience earthquakes daily, traffic jams everywhere you go, and smog so bad it burns your eyes then L.A. is the place you oughta see. Its also expensive to do anything there. San Jose is almost worse than L.A. and Sacramento is much more laid back. It's not as expensive to stay in Sacramento. It's greener here the weather is great and your only an hours drive from the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Lake Tahoe. Also an Hour from the Beach, San Francisco. So Its not too bad here. 1 hour and your in San Francisco eating fresh fish on the wharf, and 1 hour from the mountains where you can ski in the winter and hike in the summer. Its the gold country, it absolutely beautiful. 45 minutes from Napa valley which is beautiful and fun. So to each his own. So hope you have fun on your trip to California.

- ThatMillerGirl