What should I see in California?

[cemaphonic]

My dad and I are driving my brother back to LA from Seattle in a couple of weeks? What are some interesting things to see that are fairly close to I-5, and don't require a lot of time to visit? I've flown to San Francisco and LA before, but otherwise haven't really seen much south of Eugene before.

[av8rdave]

1. The LA smog and the San Andreas Fault are not to be missed!

[Initech]

5. I would suggest taking a drive out to Palm Springs...

There's a line (and you can actually see this) where the smog of the Inland Empire ends and the clean air of the desert begins. It's a pretty unbelievable site.

[av8rdave]

6. I fly over that area frequently..it's very visible

[AlCzervik]

2. The Charles Schultz museum in Santa Rosa and all of San Francisco, especially

Stinson beach and Muir woods.

[NMDemDist2]

3. stop for lunch in Sacramento at Old Ironsides, 10th & S streets or

Old Sacramento is right there off I-5 and the RailRoad museum is worth a visit

[XemaSab]

4. Yosemite is a couple hours off the 5

This time of year it shouldn't be too crowded.

[Beaverhausen]

7. Big Sur/Monterey/Carmel

the central coast is worth a drive.

http://www.bigsurcalifornia.org/beaches.html

Hearst Castle is pretty fun.
http://www.hearst-castle.org/

[Bennyboy]

8. Mt Shasta....

That area is really nice. Burney Falls, McCleod Falls..The mountain itself is major MOJO. The headwaters of the Sacramento River is in Shasta City.

Chico. If you are at all into beer, a must stop at the Sierra Nevada Brewery. Great beer and fantastic food.

Sacramento. Old Sac is okay, an old town tourist stop. the State Capital, many fine restaurants in midtown.

The Sacramento Delta area is nice.isleton, Locke etc.

Harris Ranch, Coalinga. Fantastic food, Harris Ranch beef right from the hoof.There are two restaurants, one a coffe shop casual dining and one a fine dinner house. botha are great and have similar menus. best beef anywhere.

[Duncan Grant]

12. I'll second Mt. Shasta.

The 5 doesn't provide the quintessential California experience, imho (except for the 85 mph traffic). :D

I would also encourage the OP to take an overnight trip up to Sequoia National Park. Mt. Shasta and Sequoia are both extraordinarily beautiful.

[Kutjara]

9. William Randolph Hearst's monument to excess at San Simeon.

The Napa and Sonoma Valleys (if you like wine).
Route 1 south from San Francisco to Monterey.

[jgraz]

10. If you have the time, do yourself a favor and take Hwy 1 down

It's one of the most beautiful drives in the world.

[Duncan Grant]

13. It's best experienced in a high-performance red convertible, imho.

If you're going to commit to Hwy 1 - do it with style.

[Kutjara]

14. Agreed, but carry a...

...rocket launcher and plenty of ammo. Nothing ruins a jaunt down Hwy 1 more than getting stuck behind a Winnebago going at 2mph the whole way. A little forward planning and those leviathans will be nothing more than gently flaming memories in your rearview mirror.

[Duncan Grant]

15. LMAO!

We need to take a road trip together. :rofl:

[jgraz]

16. Last time I drove this guy

It was racing green, but damn it was fun.

[Duncan Grant]

20. Works for me.

You can never go wrong with the classic racing green. :thumbsup:

That does look like fun!

[cemaphonic]

17. They took that route on their way up, and it sounded really nice.

I'll see if they want to do it again.

[AlCzervik]

19. beautiful drive but bring a barf bag if you have people riding in the back seat.

Mendocino is lovely this time of the year, well anytime of the year actually.

[Gormy Cuss]

11. Oregon Caves Monument

It's very near the big redwood parks on the CA-OR border and it has accommodations with a restaurant -- in the middle of nowhere but on a direct route from I-5 this time of year (not a place to be in the winter.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Caves_National_Monument

on edit: from I-5 it's pretty easy to get over to the Livermore wine region near Silicon Valley. It's laid back and fun and there are some well regarded wines in the area.
If you think this is a good stopping point PM me and I'll give you some ideas on which wineries to visit, where to stay over, and dining recs.
http://www.livermorewine.com/history.html

[Redstone]

18. Take US 395 north. Trust me. There's more to see on that road than you would

ever have believed.

Take that road, and dirve it slowly. Stop in each town and talk to people.

And do NOT miss Mono Lake.

Do this. You'll be forever happy that you did.

Redstone

[Bennyboy]

21. And Don't forget the Whoa Neliie Deli in Lee Vining! (mono lake)

In the Mobil Gas Mart. Best food around. Lobster tacos. A big city chef decided to do something else and found himself here. He makes the most interesting food. Best bet in Lee Vining.

[Redstone]

22. God damn. Somebody else knows Lee Vining, CA. Good to know I'm not the only one. I've been a

Mona Lake devotee, and a memeber of the Mono Lake Committee since the early 1980s.

I'm damned pleased to make your acquaintance.

Redstone

[Bennyboy]

24. Mono Lake photo

http://picasaweb.google.com/bennyboy420/TravelCalifornia/photo#5109506256429706994"><img src="

And nice to meet you too.

A good drive would be 395 from anywhere (Vegas perhaps?)to Lee Vining. From there go into Yosemite and visit, then pick up 99 and cut to I-5 in Sacramento.

[Arugula Latte]

23. Drive up into the Berkeley HIlls if you've got the time

Aaaah -- maybe up in Tilden Park inhale the scent of eucalyptus and behold the glory of the Cal campus, the Bay, San Francisco, the Golden Gate, the Bay Bridge, all spread before you ...