Driving LA to SF

[Lawlar]

I vote no again on Sherman Oaks

Were driving to San Francisco from LA after the kids and grandkids leave. With kids were doing disney and some other attractions. After they leave were staying at Marriott Courtyard in Sherman Oaks for a couple of days because it seemed that this location was in between Hollywood and Venice Beach. Now we are wondering if we should be staying in Hollywood one nite and Venice Beach one nite because of traffic. Thanks for the advice about Winchester House and the short cuts to Hollywood from Sherman Oaks.

You definitely do not want to stay in Sherman Oaks. That is North of both Hollywood and Venice Beach and you would have to drive at least 30 minutes South to get to Hollywood (with no traffic) and a good deal further to get to Venice Beach. Sherman Oaks doesn't give you anything special to see or do (its a residential and business area).

I don't know that I would want to stay in Hollywood. A little seamy even after the renovations.

 

[DeniseM]

You definitely do not want to stay in Sherman Oaks. That is North of both Hollywood and Venice Beach and you would have to drive at least 30 minutes South to get to Hollywood (with no traffic) and a good deal further to get to Venice Beach. Sherman Oaks doesn't give you anything special to see or do (its a residential and business area).

I don't know that I would want to stay in Hollywood. A little seamy even after the renovations.

The OP is already in Northern CA.

 

[easyrider]

One nite in Santa Monica at the Sherman Delfina to visit Venice. We really liked Venice but when it gets dark every one clears out. We found two Irish Pubs in Santa Monica that we like.

We like Marriott Courtyard Hotels so we did stay in Sheman Oaks one nite for our Hollywood day. The Hollywood Christmas Parade was on this day so all the folks were out. It was a little cramped but we had a blast.

Two nites in San Luis Obispo isnt enough. From Pismo Beach to Hearst Ranch is too much to do in two days.

The drive from San Luis to Monterey on CA 1 is in some areas very comparable to the Hana HWY in Maui.

Monterey is just not SF, so off to SF and some great food and Irish Pubs.

Yes Denise, we have used your SF page a few times now and it was our inspiration for our first trip to SF last year, so thanks.

 

[DeniseM]

Yes Denise, we have used your SF page a few times now and it was our inspiration for our first trip to SF last year, so thanks.

That's right - sorry I forgot. Have a great time in SF!

 

[CalifasGirl]

Central California wineries

Then you can go into Pismo Beach for a meal, there are some pretty good seafood restaurants at reasonable prices - they compete for best clam chowder awards - served in a sourdough bowl.

There are also a lot of great wineries in the San Luis Obispo area, although I'm sure you don't want to go with kids.

 

[CalifasGirl]

traffic alerts

Anywhere you drive in the Los Angeles area is a nightmare in my mind.

Traffic can be terrible. That's why most of us Angelenos avoid the prime traffic hours. Even so, you can have traffic at all hours, like what someone said about a traffic jam at midnight. I used to work graveyard shift (11 pm-7 am) in Burbank, and there was usually a huge traffic jam on the 101 with people trying to get to their jobs, probably all folks like me with a night shift. Sometimes it's due to freeway maintenance, so they close down lanes during the wee hours, which causes a huge backup.

There are lots of people who work at a company that employs people 24 hours a day. I had worked at an entertainment company, but there are hospitals and businesses open 24 hours a day, which is why there is so much traffic in LA.

To avoid traffic, I use traffic alert websites like http://www.sigalert.com/ or http://www.traffic.com/ and listen to KNX 1070 AM which alerts you to traffic on the freeways. Most TV news shows will also talk about traffic in the mornings. I hope this helps.