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This thread provides an opportunity to describe upcoming vacations. I'll go first:
In November my wife and I are flying to California for my cousin Amy's wedding. Thanksgiving is the 24th and the wedding is on the 19th in Fresno, so we'll spend some time piddling around central California and then go to my family's house on the 23rd. We're trying to keep this as more of a budget trip, though, since we want to go to a resort at some point next year. The daily itinerary:
- Friday, November 18: Fly from Raleigh to LAX, arriving in the late afternoon. Pick up rental car and drive to Fresno. Yes, I know that's a long day, but with all the Asian travel I've done my ability to handle long days is quite stellar. And since we're flying with frequent flier miles there isn't a lot of choice available. So we'll drive from LA to Fresno that evening. Accommodation in Fresno is a Four Points by Sheraton.
- Saturday, November 19: The wedding is in the mid-afternoon just north of Sanger. I assume we'll have some kind of family breakfast at my aunt and uncle's house in Sanger. Maybe if we don't I'll swing through an El Pollo Loco drive-thru for a snack. Non-Mormons, though, so I expect a fantastic meal and desserts at/after the wedding.
- Sunday, November 20: Up early to drive from Fresno to Monterey. Up 99, through Madera, over to Los Banos, over the mountains to Hollister (or alternatively to meet up with my old roommate in Gilroy if I can get in touch with him), down to Monterey. Staying at the Hotel Abrego (wife Pricelined this. Hopefully it's okay. Something like a boutiquey motel, it seems). Point Pinos, 17-mile drive, etc. Dinner somewhere near the water. Recommendations?
- Monday, November 21: Take 1 down the coast. Stop in San Simeon for Hearst Castle, pull over to look at the water whenever we feel so inclined, etc. I know this area well and I love it, so I imagine we'll want to take the scenery in. It'll be chilly out, though, so I'll probably just keep driving. With my luck it'll rain the whole day. Maybe stop in SLO and look around, etc. Dinner that night at F. McClintock's in Shell Beach. Staying in Arroyo Grande for two nights (Best Western).
- Tuesday, November 22: Walk around the beach in Pismo a bit if the weather permits. Main thing for the day, though, will be to go to Santa Maria and check out where we lived when I was younger. Also to see a movie at the drive-in theater. Probably eat dinner again at F. McClintock's if I'm lucky. Tri-tip time!
- Wednesday, November 23: This is a pretty big drive but we'll cross quite a bit of terrain types. Drive from Arroyo Grande to Ridgecrest via Cuyama, Maricopa, Bakersfield (need to get in touch with The Tick. My last two times through Bakersfield we've gotten together), then through Lake Isabella on 178 and down into Ridgecrest. Usually I'd take 58 from Bakersfield to Mojave and up but I feel like taking the Isabella route. Accommodation in Ridgecrest is a Spring Hill Suites (free Marriott points -- and yes, I refuse to stay with family).
- Thursday, November 24: Thanksgiving. The usual stuff.
- Friday, November 25: Drive to LA, return the rental car, fly back to Raleigh.
It should be a fun trip!
In November my wife and I are flying to California for my cousin Amy's wedding. Thanksgiving is the 24th and the wedding is on the 19th in Fresno, so we'll spend some time piddling around central California and then go to my family's house on the 23rd. We're trying to keep this as more of a budget trip, though, since we want to go to a resort at some point next year. The daily itinerary:
- Friday, November 18: Fly from Raleigh to LAX, arriving in the late afternoon. Pick up rental car and drive to Fresno. Yes, I know that's a long day, but with all the Asian travel I've done my ability to handle long days is quite stellar. And since we're flying with frequent flier miles there isn't a lot of choice available. So we'll drive from LA to Fresno that evening. Accommodation in Fresno is a Four Points by Sheraton.
- Saturday, November 19: The wedding is in the mid-afternoon just north of Sanger. I assume we'll have some kind of family breakfast at my aunt and uncle's house in Sanger. Maybe if we don't I'll swing through an El Pollo Loco drive-thru for a snack. Non-Mormons, though, so I expect a fantastic meal and desserts at/after the wedding.
- Sunday, November 20: Up early to drive from Fresno to Monterey. Up 99, through Madera, over to Los Banos, over the mountains to Hollister (or alternatively to meet up with my old roommate in Gilroy if I can get in touch with him), down to Monterey. Staying at the Hotel Abrego (wife Pricelined this. Hopefully it's okay. Something like a boutiquey motel, it seems). Point Pinos, 17-mile drive, etc. Dinner somewhere near the water. Recommendations?
- Monday, November 21: Take 1 down the coast. Stop in San Simeon for Hearst Castle, pull over to look at the water whenever we feel so inclined, etc. I know this area well and I love it, so I imagine we'll want to take the scenery in. It'll be chilly out, though, so I'll probably just keep driving. With my luck it'll rain the whole day. Maybe stop in SLO and look around, etc. Dinner that night at F. McClintock's in Shell Beach. Staying in Arroyo Grande for two nights (Best Western).
- Tuesday, November 22: Walk around the beach in Pismo a bit if the weather permits. Main thing for the day, though, will be to go to Santa Maria and check out where we lived when I was younger. Also to see a movie at the drive-in theater. Probably eat dinner again at F. McClintock's if I'm lucky. Tri-tip time!
- Wednesday, November 23: This is a pretty big drive but we'll cross quite a bit of terrain types. Drive from Arroyo Grande to Ridgecrest via Cuyama, Maricopa, Bakersfield (need to get in touch with The Tick. My last two times through Bakersfield we've gotten together), then through Lake Isabella on 178 and down into Ridgecrest. Usually I'd take 58 from Bakersfield to Mojave and up but I feel like taking the Isabella route. Accommodation in Ridgecrest is a Spring Hill Suites (free Marriott points -- and yes, I refuse to stay with family).
- Thursday, November 24: Thanksgiving. The usual stuff.
- Friday, November 25: Drive to LA, return the rental car, fly back to Raleigh.
It should be a fun trip!
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