Looking for advice on travel to California & Hawaii

[wyecrabber1]

DW and I are joining our son and his young family in Oahu for a week in July. Since we will be flying from Jacksonville we are taking 4 days to see the sights near San Fran. Plan to head south to Monterey and Big Sur. Then up to Muir Woods and do some hiking.

Then hop on the plane and head to Hawaii, staying at the Westin on Waikiki. Will visit Pearl Harbor, a few excursions and hit the beach with the grandkids.

Coming home we are stopping in San Diego for 3 days just to break-up the flight. See some of the local sites and head up to Laguna and Newport beach.

Any suggestions on what to see and what not to see?

BTD. Thanks!!!

 

[Lewis Clark]

The Monterey Bay Aquarium is excellent if you like aquariums.

Tarpy's Roadhouse is an excellent restaurant in Monterey.

Old Fisherman's Grotto on the Monterey Fisherman's Wharf has excellent clam chowder.

 

[braumeister]

I have always considered Muir Woods a magical place. But be aware that reservations are now required.

Top Ten Tips for Visiting Muir Woods

 

[lajolla]

July will be busy here in San Diego, but weather will be lovely. The zoo and Balboa Park are world class if you have never been there. If you like craft beer San Diego has many wonderful breweries that are fun to visit. Our favorite is Eppig in Point Loma on the water with a great view. You can also visit Cabrillo National Monument for a hike and great views. Torrey Pines is a great place for a hike overlooking the ocean. It is also fun to go to glider port near Torrey Pines and watch the hang gliders over the cliffs. If you go to downtown La Jolla and walk along by the cove and further south to the Children Pool you will see the harbor seals and sea lions. Coronado is another beautiful place to visit and have a drink at the Hotel Del and walk the beach. Downtown San Diego will be very busy if you are here July 21 - 24 when Comic Con is happening. Do you know what area of San Diego you plan to stay in?

 

[mh]

I have always considered Muir Woods a magical place. But be aware that reservations are now required.

Top Ten Tips for Visiting Muir Woods

Henry Cowell Recwoods state park is a good alternative to Muir Woods . It’s in Santa Cruz so would probably a good stop before Monterey https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=546

 

[Bamaman]

We've visited Northern California many times, and driven virtually every street in San Francisco--before the deterioration of society. Given 4 days, I would fly into the Bay area, rent a car and head for Lake Tahoe. It's an incredibly beautiful place Winter or Summer. An alternative would be to visit Yosemite National Park.

We have also visited the Monterrey area quite a few times, and started the Pacific Coast Highway there heading south. We love to visit the Hearst Castle and generally soak in one of the premier, beautiful drives anywhere. We did stay in Big Sur once and found it to be just another hippy community of artists.

You've already got the San Diego trip lined out by others. It's quite a place too.

 

[mh]

If it was me I would skip Laguna and Newport Beach and maybe stay and extra day in the Monterey Santa Cruz / Big Sur area. Maybe in Carmel or cambria ( moonstone beach with its boardwalk is very nice ) https://www.google.com/search?q=moo...hUKEwij7Z7B7sv2AhWGADQIHY_GCusQ_AUoAHoECAAQAw
or pfieffer Big Sur area https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=570

 

[tutan]

Near Highway 1:
Good views of the Pacific Ocean when you hike up Montara Mountain just south of Pacifica. Park at Gray Whale Cove State Beach and go up. The top is anticlimactic as you are farther away from the coast.

Point Lobos State Reserve has a pretty coastal walk. It's just south of Monterey. It's too hard to get in on the weekend however.

Garrapata State Park south of Carmel also is another place to get an expansive view of the Pacific. You may get to see some flowers near the top.

 

[ocean view]

Henry Cowell Recwoods state park is a good alternative to Muir Woods . It’s in Santa Cruz so would probably a good stop before Monterey https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=546

+1 for Henry Cowell State Park. They have a nice relatively flat 1-mile loop trail that’s good for kids & seniors who may not be up for a big hike.

If big hiking is what you desire there are lots of state and county parks between SF and Monterey that feature the iconic coast redwoods like those found in Muir Woods. The other parks are just lesser known and less crowded.

The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park is another stunning redwood forest. It has more serious trails compared to Henry Cowell. It is also adjacent to Santa Cruz.

https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=666

 

[Act2]

I remember several outstanding Japanese restaurants on Oahu from my visit a decade ago.

 

[daylatedollarshort]

In San Francisco, I think our most memorable tourist activity on our first visit was to go to Fisherman's Wharf and take a bay cruise. The sea lions there are fun to watch. Golden Gate Park is probably a close second. The Academy of Science located there has a lot of interesting exhibits like a tropical rain forest, aquarium, planetarium and earthquake exhibit where you can experience a simulated earthquake. I also like the Japanese Gardens at Golden Gate Park. At night the theater district always has a good selection of plays. Afterwards, a drink at one of the roof top bars has pretty views.

 

[oiseux]

I don't know if I'd spend the time to loop up to Muir Woods after going south. If anything, do a day trip while in SF and then go directly to SFO from Monterey. In Monterey, be sure to visit or stay in Carmel village and take in a meal (Anton & Michel, Basil, La Balena). Also, as others noted, there are some excellent coastal hikes in the area.

 

[Ian S]

We enjoyed hiking Diamond Head in Honolulu.

 

[ScoopKona]

I live on the Big Island and I vacation mostly in the Bay Area.

1) Unless you like crowds and typical tourist-trap stuff, avoid the Cannery area of Monterrey. (Or have a plan of how to get there, see the remains of the Pacific Biological Co., "The Western Biological" from Cannery Row, and get out.)
2) There are some excellent wine tasting rooms, away from the tourist crush in Monterrey.
3) If you have access to a kitchen, the Monterrey Fish Company, at the end of Fisherman's Wharf is my second-favorite fish market on the entire planet. (There are two wharves -- go to the longer one, all the way at the end. You can drive all the way there, despite what the signs say -- there IS parking for fish market customers)
4) I am also a fan of walking around Carmel-by-the-Sea. The shops there don't sell anything that interests me. But it is a VERY nice town to just walk around.
5) I think four days in SF, Monterrey and Muir will feel VERY rushed. I'd stick with just one. I've spent months in SF and I've barely scratched the surface. I would gladly spend a week in any of the above. Hell, I'd gladly spend a month in any of the above.
6) For Hawaii, the best way to look at it is: "It's Asia." You can make the choice to do as the locals do. Or you can spend a LOT more, and eat nothing but occidental foods. I'd eat as many poke bowls as possible. Live on fish, rice and tropical fruit.

 

[daylatedollarshort]

5) I think four days in SF, Monterrey and Muir will feel VERY rushed. I'd stick with just one. I've spent months in SF and I've barely scratched the surface. I would gladly spend a week in any of the above. Hell, I'd gladly spend a month in any of the above.

I agree. We live in the Bay Area and haven't seen all the sights yet. There is just really a lot to do and see in the city and surrounding weekend / day trip areas. That is the main reason we moved here.

 

[samm]

...Coming home we are stopping in San Diego ... See some of the local sites and head up to Laguna and Newport beach.

I suggest you visit beaches in Oceanside Ca and avoid the extra drive to Newport Beach. The beaches at O-side are miles long, beautiful, relatively quiet, and there is parking. Carlsbad is nice too. Dont forget to go to the In n Out Burger in O-side.

 

[Lsbcal]

In San Diego
1) Go to Coronado Island and visit the Dell hotel. The grounds are very nice and maybe have a lunch or snack there. The beach there is a nice walk. I think of weekends maybe get there early to avoid parking issues.
2) You can tour the WW2 aircraft carrier Midway on Harbor Drive.
3) Consider going to Seaworld for a day
4) As above, the zoo is great and you could easily spend most of the day there
5) Lots of gardens and some museums in Balboa Park

 

[Koolau]

Here is how to get tickets to the USS Arizona tour:

https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/233338/ticket/16

Book early.

These tickets are the only way to travel from land out to the memorial. Tour companies may provide transportation to the land portion of the memorial (museum, gift shop, etc.) but only the gummint (Navy) provides transport to the actual memorial. You can take the bus or rent a car to get there.

If you are into military history, you might consider touring Punchbowl cemetery which is often referred to as the "Arlington of the Pacific." See: https://www.abmc.gov/Honolulu

A foot tour (on your own) of China Town Honolulu (in the day time) might be interesting to some. Very different from typical tourist areas - not for every one. Let your gut be your guide to stay safe.

If you are into Snorkeling, Hanauma Bay is the favorite. Get there early for limited parking - see: https://hanaumabaystatepark.com/

Round the Island tour (can do it by car, bus or tour). Probably best by car. Pretty much all day.

Haleiwa town (and North Shore in general) - Funky, hippie, surf community with unique shops and scenery on the North Shore - long drive from Honolulu though tours available. Not near the traffic in July as in winter as there is very little surf in summer though YMMV. Not recommending this site, but contains info on things to do. https://www.amyfillinger.com/things-to-do-in-haleiwa/

See: https://www.101thingstodo.com/oahu101/ This is all ads but mentions lots of cool things to do - some of which you can do free if you can get from your hotel to the location.

Best Book I've found: Oahu Revealed by Doughty https://www.revealedtravelguides.com/oahu-island/

Enjoy and aloha

 

[Sunset]

I remember several outstanding Japanese restaurants on Oahu from my visit a decade ago.

We really liked the Udon restaurant in Waikiki a couple of blocks up from the beach.
Often there was a line to get in, sometimes the line was down the block, so we went at off hours.
It was not expensive, great for an afternoon lunch.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60982-d2188078-Reviews-Marukame_Udon_Waikiki-Honolulu_Oahu_Hawaii.html

 

[Sunset]

We enjoyed hiking Diamond Head in Honolulu.

Yes, that was very interesting , we took a bus from Waikiki to the road and walked through the tunnel to enter the dead volcano, then hiked up the path, stairs and tunnels to get to the top edge. Great views.

We found the Dole plantation tour, was a complete waste of time.

 

[Sunset]

......
If you are into military history, you might consider touring Punchbowl cemetery which is often referred to as the "Arlington of the Pacific." See: https://www.abmc.gov/Honolulu

.....

If you are into Snorkeling, Hanauma Bay is the favorite. Get there early for limited parking - see: https://hanaumabaystatepark.com/

....

Hanauma Bay is great, I nearly drowned there, don't be stupid and try to swim past the barrier without fins. Within the barrier, which is far out is fun and fantastic.

Also for the Punchbowl, don't be stupid like me (notice a theme) and go when they are closed (as closed as a cemetery can be).. I walked up the hill from the ocean, and it's a LONG walk UPHILL, as buses weren't running often that day up there.

 

[Koolau]

We enjoyed hiking Diamond Head in Honolulu.

That hike is fairly strenuous - https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/oahu/diamond-head-state-monument/ - since you are climbing (IIRC) about 600 feet(?) up. I have a panoramic picture from the top taken by a professional and sold at the art sale by the zoo. Art on the Zoo Fence Hawaii another cool thing to see.

If you want another challenging hike you could try the Koko Crater trail https://www.best-of-oahu.com/koko-crater-trail.html Very impressive views.

There are also trails in the mountains overlooking Kailua.

The granddaddy of all climbs on Oahu is "The Stairway to Heaven" aka Haiku Stairs - which is illegal to climb - but folks still do it. Fine is maybe $1000! It's hard to find the entry as it's in a residential area and fenced off. Probably not a good way to spend your money (big fine) but it is legendary. This site isn't very reliable but has good pics of the stairs from H3. https://ohmybuhay.com/haiku-stairs-stairway-heaven/

Free "Helicopter" ride through the Ko'olaus. Start up the H3 freeway from Kaneohe toward the tunnels. It will feel like a helicopter ride through the mountains. Actually both directions (from Kaneohe toward Honolulu or the reverse give stunning views. From town (Honolulu) coming out of the tunnels, the vista overlooking Kaneohe Bay and MCBH (Marine Corps Base Hawaii) are stunning. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_H-3 By the way, you can see the Haiku Stairs from the H3 if you know where to look. YMMV

 

[Ian S]

That hike [Diamond Head] is fairly strenuous - https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/oahu/diamond-head-state-monument/ - since you are climbing (IIRC) about 600 feet(?) up. I have a panoramic picture from the top taken by a professional and sold at the art sale by the zoo. Art on the Zoo Fence Hawaii another cool thing to see.

Yes, it was a good workout! We are used to hiking in Phoenix which has some challenging trails too. The key is to take plenty of water. After the hike, we decided to walk back to our hotel instead of taking a taxi and got quite thirsty before we were able to pick up some water at a gas station. Our longest hike on the Big Island was the Kilauea Iki crater which I would also heartily recommend. Now looking at Maui and Kauai hikes for when we go in May.

 

[Jenna]

Carmel-Driver or better yet walk the one way street along the beach and cliffs-mostly flat walk and so beautiful

Newport Beach-Walk on the sand 15th street to 32street. Favorite Foodie restaurant, Folks Pizza Costa Mesa, scratch kitchen, everything is fantastic! -must have a reservation, casual. For good coffee-hit up Kit Coffee or Moon Goat Coffee

 

[zippy2020]

Monterey Bay Aquarium not only has the remarkable Jellyfish exhibit on the 2nd floor - it has set the standards for aquariums the world over in displaying these remarkable sea creatures at their most beautiful and hypnotizingly graceful.

BUT, in addition, beginning April 1, 2022, they are the first aquarium in the world to show the very rarest of ocean life: the creatures that live at impossible depths, in the dark. One scientist remarked that he would never had thought it possible to display these incredibly fragile, extremely rare specimens in public!

You should buy tickets ahead of time on their website - they are not available for purchase in person: https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/

Our local paper had a great article on the opening of the Deep Sea exhibit with a slideshow; the link is free access (albeit with those hideous pop-up ads): https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/New-Monterey-Bay-Aquarium-exhibit-16911481.php

The one drawback of the Aquarium is that it's an awkwardly-designed building. It was originally a sardine cannery, so it lacks the easy "flow" for visitors to walk through it and see everything. One has to do some backtracking and U-turning to see all the exhibits.

As a bit of fun local background, it is sometimes referred to as "Lucy Packard's Fishtank", as Mrs. Packard, wife of billionaire founder David Packard of Hewlett-Packard fame, and her husband have given generously to not only help found the Aquarium but also fund its deep sea research arm, the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI), with its mandate to research and help preserve the world's oceans.

Note the Aquarium is located at the end of Cannery Row. You can join the Pacific Coastal trail walk, a level and well-used footpath, all along the entire coastline for a couple of miles, walking around the coastal edges of Pacific Grove until it ends at the 17-Mile Drive.

We drove from the Aquarium about a mile south, then got out to walk the trail for a couple of miles before returning. That way you avoid most of the tourists, and can stop by the beach areas. Especially on weekdays, much less crowded than Carmel Beach or Monterey's urban coastline.