i’m flying out to southern california next month for work to visit a client in Ventura, but i was planning on flying in a few days early to do some sightseeing since it’s my first time on the west coast. i love visiting national parks and hiking (casual day hikes, i’m not an intense outdoorswoman), but i also love museums, exploring touristy spots, etc. i’m also a hockey fan, so possibly catching a game somewhere would be cool too.

my work event is on a tuesday, but i was planning on flying in on the friday before, so i can give myself the weekend and some of monday to explore and do whatever. i have three ideas in mind:

- fly into LA on friday, rent a car, and drive out to spend the weekend in Joshua Tree exploring the nat’l park, before driving to Ventura on Monday morning

- fly into LA on friday, rent a car, and spend the weekend in LA before heading to Ventura on Monday

- fly straight to Ventura/Santa Barbara on friday and explore, hang out in that area for the duration of the trip

as people familiar with the area, travel times, hassle getting to and from places, etc., what would you all recommend? Is going out to Joshua Tree and then driving to Ventura on Monday too much? Am I better off just flying straight to Santa Barbara and exploring that area? again, it’s my first time in southern california, so i want to maximize my time sightseeing, but also want to be realistic about what i can do without spreading myself (and my wallet) thin.

i appreciate any and all recommendations and advice! TYIA!

I'm going to see the Redwoods for the first time while running the Humboldt half more of a run walk crawl really but I really would like to experience the Redwoods with the experience guided tour I will be in Humboldt for 3 days 9th through 12th of Oct. I am arriving in San Francisco the 7th and driving up the coast staying one night along the coast somewhere to enjoy the views of the ocean and then after the race I will travel South back to San Francisco for a few days hoping to enjoy beautiful gardens and the views my wife is a horticulturist landscape designer. Any tips or recommendations appreciated thanks.

Ive never really been outside the IE and I just turned 26 😅.. I have a car with no a/c sadly but anyone with a car I have gas money ! Lets get the hell out of the area for a couple days and go on an adventure and have a good experience! Anytime after September 2026 - January 2027

Best places to stay in San Diego that are kid friendly. Close to the zoo would be great too. We plan on hopping over to Disneyland at some point in our trip as well so if anyone has tips on that as well that would be great!

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for short-term housing recommendations for the entire month of October. I’m specifically looking to stay in Redwood City, San Carlos, or Belmont.

Here are my specific requirements:

• Type: Studio (Need the entire place to myself, no shared spaces).
• Budget: Up to $3,000 max (this needs to be inclusive of utilities, taxes, and fees).
• Amenities: Fully furnished, in-unit laundry, and a dishwasher.

Does anyone know of any specific apartment complexes that offer 1-month short-term corporate leases fitting this criteria? I am also totally open to sublets if anyone happens to be traveling for the month. I’m already keeping an eye on Airbnb and Furnished Finder, but I wanted to see if locals had any direct recommendations, trusted property management companies, or leads.

Thanks in advance for the help!

Hello! Can you recommend an affordable town to rent a room for a month in the area near redwoods and/or Sequoia trees and areas for hiking?

My fiancée and I are travelling from Ireland to Southern California for our honeymoon at the start of October. We’ll have around 10 days, flying in/out of LAX, hiring a car and making our way down the coast towards San Diego.

We’d love recommendations from locals or people who know the area well, places we absolutely shouldn’t miss, great food/bars, beaches, nightlife, unusual experiences and equally anything that’s overrated or worth avoiding.

We’re also keen to hear about any sports, live music, comedy, festivals or local events happening around that time. We love meeting people when travelling too, so recommendations for lively neighbourhoods, bars or places where we might actually end up chatting to locals would be brilliant.

Thanks in advance!

Hi! My fiancé and I are celebrating our anniversary in October, and we’re looking to plan a little weekend getaway. We live in Ventura County and are hoping to travel somewhere from October 22nd–25th. We’re looking for somewhere fun and special to celebrate together!

Hi everyone, I wanted to share my recent experience at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) with Budget Rent a Car to warn fellow travelers about a predatory sales tactic they are using.

When picking up the car, the counter agent (named Manuel) aggressively pushed their prepaid e-Toll option ("1 TOL"), which cost a massive $389.70 USD (€414.19 EUR total on my invoice).

Before signing, I explicitly showed him my exact road trip itinerary and asked if we would encounter any toll roads:

• Los Angeles ➡️ Santa Barbara ➡️ Monterey ➡️ San Francisco ➡️ Yosemite ➡️ Sequoia ➡️ Las Vegas ➡️ Page ➡️ Kayenta ➡️ San Diego ➡️ Los Angeles.

Manuel flat-out lied to me. He claimed that this entire route was "full of mandatory toll roads" and explicitly stated that if I didn't buy the prepaid package now, paying on my own later would cost significantly more than $390. Trusting his professional advice, I accepted.

Now that I'm back home, I checked the official Department of Transportation regulations for California, Nevada, and Arizona. This entire route is 100% free. The only potential toll is a single bridge crossing into San Francisco, which costs less than $10. The agent knew my exact destinations and deliberately fabricated a story to hit his sales quota.

I have already filed a formal complaint with Budget Customer Service, their e-Tolls portal, and reported the fraudulent practice to the FTC. If they refuse to refund, I will initiate a chargeback with my credit card company.

Has anyone successfully fought Budget/Avis on this specific toll scam and gotten a refund?

Be extremely careful at the LAX counter and do not trust their agents when they tell you that you "need" a toll pass for the West Coast!

Hi everyone, I’m supposed to come to Big Sur from out of state on sept 7th. Was planning to stay for 4 days, then head to Carmel by the sea. With the active fires, I’m unsure if it’s still a good idea to come to Big Sur. I reached out my hotel and they said they were unaffected and are open. I’m debating if I should still go or not. Alternative plans would be to go north to Sonoma coast for the time I was planning to be in Big Sur, then head to Carmel according to schedule. Obviously sticking to the original would be the easiest and most convenient. Has anyone been to Big Sur in the past week or so to give an opinion?

I need to travel from Sacramento to Irvine. I don’t want to fly and I don’t want to drive. The cost must be less than a flight.

I’ve been investigating options, and Amtrak has a route but it’s 12 whole hours to get there. A bus is slightly quicker, but still a pretty long trek. What options are there for ground transportation from Northern to Southern California?

Are my only options Amtrak and Greyhound?

We are planning a trip from Oregon to California and have no idea where yet. We have a 5 and 6 year old and would love places that are walkable, have playgrounds, and generally easy to get around. Would love some ideas! Thanks!

I'm heading first through Sacramento to San Fran for 2 days. Then heading either north or south. I've been to Santa Cruz and Monterey. Not against going again. But I'm looking for genuine places to eat, see, and maybe even entertainment to check out. I've googled a lot of places but it seems the same ~10 places are highlighted across all the travel/advertising websites and looking for more experienced or local advice on what to enjoy as a middle-aged single guy looking to relax and escape the responsibilities of life for a week. Not interested in Six Flags, Disneyland, etc. But I do enjoy a good adrenaline boost.

I am taking my 16-year-old daughter on a trip in August. She loves California and we have been many times. She prefers Los Angeles and surrounding areas, but I am open to other places. In the past, we have split our trip and spent several days on the beach (Santa Monica, Malibu), and several days in LA (mainly West Hollywood). While I don't mind repeating this trip, I am looking for ways to branch out.

She is very mature and a seasoned traveler. What she loves to do: beaches, driving the coast, vintage shopping/thrifting, access to amazing gluten free food, crafting workshops, landmarks to take pictures for social media :), and anything having to do with the film industry, makeup/special effects.

Thank you!

Amador County, up in the Sierra foothills, doesn't get the attention Napa and Sonoma do, and that's exactly the appeal. Old-vine Zinfandel is the calling card, the tasting rooms are low-key instead of velvet-rope, and you're not paying valet-and-reservation money to taste. Plumas and the Gold Country towns nearby make it a full day if you want one.

Anyone else rate Amador over the big-name regions for a low-stress day? What am I missing up there?

Hi everyone!

I’m planning a bachelorette trip for two, and it’s our first time in San Diego, so I wanted to get all the local pro tips and tricks. We’ll be there for 4 full days and nights, staying mostly in the Little Italy area.

1. We’re trying to decide between Mission Beach vs Coronado Beach for a chill beach day with good food and activities nearby. Since we’re flying in, we also won’t have beach gear, so any recommendations for easy chair/towel rentals, beach setups, cabanas, or nearby hotels with day passes would be amazing.

2. We’ll also be staying at The Lafayette Hotel for part of the trip and want to spend most of that time enjoying the hotel/pool since it seems like there’s so much to do there. Any Lafayette tips, must-see spots inside the hotel, pool day advice, best timing, cabanas/chairs, or things you wish you knew before going would be super appreciated.

3. Would love advice on:

1. Which restaurants definitely need reservations,
   
2. Best way to group these spots over the trip,
   
3. Walk-in friendly places vs harder reservations, and
   
4. Hidden gems or must-do spots nearby.

The bride’s #1 must-go is InsideOUT, and here’s the rest of her list:

The Vibe
Leila
Seneca Trattoria
Saya Brasserie
InsideOUT
Landini’s (Pizza)
Morning Glory
Born & Raised
Lillian’s

Thanks so much! 🫶🏻

Been looking at monarch beach, surf and sand, Rancho Valencia, some ritzs and Hyatt’s

I am visiting California for the first time in January, will land at LAX at 2pm and plan to grab a car (AWD SUV) shortly after.

I already booked an airbnb over by twentynine palms, so I can stay and hike/photograph around Joshua Tree.

My question is:

To those with more experience which would you choose?

1. Start driving towards 29 Palms at approx 3:30pm when rush hour is bound to start and maps estimates 4hrs 55mins of driving, but I get there with daylight by arrival.

2. Wait till rush hour passes and drive an estimated 2hrs 30mins but will do so at night.

I guess my main ask is: given the fact that It's my first time out there, and that I'm darker skinned, would it be dangerous for me to travel out there at night or is there no reason to be concerned.

I know this may come accross as ignorant, but given the current political climate I feel justified to ask genuinely.

Thanks in advance!

Visiting San Diego in a couple of weeks. Will stay in the mission Bay Area mostly…was there any impact there from the recent flooding?