• Hey Guest!
    British Car Forum has been supporting enthusiasts for over 25 years by providing a great place to share our love for British cars. You can support our efforts by upgrading your membership for less than the dues of most car clubs. There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Upgraded members don't see this banner, nor will you see the Google ads that appear on the site.)
Tips
Tips

Where to go, what to see....

Share this page

catfood

catfood

Jedi Knight
Country flag
Offline
Its her indoors 50th next year (don't tell her I told you) so we plan to splash out a little for our holiday.

Three destinations have poped up in discussions, Borneo, Florida and California.

Borneo because we went there many years ago on a tour that saw lots but didn't stay anywhere for long, now we would like to spend more time in some of the places we skimped a little before.

Florida because I work for a holiday company that has its own airline and Orlando is one of its destinations so I can get cheap flights. We spent a wonderfull three weeks there a few ears ago doing the southern bit (below Orlando - Space centre, down the coast to the Keys, a few days in the Everglades and up to Sanibel Island before returning). This time we thought we might go north and cover the panhandle and maybe go to Birmingham AL (I think I still have a cousin living there who I lost contact with many years ago so I may try and find her) or if I can't track her down New Orleans (this will depend on whether my boss will give me three weeks off at once, normal rules are two).

California, well because its California. Unfortunately it is also very big!. I've worked out that if I were to see everything we wanted I'd be driving around 2500 miles. Too far for three weeks let alone two. So if it was to be California we would have to decide on north or south and leave the other half to another time.

So this is where the forum can help me out as most of you are US based. Can you suggest places we should vist in Florida (or southern Alabama/Georgia) or California that are not the usual tourist haunts (I can get the 'big' attractions from the travel guides). Any small (reasonably priced) hotels or B&Bs that you rate. We are both natural history enthusiasts (birds, wildlife, big scenery etc) and I also love seeing old ships, planes, trains etc

Cheers
 
Steve, Congrats! (I presume there will be a medal ceremony for her at some point as well ;) I will leave it to people who live there but, if you gave us a potential time you were coming, that could help also.
 
For me Borneo because I've been to the other two and it sounds exotic. Too hot in Florida for me. If US maybe base in San Francisco where you don't need a car. Lots to see there plus short day bus trip to redwoods just north, car rental for Yosemite Nat'l Park, maybe Lake Tahoe, south on coast to Monterey area and further along 1 and Big Sur area. Going north on 1 is beautiful also. Napa Valley wine country near. Enjoy.
 
I think you should come to San Diego. I am a little biased, but you could have a very good time.
Years ago we had two lady friends that we met in Portugal, who are Brits come and stay with us and the main draw was a trip to the Grand Canyon with nice stops along the way.
As for San Diego itself you can visit the world famous San Diego Zoo and the wild animal park for wildlife viewing.
At the Embarcadero there are many ships you can tour including the Star Of India, an old ferry called the Berkley, an old German submarine, and the aircraft carrier Midway.
In Balboa Park there are many museums, including an aerospace museum and an Auto Museum.Also art museums and the Old Globe Theater modeled after the one in England.
There are numerous inexpensive golf courses if you play golf.
Depending on what time you visited you could take in the county fair in Del Mar or or after the fair there is horse racing through mid September.
you could drive over the mountains in a couple of hours and visit DE AnZA State Park and stay in Borrego Springs. Borrego Springs is a quaint little desert town with no stop lights and is not crowded with some nice inexpensive places to stay. We usually rent a condo when we go over.
A trip across the Coronado Bridge to see the Hotel Del Coronado is a must do.
Also I should mention that there are a lot of beaches to visit and choose from.
There are tons more things to do in San Diego and if you decide to come I will be more than happy to direct you to other activities in the Area.
You probably would also need to stop at my place for a ride in my 1960 Bugeye.
Tally Ho,
Bill
 
California. Fly in to San Francisco, drive north to the Russian River and Dry Creek valleys for the wine. When you sober up, go home.

We stayed here, great but I see the prices have risen: https://www.melittastationinn.com/
 
Bill,

Other than being aware of the zoo, San Diego hadn't really been on my visit list. I think it probably is now. Unfortunately you have added another couple of hundred miles onto my prospective itinerary!! But thanks for your contribution.

Rick,

I was in Florida a few years ago July/August time and managed OK. You just have to adjust your pace a little. I'm one of these people who likes hot (and humid) and struggle with the cold (yes I know I was born in the wrong country for that - its been constant heavy rain and 10C here today and its supposed to be the beginning of summer).

Tiger,

I'm not much of a wine person (although the missus is). I'm more a (British) beer type. Not so keen on American/European lager either unless its very hot (the weather not the beer).

Thanks for the contributions, keep 'em coming!

Cheers
 
catfood said:
Tiger,
I'm not much of a wine person (although the missus is). I'm more a (British) beer type. Not so keen on American/European lager either unless its very hot (the weather not the beer).
Click to expand...

That's OK and, if you haven't tried American beer since, say, 1985 -- you're in for a treat and a surprise. Sadly, if you choose to tour breweries instead of wineries, the scenery won't be as nice.
 
San Diego is a bit further south than the other places on my southern California list.
 
San Francisco is a great "home base" to start from. Easy drives to mountains, desert, lakes ect.... And as a city (and I'm NOT a city person) its very nice. We honeymooned in Tahoe 32 years ago. It has some fantastic views.
 
Lighthouse tour, Tybee Light by Savannah, Charleston, St Augustine, and down the coast, then cross over to West side St Marks, Pensacola, Mobile Bay, Biolxi, and onto New Orleans.
 
CaptRandy said:
Lighthouse tour, Tybee Light by Savannah, Charleston, St Augustine, and down the coast, then cross over to West side St Marks, Pensacola, Mobile Bay, Biolxi, and onto New Orleans.
Click to expand...

I'd recommend Fairhope instead of Mobile. I'd also recommend Borneo instead too. STUPID hot down here during that time. It makes me question my wife's judgment and my level of commitment....:friendly_wink:

I'm from here too and you NEVER get use to it. That being said, stop by the her new studio on your way in and say hi if you come this way.

(I haven't mentioned it yet but we are in a great new place owned by The Chamber.)
 
Exactly why no one was in the Biloxi light after 9:30 AM. A cast iron lighthouse with no windows. The light at Pensacola is always revolving because the lens would cause fires if the light beam was not broken.
 
I never knew it was cast iron. Why and how do you make a cast iron light house?
 
kellysguy said:
I'd recommend Fairhope instead of Mobile. I'd also recommend Borneo instead too. STUPID hot down here during that time. It makes me question my wife's judgment and my level of commitment....:friendly_wink:

I'm from here too and you NEVER get use to it. That being said, stop by the her new studio on your way in and say hi if you come this way.

(I haven't mentioned it yet but we are in a great new place owned by The Chamber.)
Click to expand...

Maybe we need to call this the "Mad Dogs and Englishmen Tour". As a New Englander and much as I love Savannah, Charleston and NOLA, no way I'm doing it in the summer. Too hot and humid for me. I'm still pushing for the Northern California route. Big Sur, California wine country and San Francisco sounds good to me. Then again, I've never been to Borneo.
 
Brick lights took a beating from Gulf storms so they tried cast iron. Held up but brutal hot in the sun after 9:30AM. How< I really don't know how you cast 65 ft of light.
 
Back
Top