I know San Diego will be nice . . .

[Lime_Pickle]

I'd totally up for a piss-up and long as nobody is allergic to (a) fat people and (b) Europeans.

[Chip_Oatley]

I think that you could set up in a beach community like La Jolla or Coronado, and take Uber/Lyft to places you want to check out.

[twodogs]

I'd totally up for a piss-up and long as nobody is allergic to (a) fat people and (b) Europeans.

I will try to fly in if someone wants to set it up.

[Lost Soul]

I'll be there for Thanksgiving, so no way.

[rezuar]

You should totally rent a car, Lime.

[veronica_inheels]

Maybe she doesn't want to drive on the other side of the road

[Lime_Pickle]

I think someone who's never driven before driving on the 'other' side would be hilarious.

[lolasf]

I stay in The Omni is Gaslamp when I'm in San Diego, and I love that hotel. I agree that the area is very touristy (and drinks are pricey) but I like how accessible public transit is from there, since I never rent a car.

I can probably find a way to get you into the redwoods when you're up in SF if the weather is nice. I haven't been to Muir Woods in a million years, and there are other spots if you're ok with a bit of a ride (in my car that likely smells of cigarettes and dog).

[Lost Soul]

I think someone who's never driven before driving on the 'other' side would be hilarious.

California has excellent but aggressive drivers, like Yurp. Not the best place to learn.

[veronica_inheels]

Why don't you have a license?

[Lime_Pickle]

OK, so I'm thinking of staying in Oakland (Jack London Square) rather than San Francisco as my train leaves from there (JLS) fairly early in the morning.

But is it pain to get from SFO to Jack London Square on my first night (I'll be arriving at around 6pm)? And will I resent hauling arse into downtown San Francisco to Do Stuff or is it a single BART?

[Lost Soul]

BART gets you within a mile. Get off at 12th St and head south. Or get a cab for your luggage.

https://www.bart.gov/stations/closest?tofrom=to&address=jack%20london%20square&station=x&mode=WALKING

https://www.bart.gov/stations/closest

[Lime_Pickle]

Thanks - I'm less worried about luggage (I pack light) than whether I'll be walking through a sketchy area (I know some bits of Oakland are) at night.

Ooh and I can get a ferry from JLS to the San Francisco Ferry building, too!

[Wilster]

Jack London Square is a decent area and Oakland in general is being gentrified just like much of the entire Bay Area's "sketchy" areas. The one to really ask is Logg; he keeps moving out of the areas being gentrified; first the Mission District in SF and I believe now lives in the East Bay, Oakland. There are still some...let's just say...uhmm...areas you really wouldn't want to be in after dark, or even be walking around blindly during the day--but you shouldn't be in those areas on your trails. If you did stay in JLS, it would be a part of the Bay Area most would miss on a trip to the Bay Area in general.

Keep in mind, there are a ton of hotels/motels around SFO (Burlingame, Milbrae) and all along the Peninsula (Redwood City, San Carlos, Belmont, San Mateo) which is served by CalTrain where you can use that as a base in which to enter San Francisco each day. You could use CalTrain to go to San Jose at the end of your trip in NorCal to get on Amtrak south. If you elect to start in the SF area, you have to pick the train up in Oakland/Emeryville, but believe it stops in San Jose on the trip down south.

To get from the airport to CalTrain via public transport, jump on BART at the airport first and go one stop (Millbrae--https://www.bart.gov/stations/mlbr) to CalTrain (that will be the end of the line for that BART line). Then you can exit one of the various stops along the CalTrain line. This is a commuter train, but an excellent way to get into and out of the City each day: http://www.caltrain.com/

Further, you can also take Caltrain up the Peninsula (from the towns outlined above) and get off at the Millbrae stop and transfer to BART to get into SF or anywhere else in the Bay Area BART serves. BART will get you down on Market St. in the City and a little closer to the downtown area. Taking CalTrain drops you off at AT&T Park (where the SF Giants play) where you can walk along the bay and waterfront, or head "inland" to Market St. This is walkable, but you can also take bus and tram service(s) which all stop at CalTrain to get you further in the City. Of course you can cab, Lyft, and/or Uber from there too anywhere in the City.

[twodogs]

OK, so I'm thinking of staying in Oakland (Jack London Square) rather than San Francisco as my train leaves from there (JLS) fairly early in the morning.

But is it pain to get from SFO to Jack London Square on my first night (I'll be arriving at around 6pm)? And will I resent hauling arse into downtown San Francisco to Do Stuff or is it a single BART?

It is a single BART train from SFO to Oakland. You pass thru or more accurately under San Francisco but no need to change trains. Trains begin at SFO and go to Pittsburg/Bay Point every 15 to 20 minutes. The walk to Jack London Square is straight down Broadway which is well traveled and safe.

That time of night the crowds should be gone so you could get off BART at Powell Street and take a cable car to Fisherman's Wharf for supper. If you stay in Jack London Square Oakland's China Town is within walking distance for supper.

[Chip_Oatley]

"supper"?

[Chip_Oatley]

I will be out there around then.

[Lost Soul]

"supper"?

It deffo marks 2-dogs as being whelped in the South, somewhere between Corpus Christie and Baltimore, and Paducah and Tampa.

[Lime_Pickle]

Supper - perfectly good word. It means a light, late or casual/informal evening meal where I'm from/ I don't land until 6pm and then have to navigate immigration and get to Oakland so reckon I'll be eating well after 8pm.

I will be out there around then.

San Francisco, Santa Barbara or San Diego?

[Chip_Oatley]

I have to be in SF by the 22nd for a petsitting gig. Have some flexibility in the week or so before that.

[Lime_Pickle]

My dates are:

11-14 November San Francisco
14 - 17 November Santa Barbara
17 - 22 November San Diego

Though I might shave a day off Santa Barbara and add it to San Francisco.

[VinnyD]

To me you have supper in the evening if you have your main meal, which is dinner whenever you take it, at midday. Or you might have supper after midnight, after the ball is over.

[Lost Soul]

Yes, Baltimore is in the South.

In the parts of the US that speak English, lunch is how we say dinner and dinner is how we say supper. We can agree on breakfast.

[twodogs]

I chose supper in consideration of Lime's nationality and scheduled arrival time.

[Chip_Oatley]

A trip I had to postpone in the spring due to ill parent back east is back on.

This means two nights in LA next week before the trip north. Is it realistic to not rent a car for two nights/days? Stay in Los Feliz/SilverLake? Landing at LAX midday--departing via Amtrak early (so not keen on returning a car). Have tickets to Jimmy Kimmel one night.

[cuchulainn]

The Metro is decent and Lyft is cheap.

[Chip_Oatley]

The Metro is decent and Lyft is cheap.

Thanks. Probably not doing car. Staying in Silver Lake.

[twodogs]

There are non stop buses every thirty minutes from LAX to Union Station, car rentals at Union Station if you wan't more flexibility and you can drop it off after hours. Uber and Lyft might be cheaper if you are only going a couple of places.

https://www.flylax.com/en/flyaway-bus

[Chip_Oatley]

Done and dusted. Lyft LAX to Los Feliz--$29+$4 tip. Trips to and from Jimmy Kimmel Live, about $25. To Union Station, $12 (double the price b/c rush hour).

[twodogs]

Have fun. If you have time visit the tar pits and have a hot dog at Pink's.

http://www.pinkshollywood.com/star-photos/

[Chip_Oatley]

Thanks; I've left already.