Monterey

They even suggest a Surrey LOL

Golden Gate Bridge

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Bike Paths

Some quick links to look at bike paths. I will do some more research later.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Los_Angeles_bike_paths

http://www.nearfield.com/~dan/sports/bike/

http://www.trailsource.com/scripts/trails.asp?CITY=Los+Angeles&STATE=California&TYPE=BIKE&CITYID=2

http://www.socalmtb.com/socal/trails/

 

Grenada Hills Bike Trail

http://www.dirtworld.com/trails/trail.asp?id=13133&trail_name=Aliso%20Canyon%20Mountain%20Bike%20Trail
This was taken from --->Dirt World http://www.dirtworld.com/trails/traillist.asp?id=5

 

From :http://travel.latimes.com/destinations/los-angeles/clm/activities/bike-rides
The best place to mountain bike is along the trails of Malibu Creek State Park (tel. 818/880-0367), in the Santa Monica Mountains between Malibu and the San Fernando Valley in Calabasas. Fifteen miles of trails rise to a maximum of 3,000 feet and are appropriate for intermediate to advanced bikers. Pick up a trail map at the park entrance, 4 miles south of U.S. 101 off Las Virgenes Road, just north of Mulholland Highway. Park admission is $5 per car. For more information on mountain bike trails in the L.A. region, log on to www.latrails.com.

Spokes 'N Stuff Bike Rental has two locations: 4175 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey (tel. 310/306-3332), which is only open on weekends, and 1715 Oceanfront Walk, behind Loews Hotel, Santa Monica (tel. 310/395-4748), which is open every day. They rent 10-speed cruisers for $7 per hour and $16 per day; 15-speed mountain bikes rent for $8 per hour and $20 per day. Another good Santa Monica rental shop is Blazing Saddles Bike Rentals (Santa Monica Pier; tel. 310/393-9778). The rates are about the same as those at Spokes 'N Stuff. Be sure to ask for a free self-guided tour map (it's really handy).

In Hollywood, Hollywood Pro Bicycles (6731 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood; tel. 888/775-BIKE or 323/466-5890; www.hollywoodprobicycles.com) rents mountain bikes at $25 for a 24-hour period and $15 for each additional day. Every rental comes with a free tour map, a safety helmet, a bike lock, and a handlebar bag for storage.

Not long now

It is 18 days, 18 hours, 16 minutes and 36 seconds until Tuesday, August 11, 2009 at 10:30:00 AM (Melbourne time)

Current time is

2009-07-23 16:13:24 EST(local time in Melbourne)

 

Yeah its starting to get exciting, just under 19 days till my first day in America. I have started packing my bags to make sure i don't forget anything that is required.

Maps Of Sequoia and Kings Canyon

http://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/maps.htm

Here you will find

• Map of Roads within the Parks
• Park Map - all of Sequoia & Kings Canyon
• Park Regional Map Map of the southern Sierra Nevada including roads connecting Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks with Yosemite National Park, Devils Postpile National Monument, and Manzanar National Historic Site.
• Range Map of Giant Sequoia and Redwood Trees

Carmel By The Sea

17 Mile Drive ($9.25 per vehicle)

It has a 25mph limit. I will try to find a map for this tour.

Calistoga

Petrified Forest - Check online for coupons that are discounted ($6)

www.petrifiedforest.org

 

Geyser

The book says to look for discount coupons around town. ($8)

Shoots Boiling water into the air 60 to 100ft every 45 minutes.

It is 2 miles north of town.

www.oldfaithfullgeyser.com

 

Bike Shop

Rents Tandem Bikes for $20 per hour or $65 per day

Lake Tahoe

A Scenic Gondola Ride which looks pretty nice but a little expensive.

North Lake Tahoe Hiking Trails -Ground yourself on one of these 19 trails in the North Lake Tahoe area. Whether you're looking for a simple stroll or you're ready to huff and puff to new heights, we've got three categories - easy, moderate and strenuous - to help you pick the right path for you.

Go car Tours

San Francisco

http://www.gocartours.com/

Santa Barbera

The Cabrillo Blvd beachfront bike path goes for 3 miles along the water between Andree Clark Bird Refuge and Leadbetter Beach

Santa Barbera Bicycle Coalition www.sbbike.org has printable self guided tours.
They can be found here ----> http://www.sbbike.org/region/rides/rides.html

What the ??

Madonna INN

www.madonnainn.com

109 Themed rooms

Photos of rooms are online

rooms

San Francisco

Golden Gate Bridge Vantage Points

• Sprawled on Crissy Field
• Atop Sterling Park
• Naked on Baker Beach

Breathtaking Vistas

• Telegraph Hill
• Russian Hill
• Nob Hill

Alcatraz

Fishermans Wharf

• Pier 39 - Venetian Carousel

                      -Aquarium of the Bay

• Pier 33- Alcatraz Cruises

Central Coast

Santa Barbera-

Stearns Wharf- Take a short stroll out over the Pacific Ocean and savor the sensory experiences of California's oldest working wharf. Enjoy the fresh ocean breeze while watching local fishing boats off-load their morning catches. Touch marine life in a special aquarium. Step aboard the Harbour Queen for a narrated whalewatching cruise. Taste wines and indulge in cuisines from fastfood to fanciful. Delight in a wealth of colorful shopping amidst commanding, panoramic views of the mountains and the coastline.

A Stearn Wharf Map!!!

 

101 things to do for free in SB!!! 

22. Don’t miss the panoramic view from the 85-foot tower of the
Santa Barbara County Courthouse!

25. Browse for antiques while viewing
splendid Victorian houses on
Brinkerhoff Ave. in downtown Santa Barbara.

41. View the birds at the Andree Clark Bird Refuge; 1400 E. Cabrillo
Blvd.

48. Spend time at the beach, bask in the
sunshine,walk barefoot in the sand, or
take a dip in the Pacific.

50. Picnic in the park and explore Nojoqui Falls; Alisal Rd. near
Solvang.

77. Go tide pooling at rocky areas off Carpinteria State Beach,
Leadbetter Beach (below Shoreline Park), and Arroyo Burro
Beach.

90. Take a dip in one of Red Rock’s swimming holes; at the end
of Paradise Road on the Santa Ynez River via Hwy. 154.

 

From the harbour, a paved trail skirts the beach for miles and concessionaires here and at the end of State St rent bikes (per hour $7) or Surreys (per two hours $24)

A surrey

At the harbour, Paddle Sports (805-899-4925, www.kayaksb.com) rent kayaks.

 

Santa Barbera to San Luis Obispo-

Solvang - www.solvangusa.com

Pismo Beach

Hearst Castle

www.hearstcastle.org

4.5 miles north of Hearsts Castle , Point Piedras Blancas is home to Cali's largest elephant seal Colony which comes to breed, molt and sleep. The main viewpoint has interpretative panels. The seals are here year round but the mating period is between Dec & Feb.

Carmel- Monterey & Around

Monterey Bay Aquarium www.montereybayaquarium.org

Cannery Row -  Carousel, wax museum.

Monty Bay Kayaks

California

I purchased my tickets today so i thought this song would suit for this day :-)) CALIFORNIA HERE I COME!!!

 

 

We've been on the run
Driving in the sun
Looking out for #1
California here we come
Right back where we started from
Hustlers grab your guns
Your shadow weighs a ton
Driving down the 101
California here we come
Right back where we started from
California!
Here we come!
On the stereo
Listen as we go
Nothing's gonna stop me now
California here we come
Right back where we started from
Pedal to the floor
Thinkin' of the roar
Gotta get us to the show
California here we come
Right back where we started from
California!
Here we come!

 

A very cool rendition of the above song done on piano. If you listen to the above video then this one, you can make your decision on how good it is. I really like this. 10/10.

Los Angeles Zoo

Been a very long time for me to go to a Zoo, so long in fact i don't remember it. I was roughly 5 or 6 at the time. So to get a chance to go to a zoo would be a chance i would take. Looking at the LA Zoo Website
there are lots of animals to look at. In particular the tigers, elephants, Lions, bears, zebra, giraffe, rhinoceros and Hippopotamus are the animals i want to catch a glimpse at.

Adult ticket prices are $12, parking is free and the zoo is open from 10am to 5pm and i am not allowed to feed the animals otherwise i can be evicted from the zoo.

Griffith Park

Items of interest in Griffith Park are

• Los Angeles Zoo
• Museum of American West
• Griffith Park Observatory
• Greek Theater
• The Hollywood sign
• the bronze bust of James Dean
• the Bird Sanctuary

Hollywood

So we have all heard of Hollywood and all know the famous Hollywood sign. Yeah i definitely want to see it. Other items of interest are Mann's Chinese Theater, even just to say i've seen it, same with Fredrick's Egytptian Theater. Then there are the Boulevards, Hollywood and Sunset. A walk down Hollywood boulevard would be nice spotting some of the famous "Movie Star "stars"". Mulholland Drive is a road that is often talked about so hopefully i get a chance to take a drive down it.

Some of the Movie Star stars i'd like to see are
1724 Vine St - Lauren Bacall
1719 Vine St - James Dean
1637 Vine St - Frank Sinatra
1610 Vine St - Cary Grant
6801 Hollywood Blvd - Matt Damon
6777 Hollywood Blvd - Elvis Presley
6322 Hollywood Blvd - Humphrey Bogart
6329 Hollywood Blvd - Grace Kelly
6336 Hollywood Blvd - Liz Taylor
6506 Hollywood Blvd - Alfred Hitchcock
6519 Hollywood Blvd - Dean Martin

Map of LA

This is for my own benefit so i can get the layout of LA itself, all its suburbs.

Planning a trip

Went to the library today and borrowed some books to do some reading. Ones a National Geographic book on Los Angeles and the other is a Lonely Planet on California. I will have to read through to find some areas i want to wander and go adventuring. I want to take lots of photos so looking for things that are photo worthy.