3 Week Trip to West Coast

[asidbyrne]

Hi All,

Hope that some of those familliar with ht eUSA can help out. Not quite a pure photography trip though my trusty camera will def be going for the trip.

Duration: Early January 2010 2.5wks

Equipment to bring, 16-35L, 50mm, CPL, Tripod

Intinerery:
6 days Lake Tahoe; Heavenly / Squaw Valley
Essentially a snowboard holiday I hope to get good powder and good mountain top view, I have rented a cabin overlooking the lake with 6 other people so it worked out cheaper thena hotel.

4 days San Francisco;
Whats worth visiting here?
Apart from the obvious Golden Gate bridge
I like Markets (Food/produce/etc) are there many/any of those in SF?

6 days LA/LV
Here's the dilemna, I have not booked this segment of my trip. As I can decide whether to stay in LA and go to LV for a night or two OR stay in LV and drive to LA for a night or two.
Or in either case just stay in LV for the duration or LA for the duration.

Whats worth shopping for in the US? Cycle gear is one of the things I intend to pick up. Cam gear? electronics? plasma tvs?

Any advice would be appreciated;p.


PS I am mobile for the entire trip having rented a car for the whole trip.
I arrive in SF and depart from LA.

 

[wildsoyabean]

Hi

not sure if you really want to ski for 6 days!....it can get really tiring!:sweat: btw different ski places have different prices. go there and check it out! some are like 20usd only.

anyway I visited us last year same period. shall just show u my iternary. like u, we drove around.

places not to miss are Grand Canyon, Death valley.
driving to yosemite be sure to take roads that are open and dun drive in FOG!
SF can check out NAPA VALLEY too if you got time.
I didnt spend much time in SF as i was already there for 1 mth so my trip didnt cover SF.


SHOPPING
GILROY A MUST! remember to print coupons from the website, and go to counter to collect more coupons. prepare to spend a day there - i did...and im a guy! cheap stuff include coach bags, fossil watch, levi jeans, etc etc....try the apple b rest over . serve super nice food. and in SF itself its cheese cake factory - a must try
http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=23 if i were u, i will just do all my shopping here. fossil watches are like 20-30 usd or even less. and some coach bags are 1/3 of sg prices- buy for a girl she will die for it!

 

[asidbyrne]

Thanks a bunch!
On another note, I know its a personal thing but. If you had to split 6 days between LA and LV
how would you split it?

 

[wildsoyabean]

to not rush things 2 days in LV, travel to LA. rest of days in LA.

LV = see casino, see show, take photos, eat buffet. I dun gamble so after 2 days sian liao

 

[asidbyrne]

OK Thanks, dun gamble either so will just take a night in LV, maybe catch a show.
What are the attractions in LA? Will stay in the Marins del Ray area.

 

[agape01]

For one, take everything unless you want to shoot close up and personal.

CPL and 16-35 is a must for landscape.

As for Yosemite, you will experience icy roads. My last car crashed in Yosemite and it was a really nice Volkswagen.

You got to think of your purpose of your whole trip. To shoot and to ski?

San Francisco is really good for eating, but be prepared. GST is I think 9.25%.

I know I live in Southern California.

 

[asidbyrne]

@ Agape: when you say take everything, you mean take pictures of everything or take all my gear? The latter could be heavy

Purpose of the trip is SKi and Holiday. The holiday bit is to eat and take pictures (shopping is of course included)

Can you recommend places in SF to eat? I am not really into fine dining. But good street food/ seafood/prime steaks/ local specialities etc.

 

[wildsoyabean]

OK Thanks, dun gamble either so will just take a night in LV, maybe catch a show.
What are the attractions in LA? Will stay in the Marins del Ray area.

LA is where all the theme park are. there is a place (forgot name) where all the hollywood stars have their hand prints on it.

For food in SF definately cheese cake factory.
by the way sit in group of more than 4 = more tips -18%? if im not wrong.


also driving through tahoe/yosemite require u to have chains on ur wheel. car rental dun provide it. you have to buy it.