California Vacation advice please?

[sloter]

Hi,

So I’m just after a little bit of advice please? A couple of years ago I went to California and had a fantastic time, I started out in San Francisco for a few days then drove down the coast we looked at staying in Monterey but all the hotels were full for some conference so we stopped in Carmel (Really liked Carmel) but the weather was not great so speaking to a restaurant owner one night he suggested if we liked Carmel we should try Santa Barbara which we did and really enjoyed. We then ended up driving back to San Fran to catch a plane to Las Vegas for 4 days in The Bellagio before heading home (I know we should have driven to Vegas but we’d booked the flights etc).

So this time we are thinking of flying into San Diego and working our way up to LA then going to Hawaii for a few nights before flying home. So I’m after any recommendations for my fellow TRF’s please? I know quite a few of you live out that way. I know from my last trip the tips from the locals were the best and we managed to find some lovely restaurants and nice places to stay from advice from local people. Anywhere nice worth stopping on the way up? What’s LA like? I have heard horror stories from people but am open minded enough to try it if it’s worth it? Where’s nice to stay?

Thanks in advance for any advice.