Expert: Jason Curodeau - 1/7/2011

Question
QUESTION: G'day Jason,
We are two Aussie partners of 40 years of age we plan to do a road trip from San Francisco to San Deigo could you recommend best sites to see and camping sites and where the locals hang out for a beer. We have approx eight days to get back to LA to fly out. Cheers mate.

ANSWER: G'day Brett,
Eight days is a wonderful amount of time to get from The city to San Diego. I would suggest taking a few days to head north a bit first, the coast north of San Francisco is THE BEST. I would head a few miles and experience Gualala, great campgrounds and scenery. As you head into Gualala from the city the first campground on your right (cannot remember the name, but it is just before the river, is the best.) Spend a day or two hiking through the coastal bush. Then turn around and experience the California coast along highway one. Because you are heading south you are lucky. The ocean is to your right which means you don't need to look across traffic to see it.

There are a few spots that are a must see along the coast and that is all of them. If you take it slow and allow yourselves the luxury of exploration I suspect that you could tell me a thing or two about where to go. With eight days I would take any and every side road that strikes your fancy. Each I am sure will offer you a once in a lifetime experience. I have done this route many times and each time it has been unexplainably different yet inexplicably desirable.

Take the time to pick up hitchhikers and pick their brains, stop! Wherever something strikes your interest, and breath in and contemplate all that is the coastal region of this great state.

I would attempt to list the best watering holes along your route but my interests may conflict with yours. I have tried to enjoy the Henry Miller Cafe that lives around Big Sur, however I realized quickly that his words and sentiments allied with my own conflict with those of the cafe's purveyors. This may not be the case in your experience. I suggest that you free yourselves from schedule and expectation completely! Take this serendipity  moment to moment and truly make it your own. If you do this I assure that this will be one of the defining moments in your 40 year romp, and congratulations bye the way. I have yet to experience anything other than breathing, eating, sleeping, and, well the other thing longer than six months.

I hope that I have been of some help. Please feel free (If not obligated) to share with me your experiences after this journey is competed.
Jason Curodeau

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Jason just wondering if there are many swimming holes and walking tracks south of san fransisco or is there any where to hire river boats to fish. thank you

Answer
Brett, There are many places to swim sount of San Francisco. There are also a myriad of hiking and walking trails, so I assume there are places to rent or hire boats. The boat trips would presumeably be near major marinas and that is where I would start. As far as walking tracks you just need to watch the sign all over highway one and they will point out places to hike.
Thanks for the question have a great trip.
Jason Curodeau