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California/Questions Answered by Expert Ernest Tufft
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Redwood National Park | 1/22/2012 |
| Q: I'm from Southern California and thought it would be time to explore the northern part of our great ... A: Good question, and unfortunately my advice may be dated. Crescent City is too far north, Eureka is ... | |
| Our Visit to Yosemite/Carmel | 8/8/2011 |
| Q: I am hoping that you good give us some guidance regarding a visit we planto make in September. So ... A: Sorry if this is too late. The drive from Yosemite to San Luis Obispo takes you through the region ... | |
| San Diego | 7/13/2011 |
| Q: We'll be visiting San Diego July 21-24. Can you recommend some "can't miss" attractions, ... A: Park the car downtown in the Gaslamp quarter and walk around for dining. Seaport Village, the USS ... | |
| Photographic View of the Golden Gate Bridge | 5/29/2011 |
| Q: I am an amatuer shutterbug and would like to know the best place to take pics of the golden gate ... A: There are many places to take pics of the Golden Gate Bridge. On the San Francisco side, view from ... | |
| CA coast road trip | 5/23/2011 |
| Q: My mother and I (both San Diegans) are taking a 7 day road trip in July up the CA coast. Neither ... A: Jaime, Seven days is plenty of time to enjoy the coast of California. I think that you will want ... | |
| phoenix to napa valley | 4/14/2011 |
| Q: im in australia and in october i will be visiting my brother who currently lives in pheonix and will ... A: I would love to visit Australia, and hope to do so in the future. Sorry for the delay in answering ... | |
| San Diego day trips | 2/18/2011 |
| Q: my family will be in Carlsbad from feb 23-march 8. We will spend some time at the zoo, sea world, ... A: Jennifer, I thought I had already sent out this message. Sorry for the delay. I recommend that ... | |
| San Diego to Yosemite | 2/7/2011 |
| Q: My husband and I are spending 2 weeks in CA in July. Flying into San Diego,hiring a car and ... A: This is a good question Mary because the route between San Diego/LA and Yosemite generally cuts ... | |
| California travel- Nappa Valley or travel the coast | 1/13/2011 |
| Q: My husband and I have a five day trip planned in California. We intended on flying in to San ... A: I'm not sure what experience persuaded your husband's friend that the world-class tourist ... | |
| lakes | 1/12/2011 |
| Q: Greetings, I am looking for a lake close to Carlsbad that I can take my family. I have kids between ... A: Amr, I'll assume you are referring to Carlsbad, California, which is located midway between LA and ... | |
| california coastal trip | 1/7/2011 |
| Q: We live in MD and would like to fly to San Franscio and take a seven or eight day trip down the ... A: What a great trip you have planned! Spend 3 days in San Francisco (not "Frisco", locals call it ... | |
| How Was Mount Madonna in Northern California Made ? | 12/26/2010 |
| Q: I've Been Wondering now for a very long time how this dangerous road was formed and when was it made ... A: Alexxis, I spent the first 10 years of my life living in Gilroy, many years ago, and recall the ... | |
| RE: San Francisco | 12/5/2010 |
| Q: I would like to visit San Francisco sometime next summer. Do you know how I can go about finding ... A: Try visiting Virtualtourist.com and read the tips for travel provided there. There are a large ... | |
| what to see in LA | 11/23/2010 |
| Q: Hey, my friend is coming to LA from out of country and i have couple questions about what to see in ... A: You have a good list of things to do in LA, some of which I have not even done. For more ... | |
| legoland | 11/15/2010 |
| Q: we will be visiting both anaheim and san diego. How far is legoland from either of these places. ... A: Use http://california.legoland.com/plan/directions/ for detailed help with this. Legoland is 1 hour ... | |
| weather | 9/18/2010 |
| Q: my wife and i are doing califoria and the golden west march 18th 2011 for 16 days and we need to ... A: This is a very similar question on one I recently answered, so please review that one, which asked ... | |
| Weather | 8/30/2010 |
| Q: My sister and I (6O+) are looking forward to an organised 15 day tour "Wonders of the Golden West" ... A: Marina You are better off finding a weather website to ask these questions as variability can be a ... | |
| calif weather in March | 7/27/2010 |
| Q: I want to go to Calif in March and would like to know the average temperature. Thank you. A: Spring weather, and March In particular, is variable in California. SoCal desert areas begin to ... | |
| Yosemite Vacation | 5/12/2010 |
| Q: My family is considering a vacation this June to Yosemite. What is the closest city to fly into? ... A: My family used to visit Yosemite nearly every summer from the time I was an infant until I was a ... | |
| Beaches closest to Lemoore | 5/7/2010 |
| Q: I am visiting my friends in Lemoore and was wondering what was the closest (driving distance) kid ... A: Lemoore is a town in the great central valley near the Handford AFB. The closest beaches on the ... | |
| West Coast Camping | 4/29/2010 |
| Q: My husband and I decided to take our honeymoon this summer since we are both unemployed and what ... A: Why not make an adventure out of a period of unemployment! Unfortunately, during this recession, ... | |
| San Diego | 3/29/2010 |
| Q: we are planning a family trip to San Diego mid June. We would like to go the Children's beach to ... A: Perhaps ironically named, Children's beach, actually better known locally as "Casa Beach", never ... | |
| need suggestions for trip itinerary from SF to SD | 3/26/2010 |
| Q: I was so glad to find this website because my husband and I are trying to plan a road trip down the ... A: While a week along the California coast can be accomplished with tight planning, most first time ... | |
| SF, LA and San Diego | 3/7/2010 |
| Q: Ernest, First let me thank you for taking your time to answer some questions. I am from Canada and I ... A: Since your children are teenagers, you have plenty of opportunity to avoid the overly predictable ... | |
| Group Camping | 3/1/2010 |
| Q: I'm looking for a group campground that can accommodate 50 people, all guys ages 16-22. We need a ... A: I'm afraid I can't help too much here, but I do have suggestions. Try Googling the Boy Scouts and ... | |
| San Fran in 5 days | 2/10/2010 |
| Q: From North Carolina, I (age 34) am planning to take my mom (age 64) with me to San Fran for 5 or 6 ... A: Renee, Depending upon your flight options, I would try to fly in/out of the Oakland Airport. It ... | |
| San Fran in 5 days | 2/7/2010 |
| Q: From North Carolina, I (age 34) am planning to take my mom (age 64) with me to San Fran for 5 or 6 ... A: I can't complete an itinerary for you, but I think that a drive from Saratoga through to Big Basin ... | |
| California is Calling | 1/25/2010 |
| Q: I am from a rural town in Southern Illinois. Over the past year, during visits, I have fallen in ... A: Ryan, I am familiar with Southern Illinois, and find little in Southern California that compares ... | |
| Camping and wine tours | 1/20/2010 |
| Q: Each september my group goes to the same crappy camp ground for the weekend and somewhere in there ... A: I don't exactly understand the question, but try going to the ski boat reservoir just outside of ... | |
| Golden Gate Bridge | 1/6/2010 |
| Q: I was wondering if you know how the cables on the Golden Gate Bridge are painted. I know that ... A: You are right about the need to paint, and repaint the Golden Gate Bridge. The salty foggy air is ... | |
| Best place to stay overnight | 11/24/2009 |
| Q: I will be in San Francisco with my husband and little boy (3-years old)from december 22 to 25. We ... A: Since SF is very well serviced by public transportation, you won't have much a problem getting ... | |
| Yosemite | 11/23/2009 |
| Q: We are planning a family visit to the west coast. We are managing the part from LA to San Francisco. ... A: Heriette, I'm not aware of any airport close to Yosemite that will take you to Las Vegas. Probably ... | |
| Drive SFO to San Diego | 11/17/2009 |
| Q: My husband and I plan to drive from SFO 5-27- 09 to San Diego depart Jan 05 10 with our daughters ... A: Yes, two days are helpful because LA is so spread out. I'm sorry but I don't know about getting ... | |
| San Francisco | 11/2/2009 |
| Q: I am going to travel to California with my husband and 3 years old boy for Christmas vacation. We ... A: I still recommend using MUNI, as it is a great system anytime of year. Philadelphia and Washington, ... | |
| San Francisco | 10/29/2009 |
| Q: I am going to travel to California with my husband and 3 years old boy for Christmas vacation. We ... A: Sorry for the delay in reply to your question about travel to San Francisco with husband and 3 year ... | |
| California Trip | 9/22/2009 |
| Q: I'm planning my first trip out west in October (12 days). After hours of pouring over websites and ... A: Your trip is basically well planned. Here are a few comments only. Oakland is a good airport, and ... | |
| road trip Irvine to Napa | 9/12/2009 |
| Q: What are the best stops to make from Irvine to Napa for adults? Departing on a sunday the 11th of ... A: I have already traveled throughout the MiddleEast--Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia--but have been ... | |
| San Francisco, Oakland & Yosemite | 9/11/2009 |
| Q: Tuffts, My wife and I are fixing to drive out from Mississippi arriving in the Bay area October 5th, ... A: I'm not an expert on RV parking in San Francisco, except to say that it is extremely limited. The ... | |
| Drive from San Fransisco to San Diego for art lovers | 8/27/2009 |
| Q: I am arranging a drive from San Francisco to San Diego and am trying to find the best stops for art ... A: There are many world-class art galleries in the small towns along CA-1, the coastal highway. Much ... | |
| Carmel | 8/6/2009 |
| Q: I'm going to Carmel next week and will be attending the car show that will be at Pebble beach. What ... A: Please visit an on-line weather report site for Carmel and get the current information because the ... | |
| San Mateo Beaches? | 7/20/2009 |
| Q: I used to go to a beach called "Your" Beach years ago. After scouring the internet for the real name ... A: I'm afraid that you may be more informed than me about this, but I do know some current information ... | |
| vacation | 7/15/2009 |
| Q: My mother and sister in law are staying for 2 weeks, and my husband and I are taking most of this ... A: You have some good ideas, but one that deserves more recommendation--because it is so long delayed-- ... | |
| san francisco | 7/14/2009 |
| Q: my family and I will be visiting San Francisco and we will most likely be staying only for ... A: I'm away from home and have limited internet access. I recommend going to my pages on San Francisco ... | |
| Theme parks | 6/29/2009 |
| Q: ca. and i have traveled to many exhilerating theme parks including: Six Flags:discover kingdom, ... A: Try going to Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (they have a website under this name). The old wooden ... | |
| Wedding!! | 6/29/2009 |
| Q: My fiance and i are looking at getting married in may of 2010. and we orginally planned on having ... A: There are of course many great beaches in California that are isolated and not trashed, even in ... | |
| University! | 6/21/2009 |
| Q: I live in England at the moment and have applied to a course at university where I get to spend a ... A: In California and nearly all other US states the drinking age is 21, and most clubs where alcohol is ... | |
| public transit | 6/21/2009 |
| Q: I am planning to visit my brother and sister-in-law this August. If they can't drive me during the ... A: San Diego also has a good light rail system that will even take you to all the way to the border at ... | |
| public transit | 6/18/2009 |
| Q: I am planning to visit my brother and sister-in-law this August. If they can't drive me during the ... A: The San Francisco Bay Area has good transit service in BART and various Ferries. Within San ... | |
| jobs | 6/17/2009 |
| Q: I am from PA and looking to possibly move to CA. I want to move somewhere where the weather is ... A: The history of California is of immigrants abandoning ties elsewhere on the globe and coming here ... | |
| San Francisco to San Diego | 6/16/2009 |
| Q: My son (15) and I are flying into San Francisco in late July and plan to drive down to San Diego, ... A: Sorry for the late reply. I thought my answer had already been processed. In seven days, you will ... | |
| Argentine bakeries in California | 6/16/2009 |
| Q: I was wondering if you know of any Argentine bakeries/restaurants within the Citrus ... A: That's a very specific question which I probably can't answer correctly. But, I once lived in ... | |
| camping | 5/30/2009 |
| Q: My and my family want to go camping but we are about 14 people. Do you know a good camping location ... A: Many people ask about picniking and camping facilities for large groups. Although I have organized ... | |
| River tubing, hope you can help. | 5/27/2009 |
| Q: My 16 year old sister is coming to visit from CO, I mentioned something about tubing and she wants ... A: Of course, Colorado has its own great rapids along the upper Colorado and Green Rivers. Cache Creek ... | |
| Sf-LA SD Trip Mid August | 5/16/2009 |
| Q: I wanted to take my East coast 19.17,12 year old boys down the PAcific coast HGwy I thought of ... A: Sorry for the late delay, but I thought I had already answered this question. I couldn't get an ... | |
| Sf-LA SD Trip Mid August | 5/15/2009 |
| Q: I wanted to take my East coast 19.17,12 year old boys down the PAcific coast HGwy I thought of ... A: Pat, It appears that you have already figured out much of your trip, and that you understand the ... | |
| Merced river | 5/13/2009 |
| Q: When did the road 140 leading to yosemite collape? A: May 2006 was the last time that I know of. Hwy 140 snakes through a canyon at the bottom of which ... | |
| Eating in SF by Orpheum Theater? | 5/5/2009 |
| Q: Im taking a group of 7 ladies to the Orpheum Theater for Mothers Day this thursday. Can you ... A: Sounds like a fun night! My first choice for such an occasion close to the Orpheum Theater would be ... | |
| california vacation | 5/3/2009 |
| Q: i am planning to go on a vacation to California for about a week sometime in July. The problem is, ... A: For 20 something adventure in July, it's hard to beat a week in San Diego. Go to SeaWorld, and ... | |
| Northern California trip | 4/21/2009 |
| Q: My wife and I will be making our first trip to California this July. We will be flying into San ... A: Gregory, You will have a great time, and in 6 days can get plenty done, but don't try to do more ... | |
| LA to San Diego and back again by car | 4/19/2009 |
| Q: I have already found answers to most of my questions. We are planning an US trip in July/August. ... A: Greg, Thanks for the question. There are only a couple of routes between LA and San Diego. ... | |
| Camping suggestions for Memorial weekend 2009 | 4/14/2009 |
| Q: We live in Vacaville California and usually camp at the Foresthill Sugar Pine Forest and when we get ... A: Sonja, Sorry for the belated reply. I'm from the Vacaville area too. There are some wineries in ... | |
| Doing a summer internship in market area of SF | 4/5/2009 |
| Q: Where is a safe place to live? SOMA is close to where I will work but I have no idea. What are some ... A: Actually, SF has a knot of ridges and valleys, but in general you can use Google maps, or Zipreality ... | |
| Doing a summer internship in market area of SF | 4/5/2009 |
| Q: Where is a safe place to live? SOMA is close to where I will work but I have no idea. What are some ... A: Except for the Bayview and Hunter's Point Districts, San Francisco is a surprisingly safe city. The ... | |
| summer trip | 3/31/2009 |
| Q: I am planning on taking a trip, flying from Philadelphia to San Francisco and then renting a car and ... A: I recently wrote several such recommendations for this very popular route, and so I recommend ... | |
| LA to San Francisco and Back | 3/25/2009 |
| Q: my friends and I are planning on leaving LA 3.27 by 10am and we want to arrive home 3.29 by ... A: Yes, I think you and your friends are being too ambitious. California simply can't be seen in two ... | |
| Driving from San Fran to San Diego | 3/16/2009 |
| Q: My name is Mario and I am from NJ, I am going out to SF in May to catch a few Giants games, I ... A: Your easiest source of road map generation is still at www.mapquest.com. Begin by putting the ... | |
| Driving from San Fran to San Diego | 3/15/2009 |
| Q: My name is Mario and I am from NJ, I am going out to SF in May to catch a few Giants games, I ... A: Whoops, the coastal highway 1 is a sight-seers only route, I'm afraid, making this trip from San ... | |
| San Diego to Yosemite | 3/9/2009 |
| Q: I have cancelled 3 trips to Yosemite over the years because I have heard such horror stories about ... A: Please use www.mapquest.com, CA highway map, or GPS device to help with details. The route your ... | |
| RV Roadtrip in California | 3/4/2009 |
| Q: My wife and I plan to visit California in May 09. We fly to SF and stay for 4 days. Then we pick up ... A: Bob This will be an adventure of a lifetime :-) If you are fit enough I recommend strapping a ... | |
| West coast road trip - Aug | 3/3/2009 |
| Q: I am hoping to travel up the West Coast in August this year with the girlfriend. We plan to stay in ... A: Allen Car camping in the Pacific coast states is the easiest of anywhere in the USA. Use Google to ... | |
| family reunion spots | 2/23/2009 |
| Q: My name is Terri. My fmily of about 120 people are looking for a spot to get together near a lake ... A: Sounds like you have a very large event planned! You will certainly have to do some research, as ... | |
| San Diego trip | 2/20/2009 |
| Q: Ernest, Going to be in San Diego in mid March for first time. Have purchased Go San Diego card ... A: Rich Well, considering your hotel location many of these can be combined. I personally divide my ... | |
| San Diego trip | 2/20/2009 |
| Q: Ernest, Going to be in San Diego in mid March for first time. Have purchased Go San Diego card ... A: You have a great list of things to do, and since you are staying in centrally located Old Town, I ... | |
| driving from San Fran to San Diego | 2/11/2009 |
| Q: me and my wife are planning a trip down the PCH this August from England. We plan to take about a ... A: I recommend that you visit my online pages for California at virtualtourist.com. My membername is ... | |
| Living | 2/10/2009 |
| Q: I am moving to california and was curious about the cost of owning a car and the need for a car. I ... A: Tom, Your Prius will be right in tune with Bay Area culture, but you will also find no desire to ... | |
| Northern California photography | 1/11/2009 |
| Q: I was wondering if you knew any good places to photograph in Northern California. I'm a fan of ... A: Jen California is by far the most photogenic state in the USA, and I say this because I have ... | |
| Yosemite to Monterey | 12/11/2008 |
| Q: We are planning a stay in Yosemite. On our last day we plan to visit Glacier Point. What is the ... A: Check Mapquest.com, but I believe that returning to the main West Portal entrance will be quicker. ... | |
| Coastal route 1 | 12/10/2008 |
| Q: I wonder if th weather in Late March through Monterey to Santa Barbara via San Simeon would be like? ... A: Though winter weather along the coast can be quite variable, the odds are still for cool but clear ... | |
| Visiting LA during Christmas | 11/22/2008 |
| Q: I would be vacationing in LAX during Christmas this year and I also intend to visit San Francisco ... A: I'm afraid that I can't help you much for you excellent concerns. I'm not an expert for LA hotels. ... | |
| HELP WITH TRAVLE PLANNING | 11/19/2008 |
| Q: Can you help us out we are four maure adults for THE UK. Can you advis on what route would be best ... A: Mapquest recommends taking CA 20 from Fort Bragg to Williams, and then I-5 south to Sacramento. ... | |
| HELP WITH TRAVLE PLANNING | 11/17/2008 |
| Q: Can you help us out we are four maure adults for THE UK. Can you advis on what route would be best ... A: Ok, I understand your problem now. Take a look at Hwy 395, which traverses, north and south, the ... | |
| maps | 9/29/2008 |
| Q: is San Juan capistrano close to San Francisco A: Araceli, Google Maps reports that San Juan Capistrano is 436 miles –- about 6 hours 38 mins (up to ... | |
| flydrive | 9/28/2008 |
| Q: wonder if you could help me, My family would like to go on a fly drive to california starting off in ... A: Priscilla, Yes, the drive between Las Vegas and San Francisco can be completed in one day, if ... | |
| Am I a CA resident? | 9/23/2008 |
| Q: I was born in CA. when I was 6 years old, I went to China, I have studied in China for 12 years. Now ... A: I recommend browsing the California State Government website to see what importance being a ... | |
| Stockton to San Diego by car | 9/5/2008 |
| Q: What is the best route to travel from Sockton to San Diego by car? One of my friends mentioned that ... A: Drake, I lived in San Diego for 8 years, and actually I found that taking I-5 straight up was the ... | |
| napa to monterey | 9/4/2008 |
| Q: We will be leaving Napa Valley and heading to Monterey to visit with my uncle before heading off to ... A: Jennifer, The drive from Napa to Monterey will be about 2 hrs, so no stop-over is really necessary. ... | |
| Weather | 9/4/2008 |
| Q: I live in San Francisco, and the weather has been very hot for the whole week. I don't know if you ... A: Well, August and September are the hottest months for San Francisco, and the Bay Area in general. ... | |
| fall camping | 8/13/2008 |
| Q: My siblings and I all live in the LA area. We migrated out here from Colorado. Every fall we get a ... A: Yes, the seasonal changes in Southern California are very subtle, although I do recommend a trip out ... | |
| San Francisco - sights, shops | 8/3/2008 |
| Q: I'm going to San Francisco tomorrow for four day convention tomorrow and staying near Moscone ... A: Pam This will be a fun weekend for you! If you are interested in an evening dance performance, the ... | |
| driving tour | 7/22/2008 |
| Q: Ok, need some advise please. I am going to San Francisco on the 29th August this year with me ... A: I'd put off getting that car for at least one more day because San Francisco is the best city on the ... | |
| Train connections in California | 7/22/2008 |
| Q: My boyrfiend and I are planning to come over in September and want to see San Francisco, Yosemite ... A: At one time, California had trains going everywhere, and everybody rode them. It was once easy to ... | |
| trip to san francisco | 7/22/2008 |
| Q: We are planning a trip to the bay area, will be our first, during labor day weekend. I have heard ... A: I believe that Amtrak has service to Emoryville, which is near Oakland, and then bus service to SF. ... | |
| getaway from san diego | 7/17/2008 |
| Q: .. i have travel many many times to san diego because my grand mother lives there and this time i ... A: It's good to get out and window shop and walk. At this time of year Palm Desert (not Palm Springs) ... | |
| san francisco area | 7/16/2008 |
| Q: We are from Spain and we will travel to San Francisco in one month. we will like to know about a ... A: I recall during our trip to Cataluya how important it was to explore the outlying towns and ... | |
| Tent camping with children | 7/12/2008 |
| Q: My family and I are planning on going camping this summer. I was brought up camping in Sequoia, Big ... A: I'm afraid that within a 3 hr drive from LA, nothing as wonderful as the Sierras exists. This is ... | |
| Fires and road closures | 7/6/2008 |
| Q: My husband and I are scheduled to stop overnight in Santa Barbara on July 21st and continue to ... A: By July 21st, the fires will have been long squelched. Don't worry. However, as you arrive in ... | |
| Yosemite and Coast trip leaving and returning from San Diego. | 6/27/2008 |
| Q: We are leaving June 30th from La Jolla to take our Florida friends to Yosemite. We are booked at ... A: You ask some very important questions of value which only you can decide. But, let me explain a ... | |
| California roadtrip - L.A., Monterey, SF, and Napa | 6/25/2008 |
| Q: Ernest, My husband and I will be in California from July 26 through August 3. Here is our plan: ... A: While somewhat conventional, your itinerary is very well conceived. Use Mapquest.com to determine ... | |
| Trip to SF | 6/20/2008 |
| Q: Hope you can give me good pieces of advice. I am travelling alone (30 year girl) to SF, from August ... A: Sorry for the belated reply Luci. Don't worry about safety in San Francisco or the other places you ... | |
| Road Trip from LA to San Fran | 6/19/2008 |
| Q: I am flying in to LA on the July 2nd and flying out of San Francisco on July 12th. I am staying with ... A: Sorry for the belated reply. I've been out of town myself for a couple of weeks. I hope this helps ... | |
| Driving from San Fran to San Diego | 6/19/2008 |
| Q: I am from NYC and I am planning a trip to wonderful California starting Saturday August 16. Me an my ... A: Daniel, Sorry for the belated reply. I've been away and unable to log on. Your week in California ... | |
| Driving from Mariposa to Las Vegas. | 6/15/2008 |
| Q: What is the best route to take while driving from Mariposa to LV,just wanted quickest route through ... A: Sorry for the belated reply. I've had a nightmare logging on. Both ways mentioned are good, and it ... | |
| SF / LA grandcanyon | 6/14/2008 |
| Q: my wife and kids (8 and 5) and me are heading out to san francisco from the UK in august , I need ... A: Sorry for the belated reply. I've had trouble logging on. Ok! You have begun writing an fine ... | |
| California Fly Drive in October | 6/14/2008 |
| Q: You made some very good suggestions to a previous question I asked and hoped you may be able to help ... A: I'm sorry for the delayed reply. I've had troubles logging in. I'm delighted that you have advice ... | |
| California Fly Drive in October | 6/13/2008 |
| Q: You made some very good suggestions to a previous question I asked and hoped you may be able to help ... A: Ann, I'm delighted to have helped you. Though a little short of typing time at the moment, I do ... | |
| holudays in california | 6/10/2008 |
| Q: I will pass my holidays in the west coast with my boy firnd for 19 days, travlling from los angeles ... A: I'm going to guess that you and your boyfriend are relatively young and able to do some rustic tent ... | |
| camping california | 5/29/2008 |
| Q: Hope u can help, me and 5 friends all from ireland have rented out an rv and have planed a trip from ... A: Orlaith, I hope you haven't already rented the RV because in case you haven't heard, the gas prices ... | |
| Flying to Vegas, flying home from San Fran | 5/28/2008 |
| Q: 3 adults are flying to vegas in July, staying there for 3 nights. We then will pick up a car. We ... A: Sharon, That's a tough call, coast or moutain/desert, both are fantastic, and within 14 days, a ... | |
| California, July - August | 5/26/2008 |
| Q: We're thinking about a 3 week self-drive trip in July / August (2 adults and our 16 year old ... A: You can do a lot in a 3 week vacation in California, and so I think it's possible to spend some San ... | |
| Tent camping on california coast | 5/25/2008 |
| Q: We used to go to a little campground just by shell beach. at one time it was called atascadero camp ... A: I'm not familiar with the Atascadero campground that you mention. Pismo Beach SB is extradinary for ... | |
| Wineries without wine | 5/25/2008 |
| Q: We're interested in touring the Napa Valley, and understand that many wineries have attractions ... A: This is a very good question that merits some background for the response. The wine industry ... | |
| Irish Guys | 5/23/2008 |
| Q: Were a couple of 25 yr old Irish Guys .Were headin to California in June but i don t know whether to ... A: The answer to your question depends in part on how much you want to drive. San Diego to San ... | |
| All Girls Birthday Getaway | 5/21/2008 |
| Q: I am turning 12 soon. I want to plan a cheap 1-3 day getaway with two of my friends who are both ... A: Since you live in LA, you certainly have few opportunities to see nature, and there's no better low ... | |
| family vacation | 5/20/2008 |
| Q: We are planning a trip to California in August. We are flying into San Jose and flying out of ... A: Apparently, you have found discount airfare that fly into and out of these secondary airports of San ... | |
| San Francisco | 5/19/2008 |
| Q: I plan on flying into San Francisco and staying at a hotel there, but I want to go to a concert in ... A: Danielle, CalTrain may be your best bet, but check the hours as this is a commuter train between ... | |
| Fly drive route from San Francisco - Grand Canyon | 5/15/2008 |
| Q: We are trying to organise a fly drive holday - 18/10 - 3/11/08 starting base San Francisco, where we ... A: For three people, I still think you will find an RV too cumbersome to drive. Rather than getting ... | |
| Fly drive route from San Francisco - Grand Canyon | 5/14/2008 |
| Q: We are trying to organise a fly drive holday - 18/10 - 3/11/08 starting base San Francisco, where we ... A: Your plans for this two week adventure seem appropriate for me. I agree that driving an RV isn't ... | |
| Lake Tahoe-Yosemite-Las Vegas | 5/7/2008 |
| Q: We are a family of four travelling from Australia to the US. We are planning hiring a car in San ... A: It would be recommended to take a day or two away from Tahoe and put that time into this planned ... | |
| Yosemite/Sequoia/Kings Canyon | 5/7/2008 |
| Q: Greetings from Miami... taking the family (wife, three kids ages 12,9, and 5) to Yosemite in first ... A: I'm afraid that a day trip from Yosemite to Kings Canyon/Sequoia is too ambitious, but I can't ... | |
| Being a Californian! | 5/5/2008 |
| Q: What is your perception of California life? How does mordernism (technology, modernized homes, ... A: I have written at length about such topics in the past, but have a limite time to do this now. In ... | |
| best route in an rv | 5/5/2008 |
| Q: sunday 7 sept 2008.we need to be in las vegas by the tue 9 sept 2008 but want to go across yosemite ... A: Driving a motor home in the mountains is done all the time, but you will want to prepare yourself ... | |
| short roadtrip | 4/17/2008 |
| Q: I am headed to L.A. with a large group of female family members ranging from 14 to 65 years. I will ... A: Bethany, If your friend likes a slower pace, then more than 4 days will be needed to do all that ... | |
| california trip | 4/13/2008 |
| Q: We are planning a trip to CA in June/July 2008. There are a few things I would like to know. Can ... A: The answer to each of these question is theoretically yes, but whether or it one day driving for ... | |
| California for 3 weeks in June | 4/5/2008 |
| Q: My husband and I have decided to do a road trip throughout CA from June 10-July 1 this year. The ... A: Gail, Your background research for this trip is very good, and I can only make a few comments. The ... | |
| California trip in July | 4/1/2008 |
| Q: My husband and I are planning a trip at the end of July. We have never been to California and we ... A: Kristy, Sacramento is a good choice of airport entry because you can proceed south from there and ... | |
| Yosemite/Tahoe | 3/30/2008 |
| Q: I am planning a 9 day long trip to CA and have got stuck on how much time should i give to Yosemite. ... A: The Yosemite national park website (be careful, there are a lot of imitations) provides Tioga Pass ... | |
| California advise | 3/4/2008 |
| Q: I am 25 and me and a friend are going to America on the 24th August. We are starting off in new york ... A: First I would have to say that you will have a very busy 12 days and won't afford a morning ... | |
| Road Trip California to San Francisco | 3/4/2008 |
| Q: I will be going on a road trip starting from LAX to Sanfranciso and back to LAX for 11 days in ... A: Jacinta, Right off hand I can't go so far as to match the winery with your tastes. However, other ... | |
| Highway 1 | 3/3/2008 |
| Q: We will be travelling to California next month and will be staying at San Diego for 3 nights and ... A: Yes, John, the time difference will be huge because of the twists, turns, cross traffic and slower ... | |
| Road Trip California to San Francisco | 3/3/2008 |
| Q: I will be going on a road trip starting from LAX to Sanfranciso and back to LAX for 11 days in ... A: Of course, you will need to consider what time you have available in the itinerary, but Calistoga in ... | |
| Highway 1 | 3/3/2008 |
| Q: We will be travelling to California next month and will be staying at San Diego for 3 nights and ... A: No, as exciting as it may seem to think otherwise, highway 1 is not at all dangerous and is the most ... | |
| Road Trip California to San Francisco | 3/3/2008 |
| Q: I will be going on a road trip starting from LAX to Sanfranciso and back to LAX for 11 days in ... A: In just the past month or so I have written several itineraries, so if you can find those, please ... | |
| San Francisco - Mendocino - Yosemite -Big Sur | 2/27/2008 |
| Q: We Just got plane tickets for our first trip to California. Coming into San Francisco in mid april, ... A: Probably the best fishing experience for your husband would be on a boat out of Fort Bragg, a port ... | |
| Big Family trip to CA | 2/7/2008 |
| Q: My wife and I are spending a family holiday with our 4 children (17, 16, 12 & 9)over the Easter ... A: Your children are of an age to really appreciate many of the places you have chosen to visit in ... | |
| Two week tour..... | 2/5/2008 |
| Q: My wife and I will be visiting the state from the middle to the end of July. We fly into San Diego ... A: Dennis, Your itinerary looks basically pretty good. The drive from San Diego to the central coast ... | |
| Camping | 1/15/2008 |
| Q: We reside in L.A.,my sister resides in San Jose we are looking for a GREAT camping site that ... A: I had answered this question, but the All Experts system tells me now that it didn't get received. ... | |
| Rv Parks | 12/30/2007 |
| Q: Ernest, can you tell me if there're any five star RV parks in San Diego? near Carlsbad. Thank you, ... A: I confess that I'm not an "expert" on RV parks in general; however, in my brief on-line survey I ... | |
| san fran to LA | 12/26/2007 |
| Q: driving in mid jan. with 4 kids (ages 6-13)from san fran to LA. our first trip. figuring we need a ... A: You are certainly welcome. If you have time to describe to me these in greater detail, I'd love to ... | |
| san fran to LA | 12/26/2007 |
| Q: driving in mid jan. with 4 kids (ages 6-13)from san fran to LA. our first trip. figuring we need a ... A: Hearst Castle is frequented by many thousands of families, but actually it's better appreciated by ... | |
| redwoods | 12/16/2007 |
| Q: One more thing- are the redwoods north of SF (Muir Woods) comparable to the ones south of SF (Big ... A: Muir Woods is certainly very popular with tourists visiting San Francisco, and for good reason. The ... | |
| redwoods | 12/15/2007 |
| Q: One more thing- are the redwoods north of SF (Muir Woods) comparable to the ones south of SF (Big ... A: The answer to that question is both yes and no. Muir Woods is a tiny preserve of old growth ... | |
| California road trip | 12/15/2007 |
| Q: I am traveling to San Diego on business and bringing my husband along. We plan to drive from San ... A: I may need a clarification on the question since you give both a 6 hour and 24 hour time frame for ... | |
| Our first trip! | 11/22/2007 |
| Q: Greetings and Happy Thanksgiving from here in the UK. I have read so many of your expert postings ... A: Welcome to California Tracey! I'm not sure what "grotty" means, but I will do my best to recommend ... | |
| California trip | 11/4/2007 |
| Q: I am going to trip through California during Christmas. Spend Christmas eve in Yosemite and New Year ... A: I'm not sure about access to Sequoia National Park during winter. The Tioga Pass through Yosemite ... | |
| visit to Carmel, Sonoma, San Francisco | 10/2/2007 |
| Q: Do you have any suggestions where 2 middle age couples can stay in Carmel in the early part of ... A: I'm sorry to admit that I don't know much about pricing accomodations in this area that I frequent. ... | |
| SF-Yosemite-San Simeon-Monterey | 9/21/2007 |
| Q: Great site - I would like to take a great friend to these places. I was considering the route in ... A: May-June are the foggy months along the coast. Winter is free of fog, but then overhead rain clouds ... | |
| SF-Yosemite-San Simeon-Monterey | 9/21/2007 |
| Q: Great site - I would like to take a great friend to these places. I was considering the route in ... A: Frank, check out my pages at Virtualtourist.com as a preview for these places. I have an extensive ... | |
| Phoenix to San Francisco | 9/11/2007 |
| Q: My wife and I are flying to Phoenix in mid-March 2008 and plan to drive to San Francisco over about ... A: As a general resource, I have many pages of writing and images at Virtualtourist.com under the ... | |
| camping | 9/5/2007 |
| Q: I am from the UK and my girlfriend and I (both mid twenties) are planning a 3 month trip around ... A: I'm afraid that the mountain campgrounds will mostly be closed and certainly make for very cold ... | |
| 11-day road trip San Fran-San Diego | 9/4/2007 |
| Q: my husband and I are taking a trip to Cali in early October for our one-year anniversary. We'd like ... A: I answered a similar question as yours about a month back, so I recommend browsing my answers for ... | |
| Camping | 9/1/2007 |
| Q: Which place from monterey till San Francisco is a best to camping with tents? we are 5, will be with ... A: The Santa Cruz mountains have several California State Parks and regional parks where tent camping ... | |
| Group Caming - Memorial Weekend 2008 | 8/17/2007 |
| Q: I have hosted a reunion trip for my group of friends on Memorial Weekend for the last 9 years and I ... A: Sorry for the delay. I wasn't prompted for your question for some reason. I'm not much help for ... | |
| English visitors need help with routes | 8/8/2007 |
| Q: My fiancee and I are visiting the states next week. We are staying in san Francisco and then are ... A: First, the trip from San Francisco should best follow the route through El Portal entrance. You ... | |
| SF to LA (or vice versa) - road trip | 7/31/2007 |
| Q: Ernest, I have found your earlier postings on California road trips to be extremely helpful and ... A: I also have an extensive portfolio of images and tips under the user name "atufft" at ... | |
| reunion | 7/30/2007 |
| Q: I am seeking a venue for a 3 day reunion in June 2008. I was a San Francisco resident for 10 yrs + ... A: I understand your sense of being overwhelmed with such a task. I'm won't be able to help you much ... | |
| Easy road to Yosemite Valley | 7/18/2007 |
| Q: My family plans to go to Yosemite Valley this summer. I am a little afraid of high and not very ... A: Steven, Both routes into Yosemite Valley are relatively easy to drive, and won't include many cliff ... | |
| Tioga Pass | 7/18/2007 |
| Q: I am planning a road trip in the middle 2 weeks of October from San Francisco to Las Vegas via ... A: Steven, I believe Tioga Pass will still be open in the middle of October as winter rains often ... | |
| Roadtrip SD-Big Sur | 7/17/2007 |
| Q: My family is planning a trip from the east coast next weekend and I wanted to show them some of the ... A: Lee, You are correct in thinking that the closest redwood forests to San Diego would include Big ... | |
| Family reunion , tent cabins Rv camping | 7/14/2007 |
| Q: We are looking to have a family reunion next June. We are looking for a campground that has tent ... A: Wow! This sounds like quite an event. Within the California State Parks system there are ... | |
| Road Trip - San Fran to San Diego | 7/10/2007 |
| Q: We are planning a road trip down the coast of CA. We would like to arrive in SF in the evening on ... A: Santa Barbara is certainly worth a stay overnight. The city is beautiful, has a lot of classic ... | |
| driving from san diego to monterey | 7/4/2007 |
| Q: We are new to California and our son is going to CSUMB. We live in San Diego. Besides traveling on ... A: Valerie, sorry for the delay in responding. I had trouble with the All Experts system. Hwy 1 along ... | |
| Road Trip - San Fran to San Diego | 7/2/2007 |
| Q: We are planning a road trip down the coast of CA. We would like to arrive in SF in the evening on ... A: Sorry for the delay as I've had technical problems with the All Experts system. Nine days is plenty ... | |
| family vacation with teenager | 6/19/2007 |
| Q: Planning on a 8 day trip to CA. Love San Diego but she wants to see Hollywood. We love all the ... A: If you are spending all 8 days in San Diego and LA, you'll have plenty of time to see Hollywood and ... | |
| visiting | 6/14/2007 |
| Q: Ernest, I am tentatively planning on visiting Napa Valley with my fiance. I was hoping to visit ... A: The end of August generally has some of the hottest days of the year, but the gondolas transporting ... | |
| Seaworld & Legoland | 6/13/2007 |
| Q: First week of July seems to be cheaper than the 2nd week of July for hotels in San Diego even though ... A: To be honest, I"m not exactly sure. Basically, though the weather pattern tends to improve during ... | |
| Anniversary get-a-way | 5/22/2007 |
| Q: we are going to be flying into LAX for our anniversary in mid-June. (This is my wife's first flight ... A: Congradulations on your anniversary, and welcome to California. Send my your e-mail address and ... | |
| Yosemite to carmel | 5/10/2007 |
| Q: On monday 11th june - I am driving from Yosemite to carmel. Planning to leave at 2 How long will ... A: I have written several "tips" on both of these routes at Virtualtourist.com (my membername is ... | |
| Woodland | 5/7/2007 |
| Q: I'm writing a short story (live in UK) and I've got this idea about it ending in woodland after ... A: The term "woodland" is used as the name of a town in Northern California, but generally speaking, ... | |
| Living in San Francisco | 3/29/2007 |
| Q: I have always loved San Francisco ever since I first laid eyes on it on "Full House" growing up. ... A: I am a native to California and don't know much about life in the midwest, and I don't know much ... | |
| from solvang to san diego | 2/22/2007 |
| Q: we'll be driving from solvang to san diego. how long do you think it would take us? how bad is the ... A: Mapquest reports that the 252 miles between Solvang and San Diego should take 4 hours 15 minutes, ... | |
| travel directions | 1/8/2007 |
| Q: I am trying to find out about El Camino Real as to where it ends in the bay area. Specifically, I ... A: The El Camino Real is the pathway that padres walked or rode on horseback from one mission to ... | |
| Planning a round trip from San Francisco to San Diego | 10/14/2006 |
| Q: Do you think driving down the coast is better than driving up the coast? I am going to try the ... A: if you drive south on coastal highway 1 you will be in the lane closest to the coastal cliff, ... | |
| Planning a round trip from San Francisco to San Diego | 10/13/2006 |
| Q: I recently retired eventhough I am only 55. I am planning to possibly relocate from San Francisco to ... A: Bear in mind that by moving from SF you will lose great access to entertainment, but I can ... | |
| Camping Out Questions | 9/9/2006 |
| Q: I grew up in ths southland, but have been gone for about 13 years now. I am looking to take my ... A: There are few beaches where camping is allowed at all, and none that I'm aware of which allow free ... | |
| Relocating to Sacramento | 9/7/2006 |
| Q: I currently live in Pennsylvania. I am interested in moving to Sacramento and was wondering if you ... A: Davis is a different city than Sacramento, as you know, although it can be considered part of the ... | |
| Relocating to Sacramento | 9/6/2006 |
| Q: I currently live in Pennsylvania. I am interested in moving to Sacramento and was wondering if you ... A: You will find that Sacramento is a vibrant city with plenty of new construction, excellent shopping, ... | |
| Phoenix to San Francisco | 9/4/2006 |
| Q: We are going to a wedding in San Fran and are thinking of driving. One catch, we have a 3 year old. ... A: Depending upon your 3 year old, this may be a good time to train for car travel. Children often ... | |
| Group camping | 9/4/2006 |
| Q: I am looking for a good group camp spot in Northern California, within 2 1/2 hrs from Walnut Creek. ... A: There are wide variety of options for group camping in California. For example, those in the ... | |
| Road trip LA to SF | 9/3/2006 |
| Q: We are from Panama, Central America. A group of married couples (40 years old average and no kids) ... A: Sounds like a great adventure. If I understand you correctly, you wish to spend 7 days traveling to ... | |
| New Age Centers in CA? | 8/25/2006 |
| Q: Where are the new age centers in California? I'm looking for places where I can do shopping - ... A: California is, ofcourse, a leader in New Age thinking, a place of refuge for those who choose their ... | |
| San Francisco RV | 8/13/2006 |
| Q: good day Please can you recommend an RV site as close to San Francisco ? The KOA site is 34 miles ... A: .. Tell me the exact location of the KOA site, and maybe I can be more specific in my help. Also, ... | |
| Driving fm Las Vegas to Yosemite | 8/13/2006 |
| Q: Good day again I was just looking at Mapquest.com, and they are routeing me via Highway 15+40 to ... A: This is a frequently asked question, and a good one. The use of Mapquest calls for using the town ... | |
| SFO RV'ing | 8/13/2006 |
| Q: Tufft My wife, stepdaughter and I would like to spend a few days in SFO before we turn in our RV ... A: I'm new on this expert forum, and I'm also not highly knowledgeable about the RV spaces, so please ... | |
Ernest Tufft
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I am knowlegeable about most all parts of California, but am most knowlegeable about San Diego, San Francisco and Monterey Bay areas, Wine Country regions, North Coast, Yosemite, Mother Lode, Tahoe, and Central California.
Experience
I'm a fourth generation Californian and know the history, culture, and geography of the state very well. Born and raised in the Francisco Bay Area, I lived 8 years in San Diego, and now reside in Stockton, CA. I worked 6 years in the Napa/Sonoma wine industry. I have also traveled to 19 different countries, on all continents of the world except Australia and Antartica
Organizations
I'm a gold star member at VirtualTourist.com.
Publications
Virtualtourist.com
Education/Credentials
I have a Master's degree in English, and have teacher's credentials for grades K through 12. I currently teach at the community college level.
Past/Present clients
I have helped many visitors from all over the world appreciate the great state of California, and I have also helped Californians visit other parts of the world.
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