# Alternative California Trip Itinerary %% Enter notes below this line %% October 17th-November 1st ## Day 1 • Friday 17th : PHL to SFO ✈️ - prioritize flights that land in early afternoon - Pickup rental car - Check in to [Half moon Bay Hostel](https://www.hiusa.org/find-hostels/california/montara-8800-cabrillo-highway)[^1] ## Day 2 • Saturday 18th : Half moon bay + Pacifica - spend some time near the ocean - spend some time in Pacifica - Maybe go to the [Taco Bell](https://www.sfgate.com/food/article/Pacifica-taco-bell-cantina-alcohol-menu-opening-14082626.php)[^2]? It's a genuine destination imo since its on the beach and has a walk up window for all of the surfers that are always there to buy food without tracking in sand - Check in to a hotel in Emeryville/berkeley/oakland, [maybe this one?](https://www.hyatt.com/hyatt-house/en-US/oakxe-hyatt-house-emeryville-san-francisco-bay-area)[^3] ## Day 3 • Sunday 19th : San Francisco - Drive in or to avoid expensive/difficult parking, take the shuttle which is a walkable distance away - will likely make you semi-reliant on uber/lyft/waymo since traveling with a baby has to be tiring - options for SF - Golden Gate park, incl museums? - [La Taqueria](https://lataqueriasf.net)[^5] in the mission - honestly, this list can quickly become overwhelming. My brother will also have some great suggestions since he lives there and spends *significantly* more time in SF than me ## Day 4 • Monday 20th : Oakland - [Kamdesh](https://www.kamdesh.com) is probably a requirement - Walk Lake Merrit - I probably don't need recommendations here - Vallejo! - get situated - maybe get dinner at [Gracies BBQ](https://www.graciesbbq.com)? ## Day 5 • Tuesday 21st : North Bay - Grab some breakfast sandwiches to-go at our nearby deli, eat and have coffee at [https://www.quarterscoffeehouse.com](https://www.quarterscoffeehouse.com) - Sausalito / North Bay and/or Napa? - Dinner at [Laso](https://lasonepalesefood.com) ## Day 6 • Wednesday 22nd : Tahoe - Drive to Tahoe[^4] ## Day 7 • Thursday 23rd : Tahoe - ## Day 8 • Friday 24th : Tahoe - ## Day 9 • Saturday 25th : - ## Day 10 • Sunday 26th : - ## Day 11 • Monday 27th : - ## Day 12 • Tuesday 28th : - ## Day 13 • Wednesday 29th : - ## Day 14 • Thursday 30th : - ## Day 15 • Friday 31st : Vallejo - Full day assigned to traveling back so the trip can be more leisurely - Drive back and sleep in vallejo before heading home? ## Day 16 • Saturday 1st : SFO to PHL ✈️ - return rental, fly home [^1]: I've stayed here a couple times. It's dead quiet, 30min from the airport, and if you were any closer to the ocean you'd be in it. Sells out fast though, the private room (shared bath) is $149/night. One night is enough [^2]: flying a long distance only to eat taco bell in Iceland is a strange decision. doing it twice is just establishing a new tradition which is a normal decision. [^3]: literally across the street from a [nice food court](https://publicmarketemeryville.com) and a 15min walk to [a brunch spot Bria and I love](https://www.doylestreetcafe.com) 30 second drive to the highway which immediately takes you over to the bridge to SF, 10min drive to downtown Oakland, 10min drive to downtown Berkeley, 30min drive to Vallejo [^4]: I havent been but my brother has. he did a longish trip just to tahoe and will have recommendations I'm sure [^5]: was rated the [best burrito in the country](https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/americas-best-burrito/) at one point