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Hi, I'm thinking about a short-term rental in San Jose. It's in Japantown. It looks to me to be very close to San Jose Airport. Can anyone with experience there answer a few questions? [more inside]
posted by Rock 'em Sock 'em around San Jose, CA at 4:06 PM - 8 answers

I would love to hear recommendations for places I should look for cabins/homes/guesthomes I might like for a two week stay sometime next month (December) around San Francisco. I have a car and I'm happy to drive anywhere with 3-4 hours of the city. Could be coastal or forested, but I do need internet access. Hot tub would be great but definitely not a requirement!
posted by vocativecase around San Francisco, CA at 12:26 PM - 10 answers

The closer we get to election week, the more I realize how badly I want to get out of Dodge for a bit. I'm not healthy right now; I don't exercise, I sit all day, and I spend most of my time getting a digital tan. It would be great to go somewhere that would jump start my ability to just live again. Where in LA or a few hours north of LA could I go to reboot? [more inside]
posted by Kitchen Witch around Los Angeles, CA at 5:17 PM - 5 answers

It’s probably about a 2009 Prius, it’s a grinding noise when starting up. Or shortly after starting up. Looking for a reliable mechanic south of the Bay Area, closer to San Jose or Cupertino. [more inside]
posted by tilde around San Jose, CA at 8:55 AM - 8 answers

I'm currently stuck at advanced beginner driving and trying to map out what are intermediary steps between my current skills and my goal, with some anxiety complicating the matter. [more inside]
posted by internet of pillows around San Francisco, CA at 8:44 PM - 15 answers

Looking for a hotel in SF area that is open and has windows that open or--even better--terrace space.
posted by Rock 'em Sock 'em around San Francisco, CA at 8:37 AM - 7 answers

I am planning to drive from Seattle to Tucson for Christmas, to see my family. Please help me plan a route optimized for natural beauty, safer winter driving, and good stopping points to camp each night. [more inside]
posted by cnidaria around California at 12:23 PM - 5 answers

I have a dentist appointment in SF (near our mostly-shuttered office) coming up, and I'll have to come in from the East Bay where I've been working from home. I'm hoping not to deal with $$ garages (which could be full anyway) or 1-hour street parking, so I was just wondering if it'd be relatively safe (i.e. not a Covid hot-zone) to ride BART at the moment. (The office is on Sansome a few blocks from Market, if that helps).
posted by gtrwolf around San Francisco Bay Area, CA at 12:08 PM - 8 answers

We are planning to relocate to Northern CA towards the end of the year. While I realize most everything in the Bay Area is still locked down and traffic might not be a significant issue, I am trying to ascertain commute times between locations, with my boyfriend working in Palo Alto and my own work in Cupertino. [more inside]
posted by Everydayville around San Francisco Bay Area, CA at 11:59 AM - 9 answers

A couple weeks ago I reserved a hotel for two nights in Santa Cruz for this weekend so my 13-year-old son and I could check out the beach and boardwalk. #StayTheFuckHome? [more inside]
posted by Arthur Vandelay around Santa Cruz, CA at 5:07 PM - 13 answers

Hey ya'll, I've told my boss I have to get some required training in California during the first week of March. Training is in Mission Viejo, but I've booked my hotel in Laguna Beach (because fuck yeah sunsets on the beach for six nights). I have some questions. [more inside]
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints around Laguna Beach, CA at 7:57 AM - 9 answers

We're heading to southern California this summer, and we're pricing out various attractions and events. We're skipping Disneyland because of the price, and the crowds. LEGO Land is a must, but summer tickets are almost as expensive as Disneyland. Does anyone have suggestions on how to cut that cost? More details below. [more inside]
posted by filthy light thief around Los Angeles, CA at 11:45 AM - 13 answers

Planning a weeklong trip to LA to see family and friends, and trying to stay in one place while there, hopefully central to the many places we'll be visiting. Difficulty level: reluctant drivers with young kids in tow. [more inside]
posted by BespokePuppet around Los Angeles, CA at 6:40 PM - 8 answers

I'll be departing SFO. I can't find the answer on official sites. Unofficially, it's $5, payable by cash or debit card. Is that true in 2020?
posted by Homer42 around San Francisco, CA at 10:34 AM - 2 answers

Had a long list the first time we visited but having a hard time coming up with more! [more inside]
posted by stoneandstar around Los Angeles, CA at 5:25 PM - 9 answers

We will be in LA at the end of August with our 8 year old and looking for things to do. We already have 3 days at Disney, a day or so at Griffith park, day at the beach, studio tour and probably brunch at magic castle. What am I missing? Any fairs or festivals end of August?
posted by UMDirector around Los Angeles, CA at 9:03 AM - 6 answers

I guess it's going to snow in Gorman today. Do I need to plan to take an alternate route around the Grapevine? [more inside]
posted by baptismal around Los Angeles, CA at 7:29 AM - 4 answers

I'm trying to take a day trip by car in northern California to get to the mountains tomorrow, on 12/1/19. It looks like the roads are closed to Tahoe and Yosemite and/or winter storms are coming. Where can I go to take a long drive with a beautiful girl? Looking for natural beauty at it's finest. [more inside]
posted by nurgle around California at 9:03 PM - 3 answers

We are a family that only gets to take a trip every couple years (so I have lots of pressure to make it great!). I am planning on taking my family to California in April or June 2020 for 10 days. They've never been and last time I was there I was staying in the back of a '79 Celica. I really want to see the best of California. What would you say we shouldn't miss? [more inside]
posted by beccaj around California at 4:32 PM - 17 answers

My spouse and I are flying to LAX on Wednesday morning. We'll meet up with family that evening in Long Beach, and are free the whole day. It looks like the trip from LAX->Long Beach will take 90 minutes via public transit. While we're making our way south, are there neighborhoods or spots we could visit that are close to public transit (or a quick rideshare from LAX/Long Beach)? [more inside]
posted by rogerroger around Los Angeles, CA at 4:56 PM - 11 answers