Advice if poss -Las Vegas, San Francisco, Pacific Highway, LA and San Diego

[glc]

Lone Pine is an option - there are a few motels there and the rates aren't too bad.

[Mark Sedenquist]

Here's a brief look at Stovepipe Wells

Mark

[andreatrib]

oh no, opening May! Guess we'll belimited to where we can go. Friends mentioned legoworld waterpark. Will need to check it out. Noticed Las Vegas water park will be closed

Regarding Legoland (in Carlsbad, North of San Diego) they do have a water park but you have to pay admission to Legoland and then an additional fee for the water park which together will be EXPENSIVE, so I would not recommend it. Also, Legoland and the Waterpark there can't seem to decide what age they are geared for. They have few rides that are intended for those over 10 (only 2 rollercoasters and 2 large waterslides) so you may want to consider taking the kids the beach and rent boogie boards instead!! Good Luck!

[dramaqueen]

Here's a brief look at Stovepipe Wells

Thanks for the heads up MarkSedenquist. It looks quite good with bar, restaurant, pool and stunning views what more could we ask for!

Rather than stay in Bakersfield the previous night we are considering Kernville (The Kern Lodge) Via the trail of 100 giants. May even do a spot of whitewater rafting (if it's on)

Regarding Legoland (in Carlsbad, North of San Diego) they do have a water park but you have to pay admission to Legoland and then an additional fee for the water park which together will be EXPENSIVE, so I would not recommend it. Also, Legoland and the Waterpark there can't seem to decide what age they are geared for. They have few rides that are intended for those over 10 (only 2 rollercoasters and 2 large waterslides) so you may want to consider taking the kids the beach and rent boogie boards instead!! Good Luck!

Thanks andreatib. Beach and boogie boards sounds like a great idea. I must admit i think my eldest (13) would have struggled to keep herself entertained at LegoLand. Will the sea be warm in April?

cheers

[Mark Sedenquist]

It looks quite good with bar, restaurant, pool and stunning views...

Megan and I stayed here in November. The bartender has competed at a national level for bartending awards -- Get him to show off for you! Pretty fair selection of bourbons and other spirits there. Stunning views.... Um, there are stunning views in the area, but the views from the rooms are somewhat stark. Still, a fun place to stay, but it's not like the views from the rooms at the Furnace Creek Inn by any stretch of the imagination!

Mark

[dramaqueen]

Any suggestions as to good car hire companies at San Francisco airport. We're going to stay a night in an airport hotel and pick up the car the next day. There will be a shuttle service back to the airport from the hotel hopefully this will make it easier picking the car up.

Also, would you recommend GPS? Does GPS system (tomtom) work in US ok? Will cigarette lighter charge in american cars be the same as uk?
thanks

[Southwest Dave]

I think most major car rental Co's offer the same type of service so it will be a case of searching for the best deals to match your criteria.

GPS is a good back up tool, but always use paper maps to guide you. A GPS will do it's best [or should that be worst?] to keep guiding you onto main Highways and Interstates. Make sure you go where you want to go and not where the GPS tells you too.

I purchased the TomTom USA maps prior to leaving the UK and ran updates through TomTom Home on my computer. It worked well and was great for finding a specific address [Hotel etc] when near your destination and showing local stuff like gas stations and Diners. It'll plug into the car socket OK and you can buy a plug adapter for charging in your Hotel room if needed.

[dramaqueen]

Hi, we're now planning our route from LV to Santa Barbara. I've read lots of posts where the drive is quite boring. We do have a day spare to stop off somewhere and were wondering if anyone had suggestions of interesting places to stay.
We're considering the route below (found in the archives on this forum) - it sounds much more interesting

It is certainly possible to get from Las Vegas to Santa Barbara in a day, it's only 371 miles by the most direct route, I-15 to the Los Angeles area and I-210 across the northern L.A. basin. But I-210 can become a 50 mile long parking lot in the evening rush hour, so here's what I'd do. For all of another mile (372 total) you can avoid L.A. altogether. At Barstow, CA, leave I-15 and take CA-58 west to Mojave, then follow CA-14 down through Lancaster to Santa Clarita. As you enter Santa Clarita pick up CA-126 west which will take you all the way to the coast and US-101 in Ventura, about 20 miles southeast of Santa Barbara. I think you'll find that much more relaxing and scenic than driving through one big city after another.

any suggestions gratefully received!

[jaquigoggles]

Hi we are going over the same time as you and doing roughly the same route starting from Vegas. I love dolphins and whales and we will be going on the boat trip to see them in the wild from San Francisco Bay.Is it cool to see dolphins at the zoo?
CONSIDER THESE FACTS:
53% of those dolphins who survive the violent capture die within 90 days.

The average life span of a dolphin in the wild is 45 years; yet half of all captured dolphins die within their first two years of captivity. The survivors last an average of only 5 years in captivity.

Every seven years, half of all dolphins in captivity die from capture shock, pneumonia, intestinal disease, ulcers, chlorine poisoning, and other stress-related illnesses. To the captive dolphin industry, these facts are accepted as routine operating expenses.

In many tanks the water is full of chemicals as well as bacteria, causing many health problems in dolphins including blindness.

When a baby dolphin is born in captivity, the news is usually kept secret until the calf shows signs of survival. Although marine mammals do breed in captivity, the birth rate is not nearly as successful as the one in the wild, with high infant mortality rates.

Wild dolphins can swim 40 to 100 miles per day - in pools they go around in circles.

Many marine parks subject their mammals to hunger so they will perform for their food. Jumping through hoops, tailwalking and playing ball are trained behaviors that do not occur in the wild.

Confined animals who abuse themselves (banging their heads against the walls) are creating stimuli which their environment cannot supply. Dolphins in captivity tend to develop stereotypical behaviors (swimming in a repetitive circle pattern, with eyes closed and in silence) because of boredom and confinement. This is equivalent to the swaying and pacing of primates, lions, tigers and bears confined in cages.

Dolphins are predators of fish and spend up to half of their time in the wild hunting for food. Supplying dead fish results in less exercise and lack of mental stimulation, thus causing boredom.

When trapped together, males often become agitated and domineering. This creates pecking orders (unknown in the wild) and unprovoked attacks on each other and the trainers. In the ocean, although fights are not unknown, the wild dolphins have a chance to escape.
THEY WOULD HAVE YOU BELIEVE....
Dolphinariums claim that their mission is to protect dolphins in the wild through research and public education. Those are nice words but facts speak louder. If dolphins are so happy in captivity, why do they die so fast? Why the secrecy about their mortality rates? There would be fewer spectators if people knew how many animals were "dying" to amuse them. Perhaps if the death records were displayed at the entrance, no one would buy a ticket.
Education?
Most dolphinariums have made little or no contribution to education about dolphins. Jacques Cousteau believed that captive dolphins are conditioned and deformed and bear little resemblance to dolphins living in freedom in the sea. It's like studying human psychology only in prisons, which leads, obviously, to misinterpretations and absurd generalizations. As people learn more about the wild cetaceans, they pity more the captive ones. As TV, computers, and virtual reality become greater educational tools, the justification for keeping captives on display disappears.
Research?
We blindfold dolphins to study the efficiency of their echolocation system. We put probes in their larynxes and nostrils to examine their sound production. We train them to push buttons and levers, to choose between materials and colors, we teach them to speak. We clamp them down, drill holes into them, and dissect them. Why? They do not exist as subjects for agonizing experiments by man. Dolphins suffer no less than humans. The only way scientists should study dolphins is to swim with them in the wild. No argument can rationalize the forced confinement of these highly intelligent creatures. Dolphins are innocent sufferers in a hell of our making.

The Good News is...
Fortunately for the dolphins, more and more people are becoming concerned about dolphin suffering, and uncomfortable at sea circuses. Citizens are now speaking out loudly that dolphins and whales belong in the ocean. This is the only hope. Imagine this: A theme park has a dolphin show and nobody goes. The owners will soon close down. There would be no dolphin shows if no one paid to watch them.

Dolphins have evolved over 50 million years to be successful in their wild habitat!

[dramaqueen]

Does anyone have some knowledge of Santa Clarita area?

Hi, we're now planning our route from LV to Santa Barbara. I've read lots of posts where the drive is quite boring. We do have a day spare to stop off somewhere and were wondering if anyone had suggestions of interesting places to stay.
We're considering the route below (found in the archives on this forum) - it sounds much more interesting

It is certainly possible to get from Las Vegas to Santa Barbara in a day, it's only 371 miles by the most direct route, I-15 to the Los Angeles area and I-210 across the northern L.A. basin. But I-210 can become a 50 mile long parking lot in the evening rush hour, so here's what I'd do. For all of another mile (372 total) you can avoid L.A. altogether. At Barstow, CA, leave I-15 and take CA-58 west to Mojave, then follow CA-14 down through Lancaster to Santa Clarita. As you enter Santa Clarita pick up CA-126 west which will take you all the way to the coast and US-101 in Ventura, about 20 miles southeast of Santa Barbara. I think you'll find that much more relaxing and scenic than driving through one big city after another.

any suggestions gratefully received!