Can ya'll help with our vacay?

[luv2cook]

I want to take my awecome exchange student somewhere for spring break. I originally said San Fran, but I am having trouble putting a full week together.

Does anyone have any ideas? We don't have to stay in the same city the whole time. with planning, we can move around, I would imagine. it would just be the 2 of us. My dh can't take off....

[vbak]

where is your student from?

[luv2cook]

Germany. she's a great kid. CL won't let me post one word...she's 17...pretty mature...

[vbak]

My daughter lives In Bonn, Germany. What about Mexico? You're not that far.

[luv2cook]

too much trouble w/the exchange org. the visa says U.S.

also, mexico not very safe...

[tbb113]

What are you trying to accomplish during the vacation? Showing her another city? Relaxing? Museums? Weather constraints? And finally, when is spring break?

[KristaMB]

If you have a whole week to spend, you could go to SF for a few days then rent a car and visit Yosemite...

[Canice]

Question about the San Francisco plan: Sounds like you like the idea of visiting the city but can't fill a week w/in SF, right? But you also aren't constrained by staying put in the city? I know I'm prejudiced, but a week in the Bay Area has loads of opportunities: a few days in the city, a day trip to Berkeley, a trip to Sausalito or Tiburon on the ferry, cruising past Alcatraz; a drive out the coast to Muir Woods/Point Reyes, or up to Sonoma or Napa, a drive down the San Mateo coast (one of the prettiest parts of Highway 1) to Santa Cruz or Carmel. Tide pools in Marin or San Mateo. Bodega (where "The Birds" was filmed), or a hike in the Marin Headlands (just a few miles north of the Golden Gate). A day visiting Angel Island ("The Ellis Island of the West").

I'm not trying to sell you on SF, because there are loads of great options for you. Just want to be sure you know there's more to do here than walk through Golden Gate Park and buy tsotchkes in Chinatown.

[PurplePotato]

Question about the San Francisco plan: Sounds like you like the idea of visiting the city but can't fill a week w/in SF, right? But you also aren't constrained by staying put in the city? I know I'm prejudiced, but a week in the Bay Area has loads of opportunities: a few days in the city, a day trip to Berkeley, a trip to Sausalito or Tiburon on the ferry, cruising past Alcatraz; a drive out the coast to Muir Woods/Point Reyes, or up to Sonoma or Napa, a drive down the San Mateo coast (one of the prettiest parts of Highway 1) to Santa Cruz or Carmel. Tide pools in Marin or San Mateo. Bodega (where "The Birds" was filmed), or a hike in the Marin Headlands (just a few miles north of the Golden Gate). A day visiting Angel Island ("The Ellis Island of the West").

I'm not trying to sell you on SF, because there are loads of great options for you. Just want to be sure you know there's more to do here than walk through Golden Gate Park and buy tsotchkes in Chinatown.

DITTO!

We've been trying to find a way to do SF for a week as so far we've only managed a few days there. You can definitely spend a week in the area as long as you have a car and are willing to drive a bit.

[Romandub]

San Francisco is one of my favorite cities in the world and I definitely agree that you could spend a week in the area. Another alternative would be Washington D.C and New York. That would be interesting for an exchange student I would think.

[Blissful_in_TX]

I've been wondering how your foreign exchange experience was going! Odd that you can't talk about it :confused:. It's something we're still strongly considering but I don't know when. I've been following host parents on another board, and some of their stories/experiences have scared the ---- out of me!

Anyway, we were in San Diego recently and really loved it (the Zoo and Balboa Park could fill a couple days easily); if you could stay in SF a few days then take a quick plane ride to SD.

And this is way out of left field, but Las Vegas is different and there's a lot to do and see other than gambling......if you could stop there before flying on to San Fran.

Or does she (or you!) have any desire to do the whole Disney thing?

[luv2cook]

I've been wondering how your foreign exchange experience was going! Odd that you can't talk about it :confused:. It's something we're still strongly considering but I don't know when. I've been following host parents on another board, and some of their stories/experiences have scared the ---- out of me!

Or does she (or you!) have any desire to do the whole Disney thing?

I don't know what you mean? there are no secrets about the exchange experience. I will be happy to answer any question you have! my friend and I both have one and we have had 2different experiences -- not bad, just different. My GF keeps forgetting that she's a teenager, not an adult.

Spring break is the 15th of March. I am not really into sitting around, so leisure is not my idea of a good time. She doesn't really care for museums.

I want to show her another part of the country. I picked CA because it's beautiful and I had thought about SF bc I have not been there but have been to SD 3 times.

it's just going to be she and I. I am usually not a big baby, but driving around an unfamiliar city to go to all the places you mean, Canice, sounds great but scary at the same time!

[Canice]

I am usually not a big baby, but driving around an unfamiliar city to go to all the places you mean, Canice, sounds great but scary at the same time!

The places outside the city are all very straightforward (one highway), but would require driving a couple of miles to pick up the freeway. Can't say I love driving in unfamiliar cities either.

A more streamlined option would be to fly into SF, take a day or two to poke around the city and then do a single road trip down Highway 1 toward San Luis Obispo. It's stunning and dramatic and you can't get lost: you're heading toward either Mexico or Canada!

[Blissful_in_TX]

I don't know what you mean? there are no secrets about the exchange experience.

Well it's official; I am a total idiot. :o You said "CL won't let me post one word." and by *one word* you meant *Germany*. I interpreted it totally differently; it's scary how my mind works.

[MaryMorph]

Well it's official; I am a total idiot. :o You said "CL won't let me post one word." and by *one word* you meant *Germany*. I interpreted it totally differently; it's scary how my mind works.

I read the line twice initially before I figured out what she meant. I saw the same thing at first!

[luv2cook]

I read the line twice initially before I figured out what she meant. I saw the same thing at first!

Excuseeeee me, Laddiiiiess, let's focus here LOL. I need some direction. everything sounds good!