Okay, since we're not going to see Rage, what should I do with flvegan while he's out here?

[LeftyMom]

Other than the obvious, I mean. ;)

Suggestions of stuff to do within a day's drive or Northern California happily accepted. Bonus points for things others wouldn't think of. Demerits for anything that's really really not vegan (zoos, San Francisco clam chowder, touring Harris Ranch, etc) Any thoughts?

I'll be getting ready for work, but I'll check in asap.

[bridgit]

1. I SAID take him out through the delta but that was too naive i guess...

:eyes:

[LeftyMom]

2. That's actually a good idea, but we've got a week or more so I need a few more.

:)

We'll have to pack a lunch though, I'm not sure there's much plant-based eating down in Isleton, etc.

[bridgit]

3. we always take eats along, there's plenty of places to kick it though...

;)

[bridgit]

6. Oh! up through the gold country is nice too...

up to placerville, 49 on toward grass valley, etc...also nice :)

[Guava Jelly]

4. S_x on the beach

:)
Video tape it and put it on youtube :rofl:

[LeftyMom]

5. Uh. No.

To the video. Well, to posting it anyhow. ;)

[Guava Jelly]

7. Damn!!!!

well ya can't blame a perv for trying :)

[LeftyMom]

9. I'd be the last person to throw stones there.

:evilgrin:

[jmowreader]

8. Drive him to Vegas and make him LeftyDad

You guys are perfect for each other. I can tell. Go to Vegas and get married.

[LeftyMom]

10. Uh. No. Really, no.

:scared:

BTDT. Not doing it again.

[RetroLounge]

24. Never say never...

:hi:

RL

[NC_Nurse]

11. It won't matter what you do.

If you click, you click. Sounds like you probably will. Do what you usually enjoy. :)

Ya never know, maybe those tix will come to you by then...;)

[Oeditpus Rex]

12. Rafting on the American River?

Go to a Kings' game?

Leave a flaming shitbag in front of Ah-nold's office?



Seriesly, I'd drive over to Placerville and make a day trip of going down 49. Freaking gorgeous country.

[Kali]

13. Look on a travel forum

like lonely planet's thorntree, (I think they even have a veg/vegan specialty forum) approach it as a tourist and not a local. Might find something you didn't know about. Dont forget the really cheesy (sorry) stuff too. The Thing? Mystery of the Desert (tm)'s can be a lot of fun when you are in the right mood/company.

[AlCzervik]

14. have you ever gone to Amador? It's a nice place to spend the afternoon

also Murphy's as well, they aren't that far apart.

edited to add-there is an Ansel Adams exhibit at the Crocker Art museum as well.

[Redstone]

15. The Winchester Mystery House! You MUST take him there!

And to Santa Cruz to see the hippies.

Redstone

[LeftyMom]

16. Oh, well we have to go to Santa Cruz

We can pick out a house to buy when we win the lotto (well actually I want one in Felton.) Oh, and I think I have to let MaryBear look him over and make sure he's good enough for me.

[Susang]

27. Say "hi" to Dookus while you're there

Santa Cruz is Dookus-town! :D

[wildhorses]

17. the obvious being in done--

in NOT so obvious places...now that could be fun:loveya:

[LeftyMom]

18. That is SO on the list.

:evilgrin:

[wildhorses]

19. i may have to require a pm in regards to details

i am truly so happy for you guys:bounce:

[La Lioness Priyanka]

20. stay home.

[LeftyMom]

21. Home is where my crazy family lives.

Not so conducive to the fun part.

If you mean stay in the hotel, that's quite possibly what we'll do when we decide we're having too much fun to go have fun. :D

[Downtown Hound]

22. You from Sacramento 'eh?

I currently hail from Santa Rosa, not too far from you. And I have been in your shoes of having maintained a long-distance relationship with a girl from New Orleans when I went to Humboldt State. After eight months of me visiting her there twice, she came out to live with me for the summer in Arcata. We did lots of stuff during that time, hiking, sea kayaking, some parties, some camping, a few movies here and there, a trip to San Francisco. But one of the most memorable days of that very wonderful and steamy summer were two days that we spent driving around 101 through Mendocino, Humboldt, and Del Norte counties. It may sound mundane, but it was anything but.

First of all, I don't know if you've ever done that drive before, but when you get far enough north 101 pretty much follows the Eel River on up to Humboldt, and there's lots of places to stop and swim. We stopped at one place called Standish Hickey (yes, we stopped because of the name, pun intended). It turned out to be the perfect place to stop, because the water is very deep there and there's cliffs you can jump off of. Since we were there on a weekday there was nobody around, and we did that very obvious thing you mention right there in the river with the water up to our waists. We spent the rest of the afternoon jumping off cliffs, swimming, sunbathing, smoking some really excellent Humboldt herb that we'd brought with us, and eating. It was great. Normally at this time of year you can't swim there because the river is too full and it's dangerous. But since we've had so little rain lately I'm thinking it would probably be okay. Check with a park rangers service first though.

Then we drove on up north, driving through the Avenue of the Giants redwood trail, getting out, walking around, doing that obvious thing again on top of a grand old fallen redwood. We got home to Arcata, and had dinner. Unfortunately it was Sushi and it had meat in it, but I can assure you there are many fine vegan dishes in Arcata at many fine restaurants. We spent the night at my place, you can guess what happened next. The next morning, we got in the car and went further north, bringing with us lots of good food and a bottle of wine. We drove to Crescent City, stopping at Fern Canyon, a park that is essentially a big canyon in the redwoods covered in ferns, and Big Lagoon, a gorgeous lagoon up past Trinidad that borders right on the ocean but doesn't connect with it. Essentially it's all the runoff from the rain in the redwood covered hills, but it's pretty deep. While we were there swimming a herd of these giant Elk began passing through the shallow end of it. It was freakin' awesome. I felt totally in tune with all the nature around me, I could feel the toxic poison of our society leave my body and I felt like an animal again, but in a good way. Free, natural, totally alive, and seriously fucking horny.

Anyway, we made it up to Crescent City, drove past it and around many of the beaches there, which were totally deserted. We had a picnic lunch on the beach, drank some wine, did that obvious thing again, and went for another swim. We drove back that night.

Anyway, that was a really fun summer, as you might have guessed, but those were the best two days of it, primarily because we didn't plan it. It just happened and things just sort of took over. One of those trips where everything that could go right went right, and nothing went wrong. But that's one thing I could suggest. Take a drive up to Humboldt, stop at Standish Hickey, and then just let the day take over. Spend the night there maybe. Enjoy some of the wonderful Vegan cuisine. See the redwoods, the beaches, maybe rent a hot tub at one of Arcata's hot tub resorts. Or even the Arcata community pool is nice. It has a nice hot tub, pool with water slide, sauna, and a few bucks gets you in.

One place you could maybe camp is the Lost Cost, 24 miles of undeveloped coastland, with all the hiking and beautiful beach you can want. Or if you're feeling a little adventurous and leaning toward the kinky side of things more, might I suggest a trip to San Francisoc to a place called The Power Exchange. To learn all about The Power Exchange, simply read here.

http://brianx.com/powerexchange.html

I went there once, it was an experience never to be forgotten.

[GOPisEvil]

23. Get in the car. Head west. Find the PCH. Drive north or south...

...until you don't feel like driving anymore. Then turn around and go home. :)

A friend of mine and I left Vallejo one morning, went to Bodega Bay and drove south to Santa Cruz, then took the freeways back.

But my REAL suggestion is to have no plans. When Madrone came down here, we had no plan whatsoever. We just sort of ended up places. That went really well. That's the plan for when I go up there (for repeated visits).

[Madrone]

26. True.

NO PLANS was indeed awesome. We didn't plan to do anything - and it worked perfectly.

I am sad to remind GOPisEvil however that it isn't *quite* going to work the same way for him when he's here. ;) The people in my life are already actively planning his arrival.

[RetroLounge]

25. Take him to Poets Corner (So I married an Axe Murderer)

and pretend you're on your honeymoon...

:9

RL

[Gormy Cuss]

28. Come down to the city, there's plenty to do and you probably don't need help there.

Have lunch at Greens (pricey, but not as bad as dinner and the view is great plus you can walk around Fort Mason afterwards.) Take a walk out to Land's End http://www.zurdogo.com/panos/landsend.html
Another good choice for a meal would be at one of the Cafe Gratitude locations (two in the city, one in Berkeley.)

[BreweryYardRat]

29. You including Monterey Bay Aquarium in with zoos?

If not, that might be a fun trip. I'd love to go out there myself someday.

Cool note: When you take a flash photo of jellyfish (did that at the SC aquarium during Christmas vacation), they catch the light and shine. It's amazingly beautiful.

[LeftyMom]

31. As animal captivity goes, I think they are better about it than most.

I did go there several times when they had a white shark.

The thing that bothers me though is the Octopi. They are SMART!!!! so the idea of having them in small and largely empty enclosures really bothers me. The larger displays really do a pretty good job of mimicing the bay, though obviously they are more crowded, so I think the animals there lead good lives, and many are later returned to the ocean when they get too big or are ready to reproduce. Because of the location (it's right on the bay) they pump in fresh sea water, so that helps to keep the animals healthy.

PS Geeky fact: The "Cetecean Institute" in Star Trek IV was shot at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The part where the whale tank is in real life is a drop-off leading down to the natural coastline and a tide pool. The big round window into the whale exhibit is actually part of the sea otter area.

[S n o w b a l l]

30. Are you in N Cal or Southern?

If South...take a trip across the border...camp on the beach, drive on the beautiful, scenic road down to Encinada & Rosarito Beach overlooking the most beautiful ocean scenery in the world, try horseback riding on the beach and visit Papas N Beers in Rosarito & Encinada if your into some wild night life, visit La Bufadora (the Blow Hole) in Encinada and enjoy the different culture of Mexico. And shopping! Great shopping on the border towns.

That's what I'd do! :) I'm sure whatever you do you'll have a wonderful time. Congrats to you both and good luck!

[LeftyMom]

32. I'm in Sacramento. nt

[S n o w b a l l]

33. well, crap! I wanted you to visit Rosarito Beach :)

I don't know why I was thinking you were in So. Cal.

Many things to do there too though. :) Have fun!!