David and Meg’s Dream Honeymoon in California
A few days after the wedding in Dublin we are jetting off to San Francisco, where we hope to see all the classic sights: the Golden Gate Bridge, Haight-Ashbury and the twisting roads of Lombard Street. It will be the Summer of Love all over again.
We’d hoping to take a limo tour to Napa. We know it’s outrageous but we can’t imagine anything more fun. We may even bring back a bottle of red.
After five days we’ll pick up a car (there no point having one in San Francisco) where we’ll cruise along the Pacific Coast Highway, stopping off in Carmel, Monteray and Big Sur. It’s meant to be a pretty scary drive but we are definitely up for it.
We then have three days in the City of Angels to act like movie stars, hang out in the coolest bars, and go on scary rides.
Down to San Diego, a hidden gem everyone always raves about. We’ll be spending quite a bit of time with the animals here at the Zoo and Sea World. Let’s just hope Meg doesn’t fall in love with the meerkats and decide to stay.
We then take a very long drive to Yosemite National Park for the final stage of our honeymoon. We’ll be camping (well, almost) in the wild and doing battle with the river rapids.
Unfortunately our Grand Tour must come to an end but then the real adventure of marriage can begin (ed. Meg says this is too cheesy and to please disregard!!)
San Francisco
Our Cable Car Fund
£ 5.00
$ 6.67
Nothing symbolises San Francisco better than its cable cars. Help us get around this beautiful city by buying us a Muni Passport.
Chinatown Souvenirs
£ 10.00
$ 13.35
San Francisco’s Chinatown is home to the largest Chinese community outside China. We just have to buy something fabulous while we are there.
Escape From Alcatraz (2 of 2 gifts available)
£ 12.50
$ 16.68
A trip to ‘The Rock’ is an absolute must! Let’s just hope they let us escape!
The Tonga Room (2 of 2 gifts available)
£ 15.00
$ 20.02
The Best Mai Tai in Town. So gotta be done. Twice.
Ghirardelli Square
£ 25.00
$ 33.37
Home to some of the finest views, galleries, boutiques, culinary treats and special events that San Francisco has to offer. We’d love to go to McCormick and Kuletos - the best seafood in town with amazing views of Angel Island, Alcatraz and the Bay.
Gary Danko (2 of 2 gifts available)
£ 30.00
$ 40.04
Hip, trendy and stylish. Gary Danko in San Francisco is a must do!
Chateau Tivoli (4 of 4 gifts available)
£ 70.00
$ 93.43
A hugely romantic Victorian B&B, full of ‘charm and color’ (whatever that means). We think it sounds lovely and a really nice way to start our honeymoon.
Our Day in the Wine Country
A Limo Tour of the Napa Valley Wineries (8 of 8 gifts available)
£ 37.50
$ 50.05
Totally over the top and the type of thing you’d only do on your honeymoon. An 8 hour private tour of the Napa Valley wineries. We’ll be picked up in Frisco by our a personal chauffeur and expert guide - there is even champagne in the back! Buy us an hour in heaven.
Gourmet Picnic Lunch at a Winery
£ 28.00
$ 37.37
The Girl and Fig Winery will provide us with a delicious lunch. Check out the menu. How delicious does that look?
Fine Wine
£ 20.00
$ 26.69
Buy us a bottle of top quality wine direct from the vinyards we visit for us to enjoy over the following evenings.
Wings and Wheels
California Dreaming (14 of 14 gifts available)
£ 30.00
$ 40.04
Picture that sweet ‘drop trop’ cruising along the open highway. What could be more American? Gift is one day’s car hire
The Pacific Coast Highway
17 Mile Drive
£ 20.00
$ 26.69
The most stunning section of the Pacific Coast Highway. We’ll stop at Spanish Bay for a picnic lunch and see the Carmel Mission, Tor House and the Lone Cypress tree.
Monterey Bay Aquarium
£ 24.00
$ 32.03
This is apparently the best aquarium in the USA! Their hands on Mission to the Deep exhibit should be a highlight as we take the controls of an underwater robot.
Carmel
£ 30.00
$ 40.04
Clint Eastwood used to be the mayor but this gorgeous coastal town is simply idyllic, Ocean Avenue has all the best restaurants and we’re planning on a tasty brunch.
Mission Ranch Carmel
£ 100.00
$ 133.47
Clint Eastwood saved this historic farmhouse from destruction in the 80s. It’s now a really cosy place to stay.
Los Angeles
Rodeo Drive Baby!
£ 30.00
$ 40.04
Shop till we drop in LA’s world famous consumer paradise. Very Pretty Woman!
Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous
£ 35.00
$ 46.71
The Movie Stars’ Homes Tour is one of those naughty treats that just have to be done.
Knotts Berry Farm (2 of 2 gifts available)
£ 35.00
$ 46.71
The granddaddy of them all! Before Disney there was Knotts and it’s still one of the best there is.
Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant
£ 25.00
$ 33.37
Cordelia Knott began making fried chicken, homemade biscuits and boysenberry pies in 1934 at Knott’s Berry Farm and they have become legends. We’re going to put on some baggy clothes and tuck in!
Universal Studios (2 of 2 gifts available)
£ 40.00
$ 53.39
We’ve been to the one in Florida but this is meant to be so much better: well, it is Hollywood after all!
Spago Beverly Hills
£ 70.00
$ 93.43
Wolfgang Puck is the original celebrity chef and this is his flagship restaurant. We’ll practice sending back wine and have a ball.
Hotel Bel Air (3 of 3 gifts available)
£ 100.00
$ 133.47
A who’s who of presidents, royalty and movie stars have stayed here. And now this famous hotel can include us to its list.
San Diego
Horton Plaza Shopping & Entertainment mall
£ 25.00
$ 33.37
One of the best shopping ‘malls’ in the entire US (and that’s saying something!) Six floors of retail/ gastronomic/ entertainment heaven.
San Diego Zoo
£ 45.00
$ 60.06
This is probably the best zoo in the entire world. It’s the zoo for people who don’t ‘do zoos!’
Sea World (2 of 2 gifts available)
£ 40.00
$ 53.39
San Diego does seem to have an animal visiting bias but we wouldn’t miss the chance to go and visit our pal Shamu again (and fit in some more hair raising rides!)
Hotel Del Coronado (3 of 3 gifts available)
£ 100.00
$ 133.47
The Most Famous Hotel in San Diego where they filmed Some Like it Hot.
Yosemite National Park
Smarter Than the Average Bear
£ 30.00
$ 40.04
Yosemite National Park is one of the most beautiful places in the whole country! A vast wilderness with clear streams, waterfalls (lots of scary animals……)
This gift is for all the entrance fees, permits, guides etc.
White Water Rafting (2 of 2 gifts available)
£ 50.00
$ 66.73
Yes. Yes we are that crazy.
Some Posh Grub (2 of 2 gifts available)
£ 50.00
$ 66.73
When we need a break from roughing it in the woods we will stop off at Ahwahnee Dining Room. This award-winning restaurant is so sophisticated they might not even let us in.
The Great Outdoors (3 of 3 gifts available)
£ 70.00
$ 93.43
Dave was desperate to camp and Meg knew that wasn’t going to happen so they settled on Yosemite Housekeeping Camp. Rustic enough for Dave and a bed for Meg.
Vintage Camping Songs
£ 20.00
$ 26.69
At the Wawona Hotel we can kick back, relax with a few beers and hear all the old songs from years back. It’ll be just like the Dog and Duck
Buffalo Soldier
£ 25.00
$ 33.37
The Yosemite theatre group do some amazing work and Yosemite Through the Eyes of a Buffalo Soldier is one of the highlights. Should be a really interesting evening.