What to do in California? (Coin-related)

Dennis88 · February 22, 2008 3:47AM

Finally, after being on this forum for almost 5 years I booked my first flight to the US about an hour ago. For the people who do not know me yet (is that possible?) I was born and raised in the Netherlands, and still live there. A long time interest in the US and its history ended up with finding myself at this place all over the time, with foregoing plans to actually emigrate to the US.

However, I have still not yet visited the US, but after a couple of problems with parents (I'm 19), money and other stuff I never got around of actually going. But this summer, June 7 to June 28 to be pricise will finally be my first time, and as you all can guess I'm really looking forward to it.

I will be visiting a good friend of mine who lives near Sacremento and whom I met for the first time in May last year in Amsterdam. He will show me around the state, probably get me to the Carson City Mint and do much more things so I can see a lot in those 3 weeks (I hope to get back to the US in september/october, but that is another story). I'm sure he knows a lot, but are there any other suggestions? There are also foregoing plans to visit Philadelphia and its Mint Archives with another forum member for research, but that's for later.

Any other suggestions are welcome

Dennis

unknowncomic · February 22, 2008 3:56AM

one thing about Sacramento, it's about 3 hours from San Francisco (the ocean), about 3 hours from Reno (the mountains)and about 3 hours from where I live.(What we like to call the real California. Redding Calif.) I would recommend trying to see the SF mint building, then Carson City. There is a LOT to see in Calif. I've been here since the mid 60s and still havent seen it all.

claychaser · February 22, 2008 3:58AM

Here is my list of Sacramento coin related visits:

The Wells Fargo Museum, located in the Wells Fargo Bank lobby near the Capitol. You have to go during bank hours. They have gold coins of the era in the wooden bank trays, old scales, gold nuggets and bars, a real stagecoach with strongbox and the original guns, etc.

Take the Amtrak from Sacramento to Reno. It's a beautiful ride through the Donner Pass. Train leaves in the moring and arrives early evening.

Carson City Mint. Check to see what days they will be operating Press Number 1. Very cool.

Virginia City. Kind of a tourist trap, but worth a visit. You can go into an actual mine.

Sacramento also has a first rate railroad museum and a working steam locomative ride along the river.

mrearlygold · February 22, 2008 3:59AM

Well one things for sure and that is that coffee shops here aren't anything like what y'all have in Amsterdam

ricko · February 22, 2008 4:02AM

I hope your visit goes well.. please keep us posted with your acitivities and impressions. Welcome to America.... Cheers, RickO

SanctionII · February 22, 2008 4:17AM

While in the Sacramento area be sure to go to Old Sacramento for an hour or so. It will show you what the town was like back in the mid 1800's. You can also visit the California State Railroad Museum at the same time. It is located in Old Sacramento. You should also visit the State Capital (you may see "Arnold" the Terminator/Governator while you are there). If you have an interest in the California Gold Rush, take a trip to Sutter's Mill and see where gold was first discovered in 1848. The Wells Fargo building in Sacramento has a great lobby display of a Wells Fargo stagecoach and other items (including gold bars).

Sacramento is close to San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, Reno, Carson City, Virginia City, etc. Lots of history in these places, including two U.S. Mint facilities from years gone by.

Enjoy your trip.

STONE · February 22, 2008 4:22AM

That's an interesting time when you will first be arriving in the U.S. because that is the exact amount of time I will be leaving the U.S. for South America.

I hope you enjoy yourself.

blu62vette · February 22, 2008 4:23AM

<< While in the Sacramento area be sure to go to Old Sacramento for an hour or so. It will show you what the town was like back in the mid 1800's. You can also visit the California State Railroad Museum at the same time. It is located in Old Sacramento. You should also visit the State Capital (you may see "Arnold" the Terminator/Governator while you are there). If you have an interest in the California Gold Rush, take a trip to Sutter's Mill and see where gold was first discovered in 1848. The Wells Fargo building in Sacramento has a great lobby display of a Wells Fargo stagecoach and other items (including gold bars).

Sacramento is close to San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, Reno, Carson City, Virginia City, etc. Lots of history in these places, including two U.S. Mint facilities from years gone by.

Enjoy your trip. >>

I agree with all this. I worked in the WF bulding for a long time and doing a one day stint to see the capitol, old sac and the WF musuem is good use of a day. There is so much gold history around here there will be no shortage of what to do. Even a day trip to Yosemite to see the valley is an option that I dont take advantage of enough.

A trip to Carson city to see the mint and continuing to Virginia city for the mines is also worthwhile.

No coins shows planned in Sac around that time but check in before you come and I am sure you will get plenty of coin shops to see if you want.

quattrocoins · February 22, 2008 4:39AM

<< ...but are there any other suggestions? >>

In a word, Yosemite

It is one of THE MOST beautiful and awe inspiring places in the country.

While living in California for 25 years, I would always make sure that any visitors we had would get to see this truely magnificent creation of nature.

If you have any extra time, a trip down the Coast Highway to Big Sur.

robkool · February 22, 2008 5:17AM

While you're in America, come on to Southern California, and visit the Hollywood's "walk of fame" near the Man's Chinese Theater, as well as the Kodak Theater. Come and visit Disneyland too...

guitarwes · February 22, 2008 5:23AM

When you get here whatever you do, don't assume that all people in the United States act like the people in California!

If you really want to see God's country, come to South Georgia.

Have a great trip, be safe, and tell us all about it when you get back!..........Welcome to America!

Wes

p8nt · February 22, 2008 5:23AM

I know your tour guide

streeter · February 22, 2008 5:32AM

Dennis,

Since you'll have the option to plan your vacation......remember that Lake Tahoe is a MUST and going during mid-week is pretty nice in June. If you decide to go to any tourist spots on weekends....things get a little too hectic.

Just my 2 cents......California is best spent outdoors. The museums are OK, but if you want great museums---Chicago and D.C. are the places to go.

If you are so inclined, I'd rent a motorcycle and travel down the coast from Santa Cruz down to Santa Barbara on Highway 1.

happy trails

Elcontador · February 22, 2008 5:40AM

Agree with what everyone else said re the Sacramento area, Reno, Carson City, Virginia City and the Lake Tahoe area. Do try to spend a few days around Lake Tahoe, and if possible, Yosemite National Park as well.

I hesitate to suggest your going to other areas, as you may wind up being so busy trying to see everything that you won't have the time to enjoy it. For example, You could easily spend an additional two weeks in the area from California's central coast through Santa Cruz, San Francisco and Marin counties. That's not counting spending any time whatsoever in Southern California.

Proofquarter · February 22, 2008 6:09AM

My number one choice would be Pacific Cove to 17 mile drive and Pebble Beach. Pebble Beach

BECOKA · February 22, 2008 6:13AM

<< While in the Sacramento area be sure to go to Old Sacramento for an hour or so. It will show you what the town was like back in the mid 1800's. You can also visit the California State Railroad Museum at the same time. It is located in Old Sacramento. You should also visit the State Capital (you may see "Arnold" the Terminator/Governator while you are there). If you have an interest in the California Gold Rush, take a trip to Sutter's Mill and see where gold was first discovered in 1848. The Wells Fargo building in Sacramento has a great lobby display of a Wells Fargo stagecoach and other items (including gold bars).

Sacramento is close to San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, Reno, Carson City, Virginia City, etc. Lots of history in these places, including two U.S. Mint facilities from years gone by.

Enjoy your trip. >>

They have a fantastic train museum in old Sacramento. I was really impressed.

SanctionII · February 22, 2008 6:18AM

Visiting California on your first trip to the USA will be fun, but will not give you a clear picture of how people in the USA in general are. Especially if you spend much time in most parts of the San Francisco Bay Area and other parts of coastal California.

San Francisco, Marin County, Berkeley, Oakland, Sonoma County, Mendocino County, Santa Cruz, and on down the coast to Santa Barbara, Malibu and Santa Monica, plus LA, West Hollywood, etc. are filled with all kinds of people, some great, some not so great and some just plain nuts.

Coastal California is much, much different than large portions of the USA that are considered "fly over country" by coastal residents. Of course, it may be that the residents of coastal California are unsophisticated rabble compared to residents of Amsterdam and other European cities.

adamlaneus · February 22, 2008 6:21AM

If you have some time and are into photography, visit the ghost town of Bodie. It's about 1 hour of driving from the east entrance of Yosemite. This old ghost town is very well preserved and you can get a guided tour of the millsite. It's not terribly coin related, but I would imagine lots of the gold mined here ended up in coinage. It's not a tourist trap by any stretch. It's a little ghost town at the end of a long twisty road that most folks don't travel to. If you ended up travelling through Carson City, then back to Sacramento via Yosemite...then this should be one of your stops along the way.

For the more adventurous, you can drive from Bodie to it's sister town of Aurora. It's an 8 mile road that isn't always open and is sometimes a white-knuckler. Aurora was not preserved like Bodie was and the only thing that remains is one working mine, some foundations and a cemetary.

JapanJohn · February 22, 2008 6:28AM

This is way out there but kinda sorta really coin related. Go to Joshua Tree National Park and hike out to some of the old abandoned gold mines. You can still find gold out there just laying on the ground in the shale around the old rock crunchers.

Of course I would NEVER remove gold from a National Park because that would be wrong.

John

BobGreene · February 22, 2008 6:39AM

And if you still have time left over after you do all those things, try to make it over to San Francisco. There you can visit the Old S.F. Mint, visit the waterfront, and make the trip over to Alcatraz. I hope you enjoy your stay here in beautiful California. Of course, you really haven't been to California unless you've been to Southern California.

Dennis88 · February 23, 2008 6:39AM

Many thanks for all the advice in this thread. 3 weeks is a short time (although it could have been less, so I'm already happy with it) but I think it will be excellent to find out how the country really is. For now, I have planned to see at least the following things:

-San Francisco Mint
-Carson City Mint
-Sutters Mill
-Yosemite National Park
-Ghost town of Bodie (thanks for the tip!)

And I'm sure there will be much more to see.

I'm really looking forward to it and keep you guys updated.

Dennis

JapanJohn · February 23, 2008 7:23AM

Bodie is one of the most awesome places on the west coast. I spent a day out there with a camera and loved every minute. It's the absolute most beautiful view driving to the place as well. Realize though that it's a dirt road that's several miles long. While in Bodie ask about a famous local working gal there named Rosa May. I read a book about here and it was a fascinating read. Puts some perspective on the whole place.

If you're in Carson City going to Bodie, or in Bodie going to Carson City right on the border of CA NV is a lodge called the Topaz Lodge. One of my favorite places to stay. No it's not a 4 star or probably even a 3 star joint but it's quaint. The view is beautiful and there's an awesome lake there and a some great walks to be had right around there.

Chase the Walker river around Bridgeport for some of the most beautiful views you'll ever see in your life and also at some point either from Yosemite into Bodie or going the other direction you're going to pass Mono Lake. You have to stop at Mono Lake and take some photos. It's right there on the road.

Don't even get me started about this area. There's a Marine Corps Cold Weather Training Base in Bridgeport and I've spent many days up there working on the airfield. If there is such a thing as God's Country then this area is it. (Except in the winter).

John

AUandAG · February 23, 2008 7:39AM

Please take a visit to a large Redwood Grove in N. California. The largest and most beautiful trees in the world.
Majestic is not a good enough description! The live in cool, misty, foggy areas along California coast and that too
is beautiful. Ocean is cold at any time of year but beautiful. I'm from Carson City but do enjoy California for visits.
bob

CarlWohlforth · February 23, 2008 7:50AM

<<Please take a visit to a large Redwood Grove in N. California>>

There is a large grove of Redwoods in Yosemite. That is definately an awe inspiring park.

California is very large. A friend of my fathers came to visit from England. He booked a flight to LA thinking he would rent a car and take a quick drive to my Dad's house in Oakland. He was shocked to learn it was a 400 mile drive! It is another 400 miles or so from the bay area to Oregon. California is only one (OK a large one) of 50 states. Each one has something different and beautiful to see. I traveled all over the US and there are many, many places I missed and would like to visit. So come on down, relax and check out some places. Don't expect to see "America" in one trip though.

BlindedByEgo · February 23, 2008 7:53AM

<< Many thanks for all the advice in this thread. 3 weeks is a short time (although it could have been less, so I'm already happy with it) but I think it will be excellent to find out how the country really is. For now, I have planned to see at least the following things:

-San Francisco Mint
-Carson City Mint
-Sutters Mill
-Yosemite National Park
-Ghost town of Bodie (thanks for the tip!)

And I'm sure there will be much more to see.

I'm really looking forward to it and keep you guys updated.

Dennis >>

I was in Bodie with my wife and girls a few years ago and struck up a conversation with the curator. He showed me a coin that one of the docents had basically stumbled across in the dirt - a nice XF Seated Half, 1865-S IIRC. He asked mer if I knew what is was worth - I told him that the price guide might be a couple hundred bucks, but in my book it was priceless.

Kinda neat, but really made me want to grab the metal detector

mgoodm3 · February 23, 2008 8:46AM

Yosemite kicks butt. Gotta go there. Sequoia Nat'l Park is also cool, but you can see trees almost as big in Yosemite.

You will certainly want to visit Crater Lake since it is on a quarter (coin related) up here in beautiful southern OR.

WTCG · February 23, 2008 9:42AM

Do not worry about coins or numismatics while you're in California. California is way too interesting to be focused on coins while you're there. Pick up the Lonely Planet: California guide and it'll tell you almost everything you'll want to know.

tmot99 · February 23, 2008 10:37AM

You are starting in a great spot, California. Just don't judge too much by the weather in Sac. It can be incredibly hot during the summer. Still, one of my most favorite places. You can go up into the mountains and then out to the ocean. It's a nice central location. However, it is only one view of the US. Kind of like the Netherlands is only one view of Europe.

Things to remember:
1) You can't cover all the great places in the US in 3 weeks. Pick some good ones and know that there is much much more.
2) Figure out your goals. What kinds of things do you want to see and why. Vacation? Coin related? Learning the history of our country? (As a side note, I'd recommend Charleston, South Carolina if you are looking for interesting history.)
3) The US is like Europe except that our states are like your countries. The people are different, the food is different, the landscape is different, and in some cases, the language is different.

Good luck and enjoy your visit.

Dennis88 · February 24, 2008 1:29AM

<< You are starting in a great spot, California. Just don't judge too much by the weather in Sac. It can be incredibly hot during the summer. Still, one of my most favorite places. You can go up into the mountains and then out to the ocean. It's a nice central location. However, it is only one view of the US. Kind of like the Netherlands is only one view of Europe.

Things to remember:
1) You can't cover all the great places in the US in 3 weeks. Pick some good ones and know that there is much much more.
2) Figure out your goals. What kinds of things do you want to see and why. Vacation? Coin related? Learning the history of our country? (As a side note, I'd recommend Charleston, South Carolina if you are looking for interesting history.)
3) The US is like Europe except that our states are like your countries. The people are different, the food is different, the landscape is different, and in some cases, the language is different.

Good luck and enjoy your visit. >>

Main goal is visiting a friend, and hopefully doing research in the national archives. Besides that, I just want to have a good time. Off course I realize I can't see or judge the whole country by a single visit, but that's for later when I hopefully have my VISA to come to the US for a longer time. I'm now just figuring what things are possible to see in that period.

Thanks again everyone,

Dennis

techeff · February 24, 2008 1:43AM

It truly takes a lifetime to see all of the US the right way...

Since you'll be in Cali, I would suggest driving down PCH as long as you can. And get down to Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, and San Diego. If you have the time get over to Las Vegas. The drive from So Cal to Vegas is very cool and it's a city like no other! And I've been around...

Oh, and while In San Francisco have dinner at the Stinking Rose and spend some time at the Warf...

Next trip you should shoot for New York and Chicago. And much more after that...

Have fun!

What to do in California? (Coin-related)

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