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CA, San Luis Obispo to LAX in 3 days (after Yosemite)

CA, San Luis Obispo to LAX in 3 days (after Yosemite)

Old Apr 13th, 2013, 03:41 PM
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CA, San Luis Obispo to LAX in 3 days (after Yosemite)

Hi
I've posted about the Yosemite portion of our trip in previous threads, and your advice has helped to shape our plans:

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...ornia-trip.cfm

So, we will leave Yosemite on Wednesday morning and head to SLO. As I mentioned before the focus of this portion of the trip will be the missions and nature.

We have Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and will probably spend Saturday night closer to LAX.

I have no idea where we should base. I would really prefer 3 nights in one location, but don't know where to go.

On my list of interests are missions, a Channel Island nature cruise, some lovely coastal sightseeing. I've heard about Ojai and would like to maybe see the Malibu area (not fancy houses but perhaps the canyon?). It sounds like a smaller town, with access might be better than Santa Barbara, but what do I know...

Suggestions are so welcome.
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Old Apr 13th, 2013, 04:51 PM
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Are you planning to stay in San Luis Obispo Wednesday night? If not, I would try to get to Santa Barbara that evening, and spend that night and the better part of Thursday exploring SB. Then I would head down to Ventura, spending Thursday and Friday evening there. You can easily take in Ojai and the Channel Islands from Ventura. You can see Malibu and environs on your way to the LAX area on Saturday...either go straight down PCH from Ventura (actually Oxnard), or take Highway 101 and take one of the canyons (Las Virgenes or Topanga) down to PCH.
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Old Apr 13th, 2013, 05:10 PM
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I stick by my recs on your previous thread. Although, I thought you were heading out of Yosemite on Tuesday. See the missions in San Miguel (near Paso Robles) and in San Luis Obispo. Spend the night in Avila Beach or Pismo/Shell Beach. Check out the Oceano Dunes. We did a HummVee tour of the dunes, so fun.

http://www.slostateparks.com/oceano_dunes/

Not sure if you could catch thiis rail fest : http://www.ccrrf.com/

Spend a few nights, then head south towards Santa Barbara and Ventura.
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Old Apr 13th, 2013, 05:23 PM
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Michelle Y: I really like your recs but would love to not have two hotel stays and then a third near LAX in just 4 nights.

Is it possible to visit these places from one location in more leisurely day trips?
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Old Apr 13th, 2013, 05:26 PM
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OK, I am really sick. I did change our reservations and we are leaving Yosemite on Tuesday.

So Tuesday and Wednesday nights as Michelle suggests,

Then Thursday and Friday closer to Santa Barbara and Ventura, then

driving Saturday, dinner near Santa Monica with our nephew, and spend night in a hotel closer to LAX.

I seriously have an awful virus and it twisted my mind.
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Old Apr 13th, 2013, 05:31 PM
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Feel better soon!
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Old Apr 13th, 2013, 05:33 PM
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>>Is it possible to visit these places from one location in more leisurely day trips?
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Old Apr 14th, 2013, 10:44 AM
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I dare respond, but only because I am finally dressed and was out of the house for an hour, so perhaps I'm well enough to post.


For the Ventura/Santa Barbara leg, what town or area might be best? We are looking to maximize coastal and countryside experiences, don't drink and don't do any nightlife after dinner, and any shopping will be incidental.
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Old Apr 14th, 2013, 11:35 AM
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Here's what I'd suggest as a possible itinerary:

Tuesday: Drive from Yosemite to Paso Robles (~4 hours), then go north on Highway 101 to Mission San Miguel, which is only about 10 miles north of Paso Robles.

There may or may not be much to see at Mission San Miguel, which was heavily damaged in a recent earthquake. I have not been back since the earthquake. My guess would be that you wouldn't be spending too much time there.

Then head south to San Luis Obispo. Like surfergirl (on the other thread), I like San Luis Obispo. You will have time to visit the Mission there and then go to a hotel, settle down, rest, and then have dinner somewhere in downtown SLO, which is lively but easygoing at night.

Our favorite place to stay in SLO is the La Cuesta Inn, where you can get a basic room for under $100. It's clean and has a warm feel to it. The staff is friendly and can recommend a place to you for dinner.

http://www.lacuestainn.com/

Wednesday: Start driving south. About an hour south of SLO you'll reach what, IMHO, is the "best" mission on your route: Mission La Purisma near Lompoc California, which opens at 9am.

It is the one best mission where one can get a sense of what it was really like during mission days. Of the 21 missions, only two are not in the hands of the Catholic Church. La Purisma is one and it is now a California State Park. The state has tried to make this as interesting a state park as possible. The buildings have been repaired or rebuilt and everything is made to look as it must have when the mission first existed. There are even docents who are dressed in period costumes to lend an air of authenticity. You could spend quite a bit of time at La Purisma.

http://www.lapurisimamission.org/

Depending on how much time you spend at La Purisma, you could then spend some time at the nearby Mission Santa Ines in Solvang. I don't recall much to see there except the chapel. You may want to spend the night in Solvang, a replica Danish town, or just flee the Disneyland feel to the place.

If you do decide to leave Solvang, then get back on Highway 101 which is along the coast and is a nice drive. You could stop off and spend the night in Goleta just north of Santa Barbara. Goleta is where UC Santa Barbara is located and my recollection is that there are some relatively inexpensive hotels designed for those visiting their kids in college.

Or you can just drive into Santa Barbara to a hotel there. Hotel rates along this part of the coast tend to be relatively higher, with the highest being in Santa Barbara itself.

Thursday: Visit Mission Santa Barbara. Spent Thursday and Friday nights in and around Santa Barbara.

Saturday: Drive to Santa Monica.

Here are a couple of websites for the California Missions. You've probably run across them already.

http://www.mtycounty.com/pgs-mission...1missions.html

http://www.seecalifornia.com/missions/directory.html

Hope this helps a bit.
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Old Apr 14th, 2013, 11:50 AM
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I agree with La Purisima, it is a very interesting mission to visit. The one in Solvang is just kind of meh, but I do like to stop at Pea Soup Anderson's in nearby Buellton for their soup.
The mission in Santa Barbara is just gorgeous and this is one of my favorite towns in all of California.
It's a pity you cannot see the mission in Carmel, maybe save it for another trip.
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Old Apr 14th, 2013, 11:58 AM
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We normally stay at La Cuesta Inn so we can be close to our daughter at Cal Poly,(wish they had a frequent visitor plan!). For your trip, I think you should stay some where with a view. We also have stayed in Pismo at Cottage Inn by the Sea:

http://www.cottage-inn.com/

We really like this place as it sits up on the cliff. Nice little breakfast offered.

San Miguel Mission is fully functioning and rehabbed. They have a nice layout of the mission rooms and museum. Nice grounds. So do stop in.
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Old Apr 14th, 2013, 05:06 PM
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jamie99: we've been to the mission in Carmel more than a couple of times. We aren't heading north this trip because we have spent a lot of time in that direction, but neither of us has been to the Central Coast area.
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