California Road Trip
Jul 28th, 2011, 04:58 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
California Road Trip
Hi Everyone,
We will be driving from Monterey to San Diego on the second leg of our trip and would like to take 2 days driving down the coast (101). We have been to LA before and was hoping to stay somewhere else for a change. We were considering Santa Barbara or Ventura but could do with splitting the drive into 2 fairly equal parts. We have been looking at somewhere like Pismo beach or around that area and then on to maybe Huntington beach so we could then drive on to San Diego.
Can anyone recommend place/places along that route which have nice quiet beaches and a bit of nightlife to stop at which dont include Santa Barbara, Ventura & LA.?
I would really appreciate any advice.
Thanks,
Jonny
We will be driving from Monterey to San Diego on the second leg of our trip and would like to take 2 days driving down the coast (101). We have been to LA before and was hoping to stay somewhere else for a change. We were considering Santa Barbara or Ventura but could do with splitting the drive into 2 fairly equal parts. We have been looking at somewhere like Pismo beach or around that area and then on to maybe Huntington beach so we could then drive on to San Diego.
Can anyone recommend place/places along that route which have nice quiet beaches and a bit of nightlife to stop at which dont include Santa Barbara, Ventura & LA.?
I would really appreciate any advice.
Thanks,
Jonny
Jul 28th, 2011, 07:05 AM
#2
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 16,434
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Laguna Beach - but you are almost in San Diego by then. Victoria Beach in Laguna is perhaps the quietest (unless you'll be there on a Sat/Sun). There are more remote/quiet beaches just south of Victoria Beach, but they take some effort to get to.
Do you realize that most of 101 is not on the coast????
Hwy 1 from Carmel to San Simeon is perhaps the most spectacular coastal drive in the USA.
You won't find many/any "quiet" beaches in the LA/Orange County area - especially in the summer.
If this was my trip (and assuming you have visited Carmel & Pt Lobos while in Monterey), I would drive down Hwy 1 from Monterey to San Simeon, stopping at Nepenthe in Big Sur for lunch, then continue heading south on Hwy 1 until either San Simeon or Cambria. Stay overnight in one of these two spots (no nightlife, however). Then head to San Diego the next morning as quickly as possible & avoiding the LA/Orange Co/San Diego commute traffic - if possible.
Stu Dudley
Do you realize that most of 101 is not on the coast????
Hwy 1 from Carmel to San Simeon is perhaps the most spectacular coastal drive in the USA.
You won't find many/any "quiet" beaches in the LA/Orange County area - especially in the summer.
If this was my trip (and assuming you have visited Carmel & Pt Lobos while in Monterey), I would drive down Hwy 1 from Monterey to San Simeon, stopping at Nepenthe in Big Sur for lunch, then continue heading south on Hwy 1 until either San Simeon or Cambria. Stay overnight in one of these two spots (no nightlife, however). Then head to San Diego the next morning as quickly as possible & avoiding the LA/Orange Co/San Diego commute traffic - if possible.
Stu Dudley
Jul 28th, 2011, 06:27 PM
#5
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,830
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
IMO Ventura doesn't offer much. If you take Highway 1 you can tour Hearst Castle before going on and spending the night in Cambria, Morro Bay, Pismo Beach area or Santan Barbara. Although it is close to San Diego, Laguna Beach is a good idea for the 2nd night.
Jul 28th, 2011, 07:57 PM
#7
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,777
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I like that little area from Cambria, to Cayucos, Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo.
I even thought Lompoc had a nice charm with tree-lined streets and I saw the Wine Ghetto on a TV show last year:
http://www.lompocghetto.com/
I even thought Lompoc had a nice charm with tree-lined streets and I saw the Wine Ghetto on a TV show last year:
http://www.lompocghetto.com/
Jul 28th, 2011, 10:57 PM
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
WOW! Thanks so much for all your advice and taking the time to reply!
I should of course of said Highway 1 not 101 we will be driving down, wouldn't want to miss that drive in a ford mustang convertable!
I will have a look at all your recommendations and take it from there, fancy the idea of a nice quiet hotel maybe near the ocean, not really bothered about night life. We will be doing this leg of our trip on a Sat & Sun so if anyone has any ideas about hotels/restaurants please let me know.
Once again really appreciate all your help.
Jonny
I should of course of said Highway 1 not 101 we will be driving down, wouldn't want to miss that drive in a ford mustang convertable!
I will have a look at all your recommendations and take it from there, fancy the idea of a nice quiet hotel maybe near the ocean, not really bothered about night life. We will be doing this leg of our trip on a Sat & Sun so if anyone has any ideas about hotels/restaurants please let me know.
Once again really appreciate all your help.
Jonny
Jul 29th, 2011, 07:59 AM
#9
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 10,965
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We like Ventura for it's cozy small-town atmosphere and excellent and bustling ocean promenade: http://www.lotsafunmaps.com/Ventura/...Promenade.html
Unfortunately, we like an ocean view when we stay at the ocean and we don't like the one hotel near downtown in which most rooms have ocean views.
HTTY
Unfortunately, we like an ocean view when we stay at the ocean and we don't like the one hotel near downtown in which most rooms have ocean views.
HTTY
