California/Pacific Coast Highway
May 27th, 2013, 07:56 AM
#1
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California/Pacific Coast Highway
My husband and I are planning a trip to California to drive part of the Pacific Coast Highway around the beginning of Sept. Our hope is to be there for 5-6 days. We will be flying in to San Francisco and plan to drive down to Caramel. We plan to spend time in Caramel and visit Big Sur/Hearst Castle. Would like input on other things to do in between there areas. Any suggestions for places to stay or visit would be appreciated. Would it be possible to visit some of the wine country (we aren't big drinkers but would like to see the scenery). Is there a way to see the Redwoods if we are in this area? Thanks for any information.
May 27th, 2013, 08:03 AM
#2
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We recently spent a lovely day in the Paso Robles Wine District, which is One of the most beautiful regions of California.
To visit the area from Cambria, drive about three miles south on Highway 1 and take Highway 46 toward Paso Robles.
Drive 17.3 miles and take a left onto Vineyard Drive, which passes a dozen wineries before connecting with Adelaida Road. Adelaida Road will take you past another half-dozen wineries and into Paso Robles.
There are several good restaurants in Downtown Paso Robles.
Returning to Cambria on Highway 46 you will drive past another dozen or more wineries.
This drive, without side trips, is about 75 miles.
Here is a link to the Paso Robles Wine Tasting Map: http://www.pasowine.com/wineries/map.php
On the same trip we took some beautiful drives in Santa Barbara County. Highlights included spectacular scenery, dozens of wineries, charming Cold Spring Tavern, and the delightful towns of Los Olivos, Solvang, and Santa Ynez. Get good maps:
*We took 154 east from Santa Barbara to Painted Cave Road.
*We took Painted Cave Road (and other roads) to Cold Spring Tavern.
*We got back on 154 and drove east to Los Olivos.
*From Los Olivos we took Ballard Canyon Road south to 246.
*We took 246 west to Solvang and then on to Santa Ynez and Highway 154.
*We took 154 back to Santa Barbara.
The total drive was about 100 miles.
(Alternatively, you could start the drive by taking 192 to Old San Marcos Pass Road. If you do so, drive north on Old San Marcos Pass Road to 154 where you will pick up Painted Cave Road. Then, continue as described above.)
Also, north of downtown, Gibraltar is a hard-to-find road, popular with bicyclists. It gives sweeping views of the ocean on the way up and on the way down. Drive 192 west and make a left on Mountain Drive, which connects up with Gibraltar.
HTtY
To visit the area from Cambria, drive about three miles south on Highway 1 and take Highway 46 toward Paso Robles.
Drive 17.3 miles and take a left onto Vineyard Drive, which passes a dozen wineries before connecting with Adelaida Road. Adelaida Road will take you past another half-dozen wineries and into Paso Robles.
There are several good restaurants in Downtown Paso Robles.
Returning to Cambria on Highway 46 you will drive past another dozen or more wineries.
This drive, without side trips, is about 75 miles.
Here is a link to the Paso Robles Wine Tasting Map: http://www.pasowine.com/wineries/map.php
On the same trip we took some beautiful drives in Santa Barbara County. Highlights included spectacular scenery, dozens of wineries, charming Cold Spring Tavern, and the delightful towns of Los Olivos, Solvang, and Santa Ynez. Get good maps:
*We took 154 east from Santa Barbara to Painted Cave Road.
*We took Painted Cave Road (and other roads) to Cold Spring Tavern.
*We got back on 154 and drove east to Los Olivos.
*From Los Olivos we took Ballard Canyon Road south to 246.
*We took 246 west to Solvang and then on to Santa Ynez and Highway 154.
*We took 154 back to Santa Barbara.
The total drive was about 100 miles.
(Alternatively, you could start the drive by taking 192 to Old San Marcos Pass Road. If you do so, drive north on Old San Marcos Pass Road to 154 where you will pick up Painted Cave Road. Then, continue as described above.)
Also, north of downtown, Gibraltar is a hard-to-find road, popular with bicyclists. It gives sweeping views of the ocean on the way up and on the way down. Drive 192 west and make a left on Mountain Drive, which connects up with Gibraltar.
HTtY
May 27th, 2013, 10:13 AM
#3
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You can see plenty of redwoods driving from San Francisco to Hearst Castle (stop off at Big Basin near Saratoga or Henry Cowell parks near Santa Cruz), and in Big Sur.
Just a clarification, the town is "Carmel", not "Caramel".
Are you spending any time in San Francisco first? Do you have to return to San Francisco for your flight home?
Just a clarification, the town is "Carmel", not "Caramel".
Are you spending any time in San Francisco first? Do you have to return to San Francisco for your flight home?
May 27th, 2013, 10:21 AM
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May 27th, 2013, 01:27 PM
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If you want to stay near Hearst Castle, we liked this place a lot:
http://www.cavalierresort.com/
Price was very reasonable, my room had a fireplace ready for lighting, and the coffee bar was well-stocked. Best part is that it is oceanfront, and has bonfires on the beach with seating areas.
http://www.cavalierresort.com/
Price was very reasonable, my room had a fireplace ready for lighting, and the coffee bar was well-stocked. Best part is that it is oceanfront, and has bonfires on the beach with seating areas.
May 27th, 2013, 02:17 PM
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We may spend some time in San Francisco. We will have to drive back to San Francisco for our return flight. Just trying to get a plan. We had even considered just driving and stopping at different spots but I feel we need to have hotel reservations so we know we have a place to stay. 
May 27th, 2013, 10:12 PM
#10
Labor Day weekend is the last weekend of August this year so it will be busy everywhere, short summer. Currently it looks like there is still pretty good availability in san Francisco, you might want to book something that doesn't require pre payment and has a 48 hr cancellation policy while you keep looking around and finalizing your itinerary. Like, book it for 5 nights and then when you have your itinerary figured out, call back and change it to the two or three nights that you really want.
Parking is pricey, sometimes $50 or $60 in San Fran, so you don't want the car in the city, or you want some place like Columbus Motor Inn that includes parking in the rate.
Carmel looks like good availability labor day & Tues Wed Thurs then goes up about 50 bucks over the following weekend. Labor Day wkd is already filling up there, and pricey.
Parking is pricey, sometimes $50 or $60 in San Fran, so you don't want the car in the city, or you want some place like Columbus Motor Inn that includes parking in the rate.
Carmel looks like good availability labor day & Tues Wed Thurs then goes up about 50 bucks over the following weekend. Labor Day wkd is already filling up there, and pricey.
