fran

Had to cancel a trip to France and am considering drving from Phoenix over to the CA coast and then up to Oregon. Alternatively, maybe just driving to Santa Barbara for a few days, then up to Pismo Beach or Morro Bay to spend a few days. Does this sound like a good itinerary?

Joe

The CA central coast is "the best" during the early fall. Spend time in the Santa Ynez area for terrific wine tasting. Hearst Castle is a definite day (or 1/2 day) trip. Morro Bay is a fun little town with lots of touristy things to do.

The Oregon trip sounds like a lot of driving, but having never been there, I can't say if it's worth it.

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It depends on how much time you have alloted for the trip. The drive to Oregon is quite long, but well worth it if you have the time. Beyond San Francisco, you could stop and spend a night in the Lake Shasta area or head further north to Ashland, Oregon. Or maybe drive along Hwy 1 all along the coast.

Oregon has so much to see and do and is well worth a visit. Be sure to check out the Columbia Gorge, a day in the wine country of Yamhill County and the beach cities are quaint and scenic. And Portland itself is a very nice city with plenty to see right there in town. Some of the prettiest gardens and parks in the nation.

While it's not France, I respect the fact that you're not planning on staying home and moping about the missed vacation. Don't forget that people from all of the world would be envious of someone who could spend time driving through the West Coast of the US!

kam

You can also take the Coast Starlight Amtrak train from LA up to Seattle. Along the way, you can get off the train, rent a car and visit such places as Santa Barbara, Cambria (from SLO), Pismo Beach etc. You could even get off and drive the central coast then get back on the train again in San Jose. That would spare you so much driving and still provide a wonderful vacation. Good luck.

marge

If you do get to Pismo we have stayed at the Kon Tiki Inn 805-773-4833 about $100 some of the rooms have a fireplace. It's on a high cliff with many, many steps to the beach but the view is great from your balcony.

Sea Gypsy is a motel type and if you want a kitchen have condos with a murphy bed. The one building is on the beach and the rooms have a balcony about $100. Give AAA discount.

Kon Tiki rooms are nicer and both places listed in the AAA book.

We took a Oregon/Washington trip all the way up to Canada. Newport, OR has a lot of things to do around it, nice aquarium "Free Willie's ex home, couple lighthouses. Just up the road is whale watching 1 hr trip in Deope Bay, all year round cost $20. www.newportnet.com

If you want to check out Roseburg, OR it has a nice drive thru animal park called Wildlife Safari just 3 mi off 1-5. 800-355-4848

jen

hard to judge an itinery without a time frame. san diego is a great city and deserves several days (or weeks) to enjoy. i've driven the pacific coast hiway up to canada several times and it is a gorgeous drive. especially between l.a. & san fran and then again in oregon (caution...the coast hiway just north of san fran is very curvy thus very slow...pretty though).

don

Personally, I would go on and drive up to San Francisco. The coast between Pismo and San Francisco is probably the most beautiful part of the California coastline. I agreethat it would help to have a time frame.