Scott

My fiance and I are planning on flying into San Jose, renting a convertible and driving down highway 1 to Santa Barbara for our honeymoon in November...stopping at B&B's and hotels along the way. Has anyone done this before and have advice? Is there a good resource for someone planning this sort of trip? Any advice would help. Thanks!

Jim

My girlfriend and I are planning to do the same thing in May. We are going from San Fran to San Diego stopping at Inns and B&B's along the way. If you don't mind my asking... have you booked the car yet? We are having a real hard time finding a decent rate on the car. We read that Budget does not have a drop off fee, but they do not allow for convertibles on a 1-way ride.....

Thanks,

Jim

Caitlin

The views are great, but if you're sticking to the coast, you might not want to bother with the extra expense for a convertible, as there will be plenty of fog and it will be chilly. Actually, a good resource is this forum, especially if you do a search for "California coast." There is a lot of great advice and some nice trip reports. You don't say how long you are planning to spend on your trip. Especially on your honeymoon, if you can make it a leisurely trip of 4-5 days, you can really enjoy the scenery and have time to relax. Assuming you're starting out in the morning, I'd plan to drive from San Jose to Monterey and visit the aquarium, then continue on to Carmel and stay there the first night. Many inns and B&Bs to choose from; the Tickle Pink is often highly recommended (www.ticklepinkinn.com). In the Carmel area, you can wander in town (lots of cute boutiques, galleries, restaurants) and do the 17-mile drive if you wish. Second night, I'd spend in Big Sur, allowing time for Point Lobos, Ragged Point, Pfeiffer Beach--all the great spots for viewing the rugged coastline and also hiking if you want. If you can afford it, stay at Ventana (www.ventana.com) or Post Ranch Inn (www.postranchinn.com), either is perfect for honeymooners. The third night I'd spend in Cambria, and plan a tour of Hearst Castle in San Simeon. (It's best to reserve tickets fro the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Hearst Castle in advance o avoid lines.) Beyond that, it depends how much time you want to spend and whether you want to stop and tour missions, wineries, etc. Beyond this forum, I'd definitely get a good California guidebook, especially one with a section devoted to the coastal div.

CA Native

Good suggestions from previous poster. Chances are, in May the weather will be great. But if it rains any meaningful amount, be careful on PCH especially through Big Sur. It is a harrowing ride between Cambria and Carmel during rain with rock and mudslides, sheer drop offs a hundred feet to the Pacific, etc. Some of the scenery in Big Sur is otherworldy, it is so gorgeous.

If you don't overnight in Cambria, I would suggest San Luis Obispo, a very nice little town less than an hour south. On the way down. stop in Morro Bay for some fish and chips. For a funky, romantic experience check out the Madonna Inn. Gotta see it to believe it. The pink will scorch your retinas good. Downtown SLO has lots of shops, good walking along the creek, restaurants and places to get a refreshing beverage of your choice. One of the oldest Spanish Missions is there as well, San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, so you can get liquored up at nearby McClintocks, then have your soul saved. Have fun, honeymooners.

Lorainne

May should be absolutely gorgous for this trip , but depending upon when in november and the never predictable weather pattern , you could hit more than just fog and see some real rain. Agree that a convertable may not be the best vehicle for this , but you can play it by ear and see how it looks when you show up.

Sarah

I think the convertible sounds perfect for the trip. I just drove back down to LA this morning from Morro Bay and there were actually a number of people in convertibles this morning and it's not even that hot out today. I often get up to Cambria in May and find the weather to be great.

Definitely plan a stop at Hearst Castle and Cambria. There are a number of previous threads on restuarants in the area. San Luis Obispo is also a great recommendation and I agree that the Madonna Inn is a wonderful choice. It offers several themed rooms (the cave one being very popular - call ahead and see what's available). And make sure to check out the men's restroom while you're there - a must see.

There are a number of great wineries to check out in the Paso Robles and Santa Barbara/Santa Ynez areas.

angel

ALL the rooms at the Madonna Inn are themed. It's so unique, you'll never forget spending a night there. (Restaurant is really over-priced, though.)

I love the Carmel/Hearst/San Luis Obispo drive! Hope you do, too.

rob

we did an LA to San Fran trip up Hwy 1 several years ago.....the best part is the area between Cambria (or wherever the hearst castle is) and carmel. we used carmel as a base to make day trips down to big sur....point lobos and andrew molera state parks were great. try to keep your eyes on the road...its very difficult on the PCH.

rob

we did an LA to San Fran trip up Hwy 1 several years ago.....the best part is the area between Cambria (or wherever the hearst castle is) and carmel. we used carmel as a base to make day trips down to big sur....point lobos and andrew molera state parks were great. try to keep your eyes on the road...its very difficult on the PCH.

Scott

Thank you to all who have responded. Some very useful advice! Send more! We haven't priced cars yet so I can't really answer that question right now. We're planning on doing the trip from San Jose to Santa Barbara over a two week period so we can really take our time. How long many days are you taking to make the trip in May?

Pat

We did the coast trip last summer with kids so obviously not the trip you'll be having! It was beautiful. If I could have, I would have definitely stayed at one of the B&B's in Pacific Grove on the Monterrey Peninsula. We were able to stop at one winery (the kids are old enough that they could sit on the veranda and read books). It was the Fess Parker winery in Los Olivos. The area was really pretty. There are maps with all the wineries listed. A nice way to spend an afternoon if you have the time.

Jo

I found the Vacation guide from San Luis Obispo County visitor's bureau to be really well done. They have all sorts of suggestions as to what to see and do in that area depending on how many days you have. You can ask for it on their website (the name of which escapes me, just search for it). The state of California also puts out a nice guidebook. I got that, as well as a AAA guidebook and state and city maps, from my local AAA. If you start searching on the web now just by looking for visitor and convention bureas of the various locales you should be able to get a lot of info. sent to you.

kam

If you're in SLO try the Apple Farm Inn for dinner rather than Madronna Inn. Lots of nice B&Bs in Cambria or small hotels on Moonstone Beach. Also, check out Ragged Point Inn at the south end of Big Sur. The Tickle Pink Inn (yes, no joke!) in Carmel would be great for a honeymoon trip. If it's early November, the weather should be great. About mid month we start experiencing rain, but generally, November is nicer than June when the fog is bad. I've done this trip many times at many times of the year. There's always something to love. Don't know where you're from or whether you like Mexican, but when you get to Sta. Barbara, there's the Super Rica Taco stand with great food and a real California experience. The state of California has an extensive tourist booklet---do a search and see what you come up with.

Tony

In my opinion, the Apple Farm is way over-rated. Just an overpriced coffee shop. I lived up there for a number of recent years, and none of the locals go near the place.

And as for the La Super Rica in Santa Barbara is ok, but not worth going out of your way for. Try Julio's in Morro Bay for good cheap Mexican food.

Me

In an earlier post someone recommended:

"Tickle Pink is often highly recommended (www.ticklepinkinn.com)."

ditto.

100%

Bob

I live in the San Jose area. Many people overlook Pacific Grove when they go to the Monterey Peninsula because they have all heard of Carmel. PG really has the best beach side bed and breakfast places....Green Gables Inn, etc and a better, more real downtown than Carmel. The restaurant Fandango's is very good. You can stay in PG and easily visit the tourist shops on Ocean Ave in Carmel by driving about 15 minutes. Even if you find a place in Carmel, drive over to PG and visit the downtown on Lighthouse Avenue and walk the coastal areas.

The Monterey Aquarium is great. Spend some time there. Very well done. Get off the wharf area around the Aquarium and visit the historic plaza in Monterey and the downtown adobe buildings. Too many people stay on Cannery Row with the shops and miss the real historic area that is available.

Do the 17 mile drive and plan one meal at Roy's at Spanish Bay resort. Good food, great resort. A bagpiper will play at sunset each evening. You can have a drink on the small patio overlooking the ocean, watch the bagpiper walk the dunes and then go in for dinner. Roy even picks up the entry fee for 17 mile drive if you are eating there.

Check out Karen Brown's book in the travel section for California B and B's. She has an entire series on them, but lives in N. California and has good advice for great places to stay that are not your standard holiday inns.

Ken

Hey, reserve a convertible and if it rains keep the top up!! If it's nice, even for half a day, you won't regret it.
If staying in Carmel, Clint's place, Mission Ranch is very good & not too expensive.
Big Sur really is breathtaking.

CindyK

Hi Scott,

San Jose to Santa Barbara is a wonderful and beautiful trip. May can easily go either way..."June Gloom" with foggy summer days normally burn off by early afternoon for a couple of hours before the fog rolls back in, so you can always enjoy your convertible for a little while. I'd be surprised if it rains, although there is a chance.
I live in Arroyo Grande, a small, beautiful town south of SLO...I've been here for many years.
People above have given you some great advice. Pacific Grove is pretty, but I prefer Carmel.
I'd definitely stay somewhere in Big Sur. You have to stop at Nepenthe's and have a drink (an expensive drink) on the patio with the breath-taking drop-off and view. If you're really nature lovers, there are plenty of hiking trails and our favorite trail is Sykes trail back to the hot springs. It goes through some beautiful redwood groves and you have to be very serious to make it to the meager, small springs that are about 15 miles back.
Check out the elephant seals south of Big Sur near Piedras Blancas lighthouse. Actually, I'm not sure if they're still there in May. Check with the state parks system.
Cambria is a really cool, kinda small town, forested plus art community type of feel. Sow's Ear is a great restaurant, very private, romantic seating and delicious food. I also like Robin's.
I second everybody's vote for SLO. Stay downtown if you like live music and drinking, there are lots of bars with bands playing throughout the week. I definitely would not stay at Madonna Inn, it's an experience, sure, but it's a major disappointment. Expensive rooms and there is not a swimming pool or hot tub on the premises, they don't have good customer service, and god-forbid you ask for a wine opener if you forgot to bring one with you for your romantic evening.
You should take a walk through, maybe eat dinner, if you like ball room dancing. Only stay there if you want to step back in time to the '50's and are fine with swinging golden cherubim and NO extras.
I wouldn't head inland to Paso for wine-tasting, but instead, would take my time getting to Paso and taste at the many wineries between SLO (Edna Valley) and Santa Barbara. Foxen Canyon in Santa Maria is nice, and there are many places in Santa Ynez. Los Alamos is a very small, very cool town. They have some nice antique stores (if you like that) and a great restaurant that serves very yummy sandwiches next door to the Inn in town. I'm having a blank on the name, but it's just down from the Chevron on the opposite side of the street.
Santa Barbara has many great restaurants & places to stay. Just make sure you stay in the downtown area because the character of the area definitely changes outside of the area clustered around State St., unless you want to stay down by the pier and beach area.
Have a great trip. Let me know if you have any questions & congratulations on your wedding.
P.S. I wouldn't exclusively stick to Hwy. 1. Take Hwy. 1 from Monterey to SLO (San Luis Obispo) and then take Hwy. 101 south to Santa Barbara. Sorry if I offend anyone, but I don't think the trip through Guadalupe & Lompoc is probably what most people are looking for. It is very interesting in it's own right (beautiful vegetable farm land & Guad. is an interesting, almost south of the border, Mexican town).
-CindyK

bob

If it's not too late, you might want to consider driving north from Santa Barbara to Frisco, rather than south to north. I've done the trip each way, but found that the coast tends to unfold better while driving north.

And, I second SLO. It's a must see.

Sarah

I'd have to second the recommendation for reversing the order of your trip. I too find that the drive up the coast is far more relaxing and beautiful when heading north. Maybe it's because I live in Southern California and when I'm heading north, I know it's the start of my vacation and not the end.