Centralparkgirl

In October, we will be heading to Pacific Grove for three nights after a 4 night stay in SF. On a weekday, we will be leaving SFO by noon. My original plan was to head straight to PG, stopping for lunch somewhere, possibly HMB.

On a previous trip we’ve visited Hearst Castle, Big Sur, Carmel and Monterey, staying a few nights in Big Sur and Carmel Heights. We’ve never been to PG or HMB.

Since I will only have 2 ½ days in the area, I was planning to spend the first afternoon walking around PG, maybe the beach if the weather is good. On day two, drive to Big Sur and visit Point Lobos again. Day 3, visit the aquarium (again) in the morning and Carmel after lunch.

After reading itinerary info on another thread, I’m wondering if stopping in HMB will cut into too much of that first day especially since I'm not starting out very early. There was also a discussion about driving down the coast from HMB or starting higher north when beginning from SFO. I love the coast, but will that leave too little time for PG?

Another option is to go to HMB on the morning of Day 4. We have to be at SFO by 1 pm.
Or leave HMB for another trip.........

We’re planning to eat dinner in Passionfish and Cantinetta Luca. For the third night, has anyone dined in 1833?

Thanks for you suggestions!

Rastaguytoday

The only problem in HMB in October, is their world famous, annual Pumpkin Festival, and the weighing of the largest Pumpkin, usually 1100 pounds+. It will be packed with people.

When you are in SF, get a Zagat Survey. You'll see all the restaurants for the Bay Area, and the Carmel area.

If you're going to PG, I strongly suggest taking the 17 mile drive. Something to tell the folks back home.

Exit at the Carmel gate. Visit Carmel, a lovely old town, with lots of shops and retaurants. Go to the end of the street, at the beach. Look across to the famous Pebble Beach GC #17. If you're lucky, do you feel lucky?, check out local resident, Clint Eastwood.

There are lots of restaurants in Carmel and Carmel Valley. My personal favorite is venerable Casanova.

sf7307

What are you expecting to do/see in Half Moon Bay? It's a perfectly nice little town, but it's just a pleasant suburban main street with a couple of nice restaurants and shops, that happens to be near the beach. It is often totally fogged in. IMHO, if you want OT pass through on your way to PG, and have lunch if you happen to be there at that time, fine, but it's not a "destination" town.

KTtravel

I would skip Half Moon Bay and agree with sf7307's description of the town.

Centralparkgirl

The more I think about it, the more it makes sense to skip HMB. Thanks.

SusanCS

I'd skip Half Moon Bay, too. We stopped there a couple of months ago on our trip between SF and Monterey to eat at the Ritz Carlton. While the setting was beautiful, we felt it added too much time in getting to Monterey.

Centralparkgirl

Susan, it's funny that you mention the Ritz Carlton. I think a magazine ad that I saw years ago with the hotel, cliffs and ocean has made me want to stop there each time we're in the area. May be one day, but not this time.

easytraveler

If you do make a trip along the 17 Mile Drive, there are a couple of really nice restaurants there: Roy's at Spanish Bay and the Stillwater Grill in the Pebble Beach Lodge.

If you like beer, the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company is a nice, casual place with a number of unique beers - right now, since it's an election year, they have a beer with a blue label and Obama's picture on it and one with a red label (I got the one with a question mark because at the time it wasn't know whom the Republican candidate would be).

If you're anywhere near Capitola at dinner time, try the Shadowbrook Restaurant which has its own cable car leading down to the restaurant. Good food, too.