Pacific Grove for 5 or 6 nights

Old Mar 26th, 2017, 08:31 AM
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Pacific Grove for 5 or 6 nights

My adult daughter and I are flying into SF, then drive to Pacific Grove. We plan to rent a cottage, enjoy scenery, walks, food, ocean atmosphere. We fly in Wed May 3 have 5 nights, leaving Mon May 8 around noon. Worried after reading about SF traffic that we should be in SF near airport for Sunday night. Suggestions? Pacific Grove looks like our style, suggestions for anywhere else? Perhaps nearer?
Is it 2.5 hrs to Pac Grove accurate? If we need to stay in SF on Sunday night, what location do you suggest? We also love farmer's mkts, haven't seen the redwoods, but do not want all our days to be driving in the car, so our little town and cottage choice to spend time in a "home base"..
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Old Mar 26th, 2017, 11:07 AM
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>>leaving Mon May 8 around noon. Worried after reading about SF traffic that we should be in SF near airport for Sunday night.
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Old Mar 26th, 2017, 12:37 PM
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There are two scenic drives between San Francisco and Pacific Grove: Highway 1, which offers great ocean views, and CA 17.

You will pass Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park if you drive CA 17.

HTtY
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Old Mar 26th, 2017, 01:14 PM
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Stu Dudley: Thanks for the route suggestion getting back to SF airport.(Do you suggest that same route from SF to Pacific Grove mid morning on Wed? HTty: Love hearing about your scenic drive suggestions.

So, Do you have other coastal cities on your radar...they could be North of SF as well. My millennial daughter first suggested wine country. The beauty of the coast right at Pacific Grove attracts us...as well as a 2 block walk.We are open to hearing your favorite ideas as we have NOT booked our vacation rental yet! We love hearing about places under the radar a bit.......

KateW
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Old Mar 26th, 2017, 05:21 PM
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>>Do you suggest that same route from SF to Pacific Grove mid morning on Wed>We love hearing about places under the radar a bit
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Old Mar 26th, 2017, 06:45 PM
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If you want to stay the last night closer to SFO, but not in SF itself, consider Half Moon Bay.

If PG attracts you, then go for it. There are plenty of wineries in the area - all of which are not nearly as on the beaten path as "wine country" ie Napa and Sonoma which are known by everyone everywhere

If you want some really off the beaten path wineries, check out the Morgan Hill wine trail.
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Old Mar 27th, 2017, 04:07 AM
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Be sure to spend a couple of hours at Point Lobos State Park, which is just a short drive south from Pacific Grove. I suggest that you check out Andril's Cottages in Pacific Grove - great place to stay and lovely trails leading to the incredible coastline.

Passion Fish and the Fishwife are both favorite dining options for us.
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Old Mar 28th, 2017, 07:47 PM
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Search my user name for my recent trip report on San Fran/Monterey. We stayed in Pacific Grove at the most lovely cottage. I Looooved PG. I would highly recommend it. We spent 3 days on activities in/around there and that didn't even include a wine tour ;-).
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Old Mar 29th, 2017, 05:09 PM
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I would take Highway 1 from SF to PG. It is more scenic north of Santa Cruz than south of it, so taking CA 17 eliminates the best part of CA 1.
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Old Mar 29th, 2017, 05:57 PM
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I would NIX staying in Half Moon Bay, the traffic going and coming from there is TERRIBLE - bumper to bumper sometimes. Enjoy as much time as you can in Monterey area and leave late Sunday afternoon for drive to airport hotel. There are plenty in Millbrae and around the airport. The drive from Monterey up highway 1 is beautiful. Unfortunately Highway 1 going south to Big Sur is closed due to damaged bridge so you will have to catch that scenic drive on another trip. 17 mile drive in Monterey is a lovely , drive too.
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Old Mar 29th, 2017, 06:54 PM
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Their flight is at noon on a Monday, which means that if they chose to stay in HMB the night before the flight, they could leave after the commute, no problem.
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Old Mar 29th, 2017, 08:12 PM
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I am still so in love with Fodor's forum! Your replies are so specific and make my planning suit what I am after.

I am wondering about Milbrae (if we stay there can we eat casual dinner and breakfast..suggestions on hotel and eating?). If we could stay one night ... Half Moon Bay on Sunday? Where should we stay? I think I am getting confused now in trying to make it getting to airport be simple!

Again, so appreciative to talk with you know the answers!
We went to Palm Springs a few years back and the Fodor's tips about where to get a vacation rental were so helpful!
Sorry but figuring this out from the midwest...You Guys ROck!
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Old Mar 29th, 2017, 08:13 PM
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>>I would NIX staying in Half Moon Bay, the traffic going and coming from there is TERRIBLE - bumper to bumper sometimes.
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Old Mar 29th, 2017, 08:47 PM
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>>I am wondering about Milbrae (if we stay there can we eat casual dinner and breakfast..suggestions on hotel and eating?). If we could stay one night
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Old Mar 30th, 2017, 07:28 AM
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<Limon. New restaurant - Peruvian.>

New in Burlingame - but not new (there are a couple in the city). Very inexpensive and delicious.

I think staying at an airport hotel or a Millbrae hotel and whiling away a few hours on Burlingame Avenue is a good idea. For breakfast, if you're in Millbrae, the Millbrae Pancake House is also good.

(Stu, if all those restaurants had been open when we lived in Burlingame, we might have stayed!! (just kidding))
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Old Mar 30th, 2017, 08:38 AM
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Hwy 1 is open for 26 miles south of Carmel to Big Sur Station so you can still drive that part. Point Lobos, the west side of Garrapata and Point Sur Lighthouse which can only be visited by guided tours on certain days of the week are the only state parks currently open.

Ocean View Blvd and Sunset Dr run along the PG coastline and there's a recreational trail that runs the entire length. You may be able to catch the tail end of our harbor seal pupping season. Hopkins Beach next to the marine station is the main rookery with a smaller rookery at the end of 5th street in PG. The marine station itself is having an open house on the 6th if that's something that interests you https://hopkinsmarinestation.stanfor...ience-everyone

Another nice coastal drive or walk is along Scenic Ave in Carmel. You can start at Carmel Beach and head south to River Beach.

As far as farmer's markets, downtown Carmel has a small one on 6th Ave by Devendorf Park on Thursday. The biggest one in the area is on Friday at Monterey Peninsula College.
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Old Mar 30th, 2017, 09:42 AM
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We had Pizza at Haystack this past Tuesday night after a presentation of very old Noe Valley photographs shown at St Phillips Church by the SF History Assoc. We found out that there was a river on Jersey St where we lived, a rock quarry in Diamond Heights, and a Noe Theater (movies) on 24th.

Had a really forgettable dinner at Uma Casa in Church St (old Incanto/Hans Brinkman?) earlier this month. Nice dinner at Lupa on 24th (old Little Italy/DerWeinersnitzel) a week later.

Stu Dudley
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Old Mar 30th, 2017, 10:13 AM
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I still miss the warm zabaglione at Little Italy! (OP, sorry for the asides)
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Old Mar 30th, 2017, 10:31 AM
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We found out that there was a river on Jersey St

The spring when it rains heavily is still in the back of our property above Jersey St.
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Old Mar 30th, 2017, 07:23 PM
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Had a really forgettable dinner at Uma Casa in Church St

Just had a good one there. But some dishes were too salty. We told the chef, and he answered that he was following restaurant standards, as if we did not know restaurants. That is disappointing, and if the next time we go the problem remains, we will write it off.
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