San Francisco to Big Sur and back

try to stay at the ventana inn in big sur and eat at nepenthe across the street, especially for lunch. the drive south on the PCH is one of the most spectacular in the world. you can stop at carmel, too. see the monterey aquarium, but plan for a long line if prime time. you may be able to buy a special jump the line ticket.

we tried to find an alt route back from big sur, but tough. we did both ways on the PCH.

You can do a roundtrip from San Francisco in three days. I am assuming three nights as well.

You just need to decide what you want to see and what you can miss.

It is about 4 hours straight driving down Hwy 1 from San Francisco to San Luis Obispo.

On the way are Monterey and Carmel, with the world class Monterey Bay Aquarium and Point Lobos Reserve, among other things. (Skip the "17-mile Drive".)

Then a lot of scenery and State Parks and etc. until you get to Cambria. Near there is Hearst Castle, which gives tours.

South of Cambria you can cut over to Hwy 101 on Hy 46 and be in Paso Robles, from where you can drive back to San Francisco on 101 in another 4 hours.

Another choice is to plan your time to arrive in the Paso Robles area sometime on the second day and visit THAT wine country. (Did you see "Sideways"?

Then back to San Francisco.

I really would suggest a specialized guide book of these areas so that you can make choices based on what you are interested in.

Yes, Yosemite and the like are out of the question.

Horizon - The Ventana Inn will not reopen until October.

Chaslor - unless you plan to not sleep, throwing in Yosemite would be crazy. Extend your trip for a week and you can do it. If you must travel, spend one day in Carmel and one day in the wine country, keeping SF as your base. If you've never been to SF, you really ought to just stay there.

I would follow jtrandolf's plan.

If you arrive on Sat the 27th, head to Carmel directly from the airport - it's a 1 3/4 to 2 hr drive. Stay there 2 nights & visit the many sites - including Pt Lobos. There will be a 2 night minimum in most/all hotels - so unless you want to blow one night's motel costs - you'll have to stay 2 nights.

Stay the remaining nights in Big Sur - Ditjens for funky, Ripplewood, or Big Sur Lodge, or Post Ranch Inn if you want to splurge (did not hear Ventana was closed - I've been on vacation for the past 6 weeks).

Then back to SF - but remember if you get to the San Jose area around 3 you will hit commute traffic - which is horrible. I would drive along the coast from Monteren, and head over to the airport at half Moon Bay. If you have an early flight, stay in Half Moon Bay your last night.

BTW, there is no such thing as PCH up here - it's the Cabrillo Highway.

Stu Dudley

You have plenty of time to do a round trip from SF to Santa Barbara.

I'm assuming you already have time slotted for San Francisco? If not, then a one day trip down to Big Sur and return would be fine.

Assuming that you have slotted thee days for Big Sur only: Do you enjoy hiking? There's Point Lobos and Pfeiffer Big Sur with relatively easy hikes that last half an hour or more.

I'd suggest spending only one night in the Monterey-Carmel area. This requirement to spend two nights during the weekend may not be a requirement that applies across the board to all lodging in the Monterey Peninsula. You'll probably find some of the standard hotels and motels will allow one night stays, especially past the summer peak season.

The next morning, enjoy Carmel, walk around town, have breakfast, go to Carmel Beach. Close to noon drive to Nepenthe for lunch, then continue along the beautiful Big Sur coast for the rest of the day and spend the night in Cambria or San Luis Obispo. Again, in the San Luis Obispo area you should find any number of standard hotels and motels that allow a one night stay.

The next day go for an early visit to Hearst Castle, then head inland to the wine country of Paso Robles and then further south to Santa Barbara County.

That night spend it in wine country, as far down as north Ventura where there's a Marriott (?) right on the water, or as far north as Paso Robles - this depends on how much time you have on the 30th and whether that's your date for travelling home or just to get back to the Bay Area.

If you have to catch a flight home on the morning of the 30th, I'd suggest heading back to the Bay Area on Highway 101 on the 29th and spend that night in a hotel near the airport.

Have a great trip!

After further consideration, I went ahead and booked our flights out of Santa Barbara (our original plan).

My tentative itinerary is:

First night Half Moon bay or somewhere close to Big Basin.

Day 1: Hike around Big Basin, then head south to Carmel/Monterey and surrounding area - sightseeing, hike maybe at Julia Pfeiffer - spend night in that area - suggestions for must-sees/lodging/restaurants/?

Day 2: Head to Big Sur - stay in one of the lodgings recommended by Stu. I've read many good reviews for breakfast and/or dinner at Deetjens.

Day 3: Santa Barbara - would love to visit a winery in this region or any other area on our drive down. Also need suggestions for lodging/restaurants/sightseeing around SB.

I know I should see San Fran, but I'm really craving and longing to experience some of CA's beautiful scenery, so I think I'll save SF for another trip.

Thanks everyone!

Just thought I'd fill ya'll in on my plans so far.

Friday night we head to the Montara lighthouse north of Half moon bay and stay in the private room at the lighthouse hostel.

Saturday we hit Big Basin on our way to Carmel/Monterey. Don't have lodging in Carmel yet - can't decide where.

Sunday head to Big Sur and spend the night at Treebones in a yurt.

Monday head to Santa Barbara and stay either at Eagle Inn or Presidio motel.

I wanted to get all my lodging lined up and then I'll start planning our excursions.

I'm thinking hiking around Big Basin, tooling around Carmel, maybe kayaking in Monterey and/or go to the Aquarium. Hiking/sightseeing around Big Sur and visiting wine country (Paso Robles) on our way to Santa Barbara.

Horizon - why should we skip the "17 mile drive"?

We fly out very early Tuesday.
I'm probably crazy to think we can do it all, but we'll go with the flow once we get there.

Thanks everyone for your help, and if you have any other suggestions for lodging in Carmel/Monterey (under $150), restaurants, or anything else, I'll gladly listen.

I'm not horizon, but I agree with skipping 17 Mile Drive - unless you love golf then go to see the Pebble Beach golf course. Otherwise, you will see plenty of great coastline on your way down the coast, without having to pay a toll to drive through and without all the development.

Thanks for the information about the "17-mile drive", we most likely would have chosen to drive it and now will not. I definitely have no interest in golf courses, just beautiful, breathtaking scenery.

Since you're looking for breathtaking scenery, be sure to visit Point Lobos State Reserve, which is three miles south of Carmel. It has great hiking trails and amazing scenery - do take the trail that goes to the cypress grove, it has one of the only two remaining naturally growing Monterrey Cyprus groves on Earth. Here's their website: http://pt-lobos.parks.state.ca.us/index.html

Also stop at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park and take the short hike to see the waterfall that drops onto the beach below (or into the ocean, if it's high tide).

Don't miss the elephant seal rookery in San Simeon - you just pull off the highway into a parking lot and walk to the southern end of the lot, where you'll overlook a beach where elephant seals come to mate and give birth. I think that in September the number of elephant seals there may be low, but it's worth stopping to see. It's a few miles north of the entrance to Hearst Castle. Here's a web site with more information: http://www.elephantseal.org/Rookery/where.htm

It's high season here, in Carmel. On weekends, most of the inns require a two night stay.

Don't skip 17 Mile Drive! For Pete's sake, it is one of the most beautiful drives in the world. It's much more than golf courses. You have not only gorgeous coastlines but beautiful trees, the famous Lone Cypress, beautiful resorts, huge homes, sea life, tide pools, beaches and yes, golf courses.

I have to agree with Tess about 17-mile Drive -- magnificent, awe-inspiring views.

I will also chime in in favor of 17 mile drive. It is a classic California drive and should not be missed. As others have said it is MUCH more than just golf courses. Some of the most famous photographs of the California coast were taken from viewpoints in this area.

People are definitely love it or hate it regarding 17-Mile Drive.

I think it is a beautiful stretch of coastline - but someone came and screwed the whole thing up by putting a golf course and a bunch of houses on it.

Given the choice between taking the time on an already short trip to drive 17 Mile Drive or spend the time instead at Point Lobos or on the drive south - I'd choose Point Lobos and points south any time.

Obviously it is a matter of interests and priorities though.

Beg to differ but how in the world can anyone hate 17 Mile Drive? I think that statement is exaggerated to say the least.

We live here and see it all the time. We never tire of its beauty. Hey, if you don't enjoy this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7OMcwS5INU&feature=related then I have to question your sanity.

"Given the choice between taking the time on an already short trip to drive 17 Mile Drive or spend the time instead at Point Lobos or on the drive south - I'd choose Point Lobos and points south any time."

I don't understand why chaslor has to choose between one or the other and can't do both the drive and Point Lobos. It is not like the 17 mile drive is going to take up a large portion of a day. It is just not that big of a time sink to exclude it.

I agree with Tess. How can anyone possibly hate this drive enough not to recommend it to someone who has come to see the area's beauty for the first time?

I've been multiple times, from hiking and camping to upscale rest-n-relax places, all up and down not only the California coast but also the Oregon coast and the Washington coast. I love the US West coast - oh, I've also been partways up the British Columbia coast. I'm in love with the Pacific coast of North America!

I'd agree with the others who recommend the 17 Mile Drive. Yes, you see some more of the beautiful coast, but the 17 Mile Drive is pretty unique. There is not another part of this coast that is like it. Even if you end up thinking it's second or third best to something else, you'll kick yourself for having missed it.

Point Lobos is terrific in the sunshine. Make sure you see and hike it in the sunshine.

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park is inland, so there's a great good chance that you'll meet with sunshine there even when the coast is wrapped in fog. Great place to hike to see the redwoods.

I've hiked twice in Big Sur this summer and am planning another trip this August. Can't get enough of Big Sur and that coast line. Lucky for me I have a good friend in Monterey with whom I can overnight any time I choose.

Geez guys. I was trying to be helpful and now you are questioning my sanity. Thanks.

I was giving MY OPINION on how to best spend a very short amount of time in this region.

Perhaps love/hate was a bit of an overstatement, but I do think that on a short trip, 17-Mile drive is not worth the time it takes to go through. I think that the time would be better spent at Point Lobos and points south - not that a person couldn't do both, but I would rather spend more time in those areas than 17-Mile drive.

<<I was giving MY OPINION on how to best spend a very short amount of time in this region.>>

Opinions are great and that's what this is all about. We gave our opinion which disagreed with yours.

<<Perhaps love/hate was a bit of an overstatement, but I do think that on a short trip, 17-Mile drive is not worth the time it takes to go through.>>

No "perhaps" about it, it was a huge overstatement. You also made the statements, below, which were completely inaccurate. Of course we're going to call you on it. Why would we want Chaslor to miss out on an amazing drive because she received inaccurate information, here?

<<I'm not horizon, but I agree with skipping 17 Mile Drive - unless you love golf then go to see the Pebble Beach golf course.>>

It's OK, we all have pencils with erasers. We just wanted Chaslor to know that we think that 17 Mile Drive is well worth the drive. Just yesterday, on our way to Roy's at Spanish Bay for dinner, my family and I enjoyed a fabulous ride along 17 Mile Drive. It was near sunset, the water was calm, the wind blew in between the branches of the tall Redwood and Eucalyptus trees. The Lone Cypress stood out proudly in the distance, as if for emphasis on the glorious beauty of this area. We approached Bird Rock and giggled at the abundance of birds covering it. There were deer roaming the Shore Course of MPCC, along its beautiful greens that look like massive lawns behind the beautiful mansions. MPCC's small clubhouse, right on the shore, brings back fun memories for us, as we've attended parties there. As we approached Spanish Bay, we could hear the bagpiper. We walked through the lobby and saw a glimpse of his head through the massive doors opening to the beautiful ocean beyond. The fire pits were going on the patio. People were taking in the wonderful moment that only Spanish Bay can provide. We had a fabulous dinner at Roy's being doted on by our ever-faithful waiter, Kristen. Steve, the GM, came over a few times to chat and make sure we were happy. We sat next to the window in full view of the ocean, the sunset, the people enjoying what might as well be described as one of the Wonders of the World. After dinner, we sat in the lobby by the massive fireplace. We heard the Jazz trio play and applauded gently after a delightful older woman crooned while playing the drums. It was a special night for us and one I wish others could embrace just as we do. Peace.

'nuff said.