Santa Monica and onwards to San Diego
Sep 7th, 2006, 06:04 PM
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Santa Monica and onwards to San Diego
We will be in Santa Monica a week on Friday, arriving late afternoon and planning to drive on to San Diego on Saturday afternoon.
On Saturday morning we would like to stroll Palisades Park and then walk down the front to Venice amd Muscle beach and also explore the canal area of Venice. Would this be about 3 miles of walking - I think we can get a bus back? Would we be able to park longish stay at a carpark near Palisades Park? The alternative is to drive down to Venice of course.
Anyway, after our little hike, we will be off to San Diego, we are staying in the area known as 'Hotel Circle'. What would be the best road to take please and can I expect the journey to take about 2 hours?
On Saturday morning we would like to stroll Palisades Park and then walk down the front to Venice amd Muscle beach and also explore the canal area of Venice. Would this be about 3 miles of walking - I think we can get a bus back? Would we be able to park longish stay at a carpark near Palisades Park? The alternative is to drive down to Venice of course.
Anyway, after our little hike, we will be off to San Diego, we are staying in the area known as 'Hotel Circle'. What would be the best road to take please and can I expect the journey to take about 2 hours?
Sep 7th, 2006, 07:05 PM
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Doing both is a long walk--doable but long.
Personally I would park in Santa Monica-there are lots of parking structures on Third St. South of Wilshire. Then stroll!
Next, drive and park somewhere in Venice and explore. There are lots of lots.
Personally I would park in Santa Monica-there are lots of parking structures on Third St. South of Wilshire. Then stroll!
Next, drive and park somewhere in Venice and explore. There are lots of lots.
Sep 8th, 2006, 07:31 AM
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Actually, Third Street south of Wilshire is pedestrian-only.
The SM city parking garages ("carparks") are on Second Street. They're relatively cheap, as I recall (I pay to park underneath my office building, so I never use the garages myself). Even better: Get a spot at Santa Monica Place (the mall at Second between Broadway and Colorado), where the first three hours should be free. That puts you at the base of the Santa Monica Pier.
Alisa's idea of then driving down to Venice is a pretty good one. If it's a lovely September day, the lots may be full; still, if you head down Ocean Avenue, it becomes Pacific in Venice, and there are many lots right off that main drag (including one at Venice Blvd). You should be able to find something.
Expect the drive to San Diego to take between two and three hours. Your best route from Venice will be to take Washington Blvd all the way to the 405 (Interstate 405). Take the 405 south. It will merge with the 5 and take you right into San Diego. NOTE: There are ALWAYS a large number of cars on these freeways. And barring accidents, on a weekend day the traffic will move just over the posted speed limit. Follow the flow of traffic and you'll be fine.
The SM city parking garages ("carparks") are on Second Street. They're relatively cheap, as I recall (I pay to park underneath my office building, so I never use the garages myself). Even better: Get a spot at Santa Monica Place (the mall at Second between Broadway and Colorado), where the first three hours should be free. That puts you at the base of the Santa Monica Pier.
Alisa's idea of then driving down to Venice is a pretty good one. If it's a lovely September day, the lots may be full; still, if you head down Ocean Avenue, it becomes Pacific in Venice, and there are many lots right off that main drag (including one at Venice Blvd). You should be able to find something.
Expect the drive to San Diego to take between two and three hours. Your best route from Venice will be to take Washington Blvd all the way to the 405 (Interstate 405). Take the 405 south. It will merge with the 5 and take you right into San Diego. NOTE: There are ALWAYS a large number of cars on these freeways. And barring accidents, on a weekend day the traffic will move just over the posted speed limit. Follow the flow of traffic and you'll be fine.
Sep 8th, 2006, 08:54 AM
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Instead of taking the 405 all the way to I-5, there is a toll road ($4) that cuts across and is virtually empty instead of fighting with all the trucks and traffic on the 405 and 5. It is the CA-73 and is only about 19 miles, but cuts out a lot of traffic. I can tell you that the start of this road is about 45 miles south of Santa Monica.
We just did this drive on Tuesday (starting in Westwood) and it was basically just over 2 hours total driving to downtown San Diego. We turned off south of Carlsbad to have a nice lunch on the beach at Cardiff-by-the-sea, but got back onto I-5 to complete the drive.
We just did this drive on Tuesday (starting in Westwood) and it was basically just over 2 hours total driving to downtown San Diego. We turned off south of Carlsbad to have a nice lunch on the beach at Cardiff-by-the-sea, but got back onto I-5 to complete the drive.
Sep 8th, 2006, 03:52 PM
#6
I also highly recommend the toll route. It shaves half an hour off your trip, and is so much more relaxed. Big wide road, fewer cars, and less "clutter" along the way. Got to keep your eyes wide for it though, as the exit doesn't have a lot of warning signs.
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