Sonoma to Monterey
Apr 7th, 2003, 03:52 PM
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Sonoma to Monterey
Hi,
I'm just trying to get an idea of travel time. After 2 days in Sonoma, I'd like to stay in Monterey for a few nights. But on the way to Monterey, I wanted to visit Big Basin. Can I do that in a day? (Drive from Sonoma, spend some time at Big Basin and then hit Monterey?)
Thanks.
I'm just trying to get an idea of travel time. After 2 days in Sonoma, I'd like to stay in Monterey for a few nights. But on the way to Monterey, I wanted to visit Big Basin. Can I do that in a day? (Drive from Sonoma, spend some time at Big Basin and then hit Monterey?)
Thanks.
Apr 7th, 2003, 05:12 PM
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Hi Geri,
I answered this on your other thread.
You can, but I'm not sure you'll like the drive. It's pretty twisty. You might prefer to visit the redwoods in Pt Reyes Natl Seashire or Samuel Taylor State park.
Both of those drives are considerably easier and convenient to wine country.
I answered this on your other thread.
You can, but I'm not sure you'll like the drive. It's pretty twisty. You might prefer to visit the redwoods in Pt Reyes Natl Seashire or Samuel Taylor State park.
Both of those drives are considerably easier and convenient to wine country.
Apr 7th, 2003, 07:55 PM
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Geri,
Sonoma to Montery is around 160 miles. It will probably take about 4-4.5 hours without any stops, depending on teh traffic. As J Correa said, it is doable to see Big Basin and go to Monterey in the same day, but it is not advisable. I would suggest spending one night on the way to Monterey and go to Big Basin the next morning and from there head to Monterey, especially if you would like to enjoy the redwoods. I'd stay the night in downtown San Jose. Big Basin is about 20 miles from center city.
The best route would be 12 to 80 then 680 to 280 north into SJ. From there take route 17 to the Santa Cruz Mountains.
www.bigbasin.org
www.sanjose.org
www.sjdowntown.com
Sonoma to Montery is around 160 miles. It will probably take about 4-4.5 hours without any stops, depending on teh traffic. As J Correa said, it is doable to see Big Basin and go to Monterey in the same day, but it is not advisable. I would suggest spending one night on the way to Monterey and go to Big Basin the next morning and from there head to Monterey, especially if you would like to enjoy the redwoods. I'd stay the night in downtown San Jose. Big Basin is about 20 miles from center city.
The best route would be 12 to 80 then 680 to 280 north into SJ. From there take route 17 to the Santa Cruz Mountains.
www.bigbasin.org
www.sanjose.org
www.sjdowntown.com
Apr 7th, 2003, 07:59 PM
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Bay Area,
Thanks for your help. I'm having such a hard time trying to fit everything in. I thought 8 nights would be plenty, but I'm realizing I'm going to have to cut something else out. First it was Santa Barbara. Now, I guess Big Basin will have to go.
I'll just have to plan another trip next year.
Thanks for your help. I'm having such a hard time trying to fit everything in. I thought 8 nights would be plenty, but I'm realizing I'm going to have to cut something else out. First it was Santa Barbara. Now, I guess Big Basin will have to go.
I'll just have to plan another trip next year.
Apr 8th, 2003, 08:02 AM
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David DJ and Bay Area,
Thanks again for your help. I keep changing my mind about what to do. But how does this sound?
Nights 1 & 2 - Sonoma
Night 3 - San Jose (next day - Big Basin)
Nights 4 & 5 - Monterey
Nights 6, 7 & 8 - back up to San Francisco (from where I'll be departing)
(Maybe I'll forget San Simeon and Big Sur - OR I could take your advice, Bay Area and forget Big Basin and go to San Simeon and Big Sur - and fit in Pt. Reyes)
I so rarely get to go away. I want to make sure I do it right.
Thanks again for your help. I keep changing my mind about what to do. But how does this sound?
Nights 1 & 2 - Sonoma
Night 3 - San Jose (next day - Big Basin)
Nights 4 & 5 - Monterey
Nights 6, 7 & 8 - back up to San Francisco (from where I'll be departing)
(Maybe I'll forget San Simeon and Big Sur - OR I could take your advice, Bay Area and forget Big Basin and go to San Simeon and Big Sur - and fit in Pt. Reyes)
I so rarely get to go away. I want to make sure I do it right.
Apr 8th, 2003, 10:33 AM
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Geri,
Your plan seems basically okay.
My only thing is that as a personal matter, I don't like the ROI that San Jose offers as a tourist destination. It has a very small city center, and only a few sites outside of that.
My own personal choice would be to depart Sonoma at 10:00 (with a picnic packed from the Oakdale Grocery off the Sonoma Plaza) planning to arrive in Big Basin around 2. Have my picnic and a walk amongst the trees til about 6:00 - 6:30, and then head down to Monterey. You should have a nice sunset drive that way, though you might catch the tail end of traffic.
In some other post (don't think it was one you started), someone mentioned the Gardens at the Filoli Estate. They are well worth it. And would be a nice diversion if you decided to spend the night in San Jose.
If that's the case, I'd come down from Wine country on highway 101. Cross the Golden Gate Bridge, go through San Francisco, and come down to Filoli on highway 280. Then go to San Jose and see Big Basin the next morning on your way to Monterey.
In your other post, you expressed concern over scary drives. In light of this I am hesitant to suggest that you go down to San Simeon. Big Sur is not all that far south from Monterey, but Cambria is a ways down.
It's a very beautiful drive, but it's twisty and in many places the drop-offs seem like they are right there.
My suggestion would be to go as far as Big Sur and see how you feel about the road. That way you don't invest a lot of time and energy in something that you might find stressful and unpleasant.
Your plan seems basically okay.
My only thing is that as a personal matter, I don't like the ROI that San Jose offers as a tourist destination. It has a very small city center, and only a few sites outside of that.
My own personal choice would be to depart Sonoma at 10:00 (with a picnic packed from the Oakdale Grocery off the Sonoma Plaza) planning to arrive in Big Basin around 2. Have my picnic and a walk amongst the trees til about 6:00 - 6:30, and then head down to Monterey. You should have a nice sunset drive that way, though you might catch the tail end of traffic.
In some other post (don't think it was one you started), someone mentioned the Gardens at the Filoli Estate. They are well worth it. And would be a nice diversion if you decided to spend the night in San Jose.
If that's the case, I'd come down from Wine country on highway 101. Cross the Golden Gate Bridge, go through San Francisco, and come down to Filoli on highway 280. Then go to San Jose and see Big Basin the next morning on your way to Monterey.
In your other post, you expressed concern over scary drives. In light of this I am hesitant to suggest that you go down to San Simeon. Big Sur is not all that far south from Monterey, but Cambria is a ways down.
It's a very beautiful drive, but it's twisty and in many places the drop-offs seem like they are right there.
My suggestion would be to go as far as Big Sur and see how you feel about the road. That way you don't invest a lot of time and energy in something that you might find stressful and unpleasant.
Apr 8th, 2003, 11:32 AM
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Was there something in particular you wanted to do *in* San Jose? Otherwise, I would skip that rather than the other things on your list. I think you have time to see Big Basin. Agree with BayArea on itinerary from Sonoma.
Also, if you want to see redwoods, try Samuel P. Taylor (western Marin) on your way down from Sonoma. Pt Reyes is also wonderful, but a bit farther out. Either destination will be a nice break from the drive, and Monterey is very easily drivable in a day from Sonoma. That way, you could rejoin 101S, cross the Golden gate Bridge to 280S to 85S to 156W to Monterey -- easiest and most direct drive.
Have a great trip!
Also, if you want to see redwoods, try Samuel P. Taylor (western Marin) on your way down from Sonoma. Pt Reyes is also wonderful, but a bit farther out. Either destination will be a nice break from the drive, and Monterey is very easily drivable in a day from Sonoma. That way, you could rejoin 101S, cross the Golden gate Bridge to 280S to 85S to 156W to Monterey -- easiest and most direct drive.
Have a great trip!
Apr 8th, 2003, 11:49 AM
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If you want to spend an extra night near Big Basi, but don't necesarily want to visit San Jose, I would stay in the Santa Cruz mountains, somewhere along Hwy 9. There are several small towns along that road and they all have little motels and cabins for rent. The Brookdale Lodge is a pretty famous place.
Apr 8th, 2003, 01:04 PM
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If you go through SF on the 101 on the way to San Jose from Sonoma, you will likely encounter some bad traffic, especially along 19th Avenue. Your are best to take the 680 to 280 route.
If you do decide on going through SF down the 280, then do stop at Filoli Estate. San Jose has good sized downtown area with much to offer in walking distance as far as dining, culture, etc so I would not suggest skipping SJ. San Jose is actually bigger than SF. However if you prefer not to be in the center of the city, there are quite a number of attractions outside of downtown as well.
It is best to get to Big Basin sometime in the morning and doing some hiking and have lunch. By the middle of the day (around 2 or 3 PM) it can get quite hot in the mountains. After lunch is the time to make your way to Monterey for some cooler weather. Also, by leaving Big Basin by mid-afternoon, you will miss any commute traffic going from San Jose to the Monterey Bay Area if you are traveling on a weekday.
If you don't do Big Sur, go to Point Lobos.
If you do decide on going through SF down the 280, then do stop at Filoli Estate. San Jose has good sized downtown area with much to offer in walking distance as far as dining, culture, etc so I would not suggest skipping SJ. San Jose is actually bigger than SF. However if you prefer not to be in the center of the city, there are quite a number of attractions outside of downtown as well.
It is best to get to Big Basin sometime in the morning and doing some hiking and have lunch. By the middle of the day (around 2 or 3 PM) it can get quite hot in the mountains. After lunch is the time to make your way to Monterey for some cooler weather. Also, by leaving Big Basin by mid-afternoon, you will miss any commute traffic going from San Jose to the Monterey Bay Area if you are traveling on a weekday.
If you don't do Big Sur, go to Point Lobos.
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