johnstcyr

Canadian seniors, in good health, arriving in San Francisco , Feb, 5/14 - returning home Feb.27/14.
We want to go to Napa/Sonoma, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Palm Springs and San Diego.
Am thinking of driving the Pacific Coast Highway to L.A., spending 2 or 3 days in L.A. and then driving to Palm Springs for 2 nights. From there driving to San Diego for 2 nights and then driving the coast back to L.A. then driving Hwy 5 to San Francisco and from there to Napa/Sonoma for 2 nights returning to San Francisco on Feb. 24/14.
Wondering is that the best scenario or should we consider staying on the coastal highway to San Diego and then driving to Palm Springs and then to L.A. for the 2 or 3 days?
We also have not booked any accommodation as we would prefer not to have a specific schedule particularly on our drive along the coastal highway. Is this reasonable?
Would appreciate feedback and any suggestions. Thank you.

ElendilPickle

Welcome to Fodor's!

You might want to post this in the United States forum for additional responses. Be sure to tag it California.

What are you interested in doing while you're in California?

Lee Ann

johnstcyr

Thank you for your reply and suggestions.

We are interested in the overall scenery, beaches, history, checking out smaller towns, wine country and just driving and stopping when something catches your eye.

We have never been to California before so when we visit San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego we will be doing most of the traditional sightseeing and tours.

janisj

>>Thank you for your reply and suggestions.<<

Her main suggestion was to re-post over on the USA forum, which you should do so we don't re-invent the wheel on this one. There are (literally) hundreds of threads on that board asking variations of your exact question. Just one comment before you re-post . . . winging it on the California coast isn't necessarily a good idea. For one thing (even in the winter) many nice places have a two night minimum at least on weekends. And for Palm Springs, this is the very busiest time of year (except for Spring Break). Plus there is a three day weekend in mid-February when many coastal properties may already be booked up.

Tomsd

If you plan to be in Palm Spring mid-week you should be fine. Even on weekends - you can usually find something - but as I suggest below - call ahead and check around a bit.

As for otherwise staying loose on your reserations - Feb along the Cal Coast - or here in SD/etc - should be fairly easy to do but again - I always check ahead and call a few places to be sure.

Also think you can find places that do not have a two night minimum - except on Holiday weekends.

janisj

But tom -- there IS a holiday during their visit . . . Which Canadian visitors may not expect in the middle of February. Also - many coastal properties require two nights over Valentine's Day (especially since Valentine's Day is on a Friday this year)

So you may be leading the OP astray a bit.

(looks like the moderators moved this to the US Board -- but the OP hasn't been back yet)

johnstcyr

Yes, as suggested we asked the moderator to move this to the US/CA Board.

Is the long weekend in CA tied to Presidents Day on Feb. 17?

Tomsd

As previously noted - just check ahead for the dates you might be where.

dbdurand

With regard to the long weekend you asked about, the answer is yes. Our school district here in Thousand has no school on Monday the 17th and also the previous Friday.

dbdurand

Correction: Thousand Oaks.

johnstcyr

Any suggestions as to whether or not my suggested itinerary is best or would doing the full coastal highway from San Francisco to San Diego 1st be the better way to go?

StuDudley

This is about the 5th to 7th SF to SD (or to LA or SB or Big Sur or Carmel) itinerary post in the last 4 weeks (or it seems like that many). Is the "search" function not working on Fodors??? I'm getting a little tired of responding with the same suggestions.

Stu Dudley

johnstcyr

Not looking for a detailed itinerary /suggestions but rather best route/ direction ...........
"Any suggestions as to whether or not my suggested itinerary is best or would doing the full coastal highway from San Francisco to San Diego 1st be the better way to go?"

Sorry if my question was not clear.

StuDudley

IMO, Route 1 from San Diego to Newport Beach is a B-. Newport Beach through Santa Monica is a C- for most of the way. Santa Monica to Cambria is a B+. Cambria to Carmel is a A+++, Carmel to San Francisco is a B+.

This assumes that you prefer scenic and interesting coastline and not buildings, commerce, flat expansive beaches, and congestion.

I would only do the Cambria to Carmel on Hwy 1 portion.

Stu Dudley

Tomsd

Stu - would further dileniate thaT the drive up Hiway 1 from say Solvang/north of Santa Barbara is inland mostly - but when you get to Avila Beach - from there to Cambria is an A, including the interesting "Rock" in Morro Bay. Good saltwater taffy there also.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Rock...w=1122&bih=558

MichelleY

I agree with Stu.

Tomsd

Here is a better map - and just zoom out to get the idea - from Avila Beach to Cambria.

https://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-...ed=0CCsQ-A8wAA

Parrothead

Great itinerary, I personally love road trips. Just a few suggestions. Since you are into scenery and keeping your options open I would vary slightly to maximize some of the best scenic routes. You cannot beat the coastal redwood drive along Hwy. 35 as you head south out of San Francisco. To pick it up, depart SF on Hwy 280 south, exit at Hwy 92 west and then go south (left) on Hwy. 35. At the intersection of 35 & 84, go West (right) until you hit Hwy. 1 at the ocean. This is the most beautiful drive in Northern California.

Stay south on Hwy 1 at least through Santa Barbara before you head into LA. Then I would go to San Diego next, followed by the fastest route to Palm Springs. Unless you have other criteria in SoCal I would then take the fastest route back north which is I-5.

Regarding the Napa vs. Sonoma decision. I always choose Napa, it has more to offer, IMO. My favorite cities along Hwy. 29 are Yountville and St. Helena, both have great food and hotel options.

Last, as for advance reservations, I would suggest definitely getting reservations for dining and lodging in Napa as soon as you can. In the other 4 places you specifically mention, while you may be able to get a room on day of arrival, getting from one hotel to other to check availability and prices may be more time consuming than internet searching in advance.

johnstcyr

Parrothead thank you for the suggestions, will take you up.

Any ideas on where to spend our 1st night, town & hotel? We fly in to SF at 2:30 p.m. and then pick up our car rental on Harbor Way in SF. Thank you.

Also, thank you everyone for your replies, much appreciated.

StuDudley

Are you going to visit San Francisco?? If so - stay in San Francisco. Harbor Way is in South San Francisco - which is not San Francisco (not even is the county of San Francisco). Do not stay outside of San Francisco and drive into SF to sightsee for the day. You really don't need a car for most of the stuff tourists want to see in SF.

Stu Dudley