10 day California Trip Ideas
Dec 30th, 2021, 04:23 PM
#21
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Carmel - continuous sprawl??? Where is the sprawl exactly? Not much in Monterey or Pacific Grove either, IMO. We've visited Carmel/Monterey perhaps 50 times in the past 70 years. Twice this year - most recently for 10 nights on our 50th anniversary. It is less than 2 hrs from where we've lived (SF & San Mateo) since 1975. In Seaside & Salinas you would expect lots of sprawl - but Salinas is about 1 hr away from Carmel. I would not consider Carmel/Monterey/PG to be a suburb of Salinas or any part of Salinas - although Salinas is the capital of Monterey County & has a population of 155K. Salinas is a surprisingly nice town, BTW. We walked around Salinas while we were in Carmel for 10 nights, and drove through it several times to get "elsewhere".
Stu Dudley
Stu Dudley
Dec 30th, 2021, 04:32 PM
#22
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I would first of all scratch Lake Tahoe. And substitute one of the other wine regions for Napa.
Then see if you can even find lodging at Yosemite. I think it will be miserably crowded since you are dealing with both school being out and the 4 July holiday. It really is too far for a day trip, or even a one-nighter.
Scratching those two places
3 nights San Francisco (including your arrival night). Note if you have golfers, The Presidio might be an option.
3 nights Pacific Grove or Carmel IF you can get a tee time at Pebble Beach. If you can't, try Pasatiempo another Alister MacKenzie design, and spend one of those nights in Santa Cruz.
2 nights split beteen Big Sur, the Central Coast and Santa Barbara. Most likely you won't find a room IN Big Sur, but will instead lodge in San Simeon, Cambria, Cayucos, Morro Bay, Pismo Beach or even San Luis Obispo.
For a wine region, look around the Santa Ynez Valley north of Santa Barbara. There is lodging in that area as well as in Santa Barbara (which I find nearly as boring as San Diego).
If you are primarily into the actual wine, as opposed to the wine scenery, you could pop into the Lompoc "Wine Ghetto" where many of the small producers now have their tasting rooms. There are several nice drives and wineries between SLO and Santa Barbara if you get off the freeway (101) and instead follow Hwy 1, 246 and/or 135. Also more around Solvang/Santa Ynez.
2 nights in Los Angeles, including the night before you leave.
That is 10 nights. If I have calculated wrong, add another one to the Central Coast or Los Angeles.
Then see if you can even find lodging at Yosemite. I think it will be miserably crowded since you are dealing with both school being out and the 4 July holiday. It really is too far for a day trip, or even a one-nighter.
Scratching those two places
3 nights San Francisco (including your arrival night). Note if you have golfers, The Presidio might be an option.
3 nights Pacific Grove or Carmel IF you can get a tee time at Pebble Beach. If you can't, try Pasatiempo another Alister MacKenzie design, and spend one of those nights in Santa Cruz.
2 nights split beteen Big Sur, the Central Coast and Santa Barbara. Most likely you won't find a room IN Big Sur, but will instead lodge in San Simeon, Cambria, Cayucos, Morro Bay, Pismo Beach or even San Luis Obispo.
For a wine region, look around the Santa Ynez Valley north of Santa Barbara. There is lodging in that area as well as in Santa Barbara (which I find nearly as boring as San Diego).
If you are primarily into the actual wine, as opposed to the wine scenery, you could pop into the Lompoc "Wine Ghetto" where many of the small producers now have their tasting rooms. There are several nice drives and wineries between SLO and Santa Barbara if you get off the freeway (101) and instead follow Hwy 1, 246 and/or 135. Also more around Solvang/Santa Ynez.
2 nights in Los Angeles, including the night before you leave.
That is 10 nights. If I have calculated wrong, add another one to the Central Coast or Los Angeles.
THANK YOU!
Dec 30th, 2021, 04:45 PM
#23
Most likely my lodging preferences and budget would differ, I just use the sites like Expedia and sort by price and traveler rating. Many of the California posters live or have family along the way so first hand experience is limited. We did have some good discussion here and on other threads.
San Francisco to Los Angeles late January
San Francisco to Los Angeles late January
Dec 30th, 2021, 04:53 PM
#24
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Here is where we stayed for 10 nights this past Sept (over Labor day).
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/2999141...sts=1&adults=1
Stu Dudley
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/2999141...sts=1&adults=1
Stu Dudley
Dec 31st, 2021, 02:27 PM
#26
I imagine tom is talking about the new developments around what was Fort Ord, between Marina and Salinas (not even 10 miles between them). While tourists don't typically associate Salinas and Marina with the Monterey peninsula (which is bigger than just Carmel), there is a long history of employees not being able to afford housing on the tourist peninsula, and commuting in from Salinas, etc.
There are even tourists who can't afford hotels in Carmel who chose to stay in Seaside, Marina, Del Rey, Salinas, etc...
There are even tourists who can't afford hotels in Carmel who chose to stay in Seaside, Marina, Del Rey, Salinas, etc...
Last edited by mlgb; Dec 31st, 2021 at 02:29 PM.
Jan 1st, 2022, 12:31 PM
#27
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If you stay on the Monterey peninsula (Carmel/Pebble/Pacific Grove/Monterey) you can largely avoid the commute traffic. Traffic on Hwy 1 down to Big Sur will be extremely busy on a holiday weekend.
Jan 10th, 2022, 07:01 PM
#28
Here's a suggestion, as we did this same trip in reverse (but living in LA, I'm adding to the time you want to spend there). You can alter the days as you wish to suit your needs:
6/29 Arrive SF
7/1 SF
7/2 SF
7/3 Monterey. I suggest Monterey only because the area is cheaper to stay in than Carmel. But Carmel is a 10 minute drive away (unless you take the 17 mile drive, which takes longer!). And Big Sur is exactly 30 minutes south of Carmel, which can be done as a great day trip from Monterey. I also am partial to Monterey because there's so much to do there.
7/4 Monterey
7/5 Drive to Paso Robles. Adelaide Inn really good reasonably priced motel and really nice.
7/6 Paso Robles, wine tasting/vineyard; go to Field of Lights if still open
7/7 Drive to Santa Monica (about 4 hour trip)
7/8 Santa Monica
7/9 Depart.
6/29 Arrive SF
7/1 SF
7/2 SF
7/3 Monterey. I suggest Monterey only because the area is cheaper to stay in than Carmel. But Carmel is a 10 minute drive away (unless you take the 17 mile drive, which takes longer!). And Big Sur is exactly 30 minutes south of Carmel, which can be done as a great day trip from Monterey. I also am partial to Monterey because there's so much to do there.
7/4 Monterey
7/5 Drive to Paso Robles. Adelaide Inn really good reasonably priced motel and really nice.
7/6 Paso Robles, wine tasting/vineyard; go to Field of Lights if still open
7/7 Drive to Santa Monica (about 4 hour trip)
7/8 Santa Monica
7/9 Depart.
Jan 10th, 2022, 10:21 PM
#29
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Some replies mention Hearst Castle (at San Simeon) but afaik it is still closed, with no set re-opening date. Has anyone heard different?
https://hearstcastle.org
https://hearstcastle.org
Jan 11th, 2022, 04:25 AM
#30
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California – My 10 Days Itinerary
- Day 1 – Montreal to San Francisco.
- Day 2 – San Francisco.
- Day 3 – San Francisco: Alcatraz and Fisherman's Wharf.
- Day 4 – Napa Valley and Berkeley.
- Day 5 – Yosemite National Park.
- Day 6 – Monterey.
- Day 7 – Santa Barbara.
- Day 8 – Los Angeles.
- Day 9 – Los Angeles
- Day 10 – Los Angeles to Montreal
Jan 11th, 2022, 06:39 AM
#31
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California – My 10 Days Itinerary
- Day 1 – Montreal to San Francisco.
- Day 2 – San Francisco.
- Day 3 – San Francisco: Alcatraz and Fisherman's Wharf.
- Day 4 – Napa Valley and Berkeley.
- Day 5 – Yosemite National Park.
- Day 6 – Monterey.
- Day 7 – Santa Barbara.
- Day 8 – Los Angeles.
- Day 9 – Los Angeles
- Day 10 – Los Angeles to Montreal
Stu Dudley
Jan 11th, 2022, 07:03 AM
#32
Stu is being facetious, but I agree with his point that you're not giving yourselves much time outside of the car. You'd have half a day in Yosemite and less if your lodging is outside of the park. You'd have barely half a day in Monterey and less than half a day in Santa Barbara. And all of that is assuming you don't make ANY stops along the way. Even for people who like to say "we just want a taste," this is just too little time almost everywhere... except Los Angeles.
I'm a Los Angeles native and see no reason why you're devoting more time to L.A. than to Yosemite and the drive along the coast. That is not how I would prioritize my time in California.
I'm a Los Angeles native and see no reason why you're devoting more time to L.A. than to Yosemite and the drive along the coast. That is not how I would prioritize my time in California.
Jan 11th, 2022, 07:37 AM
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'''I'm a Los Angeles native and see no reason why you're devoting more time to L.A. than to Yosemite and the drive along the coast. That is not how I would prioritize my time in California.''
I WAS RQAISEDE IN la & i AGREE WITH jEAN
I WAS RQAISEDE IN la & i AGREE WITH jEAN
Jan 11th, 2022, 10:33 AM
#36
RE going via Paso Robles (and I do like Adelaide Inn), there are pluses and minuses.
Plus: Avoids the inbound traffic between Santa Barbara/Santa Ynez and Los Angeles ( can be truly horrific).
Minus: Misses the more scenic areas of the Central Coast for the rather boring Central Valley.
I do agree with not staying in Santa Monica. Note that your time frame often coincides with "June Gloom" or the fog belt along the coast. Look east of the 405 if you can.
PS Yeah that cut and paste itinerary makes zero sense.
Plus: Avoids the inbound traffic between Santa Barbara/Santa Ynez and Los Angeles ( can be truly horrific).
Minus: Misses the more scenic areas of the Central Coast for the rather boring Central Valley.
I do agree with not staying in Santa Monica. Note that your time frame often coincides with "June Gloom" or the fog belt along the coast. Look east of the 405 if you can.
PS Yeah that cut and paste itinerary makes zero sense.
Jan 11th, 2022, 02:25 PM
#37
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The following are a couple of fast travels I've required as of late:
Pit Lake/Mt Shasta: it's an incredible opportunity to see the wild Northern California coast and Cascade mountains.
Great Canyon/Arches/Zion/Bryce National Parks: Southern Utah and Northern Arizona have a few phenomenal public stops; probably the most beautiful spots you'll find in the US.
Southern California/Disneyland/San Diego Zoo: when you consider California, you consider seashores and dusks. Hit up Santa Barbara, LA (Disneyland!), and San Diego (Zoo!) and you will not be disillusioned. there are so many things we can cover but these are some of the top picks
Pit Lake/Mt Shasta: it's an incredible opportunity to see the wild Northern California coast and Cascade mountains.
Great Canyon/Arches/Zion/Bryce National Parks: Southern Utah and Northern Arizona have a few phenomenal public stops; probably the most beautiful spots you'll find in the US.
Southern California/Disneyland/San Diego Zoo: when you consider California, you consider seashores and dusks. Hit up Santa Barbara, LA (Disneyland!), and San Diego (Zoo!) and you will not be disillusioned. there are so many things we can cover but these are some of the top picks
Last edited by vigneshwarthrive7639; Jan 11th, 2022 at 02:26 PM. Reason: typo error
Jan 22nd, 2022, 01:14 AM
#38
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Did you book this or still figuring it out? I would definitely devote 3 days to SF, stay in Monterey as suggested above and if your kids desperately want to see Hollywood sights stay closer to Burbank/Universal not Santa Monica. It seems close but the traffic will take forever and you can do a side trip to Santa Monica to see the pier but everything else on that LA list is closer to Universal/Burbank.
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