We are 2 50ish women flying to Burbank for 5 nights in May. Would love to see Big Sur and maybe Carmel. Any suggestions would be helpful. We really have no interest in Hollywood or Disney type stuff. We would love to see the beautiful coastline but want to be sure we have enough time. Thankyou.

I only have a few of quick comments right now . . .

1) do you already have your flights booked? If not, it would be better to either fly into N Calif (SF, San Jose or Oakland), or to fly open jaw into Burbank and out of one of the NorCal airports.

2) If the deal is done then you have to work w/ what you have. Burbank > Big Sur > Carmel > Monterey > Burbank is a lot of driving and a lot of backtracking. But still doable.

3) You will get some response to this thread - but you'll get more if you re-post w/ a better/detailed title. All threads are lumped together under United States so your "5 night trip" could be about anywhere in the country.

The drive is 300 miles from Burbank to Carmel. Five nights is plenty of time to make the loop. Santa Barbara, San Simeon, Big Sur, Carmel and Monterey are the destinations.

Determining whether to do San Simeon on the way up or back will determine how to break up the stay. Hurst Castle will take much of a day, you aren't going to make the entire drive the day you visit.

Carmel/Monterey deserves two full days and could easily stretch to three.

You are nearby the Ghetty Museum if you have not done, that could easily take a day as well.

Have fun.

um - it is Hearst Castle and the Getty (sp. makes a difference if you want to search for info)

There is beautiful scenery in LA - it's a huge city. Hollywood is just one sort of dumpy area of LA and Disneyland is not in LA at all anyway(it's an hour away south in Orange County).

I would definitely go to the Getty when you're in LA if that's the only place you'll go. Beautiful views. Griffith Park is also a good idea.

Also, did you already buy your tickets? I would definitely fly to NorCal instead for your needs. The places you want to visit are closer to that part than to LA. Or if you fly to LA, LAX is more convenient to the coast. From Burbank, you'll have to commute for 35-45 mins to the coast if there is no traffic (i.e. you have to avoid 7-10am and 3-7pm rush hour on weekdays).

If you're definitely flying into Burbank, be prepared for a long drive up the coast. with 5 nights, I would stop in Santa Barbara, Big Sur and Cambria. I don't think you have time for Monterey and Carmel. You can try to cram it in, and then take the shorter I-5 route on the way back to Burbank (I assume you're flying back out of there). It would be more convenient to fly back out of NorCal as well since Monterey is only 2 hrs from SF.

Thanks everyone for your ideas. The reason we are flying into Burbank is we took advantage of Skybus 10$ flights from Columbus, Ohio. So, yes we have our airline tickets. Keep the ideas comming. Any ideas on where to spend a night or 2 in Big Sur or nearby? Thanks.

What is your budget? Big Sur has limited accomodations and most are quite expensive.

Drive up 101 to 1. Spend one night in Santa Barbara. The next morning, drive to Hearst Castle for a tour. Then, spend the day in Big Sur to tour places such as http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=578. Have lunch at Ventana Inn. Then, drive to Carmel, spending a few nights there. If you do a Net search, and search these forum, you'll find many suggestions on what to do in Carmel...my hometown.

It's been a few years, but we enjoyed staying at Big Sur Lodge at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. They have cottages.

I sure would not stay in Santa Barbara...I'd head closer to Hearst Castle, if you want to visit it. I'd stay in San Luis Obispo or Cambria... then visit the castle, head up Route #1 which is about 90 miles to Carmel. You can find cabins and campgrounds with cabins in the Big Sur area, and also at the Pfieffer state park. The Ventana Inn has great views, but the food is really only so-so. Deitjens (sp is incorrect) has good food and funky cabins to stay in... its in Big Sur. After you visit Carmel and Monterrey, drive back down #101 to LA, unless you can fly out of San Jose or Oakland. Driving time from Carmel to Burbank is about 6-7 hrs. I think.

The return drive is about the same on Hiway 101 vs. Hiway 5 and much prettier.

Check the driving time from Monterey to San Luis Obispo on Mapquest, then SLO to Burbank, about 5 hrs total all on the 101. Mapquest will return you by Hiway 5 otherwise.

Hiway 5 is such a drag through the valley and pretty hot in May.

Best way to get from Monterey to the 101 is through Salinas on Monterey Road, CA 68. Then just 101 all the way down.

If you have time, Steinbeck Center and Steinbeck House in Salinas are nice, otherwise I would keep going.

http://www.steinbeck.org/MainFrame.html

http://www.infopoint.com/mry/orgs/steinbeck/

FYI:

There are a number of festivals during spring along the central coast. You may want to check the calendar of events for each county.

Calender of events in Santa Barbara County: http://www.santabarbaraca.com/calendar/


SLO County: http://www.sanluisobispocounty.com/


Monterey County: http://www.gomonterey.com/events.html

Depending on when you get into Burbank head north on I-5 as soon as you get your car. If it is late in the afternoon then stay at the Holiday Inn & Suites on Olive and then first thing in the AM head north on I-5.

In the AM you will be going north so not much traffic. Late afternoon is not a good time to head north.

I would stay on I-5 all the way to Hwy 152 then go west to Hwy 156 and on to Monterey/Carmel.

Then when done in Monterey, head back Hwy 1 along the coast via Cambria.

Just south of Cambria head over to Hwy 101 and south from there back to LA.

If you would like to stay at a very affordable oceanfront property in Southern California...I would recommend checking out www.calvacationhomes.com
I will be staying at the orange county property this week.
Hopefully this helps.

powerty1-Seems like you registered just to post twice about this condo. The other thread you posted on was from May and the OP already took their trip. Don't know how you found that one. Anyway, advertising is not allowed on Fodors.

The Highland's Inn and the Tickle Pink Inn are both nice places to stay in the Carmel Highland's area, this is a gorgeous area of the coast. The TPI is right next door to the Highland's Inn.

If you want to stay close to the beach and the shops in Carmel, we enjoyed La Playa Hotel, a nice Historic property on the National Register with beautiful grounds and gardens, good restaurant, too! ***kim***

Paula1470 - I am new to Fodor so I am learning how this works. I was trying to help the women find a nice place to stay.

I paid for my vacation and had a great time..just trying to share the information.