Atascadero -> Pacific Grove -> San Francisco
 

We are flying into SFO arriving at 11:00am and will be picking up a rental car and headed directly down to Atascadero. This will be our two night base for the area. We are then going to head up Pacific Grove for two nights and from there into San Francisco for two nights before heading home.

Any comments about the distances, sights to see, suggested driving routes or itineraries would be appreciated and welcome.

Thanks so much.

Why Atascadero for the area? What do you specifically want to see. Better towns to stay in. By the ocean, I would look at Cambria, Morro Bay, Pismo and Avila Beaches. Inland: Paso Robles or San Luis Obispo.

Our travel partner choose a Best Western in Atascadero for the base. I'm not really sure why, but we're locked into that as the trip is in a few days.

If you land at SFO at 11:00, and have luggage to claim, you might not get on the road until 12:30 or so. If your trip is in a couple of days (a work day) the drive to Atascadero might take about 3 3/4 hrs - getting you there at 4:15. Do not take 101 south. From the car rental office, take 380 west to 280 and then head south on 280. 280 is a MUCH more scenic road than the ugly/horrible/congested 101.

Stu Dudley

280 does end so eventually one needs to either take 101 or go over the hill and take 1. Atascadero is an interesting stop for 2 days. Hope there are some wineries near by. Pacific Grove, is lovely. The Monterrey aquarium is interesting, 17mile drive also a lovely sight. Might be a walking tour in Monterrey to take,

Atascadero??

Did your friend get a kick back or something?? ;)

shar: >>280 does end so eventually one needs to either take 101 or go over the hill and take 1<<

I'm pretty sure stu meant to avoid 101 in the <i>Bay Area </i>. . . he didn't mean 280 all the way. Taking hwy 1 from SFO to Atascadero would take FOREVER . . . like 7 hours w/o any stops.

Yes there are vineyards near Atascadero/Paso Robles.

Thanks for the replies. I think we are going to see the Hearst Castle and Pismo Beach. We really will only have one full day as we'll be heading to Pacific Grove for our third night.

OK, I found a Best Western in Morro Bay that is reasonably priced...does everyone agree this is a much better place to stay than Atascadero?

I am not familiar with that Best Western, but Morro Bay is a nicer town that Atascadero.

BEST WESTERN
Tradewinds
225 Beach Street
Morro Bay, California

Yes - Morro Bay is a better base/more scenic.

That Best Western is a bog standard motel a block or two from the harbor and not posh or anything.

Are you limited to Best Westerns?

I have stayed at the Atascadero BW a few times (because it once showed up on Hotwire) and it is far nicer than the typical BW.

Atascadero is convenient because it's near the 101 Hwy.

But if your main goal is to see Hearst I would try to stay as close as possible, Cambria has more choices.

We usually chose the Cambria Pines Lodge and get a Fireplace room on the second level. In the fall, the rates are quite reasonable outside of the weekends.

Make the reservation online and then ask to be places away from any groups, though! In the fall school groups shouldn't be a problem but weddings often are.

The Moonstone hotels group also has the Sea Otter Inn on the beach in Cambria.

http://www.moonstonehotels.com/Properties.htm

BTW I don't think Morro Bay is anywhere special to stay.

The town is a cluster of small motels and tourist restaurants. And a power plant.

Las Osos is a bit nicer.

I'd also stay in Cambria -- much better than either Atascadero (nice BW/not such a scenic place) or Morrow Bay (more interesting/not such a nice BW)

The Cavalier in Cambria is a BW -- but would likely cost much more than the other two.

OP, if you want to see Pismo and Hearst Castle, then Morro Bay is a good in-between place to stay. Just be aware that it will probably not be very warm at the coast. Summer tends to be foggy and cool.

If you are limited to Best Westerns, the nicest one in the area is actually in Pismo Beach. Pismo's weather is usually much nicer than Morro Bay.

Maybe you can see Hearst Castle on your way up Hwy 1 to Pacific Grove?

I didn't know about the BW in Pismo -- that would be a great choice if the budget works.

It's definitely more expensive but it sounds like the OP or a friend has some pull with Best Western. Otherwise, why would they limit themselves to that chain?

OP, the address for the Best Western in Pismo is 2555 Price Street. It's called the Shore Cliff Lodge.

Some people have vouchers for BW or get points.

Shore Cliffs is not cheap! Just goes to show that BWs are all different.

I do like Pismo/Grover Beach or even SLO better than Morro Bay as a place to stay.

October usually isn't too foggy.

Their trip is in a few days.

In that case they may want to stick with the Atascadero BW.

I wish OPs would not assume that we have read all of their other postings and give a bit more info on when/where.

Because a hotel near the Central Coast (especially this coming weekend) is a different kettle of fish.

I agree that there is nothing wrong with staying in Atascadero since they will obviously be out and about exploring the area and not hanging out in Atascadero. But, if their main goal is to see Pismo and Hearst Castle, somewhere in between, like Morro Bay, would probably be easier for driving.

OP, if you and your friends are at all interested in wine, there are some spectacular wineries in the area.

BW Cavalier is in San Simeon, not Cambria, it is a very nice place, my late husband and I stayed there in a room with a fireplace (not needed this time of year). Close to Hearst.

Thanks for all the great replies. We are traveling in the second week of August...

Fireplace not needed? I guess that depends on how much fog there is at night.

I was just up in Ventura and it was very pleasant daytime but gets down to around 60 at night even without a heavy fog layer.

>>I stayed there in a room with a fireplace (not needed this time of year).<<

Not necessarily so. Agree w/ mlgb - August can be quite cool/foggy on the coast.

>>Not necessarily so. Agree w/ mlgb - August can be quite cool/foggy on the coast.<<

Fog or not, it's going to be in the 80's later this week in both Morro Bay and Cambria. That's HOT for here. Definitely no need for a fireplace. Take shorts and t-shirts and especially a good SPF sun-block as the UV is high even while under overcast conditions.

Spent last Sunday in Cambria, was in mid-70's and plenty warm. All hotels we saw were booked. If you can get Morro Bay or even San Luis Obispo might be better off.

Atascadero will be topping 100. Hmm...you have In-N-Out and A&W. Nearby Templeton has McPhee's.

Actually, if you're only there in the evening, evenings cool off and are quite nice. You are 5 minutes to the Templeton Vineyard exit and the wine trail. I recommend if you do that, to back up at the half-way point returning to Templeton and not go all the way around to Paso which is just a lot of driving, and hot. The first half is prettier and partly shaded by oaks.

SLO is 20 minutes south and you have the Farmer's market on Thursday evening. Pismo is 25 minutes south with Avila Beach and Port San Luis just before that. Morro Bay is 25 minutes east on the 41 entrance right in Atascadero. Hearse Castle? Go up 10 minutes to Paso, then west on 46 to Cambria, about 25 minutes. From there, another 15 minutes to San Simeon.

So you're kindaaa..in the middle of things since you're out and about during the day. Just get outta Dodge early in the morning.

>>as the trip is in a few days.<<

oops...

>>We are traveling in the second week of August...<<

Weather report was for later this week and can change slightly in a couple of weeks but I would expect still on the warm/hot side.

>> Morro Bay is 25 minutes east on the 41 <<

Make that West on the 41 from Atascadero. I'm sure you would have figured that out.

Sorry, we all know that is *Hearst Castle*. Late for me here.

Will need a hearse shortly! :)

Thanks bear900. Great info!

Check the weather forecast yourself. I don't know what site dwzemens is using but the one I'm on shows this weekend Cambria topping out at 80/81 and then highs in the 70's and lows in the mid to high 50s. Which is typical.

We have been golfing at Nipomo/ Vandenberg around Labor Day and sometimes it is so cold we have to wear jackets!

Sorry, I meant that bear900 is the one quoting misleading weather forecasts!

Just checked Atascadero and it isn't projected over 100 anytime in the next 10 days.

Next week will be cooler with highs in the 80s and lows also in the high 50's. They do get coastal influence in Atascadero.

Last week warm humid air was up from Mexico affecting all of Southern California.

Actually it's supposed to be 97 in Atascadero yjod Saturday... and the weather there is usually hotter, rather than cooler. For most people, once its over 85... they consider it "hot." At least that's been my experience! :)

This plan of driving all over is not to my liking, however, it seems that to reserve rooms at the last minute elsewhere won't be easy.

Atascadero does have a small zoo and Paso Robles has a sweet downtown with many restaurants and shops.

One of the most beautiful drives in the area is just north of Atascadero, getting off at Vineyard Drive and heading West. You can stay on this road for 30 minutes where it ends up at HWY 46 or you may cross the Hwy and continue another 30 minutes or so and follow the signs back into Paso Robles. You will be driving past vineyards, several wineries, ranches and a few small historic cemeteries. Its simply beautiful and a small slice of California that most others haven't seen.

ooops... it ends up at HWY 41 West. I always mix those up, 46 and 41. Sorry!

>>Sorry, I meant that bear900 is the one quoting misleading weather forecasts!<<

mlgb is wrong according to at least one weather report!

Other than that, we said the same thing regarding next week so who is misleading who??

Here is where I got my sources. I did say that the "Weather report was for later this week and can change." Did you not get that?

The weather was for the end of this week (because the OP first said they were visiting in "a few days"):

Atascadero - First one shows 102 on Friday and that is what I stated per the weather forecast. Others show high 90's and high 80's afterward.

https://www.google.com/search?source....0.dnCwNNshJKA


Cambria - Here shows 80 and 81 Friday and Saturday and is what I stated.
http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/Cambria+CA+93428

Morro Bay - Shows 80 & 81 Fri & Sat and is what I stated.
http://www.weather.com/weather/tenda...ay+CA+USCA0733

MLGB: >>I was just up in Ventura and it was very pleasant daytime but gets down to around 60 at night even without a heavy fog layer.<< And?? Long sleeve denim and you're good. By the way, the 'fog layer' (actually, marine layer) often keeps things warmer.

I live on the Mesa. It gets down to 60 every night and we sleep with the slider open part way. Thermostat said 76 deg at 1:30am. That's just the way it is in this area and we do get the morning and evening marine layers 50% of the time. We've had more warm days than cool days.

I would never predict weather by Blacklake and Vandenberg golf courses so I would say you are way off! They are notorious for getting colder later in the day. I'm just a few minutes away and it's much warmer!

No matter what the weatherman predicts on the evening news it will often change by the morning news. Are you more accurate than that?

Here's an example: I made reservations to camp in Big Sur last May and the exact days we were going to be there it was going to be a high of 57. I was ready to cancel up until the end and decided WTH, that's just the way its going to be. The day I set up tent it was 100 deg and I we almost had heat strokes! I worried long about how cold it was going to be and ended up miserably hot!

I've been living here 21 years, you? I have also spent much time working in Ventura. One thing I can tell you about our weather, is that you can often drive 10 or 15 minutes any direction and get a complete change. That was true Sunday when we left Cambria.

This year hasn't been very 'typical' of our usual cooler weather. It's been overall warmer. That's another factor. So a fireplace?? C'mon... That's misleading!

My 83 year old neighbor who is in excellent shape was complaining about how hot it was this morning, and I felt it was nicely warm. Neither of us have wacky body thermostats. You sound like you run cooler so I don't think I would go by you.

Two days ago our 'real feel' weather was 83 (according to the weather person and it felt like it!) when the temp was actually 70. Humidity has been playing a role here. All-in-all, it looks like good weather for their visit at this moment. Will they change their forecasts by then? Yes.

I think you are biased against anywhere but where you live, perhaps, hence exaggerating when 80/81 is barely in the 80s, and yet the remainder of the forecast is in the 70s.

And there are no upcoming forecasts for over 100 in Atascadero.

I've been traveling to the Central Coast for wine tasting and golf for longer than you've lived there, actually.

Since you live there, you probably are accustomed to those temps, and think anything above that is "hot" and you're sweltering. By my standards, nighttime temps in the 50's are cool, especially when it's damp. For someone from Chicago, they are probably sweltering and wearing bathing suits.

You are so wrong!

Now that we're clear about the micro climates on the central coast, I want to mention that the one night in Atascadero should be sufficient! Hopeful that would allow time for Point Lobos and a night in Pacific Grove! :-)

linni, actually you were correct the first time. Vineyard runs into the 46, not the 41. The 41 runs from Atascadero down to Morro Bay.

As for the weather argument going on, it's just silly. Weather feels differently to different people. I can say that the weather here on the Central Coast is wonky. It can be 100 degrees in Atascadero, 87 degrees just three miles west of Atascadero, and then 63 at Morro Bay. Micro climates dominate the area so you have to be prepared for anything.

Our plan is to arrive in Atascadero around 4:00pm after picking up the rental car at SFO. We'll be settling in after along day of travel from Michigan, so we will just wander around (over to Paso Robles no doubt) for dinner based on what I read here. Maybe a couple drinks at a wine bar and then back to the Best Western in Atascadero for the night.

The next day we are going to drive the Vineyard Road and enjoy some wine tasting, maybe head over to Morro Bay & that area for a bit of sightseeing. Overnight once again in Atascadero.

The third day we'll be headed over to the 1 and up to the Hearst Castle for a visit. We'll then make our way - slowly - the rest of the day up the 1 to our base in Pacific Grove for the next two nights. We'll be at the Gosby House B&B, which gets great reviews on Trip Advisor.

The fourth day we'll explore the Carmel/Monterey/Pacific Grove area and just hang out.

Day five takes us back to SFO to drop off the rental car and then a taxi into San Francisco to our hotel, The Marine's Memorial Club Hotel on Sutter Street a block from Powell Street. We'll have the rest of that day, and all of day six, in the city. Nothing planned as we've all been there before, just a little R&R and some good food and drink.

How's the trip sound?