Big Sur -- Silicon valley
 

We are heading south of San Fran for three nights next week. We are spending two nights at Deetjeens, and my husband wants to spend one night near or in San Jose to check out the city (we may some day want to live there). I have made reservations at the La Hacienda on the Los Gatos Highway -- but others have said we should stay in Santa Cruz. I'm not really interested in being on the coast -- but would like to stay in a scenic place. Is there anywhere near the mountains there? Also, would it be possible to spend a few hours in San Jose and drive down to Pacific Grove instead?

Why would anyone even think of moving to San Jose? What an awful city.

La Hacienda should be a fine place to stay. Los Gatos is a really cute town, you'll enjoy walking around down there. Los Gatos abuts the Los Gatos mountains. The drive from Los Gatos to Pacific Grove (Monterey) will take you two to three hours.

I will confirm Monicas comments. Los Gatos is a lovely foothill town. Traffic can be a a problem around San Jose in the morning and evening so I suggest that you visit San Jose between 10 am and 3 pm. The local art museum is nice. If you drive to Pacific Grove, be certain to go on the 17 miles drive. Please ignore Jerry. I was born in San Jose in 1923. While I now live in San Diego, I am aware of San Jose's history of change. The most negative thing about it today is the high cost of housing, traffic and smog at times.

Thanks for your respsonses -- so Los Gatos is a nice somewhat mountainous place?? Is there anywhere that's close to the state redwood forest?

If you want to check out the redwoods, the Santa Cruz mountains are the place to go. Drive over Hwy 17 from Los Gatos, then up Hwy 9 to Big Basin State Park. There are a number of hiking trails so you can walk among the trees. The drive from Los Gatos will take about an hour; much of it is curvy, but the Hwy 9 part is also quite pretty. If you want to go on to Pacific Grove from there, drive back to 17 and on to Santa Cruz, then switch to Hwy 1 south going toward Monterey.

What town is closest for lodging near the santa cruz mountains and redwoods?

I understand that Jerry may not like San Jose but it is certainly not an awful city. In fact it is a pretty nice area to live in if you can afford it. There is relatively very little smog today compared to 20-30 years ago. San Jose has the lowest crime rate of any large city in the US. <BR> <BR>There are not a lot of choices for lodging that is very close to the Redwoods in ths Santa Cruz Mountains. Los Gatos would be your best bet or Santa Cruz. Personally I prefer Los Gatos. In fact I just moved from Los Gatos recently to another city in the SF Bay area. I was living right downtown in Los Gatos. Los Gatos is really a neat place. La Hacienda Inn is in a very nice area though I can't vouch for the property itself. You are right at the base of the Sanata Cruze nountains. It is really a very nice area. If you want B&B's you may want to consider Boulder Creek which is an interesting place in the Santa Cruz Mountains not far from the Redwoods. I believe however that La Hacienda Inn will be fine for you. Santa Cruz is not a really very good choice if you want to check out San Jose. You can go through the Redwoods by taking Hwy 9 at Saratoga ( just up the road a piece from La Hacienda ) across the mountains to Santa Cruz. It is a very scenic drive though the road is pretty curvy and slow. It will take you about 20-30 minutes to get to the Redwoods.

If you are staying in Big Sur first, you could drive up Hwy 1 (and stop in Pacific Grove), then stay in Santa Cruz or Scotts Valley, and then drive up to Big Basin and then down to SJ for a visit later in the day. If you're going in the other direction, the above advice is best: stay in Los Gatos (the downtown is a pleasant little "village" of shops and restaurants), or, if you want to stay *in* the Santa Cruz mountains, look for a B&B in or around Boulder Creek (a town up Hwy 9 but below Big Basin park). Also remember, you get to see woods and coast both in the Big Sur area.

Rather than Los Gatos, I would recommend staying in Saratoga at the Inn at Saratoga. You will be in a small, charming town right next to the Sta. Cruz mountains and off of Route 9 which will take you up the hill to Big Basin State Park, where the redwoods are gorgeous. San Jose is a big sprawling city in the Silicon Valley. Living here, however, means also considering other towns in the region such as Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Saratoga, Campbell etc. The Willow Glen area of San Jose is quite nice and many people like Morgan Hill, south of San Jose. If you want to stay in San Jose, would recommend the historic de Anza Hotel or the posh Fairmont. I would drive from SF down to Silicon Valley, over Rt. 9 or 17 to see the redwoods and then down to Carmel/Big Sur via Rt. 1. Don't understand Jerry's comment--obviously he's confused.