California Coast by Bus/Car????
Nov 5th, 2006, 06:09 AM
#21
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Please rent a car. Travel by train and bus is a good option in Europe, but not on the California coast.
Tracy provided one logical itinerary; there are many other options.
When you have decided your itinerary, book your rooms. That's what we have done many times on this route.
Tracy provided one logical itinerary; there are many other options.
When you have decided your itinerary, book your rooms. That's what we have done many times on this route.
Nov 5th, 2006, 08:39 AM
#22
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Sorry to be so negative here, but Tracy's pace looks like something I would do 35 years ago when I was in my early twenties & liked to spend the day in the car.
Where is the time to admire the beautiful surroundings along the way? The OP is in their mid 60s, and I suspect they are more like me now - preferring not to spend all day in the car. That pace of only 1 day in locations quite far from each other would wear me out & not be that enjoyable at all. Plus, once you get past Malibu, you are going to be in some horrendous traffic if you hit this area on a work day.
If you are only going to be gone for 7 days, I would not even venture past Malibu. Leave from LAX. For 10 days, you could probably make it to Laguna withoug killing yourself.
I spend a lot of time vacationing in Europe, and for hectic schedules like this, I try to see how my itinerary fits into an hourly schedule.
For example, after SF it will probably take you 3+ hours to get to Carmel along the coast without stopping. Therefore, if you leave SF at 10 (after getting car & checking out of hotel), you will get to Carmel at 1 at the earliest. Along the way, you may want to stop in Half Moon Bay, or watch the seals at Ano Nuevo, and also perhaps walk the beach at San Gregornio or other spots. This would get you to Carmel at around 3:00 at the earliest. Browsing pretty Carmel for someone who has never been to the coast before is at least 4 hours - which consumes the rest of the day - and then some. Next morning, a visit to Monterey Bay Aquarium is at least 2 hours, and a drive through Pacific Grove and along the coast around the Inn at Spanish Bay. It will be around noon now, so it's time to head south. However, you've missed a lot in the Carmel/Monterey area. There is a beautiful walk along the coast at Carmel Beach. The 17 Mile Drive is quite popular. Carmel Mission is nice, and I bet you'll really want to spend more time just lingering in Carmel. However, you don't have time for those things if you need to make it to Santa Barbara today (which is impossible, as you will see). Under no circumstances should you miss Pt Lobos - just on the southern outskirts of Carmel. Many people have called this area the most beautiful meeting of land & sea. It will take about 2 hrs for a short visit - now it's 2:30 and you have not really left Carmel. A leisurly drive to Big Sur is about 1 hour - so you'll get there at 3:30. With stops along the way, that will be 4:30. I love lunches & dinners at Nepenthe in Big Sur. The food is passible but the ambience & views are fantastic. This is a "must see", IMO. I've been going there for 40 years. If you only have a drink at the terrace and wander in the bookstore - it will take 1 1/2 hrs. It's now 6:00 and you are hours away from Santa Barbara with no stops. I would want to stop at several places along the way to admire what is perhaps the most scenic coastline anywhere. I would also stop at Hearst Castle for a tour, and perhaps Cambria. All these things are before Santa Barbara.
Malibu to Laguna, 1 night in Laguna, and then to La Jolla is also a pace that I would not want to undertake.
SLOW DOWN THE PACE and smell the roses.
I would pace a 8 night schedule like this:
SF 3 nights - don't leave the City, you'll have plenty to do in 3 days.
Carmel 2 nights
San Simeon (Hearst castle) 1 night
Santa Barbara 1 night
Malibu 1 night.
Stu Dudley
Where is the time to admire the beautiful surroundings along the way? The OP is in their mid 60s, and I suspect they are more like me now - preferring not to spend all day in the car. That pace of only 1 day in locations quite far from each other would wear me out & not be that enjoyable at all. Plus, once you get past Malibu, you are going to be in some horrendous traffic if you hit this area on a work day.
If you are only going to be gone for 7 days, I would not even venture past Malibu. Leave from LAX. For 10 days, you could probably make it to Laguna withoug killing yourself.
I spend a lot of time vacationing in Europe, and for hectic schedules like this, I try to see how my itinerary fits into an hourly schedule.
For example, after SF it will probably take you 3+ hours to get to Carmel along the coast without stopping. Therefore, if you leave SF at 10 (after getting car & checking out of hotel), you will get to Carmel at 1 at the earliest. Along the way, you may want to stop in Half Moon Bay, or watch the seals at Ano Nuevo, and also perhaps walk the beach at San Gregornio or other spots. This would get you to Carmel at around 3:00 at the earliest. Browsing pretty Carmel for someone who has never been to the coast before is at least 4 hours - which consumes the rest of the day - and then some. Next morning, a visit to Monterey Bay Aquarium is at least 2 hours, and a drive through Pacific Grove and along the coast around the Inn at Spanish Bay. It will be around noon now, so it's time to head south. However, you've missed a lot in the Carmel/Monterey area. There is a beautiful walk along the coast at Carmel Beach. The 17 Mile Drive is quite popular. Carmel Mission is nice, and I bet you'll really want to spend more time just lingering in Carmel. However, you don't have time for those things if you need to make it to Santa Barbara today (which is impossible, as you will see). Under no circumstances should you miss Pt Lobos - just on the southern outskirts of Carmel. Many people have called this area the most beautiful meeting of land & sea. It will take about 2 hrs for a short visit - now it's 2:30 and you have not really left Carmel. A leisurly drive to Big Sur is about 1 hour - so you'll get there at 3:30. With stops along the way, that will be 4:30. I love lunches & dinners at Nepenthe in Big Sur. The food is passible but the ambience & views are fantastic. This is a "must see", IMO. I've been going there for 40 years. If you only have a drink at the terrace and wander in the bookstore - it will take 1 1/2 hrs. It's now 6:00 and you are hours away from Santa Barbara with no stops. I would want to stop at several places along the way to admire what is perhaps the most scenic coastline anywhere. I would also stop at Hearst Castle for a tour, and perhaps Cambria. All these things are before Santa Barbara.
Malibu to Laguna, 1 night in Laguna, and then to La Jolla is also a pace that I would not want to undertake.
SLOW DOWN THE PACE and smell the roses.
I would pace a 8 night schedule like this:
SF 3 nights - don't leave the City, you'll have plenty to do in 3 days.
Carmel 2 nights
San Simeon (Hearst castle) 1 night
Santa Barbara 1 night
Malibu 1 night.
Stu Dudley
Nov 5th, 2006, 10:03 AM
#23
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It is about 440 miles from San Francisco to Malibu, hugging the coast all the way, and it is about 120 miles from Los Angeles to San Diego. I'm older than dirt, and this is not too much driving for me in 7-10 days (especially if I am eager to see places I've never been before).
Nov 6th, 2006, 06:41 PM
#24
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We drive between the SF Bay Area and San Diego frequently (to see our grandson). Our favorite stopping point is Cambria - Moonstone Beach, cute shops, close to Hearst Castle and Piedras Blancas for Elephant Seals, and good restaurants. I recommend either the Burton Inn B&B (next to shopping in town) or one of the motels on Moonstone Beach. Cambria is much nicer than San Simeon.
Also, allow several hours for Point Lobos State Reserve, just south of Carmel - as others have said, the scenery there is gorgeous.
I would also recommend choosing a B&B in Santa Barbara near downtown. There are many to choose from.
For San Francisco, I would suggest using Priceline for a hotel in either the downtown or fisherman's wharf area. Check www.biddingfortravel.com to see what others are paying for Priceline bids in SF.
Also, allow several hours for Point Lobos State Reserve, just south of Carmel - as others have said, the scenery there is gorgeous.
I would also recommend choosing a B&B in Santa Barbara near downtown. There are many to choose from.
For San Francisco, I would suggest using Priceline for a hotel in either the downtown or fisherman's wharf area. Check www.biddingfortravel.com to see what others are paying for Priceline bids in SF.
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lindaemrick
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Jul 13th, 2006 08:25 AM
