California questions
 

Thanks to the people who responded to my first post. Now we have a few more questions!! Could someone tell us if the drive from Long Beach to San Juan Capistrano using Highway 1 is a pretty drive and/or very busy traffic-wise? Secondly, how pretty of a drive is the Highway 1 north of Los Angeles? Thirdyly, is there any downhill mountain biking by tbe Big Bear Lake area--we would want something where you mostly go downhill!! Thanks, until we have more questions!!

I didn't see the first post, but here are some answers I'd give to your first two questions:

-- Some of the drive from Long Beach to San Juan Capistrano on PCH is pretty. Some isn't. The prettiest part starts south of Newport Beach into Laguna Beach, especially gorgeous Crystal Cove. However, once you're clear of the Seal Beach/Sunset Beach area, you at least have pretty ocean views on one side. Note that the Long Beach part of PCH is basically a super-busy urban road until you're south of the infamous "Los Coyotes Diagonal/Lakewood/PCH Traffic Circle". Then it calms down to a merely busy but less-unattractive highway. And why are you stopping at SJC? PCH continues down to lovely San Clemente-- that's worth an hour's stroll.

-- PCH north of LA is very pretty. There's very little in the world that's nicer than a leisurely drive up PCH from Santa Monica to Malibu-- unless you extend the drive up to Central Coast.

I won't answer the third as I know nothing about the Big Bear area.

The drive on Highway 1 from Santa Monica to San Francisco is one of the most spectacular and beautiful in the world.

Note highway 1 is closed north of Half Moon Bay (about 30 miles south of San Francisco).

The answer to your mountain biking questions:

http://www.bigbearmountainresorts.com/biking.php

I would suggest you post your additional questions on your original thread. If the people who reply know the parameters of your whole trip, you're likely to get more pertinent suggestions.