Carmel to L.A...can you help?
Jan 29th, 2000 | 06:32 PM
#1
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Carmel to L.A...can you help?
After a few days of golf in the Carmel area,we plan to drive to Los Angeles, ending our trip there. We can spend two nights "somewhere" in route and would like to divide the trip into approximate thirds. We want to visit a few vineyards, tour Hearst castle, all in 3 days time and still be able to see the redwoods and coastal wildlife. For those of you who have been and done, maybe you can guide us through the different "legs" of the trip and recommend accomodations. We had originally planned a one night stop on the way, but that would probably really rush it. Thanks very much for any help.
Jan 29th, 2000 | 07:41 PM
#2
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Dianne:
YOu can do it in three days and still have a great time.
You can see redwoods at Big Sur, and you can tour wineries just off the Coast Highway (in Harmony) and on the road to Templeton, and then again south of San Luis Obispo, and north of Santa Barbara. Plan to spend two nights.
I have to run. Details later.
YOu can do it in three days and still have a great time.
You can see redwoods at Big Sur, and you can tour wineries just off the Coast Highway (in Harmony) and on the road to Templeton, and then again south of San Luis Obispo, and north of Santa Barbara. Plan to spend two nights.
I have to run. Details later.
Jan 29th, 2000 | 08:20 PM
#3
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For a spectacular, memorable drive, from Carmel, drive south on Highway 1 towards Big Sur. This is the best of California's coast. Spend the night in either Cambria or San Simeon & visit Hearst Castle the next day (be sure to make reservations for HC well in advance). Stay on Highway 1 and spend the second night in Santa Barbara. If time allows, try to see the Getty Museum. I don't know where you live or if this is a trip that you won't be able to repeat soon, but I'd have to say that the drive from Carmel to Santa Barbara along the coast is one of my favorites (I'm a native Californian). Have a wonderful time...
Jan 31st, 2000 | 06:36 AM
#4
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Dear Dianne:
Sorry to take so long to get back to you. A busy weekend with a house party interfered.
You first stop south of Carmel should be at Point Lobos State Reserve. It is an incredibly beautiful piece of surf-sprayed rocky coastline, where gnarled Monterey cypresses (very picturesque, like oversized bonsai) cling to the rocks. With luck, you’ll see sea otters floating in the near shore kelp (last winter, one floated only twenty feet off the rocks, right below a trail), you may see white great egrets or great blue herons in the kelp, fishing from the top ”branches” tops” of submerged giant kelp “trees.” (Further south you’ll see the smaller snowy egrets fishing from surf-washed offshore rocks.) Perhaps you’ll spot fray whales migrating along the shore, and you’ll most likely see hundreds of brown pelicans on a near-shore island. The little black birds flocking near the beach and rocks may be Brewer’s blackbirds, or they may be pelagic storm-petrels (probably ashy, or fork-tailed.
Hang on to your admissions receipt from Point Lobos State Reserve. It will get you free into two don’t miss parks further south. Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park has some pretty spectacular coast redwoods; Julia Pfeiffer-Burns State Park also has redwoods, plus a spectacular waterfall (reached by a short paved trail) that plunges off the cliffs directly into the ocean.
You might want to stop for lunch at Nepenthe. It’s a tad expensive (for some folks), but the food is good, the service is friendly, and the views down the coast are truly spectacular. Henry Miller stayed here in an old cabin, before the restaurant was built, Jack Kerouac got drunk here, and there are other literary associations as well. Ask your server. About a mile south of Nepenthe, tucked under the redwoods of a sharp road switchback, is the Henry Miller Memorial Library. It’s worth a stop (if it’s open. South of here, the drive becomes truly spectacular as the road winds along the seaward face of sheer rocky cliffs, right above the surf. Watch for tourists stopped in the middle of the road to take pictures. Also watch for golden eagles and hawks soaring in the updrafts along the cliff faces. You’ll see redwood groves in the creek bottoms an on the northward facing slopes of the Santa Lucia Mountains, till you get to about Salmon Creek. But the trees get noticeably smaller, the further south you go.
Where the mountains recede (at about Ragged Point), the landscape flattens out, and the road now runs above coastal terraces. To the west, from San Carpoforo Creek to San Simeon, lots of pocket beaches and stretches of sandy or gravelly beach front on low rocky cliffs. Look for elephant seals lolling on the beaches. This seal herd is making biologists nervous, because it’s picked these unprotected beaches for its haul out and calving grounds. Don’t be surprised to see some of the huge seals in the sand right below roadside turnouts and vista points. For an animal whose very existence was endangered only a few years ago, these seals seem almost recklessly tame. Some folks exploit this tameness, and approach the seals to closely. But be cautious, even small seals weigh several hundred pounds, and a seal unexpectedly rolling over (perhaps because it’s having bad dreams) can easily crush a flimsy human).
I will not comment on San Simeon, because the state owns the place and has copyrighted and trademarked all information pertaining to it. Go ask the state for the latest propaganda. The coastal settlement of San Simeon has several motels (some of which claim they can get you into a castle tour if you have failed to make reservations), but Cambria to the south is a lot prettier. Depending on your timing, you could also spend the night in Cayucos, Morro Bay, or Pismo Beach (after you’ve taken your caste tour).
On the second day, you can tour wineries. There’s a small winery right off CA 1 in Harmony, south of Cambria. Or you can take CA 46 inland from Cambria (towards Templeton) to visit York Mountain, Mastantuaono, and several other local wineries. You can connect to US 101 S via Vineyard Lane, or you can backtrack to the Coast Highway. More wineries await you south of San Luis Obispo, in the Edna Valley. You can visit the Foxen Canyon wineries of Santa Barbara County, by leaving the US 101 freeway at Betteravia Road south of Santa Maria. At Sisquoc, look for signs (left turn) to Foxen Canyon Road. Highlights include Rancho Sisquoc Winery, Foxen, Zaca Mesa, Curtis, and Firestone. From Firestone, take Zaca Mesa Road south to US 101. Or you could continue south to Los Olivos, to take in a few more wineries, and drive to Santa Barbara on CA 154, San Marcos Pass Road. (But you’d miss Gaviota Pass and the pretty beaches at Refugio and El Capitan.) If you detour from Los Olivos to the picturesque (and usually crowded) Danish town of Solvang, head out of town on Alisal Road, which will take you to Nojoqui County Park, which has a tall, spectacular waterfall. From Nojoqui, follow signs to US 101. (You’ll connect to this great North/South road just north of Gaviota Pass).
You may want to spend the night in Santa Barbara. Look for a place close to downtown and the waterfront: Santa Barbara is made for walking. You can linger on the next day, too, since Santa Barbara is only a couple of hours, by freeway, from Los Angeles. But you’ll want to dawdle and linger. If you have the time, stop at the mission, explore downtown and the beaches, and plan for stops along the highway south of Santa Barbara. You may also want to visit downtown Ventura (or “San Buenaventura,” as it is more properly known). Ventura also has an old mission and a very beautiful downtown. South of Ventura, pick up CA 1 for a drive along the Malibu Coast to Santa Monica. (You might want to stop at Point Mugu and Leo Carrillo State parks). If you’re flying out from LAX, CA 1 will take you almost to your gate.
Have a great trip!
Sorry to take so long to get back to you. A busy weekend with a house party interfered.
You first stop south of Carmel should be at Point Lobos State Reserve. It is an incredibly beautiful piece of surf-sprayed rocky coastline, where gnarled Monterey cypresses (very picturesque, like oversized bonsai) cling to the rocks. With luck, you’ll see sea otters floating in the near shore kelp (last winter, one floated only twenty feet off the rocks, right below a trail), you may see white great egrets or great blue herons in the kelp, fishing from the top ”branches” tops” of submerged giant kelp “trees.” (Further south you’ll see the smaller snowy egrets fishing from surf-washed offshore rocks.) Perhaps you’ll spot fray whales migrating along the shore, and you’ll most likely see hundreds of brown pelicans on a near-shore island. The little black birds flocking near the beach and rocks may be Brewer’s blackbirds, or they may be pelagic storm-petrels (probably ashy, or fork-tailed.
Hang on to your admissions receipt from Point Lobos State Reserve. It will get you free into two don’t miss parks further south. Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park has some pretty spectacular coast redwoods; Julia Pfeiffer-Burns State Park also has redwoods, plus a spectacular waterfall (reached by a short paved trail) that plunges off the cliffs directly into the ocean.
You might want to stop for lunch at Nepenthe. It’s a tad expensive (for some folks), but the food is good, the service is friendly, and the views down the coast are truly spectacular. Henry Miller stayed here in an old cabin, before the restaurant was built, Jack Kerouac got drunk here, and there are other literary associations as well. Ask your server. About a mile south of Nepenthe, tucked under the redwoods of a sharp road switchback, is the Henry Miller Memorial Library. It’s worth a stop (if it’s open. South of here, the drive becomes truly spectacular as the road winds along the seaward face of sheer rocky cliffs, right above the surf. Watch for tourists stopped in the middle of the road to take pictures. Also watch for golden eagles and hawks soaring in the updrafts along the cliff faces. You’ll see redwood groves in the creek bottoms an on the northward facing slopes of the Santa Lucia Mountains, till you get to about Salmon Creek. But the trees get noticeably smaller, the further south you go.
Where the mountains recede (at about Ragged Point), the landscape flattens out, and the road now runs above coastal terraces. To the west, from San Carpoforo Creek to San Simeon, lots of pocket beaches and stretches of sandy or gravelly beach front on low rocky cliffs. Look for elephant seals lolling on the beaches. This seal herd is making biologists nervous, because it’s picked these unprotected beaches for its haul out and calving grounds. Don’t be surprised to see some of the huge seals in the sand right below roadside turnouts and vista points. For an animal whose very existence was endangered only a few years ago, these seals seem almost recklessly tame. Some folks exploit this tameness, and approach the seals to closely. But be cautious, even small seals weigh several hundred pounds, and a seal unexpectedly rolling over (perhaps because it’s having bad dreams) can easily crush a flimsy human).
I will not comment on San Simeon, because the state owns the place and has copyrighted and trademarked all information pertaining to it. Go ask the state for the latest propaganda. The coastal settlement of San Simeon has several motels (some of which claim they can get you into a castle tour if you have failed to make reservations), but Cambria to the south is a lot prettier. Depending on your timing, you could also spend the night in Cayucos, Morro Bay, or Pismo Beach (after you’ve taken your caste tour).
On the second day, you can tour wineries. There’s a small winery right off CA 1 in Harmony, south of Cambria. Or you can take CA 46 inland from Cambria (towards Templeton) to visit York Mountain, Mastantuaono, and several other local wineries. You can connect to US 101 S via Vineyard Lane, or you can backtrack to the Coast Highway. More wineries await you south of San Luis Obispo, in the Edna Valley. You can visit the Foxen Canyon wineries of Santa Barbara County, by leaving the US 101 freeway at Betteravia Road south of Santa Maria. At Sisquoc, look for signs (left turn) to Foxen Canyon Road. Highlights include Rancho Sisquoc Winery, Foxen, Zaca Mesa, Curtis, and Firestone. From Firestone, take Zaca Mesa Road south to US 101. Or you could continue south to Los Olivos, to take in a few more wineries, and drive to Santa Barbara on CA 154, San Marcos Pass Road. (But you’d miss Gaviota Pass and the pretty beaches at Refugio and El Capitan.) If you detour from Los Olivos to the picturesque (and usually crowded) Danish town of Solvang, head out of town on Alisal Road, which will take you to Nojoqui County Park, which has a tall, spectacular waterfall. From Nojoqui, follow signs to US 101. (You’ll connect to this great North/South road just north of Gaviota Pass).
You may want to spend the night in Santa Barbara. Look for a place close to downtown and the waterfront: Santa Barbara is made for walking. You can linger on the next day, too, since Santa Barbara is only a couple of hours, by freeway, from Los Angeles. But you’ll want to dawdle and linger. If you have the time, stop at the mission, explore downtown and the beaches, and plan for stops along the highway south of Santa Barbara. You may also want to visit downtown Ventura (or “San Buenaventura,” as it is more properly known). Ventura also has an old mission and a very beautiful downtown. South of Ventura, pick up CA 1 for a drive along the Malibu Coast to Santa Monica. (You might want to stop at Point Mugu and Leo Carrillo State parks). If you’re flying out from LAX, CA 1 will take you almost to your gate.
Have a great trip!
Jan 31st, 2000 | 11:49 AM
#5
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Posts: n/a
Dianne: My boyfriend and I did this trip in the reverse direction last July, in roughly the same amount of time (stayed two nights between LA & Monterey) and I posted a trip report which you should be able to find if you do a search using the words "California coast" -- it is titled "Trip report -- Just back from California coast" from July of 1999 and has quite a few recommendations for places to stay, eat, and what to see. You are in for a beautiful trip.
I would recommend you stay your first night after leaving Carmel in Big Sur itself. Yes, it is not very far distancewise from Carmel but there is a lot to see and do there (particularly if you enjoy the outdoors) and the actual driving times are faster closer to LA than they are at the northern end of your trip because the Big Sur coast is winding and takes slow careful driving. I highly recommend you take the previous poster's advice and stop for a break at Point Lobos and hike around on the rocks and trails for at least an hour or so. It is an incredibly beautiful place with lots of wildlife and powerful crashing surf -- very atmospheric. I think the admission was $7 or so per car and was well worth it. Ansel Adams took some of his famous photos at Point Lobos. It seems like Point Lobos was about 45 minutes south of Carrmel but I'm not sure about that. Then keep heading south into the gorgeous Big Sur coast. There are two top-notch resorts where you can stay the night in Big Sur if money is no object: the Post Ranch Inn, and Ventana. Both have gorgeous views. We stayed at Ventana and it is marginally less expensive than the Post Ranch Inn (if I remember correctly it was around $275 a night for their least expensive room at that time). The food in their restaurant, Cielo, is amazing, and you walk from the inn to their restaurant on a lighted walkway through a beautiful redwood forest that is like a fairy tale. The setting is truly lovely and the accommodations and service were excellent in every way. Definitely one of the most memorable places I've ever stayed. I have heard the Post Ranch Inn is even nicer. The websites are www.ventana-inn.com and www.postranchinn.com if you want to check them out. There are other places to stay in Big Sur as well that are less expensive.
The next day you will drive the rest of the way down the Big Sur coast and the scenery continues to be gorgeous. Toward the end of the Big Sur coast you will see Ragged Point which is worth a stop for lunch or a snack or just a short walk -- walk a few feet out behind the inn and restaurant for an incredible view of the coast. Keep driving south to Hearst Castle which is near San Simeon. Get your tickets in advance. It takes about 2 hours total to see and is well worth it. The website is www.hearstcastle.org. A few miles south of Hearst Castle, past San Simeon, is the lovely town of Cambria which is where I would recommend you stay for your second night. The town itself is picturesque and lovely, and just outside of town there is a gorgeous stretch of beach on Moonstone Beach Drive which has lots of accommodations options directly across the road from the beach. The place we stayed in was around $79 per night and I feel comfortable that there are options here in almost every price range. Check out www.cambria-online.com for more info including websites for B&Bs, hotels, etc. (with photos). It is nice to stay on Moonstone Beach Drive because you can walk across the street and explore the tidepools. There was a colony of seals on the rocks on the beach when we were there -- it was a treat. Also, there is a fantastic restaurant in town called Robin's which uses the freshest local ingredients in season and has a great ambience with a nice fireplace and excellent service -- we had a marvelous dinner there.
After San Simeon and Cambria the driving is a lot easier and you can make much better time than you could in Big Sur. South of Cambria we stopped briefly in Morro Bay for photos at Morro Rock and also stopped in Santa Barbara to tour the mission for a couple of hours (which was very pretty, but if you aren't into that you could tour a winery instead -- there are a lot of good ones in this area) and ate lunch at a memorable taco stand in town called La Super-Rica Taqueria which I also highly recommend (a favorite of Julia Child's). This place has great food at bargain prices and is a terrific local alternative to fast food -- casual, homemade, and delicious! From Santa Barbara it is only about 1.5 hours to LA and an easy drive. You will love this trip -- have a great time!
P.S. While you're in Carmel you should try to tour the Monterey Aquarium if you have time.
I would recommend you stay your first night after leaving Carmel in Big Sur itself. Yes, it is not very far distancewise from Carmel but there is a lot to see and do there (particularly if you enjoy the outdoors) and the actual driving times are faster closer to LA than they are at the northern end of your trip because the Big Sur coast is winding and takes slow careful driving. I highly recommend you take the previous poster's advice and stop for a break at Point Lobos and hike around on the rocks and trails for at least an hour or so. It is an incredibly beautiful place with lots of wildlife and powerful crashing surf -- very atmospheric. I think the admission was $7 or so per car and was well worth it. Ansel Adams took some of his famous photos at Point Lobos. It seems like Point Lobos was about 45 minutes south of Carrmel but I'm not sure about that. Then keep heading south into the gorgeous Big Sur coast. There are two top-notch resorts where you can stay the night in Big Sur if money is no object: the Post Ranch Inn, and Ventana. Both have gorgeous views. We stayed at Ventana and it is marginally less expensive than the Post Ranch Inn (if I remember correctly it was around $275 a night for their least expensive room at that time). The food in their restaurant, Cielo, is amazing, and you walk from the inn to their restaurant on a lighted walkway through a beautiful redwood forest that is like a fairy tale. The setting is truly lovely and the accommodations and service were excellent in every way. Definitely one of the most memorable places I've ever stayed. I have heard the Post Ranch Inn is even nicer. The websites are www.ventana-inn.com and www.postranchinn.com if you want to check them out. There are other places to stay in Big Sur as well that are less expensive.
The next day you will drive the rest of the way down the Big Sur coast and the scenery continues to be gorgeous. Toward the end of the Big Sur coast you will see Ragged Point which is worth a stop for lunch or a snack or just a short walk -- walk a few feet out behind the inn and restaurant for an incredible view of the coast. Keep driving south to Hearst Castle which is near San Simeon. Get your tickets in advance. It takes about 2 hours total to see and is well worth it. The website is www.hearstcastle.org. A few miles south of Hearst Castle, past San Simeon, is the lovely town of Cambria which is where I would recommend you stay for your second night. The town itself is picturesque and lovely, and just outside of town there is a gorgeous stretch of beach on Moonstone Beach Drive which has lots of accommodations options directly across the road from the beach. The place we stayed in was around $79 per night and I feel comfortable that there are options here in almost every price range. Check out www.cambria-online.com for more info including websites for B&Bs, hotels, etc. (with photos). It is nice to stay on Moonstone Beach Drive because you can walk across the street and explore the tidepools. There was a colony of seals on the rocks on the beach when we were there -- it was a treat. Also, there is a fantastic restaurant in town called Robin's which uses the freshest local ingredients in season and has a great ambience with a nice fireplace and excellent service -- we had a marvelous dinner there.
After San Simeon and Cambria the driving is a lot easier and you can make much better time than you could in Big Sur. South of Cambria we stopped briefly in Morro Bay for photos at Morro Rock and also stopped in Santa Barbara to tour the mission for a couple of hours (which was very pretty, but if you aren't into that you could tour a winery instead -- there are a lot of good ones in this area) and ate lunch at a memorable taco stand in town called La Super-Rica Taqueria which I also highly recommend (a favorite of Julia Child's). This place has great food at bargain prices and is a terrific local alternative to fast food -- casual, homemade, and delicious! From Santa Barbara it is only about 1.5 hours to LA and an easy drive. You will love this trip -- have a great time!
P.S. While you're in Carmel you should try to tour the Monterey Aquarium if you have time.
Jan 31st, 2000 | 01:31 PM
#7
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The California coast is very appealing to me and I hope you have a great trip.
I hope people won't mind my making a musical connection here. I love music and enjoy making musical-geographical/travel connections.
Any comments on keyboardist Joe Sample's 'Carmel' CD?
(http://www.cdnow.com/cgi-bin/mserver.../itemid=355106)
Anyone find it evocative of the Carmel/Monterey area?
I hope people won't mind my making a musical connection here. I love music and enjoy making musical-geographical/travel connections.
Any comments on keyboardist Joe Sample's 'Carmel' CD?
(http://www.cdnow.com/cgi-bin/mserver.../itemid=355106)
Anyone find it evocative of the Carmel/Monterey area?
