Coastal CA in October
 

We will be honeymooning in California in October and would like to attempt a coastal drive from San Francisco to LA. We have six days. Any suggestions on itinerary, sights, food and lodging would be appreciated.

There's much to see and do as you travel south along the coastal highway. Try to stop at the Monterey Penninsula and walk the pier there. Enjoy the coast
overlooking the Pacific near Big Sur. As you travel
further south, you must stop at the Hearst Castle
for a tour and see nearby Santa Barbara. It will
be pleasant weather and watch out for the Santa
Ana winds. Have a nice trip.

I say skip Santa Barbara. It's a beach town like most others. Spend some time, however, in the Monterey area. A great B&B is the Grandview Inn in Pacific Grove...reserve now it books quick. specific questions, email me.

The aquarium in Monterey is fantastic..well worth the admission price and time. Great restaurant in Monterey/Pacific Grove is Fandango. Wonderful food, wine, fun atmosphere.

We just came home from Laguna Beach a little bit south of LA. It's a small village with lots of galleries and nice beaches. We stayed at Trade Winds Motor Lodge. A small motel with very nice, newly redecorated rooms. They also have a pool and it's very close to the beach. We payed $ 100 for a room with a kingsize bed.
If you go there, go to Salt Creek. It's a very nice restaurant just between Laguna and Dana Point.

Just north of Santa Cruz is a little town of Davenport (maybe 10 miles north?) which has a wonderful restaurant and B&B, reasonably priced and worth the trip. We used to make a special trip for dinner there when I lived in Monterey. (It might be even be called the Davenport B&B, can't remember but it in all the books.) Also in Davenport is an amazing glass studio and gallery. You must see it even if you don't purchase anything there.

We stayed at that Davenport Inn. We were very disappointed. We came in late at night and the desk was just closing. They showed us to the room and then closed up.

When we went to bed, an hour later, we discovered that the bed was some kind of antique size, smaller than a double. A terrible bed. We had booked a queen.

We are both tall and it was too small for us. My poor husband had to sleep on the floor.

When we complained next morning, the clerk said to write a note to the owner, who was "out of town."

The innkeeper never responded. We felt terribly ripped off, to pay full price for my husband to sleep on the floor and for us both to be cold because we split the blankets.

Needless to say, I would NEVER recommend this place! Shabby service. We felt horrible the whole day, exhausted and not enjoying our vacation.

From San Francisco the Santa Cruz area isn't very far, and you probably want to get a bit more down the coast before stopping for the night. That means the Monterey/Carmel area, where you could easily spend a day or more. In Carmel we liked the Normandy Inn and the Carriage House Inn, but I've also heard good things about the La Playa Hotel. We've had good meals at Piatti; however, if you search this site for Carmel restaurants you will find many recommendations.

If you spend one or two nights in the Carmel area you could also see the beautiful Point Lobos State Park, which runs right up to the cliffs overlooking the ocean.

Another night might be spent in the Big Sur, then another in Cambria before or after a visit to San Simeon.

All that would give you a fairly relaxed trip south.

You guys know this is a post form 1997?