DonnaCape

I will be driving the California Pacific Coast from San Francisco to Los Angeles. I am looking for some info on places to stop (must see) along the way. We have 3-5 days so going off the beaten road is OK. We want to take our time and find the nooks and crannies. Any suggestions???? I am going November 3rd with no real return date. My budget is average. We like to stay in nice places but don't need the top tier. We like B&B's but hotels are fine. Thanks for any help. Also any good guide books????

spirobulldog

Point Lobos, Monterey Aquarium, Kayaking at Elkhorn Slough, Big Basin Redwoods(don't use GPS or Fodors book-Make sure you know where it is), Monterey, Big Sur, McWay Falls, Hearst Castle, Channel Islands National Park. You'll need 5 days!!

SAB

There are many helpful people who post in the California forum so there are hundreds of threads with many responses on this subject on this board. A good place to start would be to do a search in the "Search the Forums" box for Big Sur, Highway 1, LA to SF, or California coast. You will discover lots of trip reports of what others have done, as well as lots of information on the drive, places to stay such as Carmel, Monterey, Big Sur, Cambria, Santa Barbara, places to stop such as Point Lobos, 17 mile drive, Hearst Castle and many more.

spirobulldog

Carmel, 17 mile drive

november_moon

This is the most popular scenic drive in CA - perhaps in the country. There are tons of threads on this drive, so you can probably get a lot of info there.

You said that you have 3-5 days - take the full 5 days, more if you can. With 3 days, you will barely be able to skim the highlights. With 5, you can get a little more in depth, but not too off-the-beaten-path.

With 5 days, I would do something like this:

Day 1: SF to Monterey area, take Hwy 1 and spend most of the day seeing the sights enroute. Redwoods in Santa Cruz mountains, beaches near Pescadero, Santa Cruz, Capitola - whatever appeals to you.
Day 2: In Monterey area - lots to do here, you'll have to pick and choose based on your interests.
Day 3: Drive through Big Sur - take full day for the drive, stopping often, visiting state parks. Point Lobos is a must-see. Stay in Cambria or Pismo Beach.
Day 4: If Hearst Castle is on your list, visit in the morning (in which case you should choose Cambria as your Day 3 overnight), then drive to Santa Barbara, overnight in SB.
Day 5: Drive to LA.

Michael

The set includes the whole coast and starts at the south end, but might also give you some ideas for the itinerary your are planning. Most of the pictures are geo-tagged so that the location should be easy to find:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...7624512998387/

AllysonMonterey

Definitely make a stop in the Monterey area. Pacific Grove and Carmel both have quaint B&B's and cottages. Check out Green Gables and Centrella Inn in Pacific Grove and Lamp Lighter Lodge and Pine Inn in Carmel.

Stop in at Point Lobos (just south of Carmel-by-the-Sea) for an easy hike and gorgeous views. Big Sur is also a perfect destination, stop and have lunch at Nepenthe's.

http://www.seemonterey.com/pacific-grove-california
http://www.seemonterey.com/carmel-by-the-sea-california
http://www.greengablesinnpg.com/
http://www.centrellainn.com/
http://www.carmellamplighter.com/
http://pineinn.com/
http://www.seemonterey.com/big-sur-california
http://www.nepenthebigsur.com/

happytrailstoyou

If you are interested in the missions, La Purisima Mission State Historic Park does an excellent job of suggesting what life at a mission might have been like in the 18th Century: http://www.lapurisimamission.org/

In this stretch of the coast we like to stay in Pismo Beach (many rooms have ocean views), Cambria (pleasing town near the Hearst Castle), and Carmel (charming place on the ocean with good restaurants). There is a world-class aquarium in Monterey.

The beautiful stretch of Highway 1 between San Francisco and Santa Cruz is too often bypassed.

The drive from Cambria to Paso Robles on Highway 46 is wonderfully scenic.

Ojai is a nice little town. We like the drive from Ventura to Ojai and then to Santa Barbara.

Ventura has a pleasant paved path for walking along the ocean.

HTTY