First time to Monterey Peninsula
 

My husband and I are coming to SF for a wedding on May 18 and after the wedding, we are planning to stay for 4 days. Because we are arriving on the 16th, we will spend most of the time between then and the wedding in SF with friends, so after the wedding, we are thinking of spending time along the coast. After reading many of the posts regarding Monterey/Carmel, we were thinking of heading straight to the Monterey Peninsula and spend 4 full days (Sun 5/19 -Wed 5/22) there (we are leaving on the 23rd from SF). Any suggestions as to how we should split up the 4 days? Should we head straight to Carmel, spend the night (or 2?) and then move upwards? Or should we find lodging at Pacific Grove and from there than visit Carmel (Big Sur?) and Monterey? Any suggestions would be appreciated including driving route from Oakland to Monterey, suggestions on logding (something nice, but not to go bankrupt!), things we should not miss visiting and restaurants. Many thanks ;-)

great idea. i'd stay in either pacific grove or monterey and just do day trips from there. take a drive south one day just to enjoy the coast line. the 17-mile drive around pebble beach golf course is nice - either take a picnic and enjoy one of the beautiful spots or make reservations at the restaurant at the club. there was a fun irish pub downtown monterey when we were there. the monterey aquarium is suppose to be good as well.

Maria,<BR><BR>You'll love Monterey. My husband and I visited there several years ago. We only had a day and a half, so we stayed in town at the Holiday Inn, but did drive down to Big Sur and stopped along the way to take pictures. Go to the aquarium and have lunch or dinner at the restaurant right next to it. There are also lots of quaint shops and some pubs close by. The "downtown" area is walker friendly and the view is of the bay is gorgeous. Enjoy!

We really liked the Gosbey House B and B<BR>in Pacific Grove. Stayed in the carriage house - fireplace, big bathroom with whirlpool and separate shower, balcony (not much of a view), pretty garden and good breakfasts. It's right on the main street in Pacific Grove. Their web site is at www.foursisters.com<BR><BR>It's very easy to drive down the Big Sur coast, 17 mile drive, Monterey and Carmel sites from there. Also, the municipal golf course is great (and cheap). A fun evening's entertainment is to sit out on the patio at the Inn on Spanish Bay and watch and listen to the bagpiper come across the golf course at sunset. Dinner at Roy's at<BR>the same Inn is a good followup to the piper.<BR><BR>For a good route from Oakland, I'd take one of the routes down to US 1, maybe from Half Moon Bay, and drive US 1 from there. The first part of the drive is the prettiest.

Driving directions Oakland to Monterey: The trick is to avoid SF and San Jose! So, while this may sound confusing, get a map and follow along: take 880 to 92 west, cross the San Mateo Bridge, continue on 92 (do not go south on 101) and turn south on 280. Take 280 to 85 (marked Gilroy) which will eventually merge with 101 but south of San Jose. Then take 168 west (marked Monterey Peninsula) and there you are. If you wanted to spend a whole lot more time you could continue on 92 to Half Moon Bay and then drive hwy 1 all the way to Monterey, but Santa Cruz gets in the way and I don't think it's so very pretty compared to what you'll see in Big Sur. Can also be very foggy depending on the day. BTW Carmel, Pacific Grove and Monterey are so close to each other you don't need to move around. Each has a little different ambience, so pick the one you think you'll most enjoy and go with four full days there. Have fun.

Agree with KAM on the driving directions. Between Rt. 17 and the Watsonville cut-off can be maddening if you hit at the wrong time (Santa Cruz letting out).<BR><BR>Set yourself down in either Monterey or Pacific Grove and work from there. We like PG just because it's a little quieter but either is great.<BR><BR>You have to have breakfast at First Awakenings in the American Tin Cannery Outlet Mall. It's right near the Monterey Bay Aquarium - Only order one or two pancakes though, they are as big as the plates. Then when you're done there, wander over to the Aquarium and spend some time there. Relax and enjoy!<BR><BR>Take some time to head down the Coast through Big Sur to Cambria (about 95 miles) have lunch there and start back. It might be hard to get tickets at Hearst Castle this close to your trip but it is a nice place to stop and walk around the grounds of the reception center. The scenery through Big Sur is amazing.<BR><BR>Hope you have a wonderful trip, we're jealous because we have to wait 'till October.<BR><BR>Ron

Guys, thank you all very much for your help. I know we'll have a blast!<BR>Ciao,<BR>-M ;-)

there are cottages in pacific grove in a forested area. the name is andril cottages. its like having an individual motel room. they are modest but so is the price, probably around $100 a nite

Kam and Ron are nuts. This is the Christopher Columbus theory of navigation. Go west to get east! That is one of the stupidest routes to Monterey. There are alot of people in the Bay Area who are clueless outside their little world. The route Kam laid out adds at least 30 miles to the trip from Oakland. The distance from Oakland to SJ is about 35-40 miles.<BR><BR>On a Sunday, it should take about 35 minutes on 880 south. Merge onto 101 south in San Jose, then take 168 west to Hwy 1 to Monterey. The whole trip should take less than 3 hours. I live 20 miles south of Oakland on 880, I can get to Monterey in just over 2 hours from there.<BR><BR>Or you can do what Kam suggests, get on 7 highways, wait to get through the bridge toll booth on Hwy. 92, pay $2 to cross the bridge, drive 40 miles to get back to the same side of the bay that you started on and arrive in Monterey in 4+ hours. You choose.

Carolyn is right. Someone recently given similarly stupid directions to a visitor coming from the Oakland airport to Monterey. <BR><BR>Look at a map! 880-101-168-1. And please don't complain about how bad the Morgan Hill construction traffic is -- I did it yesterday (and the week before, and the week before . . . ) and it was fine.

Carolyn and Julie, thank you very much. I think we'll go w/your directions, then.<BR>Julie with regard to complaining about construction...don't worry...have you been to Boston lately? Nothing can be like the big dig, nothing! And we are all wondering...will it ever be done (way over-budget and trillions of $$ later, I suppose)!<BR>Thanks again, girls. We can't wait to visit your beautiful coast. We are literally counting the days now.<BR>Ciao,<BR>-M;-)

Maria, agree with Carolyn and Julie re: directions. Only thing I would add is if you have any interest in John Steinbeck, you can visit the Steinbeck museum in Salinas and have some great Mexican food on your way. To do this, just stay on 101 (rather than getting off on 168) to Salinas. You can then take Hwy 68 (South Main St.) from Salinas to 1 in Monterey. This will take you slightly out of your way, but the drive on 68 is really lovely. Salinsa to Monterey is around 20 miles.<BR><BR>If you're looking for a great restaurant for lunch or dinner try Casanova in Carmel. They have a beautiful outdoor patio as well as indoor seating. <BR><BR>Have a wonderful trip, you will love the Monterey Peninsula.

Here's another voice on how to drive from Oakland to Monterey. Without resorting to calling anyone "nuts" or "stupid" I will tell you the difference between Kam's directions and Carolyn's. Kam's route is much more scenic and might take you 20-25 minutes longer, or it might not. As you drive across the San Mateo Bridge you will see the San Francisco skyline. The drive down 280 is considered one of the most scenic highways in the state. However, to go Carolyn's way you will drive through some of the most unappealing "scenery" in the bay area, Fremont, Milpitas, downtown San Jose. Take your choice. If you are not in a rush and want to see some of California's natural beauty I'd stick to crossing the bridge and going south. If you are in a rush stay on the 880 (in my opinion the worst freeway in the bay area). Good luck!<BR><BR>P.S. Carolyn, Monterey is not on the same side of the bay as Oakland. Where 85 meets 101 is significantly south and west of where 880 meets 101, not at all backtracking.

I've always found Kam's advice on Northern California to be very helpful and have used her information on Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur and the Central Coast successfully several times.

We have only been to Monterey twice so we are not as familiar with it as the others who have written you. My best advice: Bring warm clothes! The first time we went (we are from upstate NY) we thought that CA was warm and packed accordingly. We wound up buying sweats and fleece for survival. The breeze off the ocean is chilly. Inland it is about 10 degrees warmer. The Big Sur and 17 Mile drive is great. You have to do it once to experience it. Coast is a lot more spectacular than even Maine. Enjoy!

Kam: <BR><BR>How could there be any "trick" to avoiding SF on the drive from Oakland to Monterey??? Am I missing something?<BR><BR>Maria, the quickest/easiset route is 101-880-156-1. The most scenic and (by far) longest are the routes suggested by Kam and Ron. <BR><BR>I personally would save the scenery for your destination, Monterey/Carmel.<BR><BR>Enjoy your trip!

Guys, thank you all for the suggestions and advice. Kam and Ron and we understand it, your directions are by far the most scenic while the other route is not really, but is appears to be a bit faster. I suppose we'll have to see at what time we'll be able to get on the road (given that we'll be partying all night the night before at the wedding). <BR><BR>Diann, upstate NY where? My husband is from Buffalo. WOW, if you guys were chilly (being used to colder weahter...yes, I indeed live in Bflo for 3 yrs when I first moved here from Italy and...oh my God!!!!), I'll definitely bring layers!<BR><BR>Again, thank you all very much.<BR>-M ;-)

Jen, the "trick" to avoiding SF is that on my route you don't drive through either San Francisco or San Jose. The other alternative proposed is down the "nasty Nimitz"---880 which can have horrendous accidents and traffic jams and then through San Jose (which is bigger than SF) on 101. So, you take your choice. I live in Palo Alto, drive to Monterey all the time, drive from Oakland airport to home and this is how I do it. Everyone has the right of free choice, however, so.......BTW, don't think my route goes west to come east and it's just not mileage that counts in this part of the country.

Kam, I think what Jen was referring to is that it would be nearly impossible to *find* a route from Oakland to Monterey that takes you through SF. Not much of a trick!<BR><BR>Coming from Palo Alto, your directions are fine. From Oakland, 880 to 101 is most direct, and not bad at all unless it's rush hour or there's been an accident. <BR><BR>By the way, I live in "this part of the country" too.

Maria,<BR><BR>Definitely follow Carolyn and Julie's directions. It does make much sense to may to take any toll bridges. I basically avoid them at all costs because the traffic on them can be a pain. Carolyn and Julie's directions actually do not take you through Downtown San Jose, which I would not say is unappealing scenery, and neither is Fremmont or Milpitas for that matter. Of course the more secenic route through Fremont and Milpitas would be 680 since because of the rolling hill scenery, but in your case 680 would be out of your way. I have taken the route suggested by Carolyn and Julie many times and find it to be the fastest.