From SFO to LAX in a week
 

DH and I are just about 70 and are flying into SFO on a Wednesday and out of LAX the following Wednesday. We're not interested in the city of SF. Have lived there briefly and covered the sites as well as going north often to wine country.

We will have a car the entire time.

The things we definitely want to see are Hearst Castle, a winery or two, missions, both Getty Museums and the Reagan Library. I know Santa Barbara comes well recommended but don't get a feel for how much time it needs: an overnight, two?

All of the trip reports I scanned seem to involve children or people who are trying to cover more distance than we are in a brief period. Neither of us want to be exhausted at the end of the trip.

Any specific hotel or restaurant recommendations would be appreciated. We got frequent flyer air so are willing to spend the saved money on nice accommodations and two or three nice dinners.
Thanks to all.

Just curious why you're flying into SFO at all, since everything on your list is much closer to LAX? Are you looking for recommendations between SFO and Hearst Castle?

You could drive to Monterey (or Carmel), then Cambria for Hearst Castle and nearby wineries in Paso Robles, then Santa Barbara with wine tasting in the nearby Santa Ynez Valley where the movie Sideways was shot.
I have not been to all the missions but both Carmel and Santa Barbara have beautiful ones.
Santa Barbara has a nice art show along the waterfront every Sunday.
If you provide your lodging budget per night in USD it will help folks make good suggestions.

If you like gardens, including the wild & wonderful, visit Lotusland, in Montecito, adjacent to Santa Barbara. Be sure to have a reservation. I cannot recommend enough.

http://www.lotusland.org

sf7307,Much agonizing about SFO, but using mileage worked better and we voted to not drive the same roads round trip.

MmePerdu,I will research Lotusland. Thanks for the suggestion, and I'm almost at the booking tickets phase.

jamie99, Thanks for mission and winery suggestions. I need that kind of specifics to help me focus.

San Juan Bautista has a nice mission and historical town square, restaurants and shopping. Just of US 101 on the way to Monterey. San Miguel mission is near Paso Robles, if you go to that area to visit wineries.

We enjoying visiting the Spanish missions, too. San Luis Obispo has a mission right in town. You could plot your trip to see specific missions on your route. The Jesuit college, Santa Clara U, has a nice one on campus, too.

I can recommend the well-priced Best Western Cavalier, on the ocean just a couple of miles below Hearst Castle. It's charming, with Swedish fireplaces in many rooms. They light bonfires on the beach at night, and set out chairs and tables.

If you want to splurge on hotels that are oceanside:

The Four Seasons Biltmore in Santa Barbara

Shutters on the Beach, Santa Monica.
Whenever possible, we try to get a meal at Coast; especially on their outdoor patio overlooking the beach. Great food. Elegant service. Not cheap.

Los Agaves is a great Mexican restaurant in Santa Barbara with really good seafood. Spending at least one night in Santa Barbara would be very worthwhile

Since SFO is a "given", I would do something along the lines Jamie proposes - drive from SFO to Monterey, then down the coast to Cambria, then to Santa Barbara, then to LA. You only have 6 days really, so maybe spend the day in Monterey, day at Hearst Castle (Cambria), day in Santa Barbara, and the remaining 3 days in LA.

I think some ideas are gelling thanks to your responses. We get to SFO at 11:30 a.m. (the airlines willing) and I figure to be on the road by 12:30. I thought we'd go directly to a hotel in Cambria, try to have an early night with a nice dinner and nice bed. If we spend Thursday at Hearst, it would be either to do two separate day tours OR if we could do a day tour and their evening tour (which schedule is not available yet). Whichever, we would be on the road early Friday morning, with mission(s?) and winery on the way to Santa Barbara (love to have a hotel recommendation close to heart of the town but not the really high prices I'm seeing on expedia, booking or travelocity). Stay Santa Barbara Friday and Saturday nights, with a slow progress to LA on Sunday making some local stops along the way(?) Then hotel Sunday, Monday, Tuesday halfway between the two Gettys and Reagan Library and maybe one other museum before a noon flight out of LAX. I'd appreciate a critique because I know the biggest failure involves shoving too much into a limited time. Thank you. You're all helping me plan.

The noon flight out of LAX isn't until the Wednesday.

>> and I figure to be on the road by 12:30. I thought we'd go directly to a hotel in Cambria,<<

But then you'll miss everything in between (which IMO is better than what you'll see/do in Santa Barbara). 12:30 may be a bit optimistic but assuming you do get on the road by then - it is about a 4 hour drive the fast 101 route. The scenic route via Monterey/Carmel/Big Sur is about a 5 hour drive plus stops (many)

If it was me I'd stay in Carmel, then Cambria then, (maybe) Santa Barbara, then on to the LA area.

IMO bad idea to try and drive all the way to Cambria leaving shortly after lunch. It is about a 5-6 hour drive without stops at all. The portion between Carmel and Cambria is the Big Sur and I do not care what Google Maps says, their times are way off since you will not be driving the speed limit (some places are posted as low as 25mph) on a winding curvy road high above the ocean. Stay in Monterey or Carmel (or Pacific Grove) first.

re jamie99's post -- that is the scenic route I mentioned. It is the ONLY route I'd take because the scenery is amazing. And she is right it would likely be closer to 6 hours plus stops.

Although parts of the drive down 101 to Cambria are also very pretty (not like the coastal route, but much nicer than driving on the interstate)

Definitely don't speed down to Cambria and miss the in-between, as others said already.

We got a surprisingly great deal on a King suite at the Castillo Inn, Santa Barbara across from the marina.
http://www.sbcastilloinn.com

PS. Friends like Gainey, near Santa Barbara:

Gainey Vineyard
www.gaineyvineyard.com

Carmel and Santa Barbara were my favorite coastal towns. I really enjoyed Samta Barbara- I'd spend 2 nights there.

Thanks to all. I think we'll do the first night in Carmel and the second in Cambria because Hearst Castle really does figure big in our list and we'll probably want to book two separate tours. I'm searching the web for further details on all your suggestions, missions, wineries, Lotusland.

jamie99, sorry I didn't reply. I was thinking between $200 to $300 average hotel rate. A problem with going higher is when I read reviews of high end properties, someone always has a horror story of peeling wallpaper or thin walls that make me think the Motel 6 is comparable (I'm exaggerating a bit).

Something to keep in mind is that many accommodations along the coast required 2 night minimums on weekends.

You will have a great trip and love it!

>>Neither of us want to be exhausted at the end of the trip.<<

>> I think we'll do the first night in Carmel and the second in Cambria because Hearst Castle really does figure big in our list and we'll probably want to book two separate tours. <<

Wed
- Depart Car rental place at 1pm & get to Carmel at 3:30

- Check into hotel & ready to go by 4:00

- Explore Carmel 4:00-6:30. Not nearly enough time, IMO

- Freshen up & to dinner at 7:00

Thurs

- Breakfast & on to Pt Lobos

- Pt Lobos 9-11:00

- Drive the Big Sur coast to Big Sur 11-12:30

- Lunch at Nepenthe 12:30-2:00

- Drive to Cambria 2-6:00 (miss Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park & other parks & beaches)

- Check in, freshen up, & dinner @ 7

Fri

Hearst Castle tour 1

Hearst Castle tour 2

Drive to Santa Barbara??

That's exhausting, and you just "buzzed" Carmel, Big Sur coast, and Cambria. And this is at the start of your trip.

Stay 2 nights in Carmel. Walk along the beach. Carmel/Monterey/Pacific Grove is not a "drive by".

Stu Dudley

While I completely agree with Stu that Carmel would be lovely for 2 nights, I also think it's worth it as a "drive by". Here's a link to my trip report about a day trip we took a few years ago from the San Francisco Peninsula to Big Sur (and back) (coincidentally, we then lived in the same town as Stu).

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...t-part-way.cfm

I'd stay 2 nights in/near Carmel as well. Not just for Carmel -- but if you want to see Pt Lobos, Monterey and/or the Aquarium, Carmel, the mission etc -- you really need at least 1.5 days which means 2 nights.

After leaving Carmel it is a long and scenic drive through Big Sur. You could book a late afternoon or evening Hearst Castle tour, stay in Cambria one night, do a morning tour the next day and head south by lunch time.

I also would have recommended the first night closer to SFO, Carmel or Monterey, Cambria, Santa Barbara then LA. I've done that trip, actually, but in reverse.

I think I stayed in Cambria two nights and that might have been because of 2 night minimums, although I had more time, anyway. Hotel rates and things to do vary a lot depending on dates and season, and perhaps I've missed it, but I can't see anywhere what time of the year this is planned for.

In Cambria, I really liked Moonstone Landing, and they don't seem to require 2 nights. Second floor partial OV was fine for me, as I don't need views that much from my hotel room. It is about $200-250 for a double, I think, more inn summer than next month, but not that much. http://www.moonstonelanding.com/

IN Santa Barbara, I really liked the Best Western Peppertree Inn. It's on State St so not right in the thick of things and thus less expensive. But it was really quite convenient since I had a car, easy parking, and Santa Barbara isn't that big, it wasn't a long drive to get down to the area closer to the ocean for the day or whatever. http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwest...-_-GMB-_-05182

That hotel is about $200-275 in summer, cheaper in March. I think some hotels in that area, including that one, have minimum stays on weekends from about May-Oct. So that can affect your planning depending if you planned to spend a Friday night there before going to LA, for example.

>>Carmel... I also think it's worth it as a "drive by".<<

Yeah - but - I bet you've visited Carmel/Monterey before, at some time in the 42 yrs you've lived in the Bay Area. I don't think the OP has ever visited Carmel/Monterey/PG. It would be a shame to miss all the wonderful stuff to do in the that region. It would also be a shame to miss all the "stops" along the Big Sur Coast - just so the OP can get to LA sooner. The region from Santa Cruz through Cambria is a "one of a kind".

Go Giants
Go Warriors. Oklahoma tonight!!

Stu Dudley

I know you're right, but I'd still do it over not doing it at all. We're up in Sonoma visiting friends and watching the OKC game right now!

I second the Best Western Cavalier near Hearst Castle for the nightly beach bonfires. Sitting in a chair while watching the waves break behind the fire is magical.

On the SB to LA segment stop and see the Reagan Library as backtracking to Simi Valley from LA is a waste of time. Figure about 3 hours for the library and depending on the time to avoid LA rush hour you may want to spend the night out there.

Have fun!

sf7307:: OMG!!!

Can you believe it :)

Unbelievable!!!!!!!! For anyone who is not watching Steph & Warriors basketball - you're missing something that you may never witness again - if you like sports. Perhaps better than Montana, Rice, Young, Posey, Lincecom, Cain, Bumgarner, Barry, even Wilt. This run is something special.

Stu Dudley

Hi, Your replies were very useful in helping me focus on our trip, and provided me important info. I inadvertently didn't mention something that might have changed your replies.. DH and I are both retired military and were stationed in Honolulu a total of 14 years. Definitely agree the Pacific Coast is amazing, but we've see quite a bit of it from the other side. Want a different kind of trip.

What I think we should do is leave SFO and stop in Salinas Wednesday night and see the Steinbeck site and hopefully have time for Cannery Row.

Straight to Cambria for Thursday and Friday nights along 101 with the hope of doing both an evening and morning tour of Hearst.

Take off Saturday morning for afternoon tour of Reagan Library in Simi Valley, staying close to Library Saturday night.

Sunday cover both Getty buildings. (closed Mondays). Stay Sunday night area to be decided.

Monday and Tuesday Los Angeles County Art Museum and other sites to be decided.

Wednesday fly out of LAX.

This itinerary checks off our priorities but I feel like I need more advice. If I had it to do over, I probably would have flown in and out of LAX, but the free mileage trip to SFO was very tempting. If you can refine my thoughts, I'd appreciate it.

Again, thanks for advice.

>>What I think we should do is leave SFO and stop in Salinas Wednesday night and see the Steinbeck site and hopefully have time for Cannery Row.
<<

Do NOT stay in Salinas. Really. Visit the Steinbeck center then travel on to Monterey or Carmel for the night. Repeating -- DON"T stay in Salinas.

Cambria to the Library will be a 4 hour drive.

The Steinbeck center is quite nice. Allocate a couple of hours. Have lunch in his Victorian home (ask the center for the location).

Stu Dudley

Art seems to be a theme so here are more of my favorites:

All-time, gardens & art: http://huntington.org
Two more nearby: http://www.nortonsimon.org & http://gamblehouse.org

Agree with skipping Salinas which has well known street gang and crime problems.

Skip Salinas. Waste of your precious time. Much better sites to visit.

Your replies were invaluable as always. Okay, we will skip Salinas. We will go to Carmel for Wednesday night, Cambria for Thursday and Friday nights (specifics to be decided based on whether or not Hearst has an evening opening); Santa Barbara for Saturday and Sunday nights (wineries and missions), Reagan Library on Monday before going to Getty area for hotel Monday and Tuesday nights (see two Getty sites on Tuesday); drive to LAX Wednesday for flight home. Have to skip some art museums but can't do everything and still have the feeling we're actually vacationing.
Really you've all helped us in selecting and rejecting and finally agreeing with each other (the most important step on a vacation). I haven't done any research on restaurants but have chosen Carmel and Cambria hotels and am mulling over VRBO place in Santa Barbara. Any ideas near Getty much appreciated. Usually by the end of a week's trip, we're happy with a local place that serves good salads.
Thank you!