Good places to stay between LA and San Francisco
Mar 5th, 2013 | 04:47 AM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Feb 2013
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Good places to stay between LA and San Francisco
We are visiting California at the end of March for two weeks with our two children aged 8 and 11. Does anyone have any recommendations as to good places to stay/visit on the trip from LA to SF. We plan to have a long weekend in Santa Cruz so any recommendations of sights/hotels not to be missed would be great.
Mar 5th, 2013 | 05:54 AM
#3
Joined: Feb 2013
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I would definitiely swing by Santa Barbara - a gorgeous town with great shops and restaurants. Monterey is great (my husband and I got a very cheap rate at the Intercontinental right on the wharf - if you are gov't employees or have AAA you may be able to, too). Monterey Bay aquarium is pricey, but your kids will absolutely love it - I'm not an aquarium person, and I even liked it.
Mar 5th, 2013 | 07:17 AM
#4
Joined: Jun 2005
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We did this trip last summer with my kids who are the same ages as your kids. We left Los Angeles and stopped first in Ojai. We spent the night at the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa which was outstanding. I would go back tomorrow if I could. We then spent the day in Santa Barbara before heading up to the San Luis Obispo/Pismo Beach area. We stayed 2-nights at the Dolphin Bay Resort which was nice because it has a full kitchen to make meals and is right on the beach. If you are in SLO on a Thursday night be sure to check out the Farmer's Market. It is the best anywhere! On the way from SLO, be sure to stop by Hearst Castle and check out the Elephant Seals tanning on the coast. I disagree with the suggestion to spend any significant time in nearby Cambria. It is much more of a romantic couples spot. Your kids would be bored. Definitely, however, stop in Monterey/Carmel and go to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It is the best Aquarium in the US! We stopped in Santa Cruz but in retrospect, we would have skipped it and added an extra day in SF or Monterey. Whatever you choose, the drive is spectacular. You and your family are in for a treat.
Mar 5th, 2013 | 08:06 AM
#5
Joined: Nov 2011
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Cambria makes a great stop on your way north (unless you allocate more time to stop at Ojai, or Solvang, etc). It's close to Hearst Castle and has more to offer than the much smaller crossroads of San Simeon. Check out the oceanfront places on Moonstoone Beach.
After a presumed morning visit to Hearst Castle - continue driving up to/through incredibly scenic Big Sur (stopping of course at the Elephant beach two miles north of the entrance to Hearst Castle) and wind up in the Monterrey area. The kids will love the aquarium, and other things to see/do along Cannery Row.
After a presumed morning visit to Hearst Castle - continue driving up to/through incredibly scenic Big Sur (stopping of course at the Elephant beach two miles north of the entrance to Hearst Castle) and wind up in the Monterrey area. The kids will love the aquarium, and other things to see/do along Cannery Row.
Mar 5th, 2013 | 09:09 AM
#6
Joined: Feb 2003
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In the Pismo area are the Oceano Sand Dunes. Several years ago, we went on a hummVee ride thru the dunes. Very fun. The dunes were use in a lot of the movies in the 1930-40's for desert scenes. It is a state recreational vehicle area.
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=HGoKV...%3DHGoKVnnWylU
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=HGoKV...%3DHGoKVnnWylU
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Mar 5th, 2013 | 11:02 AM
#8
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Hi, hollymum:
You may have noticed that the respondents to your post have assumed a route that incorporates the hwy.1 "scenic byway" from San Simeon to Carmel along the coast. That may very well be your plan, but it doesn't have to be. You could take US 101 all the way, in which case the suggested stopping points would be different.
You may have noticed that the respondents to your post have assumed a route that incorporates the hwy.1 "scenic byway" from San Simeon to Carmel along the coast. That may very well be your plan, but it doesn't have to be. You could take US 101 all the way, in which case the suggested stopping points would be different.
Mar 5th, 2013 | 04:12 PM
#9
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That may very well be your plan, but it doesn't have to be. You could take US 101 all the way, in which case the suggested stopping points would be different.
And where do you suggest they stop for the night to break up that six-hour drive?
And where do you suggest they stop for the night to break up that six-hour drive?
Mar 8th, 2013 | 11:52 PM
#12
Joined: Jul 2006
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From south to north:
- Santa Barbara is very nice, not sure the kids will think it's that interesting, although they might like walking along the beach and out on the pier.
- The kids will like the Madonna Inn just outside of San Luis Obispo. Yes, it's cheesy and expensive for what you get, but it is unique, and kids love it. Check out their website.
- Cambria is nice, but as others have said, it won't hold any special attraction for the kids.
- I'm not sure how much the kids will like Hearst Castle; my guess is the older one will like it and the younger one might. The adults will like it.
- Elephant seal pups will be all over the beach at Piedras Blancas, just north of San Simeon.
- If the weather is good, Julia Pfeiffer Burns and Pt Lobos State Parks are very good, and have really nice short walks with classic Big Sur / Monterey scenery. Good chance of seeing seals and sea lions at Pt Lobos.
- Skip Carmel probably; the kids will be bored.
- Monterey Bay Aquarium will definitely be a hit with the kids.
- You could do whale watching out of Monterey if the weather is good. We saw killer whales the last time we went.
- The kids will like the Santa Cruz Boardwalk.
- Ano Nuevo State Park will have tons of elephant seal pups too.
Best places to stay are probably Santa Barbara, SLO, Cambria, Carmel, Monterey, and Santa Cruz.
- Santa Barbara is very nice, not sure the kids will think it's that interesting, although they might like walking along the beach and out on the pier.
- The kids will like the Madonna Inn just outside of San Luis Obispo. Yes, it's cheesy and expensive for what you get, but it is unique, and kids love it. Check out their website.
- Cambria is nice, but as others have said, it won't hold any special attraction for the kids.
- I'm not sure how much the kids will like Hearst Castle; my guess is the older one will like it and the younger one might. The adults will like it.
- Elephant seal pups will be all over the beach at Piedras Blancas, just north of San Simeon.
- If the weather is good, Julia Pfeiffer Burns and Pt Lobos State Parks are very good, and have really nice short walks with classic Big Sur / Monterey scenery. Good chance of seeing seals and sea lions at Pt Lobos.
- Skip Carmel probably; the kids will be bored.
- Monterey Bay Aquarium will definitely be a hit with the kids.
- You could do whale watching out of Monterey if the weather is good. We saw killer whales the last time we went.
- The kids will like the Santa Cruz Boardwalk.
- Ano Nuevo State Park will have tons of elephant seal pups too.
Best places to stay are probably Santa Barbara, SLO, Cambria, Carmel, Monterey, and Santa Cruz.
