I'm planning a 5-day trip to visit colleges with my daughter in February. Because of the timing of campus tours, my itinerary looks like this:

Night 1 - Berkeley (or close by - probably flying into Oakland)

Nights 2 and 3 - Santa Cruz area

Nights 4 and 5 - San Francisco (or Palo Alto, if there is convenient public transportation into SF)

If anyone can suggest accommodations in any of these places under $100 a night, I'd appreciate it. I also need suggestions for an itinerary from Berkeley down to Santa Cruz and Santa Clara and back to SF. I'd like to take a different route on the way down and back. Anything special to see along the way, except beautiful ocean vistas? We won't have time for much sightseeing, but could go off the main route once or twice.

Finally, I assume I don't want a car in SF the last two days. Where's the best place to leave off the rental car? Someplace where I can easily hop on public transportation and get into the city.

Thanks in advance for any help.

I suggest you check the tranportation system in SF on the web. Then book a room at a chain hotel near the location. You can then leave your car and use the sytem easily to go where you want to go. Have an enjoyable time.

If it's beautiful ocean vistas you want, you'll need to take Highway 1, which follows the coast from San Francisco south to Santa Cruz. The alternative is (I think) 237, a highway that runs on the San Francisco Bay side of the hills. Avoid 101 and especially the Nimitz Freeway below Oakland: bad traffic, often bad drivers.

From Palo Alto you could take the train to San Francisco.

If you don't have to actually stay in Santa Cruz, I would recommend the Garden Inn in Los Gatos. The town is absolutely charming, and the inn is not far from Highway 17 to Santa Cruz. You would, however, want to spend the night after touring UCSC in or near Santa Cruz.

From Berkeley to Santa Cruz, the best route is Hwy 880 south all the way. The name of the highway changes in San Jose and becomes Hwy 17. To avoid heavy traffic on weekdays, plan to leave Berkeley by 2pm. On a weekend, leave after noon.

This route will take you past San Jose, so you might consider a stop at the university if SJSU offers a major your daughter is considering.

This route also takes you over the Santa Cruz mountains and through the redwoods. A stop in Felton is nice - Henry Cowell SP is there and has a nice nature walk through the redwoods. If you have some time, you might consider taking Hwy 9 over the hill rather than 17. It's a 2 lane road right through the redwoods

Sorry - I hit "post" before I was finished.

While in Santa Cruz, there is plenty to see. Go downtown, check out the wharf, head over to Capitola Village, etc.

From Santa Cruz to SF, I would suggest Hwy 1 all the way if you want to see some ocean views. Half Moon Bay is a cool little town to stop in and see. And there are plenty of beachcombing beaches along the way.

The other route would be back over Hwy 17 to San Jose and taking Hwy 280 up to SF. This is the highway that underhill refered to (it's 280 - 237 is another highway which connects Milpitas and Mountian View). No ocean views here, but it's a nice drive.

Don't miss the REDWOODS while in the area. I agree hwy 1 is a nice drive.

Can't help you with rooms under $100, don't think that budget is very practical for California. But the route with scenic options I would take:
--880 from Berkeley all the way to Santa Cruz as J Correa suggests. It is actually scenic the last 30 miles. Stay in Santa Cruz, make your life easier.
--For Santa Cruz to San Fran I would return on 17 north to 280 north. Exit 280 at Woodside/La Honda Road, Hwy 84 in Woodside and head west to Hwy 35, Skyline Road. This junction is called Skylonda and is the beginning of the most beautiful inland drive in the Bay Area. Go north on 35 all the way into San Francisco, or you can jump back on 280 by turning right (east) at the 35/92 junction.

There are a few colleges you may want to add to your itinerary, they are in the loop you already have chosen. Santa Clara University at the mission in Santa Clara and San Jose State, just east of downtown San Jose.

Congratulations to your daughter, and to you, too. The suggested driving routes from the Santa Cruz area to San Francisco are all fine, but keep in mind that Highway 1 along the coast is a winding road for much of it and therefore slow going, but quite beautiful, too. That would be my first choice if not in a hurry, with some cute towns and beaches along the way. Highway 280 is quickest (65mph all the way), and for a multi-lane highway reasonably picturesque, through the rolling hills of the peninsula. Palo Alto and San Francisco are not that close together if you are intending to spend a lot of time in San Francisco. Depending on where in Palo Alto you start, and where in San Francisco you are aiming for, the drive can be 50 minutes (on fast 280 or 101) or more. Buses and trains are available, but slower, and do not go to all parts of the city. The train, for example, ends on Townsend street south of Market Street, some distance from the areas of most interest to visitors.

Thank you all for your valuable help. I have put together what looks to be a wonderful trip and can't wait to get there.

We're definitely going to check out the redwoods, and maybe the elephant seals as well. And yes, Santa Clara is on the list of colleges we'll be visiting. Don't know about San Jose State (depends on its history department and women's lacrosse team).

Again, thanks!

For elephant seals, Ano Nuevo is your best bet - it's off Hwy 1 north of Santa Cruz about 20 minutes or so. I'm not sure what the specific dates are for the breeding season, but check their website. During certain times of the year visitors are limited and grous must go out with rangers so it's best to make a reservation ahead of time to make sure you will be able to see the seals.

If you are going to go to Ano Nuevo, you will want to take Hwy 1 to SF. It's 2 lanes, but there are plenty of passing lanes so it's not a slow road. It's got some curves, but nothing like Big Sur. Between Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay, I routinely go 60-70 mph.

For redwoods, Henry Cowell state park is right outside of Felton and Big Basin is further up Hwy 9 outside of Boulder Creek. I prefer Big Basin, but both are nice parks.

SJSU - I don't believe they have a women's lacrosse team. I graduated from the school about 4 years ago and I don't remember there being one. I could be wrong though.

We did a similar trip two years ago to look at schools and had a similar hotel budget. Our side trip north to Point Reyes was out of the way but worth it. A year later we went out again to take a closer look at Berkeley and Palo Alto before making a decision. I can try to find my notes, hotel list with prices and map marked with some of the routes we took. Feel free to e-mail if that would help.

Hi StCirq! If you do decide to visit Pt. Reyes, please let me know via direct email as you will drive more or less past my house on the way.

Have you considered staying in a hostel? Check out www.norcalhostels.org. My husband and I stayed at the one in Montara (25 miles south of SF) and it was nice and clean and a beautiful setting. It is extremely affordable too. They have private rooms for about $50 a night. Most of the time the hostel is in a really nice historical building and the same type of setting run as a bed & breakfast or something would be 3x the price. We had a private "captains room" right next to the lighthouse at Point Montara. I wouldn't suggest staying in the ones in the city of SF though...but the ones in Santa Cruz and up along the coast are supposed to be really nice, affordable and that way you would get the chance to stay right on the water! Good luck!

Sorry I can't be of much help with the accomodations in Berkeley or Santa Cruz.

As far as an itinerary, the most direct way to Santa Cruz from Berkeley is the 880 which then turns into the 17 once you get into San Jose. You just stay on 17 until it merges with Highway 1 in Santa Cruz. The only time when 880 is kind of bad is in the morning from 7-9am heading southbound into the city. You can get to Santa Clara by exiting 880 at DeLAcruz Avenue or Stevens Creek Boulevard by the Mineta San Jose International Airport. After 9am it should not be much of a problem. In fact they recently opened up some new lane just north of the city in Milpitas.

From Santa Cruz to SF I would not suggest taking Highway 1 as it is a quite narrow in some spots and not alll that scenic, especially compared to Highway 1 south of Santa Cruz. In the Winter parts of Highway 1, especially along Devil's Slide will be closed. The best route to SF from Santa Cruz is 17/280. Both 17 and 280 are scenic freeways.

A car in SF is does make it more convenient, especially if you are going to areas of town outside of downtown. The Cow Hollow Motor Inn and the Columbus Motor Inn both have complimentary parking available.

Sincew you are visiting Santa Clara, and possibly San Jose State, you'll probably want to stay a night in the San Jose area as well. Along The Alameda there's the Arena Hotel, which is close to both Santa Clara and San Jose State. Another idea would be to go to Priceline and place a bid for a 3 star hotel for your price range.

Have a nice trip.