PeaceOut

We recently rented a very cute bungalow in Santa Barbara. Huge back patio with hillside views. Very good price. Not by the beach, but in a nice neighborhood up the hill. Right by a Trader Joe's. Very relaxing. All on one level-- no stairs to climb even at entryway.

To stay a few days, SB would be good. Except you can't fly there.

My sis found it on VRBO. I still have the owner's name and phone. If you want them, post your e-mail address and I can send.

janisj

"My sis found it on VRBO. I still have the owner's name and phone. If you want them, post your e-mail address and I can send."

You can just post the vrbo property number here . . .

eznmomma

I just did a week in SB last spring. It is a great place for a week with lots to do. You can fly in but not easy and expensive but can be done.

Great walking, museums, mission, library to visit. Great restaurants or walks on the beach and historic theaters right in town. There is an on line app SB Travel Pro that will give you all the info including videos tours is some of the sites.

Tomsd

You could also stay more central coast - say Cambria - (right on Moonstone Beach would be spectacular) - and get to nearby Hearst Castle/San Simeon - and/or drive a little way further up the coast to see beauitful Big Sur, or consider the 5 little towns by Pismo Beach - - and most importantly - there are nice wineries around/above Cambria and a lot of them (with nice B & B's) on 46 - which heads back into Paso Robles from the Coast.

see: http://www.paso46westwineries.com/

Tomsd

Fiddely Foo: Lost another post trying to get a webpage.

Anywhoo - you could easily stay on beautiful Moonstone Beach for a week - http://www.cambriachamber.org/motels-beach.php or you might break it up and perhaps stay a few days an hour and a half further south (pretty straight road) at the cute little Danish themed town of Solvang http://www.solvangcc.com/ (about 45 minutes north/above Santa Barbara) - in the Santa Ynez Valley - which also has a lot of wineries/tasting rooms.

And if you haven't seen the humorous movie - Sideways - it's a natural "guide" to some of the wineries in the area. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0375063/

PeaceOut

"You can just post the vrbo property number here . . ." I do not have the number, or I would have given it.

snowbird1

I recommend stopping by Ragged Point resort. It is about 10 miles north of Cambria and the views there is gorgeous. If you like farmer market consider stopping in San Luis Opisbo (near Hearst castle) on Thursday. We happen to be there during one of our trip and and it was the biggest farmer market I have seen. They have been open every thurs for past 30 year. It was in middle of downtown and went on for like 5 blocks. Great way to sample the local fares.

jayne1973

We really enjoyed the Thursday night market in San Luis Opisbo, too. Live music, street food, fresh produce, and plenty of shops/restaurants behind it all if you are so inclined. Parking was kind of a hassle and we had to walk a ways, but it was fun.

I really like San Luis Opisbo and wished we had more time there.

suntree

If you fly open jaw I would arrive in SFO or any northern airport and drive down the coast. You will always be on the side of the ocean and have easy pull outs and the views are sensational. If round trip I would drive south on the coast and north inland.

If you fly into SFO you will have access to the carpool lane which will help. If you decide to hit the coast (hwy 1) from Santa Cruz make sure you get through the mountains (Los Gatos)before 4 pm or you will be stuck in gridlock traffic. If you take 101 through Gilroy to Monterey still traffic but if lucky not as grueling. I would be out of the airport by 3pm or wait until 7 if you don't want to experience the grind through Silicon Valley. Trust me, I work here!

Pinnacles is an all day trip but worth it only if you can hike, it is the only thing here. A very long drive and hiking will be difficult with stairs, climbing and sometimes crawling. Not much to see from the parking lot.

To get to Pinnacles you pass through the town of Hollister which has a California Mission, San Juan Baustista. Alfred Hitchcock filmed a movie here. A good Mexican meal at Ester's.

The central coast has lots of California Missions starting in Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Hollister, Carmel, SLO, Solvang, Santa Barbara and many more that I have missed. All are unique, my husband and I will pack a picnic and visit a different mission each time we are in the area, lovely gardens and foto ops.

You can make home in 2 or 3 locations. The distance north to south isn't much but the winding roads and sites make the drive longer. Maybe Monterey, Cambria and Santa Barbara. I love Moonstone beach in Cambria. There is a boardwalk walking trail and one of the inns has nightly entertainment. If you go to Hearst Castle make your reservation now. We did a night tour with period dressed docents. Don't know if it is still offered but was very enjoyable.

I personally would get accommodations on the coast, more places to eat, walk and enjoy in the evening and during the week rates are reasonable. Inland towns are not far. I would make the exception with SLO. It has a mission, farmer's market, river and it's own wharf with cafes. Smaller hidden towns might not have much to offer for 2-3 nights stays.

Towns for short stops/lunch: Cayucos, Morro Bay

October is a perfect time for the coast, you will have a wonderful time.

Patty

The OP's plans changed mid-thread:

DH just had back surgery 3 months ago, so thinking that we may have to do a "closer to home" trip. By that I mean, in the area between Monterey and SB, what would be a good location to possibly rent a small cottage/condo for a week and use that as a base for easy, do as we want, day trips? He would be content to do easy thereputic strolls and drink coffee at an outdoor cafe while I explore further afield.

PeaceOut

That's why I recommended the bungalow rental in Santa Barbara.

easytraveler

THE mission to see, IMHO, is the La Purisma Concepcion

http://www.lapurisimamission.org/

It is south of Santa Maria and north of Santa Barbara and will be more or less on your way south, only a slight detour to the town of Lompoc.

There are 21 missions and 19 are still in the hands of the Catholic Church. The other two are state parks and La Purisma is one of the two. It has been rebuilt to resemble what a mission was like during the Spanish occupation of California, so important a part of California history. The rangers dress in period costumes and you are given a sense of exactly what it took to live in a mission. It's a very different experience than from visiting the Catholic-held missions in cities like San Francisco or Santa Barbara.

If you're driving down along the coast, La Purisma is well worth a stop.

Clousie

Thank you everyone for your comments. We could likely do two places during the time we'd have there.

Moon Beach sounds interesting and seems to have a lot of choices of places to stay. Does anyone have a favorite, or perhaps more important, a place to avoid?

Carmel and SB could certainly be good locations, but both seem to be quite pricey.

I know I would absolutely LOVE visiting the Farmers' Market in SLO. Just went to a very small one in NYC yesterday and even with that one came out on a great high. I LOVE everything about food especially seeing what is available in different areas.

Thanks for mentioning that Pinnacles isn't a "drive through or parking lot view" park. We both really love to hike, but that wouldn't be happening on this trip.

IS anyone aware of any wineries that also have rooms available. Think that could be a nice spot. Will also look into Mission Ranch.

I know I'm limited by making plans so late, but just got the official permission to travel yesterday. Not sure how this will all work out.

suntree

Carmel can be pricey but if you stay during the week prices are usually lower. Check out livingsocial.com or travelzoo.com for daily deals. We use them a lot for traveling. Monterey is lovely and more afforable you can stroll the wharf in the evening, watch the sunset and sample everyones clam chower.

suntree

Forgot to mention, I have stayed in many places in Cambria and never had a bad outcome. But there is a hostel there that I have never stayed at and am thinking about the next time we visit. Look it up it looks very nice.

PeaceOut

There are less expensive places, if you know where to look.

For example, if you are interested in San Simeon hotel, the Best Western Cavalier is oceanfront and a very good value. My room had a small fireplace, and coffee-making bar, which was great for a foggy evening. Restaurant on-site, too.
http://www.cavalierresort.com/

And this is a very cute little drive-up 'motel' just across from the water, in Santa Barbara. Very affordable, recently updated and clean, offers continental breakfast, free parking.
http://www.sbcastilloinn.com/

PeaceOut

To your question about a winery that has lodging, try the Fess Parker, in Los Olivos, near Santa Barbara.
http://fessparkerinn.com/main/rooms.html

Patty

There are vineyard cottages in Carmel Valley, around Paso Robles/Templeton and in the Santa Ynez Valley, just depends on where you want to be. Have you looked on vrbo.com?

suntree

today travelzoo.com has carmel river inn for $69.00 rated 4.5 star on tripadvisor and also for $25.00 a whale watching cruise. bloomspot.com has montecito inn with wine in santa barbara for $120.00 also rated 4.5. remember you don't have to stay in carmel or santa barbara. you can stay in pismo beach or monterey. each beach community has its own charm.

tracys2cents

Actually Carmel River inn has 3.5 stars on TA and reviews of the "budget" rooms are a bit concerning. http://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationP...alifornia.html

Near Santa Barbara, look at www.BallardInn.com