Have our days planned out while we are in San Francisco. If we decide to drive South on HWY 1, how far should we go and how much time should we allow. We would just like to see a little of the scenic route. Would probably stop and eat somewhere for lunch or dinner. We could spend an entire day doing this or just part of a day. Should we continue past Big Sur. I guess basically would like to know where the scenic places are along hwy 1. We are not interested in Napa or Sonoma on this trip.

Is it more scenic on hwy 1 heading North or going South like my original thought?

why don't you head down to monterrey/carmel area. eating lunch aling the way and ending at point lobos, visit for an hour, then head back up. That should be a nice trip.

The drive south through Half Moon Bay to Santa Cruz is beautiful. If you're interested in seeing redwoods, you could return on Route 9 to visit Big Basin Redwoods State Park.

The most spectacular section is south of Carmel.

I would do what maria_so suggests.

I would make it an all-day event.

A lot depends on what day of the week you will be doing this. If it's going to be a work day, you'll need to leave early & you will hit very heavy commute traffic if you travel on the fastest roads (101 or 280). I would instead take 280 to 92 to Half Moon Bay & drive Hwy 1 south of there to Carmel, Pt Lobos (must see), and then on to Big Sur. The HMB to Santa Cruz drive is also scenic, and you can travel on it faster than you might think. Compared to 280 or 101 most of the way on a work-day during commute hours, it won't take that much more time and it's certainly more scenic.

You'll be going down & back from Carmel to Big Sur (lunch at Nepenthe), so you'll be driving on both sides of the road.

It's a little more scenic to drive north on Hwy 1 from Santa Cruz to HMB than driving south - there are some neat cliffs you only see driving north.

Stu Dudley

Take 280 out of SF, take the Pacifica exit and you will be on 1. Davenport has a nice restaurant (the sign on the building says "Home Cooking"), although I understand that it has changed hands. For fish or shrimp tacos, stop by Flying Fish in Half Moon Bay on 92 right off highway 1. From Hwy 1 make a left on 92 and it's the first establishment on the right, with a vegetable stand and a fish store behind it.

For sightseeing, stop at Año Nuevo to see the elephant seals--it's a mile hike to the dunes and back. Big Basin has impressive redwoods, but if you do not have the time, Henry Cowell State Park in Felton has a nice walk through redwoods.

What I meant, is it more scenic North of San Francisco or South of San Francisco on Hwy 1. I am debating whether I want to go south to Big Sur or north to Russian River. Not really interested in Wine, but if it is more scenic, maybe I should consider going that direction. I guess it would be to much to try and drive both in one day? Saturday is the day I was considering doing this on. Hadn't thought of which side of the road would be more scenic, so thanks for the heads up on that one Stu. I will have about 3 or 4 hours on Sunday morning before heading to the airport also. We are doing the typical tourist things the days before in San Fran. Fishermans Wharf, Alcatraz, Chinatown, Cable Cars, etc. May do the segway tour. We will have our 14 year old with us, so adventure is high on the list. However, she won't get bored with a nice drive. We recently visited Sequoia National Park. I know that the coastal Redwoods are different than the inland Redwoods. I don't see how they could be more spectacular, so I don't think we would want to spend time with the redwoods. Someone tell me if I am missing something big here, by not including the trees since we went to Sequoia over Christmas Break. I am planning this trip in Mid-October, and understand that this is a good time for weather in the area?

I would consider the area around Hwy 1 in Marin more scenic than the section between Pacifica and Santa Cruz. A day's trip on the north side could include the drive up to Mt. Tamalpais, a visit to Muir Woods, going to the lighthouse on Point Reyes, stopping for food, either at a restaurant or to by picnic items in Point Reyes Station. The distances are not enormous, but given the nature of the road, this would take all day.

i've done both going north to gualala for a moonlight kayaking and then south to big sur (and beyond at times). The north is scenic but it's also cooler and more prone to fog (at least the few times we were there that northern drive is more foggy until you get to tamales bay area where you're in at the bay. if you love oysters, i highly recommend bringing a picnic and shucking oysters at hog island - yummy! point reyes lighthouse is also pretty fabulous but again, this is a cooler drive if you will.

if you haven't done this area drive yet, I would do south to big sur. that would be my choice. there's really nothing like big sur. i guess why artists, poets, writers, etc. were/are drawn to it. it's beauty can't really be described.

Dear spiro:

I have a 14 yr. old daughter. She would much prefer the sights south on Hwy.1. Especially Santa Cruz, Monterey Aquarium, Pacific Grove tide pools, and shopping opportunities.

Good luck & have fun.

MY

I agree with Michael that the Marin/Sonoma section is more interesting than the HMB to Santa Cruz section. But I think the Carmel to Big Sur section is more dramatic than both. However, it's 2 1/2 hrs away, while you can get to the Marin section in probably less than 1 hr from the GG bridge.

For a first timer who's going to do this on a Saturday (much less traffic), I would leave the City early, take 101 to Carmel (there are other roads involved - get a good map), spend a couple of hours wandering around in Carmel (walk or drive along the road in front of the beach as far west as you can go till you run out of beach), grab a bite to eat there, go to Pt Lobos, (1 1/2 hrs - beautiful land-meets-sea area), slowly drive to Big Sur, get out and admire the scenery along the way, go to Nepenthe & find an excuse to sit outside & admire the views & atmosphere, go downstairs to the Phoenix bookstore & browse, then head back up north to SF.

If you were doing this on a work day and had an interest in wineries, I would probably advise you to head north to Marin/Sonoma instead.

Stu Dudley

Thanks,

I'll have to check out the Nepenthe and see what that is. Watched Rachel Ray again today and noticed a sign that had that on it, but she never mentioned it. I will google it. Again, thanks.

posted these earlier for someone else. may be helpful

----------------------------------


Author: maria_so
Date: 02/25/2008, 11:39 am
here's a few links to what i mentioned above to help you out:

fisherman's wharf in monterey:
http://www.montereywharf.com/

cannery row in monterey:
http://www.canneryrow.com/

carmel by the sea:
http://www.carmelcalifornia.com/


Must see in Big Sur:
http://www.waterfallswest.com/ca_mcway.html

ooops, it didn't paste everything. here's the rest of that...

carmel by the sea:
http://www.carmelcalifornia.com/
(the village corner is my favorite restaurant and make a point to eat there each time I visit! this site has a few videos that help to tell a bit about the little town.)

Point Lobos:
http://pt-lobos.parks.state.ca.us/Information.htm

Nepenthe:
http://www.nepenthebigsur.com/

Once you pass Carmel, then get on the freeway.

North.

If you are feeling less ambitious, here are a few suggestions.

Driving south from San Francisco on HWY 1 near Golden Gate Park is the Beach Chalet. I love the gorgeous WPA murals.

http://www.beachchalet.com/

Further south, is a fun restaurant, the Moss Beach Distillery, a California landmark and former speakeasy with a ghost and gorgeous view.

http://www.mossbeachdistillery.com/

You might also enjoy strolling the little town of Half Moon Bay, watching the surfers at Maverick's beach, enjoying the tidepools at the Fitzgerald marine wildlife reserve.

http://www.fitzgeraldreserve.org/

Should you be going on a Sunday you can watch jazz and a sunset at the Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society at Miramar Beach.

http://www.bachddsoc.org/index.html

You'll be spending closer to an hour driving each way, won't be in too much traffic, and can enjoy stopping in the little scenic towns.