Hwy 101 points of interest
 

Our SF to LA roadtrip along the PCH planned for July will likely have a major detour due to the closure of the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge.

Depending on the status of Hwy 1, we're planning on going as far south as Bixby Creek Bridge on Hwy 1, then backtracking to Monterey to SR 68 and over to Hwy 101 to head south. I really didn't want to miss seeing that bridge.

What points of interest/restaurants would anyone recommend along the stretch of Hwy 101 from Monterey to SR 46 (we're spending some time in Cambria before going to Santa Barbara and then LA).

Thanks in advance.

Pinnacles National Park. Otherwise, none.

On the other hand, if you go just a little farther on 101, to Atascadero, the bread at Hush-Harbor Bakery is fabulous.

The mission at San Miguel is one of my favorites and is very close to 101. One of the most beautiful chapels in the chain, decorated with the original Native American artwork.

Contrary to sf7307's negative response, I and others can recommend a great many points of interest.

We just responded to a poster who is making the same trip in the opposite direction.

Please enter this URL and you'll find all the suggestions (a few pertain to the coastal road that is currently closed, but you can get to Hearst Castle from the south for example).

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...alifornia.cfm:

You'll need to check road conditions, but if you are in an adventurous mood and want to see more of the Big Sur coast, you could take the road from the San Antonio de Padua Mission to Lucia and then drive south along the coast. However, this road is not for those who do not like narrow mountain roads.

Paso Robles wine tasting!

Other missions along this route are Mission Soledad, which is in a rural setting. Further south and deep in the foothills is Mission San Antonio de Padua.

Also in this area are the wineries of the Santa Lucia Highlands. Low key and friendly.
http://www.santaluciahighlands.com

Enjoy the drive, but watch out for CHP, particularly between King City and Paso Robles.

I did forget that Palo Robles is before the turnoff. It's a very nice town - nice square.

The request was for points of interest on 101 between Monterey and the 46 turnoff. None of the suggestions in the post to which Michelhuebell linked fits that category.

sf7307 - you are right, I overlooked the 68-46 angle. And you are right, there is precious little along that stretch. Sorry!

After Cambria, continue south on Hwy 1...places to see:

Tiny town of Harmony.
Cayucus, funky beach town.
Morro Bay, big rock!
San Luis Obispo, great downtown area.
Avila Beach, cute beach town.
Pismo Beach, tacky beach town (sorry).
Los Olivos, awesome little wine town.

Michel, thank you. OP, I think what we're suggesting is to just get down that stretch as fast as you can (legally)!

OP here - thanks all! This is unfortunately what I suspected. My wife would be interested in a Paso Robles winery... any suggestions? We will be with our 10 and 12 year old so we could maybe visit one winery - any recommendations for one where the girls would enjoy walking around the place?

We were already planning to hit some of the other places south of Cambria noted above.

Sculpterra has huge sculptures outside as well as really neat game tables. Here's a link:

http://sculpterra.com/visit-us/central-park-west/

If your children don't get carsick I'd recommend G16 (Carmel Valley Road) and then 101 to Paso Robles, where you can pick up 46.

And +1 on the San Miguel Mission.

In July it will most likely be over 100 degrees in Paso so I would drop off the kids at The Ravine Water park and do your wine tasting and/or head over to Cambria or Morro Bay, which may be foggy and cold! That would be way more fun for your kids... its clean, well supervised and the food is reasonably priced ( pizza, burgers etc...)
Vina Robles is a beautiful winery that has a concert series... check your dates!

Mid State Fair, July 19-30, in Paso Robles.

The Ravive Water Park would be a great idea - I don't think we would drop the kids off though. My wife had suggested visiting Sculpterra. Looks like it might be marginally interesting for the kids anyway.

Or I just talk my wife out of the winery and we all go to the water park. :)

Its a fun waterpark!

You didn't ask for advice about your trip North of Paso but you will find Point Lobos ( just south of Carmel Valley on the 1) more beautiful and awe inspiring than Morro Bay, Cayucos, Avila and Pismo combined. Add a night to Carmel perhaps... not all California beaches are beautiful. Just my two cents... from living here my entire life! :)