LA to San Francisco
Dec 14th, 2005, 09:13 AM
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LA to San Francisco
Hi! I am going to LA for a wedding in early March. My husband and I would love to drive up the Pacific Coast Highway to San Fran. We would leave Sunday morning...how many days should we leave for the drive? I was thinking maybe three...is that realistic?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Dec 14th, 2005, 10:22 AM
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Minor bit ot correction here - the Pacific Coast Highway only exists in Southern Calif. In Northern California, it's called the Cabrillo Highway. Don't know where it changes names - perhaps in Ventura County somewhere. Very few miles of the Pacific Coast Highway are scenic - compared to the Cabrillo Highway.
I would sugest that you stay in San Simeon the first night & see Hearst Castle. Then head north along the most spectacular section, all the way to Carmel and stay there the second night. On the way to Carmel, stop at Nepenthe in Big Sur and have lunch or a drink in the afternoon.
Plan on spending 1/2 day or more in the Carmel area. I think the Cannery in Monterey is a real let-down compared to other things you have already seen.
Last day, continue north on the Cabrillo Highway (CA-1). The section from Carmel till you pass Santa Cruz is not that scenic - but it becomes scenic again past Davenport (not as nice as the San Simeon to Carmel section, however).
Continue to Half Moon Bay on CA #1. If you are ahead of schedule (here by 3:00), perhaps visit Half Moon Bay (Main St) - it's a bit like Carmel but not quite as "cute". After HMB, continue north. It is not real scenic until you get to Montara. Just past a restaurant on the left, the coastal views begin again. After a flat section, you will ascend up to “Devil’s Slide” (appropriately named) and the views will be quite nice (for the passenger, not the driver). After a couple of hundred yards, there will be a parking lot on your right, and an entrance to Grey Whale Cove on the left. This is one of our more popular “swimsuit optional” beaches. It’s foggy most of the summer however.
Continue past Devils Slide to Pacifica and then into Daly City. Notice all the multi-colored identical tract houses in this area – it’s quite unique. Soon, Hwy #1 will hit Hwy #35. Get on #35 north towards SF (not downtown SF) – there will be a sharp clover-leaf to the right. This is Skyline Blvd. Continue north on Skyline, and you will see Lake Merced on your right – you are now in SF. Fort Funston is on your left, which was an old WWII bunker complex. It’s fun to explore. Just when the lake starts to be split by a road to the right and you see a “boathouse”, turn left onto the Great Highway – it will be the first left after you see the lake. Continue north on the Great Highway and look behind you for some great views down the San Mateo Co. coast. You will pass Golden Gate Park and at the Cliff House, you will swerve to the right. Just past Louis restaurant, pull into a dirt lot on the left (or a paved one on the right), and take a look at the remains of the Sutro Bath House. There are markers with explanations on the bluffs overlooking this place. The coastal views are quite nice too.
Leave the Sutro Baths and follow the road and you will immediately be on Geary Blvd going east. Continue east on Geary, and at 34th Ave, turn left. This will take you into & through a golf course and to the Palace of the Legion of Honor. The Legion houses many exhibitions and also has the largest collection of Rodin statues outside of Paris. At this point, get the camera out – you won’t believe the views coming up. Continue past the Legion of Honor, veering to the right as the road curves and on to El Camino Del Mar. There will be a golf course on both sides of you and you will get fantastic views of the Golden Gate, and also the Golden Gate Bridge – hopefully there will be no fog.
Just when the golf course ends and you begin to see some houses, look for a viewing platform down to the left in the middle of the golf course. Park the car & get out for some nice views & picture taking. Back in the car, continue on El Camino into the Seacliff area – probably our most exclusive homes – you’ll be able to see why. Stay on El Camino, but make left turns whenever you can and get on to Seacliff Ave. When you hit the Y where El Camino turns right & you turn left onto Seacliff Ave – immediately in front of you is a house with a hedge around it, and a topiary dragon peeking up over the hedge. This is where Robin Williams lives. At this junction if you always take left turns, you will immediately hit a dead-end – with China Beach to your right. Get out of the car & walk down to this beach. It is quite scenic with views of the Seacliff area, the beach, and the Golden Gate Bridge.
Continue through Seacliff on Seacliff Ave & you will shortly have to make a sharp right. After the right, turn left on to 25th Ave, and exit the Seacliff area (there will be 2 stone pillars as you exit). Take the first left onto Lincoln Blvd & get the camera ready again. You will see more fantastic views of the GG Bridge. Stop & take more pictures. Continue on Lincoln & you will go under the bridge. You will need to make a decision now. The most fantastic views in the entire Bay Area (in my opinion), are on the other side of the bridge - up high from the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA). This excursion will take 45 mins or so. You should definitely take it now if the weather is nice. The fog could come in later, and this view is much better in the evening, than in the morning when the sun is in your face. If you choose to take it now, immediately after going under the bridge, take a left & go on the GG Bridge.
Head north across the Golden Gate Bridge. Just past the bridge, take the Alexander Av. exit towards Sausalito. When you get to the stop at the end of the freeway off ramp, turn left & go under Hwy 101. Continue on like you are going back across the bridge to SF, but take the road to the right that goes up-hill, just before actually getting on 101. There will be a sign that says you are entering the Golden Gate National Recreational area. Continue up on this road. You will see what is (in my opinion) the best views of San Francisco – The GG Bridge in the foreground & The City behind it. This area was formerly a military area that is still laced with bunkers, gun turrets, underground tunnels etc. It was opened up in the ‘70s. The views of The City, the Bridge, and the Golden Gate are breathtaking. You can see all the way down the San Mateo Coast from up here. Go all the way to the top and you hit a much smaller one-way road. On the way up, get out & enjoy the sights. At the top where the main road ends, there is the largest gun turret, where you can climb up to for an almost 360 degree view. This view is best in the evening when the sun is in a better position to light up the bridge & highlight downtown. Return downhill, and take 101 and the GG bridge back to SF. Follow the sighs to Lonbard St.
If you do not have time for a trip across the Golden Gate Bridge and "The View", continue on Lincoln Blvd, past a cemetery & drive through the parade grounds of the Presidio. This entire Presidio area was still a military base until it was closed in the 80s. It is now a US park, and is being converted into other uses (a long story). Stay on Lincoln, and follow the signs to the “Lombard Gate” - to Presidio Ave & then Lombard St. After you exit the Presidio, you will be in the Lombard St Motel area in two blocks.
Stu Dudley
I would sugest that you stay in San Simeon the first night & see Hearst Castle. Then head north along the most spectacular section, all the way to Carmel and stay there the second night. On the way to Carmel, stop at Nepenthe in Big Sur and have lunch or a drink in the afternoon.
Plan on spending 1/2 day or more in the Carmel area. I think the Cannery in Monterey is a real let-down compared to other things you have already seen.
Last day, continue north on the Cabrillo Highway (CA-1). The section from Carmel till you pass Santa Cruz is not that scenic - but it becomes scenic again past Davenport (not as nice as the San Simeon to Carmel section, however).
Continue to Half Moon Bay on CA #1. If you are ahead of schedule (here by 3:00), perhaps visit Half Moon Bay (Main St) - it's a bit like Carmel but not quite as "cute". After HMB, continue north. It is not real scenic until you get to Montara. Just past a restaurant on the left, the coastal views begin again. After a flat section, you will ascend up to “Devil’s Slide” (appropriately named) and the views will be quite nice (for the passenger, not the driver). After a couple of hundred yards, there will be a parking lot on your right, and an entrance to Grey Whale Cove on the left. This is one of our more popular “swimsuit optional” beaches. It’s foggy most of the summer however.
Continue past Devils Slide to Pacifica and then into Daly City. Notice all the multi-colored identical tract houses in this area – it’s quite unique. Soon, Hwy #1 will hit Hwy #35. Get on #35 north towards SF (not downtown SF) – there will be a sharp clover-leaf to the right. This is Skyline Blvd. Continue north on Skyline, and you will see Lake Merced on your right – you are now in SF. Fort Funston is on your left, which was an old WWII bunker complex. It’s fun to explore. Just when the lake starts to be split by a road to the right and you see a “boathouse”, turn left onto the Great Highway – it will be the first left after you see the lake. Continue north on the Great Highway and look behind you for some great views down the San Mateo Co. coast. You will pass Golden Gate Park and at the Cliff House, you will swerve to the right. Just past Louis restaurant, pull into a dirt lot on the left (or a paved one on the right), and take a look at the remains of the Sutro Bath House. There are markers with explanations on the bluffs overlooking this place. The coastal views are quite nice too.
Leave the Sutro Baths and follow the road and you will immediately be on Geary Blvd going east. Continue east on Geary, and at 34th Ave, turn left. This will take you into & through a golf course and to the Palace of the Legion of Honor. The Legion houses many exhibitions and also has the largest collection of Rodin statues outside of Paris. At this point, get the camera out – you won’t believe the views coming up. Continue past the Legion of Honor, veering to the right as the road curves and on to El Camino Del Mar. There will be a golf course on both sides of you and you will get fantastic views of the Golden Gate, and also the Golden Gate Bridge – hopefully there will be no fog.
Just when the golf course ends and you begin to see some houses, look for a viewing platform down to the left in the middle of the golf course. Park the car & get out for some nice views & picture taking. Back in the car, continue on El Camino into the Seacliff area – probably our most exclusive homes – you’ll be able to see why. Stay on El Camino, but make left turns whenever you can and get on to Seacliff Ave. When you hit the Y where El Camino turns right & you turn left onto Seacliff Ave – immediately in front of you is a house with a hedge around it, and a topiary dragon peeking up over the hedge. This is where Robin Williams lives. At this junction if you always take left turns, you will immediately hit a dead-end – with China Beach to your right. Get out of the car & walk down to this beach. It is quite scenic with views of the Seacliff area, the beach, and the Golden Gate Bridge.
Continue through Seacliff on Seacliff Ave & you will shortly have to make a sharp right. After the right, turn left on to 25th Ave, and exit the Seacliff area (there will be 2 stone pillars as you exit). Take the first left onto Lincoln Blvd & get the camera ready again. You will see more fantastic views of the GG Bridge. Stop & take more pictures. Continue on Lincoln & you will go under the bridge. You will need to make a decision now. The most fantastic views in the entire Bay Area (in my opinion), are on the other side of the bridge - up high from the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA). This excursion will take 45 mins or so. You should definitely take it now if the weather is nice. The fog could come in later, and this view is much better in the evening, than in the morning when the sun is in your face. If you choose to take it now, immediately after going under the bridge, take a left & go on the GG Bridge.
Head north across the Golden Gate Bridge. Just past the bridge, take the Alexander Av. exit towards Sausalito. When you get to the stop at the end of the freeway off ramp, turn left & go under Hwy 101. Continue on like you are going back across the bridge to SF, but take the road to the right that goes up-hill, just before actually getting on 101. There will be a sign that says you are entering the Golden Gate National Recreational area. Continue up on this road. You will see what is (in my opinion) the best views of San Francisco – The GG Bridge in the foreground & The City behind it. This area was formerly a military area that is still laced with bunkers, gun turrets, underground tunnels etc. It was opened up in the ‘70s. The views of The City, the Bridge, and the Golden Gate are breathtaking. You can see all the way down the San Mateo Coast from up here. Go all the way to the top and you hit a much smaller one-way road. On the way up, get out & enjoy the sights. At the top where the main road ends, there is the largest gun turret, where you can climb up to for an almost 360 degree view. This view is best in the evening when the sun is in a better position to light up the bridge & highlight downtown. Return downhill, and take 101 and the GG bridge back to SF. Follow the sighs to Lonbard St.
If you do not have time for a trip across the Golden Gate Bridge and "The View", continue on Lincoln Blvd, past a cemetery & drive through the parade grounds of the Presidio. This entire Presidio area was still a military base until it was closed in the 80s. It is now a US park, and is being converted into other uses (a long story). Stay on Lincoln, and follow the signs to the “Lombard Gate” - to Presidio Ave & then Lombard St. After you exit the Presidio, you will be in the Lombard St Motel area in two blocks.
Stu Dudley
Dec 15th, 2005, 03:05 PM
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Check this site for lots of info on the Big Sur portion:
<http://www.jrabold.net/bigsur/roadb.htm>
<http://www.jrabold.net/bigsur/roadb.htm>
Dec 16th, 2005, 06:50 AM
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Breakfast at the Summerland Cafe on the way up Sunday morning...give your name then stroll the beach while you wait for a table. Harbor View Inn in Santa Barbara is great if you can swing it, Eagle Inn is more economical. Maybe Monday in Carmel (Carmel Mission Inn usually has great weekday rates in March...or there are many more upscale B&B places)...Point Lobos Park is a nice stop near Carmel. Tuesday head up to San Fran maybe between 10:30am and 1pm because traffic can be a nightmare through the Silicon Valley.
Dec 16th, 2005, 06:52 AM
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Also early March has a chance to be rainy/foggy so have a backup plan if you get really bad weather. Usually a last minute one-way to Oakland can be found on Southwest for around $95 per person...then you can subway into San Fran.
SOX IN '06 !
SOX IN '06 !
Dec 16th, 2005, 07:40 AM
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We just did this trip in November. Click on my name for trip report. I'd recommend Cambria on San Simeon for an overnight stay. We did a lot of wine tasting so 4 days instead of three would have been nice.
Have fun.
Have fun.
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