Monterey 1 or 2 nights
 

We have a vacation planned in mid June to end of June and Monterey is one of the locations we would like to see. We are trying to decide if we should spend 2 nights or 1 night here.

We are 2 adults, 2 teens (1boy, 1girl)

The plan is for 3 nights in Huntington Beach
Drive to Pismo Beach with a stop in Santa Barbara for lunch - 2 nights at Pismo
Levae right after breakfast and drive to Monterey (stay 1 or 2 nights)
Drive to San Francisco (stay 3 nights)
Drive to Napa (stay 3 nights)

We are trying to decide whether to add a night at Huntington Beach and take off a night in Monterey. While in Huntington Beach (arrive at hotel about 2pm the first day) we plan on driving to Newport Beach, Balboa Island and Laguna one day. We will likely go to Universal Studios one day to get the theme park fix in for the kids. We would also like a day to see some area of LA like Santa Monica, Rodeo Drive (have teen that is very much into fashion and hoping for a career in the field and would like to see this area)

sorry for the rambling - so would one night be ok in Monterey or should we stick with the original plan of 2 nights. We just plan on soaking in the sights and area no set plan to really do much

There is at least an order of magnitude more things to see and do in the LA area than in Monterey. So I think the trade off would be more time in the LA area and less in Monterey. Here's a pretty good LA guide.
http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/l...city-guide.htm

If you arrive late morning in Monterey, and spend only one night, what do you plan to see/do? Are you going to spend any time on the coast (Big Sur)? If all you're doing is the Aquarium, then a half-day and one night in Monterey is fine. But if you add in Big Sur, the Aquarium, Carmel town and beach, Capitola, etc., you'll need that extra day in the Monterey area. It kind of depends on your interests. (Maybe skip Universal and do the boardwalk in Santa Cruz instead?)

2 nights, and I agree with sf7307 re: stopping in Santa Cruz. The boardwalk/amusement park there is fun and, well, I just LOVE Santa Cruz. You could even spend this day as your stop between Monterey & SF -- I've done that many times.

sf7307 - I appreciate your comments and suggestions but why must you always come off as being surly

Seriously? I'm sorry, but I don't see what about my post is "surly".

Neither do I! I've been reading this thread but have found nothing to add, myself, until now.

Wow - I sure can't find anything surly in sf's post - please explain!!!

I grew up in the LA area, got married, and lived in Newport/Laguna Beach for 5 years. We've been in the San Francisco area for the past 34 years.

LA vs Monterey is apple & oranges - it really depends on what you want to do. You'll be seeing a LOT of freeway in LA - especially going to Universal Studio, Rodeo Drive, Santa Monica etc. A very high percent of your vacation will be spent on the freeway getting to these sites and then again leaving Hungington Beach for Santa Barbara. I'm guessing that the Univ Studio/Santa Monica/Rodeo drive will be a big-time all-day event, with about 5+ hrs of freeway driving if this is done on a work day. Also, I don't understand why you would go to Santa Monica if you start the day in Hungington Beach - the beaches are pretty much the same (if that is why you are doing this). Also doubt if you will have a worthwhile "fashion" experience on Rodeo Dr (TV shows may exaggerate this). You'll have a great time in Newport Beach, Bicycling around Balboa, and in Laguna Beach.

I would skip the Universal Studio/Santa Monica/Rodeo Dr thing & just stick to Orange Co. LA is huge and the traffic is terrible.

The Big Sur/Monterey/Carmel scene is about as far from the LA scene as you can get. Beautiful coastlike, wonderful coastal places to explore (like Pt Lobos), cute villages (Carmel), aquarium, old houses (Pacific Grove).

If you want a Disneyland/Rodeo drive experience - then spend more time in LA. If you prefer pretty coastline & less "hectic" - then Big Sur/Monterey/Carmel would warrent more time.

Stu Dudley

With 2 teens, I would cut a day or two from Napa and add to Monterey, So. Cal or SF. Napa Valley will be a snore for the teens.

ga; sorry to ask - but didn't you ask the same questions before? Your post has a very familiar ring to it.

Could you help my memory - why do you want to spend 2 mights in Pismo? There' a lot more to do in the Monterey/Carmel area than in Pismo Beach, although PB is very relaxing if you plan to do not very much there.

sorry to have to ask again.

I like Pismo for just hanging out - and with the teens, you definitely want some time to hang out on the beach. So I think 2 nights in Pismo is good.

I would also do 2 nights in Monterey. You will probably spend most of the day driving from Pismo to Monterey, ESSPECIALLY if you tour Hearst Castle. So plan to get to Monterey late afternoon. And since you should stop in Santa Cruz on the way to SF to visit the Boardwalk and whatever else you have time for, 1 night in Monterey leaves almost no time for Monterey itself. Better to spend 2 nights, or even 3 if you had it.

I think that taking a night from Napa and adding it to the earlier portions of the trip is a great idea. Like others have said, there isn't much in Napa to interest the kids. Also, keep in mind that you will be travelling through other wine producing regions earlier in the trip - Santa Ynez valley is close to Pismo and the Carmel Valley is close to Monterey.

>>I like Pismo for just hanging out - and with the teens, you definitely want some time to hang out on the beach<<

They will be in Huntington Beach for the previous 3 nights/2 days. When I was in high school, Huntington Beach was the big hang out place. However, if the OP sticks with the plan to see lots of LA (major freeway time) and also Newport/Laguna - there may be little time at all to "hang out" at Huntington Beach.

I would recommend either:
1. Skip LA and do the beach hang out at Huntington Beach and spend 1 night in Pismo Beach.
or
2. See LA and do the hang out at Pismo Beach (Carmel/Monterey is "iffy" weather wise) & spend 2 nights there.

If the OP doesn't want a beach day - only stay 1 night in Pismo Beach & add it to Monterey (recommend staying in Carmel instead).

easy - I remember a similar thread (maybe the same OP). The OP in the other thread really wanted to spend time in the Napa Valley. They wanted to stay at a place with a pool so the teens could do the pool thing while the parents visited the wineries.

Agree that otherwise Napa would be a bore for the teens - especially considering that the trip is quite rushed.

Stu Dudley

Stu: thanks for the clarification.

I should have thought to click on the OP's name (DUH!) and here's the previous thread:

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...s-it-sound.cfm

Thank you all for the wonderful suggestions. Will adjust as recommended