“I am planning to drive from LA to Monterey on Highway 1 with stops in between.”

This part of your itinerary made me wonder a bit. Have you driven the PCH starting say at Newport Beach? Unless you have already done that in your 90%, you may want to consider John Wayne airport instead of LAX.

Just a thought if you hadn’t considered it. It may add a day to your driving though.

Everyone here has great ideas and thanks ChanB for giving the nod on SLO!
:)>-

No didn't think about Newport. Thanks for the suggestion. My Ca experince is limited to San Deigo and nearby areas, LA, and SF. Calif is so big and of course a place to return to. Any other thoughts about Monterey, suggestions? Can you visit Asilomar if you are not staying there? I still reading thouse guidebooks to try to learn more of the place.

Feb,

Newport Beach (Balboa Island), Huntington Beach, Seal Beach, Long Beach where Queen Mary is docked (the ship, not the lady) are just north of John Wayne airport.

It's also a less crazy airport IMO. I flew in and out of it a lot as well as LAX.

There are nice beaches north of LAX too, Venice, Santa Monica, Redondo...

You asked about where to stay...my fav half-way points are SB and perhaps for you Cambria, although I would prefer SLO for wine trails and such. See some of my previous posts.

Near Monterey, I prefer Carmel Village and Pacific Grove. You can stay or visit Asilomar. A lot of conference types stay there as no phones or TV, at least when we stood there many years ago.

We enjoyed a Christmas buffet there many years ago although ate at common tables. The beach nearby is beautiful and just across the street.

I'm a big fan of Steinbeck's writings and couldn't dream of visiting Monterey w/o his colored backdrop of the area's history and characters.

The Steinbeck trail and Doc Rickett's lab next to the aquarium will mean so much more too. Visit the Custom’s House at the wharf and nearby Monterey Museum for more local history.

I like the ideas of heading to Oakland via Half Moon Bay with definite stops at artsy Capitola and Santa Cruz's famous boardwalk and wooden roller coaster. We did that same route last summer.

It's a lot of driving ahead of you but beautiful sights along the way. :)

Thanks Bear. I would have not thought of Half Moon Bay without this board. Thanks for your input.

Harbor House Inn - Santa Barbara posts special rates on their website:
http://www.harborhouseinn.com/

Vagabond House Inn - Carmel
http://www.harborhouseinn.com/

or Carmel Country Inn as someone already mentioned.

Deetjen's - Big Sur
reasonable lodging, fabulous breakfast, wonderful dinners

Enjoy! Be sure to stop at Nepenthe in Big Sur and/or Esalen past Big Sur.

If you need to stay in Monterey due to your activity schedule, I'd probably choose a place near the Wharf or on Cannery Row.