Need help with itinerary for Ca. Coast
 

I have read a lot of info on these boards and it is helping me with my vacation plans but now I have a few more questions. So far I have: Fly to LA & drive to Santa Barbara
1/2 day SB then to Cambria
Hearst Castle then Big Sur (or just Big Sur can't decide)
Night in Monterey then to SF
Couple of days in SF
Now, should we go on up to Mendocino and back down through Sonoma or fly out of Oakland to San Diego and spend a couple of days there and drive back up to LA to fly out? I have read different things about both places and I need help deciding. We have 9 1/2 days of just travel so let me know what you think. Thanks.

Why the backtracking? Why not fly into San Diego and then head north, flying home from Oakland or SF?

We got really cheap tickets flying into LA and my husband thought that SD was trying to do to much. But so far the schedule is working out nicely but I need advice on Mendocino or SD. Thanks.

I would agree with tracy that you are backtracking - and probably needlessly.

You are also doing WAAY too much driving for a 9 day trip.

By far, if you are going along the coast, the more spectacular drive is from north to south.

I would, therefore, suggest the following: fly into LA, take a car and go down to San Diego for one day, return the car either in San Diego (if the car rental company will allow you to do so with no drop off fee) or at John Wayne Orange County Airport - where you should be able to return the car with no drop off fee. Fly out to Oakland or San Francisco. Probably Oakland, as Southwest has fares sometimes as low as $39 one way. Pick up a car there, again with no/small drop off fee (at LA), head up north to Sonoma, do SF, and then drive through Big Sur back down to LA. I'd skip Mendocino.

As much as I love Mendocino, you'll get quite a bit of the coast between SF and LA. I'm also recommending at least one day in San Diego because it is a California city with a different flavor from the rest of the state. Hard choices. I'm certain others will disagree. Actually, with only 9 days, you could cut out both San Diego and Mendocino and still not have time for everything else.

Have fun! And good luck!

I agree with easytraveler that there is too much for just a 9 1/2 day trip. I would suggest the following:

Day 1 and 2: Fly into LA and drive down to San Diego.

Day 3 and 4: LA

Day 5: Santa Barbara

Day 6: Cambria for one night before visiting Hearst Castle.

Day 7: Morning tour of Hearst Castle and drive up along Highway 1 through Big Sur up to Monterey. The link below is to an interactive map of the most scenic part of highway 1 which is from San Simeon to Monterey. Highway 1 north of the Monterey Bay Area would not be worth your limited time IMHO.

http://www.pelicannetwork.net/big.sur.coast.htm

Day 8 and 9: Monterey and Carmel and fly out of San Jose back to LA. Southwest has great fares to LA from the San Jose Bay Area.


I would save SF and points north for another trip. Trying to include everything on your itinerary in sucha shoprt time would not allow you to appreciate the scenery and sites along the way.