momplaygroup

So, after our San Diego trip, we head up Route 5? onward to Route 101. Is the following reasonable?

July 10/July 11/July 12 drive early morning up North toward LA. Should we drive on Route 5? There are so many beaches in between! I'm thinking we stop in Santa Monica and then Malibu beach?
Continue driving onto Route 101 stopping in Santa Barbara, what is there to see here? Onward to Hearst Castle and take a tour of it. Stop at Julia Pfeifer Park. Stop at Big Sur. Stop at Monterrey. Tour Monterrey Aquarium. (where should we sleep on July 10, July 11, July 12? Are three days a good amount of time? Can anyone recommend how we should organize this part of our trip?) (I've heard great things about 17 mile and Pismo beach? Could we fit that in too?)

July 13- Go to Roaring Camp Railroad and ride train to Santa Cruz boardwalk. Visit boardwalk and then go back to the park.

July 14- go to San Francisco and be in San Francisco July 14, 15, 16 (we basically want to see Muir Woods, Alcatraz, Fisherman's Wharf).

July 17 and 18 go to LA--- one of the beaches there, any recommendations which one? We'd also go see the famous hollywood sign and maybe go to the farmer's market?

July 19- leave CA by LAX.

Comments are highly appreciated (especially our Rt 101 leg of the trip)! Thanks in advance!

suze

You need to allow 1 day to drive from San Francisco back to Los Angeles (I don't see this time on your itinerary).

momplaygroup

suze- we'd drive back on July 17 and probably get in LA at night if we use Route 101 again or it takes 6 hours using Route 5.

momplaygroup

oops, I meant Pebble Beach (17 mile) not Pismo Beach.

dmlove

I would definitely drive up the coast from San Diego to LA - there are many places to stop (Del Mar, Laguna, Newport, Balboa Island, Manhattan, Hermosa, Redondo, Santa Monica, etc. (and not in the right order)).

Going back to LA, I would leave early morning, take Rte. 5. If you leave at 9, you'll be south of LA around 4. Whatever you do, to get to Rte 5, go through the city, across the Bay Bridge, to 580 to 5. Do NOT go south on 101 and cut over on 152 --- horrible exasperating experience every single time.

suze

So 1 day only in Los Angeles? To see the Hollywood sign, go to the Farmers Market, and also the beach? Sure I guess that works.

pocohontas3

With our kids a couple years ago, we took an LA tour that gave us a lunchtime at Farmer's Market and, of course, a tour of LA. We REALLY appreciated the chance to ride and look at LA instead of trying to navigate the traffic. Just a suggestion to consider a tour to see as much as possible of LA in your 1 day there.

dmlove

And there's plenty of good food at the Farmer's Market -- we had a delicious falafel recently.

momplaygroup

I think a tour of LA is a great idea! Thanks!

trippinkpj

Speaking of Falafels (only if you like them), check out the Falafel Drive In in San Jose. An institution since the 60's, with good salads and tabouleh.

dmlove

Thanks for that falafel recommendation in San Jose -- we get down there fairly often (usually Sharks games, in season) and would love to try it! Where is it located?

trippinkpj

Hi dmlove- It's off the West San Carlos/ Stevens Creek exit of of 17/ 880. If you know where Valley Fair and Santana Row are, it's on the other side of the Freeway. 2301 Stevens Creek Blvd, San Jose, CA

dmlove

Thanks - we were just there a couple of weeks ago - had dinner at Maggiano's on Santana Row. I'll file this for future reference.