Planning trip up US1, 1st week in April.
Will be going during the week.
Want to stay in Pacific Grove or Monterey/Carmel area. Not sure how many nights to see everything.
Are making lodging reservation necessary since its off season?

Yes, make reservations! ***kim***

Thanks Kim,
Could you tell me how many nights I would need to see Monterey/Carmel & Big Sur?
What will the weather be like 1st week in April?

Donna,

> "Not sure how many nights to see everything."

Hmmm, oh, about three weeks. OK, just kidding, well, actually not. Pacific Grove is a great place since it is well located for either Monterey or Carmel.

We've stayed at Lighthouse Lodge each year since it was the Butterfly Trees and have always found it comfortable.

As so many people have pointed out here, the Point Lobos State Reserve is a must-see as well as the Aquarium. Walking is our bigges enjoyment.

Kim, I would also like your take on the weather around April & May. We have always (since around 1982) visited the area in the Sept/Oct time frams but this year we are also going to be there in May. I want to show my wife the Purple Carpet there in PG and hope the timing is right.

Donna, there is a great breakfast/lunch place in the American Can Company Mall called First Awakenings. The food is very good and prices are quite reasonable. The pancakes are humongus! And if the weather is right, eating outside next to the fire is a must.

Have a wonderful trip.
Ron

Thanks for the info. I too was wondering what the weather is like the 1st week in April, is there alot of rain that time of year?
Is going from Santa Barbara, stopping at San Simeon (taking tour) and going directly to Pacific Grove do able in one day?

Spring can be hit or miss weatherwise on the central coast. Chances are you will have sunny weather without much fog and temperatures in the 60s. You could get some rain during your trip though, and some years we have gotten a lot of spring rain.

In '95, we got so much rain in May that the Pajaro River overflowed it's banks and flooded the town of Pajaro. In '03 we had one of the rainiest Aprils on record.

Years like that are the rare exception though. Generally spring rains are light and don't last long. Pack a light rain jacket just in case and have a good trip.

Oh, forgot to answer the driving question.

SB to Monterey in one day will be a long day, but it is absolutely doable if you get a good start in the morning. I would plan an early lunch and some wandering around in Cambria if time permits, tour Hearst Castle around noon or 1, and then spend the afternoon making your way up through Big Sur. This wont leave you much time for hiking, but you will have plenty of time for scenic stops.

Donna,

We have often driven from PG down to Cambria for lunch, gone back up to San Simeon for a Castle tour and then gotten back up to PG in time for dinner.

The distance from Cambria to Pacific Grove is, I think, about 95 or 96 miles and the only draw-back (HA!) is how many times you round a bend and gasp because of the wonderful vistas. Then you want to stop and just look around. You can end up stopping around every bend, it's just so spectacular.

But to answer your original question I do believe it is quite doable to make that drive, with stops, in one day.

Thanks also J_C for the weather info. It does help.

Ron

A couple of years ago we spent a week at the Monterey Beach Hotel with the kids, the weather was wonderful! Sunny, no rain. We were in Cambria last May for my birthday and it was sunny but so windy, we had to find a cove to sit in for the beach.

We have also had some wondeful weather in early December for our anniversary trips. Whatever the weather, you're sure to have a wonderful time! ***kim***

So maybe I should stay over night in Cambria before heading to Pacific Grove,so I could see the sites and do some hiking?
Any lodging recomendations or site to see in Cambria...
Thanks so much for the feedback you have no idea how much I appreciate it..

If you have the room in your itinerery, a night in Cambria would be nice. Years ago we spent the night there and stayed someplace along Moonstone Beach. It was great - right across the street from the ocean.

As for sights to see, on the way to Cambria, you could stop in San Luis Obispo. There is a nice mission there and the town is nice. I think there are some wineries in the Santa Ynez valley, which is on the way. Pismo Beach is a cool beach town. Morro Bay is nice too - there is a good harbor there and Morro Rock. In Cambria itself, you have lots of shops and galeries.

We've stayed at the Blue Whale Inn, the Fireside Inn and the Cypress Cove Inns in Cambria. Of the three, my favorite was the Cypress Cove Inn. Get an oceanview/king room, it's just steps away from the ocean!

There is a jacuzzi in the back of the property, if you stay at the Fogcatcher Inn next door, they have a pool but guests at the CCI can use the pool also, they are sister properties! ***kim***

Thanks I'll look into those.
Have you stayed in Pacific Grove?
Was thinkin of the Seven Gables Inn or there other inn next door.
Any other suggestions, I'd like to be close to the water... Thanks again.

I haven't stayed at the B&B's in PG, but I know many people who have and loved it! We have stayed at the Spindrift, just around the corner in Monterey. www.spindriftinn.com It was very nice, we had a king corner room. The rooms have fireplaces, canopy featherbeds, hardwood floors and breakfast delivered to your room each am.

I'm assuming the B&B's have very nice, elaborate breakfasts which would be nice. ***kim***

Would you recommend staying in Monterey instead or Pacific Grove or are they fairly close to each other?
Dining suggestion would be greatly appreciated...

Monterey and PG kind of run into each other. My favorite property in Monterey (we've stayed at several) is the Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa. We're trying to get away in April for another stay there. My daughter is begging to go back there after her Mexico trip next month. Have fun! ***kim***