PCH from Dana Point
 

Hi,
My husband and I are going to a wedding in Dana Point,Ca on April 1st. Would like to drive up the P.C. Hwy, never been to Calif. before.
I would love some recommendations on places to stay, and see on the way up north.
I would like to spend at leat one night right on the coast.
Is there anything to see in Santa Barbara?
How many days do you think we would need?
Thanks so much

Pacific Coast Hwy has some parts of it in Los Angeles County that aren't very exciting. It heads inland while the highways that you want to take will stay on the coast. I would suggest taking PCH up in through Seal Beach. Once you cross the bridge into Long Beach, hang a left on Westminister. In through 2nd street, along Ocean Blvd in Long Beach, up and over two bridges to San Pedro. Take a left on Gaffey and take it all the way out to the Ocean. Right on Paseo Del Mar, Right on Western, Left on 25th. You will then be on PV drive south which is a great part of the coastline. Follow this around and you will end up in the beach cities. You will meet back up with PCH in Santa Monica. Get a good map. After that, you can go through Malibu, etc. Up to Santa Barbara.

My preferred way to do it however would be to cut out a good portion of the LA county coastline. After Seal Beach, enter the freeway by turning right on Westminster then left on Studebaker. Get on the 405 north. Take that to the 10 West and then to PCH through Malibu, etc. and begin getting out of LA county and up the coast.

fogcity's PCH routes are good. To elaborate a bit, PCH through Orange County takes you through some gorgeous coastal scenery and some lovely towns. From Dana Point you will head north into Laguna Beach, a wonderful historic artists' community. North of there, the Crystal Cove portion of the coast is breath-takingly beautiful. Then, you hit ritzy Newport Beach and, farther up, "Surf City"-- Huntington Beach. You can stop at any of these places and find things to see and do.

As you go north of Huntington, you're heading into Sunset Beach, then Seal Beach, which itself is a charming little town, at least on the coast. Farther inland it's a bit Suburban Generica for my tastes (and you'll hit Leisure World going east on Seal Beach Blvd). Continuing up PCH into LA County, you'll hit Long Beach. I live there. I love it. I can't explain why that is to people who are casually passing through-- it's not nearly as pretty as Newport Beach, it doesn't have good surfing like Huntington Beach. But in the coastal areas it has a real-city feel and really nice citizens.

fogcity's suggestion of driving through PV up into the coastal cities (Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Playa del Rey, Marina del Rey, Venice Beach, Santa Monica, then up into Malibu!) will give you a vivid cross-section of coastal living. Then on to Santa Barbara! It's a lovely town, and the drive up is wonderful.

I'd say, take three days. First day, slowly drive up the coast. Second and third day, spend it up in Santa Barbara! A little pricey, but hey, it's a holiday and it's so beautiful.

Thanks for the info...
We'd like to go all the up to San Francisco...
Anything "must see's" on the way up?
Places to stay?

If you are making the drive all the way to SF there are a couple of places worth staying. I love Cambria, which is very near San Simeon (Hearst's Castle- a must if you've never been) and Carmel. Cambria has little to do but enjoy nature. Carmel has nature plus shopping, galleries, good restaurants, etc, but still small, not overpowering. A quick drive from Carmel is Monterey with their good aquarium, or go have lunch at Pebble Beach and feel the golf vibe that sets many a heart (including my husband's) aflutter.