rustytravel

Hi All - My husband and I are planning to do the scenic PCH drive from San Fran to LA - landing in LA for a Wedding on a Friday.

We were going to fly into San Fran the Saturday before and would LOVE some guidance on how many nights to spend in San Fran/Sonoma.....Carmel....Big Sur....we have six nights to play with before we get to LA.

Also looking for great B&B or Hotel recommendations in the 200.00 price range. Thanks so much in advance !

StuDudley

I'll repeat what I posted earlier this week.

Requests for things to do & see between SF & LA along the coast, & Sonoma get asked here about twice a week - others think it is twice a day. May I suggest that you review all the California posts - you'll get more info than you can possibly absorb. Do a search on "Big Sur" & you'll see lots of info. Same with "Sonoma"

Also, there is no such thing as the PCH up here in Northern California - that's an LA thing. From Santa Barbara (I think) to SF it's called the Cabrillo Highway.

Stu Dudley

clarkgriswold

With just 6 nights, I think I would make Sonoma a day trip from San Fran and not an overnighter. 3 nights San Fran , 2 nights Carmel/Big Sur, 1 night Santa Barbara.

Tuscan Inn or Chancellor in San Fran

Carmel Mission Inn in Carmel

The Eagle Inn in Santa Barbara

rustytravel

Thanks for the help and guidance, appreciated !

schnauzer

We have recently returned from doing a similar thing to you. (I still haven't done the trip report) We had three nights in San Francisco, but only 2 full days. I wish I had had a third day. We drove to Carmel via the Aquarium which was surprisingly good. We stayed the night in Carmel at the Cobblestone Inn. I thougtht the rooms were really comfortable and enjoyed the fires in the rooms. The breakfast was fine, nothing fabulous. I could have spent the whole day in Carmel looking at the shops, alas it was not to be. We drove down the Big Sur, which was not as spectacular as I had thought it would be. Sorry all those who rave about it. If you live inland then I guess the coast is more exciting for you than if you live on the coast all the time. We stayed at Cambria at the Moonstone Inn, which was fine but nothing spectacular. Probably the wrong time of year to really get the benefit of being so close to the beach. We then drove the whole way to LA the next morning. It took us a solid 4 hours. It was further than I had thought,a stop over in between could have been good.

We did get to see the Elephant Seals in Cambria which was great, but missed out on the Hearst Castle tour. All booked up. I would recommend the Cobblestone Inn in Carmel. The room at the Moonstone Inn was $150, which was fine. A lovely big bathroom, a good breakfast but the lady at the front desk was not overly friendly. Not a huge issue of course. I wouldn't pay extra for the view of the beach at this time of year.

Where are you staying in San Francisco? We stayed at the Rex, the hotel was in a fantastic location. The staff were excellent, but the room itself was noisy from ajoining rooms, not from the street. Hope this helps a bit. Schnauzer

cabovacation

Hi, Schnauzer

I have a mini so I just had to say hi

I agree with you...Big Sur is kind of overrated and the drive to L.A. is way too long that way. Not that the coast is not gorgeous...but that drive is long. I would stay in Carmel, go to Point Lobos, perhaps drive down to Big Sur (or buy a photo) and never again do the drive all the way down to Cambria.

I recently saw excellent directions on here for driving Carmel/Santa Barbara.

Cabo

schnauzer

Hi Back Cabo! I am glad I am not the only one who thought the drive was a bit of a non event. Apart from seeing the seals there really wasn't anything else to look at of particular note.

Also I meant the Moonstone Landing at Cambria not Inn.

StuDudley

If you thought the Big Sur coast was overrated, please let me know about any coast drive that meets or exceeds your expectations, and is not in some remote place on the earth. I want to go there !!! Been to Cabo - prefer Big Sur. Also been to Brittany coast in France, Amalfi Coast in Italy, Wester Ross in Scotland, Main coast - on land & on a windjammer, and I prefer the Big Sur.

Did you get out of the car & see Pfeiffer Beach, or Pfeiffer State Park, or walk down to the coast on any of the access paths? How about lunch or dinner at Nepenthe??

I've lived on, or very close to the coast for my entire 59 years - and I still find the Big Sur coast captivating.

Stu Dudley

janisj

I think the problem w/ a lot of trips is they just drive Big Sur. Sitting in a car, worrying about the traffic and drop off's, and not having the time to explore - I can see someone being underwhelmed by Big Sur.

That's why I really dislike (hate) all these cookie cutter itineraries we see here -- SF > Napa > Carmel ( inc. Big Sur "drive by" ) > Cambria > SB or LA -- in 4 days Get out of the car folks! To enjoy that route really takes a full week or more plus whatever time is spent in SoCal.

mlgb

The clue is that " I could have spent the whole day in Carmel looking at the shops, alas it was not to be." Some people just aren't into scenery.

schnauzer

Hey folks, I am definately into scenery,(much prefer the countryside to cities) but a gal has got to some shopping at sometime, particularly when you have just spent the past two weeks with two males who would not go anywhere near a shop. It is fun shopping in another country, trying to find that 'something different'.
Don't be so defensive about the Big Sur, we did stop along the way, but I am alllowed to have an opinion you know. I still stick with it was not as wonderful as I was led to believe.
I am not going to get into my country is better than yours stuff, everyone has that special place they love and we prefer places for reasons we cannot even explain ourselves. Think of all those posts where folk don't like Paris or Rome etc and others just can't understand why they couldn't possibly love them. To each his own I say. Yes, the Big Sur was very pretty and there were some spots that were just gorgeous but I thought it was going to be a bit more varied than it was and maybe for longer. That is the trouble of preconceived notions, we set ourselves up sometimes for disappointment.

Phew, sometimes it is too scary to offer an opinion on this board. I wouldn't get all hot and bothered under the collar if someone drove the Great Ocean Road, or walked the Manly to Spit Bridge or walked the Bondi to Bronte walk in good old Oz and said they prefered somewhere else. I have travelled extensively all over the world in my life, I go from planning one trip to the next so I am not a "been one place in the world" kind of person. There are too many gorgeous places in the world to quibble.

TTess

Stu - I agree with you. Bixy Bridge, too - fabulous. The lighthouse, the bluffs, the waterfalls, the whales, the edges of the earth viewed from Nepenthe. Sorry, folks, no McDonald's drive-ins...just Mother Nature at her finest.

neurogeek

I'd make Sonoma a day trip from SF. I think it's good that you're planning to go there instead of Napa. Many more free wine tastings and not as many people. I'd bring a picnic lunch because there aren't too many places to eat around there, unless you make reservations way in advance. A lot of the wineries have places to eat, but don't offer much food. I'd drive down the coast and get on highway 1 before Monterey. You'll take 101 past San Jose. If you're into shopping Gilroy is south of San Jose and has the best outlet mall around, anywhere. It's fantastically fun. Once you're in Monterey, do 17 mile drive, and then hang out in Carmel for the day. We love staying overnight in Monterey. It's so fun to walk around. If you think at all you'd enjoy the aquarium, I'd highly recommend that. I think if you do 17 mile drive you'll see a lot of the coast and not have to spend 10 hours along the windy roads. There is also this great, not-really-well-frequented park just south of 17 mile drive. I don't remember the name, but it's great. Just as good as any of the big name parks, with awesome views off the cliffs. If you're making the way down to LA, I'd take 101 the rest of the way. You'll have seen some of the coast, but still be able to make good time. Nice stops along the way are San Luis Obispo, about half way between SF and LA. It's a very cute town with a great downtown and a farmers market that is great. I think Wednesday nights. They've got a few wineries in Paso Robles, just north of there that are worth it. South of San Luis is Santa Barbara, where the downtown is one of my favorite places. Then down to LA....Have a great time!

neurogeek

Just remembered, Point Lobos State Reserve is the park south of Monterey and Carmel. Totally worth the extra couple minute trip there.

Barblab

Don't know what time of year you are going but I would let the weather be my deciding factor. If it is foggy take 101. Otherwise take Hwy 1. It is truely amazing, not to be missed, and in my opinion one of the top things to see in California if you enjoy coastline drives. It is a wonderful contrast to the crowded cities as it is verturally unpopulated. Go, take the time to enjoy it, you will not be sorry.

sequoia370

I don't think anyone is getting hot under the collar about Big Sur being described as "underwhelming". Just trying to explain the place. Big Sur needs some time to appreciate, if you are planning on getting to LA the same day, it's best skipped. You need to take the time to appreciate the area, although you can drive through it in a few hours, there isn't much point in doing so. You need at least a full day there, a full day where you're not thinking about what you could've done, or wanting to get somewhere to do other things. You need to let it "sink in".

The same goes for shopping in Carmel or visiting the Monterey Bay Aquarium or Hearst Castle. If you skip what you really want to do, or are concentrating on getting somewhere else, of course you're going to think that where you are is just an impediment to what you really want to do.

janisj

No one slammed you schnauzer. We were explaining WHY folks often don't "get" Big Sur. Not a personal attack that I could see. I don't care one way or the other if someone loves or hates Big Sur.

schnauzer

Sorry to get a bit hoity toity. I fully understand we did not give the whole area enough time to really appreciate it. But I didn't want to come across as some empty headed shopping bimbo more interested in eating at Macdonalds as some posters seems to believe. I love the wild open spaces and understand one needs to dedicate far more time than a quick drive by to fully appreciate such a spot. I think it was more the long drive down to Cambria and then to LA which really wasn't too exciting. It is the problem of coming from overseas too much to see and too little time to take everything in. I agree with Janisj about the cookie cutter approach, it really only skims the surface and leaves you feeling frustrated rather than satisfied.

If anyone wants to visit our coastlines in NSW I would happily show you our local spots when you get here!! Schnauzer

StuDudley

schnauzer

Regarding the McDonalds stuff. This is probably something only a long time local would understand. Big Sur residents and the state of California (the Calif Coastal Commision) try real hard to make Big Sur a "nothing", commerce wise - just pristine coastline. I've been going there several times a year for over 40 years. I like it because there are no McDonalds or any other tacky things. There really isn't much there at all - except beautiful coastline. The people from both LA, SF, and the locals prefer it as it is. There was a big stink when Ventana Lodge was built, and even a bigger one when it was expanded in the 70s. You can't even tell Post Ranch Inn is there - it blends in so nicely. The owner of PRI knew that the only way to build their property was to make it as invisable as possible. These are the only vestiages of "luxury" in Big Sur - except for the luxury of sitting at Nepenthe as the sun sets, and then huddled around the campfire there. Most everything else along the entire coast from just south of Carmel to San Simeon, is quite rustic and sparce - just the way we like it.

I've spent many days at Pfeiffer Beach, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, camping at Pfeiffer State Park (lots of Pfeiffer names here), and nothing is better.

The McDonalds comment was nothing more than a statement that Big Sur lacks the McDonalds look & feel like many other places in Calif have. If you re-read the McDonalds statement with this in mind, I think you'll realize that it was a statement about the lack of McDonalds along Big Sur - not a slam at you.

Also, several years ago, Carmel banned fast food places and chain stores. Monterey did not - and you can tell the difference (Cannery Row is tacky, IMO).

Stu Dudley

TTess

<<Author: schnauzer

Sorry to get a bit hoity toity. I fully understand we did not give the whole area enough time to really appreciate it.>>

Schnauzer - no worries, we really didn't take it as hoity toity, it wasn't at all. It was hoi polloi.