StuDudley

IMO, that's a long drive from Santa Barbara to San Diego. With no traffic, it will take about 4 hours if you don't exceed the speed limit by much. However, you plan to do this on a Friday "get-away day" - so you'll hit lots of traffic - and you'll be driving on non-scenic LA/Orange Co freeways for most of the time. I would budget a 5 1/2 hr trip - or maybe even 6 hrs if it is worse than usual. So, if you leave SB at 9am, you'll get to San Diego about 2:30-3pm.

If this was my trip and I wanted some beach time, I would probably visit Hearst Castle, stay overnight in Cambria, then drive down to Santa Barbara, do the beach, spend 1-2 nights there, and head to the LAX area after the evening rush hour. Stay overnight near LAX & catch the early flight home in the AM.

If you want more/different beach stuff - I would go to Malibu. I'm not a fan of the Santa Monica/Venice beach scene. I did that in my youth, but I much preferred Laguna Beach (where I lived for 5 yrs after getting married) to anything in the LA area. I worked in Carlsbad when I lived in Laguna Beach.

Stu Dudley

Tomsd

Yo Stu: Santa Barbara is nice but it has much less to do/see than San Diego.

Plus the coast route options I suggested from SB to SD is a scenic treat - and you miss much of the freeways - and time will fly by as you drive.

And Friday or not - if you clear LA 3 PM - heading to SD - you will be fine.

At Cambria - check out Moonstone Beach - for a great selection of places on the ocean/beach. https://www.google.com/#q=Moonstone+beach+cambria

StuDudley

Tom - I usually provide an estimate of driving time when it is a factor. According to Mapquest, the "quickest" time is 4 hrs from SB to SD with no traffic. What is the Mapquest estimate for your suggested scenic route side-trips??? After growing up in LA - "Los Angeles freeways/driving" and "scenic" normally don't exist together. I don't consider the drive by Camp Pendelton to be scenic (I drove it twice a workday for 4 1/2 years).

BTW, once you clear the LA area - you then get the Orange Co freeway commute. I got off work at 4pm, and the "factory" got off at 3:30 (I think) - and then we all hit the freeway to get home. We were on Palomar Airport Road in Carlsbad - just off US #5.

Stu Dudley

janisj

Tom - SD may in fact have more to see/do than SB . . . BUT since they'd have to drive half a day farther in almost certainly nasty traffic, through some of the least scenic bits of SoCal, just to get there it isn't worth the hassle IMO.

In fact, I personally wouldn't even go as far as SB, but at least that would be better than all the way to SB.

janisj

Oops - that should say >>..... than all the way to SD

Tomsd

Stu - driving down PCH from just south of Ventura - turning off at Oxnard - on past Malibu - to freeway 10 at Santa Monica/just north of LAX - adds about 30+ minutes (or can actually cut time if the freeways are jammed) - and it's very enjoyable. see: http://traffic411.com/santa-monica-staycations-2/ We never tire of this drive.

About the same - 30+ minutes if you take Carlsbad Blvd (formerly Elm) street - over to PCH - and take that down to say La Jolla. Here's what Forbes had to say: http://blog.forbestravelguide.com/ex...-coast-highway

Never tire of this drive either.

MmePerdu

I think a version of Plan A, San Francisco, Monterey/Big Sur & Cambria (for Hearst Castle), then some Central CA wine country still makes the most sense. Biting off S. CA too will be a mistake, I think. One or the other, SFO & Central CA - OR - S. CA coast & SD. Give yourself plenty of wiggle room and it usually turns out to be just about right, anywhere.

Paquintravel

You could fly into Reno and out of San Fran or visa versa. I liked your idea of seeing Lake Tahoe..during the week the traffic is not bad. The hiking is great and the views incredible. The temps there in July are 75-80 degrees. Stay there for three days then go to Napa or go to the coast. The Russian River area is fun for kayaking, wine tasting and you can stay on the coast. The average temp in Napa in July is around 77 degrees. Then stay in SF and explore the city. Why drive from SF to SD unless you want to be in the car all of the time. Split your time between two or three areas and do some short day trips. Happy Anniversary.

StuDudley

>>The average temp in Napa in July is around 77 degrees.

Supercilious

The climate of the Napa Valley is quite temperate. That's why it's such a great place to grow cool climate grapes. Average temps in the lower Valley in July will be mostly in the low 80's and even cooler than that if you are in the city of Napa or in Carneros.

Here's a graph that shows average temps for Napa.

http://weatherspark.com/averages/296...-United-States

I suppose low 80's would be quite warm for folks who live in San Francisco where temps are in the 60's in July but for most people in the US, the climate should feel perfect.

Calistoga is 30 miles north of Napa and is in a box canyon sort of, so it doesn't get the amount of fog that Napa does. Consequently, it can be 10 to 15 degrees warmer there on any given summer day. The nights can be warmer too and quite balmy for dining alfresco whereas Napa get get chilly in the evening.

stevehatton

I live in Napa, and travel with my wife quite a bit to all of the areas you mention. Here are a couple of questions. Do you want a vacation with a ton of car time, or do you want a vacation with three to four hours of car time and then a few days in a few great places?

Napa is really NOT hot in July. August or early September? Yes. July, NO.

If It were me, I would fly into San Francisco and drive immediately to Napa. I would spend Saturday and Sunday in the Valley. Saturday I would spend visiting a couple of wineries and Sunday I would chill at the pool or have a nice picnic with a couple of the good wines I purchased. There are too many good restaurants to visit depending on what type of food you like, and the opportunity for romance is all over the place when planned correctly.

Monday I would get up early and drive the three hours to Monterey and Carmel area. I would spend Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday in the area. Beach, hiking, food, and exercise opportunities abound. I am leaving for the area tomorrow for two days, and it is really a straight shot.

Thursday I would drive back to San Francisco and spend Friday and Saturday there as well. There is too much to mention doing, but I would be happy to help with suggestions if I knew what type of vacation you seek.

I think minimizing the driving is key if you are visiting California for less that two weeks.

Just my opinion.

Steve