Looking for plans en route to Monterey area from San Jose airport. Would like to take a coastal route and noticed the Santa Cruz area; is there anything more than the boardwalk there? Willing to stop anywhere along the route to Monterey. Love natural sites, unique sites, hiking or anything outdoorsy and fun. Any suggestions?

Also, what can anyway tell me about the Bide-A-Wee cottages in Pacific Grove near Monterey?

I forgot to mention...will be heading out to California next week, 5/11/07

Santa Cruz is a beach town. There is a funky area of shops and of course the coast is pretty. You could take 17 to Santa Cruz and head right (north) along 1 a hair to see Natural Bridges, the lighthouse and some really good surfers if you're there at the right time of day. Then head down 1 to Monterey. Be careful of rush hour on 1, though, I hear it's a nightmare.

Thanks, it's a good thing we'll be traveling south on a Saturday to avoid the commuters. And everyone I talk to warns me about the traffic and congestion in CA. I thought I was going to leave all that behind on the east coast!

njgirl: when you leave San Jose Airport the freeway is I 880 southbound. Around Los Gatos it turns into Highway 17.

Getting out of the airport can be a bit confusing. At one point there are four/five lanes, each one leading to a different highway or area of the airport. Watch for the I-880 southbound signs. Also when you come to the tunnel, do NOT stay in the right hand lane, stay in the lane to go UNDER the tunnel to enter the freeway.

Welcome to California!

We have traffic, but coming from NJ, it will not phase you. One of my friends who grew up here moved to NJ about 10 years ago. She comes back to Santa Cruz and San Jose regularly and just loves our traffic The first time I went back there to visit her, she drove us into Manhattan through the Lincoln Tunnel so I could experience "real" traffic - LOL.

On the way to Monterey, heading over Hwy 17, you will go through the Santa Cruz mountains. I don't know how much time you have, but there are a couple state parks with some nice redwood groves. Henry Cowell state park is right near the town of Felton and about 10-15 minutes from Hwy 17. Big Basin state park is further from the highway, I would say 30 minutes from Scotts Valley.

I don't know anything about the Bide-A-Wee cottages, but Pacific Grove is a nice place.

Unless you head north as suggested by MonicaRichards, hwy 1 south is least interesting between Santa Cruz and Monterey. But stop by Henry Cowell State park on your way to Santa Cruz to walk among the redwoods.

My head will be filled with such fresh air by the end of vacation! I love it!

Roaring Camp - old steam railroad ride through a redwood grove near Felton is a potential stop worth making. If you have some extra time, the drive over highway 9 is fairly scenic (and the loop around through Big Basin state park even more so); they are slow, winding mountain roads.

I don't know how much time you have or what time of day you'll be driving through, but a stop in Capitola might be nice.
You'd take the Bay Ave. exit off of Highway 1, stay to the right and follow the signs to Capitola Village. There is a short wharf to stroll and you can walk out along the seawall and watch the surfers. For a bite to eat with an ocean view you could try Stockton Bridge Grill or Paradise Grill. You probably get good pizza in NJ, but if you want pizza try Pizza My Heart. You can get it to go and eat on a bench over-looking the Monterey Bay.
Have fun.

The Monterey area is so fabulous especially if you love the outdoors and ocean, I would head directly there. You can spend more time in Big Sur, Monterey (aquarium, tour historic homes, fabulous walks), Pacific Grove (rent a peddle bike and bike around the bay, visit the Monarch Butterfly grove, shop) Carmel (quaint shops and art galleries, spend time on the beach, great restaurants, Pebble Beach for lunch)Point Lobos for a picnic and nature walk, and even head further south to visit Hearst Castle if you have the time. There are a lot of great state parks to visit with fabulous hiking opportunities.