SF to Big Sur road trip

Old Aug 13th, 2013, 12:13 AM
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SF to Big Sur road trip

We are going to be in SF next May for at least 3 weeks, touring the area and visiting our daughter. We are not rushed for time at all. We like culture, art, quirky places, the outdoors, music performances and hiking. My husband has health problems so we can't go in for long or difficult hikes. We want to rent a car and travel down highway 1 as far as the Big Sur at a leisurely pace. Would 4 days be enough? I was thinking 4 nights / 5 days taking into account driving and the fact that my husband needs an afternoon rest. Is there a place where we could stay at a hotel and use it as a hub to explore the area?
My daughter can help us with the sites but she is more of a "let's camp out in nature" person and we are definitely "hotel room" people.
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Old Aug 13th, 2013, 10:56 AM
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A 4 night/5 day trip would be great. Maybe 1 night either in the San Mateo coast/Half Moon Bay or the Santa Cruz/Capitola areas and the rest in Carmel/Monterey/Pacific Grove.

It really doesn't matter which of Carmel/Monterey/Pacific Grove you stay. They are all next door to each other - mainly depends on which hotel/B&B catches your fancy.

That would be a great base for Big Sur one day, Monterey one day, and Carmel/Pebble Beach and even some wineries the rest of the time.
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Old Aug 13th, 2013, 04:52 PM
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Sounds like a fun trip! I've lived in the Big Sur area for 20 years and I would recommend the following.
* Half Moon Bay - Make sure to dine at Pasta Moon. Delicious!
* Monterey - Stay at Intercontinental The Clement Monterey and check out the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Just a short block away.
* Carmel - La Playa Hotel which is in Carmel-by-the-Sea so close to everything. Eat at Grasings. Amazing food and drinks!Lots & lots of art galleries here!
* Carmel Vallely - Bernardus Lodge. Beautiful rooms, almost always sunny. Great wine tasting in the area. Amazing food!
* Big Sur - Glen Oaks Big Sur. Very nice, upscale renovated rooms, cottages & cabins. "Affordable Big Sur" prices. Hidden gem in Big Sur. Perfect location for hiking (Andrew Molera State Park 2 miles north & Pfeiffer State Park 2 miles south. Pfeiffer Beach 2.5 miles south. Great food across the highway at Big Sur Roadhouse! Check out Henry Miller Library while in Big Sur. Good luck and happy travels!!!
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Old Aug 14th, 2013, 01:12 PM
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In the Carmel area is Mission Ranch (Clint's place), Monterey ~ Casa Munras, Hotel Abrego, Pacific Grove has lots of nice B&Bs, walking trails along the ocean, new Beach house restaurant at Lovers Point. Everything is close.
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Old Aug 14th, 2013, 10:37 PM
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Thanks for your help. Most of the hotels/lodges sound nice but expensive. Is there average priced lodging in the area?
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Old Aug 14th, 2013, 11:56 PM
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What do you mean by 'average cost'? What is average cost in Topeka is not average in Carmel. What is your actua budget?

This is not an inexpensive area for accommodations. It is a world famous/ scenic area.
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Old Aug 15th, 2013, 11:31 AM
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Mission Ranch has rooms starting at $120--that is inexpensive for Carmel!!!
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Old Aug 15th, 2013, 11:39 AM
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I stayed here last year- nice, clean, quiet- close to beach and walking trail,
There are no amenities such as pool or restaurant but I did not need those things as we basically just slept there.

http://www.gosunsetinn.com/default-en.html
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Old Aug 15th, 2013, 06:47 PM
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You could try finding a room in Seaside, there is an Embassy Suites there that would only be a 10 min drive to Monterey, 20 min. to Carmel.
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Old Aug 15th, 2013, 08:02 PM
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nancytwo: That Embassy Suites is fine -- but nearly double the OPs budget. Weekends run over $185/night
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Old Aug 15th, 2013, 11:31 PM
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I've also been checking - we really just need a clean (very important) place to stay (no frills - don't need a spa or a pool and we'd be eating out anyhow.) since there is so much to do in the area. I saw that there are also plenty of motels/small hotels with prices that are more suitable. We're from abroad and we're going to be in the States for 6 weeks so we have to watch our budget. We're renting a car so if a hotel is cheaper because it's an extra 10 minute drive to the restaurants and sites, it will be worth it.
I'd love to splash out on something more expensive but it's just a question of where you want to spend your money, isn't it?
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Old Aug 25th, 2013, 06:46 AM
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You mention that you like the outdoors/quirky places. You might want to check out Rosehaven Cabins. They are in the Carmel/Big Sur area. They are not in town so it is a bit of a drive but they are rustic, private cabins that are great. The bathroom is located outside and it is a fun experience to shower and soak in the tub surrounded in nature. My husband and I discovered these a few years ago and have returned year after year (we will be there in a couple of weeks). The website is www.rosehavencabins.com
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Old Aug 25th, 2013, 10:18 PM
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If you like music and quirky then be sure to check out the Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society in Half Moon Bay. There are only Sunday performances and it is located in The Douglas Beach House right by the ocean in Miramar area of Half Moon Bay.
It is very popular and does sell out. Their website is www.bachddsoc.org
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Old Aug 26th, 2013, 02:22 AM
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Here's a link if you would like to go to the symphony while you are in SF. Very doable on a budget! The symphony is great. You can buy center terrace tickets (unassigned seats) in advance for only $15.
http://www.sfsymphony.org/Buy-Tickets/Discount-Tickets

The Legion of Honor Museum and DeYoung Museum also offer free admission on the first Tuesday of the month, if you are lucky to be there at that time. The Asian Art Museum offers admission for $5 on Thursday evenings. Though you will have to pay extra for entrance to "special" exhibitions. You can get to all of these museum using public transit (the bus system is called MUNI).

Four nights/five days is fine for your south-of-San Francisco Pacific Coast Highway drive.

Point Lobos State Park just minutes south of Carmel on Highway One is beautiful, not too much hiking required. You can often see endangered sea otters from lookouts here. Don't miss it.

You can see elephant seals at Piedras Blancas near San Simeon (about two hours drive south of Carmel). No hiking required. You can also them at Ano Nuevo State Park, between Santa Cruz and San Francisco. A bit of hiking is required.
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=571
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=523

As you will be in SF for three weeks, I hope you will take the time to rent a car for a day and see the area north of the Golden Gate Bridge as well (Highway One North), at the very least the coastal parks of Marin County.
http://www.nps.gov/goga/index.htm
http://www.stinsonbeachonline.com/points.html
http://www.nps.gov/muwo/index.htm
http://www.nps.gov/pore/index.htm

Have you looked at the Wikipedia link?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_State_Route_1
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Old Aug 26th, 2013, 02:25 AM
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Forgot to include this link about viewing the elephants seals.
http://traveltips.usatoday.com/time-...ca-106680.html
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Old Aug 27th, 2013, 07:42 AM
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Thanks for all the tips! Those of you who have done this trip or live in the area - should we start on Highway 1 from SF or after Santa Cruz? Is there anything special to see in Santa Cruz itself?
We've decided to do the wine tour part of our visit in the Carmel Valley (instead of Napa). I've found information on the Internet but any suggestions from your own experience?
For the time we spend in SF and close by, my daughter who has lived in SF for 7 years has willingly volunteered to be our guide.
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Old Aug 27th, 2013, 07:53 AM
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Sant Cruz has the board walk/carnival rides. Before Memorial day the boardwalk may only be open on weekends (not sure when exactly they start daily operations - but the website should have the info), beaches/surfers, a nearby steam train through Redwoods - just a funky beach town and worth a stop if you have the time. Then just along Monterey Bay from there are Capitola - a pretty waterside town, and Aptos/Seacliff beach.


On Hwy 1 between SF and Santa Cruz along the San Mateo County coast are Half Moon Bay and some pretty scenery. But w/ any sort of time crunch you can safely skip this bit and either pick up hwy 1 in Santa Cruz or take it faster and start the coastal drive near Monterey.
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Old Aug 27th, 2013, 09:01 AM
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Start the drive on CA1 in San Francisco. The stretch from Pacifica to Santa Cruz is beautiful.
The flower fields will be blooming and you have a chance to see the last of the migrating whales headed north. They often stop for a rest for the babies in the coves along this area. It is quite a sight to see the babies playing. We have seen them as late as the end of May.
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Old Aug 27th, 2013, 09:21 PM
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This Santa Cruz Tourism website will help:
http://www.santacruzca.org

There are beautiful redwood forests around Santa Cruz and a few excellent wineries in the vicinity, including legendary Ridge Vineyards' Montebello Tasting room:
http://www.ridgewine.com/Visit/Visit...asting%20Rooms
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ridge_Vineyards
Also notable: Boony Doon Vineyard. Its Santa Cruz tasting room closed in June and it is now only open by appt.
https://www.bonnydoonvineyard.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonny_Doon_Vineyard
There are more vineyards listed on the Santa Cruz Tourism website.

I agree the drive from Point Lobos, past Big Sur and down to San Simeon is the most dramatically beautiful part of the Highway One drive, but the drive north of Santa Cruz is also beautiful, though more pastoral and agricultural. When you get to San Francisco, I recommend you wander into a bookstore and have a look at the California Coastal Access Guide:
http://www.coastal.ca.gov/access/accessguide.html

Año Nuevo State Park is truly special for its population of elephant seals. It is about a 28-minute drive north of Santa Cruz. The seals return to the beach to molt in May.
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1115
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Año_Nuevo_State_Park
Here's an interesting short You Tube about the elephants seals of Año Nuevo (pronounced as An-yo Nway-vo):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymcdYdW151k

There are some other coastal highlights on the drive between San Francisco and Santa Cruz, such as the tide pools at Moss Beach/Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, Pigeon Point Lighthouse, Pescadero Beach State Park, San Gregorio State Beach, the community of Half Moon Bay. Some friends of mine recently enjoyed a stay in private room at the Montara Beach Lighthouse hostel. There is also a hostel at Pigeon Pt. Lighthouse.
http://norcalhostels.org/montara/features
http://norcalhostels.org/pigeon/features

Regarding the routes you might take. We generally travel south to Santa Cruz via the coast from Pacifica but return north from Santa Cruz via an inland route that take us along windy rural roads, through the redwood forests and small communities (from Santa Cruz Highway 17 to Skyline Blvd./State Route 35 to Woodside Road/Highway 84 before picking up the multi-lane Highway 280.) This is more challenging driving. You can also continue north from Santa Cruz along the coast (Cabrillo Highway) to San Gregorio, where you can pick up Highway 84, which snakes it way to Highway 280. Or drive farther up the coast to Half Moon Bay, where you can pick up San Mateo Road, which will also take you to Highway 280. Forgive me if my directions are poor and perhaps a bit off, as my husband does the more difficult driving. But I am sure you will be buying a road map when you get to SF.

Meanwhile, you might want to have a look at these other postings about the drive between SF and Santa Cruz:
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...fran-to-la.cfm
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic...alifornia.html
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic...alifornia.html

Again, please take time to see the areas north of the Golden Gate Bridge. The Marin County coast is stunning. Bodega Bay, in southern Sonoma County is a wonderful place to stop for lunch. The drive from the coast along the Russian River Valley to the Sonoma Wine Country is lovely. The wines of Sonoma are among the world's best. Ideally you would need two days, but recently we covered all these areas in a day (we were taking around friends visiting from abroad). We made it back to the city with enough time to make it to that evening's opera.
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Old Aug 27th, 2013, 09:51 PM
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Here's another useful HIghway One link, though it starts off in Monterey:
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com...ast-road-trip/
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