My spouse and I are driving from Houston to Monterey, California late July. we want to slowly drive along I-20 to Needles,California. Then go around LA and leisurely travel from Santa Barbara up Hwy 1 through San Simeon to Monterey. We'll stay seven nights in Monterey. I went to High School there. It's been many years, but we have several friends to see there. we wish to take day trips from Monterey to Big Sur, Salinas, Santa Cruz,explore Monterey Peninsula. After one week we wish to travel up to Bay area visit some family, then see Sonoma wine country. Perhaps take the train through? We then want to go to Reno, see friends there and leisurely drive back through West(Nevada,Utah, down to Houston.
Any thoughts anyone?

Sounds great - except I would get through Needles and that desert stretch as quickly as possible. It will be really hot!

How long do you have for this trip?

Lee Ann

What a great trip. Since you're driving from Houston and considering such a long trip, I must concur that you're an oilman, otherwise, you wouldn't spend this kind of $ on gas.

Needles will be very hot, but you probably realize that. Be careful in Salinas, they have gangs and a murder a week, these days. Don't forget to explore Pt. Lobos and the aquarium. How long has it been since you've been out here? Hwy 68 in Monterey has many more housing developments than they did 15 years ago.

My spouse and I are in no hurry. We do have reservations for seven nights in Monterey. Other than that we can take three or four days enroute from Houston and five to seven days returning from Bay Area.
Thanks
Fosterag

TTess: I have visited numbers of times since 1960 when my family left Monterey. My heart is still in Monterey. Hwy 68 is near where a friend lives. wee will probably drive near there.
Thanks,
Fosterag