Hi All,

Planning a trip to CA over Christmas holidays and have to be in LA on the 24th. Would like to know the feasibility of flying into SF, spending a few days there, an afternoon in Sonoma Valley perhaps..then a drive down to Monterey (for one day) and then LA...all of this in 6 days?

When are you arriving into SFO? Your plan is feasible--from Sonoma you can catch I-5 (the speediest route south to LA) fairly easily (Hwy 121 to Hwy 12 to 80S to 780/680 to 580 to I-5). The 24th may be busy--lots of folks on the road--but I have done the drive on the 25th in about 6 hours (low-flying). Just remember to pick up food ahead of time as most everything is closed on the 25th.

That is definitely a reasonable plan - and you wont even have to take the fast boring route that is I-5. You will have time to take the more scenic route.

The major issue that time of year is weather - some heavy rain could make the driving slow and cut into the sightseeing. But we could have fabulous weather.

So 3 days in SF leaves 3 days to get to LA. I'd spend a night in Monterey and a night in Cambria, Morro Bay, or Pismo Beach on the way to LA. If the weather is good, take Hwy 1 through Big Sur between Monterey and San Luis Obispo. Otherwise you can take Hwy 101, which while not on the coast, is reasonably scenic.

Hey there,

Thanks for the replies...I definitely plan to try the scenic route unless bad weather prevents it. I appreciate your help

Actually the bad weather jeopardizes the fast route - I5 - over the grapevine and then the ridge route. That's the area that snows and closes sometimes. Or if it's terribly foggy in the central valley, again I5. So the coastal route is really the better route during the winter. Much more reliable.

Six days is adequate for SF, Sonoma and a drive down the coastal route.

I wouldn't take I-5 in bad weather either. I'd take Hwy 101 south of Monterey. Hwy 1 is the route that goes through Big Sur, which is the most beautiful stretch of coastline on the route, but it is also a 2 lane, curvy road on the side of a cliff. If the weather is good, then take it. If not, then Hwy 101 is a good bet - well maintained freeway, but not in an area subject to fog like I-5 and no high elevations.

From S.F. take the coast road Hwy 1 via Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz to Monterey, check out the incredible Aquarium.

If the weather is not foggy take the 17-mile drive in Carmel (the first few miles you wonder why you paid 10 bucks to look at rich people's garage doors, but stick with it, it will be worth it when you get to the coast). Say Hi to the sea lions, they talk back at you...

Then check with the CHP California Highway Patrol office nearest to Monterey, the one in Salinas, (831) 796-2100, and ask about Highway 1 down the Big Sur stretch.

If it is clear, go for it - great views (but the driver should keep both eyes on the narrow and winding road...). Not a fast drive, but worth it.

Near Pfeiffer look for the ranger station on the Eastern (left) side of the road as you come up a hill, it is a substantial kiosk with parking. Get info about coast access etc., it varies with weather and ground conditions. You might be able to get some cool photos of chilly beach visitors (you) for your brag book.

Further down you get to the Hearst Castle, you need to book in advance if you want to take one of the many tours. Stay the night in San Simeon (not even really a town, just some motels strung along the highway) or, much nicer, a few miles south in the little town of Cambria (there is a part of town on a frontage road by the highway, but the actual town is up above).

Then as you get further south you end up on the 101, which you can stay on all the way to L.A.

But decide if you want to go the nicer way, via the wine country, turning off either at the Hy 154 to Los Olivos, or turn off the 101 a bit further south, first onto the 246 to (Danish transplant) Solvang (stop for a look and for Danish pastries), then the 246 and the 154 merge and you drive along the 154 past Lake Cachuma over the San Marcos Pass (great views once you get to the top and head down into S.B.!).

If the weather report in Monterey/Carmel is not good for Hy 1, drive from Monterey East to Salinas to pick up the 101 South. Once you will have passed the San Luis Obispo area and Santa Maria, the above options of 154 or 246 come into play.

When you get closer to L.A., in Oxnard, get off the 101 at the N.Oxnard Blvd/Highway 1 exit, head south through town, turn left (stll Hy 1) at Wooley, not into Wooley but half-left into Pacific Coast Highway/S. Oxnard Boulevard/Highway 1 (I know, it sounds confusing, but it is still the same main drag).

This is the road to the coast, via Hueneme, Hy 1 that goes to Santa Monica in L.A. through Malibu along the coast for nicer view. Slower than the 101 through the San Fernando Valley (well, that depends on the time of day), but rewarding.

Look for Neptune's Net, a funky but yummy seafood pub on the left a few miles out of Port Hueneme, just after you turn around an incredible rock that marks a turn from heading south to heading East - in uninhabited no-man's-land.

"Can't miss it" - where have you heard that before?