Yosemite and California Itinerary; need help, please
Jun 12th, 2010, 09:17 PM
#22
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What a great trip! I can say that I was less than impressed with Cambria over all - I did a short trip report that I will find for you that also includes Santa Monica and a stop over in Santa Barbara (for lunch).
Jun 12th, 2010, 09:22 PM
#23
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Some information on SB, Cambria and Santa Monica.
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...nta-monica.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...nta-monica.cfm
Jun 13th, 2010, 05:35 AM
#24
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I'm with Dawn, Cambria is so so. If you can make it just 40 min further south to Shell Beach, the Cliffs Hotel should be in your price range and its right on the ocean side of thee road with beach access... the rooms have just been redone and tracelzoo has $99 deals sometimes! 
Worth a try.
When you make your decisions for the areas you are staying we will be able to help more with food recommendations too.
Hope your planning is going well!
Worth a try.When you make your decisions for the areas you are staying we will be able to help more with food recommendations too.
Hope your planning is going well!
Jun 14th, 2010, 10:12 AM
#26
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I have a new question today: I have been searching and it does seem like Cambria is the best location for seeing Hearst Castle and Piedras Blancas elephant seal rookery.
Is this the case? Is there a better location?
onemoneygirl: Shell Beach and the Cliffs Hotel may not be the exact names of the places you are referring to, or are they? I found something similar, but I'm not sure. Also, it seems expensive for my budget; are there other nearby places that you are aware of that might be less?
Thanks.
Is this the case? Is there a better location?
onemoneygirl: Shell Beach and the Cliffs Hotel may not be the exact names of the places you are referring to, or are they? I found something similar, but I'm not sure. Also, it seems expensive for my budget; are there other nearby places that you are aware of that might be less?
Thanks.
Jun 14th, 2010, 11:24 AM
#27
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You could stay right in the little town of San Simeon, there is a nice Best Western there that is right on the ocean, and Cambria for dinner is just a few miles down the road.
In Shell Beach there are several hotels with rather similar names that all sit up on the cliffs, they are nicely located but yes, rather pricey. The town of Pismo Beach itself will have some cheaper places, but not quite as nice. One good one is the Kon Tiki, it sits on the bluff within walking distance of town, but it may still be a bit too much $$.
How are you thinking about fitting Hearst Castle in to your days of driving over from Sequoia then heading down to LA?
In Shell Beach there are several hotels with rather similar names that all sit up on the cliffs, they are nicely located but yes, rather pricey. The town of Pismo Beach itself will have some cheaper places, but not quite as nice. One good one is the Kon Tiki, it sits on the bluff within walking distance of town, but it may still be a bit too much $$.
How are you thinking about fitting Hearst Castle in to your days of driving over from Sequoia then heading down to LA?
Jun 14th, 2010, 12:08 PM
#28
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Tuscan - I was not overly impressed with the 300.00 a night room. It was very beachy and that is fine but not for 300.00 a night - they all seemed about the same in Cambria - beachy so if you can find something for less I would go with that.
I stayed in Pismo Beach years ago in a hotel on the beach and it was fine - I do not recall the name and it would have been so long ago that I could not recommend it anyway - but I also do not recall it being expensive.
I stayed in Pismo Beach years ago in a hotel on the beach and it was fine - I do not recall the name and it would have been so long ago that I could not recommend it anyway - but I also do not recall it being expensive.
Jun 15th, 2010, 05:04 PM
#30
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To me, it sounds like a lot of effort to get over to the beach at Cambria, unless you really, really have your heart set on seeing Hearst Castle. Since you are going to LA anyway, why not ask some Fodorites for good, relaxing beach areas in West LA? We have spent some time in Santa Monica and liked it, and there are some great beaches a bit north of that. Getty Villa is fabulous, and worth the visit. There is a lot to do in LA area and great inexpensive food options.
Jun 15th, 2010, 07:56 PM
#33
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I have heard that the Best Western in San Simeon is nice and a great choice for that area. If you really want to see the castle and spend time in that area, then it will be fine.
There is much more to see and do in Santa Barbara, however, you will NOT find an inexpensive room there.
This area can be a bit confusing... there are five towns, Pismo Beach, Shell Beach, Grover Beach, Arroyo Grande and Oceano that are locally referred to as " the five cities." The CLiffs hotel is actually in Shell Beach but may be listed as Pismo Beach in some travel publications. travelzoo sometimes has great deals, but perhaps not for your dates.
Another alternative would be to spend the night somewhere like Santa Maria at the Holiday Inn or Radisson or even the Santa Maria Inn where you are further inland and an hour south of Cambria and an hour north of Santa Barbara.
This would enable you to spend a day in Cambria and tour the castle and have dinner at the beach, in Morro Bay, perhaps... derive to SM for night and then leave to Santa Barbara in the morning... giving you a full day there and then you could continue to Los Angeles AFTER rush hour traffic.
Depending on the rest of your trip, that may be the most economical way for you to spend time in the places you want see! Hope this helps.
There is much more to see and do in Santa Barbara, however, you will NOT find an inexpensive room there.
This area can be a bit confusing... there are five towns, Pismo Beach, Shell Beach, Grover Beach, Arroyo Grande and Oceano that are locally referred to as " the five cities." The CLiffs hotel is actually in Shell Beach but may be listed as Pismo Beach in some travel publications. travelzoo sometimes has great deals, but perhaps not for your dates.
Another alternative would be to spend the night somewhere like Santa Maria at the Holiday Inn or Radisson or even the Santa Maria Inn where you are further inland and an hour south of Cambria and an hour north of Santa Barbara.
This would enable you to spend a day in Cambria and tour the castle and have dinner at the beach, in Morro Bay, perhaps... derive to SM for night and then leave to Santa Barbara in the morning... giving you a full day there and then you could continue to Los Angeles AFTER rush hour traffic.
Depending on the rest of your trip, that may be the most economical way for you to spend time in the places you want see! Hope this helps.
Jun 16th, 2010, 05:33 AM
#34
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Holy moley; this is confusing.
I tend to dislike opulent houses, and find the entire Hearst story a tad creepy, but in many trips to N. CA we never made it there. So I was think of trying it.
I want to get to the ocean as soon as possible upon leaving Seqouia. I could skip the more central coastal area and go for 4 nights in an LA beach town. So, 2 in Yosemite, 1 in Sequoia, 4 in LA, which leaves lots of time for beach type visits, I guess.
There was just something romantic about spending a beach night away from a major town that was calling to me. And I had two recs (one here, one from my cousin) for the BW Cavalier Hotel at San Simeon.
Any thoughts?
I tend to dislike opulent houses, and find the entire Hearst story a tad creepy, but in many trips to N. CA we never made it there. So I was think of trying it.
I want to get to the ocean as soon as possible upon leaving Seqouia. I could skip the more central coastal area and go for 4 nights in an LA beach town. So, 2 in Yosemite, 1 in Sequoia, 4 in LA, which leaves lots of time for beach type visits, I guess.
There was just something romantic about spending a beach night away from a major town that was calling to me. And I had two recs (one here, one from my cousin) for the BW Cavalier Hotel at San Simeon.
Any thoughts?
Jun 16th, 2010, 06:24 AM
#35
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It is confusing. For me I would go straight to LA and spend it in the area and get to the beach there- yes, it is a much different beach than the C. Coast but I would not want to keep moving around.
Onemoney you are right -it is pricey in SB.
Onemoney you are right -it is pricey in SB.
Jun 16th, 2010, 06:59 AM
#36
Jun 16th, 2010, 09:10 AM
#37
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Any thoughts?
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I think you need to decide if you are doing Hearst castle or not. If you are, then it's probably best to stay at BW San Simeon. If you decide you would like to see Santa Barbara as an overnight stay- check out hotels in Goleta, which is the next town north of Santa Barbara. They aren't as expensive if budget is a concern.
If it were me and I wanted to see Hearst Castle; I'd leave Sequoia in the am, check into Best Western San Simeon, do a late afternoon or night tour at Hearst Castle. The next morning I would have breakfast in Cambria, stop by Santa Barbara for a couple of hours and then head to LA. If you take Highway 1 via 101 Oxnard you will save time and it's a much more scenic route.
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I think you need to decide if you are doing Hearst castle or not. If you are, then it's probably best to stay at BW San Simeon. If you decide you would like to see Santa Barbara as an overnight stay- check out hotels in Goleta, which is the next town north of Santa Barbara. They aren't as expensive if budget is a concern.
If it were me and I wanted to see Hearst Castle; I'd leave Sequoia in the am, check into Best Western San Simeon, do a late afternoon or night tour at Hearst Castle. The next morning I would have breakfast in Cambria, stop by Santa Barbara for a couple of hours and then head to LA. If you take Highway 1 via 101 Oxnard you will save time and it's a much more scenic route.
Jun 16th, 2010, 10:03 AM
#38
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My thoughts mirror SOCALOC's almost exactly. However, I think Hearst Castle should be on your "must see" list, since you're going to be right there. You can decide for yourself whether it's too opulent. Hearst's wife allegedly didn't like it much because it wasn't luxurious enough! I think you will find it interesting as a well preserved slice of history. A day tour would be better than a night tour because one reason Hearst selected the site was the great view.
In your original post you said you wanted to spend at least 2 nights on the coast. You can do that with 2 nights in San Simeon, or 1 night in San Simeon and 1 in Santa Barbara/Goleta.
In your original post you said you wanted to spend at least 2 nights on the coast. You can do that with 2 nights in San Simeon, or 1 night in San Simeon and 1 in Santa Barbara/Goleta.
Jun 17th, 2010, 04:00 PM
#39
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dbdurand: please don't hold me to anything I said in my OP. ;-)
The wealth of information here has changed my mind several times.
Some say don't miss Hearst Castle, others say it can be missed. I'm not sure how I feel about it, other than conflicted. I may leave that one up to DH.
I do think that 4 stops is too many. After Yosemite, might I trade Sequoia for the Central Coast? What do others think?
I'm really not looking for a beach vacation, but was attracted to the natural beauty of the C. Coast.
Jean: I was getting into Santa Monica, with the art walk, cool shops, etc. Would Manhattan Beach be similar?
The wealth of information here has changed my mind several times.
Some say don't miss Hearst Castle, others say it can be missed. I'm not sure how I feel about it, other than conflicted. I may leave that one up to DH.
I do think that 4 stops is too many. After Yosemite, might I trade Sequoia for the Central Coast? What do others think?
I'm really not looking for a beach vacation, but was attracted to the natural beauty of the C. Coast.
Jean: I was getting into Santa Monica, with the art walk, cool shops, etc. Would Manhattan Beach be similar?
Jun 17th, 2010, 05:41 PM
#40
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I have to say I love Santa Monica - love the 3rd street promanade - love being able to walk/ride bikes... it is really fun imo - great places to eat, people watch, beautiful beaches... if you go and want a yummy dinner try BOA steak house. Excellent.
