OT: Pacific Coast highway drive

[PaKnight]

I know a pretty little place in Southern California, down San Diego way, a little cafe where they play guitars all night and day, you can hear them in the back room stumming

 

[RUBubba]

Was out there last year for 4 days (without my wife) playing golf. The rental car place screwed up and gave me a Mustang convertible instead of the sedan I asked for. Thankfully my clubs fit in the trunk (nothing else!), I was off. I stayed in Santa Cruz, but made the drive up to Half Moon Bay one day. Easily one of my favorite short drives in my life. Top down..

Wish I had a little more time to get out and explore a little, but I decided I would save that for the next time when I can do it with my wife... either that or there was too much golf to play.

 

[ho26rus]

op
I guess you get the idea that there is so so much to do and the day and a half for the La to san diego portion forces you to rush thru more exciting things then need be

 

[oldtimer67]

Consider stopping off in Solvang for a bit (a little north of Santa Barbara). It's a small Dutch community where you can walk around town and go to a bunch of spots for wine tasting in town or a bit away at the actual vinyard(s). They're also known for chocolate.

Thanks for the Solvang recommendation (it's home) but it is a Danish Village, not Dutch. Just so you know.

 

[RUfromSoCal?]

I'-- but we want it to be natural, the LAST thing we're looking for is some synthetic, phony experience where we're being "try-hards" about it. We're looking to just -- soak it in, man.. Throw inhibition to the wind for a couple of days and explore. s.

yeah, you might want to just skip OC.....................


:) (I know - I live there).......

 

[ho26rus]

Thanks for the Solvang recommendation (it's home) but it is a Danish Village, not Dutch. Just so you know.

regardless I get a pretty good feeling walking those streets.We have nothing like it back east. but it might not be for everybody
on a 5 day trip you are giving up , maybe, half a day

But they could parlay that with lunch and margharitas at Dos Amigos in Santa Ynez

 

[ho26rus]

just a note if you are the driver you need to understand your wife is seeing something quite different fromyou.

There are spots that you will be closer to the edge, with a large drop off, than you would like to be
Not unsafe but she is seeing something quite different than you

Other stuff. if so incline you might be there for two man, women volleyball tournaments that are community events
There is whale watching out of Santa Barbara

You might be timely to the Ventura County Fair. its a pretty serious setup.
Santa Barbara and Ventura have some incredible sand sculptures.

Between Santa Barbara and Carpenteria there is a polo field with a team that plays nationally . I guarantee its different fro any thing you have seen

You can try sailing out of the Santa Barbara yatch club. its not that pricey.

You are close to the dates for the Santa Barbara Film Festival. Its not Cannes but a lot of stars hol a santa Barbara home

consult your map as I think you are on 101 in santa Barbara. To get back on the PCH you need to go west and south towards Oxnard and that insures you drive thru the 30, or so, miles of beaches, and small towns, before you hit Malibu

Unless you have a direct question have a great trip.

 

[RutgersRaRa]

I know a pretty little place in Southern California, down San Diego way, a little cafe where they play guitars all night and day, you can hear them in the back room stumming

Nothing beats a good stum!!

:-)

 

[oldtimer67]

regardless I get a pretty good feeling walking those streets.We have nothing like it back east. but it might not be for everybody
on a 5 day trip you are giving up , maybe, half a day

But they could parlay that with lunch and margharitas at Dos Amigos in Santa Ynez

Sorry to keep making corrections, but it is Dos Carlitos in Santa Ynez.

 

[ho26rus]

Sorry to keep making corrections, but it is Dos Carlitos in Santa Ynez.

yeah you are right. its been a few years

 

[fischy5000]

Thanks for the Solvang recommendation (it's home) but it is a Danish Village, not Dutch. Just so you know.

Sorry, yeah...too much going on while typing. Thanks for correcting.

 

[ho26rus]

oh yeah
when in san Francisco if you can get a window table at the cliff house there are outstanding views

if not there is a viewing platform and go for drinks.... perhaps

 

[RU Husky]

I really liked Hearst Castle. And very close by you might think about an overnight stop, or meal, in Cambria. Look for a hotel along Moonstone Beach Drive. They have a great boardwalk but not quite like what we are used to in NJ.

When I lived in SoCal my wife and I use to love to get away to Cambria and stay in one of the places on Moonstone. Very romantic. Thanks for posting the picture; brings back some great memories.

 

[BOGDANOVICH]

Drive from South to North and experience one of the most transcendent driving experiences anywhere. And visit the beaches with their incredible rock formations and vistas. Most beautuful road in America.

 

[17Q66]

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Please don't call it "San Fran" while you're here.

 

[jellyman]

Second Hurst Castle. It's an awesome experience. Carmel is a couple of hours at best. I wouldn't spend too much time there. Big Sur is beautiful. Anywhere you stop will be amazing.

Post Ranch Inn is a must for a night. It's expensive, but well, well worth it. I would do a night in Big Sur, a night in Paso Robles where you can do a winery or two and see Heart's Castle, hit Santa Barbara after that and finish up in LA. I would skip San Diego. It's perfectly fine, but after driving the coast, it offers nothing you won't have already seen. The beaches in Malibu and County line are every bit as beautiful as any you will see there, and that is all that there is there.

Honeymooned in Carmel and Big Sur over 20 years ago. Fantastic. I do not have them, but in Big Sur there are trails off the highway for some short but nice hikes.

Highlands Inn has fantastic views - you do not have to stay there (though we did) - but go to the bar for drinks and the view (i know you said you prefer pubs to bars, but make this exception).

We did stay in the Post Ranch In also - in its 1st or 2nd year of existence (it is twice the cost per night now): Nice but easy hiking trails on that property. It has 2 types of "rooms." Each your own cabin: Treehouse (cabin up in a tree), Cliffhouse (on the cliffs overlooking the ocean. Is there a 3rd type of cabin? Cannot remember. They build all those cabins while only having to cut down a single tree - a big environmental deal in California. We also went horse riding from the Post Ranch Inn property, a sunset ride - it was wonderful, and I am not even much of a horse rider.

In Big Sur, while driving and then hiking, bring binoculars so you can get a good view of the sea lions on the rocks off the coast, and hopefully the otters in the kelp beds.

Starting in San Francisco - go see a SF Giants game, if they are at home: It is a really nice stadium, and if during the day, gorgeous weather. Of course, maybe I am biased, as a big time SF Giants fan.

 

[bitnez]

I did the Big Sur Marathon last year. It is a beautiful stretch of road but the race broke me a bit. An odd juxtaposition between so much beauty and so much pain. Anyway, I recommend 17 mile drive. I spent 4 hours with the wife stopping along the way just to take it all in.