June road trip - LV to ?San Luis Obispo/?Monterey/?San Fran?

[Enerchi]

Thoughts/ suggestions/ ideas/ recommendations??

We are flying to Las Vegas for our anniversary in June (27 years ) and are debating between returning home to attend a friends wedding on the east coast of New Brunswick, or skipping the wedding (yeah, some friends WE are....!) while we are already on the opposite side of the continent already, renting a car and driving to the California Pacific coast. I've never been and DH has only been to San Diego about 20 years ago (for a work conference x 2 days and at the airport the whole time... ) so lets say, its a first for both of us.

We'd love to do wine tours, see Alcatraz, travel the PC Hwy.. the usual 'touristy' things ... oh... maybe there's a diamond district somewhere on that trip that I should throw into the mix as well??? But if there are other towns along the way that may be not as well known, we are open to that. We are not wild night life people, so more daytime adventures than evening would be our focus.

So, any expert travel planners that may have suggestions? Routes/sites/tours/accommodations - I'm open to anything you have to suggest! Thanks in advance

 

[movie zombie]

Re: June road trip - LV to ?San Luis Obispo/?Monterey/?San F

san diego:
great maritime museum down by the water complete with old ships!
balboa park has so much you could spend days there.
do this in the evening: http://sandiegocomfortcruise.com/
i forgot to do this: Gemfix
also, i should have gone to Fallbrook......do some research and you'll know why.

drive up to los angles and get through it avoiding commuter traffic. it is possible to do it if you don't stop. if you must stop and spend time, see the los angeles county musueum and/or any of the others.

continue up the coast to san luis obispo. take highway 1 all the way to SF.
see hearst's castle.
don't be in a hurry.
do some wine tasting in paso robles.
go to san juan batista for the mission.
stop in monterey.
santa cruz for change of pace and wine tasting here: http://www.winecountrygetaways.com/swift-courtyard.html
[there are a lot more wineries than this link lists] go up to soquel winery and get a fantastic view of monterey bay.
stop at phil's fish market in moss landing between monterey and santa cruz.
stop in any of the little stops between santa cruz and SF.

most of all, just take your time and have a lot of fun.

 

[tuffyluvr]

Re: June road trip - LV to ?San Luis Obispo/?Monterey/?San F

I LOVE the central coast. I highly recommend going to SLO, Morro Bay, wine tasting in Paso Robles. The Madonna Inn is hilariously tacky. The Gally and Dorns have great seafood.

If you go to Monterey, you have to go to Big Sur. Carmel is beautiful, but soooo expensive!!

 

[Enerchi]

Re: June road trip - LV to ?San Luis Obispo/?Monterey/?San F

Thanks for the input! Would you recommend booking at this point (4+ months in advance) or take chances later on? Is there a particular place you'd suggest staying at? Would you make 1 place your home base and drive from their (1 direction / day??)

"not from dem parts, Hoss" so any info is very helpful!

 

[movie zombie]

Re: June road trip - LV to ?San Luis Obispo/?Monterey/?San F

check out Cambria.....near hearst castle.
or you could stay in paso robles and day trip to the castle.

carmel is worth walking. in monterey/pacific grove or in santa cruz and day trip from there in either direction as well as to san juan bautista...it really is worth it.

just stay in SF as there is enough to do there in and of itself. if you must day trip from there be aware that napa/sonoma wine tourism is a real tourist trap. you're better off doing your wine thing in paso robles or in the santa cruz area. seriously.

another alternative for day tripping out of SF is to go further north up to marin county and even into mendocino county. the little town of Mendocino is quaint and while touristy doesn't have to be. nice little farmers' market on friday. although the saturday SF farmers' market at the Ferry Building is bigger but more expensive. still something that is a must do though if in SF. please skip Pier 39. total tourist trap. do the bus tour, see Beach Blanket Babylon, go out to Fort Point. all tourist things w/o being totally scammed.

also, SF's de Young museum and and the Legion have some great exhibits.

 

[davi_el_mejor]

Re: June road trip - LV to ?San Luis Obispo/?Monterey/?San F

check out Cambria.....near hearst castle.
or you could stay in paso robles and day trip to the castle.

carmel is worth walking. in monterey/pacific grove or in santa cruz and day trip from there in either direction as well as to san juan bautista...it really is worth it.

just stay in SF as there is enough to do there in and of itself. if you must day trip from there be aware that napa/sonoma wine tourism is a real tourist trap. you're better off doing your wine thing in paso robles or in the santa cruz area. seriously.

another alternative for day tripping out of SF is to go further north up to marin county and even into mendocino county. the little town of Mendocino is quaint and while touristy doesn't have to be. nice little farmers' market on friday. although the saturday SF farmers' market at the Ferry Building is bigger but more expensive. still something that is a must do though if in SF. please skip Pier 39. total tourist trap. do the bus tour, see Beach Blanket Babylon, go out to Fort Point. all tourist things w/o being totally scammed.

also, SF's de Young museum and and the Legion have some great exhibits.

I'd also say cross the Golden Gate into Sausalito and have lunch at Le Garage. We did on our list trip and I still dream about their Carrot and Artichoke heart soup! YUM

You CAN NOT go wrong with a trip up the California coast! Soquel and Capitola have really BEAUTIFUL beaches. Hearst Castle is one of the most vivid memories of my childhood. So is Morro Bay. I remember coming back home with more sand dollars on that trip than I have found in all my other beach trips combined.

If you keep going even further up the coast past SF towards Santa Rosa, detour to Dillon Beach and Half Moon Bay. Such fond fond memories!

You're taking the trip I've wanted to take for a long time! Congrats on 27 years as well!

ETA: If you're in SF on a Thursday night, absolutely do Night Life at the Academy of Science. Being in a museum/aquarium/planetarium with only adults is very satisfying.

 

[movie zombie]

Re: June road trip - LV to ?San Luis Obispo/?Monterey/?San F

food:

Pacific Grove = Red House Cafe
Moss Landing = Phil's Fish Market
Soquel = Main Street Garden & Cafe and perhaps Michael's on Main
Santa Cruz = Gabrielle's or Restoranti Avanti or The Cellar Door at Bonny Doon winery
Pescadero = Duarte's Tavern

 

[luv2sparkle]

Re: June road trip - LV to ?San Luis Obispo/?Monterey/?San F

If you go up to SLO make sure you stop in Pismo Beach and have lunch at the Splash Cafe. They are famous for their clam chowder, if you like that. Make sure you get it with the seafood topping in a bread bowl. There is usually a line around the building, but if you like clam chowder it is worth the wait. If you don't like clam chowder, stop at Mo's BBQ that is about three door up. Yumm...

On your way to SLO, get off at the Avila Beach exit and stop at the Avila farms. They have all kinds of wonderful things there including all kinds of baked goods made with Olliberrys which is a cross between a blackberry and raspberry I believe. You can also buy them frozen, but their cobbler is wonderful. All the other things have too much crust in my opinion. They also make their own ice cream there on site.

From the market get back on Avila Rd. and head on down to Avila beach. Lovely little beach town. A wonderful place to wile away the hours.

Back on the highway take the Morro Bay exit and head to Morro Bay if you can. It is a great place for some photos and seeing the huge rock.

If you are traveling on a Thursday eveing, SLO has a great farmers market and you can get Mo's BBQ in a booth for dinner and wander the shops.

We spend a good portion of every summer in Pismo Beach. My kids love it so much they still beg to go with us every year-and they are 29-15. Seriously, I need to find somewhere they don't want to go!

 

[Enerchi]

Re: June road trip - LV to ?San Luis Obispo/?Monterey/?San F

Thanks - I am going to print out all of your suggestions!!!

Davi - thank you for the congrats (but we aren't there YET!, tho I do feel fairly confident we will make it to June!!)

It is a really good friend who is getting married (on my DH's birthday) in the east coast of NB and I feel horrible if I don't go...yet I'm torn because we are 'almost there' already once we are in Las Vegas. Argh, I hate moral dilemmas....

 

[SweetAsscher]

Re: June road trip - LV to ?San Luis Obispo/?Monterey/?San F

Do Alcatraz. Beautiful views! It's funny because I'm from here but I never did all the touristy stuff and barely got to go to Alcatraz last November.

 

[Skippy123]

Re: June road trip - LV to ?San Luis Obispo/?Monterey/?San F

Oh I did something similar and liked it! We did Santa Barbara (I love SB, love it), then did Cambria where the Hearst Castle is, then up to Carmel/Monterey/Pacific Grove. I really enjoyed that trip and it was beautiful!!! I think if you do SF too that should be another trip? We did SF w/the Muir Woods and Point Reyes. Another time hubby had a business trip to San Jose, so we did that area and SF.

 

[luv2sparkle]

Re: June road trip - LV to ?San Luis Obispo/?Monterey/?San F

Enerchi, we will be there starting June 28. Maybe I will run into you!

 

[NYkate]

Re: June road trip - LV to ?San Luis Obispo/?Monterey/?San F

For our 20th anniversary we did Monterey, Pacific Grove and Carmel and it was one of my favorite vacations of all time. I second this suggestion:

Pacific Grove = Red House Café

My husband ordered a simple grilled cheese sandwich but oh-my-gosh homemade bread, herbed mayonnaise, artichokes, and four kinds of dreamy cheese toasted together. The homemade soup was delish as well as their bread pudding and caramel sauce. Every single thing we ordered was memorable.

But my favorite was the Seven Gables Inn- the gorgeous B&B we stayed in at Pacific Grove. We got one of their less-expensive rooms and it still had an ocean view. Spotlessly clean, comfortable beds, good linens, and lots of charm. Every morning we enjoyed a king’s breakfast while watching mother and baby seals play in the ocean right outside the hotel. It was seal “pupping season” and I’d never seen anything like it.
There were like four world-class golf courses right nearby (Pebble Beach, Spy Glass, etc). Carmel by the Sea is a short drive away and is a scenic little town full of art galleries, little shops, and cafes. Clint Eastwood was the mayor years ago.
At any rate, I have the best memories of that trip. I hope you guys have a wonderful time.

 

[VRBeauty]

Re: June road trip - LV to ?San Luis Obispo/?Monterey/?San F

I love to check out the tide pools (Carmel or Half Moon Bay). Be sure you pick up some deep fried artichokes when you pass through Salinas... If you're into outdoors activities, consider some time sea kayaking in Carmel...

Whatever you do, when you're here, don't call it San Fran!

 

[ame]

Re: June road trip - LV to ?San Luis Obispo/?Monterey/?San F

Thoughts/ suggestions/ ideas/ recommendations??

We are flying to Las Vegas for our anniversary in June (27 years ) and are debating between returning home to attend a friends wedding on the east coast of New Brunswick, or skipping the wedding (yeah, some friends WE are....!) while we are already on the opposite side of the continent already, renting a car and driving to the California Pacific coast. I've never been and DH has only been to San Diego about 20 years ago (for a work conference x 2 days and at the airport the whole time... ) so lets say, its a first for both of us.

We'd love to do wine tours, see Alcatraz, travel the PC Hwy.. the usual 'touristy' things ... oh... maybe there's a diamond district somewhere on that trip that I should throw into the mix as well??? But if there are other towns along the way that may be not as well known, we are open to that. We are not wild night life people, so more daytime adventures than evening would be our focus.

So, any expert travel planners that may have suggestions? Routes/sites/tours/accommodations - I'm open to anything you have to suggest! Thanks in advance

Do the drive! We did Hwy 1 from Oregon to San Diego a few years ago, starting outside of Salem in Lincoln City or somewhere in there at my in-laws favorite restaurant on earth (Tidal Raves), and going down from there. I think San Fran was my favorite stop along the way, but the views were nuts all along the way. There were some spots in the Big Sur area and in Marin County and the redwoods area that made me nearly lose my cookies...lol but what we saw far outweighed the near loss of cookies.

Make sure you keep snacks and a cooler in your car, because there are many miles along the way with NO stops at all and nowhere to eat. And if you stop in Monterrey, make sure you either eat before you leave the little town before it, OR you get there before about 1pm, because the place totally shuts down at 2! I was totally glad we found a gas station before we left Monterrey and I got snacks because we would never have made it to Morro Bay without those snacks!

Carmel was AMAZING as well. But also seemed pretty dead when we were there, which was Labor Day week.

 

[Mayk]

Re: June road trip - LV to ?San Luis Obispo/?Monterey/?San F

St. Helena - martini's
Calistoga - Sol Bar
San Fran - the grand cafe for dinner or the slanted door. sears for breakfast or Dotties
Carmel - Casanova's.

We like to eat...and drink a little wine. All my references are food!

 

[amc80]

Re: June road trip - LV to ?San Luis Obispo/?Monterey/?San F

Don't forget Santa Barbara! I was there for 5 years for college and grad school. From there it's only an hour and a half to Pismo (where my parents live). Walk around, go out on the pier. Great little town. San Luis Obispo is really nice as well. Tons to do in that area. Maybe head up to Monterey from there, and then it's just a short trip up to SF. You will have a blast. There's so much to see and do.

ETA- The only problem with June on the central coast is the "June Gloom." You'll see it from Ventura up through Pismo. Lots of fog that time of the year!

 

[JulieN]

Re: June road trip - LV to ?San Luis Obispo/?Monterey/?San F

I'd personally be too exhausted after LV to do all of that.

SF is very cold in the summer. As in, pack for 90+ Vegas/Central CA weather, then 60 degrees for SF.

I'm more inclined to maybe... Fly from LV to SF, maybe hit up Half Moon Bay, Monterey, Napa, or something for half a week.

 

[Enerchi]

Re: June road trip - LV to ?San Luis Obispo/?Monterey/?San F

I love to check out the tide pools (Carmel or Half Moon Bay). Be sure you pick up some deep fried artichokes when you pass through Salinas... If you're into outdoors activities, consider some time sea kayaking in Carmel...

Whatever you do, when you're here, don't call it San Fran!

LOL!! ok VR Beauty! It was all that the subject line would allow... I had to shorten Las Vegas to get it all on there!!

Thanks everyone for the ideas - I'm so pumped!!! This sounds like an amazing vacation. I'm going to have to save a little more for all the eating and touring we'll be doing!

Love the ideas- feel free to keep adding more

 

[Enerchi]

Re: June road trip - LV to ?San Luis Obispo/?Monterey/?San F

I'd personally be too exhausted after LV to do all of that.

SF is very cold in the summer. As in, pack for 90+ Vegas/Central CA weather, then 60 degrees for SF.

I'm more inclined to maybe... Fly from LV to SF, maybe hit up Half Moon Bay, Monterey, Napa, or something for half a week.

Really??? Wow - I would not have expected that. I also hadn't thought about the fog, either, as amc80 posted. Did some googling on Hearst Castle, Monterey, Carmel... there looks like a bit of money in that area, eh???

Travelling the PCH sounds like a blast - not so much the life threatening hairpin turns tho....

 

[Enerchi]

Re: June road trip - LV to ?San Luis Obispo/?Monterey/?San F

Enerchi, we will be there starting June 28. Maybe I will run into you!

We should be in this area on the 27th! That would be cool!!! I have to change my flight home from LV to an early July return date out of ... where ever we decide to return from!

We could have a Carmel by the Sea GTG for PSers in the area! (husbands allowed, if they buy lunch!)

 

[fleur-de-lis]

Re: June road trip - LV to ?San Luis Obispo/?Monterey/?San F

I'd personally be too exhausted after LV to do all of that.

SF is very cold in the summer. As in, pack for 90+ Vegas/Central CA weather, then 60 degrees for SF.

I'm more inclined to maybe... Fly from LV to SF, maybe hit up Half Moon Bay, Monterey, Napa, or something for half a week.

Really??? Wow - I would not have expected that. I also hadn't thought about the fog, either, as amc80 posted. Did some googling on Hearst Castle, Monterey, Carmel... there looks like a bit of money in that area, eh???

Travelling the PCH sounds like a blast - not so much the life threatening hairpin turns tho....

Keep in mind that the PCH southbound lanes overhang the ocean, whereas northbound hugs the mountainside. If you choose to drive it in one direction, choose the direction which best suits your temperament!

+1 on flying between LV and SF area and renting a car there. (FYI Southwest airlines does a lot of business on those routes, flying into Oakland and San Jose, so check their website in addition any consolidators. The drive is a hard 9-10 hours.) +1 on layers as well; SF will indeed have foggy highs around 60 degrees in June, but Napa/Sonoma will be sunny and 80ish.

Roadtripping in California is fantastic. We hop in the car and do it every couple of months for a weekend getaway!

 

[ame]

Re: June road trip - LV to ?San Luis Obispo/?Monterey/?San F

Keep in mind that the PCH southbound lanes overhang the ocean, whereas northbound hugs the mountainside. If you choose to drive it in one direction, choose the direction which best suits your temperament!

NO. KIDDING. I wish someone had warned me of that. I had QUITE A FEW freakouts. Overhang is like a wicked huge understatement.

 

[luv2sparkle]

Re: June road trip - LV to ?San Luis Obispo/?Monterey/?San F

Don't forget Santa Barbara! I was there for 5 years for college and grad school. From there it's only an hour and a half to Pismo (where my parents live). Walk around, go out on the pier. Great little town. San Luis Obispo is really nice as well. Tons to do in that area. Maybe head up to Monterey from there, and then it's just a short trip up to SF. You will have a blast. There's so much to see and do.

ETA- The only problem with June on the central coast is the "June Gloom." You'll see it from Ventura up through Pismo. Lots of fog that time of the year!

AMC, how do your parents like living in Pismo? We are seriously considering moving there after my DH retires in the next couple years.
We have been spending summers there for the last 24 years and my kids all love it. My only worry is ruining a good vacation spot. We used to love the mountains until we moved to Lake Arrowhead and living there really ruined it for us. Don't want to do that again!

 

[amc80]

Re: June road trip - LV to ?San Luis Obispo/?Monterey/?San F

AMC, how do your parents like living in Pismo? We are seriously considering moving there after my DH retires in the next couple years.
We have been spending summers there for the last 24 years and my kids all love it. My only worry is ruining a good vacation spot. We used to love the mountains until we moved to Lake Arrowhead and living there really ruined it for us. Don't want to do that again!

They technically live in Grover Beach, which is right next door. My stepdad loves it, my mom thinks it's too cold. They both enjoy the year-round outdoorsy stuff- walking on the beach, hiking, etc. Lots of great hiking trails around. I think my mom would prefer to live in San Luis, just because it's warmer and has the good shopping. I think it would be hard to ruin it, it's a pretty nice place.

 

[luv2sparkle]

Re: June road trip - LV to ?San Luis Obispo/?Monterey/?San F

That is what I love about it, I think, the coolness. I love Arroyo Grande too, and it is a little bit warmer. That would be an option.
My DH's parents live in Santa Maria and they moved there because we were spending so much time in Pismo. The area has changed a lot
in all the years we have been coming but mostly for the better.

We used to go up to the mountains and go to the Village at Arrowhead, but once me moved there, we hardly went there except to go to the Stater Bros. to shop for groceries. It was always plagued with pesky tourists and parking was hard to find. But we loved it when we
were tourists! How dumb is that! I am afraid it would be the same if we moved to Pismo. We may look in the wine country a little further inland and just keep Pismo for vacation, we will have to see. Thanks for sharing how your folks like it.

 

[amc80]

Re: June road trip - LV to ?San Luis Obispo/?Monterey/?San F

That is what I love about it, I think, the coolness. I love Arroyo Grande too, and it is a little bit warmer. That would be an option.
My DH's parents live in Santa Maria and they moved there because we were spending so much time in Pismo. The area has changed a lot
in all the years we have been coming but mostly for the better.

We used to go up to the mountains and go to the Village at Arrowhead, but once me moved there, we hardly went there except to go to the Stater Bros. to shop for groceries. It was always plagued with pesky tourists and parking was hard to find. But we loved it when we
were tourists! How dumb is that! I am afraid it would be the same if we moved to Pismo. We may look in the wine country a little further inland and just keep Pismo for vacation, we will have to see. Thanks for sharing how your folks like it.

No problem!

 

[VRBeauty]

Re: June road trip - LV to ?San Luis Obispo/?Monterey/?San F

Enerchi - if you're including time for sight-seeing -
The Monterey Bay Aquarium is beautiful, and has some features I haven't seen elsewhere, such as the sea otter pool and the jelly fish exhibit. Two adults could probably see it in under two hours as long as you get tickets in advance so you avoid that line. (I'm more like a kid when I'm there, so it takes me longer ).

 

[bebe]

Re: June road trip - LV to ?San Luis Obispo/?Monterey/?San F

H and I just returned from a trip to Carmel. Loved it!! (and it was for our 35th!!) We stayed in Carmel at The Cypress Inn but there are many places around. But I do think reservations are a must in the area. We drove through Pebble Beach and to Monterey. We had lunch in Monterey but wished we didn't ! We spent days exploring the PC highway and all the parks on the beaches. Stop and visit one if you can. (Pt. Lobos - awesome) You could stay in Carmel one night at Clint Eastwood's Mission Ranch. The restaurant there is nice also.

 

[luv2sparkle]

Re: June road trip - LV to ?San Luis Obispo/?Monterey/?San F

We stayed at the Tickle Pink in on our honeymoon, in Carmel. It was wonderful. I hope to stay there again someday soon. I also love
the Apple Farm in San Luis Obispo.

There is also a wonderful artisan bakery in Atascadero called Hush Harbor. It is a great place to stop for lunch and pick up some of their delicious bread, especially if you plan on touring wineries. If your driving on the way up and have a cooler, stop at Solvang and pick up some cheese and take it with you. Another great place to spend some time.